CHICAGO'S HIGHEST RATED MOBILE BAR & CATERING
The GO-TO BAR WHEREVER YOU ARE
Present Tense is a mobile bar & catering company for a variety of events- corporate happy hours, in home parties and celebrations of all kinds! We offer a seamless blend of convenience and sophistication.
Our team will craft a custom beverage menu tailored to your preferences, ensuring that everyone can enjoy their favorite drink or discover a new cocktail. We also bring all the requisite bar nosh, from gourmet sandwiches to delectable charcuterie that will be sure to impress.
WHAT WE DO
Present Tense is the ultimate mobile bar experience that brings our chic, vibrant bar to your space. Whether it’s your home, office, or event space, we bring craft cocktails, catering, and sophisticated bar snacks directly to you.
CORPORATE
HAPPY HOURS
EVENTS, GALAS & RECEPTIONS
BAR MAGIC
EXPERIENCE
DROP OFF CATERING
Our process
Every custom-package event begins with a conversation focused on your needs. Plan your drinks & food for your event with us. From there, we'll help you execute your vision.
01 CONNECT WITH US
Fillout our questionaire online which will walk you through the date & time of your event and what your vision is.
02 PLAN WITH US
Planning with us is easy! After we confirm our time, we select a spot for us to set up our mobile bar and select a package.
03 CELEBRATE WITH US
Our professional bartenders and catering team show up, set up and get ready to party! We're here to make your event a great one.
ARE YOU AN EVENT PLANNER?
At Present Tense, we help custom-package for events of all kinds to make your clients happy. From modern drinks to traditional pours, we have the perfect bar team to bring your vision to life for each of your clientele.
HAPPY WORDS FROM OUR CLIENTS
Our start-to-finish attention to detail and hands-on management bring visions to life. We leverage our 20+ years in Michelin-starred restaurants and events to bring a classy, delicious, and worry-free beverage program to your event.
OUR STORY
Present Tense was born out of the Pandemic in 2020. We started by delivering ready-to-drink bottled cocktails and bar snacks during those times when almost the entire world was shut down. Present Tense has since evolved into an event based catering company bringing the bar and bar snacks to event venues, homes, office, festivals, and amenity floors.
Co-owner and founder Derek Mercer spent 20 years working behind bars and in kitchens at some of Chicago’s best restaurants such as Spring, Spiaggia, Blackbird, Pastoral, and Osteria via Stato. Co-owner and wife Renee Prusacki is a full time architect at a large Chicago firm but still finds time to appear at events as well as contribute to the design, aesthetic, and branding of the company. Renee does a lot of behind scenes work while Derek will mostly be found behind the bar and answering sales calls.
LOOKING FOR A VENUE TO MATCH YOUR VISION?
Whether you're planning a wedding, corporate event, or private celebration, our bar team is there to create an unforgettable experience. Don’t have a venue yet? We can help you host at one of our partner venues like the iconic Goose Island Barrel House.
Wherever the vibe, we’ll bring the drinks, the style, and the good times.
