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.
A useful catering budget includes the food, delivery, supplies, any extra service and tax. This Toronto guide uses Little Italy Catering’s published menu to show how those lines become a per-person total. It covers delivered self-serve meals; staff, equipment and other requested services need their own confirmed quote.
What decides the cost of catering per person?
Most of the difference between a low quote and a high one comes from a handful of choices. None of them is good or bad on its own; they just need to match the event.
- Format. A self-serve buffet is usually the most economical way to feed a group, because the food travels in shared trays. Individually packed meals cost more to prepare and package. Plated or passed service adds kitchen and staff time.
- Service level and staff. Drop-off delivery is the base. Staff who stay to serve, replenish and clear are a separate cost, usually charged by the hour or by the event.
- Equipment and rentals. Chafing dishes to keep food warm, real plates, linens and tables are often extra. Disposable plates and cutlery are cheaper but still cost something.
- Delivery distance and access. A downtown tower with a loading dock and security desk takes longer than a house with a driveway. Distance from the kitchen matters too.
- Tax. In Ontario, catering invoices carry 13% HST. Many menus are priced before tax, so a per-person figure can look lower than what you will pay.
- Minimums. Most caterers set a minimum guest count or order value. Below it, the per-person price can rise or the format may not be available.
When you compare quotes, line them up on the same basis: the same headcount, the same food per guest, and the total after delivery and tax. A per-person number on its own tells you very little.
How much does Little Italy Catering cost per person?
The full list of pasta and main choices for each package is on the catering menu, and the pricing page sets every package side by side.
What is not included in a per-guest price?
Being clear about extras avoids surprises on the invoice. Our standard service is hot delivery and a self-serve setup. These are charged separately when you want them:
How can you lower the cost per person without running short?
- Order for confirmed guests. A firm headcount is the biggest single saving. Our guide on how much pasta and lasagna to order per person covers buffers.
- Combine deliveries where the serving plan allows. Sharing a delivery fee can reduce the per-guest cost, but separate locations or meal times may need separate arrangements.
- Self-serve where it suits. If guests can serve themselves, you avoid staff costs entirely.
What should go in your catering budget checklist?
Before you settle on a number, run through this list so nothing lands on the invoice that you did not plan for:
- Confirmed headcount, plus how many guests need a meat-free plate or have an allergy
- Package or format, with included entrée and side selections
- Any add-ons, such as dessert, drinks, a hot side, or plates and cutlery
- Delivery zone and access notes (parking, elevator, security desk)
- Whether you need chafing equipment or staff, which are quoted separately
- 13% HST on the full subtotal, delivery included
These six items give you a clearer basis for comparing the written quote with your budget. Additional equipment, staff, access requirements or menu changes can affect the final total.
How do you get a firm price?
Use the catering cost calculator for an estimate, then request a quote with your date, headcount, package, delivery address and any dietary needs. We confirm availability and send a written quote with food, delivery, add-ons and HST shown separately. The written quote is the final word on price, and it takes precedence over any figure on this page. Please give us at least 48 hours' notice; more is better for large groups.
Planning an office order? The office and corporate catering page compares menus for team lunches, meetings and staff events.
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.
