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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Get menus in minutes: Lunch Boxed Meals Breakfast Appetizers Dinner
Lunch 
Boxed Meals 
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 Ben’s Fast Food Individual Boxed North American 
San Francisco, CA Ben’s Fast Food Individual Boxed North American 
San Mateo, CA Ben’s Fast Food Individual Boxed Californian 
San Jose, CA Ben’s Fast Food Individual Boxed Californian 
Denver, CO Ben’s Fast Food Individual Boxed North American 
Atlanta, GA Ben’s Fast Food Individual Boxed North American 
Oakland, CA Ben’s Fast Food Individual Boxed Californian 
Sunnyvale, CA Ben’s Fast Food Individual Boxed Californian 
Hayward, CA Ben’s Fast Food Individual Boxed Californian 
Pasadena, CA Ben’s Fast Food Individual Boxed North American 
Lawndale, CA Ben’s Fast Food Individual Boxed North American 
Los Angeles, CA Ben’s Fast Food Hollywood Individual Boxed North American 
Los Angeles, CA Ben’s Fast Food Santa Monica Individual Boxed Californian 
Austin, TX BentoDELI Individual Boxed Southeast Asian 
New York City, NY Best Bagel & Coffee Individual Boxed North American 
New York City, NY Beto’s Carnitas & Guisados Individual Boxed Mexican 
Oakland, CA Big Sammies Individual Boxed Central American 
Hayward, CA Bijou Catering Individual Boxed Mexican 
Oak Park, IL Billy Brick’s Wood Fired Pizza Individual Boxed Greek 
San Francisco, CA Bini’s Kitchen Individual Boxed Nepalese 
Feasterville, PA Birria Corner Mexican 
San Jose, CA Bistro Bites Vietnamese 
New York City, NY Bite Individual Boxed Central American 
New York City, NY BLC Global South Asian / Sub-Indian Continent Show more
Over 1,000 catering partners offering diverse menus for any occasion
Los Angeles, CA Umami Express Santa Monica East Asian 
Philadelphia, PA Brooklyn Dumpling Shop Sansom Chinese 
Englewood, CO Metropolitan Catering East Asian 
Milpitas, CA Saucy Asian East Asian 
New York City, NY Suross Thai Bistro East Asian 
Atlanta, GA Ooey Gooey Catering Italian 
San Francisco, CA Bamboo Restaurant Chinese 
New York City, NY LunchBar by Zucker's – GC Other 
Emeryville, CA Le Marine Fish & Grill North American 
New York City, NY Pinks North American 
Brooklyn, NY Eat Street NYC Western African 
Dallas, TX Plomo Quesadillas Central American 
Austin, TX Grata's Pizzeria Italian 
Brooklyn, NY Quinoa Kitchen North American 
New York City, NY Unregular Pizza Italian 
Austin, TX Lucky Lab Coffee Co. Southwest European 
Seattle, WA Seattle Bento Pops East Asian 
Seattle, WA Pizza Twist Italian 
Hayward, CA Baoshi Chinese 
Mountain View, CA Blue Line Pizza Italian 
Lewisville, TX Burgerlicious Southwest European 
Chicago, IL Happy Lobster North American 
Cedar Park, TX Firewater Pies Italian 
Harrison, NY Grand Affaire Southwest European 
Bellevue, WA Inchin's Bamboo Garden – IndoChinese Chinese 
Fullerton, CA Romano's Macaroni Grill Italian 
Chicago, IL Mac Monster Southwest European 
New York City, NY Schnipper's Quality Soups North American 
Campbell, CA Square Pie Guys Italian 
Walpole, MA Duck Donuts Boston North American Use My Location
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