A Dallas Guide to Corporate Event Catering: Budgeting Per Person
If you're the person responsible for keeping your office fed — whether that's a weekly team lunch, a client meeting, or an all-hands company milestone — figuring out a realistic per-person catering budget is often the first hurdle. Here's a practical breakdown to help you plan, based on the kind of event you're hosting.
Everyday Team & Business Lunches: $12–$16 per person
For regular team lunches or working sessions, boxed lunches are usually the easiest and most cost-effective option. A standard sandwich box (choice of sandwich, chips, and a cookie) runs around $14 per person, while a deluxe version with pasta salad and fresh fruit comes in closer to $16. Salad boxes and Mediterranean wrap boxes fall in a similar range and are an easy way to offer variety without complicating the order.
Good for: Recurring lunches, smaller meetings, anything ordered on a regular cadence where budget predictability matters.
Client Meetings & Working Sessions: $15–$20 per person
When you want the meal to feel a little more considered — say, for a client visit — party trays and small buffet spreads hit the right note without tipping into "event" territory. Deli platters, assorted sandwich platters, and wrap platters run roughly $8–$12 per person, and pairing a tray with a side salad or fruit tray keeps the spread feeling generous.
Good for: Meetings where presentation matters, but a full buffet setup isn't necessary.
Office Celebrations & Milestones: $16–$22 per person
For birthdays, launches, or company milestones, a buffet-style spread from our American, Mexican & Tex-Mex, or Italian menus adds some festivity to the day. Taco bars, fajita stations, and baked pasta dishes are consistently popular for larger office groups, generally priced $14–$20 per person with sides included — plus the option to add a carving station or action station (like a mashed potato or mac & cheese bar) for something more interactive.
Good for: Larger gatherings that want to feel like an event, not just a meal.
Brand & Company-Wide Events: $20–$28+ per person
For bigger brand gatherings — think company-wide milestones or events with outside guests — hors d'oeuvres packages and multi-station buffets give you more range. Our curated hors d'oeuvres packages run from $14 to $28 per person depending on selection, and can be combined with entrees or action stations for a fuller spread.
Good for: High-visibility events where the food is part of making a good impression.
A Few Budgeting Tips
Ask about minimums. Some menu categories (Mexican & Tex-Mex, American specialties, Greek) require a minimum of 25 guests — worth knowing before you fall in love with a specific dish for a smaller group.
Mix and match. Items across our menu can be combined freely — you're not locked into one category, so you can pair, say, a taco bar with an Italian side dish if that's what your team actually wants.
Build in a buffer. A 5–10% cushion above your headcount covers unexpected guests and second helpings without derailing your budget.
Getting a Custom Quote
Every office, every event, and every budget looks a little different — the numbers above are a starting point, not a fixed menu. The most accurate way to plan is to tell us your guest count, event type, and budget range, and we'll help you build a spread that fits.