Refund, Cancellation & Order Policy

Last Updated: September 11, 2026

At Carthage Café, we take pride in preparing fresh, chef-prepared meals, catering orders, and specialty food using carefully selected ingredients. We want every customer to be satisfied with their order.

Because our products are perishable and prepared for consumption, food orders are generally not eligible for return. However, if there is a problem with your order, please contact us as soon as possible so we can review the situation and work toward an appropriate solution.

1. Food Returns

For health, food-safety, and quality reasons, prepared food, perishable products, and catering items cannot be returned once they have been delivered or picked up.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Daily meals and individual food orders
• Prepared dishes and side dishes
• Finger foods and appetizers
• Desserts and other perishable products
• Catering orders
• Custom or special-event food orders

If there is a problem with the food you received, please contact us rather than attempting to return the food.

2. Incorrect, Missing or Damaged Orders

If your order arrives with an incorrect or missing item, or if it has been materially damaged during delivery, please contact Carthage Café as soon as reasonably possible after receiving your order.

Please provide your name, order details, and a description of the issue. We may also request a photograph of the affected item or order so that we can properly review the situation.

Depending on the circumstances, Carthage Café may offer an appropriate remedy, which may include:

• Replacement of the affected item;
• A credit toward a future order;
• A partial refund; or
• A full refund for the affected item or order.

The appropriate resolution will depend on the circumstances of each case.

3. Quality Concerns

If you believe there is a significant quality or food-safety issue with an order, please stop consuming the affected item and contact us promptly.

We take concerns regarding food quality and preparation seriously and will review the circumstances of the order.

Personal taste preferences alone do not normally qualify an order for a refund when the food has been prepared correctly and corresponds to the item ordered.

4. Order Cancellations

We understand that plans can change.

For regular food orders, please contact us as soon as possible if you need to cancel or modify your order.

Because our meals are prepared fresh and ingredients may be purchased or prepared specifically for an order, we cannot guarantee cancellation or a full refund once preparation has begun.

If an order has not yet entered preparation, we will make reasonable efforts to accommodate a cancellation or modification request.

5. Catering and Large Orders

Catering, corporate, event, and large food orders may require advance preparation, ingredient purchasing, staffing, and scheduling.

Cancellation and refund terms for these orders may therefore differ from regular individual orders.

Any specific deposit, cancellation deadline, minimum order, or non-refundable amount communicated in a catering quotation, invoice, agreement, or order confirmation will apply to that order.

Customers are encouraged to notify Carthage Café as early as possible if an event date, guest count, delivery requirement, or other important order detail changes.

Changes requested close to the scheduled preparation or delivery date may not always be possible.

6. Custom and Special Orders

Customized food, special menus, large quantities, and items prepared specifically at a customer’s request may not be eligible for cancellation or refund after ingredients have been purchased or preparation has begun.

We will communicate any significant special-order conditions to the customer when applicable.

7. Delivery

Customers are responsible for providing accurate delivery information, including the correct address, unit number, access instructions, contact information, and any other information reasonably required to complete the delivery.

Carthage Café is not responsible for failed or significantly delayed deliveries resulting from incorrect or incomplete information provided by the customer, inability to access the delivery location, or inability to contact the recipient.

Delivery times provided to customers are estimates unless expressly stated otherwise. Traffic, weather, building access, unusually high order volume, and other circumstances outside our reasonable control may affect delivery times.

If an order cannot be completed due to an issue on our side, please contact us and we will review the order and determine the appropriate resolution.

8. Orders Through Third-Party Platforms

If you place an order through a third-party delivery or ordering service, such as DoorDash or another delivery marketplace, refund and cancellation requests may also be subject to that platform’s policies and procedures.

When required by the platform, refund requests for those orders should be submitted directly through the service where the order was placed.

Orders placed directly with Carthage Café will be handled according to this policy and any specific terms communicated at the time of ordering.

9. Allergies and Dietary Requirements

Customers with food allergies, intolerances, or specific dietary requirements should inform Carthage Café before placing or confirming an order.

We will make reasonable efforts to provide accurate ingredient information and accommodate requests where possible. However, unless expressly confirmed otherwise, we cannot guarantee that any item is completely free from allergens or that cross-contact will not occur during preparation.

If you have a severe or life-threatening food allergy, please discuss your requirements with us before ordering so that we can advise you appropriately.

10. Refund Processing

When a refund is approved, it will generally be issued to the original payment method whenever reasonably possible.

The time required for the refund to appear in your account may vary depending on the payment provider, financial institution, or third-party ordering platform.

Any refund offered by Carthage Café will apply only to the amount determined to be eligible after reviewing the circumstances of the order.

11. Contact Us

If you have a problem with an order or would like to request a cancellation, refund, replacement, or order adjustment, please contact Carthage Café as soon as possible.

When contacting us, please include:

Your full name
Order number or order details
Date of the order
A brief description of the issue
Photos, when relevant

Carthage Café
Website: cafecarthage.com

Additional contact information can be found on our website’s Contact page.

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© 2026 Carthage Café. All rights reserved.

One thing I recommend before publishing: don’t call this a “No Refund Policy.” For prepared food, making sales final in normal circumstances is reasonable, but retaining a clear remedy for missing, incorrect, damaged, or materially problematic orders makes the policy more customer-friendly and much better suited to Carthage’s online ordering and catering model.