Sample catering menu for 25, 50 and 100 guests, with costs

A sample catering menu for a buffet looks like this: two entrées, a starch, a vegetable, a salad and bread. At Upper Crust that is Buffet Menu 1 at $18.99 a person, so $474.75 for 25 guests, $949.50 for 50 and $1,899 for 100, before 9.25% sales tax. The menu below is one way to fill it in, and the costs for Menus 2 and 3 follow.

A sample menu

• Entrée: Herb Roasted Chicken, served with the sides below.
• Entrée: Baked Mostaccioli.
• Starch: Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
• Vegetable: Buttered Green Beans.
• Salad: Tossed Mixed Greens.
• Bread: Assorted Dinner Rolls & Butter.
• Dessert, added on: Brownies, $59 for 35 count.

The chicken and the mostaccioli are on Menu 1. Chicken Oreganato and the meatless pasta are options if you need gluten-free or vegetarian. On each menu page you pick the dishes, and the kitchen builds the line.

What each menu costs

Per-person prices times guests, before tax:

• Buffet Menu 1, $18.99: 25 guests $474.75, 50 guests $949.50, 100 guests $1,899.00.
• Buffet Menu 2, $19.99: 25 guests $499.75, 50 guests $999.50, 100 guests $1,999.00. Chicken piccata, marsala, pot roast, roast turkey and our famous pork chops.
• Buffet Menu 3, $20.99: 25 guests $524.75, 50 guests $1,049.50, 100 guests $2,099.00. Carved sirloin, cordon bleu, cod, brisket and salmon.

What changes with size

25 guests

Plan two entrées so most guests find something. Buffets start at 20 guests, so 25 is a small buffet. If you only need to feed 15, trays are the way to go, because they have no minimum.

50 guests

Plan two or three entrées and a vegetarian option. At 50 guests, add a dessert and plates: Plates, Napkins & Silverware are $1.50 per person, so 50 x $1.50 = $75. A Chafing Dish Set is $17 per hot dish.

100 guests

At 100 guests, a staffed buffet makes sense. Servers are $35 an hour, 4-hour minimum each, with a $50 event production fee and a 20% service charge on food and rentals. For Menu 1 with 4 servers, 4 hours: food $1,899, servers 4 x 4 x $35 = $560, fee $50, service charge 20% x $1,899 = $379.80. Subtotal: $1,899 + $560 + $50 + $379.80 = $2,888.80 before tax and delivery. The number of servers is set in your quote.

Staffed events need 14 days of notice. Standard orders need 3.

An appetizer hour to add

Before the meal, plan about 2 to 3 pieces a guest for each hour. For 50 guests in a one-hour reception, 125 pieces. Cocktail Meatballs, $64 for 100 pieces, plus Bruschetta with Garlic Toast Points, $45 for 60 pieces, is 160 pieces for $109. Full tray prices and counts are in the catered appetizers guide.

Drinks

Iced Tea, Punch or Lemonade and Coffee are $89 each for 50 six-ounce servings. For 100 guests, plan 2 packs of each: 2 x $89 = $178.

From sample to your menu

A sample is a starting point. Tell us the date, headcount and any dietary needs and we write your menu with prices on one sheet, valid for 14 days. A 25% deposit holds the date; the balance is due 7 days before the event after the final count. Our catering packages guide lists what is and is not in the price. Call (630) 553-9533 or use the quote form.

Questions

How many entrées for 50 people?

We plan two or three, with one vegetarian option, so every guest has something they eat.

What is the smallest buffet?

20 guests. For fewer, order trays, which have no minimum.

Can I change the sample menu?

Yes. Tell us what to change when you ask for your quote, and we price it on the same sheet.

Does the price include tax?

No. Sales tax of 9.25% is added.