Open house food ideas: what to serve when guests come and go

For open house food, serve things that sit well for three hours and can be eaten with one hand. A grazing menu for 30 guests of Assorted Finger Sandwiches, an Assorted Cheese Tray, Cocktail Meatballs, a Fresh Vegetable Crudités tray and cookies is $343, about $11.43 a guest before tax. Call (630) 553-9533.

Why open houses are different

Guests arrive and leave across several hours, so there is no sit-down moment and no line. Food has to look fresh at hour one and at hour three. Cold trays do that best. One hot tray gives the table a center. This works for a graduation open house, a housewarming, a business open house or a retirement.

A grazing menu for 30

• Assorted Finger Sandwiches, $89, 60 pieces.
• Assorted Cheese Tray with Crackers, $69, 60 pieces.
• Fresh Vegetable Crudités, $59, serves 25 to 30.
• Cocktail Meatballs, $64, 100 pieces, with one Chafing Dish Set at $17.
• Assorted Home Baked Cookies, $45, 40 count.

Total $343. With 9.25% sales tax it is $374.73. That is 220 savory pieces plus the vegetables and 40 cookies: about 7 savory pieces per guest. We plan 2 to 3 pieces per guest per hour for a mix, so 6 to 9 pieces fits a three-hour open house.

Scaling it

• 15 guests: one sandwich tray and one cheese tray, $158, is plenty.
• 60 guests: double the menu, $686 before tax, or $11.43 a guest.
• 100 guests: add a third cold tray and a second hot tray, and ask us to check the quantities on a quote.

Foods that hold well

• Cheese and crackers, vegetables and fruit hold for hours.
• Pinwheel Sandwiches, $79, 60 pieces, and finger sandwiches hold well covered.
• Bruschetta with Garlic Toast Points, $45, 60 pieces, is best in the first hour or two.
• Antipasto Kabobs, $74, 50 pieces, are an easy cold bite.
• Hot food: put it on a chafing dish, and replace the tray if it empties.

Setting up

• Put food where traffic flows but not at a front door.
• Use two small stations, not one big one, so guests can circle through the rooms.
• Disposable Appetizer Plates & Napkins are $0.99 a person and fit finger food well.
• Keep a drinks table apart from the food. Soft drinks and Bottled Water are $2.49 each, and iced tea, punch or lemonade is $89 for 50 servings.
• Make a vegetarian label for the cheese, veggie and cookie trays.

Ordering

Trays have no minimum and need about three days. Pick up in Yorkville, or delivery is quoted when you order. For graduation open houses, see graduation open house food ideas. For other cold trays, see our cheese and cracker tray guide. The drop-off catering page explains how drop-off works. Ask for a quote when you have a date.

Questions

How much food do I need for an open house?

We plan 2 to 3 savory pieces per guest per hour for a mix, plus dessert.

What is the easiest open house food?

Cold trays: sandwiches, cheese, vegetables, and cookies. One hot tray gives the table a center.

Do you set up the food?

Drop-off orders arrive ready to serve. For setup and service, a staffed event needs 14 days' notice.

How much does open house catering cost?

About $11.43 a guest for the grazing menu above, before tax and delivery.