By the Little Italy Catering team · Updated · 5 min read
Which package and price should you use?
Italian Lunch Essentials is $13.95/person, minimum 10 guests. It includes one pasta, lasagna or other listed entrée, italian garden salad, garlic bread. Cookies, desserts, drinks and additional proteins are not included. Delivery and 13% HST are additional. Optional extras are charged separately.
Italian Lunch Essentials: minimum 10 guests; Signature Italian Buffet: minimum 10 guests; Italian Feast Buffet: minimum 15 guests.
- Italian Lunch Essentials — $13.95/person: One pasta, lasagna or other listed entrée; Italian garden salad; Garlic bread.
- Signature Italian Buffet — $17.95/person: Chicken, meatball or other listed entrée; Italian salad; Garlic ciabatta.
- Italian Feast Buffet — $22.95/person: Choice of entrée; Two sides or salads; Garlic bread; Optional dessert upgrade, quoted separately.
There is no complimentary cookie, dessert, drink or additional protein in Essentials. Optional extras are selected and charged separately. Do not add a second charge for food already included in your chosen package.
What does a 30-guest order cost?
The following planning examples include the food, one standard Toronto delivery and 13% HST, with no optional extras preselected.
| Menu | Food | Delivery | HST | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italian Lunch Essentials | $418.50 | $40 | $59.61 | $518.11 |
| Signature Italian Buffet | $538.50 | $40 | $75.21 | $653.71 |
| Italian Feast Buffet | $688.50 | $40 | $94.71 | $823.21 |
The written quote confirms the actual delivery fee, selected extras and availability. See the full menu, pricing breakdown, pan sizes and prices or calculate a different headcount.
Boxed lunches and buffets solve different office ordering problems. Compare them at the same guest count, with packaging, place settings, delivery and tax included. The worked examples below use our published menus; the final choice also depends on where people will eat and how the meal will be distributed.
What exactly are you comparing?
Our two lunch boxes line up closely with our two lighter buffets:
The boxes include individual packaging, cutlery and a napkin. The buffets don't include guest plates or cutlery; those are an add-on. Buffets can also be individually packed for an extra charge. Here are the relevant add-ons:
Your written quote confirms which supplies your order needs.
Which is cheaper for 30 people?
Three things stand out:
Delivery and HST are extra in every case, and the written quote confirms the final price. Check other headcounts with the catering cost calculator.
When are boxed lunches the better choice?
- Board meetings and client presentations where a buffet line would interrupt the session
- Hybrid days when people are spread across floors or arrive at different times
- Training sessions where people eat at their seats
- Groups of 10 to 14, below the buffet minimum
- Offices where you want a clear count of meat-free and chicken meals in advance
Our boxed lunch catering page covers ordering details and mixing selections.
When is a buffet the better choice?
- Team lunches where the point is to sit together
- Groups with mixed appetites, where some people want more and others less
- Offices with a boardroom table or kitchen counter that can hold trays
The office and corporate catering page compares the buffet packages and office delivery arrangements.
How do you handle dietary needs in each format?
With boxes, you collect choices in advance: a Pasta Lunch Box with roasted chickpeas and vegetables for those who skip meat, a Chicken Parmesan box for others. Each selection needs at least 10 boxes. With a buffet, you choose a meat-free option such as Mushroom Cacciatore or Spinach Ricotta Stuffed Shells, and dish labels help guests find it.
In both formats, send us every allergy before you order. We confirm ingredients and whether we can support the request per order, and we don't make blanket allergen or dietary guarantees.
Quick decision checklist
- Different rooms? Boxes simplify distribution. Different times? Confirm delivery and food holding before booking.
- Everyone together, with a table for trays? Buffet.
- Some guests want Chicken Parmesan, others a lighter lunch? Mixed boxes, with at least 10 of each selection.
Choosing a format for a conference or staff appreciation day
For a seminar or exhibitor lunch, check that the venue permits outside food before choosing either format. Our conference lunch catering page explains access, break schedules and distribution. For staff eating at different times, see employee appreciation lunch planning. Boxes simplify distribution, but do not remove the need to confirm delivery and holding arrangements for each serving window.
Plan the serving window and leftovers
Tell us if the meal will be served over several sittings or held until later. Discuss suitable delivery and holding arrangements before booking; packaging alone does not solve that question. For handling, storage and reheating guidance, use Health Canada’s general food safety tips. Equipment and staff, if required, must be quoted and confirmed separately.
What should you send with a quote request?
Send the event date, serving time, number of guests, selected menu, address and dietary needs. List requested extras separately so the food already included in the package remains clear. Mention parking, loading, elevators or security check-in and provide an on-site contact.
Minimum 48 hours’ notice. Order cut-off: noon, two days before your order date. Your written quote confirms availability. Your request is an enquiry, not an automatic booking. The team confirms the menu and availability before you approve the written quote.
