Catering for 50 People
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Fifty people is where the serving line becomes the plan. One buffet line serves the room in about 15 minutes, serving from both sides halves that, and boxed meals skip the line. Size the pans or meals with the calculator, then choose from 872 catering partners with buffet and bar menus.
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Breakfast 
Appetizers 
Dinner
What groups of 40 to 60 people spent
- $16 to $24per person, before tax
- $780 to $1,200typical order total
- 1 to 15 daysordered ahead
- 872catering partners below
Zerocater lunch orders, January 2025 to September 2026. Middle half of orders, before tax.
Size your order
What to order: lunch for 50 people, buffet
| Plates | 63 |
|---|---|
| Pans per main dish | 2 |
| Pans per side dish | 2 to 3 |
| Serving lines | 1 |
| Time to serve everyone | about 15 minutes (8 serving from both sides) |
Lunch orders for groups this size cost $16 to $24 a person before tax. Estimated for 50 people: about $800 to $1,200. Half were placed 1 to 15 days ahead.
What to order for 50 people
The same numbers the calculator gives, for every way of serving the food. Counts round up to whole units.
| Meals to order | 53 to 55 |
|---|---|
| Spares included | 3 to 5 |
| Plates | 63 |
|---|---|
| Pans per main dish | 2 |
| Pans per side dish | 2 to 3 |
| Serving lines | 1 |
| Time to serve everyone | about 15 minutes (8 serving from both sides) |
| Medium main trays (each feeds 12 to 15) | 4 to 5 |
|---|---|
| Vegetable trays | 2 to 3 |
| Fruit trays | 2 to 3 |
| Dessert trays | 3 |
| Serving lines | 2 |
|---|---|
| Taco bar | |
| Tacos | 150 to 200 |
| Tortillas | 200 to 250 |
| Cooked protein (lb) | 13 to 19 |
| Pasta bar | |
| Dry pasta (lb) | 13 to 16 |
| Sauce (quarts) | 7 |
| Protein (lb) | 7 |
| Salad bar | |
| Greens (lb) | 7 to 10 |
| Protein (lb) | 7 to 10 |
| Dressing (quarts) | 4 |
| Sandwich bar | |
| Sandwiches | 75 |
| Deli meat (lb) | 10 to 13 |
| Pieces, before a meal | 150 to 250 |
|---|---|
| Pieces, with drinks | 400 |
| Pieces, as a light meal | 500 to 600 |
| Pieces, instead of dinner | 600 to 750 |
Lunch orders for groups this size cost $16 to $24 a person before tax. Estimated for 50 people: about $800 to $1,200. Half were placed 1 to 15 days ahead.
Browse 872 catering partners for 40 to 60 people
Hayward, CA 1202 Smokin’ BBQ Individual Boxed BBQ 
Kirkland, WA 19 Gold Individual Boxed East Asian 
Seattle, WA 206 Burger Company Individual Boxed North American 
New York City, NY 251 Ginza Sushi Individual Boxed Japanese 
Oakland, CA 3 Seasons Thai Bistro Individual Boxed Thai 
Denver, CO 30Forth Kitchen Mexican 
Culver City, CA 5 Elementos Individual Boxed Mexican 
Seattle, WA 8 Ping Yang Individual Boxed Thai 
Brooklyn, NY A La Mexicana Style Individual Boxed Mexican 
New York City, NY A Saffron Thread Individual Boxed Indian 
San Mateo, CA Achiote Grill Individual Boxed Caribbean 
Tukwila, WA Act 3 Catering Individual Boxed Mexican 
New York City, NY Aegean Cafe Individual Boxed Greek 
New York City, NY Agavi Juice Individual Boxed South American 
New York City, NY Al Horno Lean Mexican Kitchen Individual Boxed Mexican 
Chicago, IL Al Safa Individual Boxed South Asian / Sub-Indian Continent 
Los Angeles, CA Alfalfa – Larchmont Individual Boxed Mediterranean / Middle Eastern 
San Francisco, CA Alicia’s Tamales Los Mayas Individual Boxed Mexican 
Denver, CO Aloy Modern Thai Individual Boxed Thai 
New York City, NY Ambo Individual Boxed South Asian / Sub-Indian Continent 
New York City, NY American By Bel Aire Individual Boxed Western European 
Astoria, NY American Lunch by Grand Affaire Catering Individual Boxed North American 
New York City, NY American Picnic Individual Boxed Creole 
New York City, NY American-European Bistro Individual Boxed Western European Show more
Over 1,000 catering partners offering diverse menus for any occasion
New York City, NY Baked Cravings North American 
Torrance, CA On + On East Asian 
Washington, DC Grassfed Griddle North American 
Cherry Hill, NJ Just Salad Store #122 East Asian 
Arlington, MA Haveli Indian Cuisine Indian 
Hayward, CA BARBQED North American 
West Hollywood, CA Sweetfin East Asian 
Sandy Springs, GA Mahana Fresh North American 
Ridgewood, NY Cured and Co. Italian 
San Francisco, CA Sunshine Bay Breakfast Northern European 
Philadelphia, PA Fuel Healthy Kitchen North American 
New York City, NY Souvlaki GR North American 
Inglewood, CA El Pollo Loco Central American 
Los Angeles, CA Ben's Fast Food Hollywood North American 
Chicago, IL South Paw Catering Cajun Oakland, CA 3 Seasons Thai Bistro East Asian 
Burlingame, CA Blue Line Pizza Italian 
Denver, CO New York Deli News North American 
Marietta, GA Cuban Diner Caribbean 
Brookline, MA Basil Rice and Mojo Ramen East Asian 
Palo Alto, CA Nick The Greek Mediterranean / Middle Eastern 
New York City, NY Just Salad East Asian 
San Jose, CA The Waffle and the Rooster North American 
San Jose, CA Erik's DeliCafe East Asian 
Philadelphia, PA Umami Express Chinese 
Decatur, GA Raging Burrito Central American 
Oakland, CA Guac N' Roll North American 
Belmont, CA Capo Mediterranean Kitchen Mediterranean / Middle Eastern Tukwila, WA Act 3 Catering German 
Long Island City, NY Nourish & Nosh Southwest European Use My Location
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