Catering Lunch Ideas + Guide to Insanely Satisfying Corporate Lunches

Need catering ideas for your office lunch?

This guide will help you set up a great company lunch.

Use the Table of Contents below to go to the section that works best for your type of lunch. We’ve broken it down by what kind of event you want to put together, what you’re celebrating, and what kind of catering you’re looking for.

If you have specific questions about how to book a caterer for your luncheon or want to know what to expect once you book a vendor for your event, jump down to our FAQ or our Workplace Catering page.

Planning Your Company Lunch

1. The Casual Corporate Lunch

This style of luncheon is best for occasions like employee appreciation days, company milestones, team-building events, wellness events, and other easygoing afternoons that don’t require too much planning.

This type of event can be held indoors or outdoors (sunny days outside all the way!) based on company size and your budget.

Foods We Recommend

Here are the cuisine types we find perfect for casual company lunches. They are popular with many companies because of their shareability, affordability, and general quickness with which they can be catered. Take a slice, a bite, or a spoonful, and enjoy!

Here are the cuisine types we find perfect for casual company lunches. They are popular with many companies because of their shareability, affordability, and general quickness with which they can be catered. Take a slice, a bite, or a spoonful, and enjoy:

Pizza
Order multiple pies with customized toppings that everyone can enjoy or bring in a mobile oven for personalized pizzas.

Burgers
Great for meat-lovers and vegetarians alike, everyone can build their own burger, so no need to share bites.

Chicken Wings
A classic and kinda messy fan-favorite for outdoor events. Get them spicy, saucy, or plain depending on preferences.

Indian Street Food
Take a bite out of a cultural food feast that always has great vegan and carnivorous options.

Halal Food
Enjoy easy-going Middle Eastern eats on the healthier side of the lunch coin.

 

The Best Catering Types for a Casual Corporate Lunch

Food Trucks

Best for office sizes of more than 50 people, food trucks are affordable and fun for both small and large companies. Trucks are ideal for team-building days, quick company milestone events, and health & wellness lunches. Minimums start at $800-$1,000 on average but usually end up being around $1500.

What you can expect to pay based on the number of eaters:

– 50 eaters = $1000
– 75 eaters = $1200
– 100 eaters = $1600
– 150+ eaters = $2400+ (at this point you might need an extra food truck or extra hours)

Book A Food Truck Here!

 

Drop-Off Catering (Individual or Buffet)

Feed a lot of people with the most accessible option in the world for smaller lunch budgets. Drop-off catering is wonderful for big milestones and company appreciation lunches. This style of corporate lunch can also be a fast and furious way to keep folks engaged at work if food is delivered to their desks (or set up in a conference room buffet-style). Check out ezCater, they specialize in affordable, quick drop-off catering that won’t break the bank.

What you can expect to pay per person (not including delivery, taxes, or other fees):

– 20 eaters = $240
– 50 eaters = $600
– 100 eaters = $1200
– 150+ eaters = $1800+

2. The Formal Corporate Lunch

If what you’re planning requires dress shoes, we recommend choosing a formal setup for your corporate luncheon. Whether it’s a round table discussion, private party, board meeting, or awards ceremony, this more traditional serving style fosters organization and focus while also celebrating success.

Unless you have a large outdoor space you can decorate with chairs, tables, and dining service, this lunch is best served indoors near the corporate kitchen where a lunch organizer, chef, and/or waiter may be working.

Foods We Recommend

The following cuisines are hearty, healthy, able to be cooked in batches by a caterer, and eaten without too much mess. No one wants to sport a grease or marinara sauce stain on their suit the rest of the day. Whether you choose to have them prepared buffet-style or served individually, these dishes are delicious while being easily elevated.

Sushi
For an elevated dining experience that shows thought and care, sushi is amazing formal lunch fare.

Salads
A healthful, fully customizable way to make it through the day.

Sandwiches & Wraps
Get them individualized or order platters with different fillings for all the office folks.

Mediterranean
Make it memorable with fresh lamb, chicken, beef, hummus, and gyros.

Italian
No one can say no to fresh pizza, pasta, and chicken parm in the afternoon.

 

The Best Catering Types for a Formal Corporate Lunch

Traditional Catering – Buffet Style

For slightly bigger budgets (than drop-off), buffet-style company lunches are a great way to upgrade the eating experience for employees. It really makes sense if you’re feeding larger groups where platters of food for many different portion sizes would be of use. Have an office-wide conference, presentation, or celebration? Then bring on the buffet!

– 40 eaters = $1000
– 60 eaters = $1500
– 100 eaters = $2500
– 150+ eaters = $3750+

Traditional Catering – Private Chef

When the occasion calls for something a little fancier, a private chef may be in order. You’ll be able to customize everyone’s plate in regards to dietary needs and preferences. If you have a bigger budget for a client or board meeting, awards ceremony, or rare special occasion, then traditional catering is an easygoing and elegant option.

Starting prices will be around:

– 20 eaters = $1000
– 50 eaters = $2500
– 100 eaters = $5000
– 150+ eaters = $7500+

3. The Corporate Retreat

Getting ready for an annual corporate retreat, a seasonal company picnic, or a holiday party either at or away from the office? Lunch for these fun, casual, “away from work” events can take place anywhere you like….from a nightclub or winery to a brewery, park, or art gallery. Jazz things up with casual, reasonably-priced eats everyone can enjoy.

Like the casual luncheon above, hold this event inside or outside (especially since it doesn’t have to be held at the office). The below options are great for large parties, leave you with no cleanup, and don’t require anything but a delivery guy or a truck.

Foods We Recommend

Since your coworkers may be throwing a football, taking part in team-building activities, gifting Secret Santas, and enjoying a drink or two, this could be the perfect opportunity to partake in some messier meals. These offerings are budget-friendly, fun to eat, nostalgic for many, and just taste good!

Tacos
Spice up some carne, al pastor, and pollo soft or hard shell tacos on a fun day OOO.

BBQ
A lunchtime retreat isn’t the same if you can’t lick a finger after every bite.

Hot Dogs
Keep it simple or get them topped with all the fancy, flavorful condiments.

Waffles
Top your crispy, brunchy lunch with everything from savory chicken to sweet chocolate.

Crepes
Get sophisticated with sugary whipped cream and strawberries or cream cheese with smoked salmon crepes.

 

The Best Catering Types for a Corporate Retreat

Food Carts & Pop-Ups 

The best part of a mobile caterer? The chef’s kitchen drives to you. They can literally meet you anywhere and can set themselves up in any size venue. Need to feed a lot of people and elevate the eating experience for every employee? Then this is your best bet for great, fresh food (oh yeah, the average cost is only $16/person).

Here’s some starting pricing based on the number of eaters:

– 30 eaters = $480
– 60 eaters = $960
– 100 eaters = $1600
– 150+ eaters = $2400+

Book A Food Truck Here!

 

Food Trucks

A great taco truck, smoked BBQ pop-up, or fresh crepe cart is a sweet, savory, and satisfying way to decompress with coworkers for a holiday party, summer picnic, or fun quarterly out-of-office experience. Food trucks are affordable options as their time is limited to a couple of hours and they’re used to quick service and high volume.

– 50 eaters = $800
– 75 eaters = $1200
– 100 eaters = $1600
– 150+ eaters = $2400+

4. The Client Lunch Meeting

Do you have important clients coming in to discuss the next steps on a big project? Or are you looking to impress new potential customers with a lovely lunch set-up? Then an in-office client lunch is what we recommend to start your meeting on the right foot.

If you’re having a small group present for a roundtable discussion, launching a new product for a client, or having a seminar for a particular group of employees, the “client lunch” is a must. Just prepare your presentation, sit back, and enjoy a no-fuss lunch customized just for you.

Foods We Recommend

Keep it simple or elevate client lunch cuisine to your liking. If a meeting is taking place earlier in the day, around 10 or 11AM, lighter fare like bagels, pastries, and coffee are great options. For lunch meetings taking place past Noon, we recommend something heartier.

Thai food, Vietnamese, and dumplings are great options for international clients, particularly when specially prepared by a private chef. Lobster rolls are more expensive but are also a funky option for a more fun-loving office.

Thai Food
Order your rice or noodles spicy or mild and Thai up loose ends in your meeting.

Bagels
Go for a plain bagel with just butter or the works with cream cheese and lox—either way bagels are a meeting mainstay.

Coffee & Pastries
A sweet pastry and several cups of caffeine are how to keep all eyes on your presentation screen.

Vietnamese or Dumplings
An Asian specialty that everyone loves, whether it’s noodles, beef, chicken, or pho.

Lobster Rolls
Mix fancy and casual luncheons with a heaping portion of mayo, a soft bun, and luxurious lobster.

 

The Best Catering Types for a Client Lunch 

Drop-Off Catering (Individual or Buffet)

Drop-off catering is an easy-in, easy-out kinda lunch. Gather orders at the top of your meeting or have them phoned in ahead of time. Either way, ordering from one place makes it simple. Choose a buffet-style drop-off with platters of food for seminars or longer meetings—no one says no to trays of fresh pastries or bowls of dumplings. Organized luncheons for the win!

– 20 eaters = $240
– 50 eaters = $600
– 100 eaters = $1200
– 150+ eaters = $1800+

Traditional Catering – Private Chef

Looking to impress a big client with incredible cuisine cooked by your very own private chef? Then traditional catering where the chef comes to you to freshly prepare the food is your best option. Clients and colleagues can share their food preferences with the chef and be served in the conference room as if it was their very own restaurant.

– 20 eaters = $1000
– 50 eaters = $2500
– 100 eaters = $5000
– 150+ eaters = $7500+

5. The Celebration Lunch

It’s time to party! Have a big win this quarter or hosting a company-wide networking event? Then it’s time to celebrate with a delicious lunch. These luncheons also work great for conferences, fundraisers, and appreciation events (perhaps gift cards or small gifts are even being given out).

Demonstrate your appreciation by getting everyone away from their desks for some meets, greets, and networking eats. This is a fun afternoon break and you can go as big or as small as you like.

Foods We Recommend

Bring some spice to the office with Southern or Caribbean cuisine, shine a lot on the kid inside everyone with some sweet ice cream, or let folks get messy with some Tex Mex (so long as your shirt stays clean). These offerings are affordable, quick to cater, and inspire liveliness—this is the perfect Friday lunch if you’re letting folks out early (we recommend 1:30).

Ice Cream
There’s no better way to brighten up employees’ day than ice cold ice cream cups and cones.

Gourmet Grilled Cheese
Gooey grilled cheese sandwiches bring out the comfort and nostalgia of childhood.

Smoothies or Acai Bowls
For a refreshing, wholesome celebration bring in a mobile smoothie (or smoothie bowl) station.

Tex Mex
Bring on the burritos, nachos, fajitas, black beans, and chili seasonings.

Soul Food
Jamaican, Cajun, and Creole cuisine is a spicy, seafood-focused option for a fun occasion.

The Best Catering Types for a Celebration Lunch 

Food Trucks

For bigger events, it’s more affordable to have a food truck come and feed a lot of people. Bring in a popular, fully vetted food truck that’s able to make a lot of food very quickly. You’re likely to spend around $1500 for mobile restaurants to pop on by, but it’s worth it to see the look in everyone’s eyes. Get the team outside to enjoy some sunshine. Trust us, no one will say no.

– 50 eaters = $1000
– 75 eaters = $1200
– 100 eaters = $1600
– 150+ eaters = $2400+

Traditional Catering – Buffet Style

Traditional buffet catering is best for food that might be messy or is better served on a plate rather than a paper bowl, cup, or cone. For large groups, this is the best-priced option and allows for everyone to network while in line for food and be a little pickier about what goes on their plate. Celebrate a big merger, Secretary Appreciation Week, or a great success with more than a platter of donuts at the office.

– 40 eaters = $1000
– 60 eaters = $1500
– 100 eaters = $2500
– 150+ eaters = $3750+

6. The Daily Office Lunch

Everyday really can be a great day if great food puts workers in a great mood! Is there anything better than multiple food trucks pulling up to feed lots of employees? How about delicious yet affordable drop-off eats multiple days a week? No need to ever struggle coming up with unique company lunch ideas again.

When it comes to reliable, cost-effective lunchtime traditions, we’ve got the variety you need to make sure employees get enjoyable daytime meals. Contract with Roaming Hunger to have regular food service you’ll never have to worry about. You can also check out ezCater for consistent, reliable, cost-effective drop-off lunches.

Foods We Recommend

Yummy eats everyday are right around the corner, just downstairs, or easily delivered to your door with everyday lunches. We contract with many large corporations to provide a variety of food trucks at their offices and manufacturing plants. Whether it’s Japanese bento boxes, mac n’ cheese, or a vegan food truck, you’re sure to inspire workers with an interesting food break.

Pizza
No one can say no to a pippin’ hot and personalized slice of cheesy dough topped with all the fixins’.

Burgers
From Angus Beef to Impossible Meat get burgers covered in everything from onion rings and pickles, to BBQ sauce and peppers. 

Tacos
These quick and easy lunch bites are great for surf, turf, or veggie-loaded soft or hard shells. Every town’s got a taco truck worth talkin’ about.

BBQ
You may make a mess, but you definitely won’t be stressed after these sweet and savory bites. 

Ice Cream
Just one lick is never enough with a cheer-filled cup or cone of creamy ice cream.

The Best Catering Types for a Daily Office Lunch 

Food Trucks

Feed folks on a regular basis and base the number of trucks you need on how many eaters are partaking. Have 1 food truck on site for every 200-300 employees being served (so 500 meals would be best served by 2 trucks). All of our food truck partners are insured and if one doesn’t show up, we guarantee finding you a replacement vendor. Partnering with Roaming Hunger means never having to wonder what’s for lunch that day.

– 50 eaters = $1000
– 75 eaters = $1200
– 100 eaters = $1600
– 150+ eaters = $2400+

Drop-Off Catering (Individual or Buffet)

Have your favorite drop-off caterers on speed dial. Whether you decide to have caterers with small businesses supply a buffet for workers everyday, or choose to have individualized meals dropped off, this affordable option will allow for an array of options while staying within your budget—which if you’re providing lunch every day, is likely a priority for your company.

Here’s an estimate of what you may pay:

– 20 eaters = $240
– 50 eaters = $600
– 100 eaters = $1200
– 150+ eaters = $1800+

 

Need A Caterer? Let Roaming Hunger Guide You!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does catering cost for a corporate lunch?

On average, it costs $1,533 to hire a food truck for a company lunch. Prices for a catering package (drop-off, traditional, food carts, and more) typically range from $800-$2,500 for larger groups.

If you’re working with a smaller group and looking for drop-off catering only, ezCater is a great option and their prices range from just $200 to $400.

Generally, catering is priced per person as well as per hour, a.k.a. how many hours the caterer is required on site. A food truck feeding 100 people is only needed for 2 hours and costs about $12-$20/person. However, to feed 500 people, we would recommend bringing in 2 trucks (1 truck for every 200-300 employees).

The type of cuisine you choose affects the costs of your food truck catering more than any other factor.

Here are some starting prices, which are typical average minimums (the smaller your group, the higher your minimum and price per person will be).

Use our Food Truck Catering Cost Calculator

Desserts & Drinks

Adding drinks or dessert options to your main meal will increase the price per person by $1-$5.

Other Catering Costs

Typical service times for events that use food truck catering are 2-3 hours. Additional hours will increase total costs. Travel fees can also affect pricing. Food trucks may charge a per-mile fee if your event is outside their normal travel radius (20-30 miles).

This data is based on historical Roaming Hunger catering bookings and does not include any taxes or fees.

 

2. What is a typical service time for catering?


Service Times Based on Catering Types

Drop-Off Catering
Food is usually delivered within 1-hour.

Buffet Catering (Drop-Off or Traditional)
30 minutes to set up lunch, and 30 minutes to take down service

Traditional Catering (Private Chef)
Meal preparation can take 1-2 hours, service can take 60-90 minutes, and breakdown can be 30-60 minutes. It may involve multiple courses, similar to a restaurant.

Food Trucks & Food Carts
Generally the truck will travel to you for no extra charge if you’re no more than 20 minutes from where they’re located. Service time is then anywhere from 2-3 hours.

 

3. What are additional benefits of organizing a company lunch? 

With remote work on the rise and company cafeterias on the decline, a company lunch is a wonderful way to use your existing space, engage with employees, and personalize your policies. While your office may be half full some days, setting up a monthly or quarterly lunch event brings everyone back together so relationships can be developed and teams can build trust.

Whether you choose a more casual setting, like a park, brewery, or mini golf course, or a more formal setting in the office or at a hotel, an organized lunch that the company pays for shows that you respect your coworkers and their talents. Check out our Company Lunch Team-Building page for even more ways your company lunch can positively impact your team.

Everyone loves a good meal and a reason to gather together. Take your people’s favorite time of the day and use it to boost company morale and increase post-lunch productivity.

 

4. What should I keep in mind when hiring a caterer for my luncheon?

It’s wise to consider the dietary restrictions and preferences of the attendees so that everyone is comfortable and well-fed.

Dietary Preferences

Order a variety of options for there’s a little something for everyone, or bring in a food truck or cart that has options for gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and/or vegan. Check out the menu options of your preferred caterer beforehand to help streamline the ordering process and to ensure dietary needs are met. Remember, a successful company or client lunch requires thoughtful consideration of all attendees.

Seasonal Menus

You may want to choose lighter food fare for summer lunches and something more warming or heavy for a winter lunch. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so think about catering an array of foods—from savory, to sweet, to drink options.

Oh yeah, and the company always picks up the check!

 

5. Can a company lunch fit into my budget?

100%! There are incredible options for company lunch catering that can fit into any size budget. For perfect drop-off catering that’ll satisfy your small group, check out ezCater.

If your budget tends to be slightly more substantial, there are options from mid-range budget food carts and food trucks all the way to more expensive private chef catering.

Food truck and food cart catering is a phenomenon that’s only growing…trust us, we’ve got 20,500 food vendors and are only expanding from there. And there are caterers to fit every company and catering need.

Minimums

All caterers have what we call a “minimum.” That means there is a minimum total amount they require payment for to make an event worth their while. The average minimum we see is $1000 for about 50 people…this includes everything from arriving at your lunch and staying for a certain period of time, to the time it takes to drive to your event. If your budget allows for $25-$50 per person, you’ll definitely be able to hire a great caterer of any kind that can cook up a company lunch storm.

If you’re looking to customize a menu, have your lunch event staffed/supplied, or require extra time, this will all increase the cost of your luncheon.

 

6. How do I find and book a food truck or caterer for my event?

That’s the easiest part! For incredible food truck catering go to our Corporate Catering Page and fill out your request along with any specific dietary requirements you’re looking for. For drop-off catering use ezCater—or, for traditional catering, a quick Google search in your area will provide many options.

If going through Roaming Hunger for your food truck, once your event details are confirmed and your budget meets the minimum (see above), you can get catering packages and quotes by submitting a catering request.

Roaming Hunger will send your request to food trucks and caterers in your area, and available vendors will submit a luncheon catering package with pricing and menus. From there you can choose the best catering package for you!

Learn more about food truck catering here.

 

7. Why should I use Roaming Hunger?

Roaming Hunger is the largest website in the world for food trucks and mobile food businesses. Since 2009, we’ve helped thousands of companies and individuals book food trucks for catering and events. Today, we have over 20,500 independent food trucks, trailers, carts, pop-ups, and traditional caterers on our site.

  • Variety – Our network consists of hundreds of local vendors in every major city, totaling 20k+ nationally.
  • Save Time – Why have 100 conversations to find one food truck when you can have one conversation to find 100 food trucks?!
  • Speed – Whether you’re ready to book one day or one month out from your event, we will provide every available food truck option.
  • Quality Options – All the food trucks we work with are gourmet, vetted, licensed, proven, and reliable.
  • Service – Every catering is protected by our 100% Roaming Hunger Service Guarantee. If the caterer does not show, we’ll get you a replacement caterer or refund 100% of your money.

Have Questions We Haven’t Answered?

We’re always updating our FAQ! Please let us know what questions you have about bringing a food truck to your company.