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
Seattle, WA Baked in Bosnia Individual Boxed Southeast European 
Austin, TX Bambino Individual Boxed North American 
Pflugerville, TX Bamboo Bistro Individual Boxed Thai 
Wood-Ridge, NJ Bamboo Garden! by Skopos Catering Individual Boxed Central American 
San Francisco, CA Bamboo Restaurant Individual Boxed Japanese 
Dallas, TX Banana Leaf Thai Cuisine Individual Boxed Thai 
Austin, TX Banh Mi Pho Wings Individual Boxed Vietnamese 
Hayward, CA Baoshi Individual Boxed Chinese 
Oakland, CA Barbaro Individual Boxed Argentinian 
Hayward, CA BARBQED Individual Boxed BBQ 
Bellevue, WA Baron’s Sino Kitchen and Bar Individual Boxed East Asian 
Oakland, CA Barrio Chino Individual Boxed Caribbean 
Belleville, NJ Basil & Olive Individual Boxed Southeast Asian 
Brookline, MA Basil Rice and Mojo Ramen Individual Boxed Thai 
San Francisco, CA Basil Street Individual Boxed Thai 
San Francisco, CA Basil the Bold Individual Boxed Thai 
Santa Clara, CA Bay Area Pizza Individual Boxed South Asian / Sub-Indian Continent 
San Francisco, CA Bay Leaf Cafe Individual Boxed Western European 
San Francisco, CA Bayshore Taqueria Individual Boxed Tex-Mex 
Chicago, IL Bell Heirs BBQ BBQ 
Dallas, TX Bella Pasta Individual Boxed North American 
New York City, NY Ben’s Fast Food Individual Boxed North American 
Chicago, IL Ben’s Fast Food Individual Boxed North American 
Boston, MA Ben’s Fast Food Individual Boxed North American Show more
Over 1,000 catering partners offering diverse menus for any occasion
Wood-Ridge, NJ Southern Comfort by Skopos Catering Soul Food 
Oakland, CA 3 Seasons Thai Bistro East Asian 
San Francisco, CA Sumac Istanbul Street Food Turkish 
Lewisville, TX Burgerlicious Southwest European 
Oakland, CA Philomena Italian 
San Mateo, CA Ben's Fast Food North American 
San Francisco, CA SF Hole in the Wall Pizza Italian 
Forest Park, IL Habrae Thai Cafe & Eatery East Asian 
Greenwood Village, CO Garnish Indian Fusion Indian 
San Jose, CA Bistro Bites Chinese 
San Francisco, CA Underdogs Cantina North American 
San Ramon, CA Joe & The Juice North American 
Alexandria, VA Medi Mediterranean Grill Mediterranean / Middle Eastern 
Lewisville, TX Bluebonnet Lunch House North American 
Los Angeles, CA Habibi Burger North American 
Cedar Park, TX Firewater Pies Italian 
Oakland, CA Sima's Persian Delights Iranian/Persian 
Sunset Valley, TX Poke Austin East Asian 
Chicago, IL Lotus and Lime Southeast Asian 
San Jose, CA Yakitori Harue East Asian 
Bellevue, WA Moge Tee East Asian 
Federal Way, WA Gogi on the Go Korean Fusion East Asian 
New York City, NY Sakai Sushi East Asian 
San Francisco, CA Peaches Patties Jamaican 
Boston, MA Umami Express East Asian 
Watertown, MA Vitality Bowls Breakfast Brazilian 
San Francisco, CA Berlin Doner & Kebab House Mediterranean / Middle Eastern 
San Francisco, CA Little Skillet Cajun 
Pinole, CA Swahili Spot Tanzanian 
South San Francisco, CA Curveball Sliders North American Use My Location
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