How to choose a boxed lunch caterer
When boxed lunches beat a buffet
Boxes work when people eat at their seats, on a tour bus, at a job site or between takes, or when they show up at different times. Portions and allergies are easy to manage, since every meal is sealed and labeled. For a team that eats together in one room, a buffet may give more variety for the money.
Check what is in the box
A typical box holds a sandwich, wrap or salad, a side, a snack or cookie, and sometimes a drink. Ask what comes standard, whether utensils and napkins are in the box, and whether salads and hot meals can be boxed as well.
Labels and names
For trainings and productions, ask for each box to be labeled with its contents and dietary tags, with names on the special-diet meals. Have the boxes sorted by type before they reach the table. When a whole room reaches for lunch at once, that saves ten minutes.
Ordering for a group
- Collect choices with a simple form a few days ahead, or ask the caterer for an assorted mix.
- Order a few extra vegetarian boxes, because other guests often choose them too.
- Confirm the delivery window and who will receive the order. In a downtown or Century City tower, that means a name the security desk can call.
- Ask about the order cutoff and how late the count can still change.
What it costs in Los Angeles
Few catering costs are as predictable as a boxed lunch, because you pay by the box. Published LA prices run from deli boxes in the high teens to chef-made lunch bags in the thirties.
Boxed lunch prices in LA| What | Typical range |
|---|
| Deli or fast-casual box | $18 to $25 per box |
|---|
| Chef-made or premium box | $25 to $38 per box |
|---|
| Typical minimum order | 10 to 15 boxes, often $100 or more |
|---|
| Delivery fee | $25 to $200 per order |
|---|
Minimums of 10 or 15 boxes are common, and some caterers ask for the same item in groups of four or more. Drinks, utensils and delivery may cost extra, and sales tax applies to hot meals and to disposables.
Lunch from Marbled LA starts at $24 per person and breakfast at $22, plus $2.50 per person for disposables, delivery from $150 per drop and a 15 percent service charge.
Tips
- Ask what is in the box at each price. A sandwich, chips and cookie box and a box with a salad and a drink are not the same lunch.
- Collect choices a day or two early instead of ordering an assorted mix, and fewer boxes go uneaten.
These are typical Los Angeles market ranges drawn from public price lists and cost guides, not quotes. Every caterer prices its own menus, so ask each one for a written quote.