In today’s fast-paced world, catering services and online platforms have become essential to event planning and hosting. Whether it’s a corporate gathering, a wedding, or a social event, exemplary catering service can make all the difference in creating a memorable experience for your guests. In this article, we will compare the top 10 catering services and online platforms, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision. This article compares the top 10 catering services to help you determine your office food needs.
1. Grubhub / Seamless Corporate and Catering
Grubhub/Seamless are popular food ordering services that have extended their offerings to corporate catering. They provide a massive collection of restaurants to select from nationwide, and you can view menus, prices, and photos via their transparent interface. However, they do not focus mainly on office group catering and have limited menu curation.
Pros:
A large variety of restaurants across the nation.
Transparent interface to see full menus and prices.
Ability to switch between ordering for work and ordering outside of work.
Order on-demand and same-day easily.
Cons:
Any restaurant can join since their curation and vetting are limited, making it hard to narrow down the best restaurants for your office.
Not ideally suited for office lunch needs (e.g., punctuality, professionalism, and budget).
2. DoorDash / Caviar for Work and Group Order
DoorDash provides contract drivers to pick up and deliver food items from restaurants farther away, giving you access to more restaurant options. They offer tools such as corporate gift cards for offices, transparent menus, and prices with photos of individual dishes. However, delivery-related issues and additional fees may add up if you have a tight budget.
Pros:
Wide-ranging selection of different restaurants nationwide.
Transparent menus and prices with several photos of individual dishes.
Ability to provide DoorDash gift cards to employees scattered throughout the country.
Order on-demand and morning-of easily.
Cons:
Delivery-related problems may arise since restaurants are farther away than Seamless.
Several fees might be cost-prohibitive if you have a tight budget.
Menu options for catering may be limited, and the interface is more focused on typical food delivery than office group catering.
3. CaterCow
CaterCow is a service dedicated explicitly to supplying food for groups and curates menu options from restaurants that provide quality, punctual food that travels well. They provide photos of food in their delivery containers, and you can order on behalf of your team or group orders. CaterCow is an excellent option if you need to consider dietary needs.
Pros:
Service is explicitly focused on ordering for groups, so menu curation and vetting are given priority.
Variety of options from restaurants further away due to large order sizes.
Ability to group orders with employee budget limits and allowances.
Meals are delivered labeled with dietary details and the name of employees.
Cons:
The minimum order size is large, making it inappropriate for small office groups.
Limited restaurant options are available due to the vetting and curation process.
Order at least one day before delivery for the full breadth of menus.
4. ZeroCater
ZeroCater is the oldest concierge service on this list and provides services to large companies with consistent and predictable food needs. They have an army of account managers and food attendants, including setting up extensive buffet spreads with chafing dishes and labels and coordinating office snacks and micro-kitchens.
Pros:
Known for its concierge services and a full suite of enterprise catering solutions.
Some restaurants may have exclusive partnerships with ZeroCater.
Account managers help with the entire process, given the budget, food preferences, and dietary needs.
Cons:
You must order through an account manager instead of through a website, which means there will be back-and-forth communication.
It needs to be more transparent about which menus are available to choose from.
Services are designed for enterprises and large companies with consistent and predictable daily needs.
5. Cater2.me
Cater2.me offers white-glove concierge services similar to ZeroCater, focusing on providing attendants, chafing dishes, and other requirements. Some restaurants are exclusive to this platform and help curate meals based on dietary preferences and budget.
Pros:
Similar to ZeroCater, excellent concierge services and white-glove needs.
Account managers take care of all aspects of ordering based on budget and dietary preferences.
Some restaurants are exclusive to Cater2.me.
Cons:
It takes a lot of work to see what menus are available before talking to an account manager.
Catering approvals and changes may require several back-and-forth communications.
6. Fooda
Fooda provides unique pop-up food offerings in common areas or building lobbies. Companies can offer subsidies to employees’ food selection. They also have an online portal to order directly with a concierge service if you require drop-off deliveries.
Pros:
Unique pop-up offerings.
Transparent restaurant menus were available on their online portal.
Similar to ZeroCater and Cater2.me, good concierge services.
Cons:
Coordination and logistical issues can arise since pop-up is more work for restaurants and employees than traditional food delivery.
With a full subsidy, it is easier to predict team member headcount, which may limit menu options.
7. EAT Club
EAT Club is a pioneer in individual order office catering services. They allow each employee to select their meals from a vast menu, including EAT Club cooked and restaurant-prepared dishes. They consolidate food from various sources at a central distribution warehouse, where re-sorting occurs before delivery.
Pros:
Wide range of features for individuals ordering.
The daily menu includes EAT Club-cooked and restaurant-prepared foods.
Ability to provide a cubby at your office to store the food quickly.
Cons:
Lack of customizations since food is mass-produced and collected in a centralized warehouse.
Challenging to get specific dishes if absent from the daily menu.
8. ezCater
ezCater provides an extensive collection of catering menus available across the entire nation. They work with classic chains like Subway and Denny’s and have a helpful customer support team.
Pros:
Many restaurant choices operate throughout the nation.
Transparent and accessible menus with pricing information.
Works with classic chains like Subway, Denny’s, Olive Garden, and Taco Bell.
Cons:
Ordering is self-service; they need more concierge and account managers’ resources.
The need for photos of dishes makes it hard to discern what you’re ordering.
9. Forkable
Forkable offers individual team members meals by delivering directly to your office from restaurants. It automates meal selection based on personal preferences and produces minimal food waste since the team member selects each meal.
Pros:
Wide range of feature-rich individual ordering options.
Minimal food waste produced.
Auto-selection of meals based on individual preferences.
Cons:
Limited options since restaurants may be too far away.
Food may become lukewarm during transit.
10. Thriver (previously Platterz)
Thriver has a website option for direct ordering and offers a concierge service. They also provide office culture services and help to organize team-building activities.
Pros:
Automated website ordering method.
Similar to ZeroCater and Cater2.me, good concierge services.
Non-food-related services are available to promote office culture.
Cons:
Concierge services may require several communication exchanges.
Prioritization of larger companies with predictable and constant daily catering needs.
When selecting a catering service or online platform, consider your needs, budget, and dietary requirements. The pros and cons presented are intended to provide a general overview and comparison of the services and platforms. Consider factors such as the variety of menu offerings, quality, pricing, delivery options, and customization capabilities. With the right caterer or online platform, you can confidently host your next event and ensure a memorable culinary experience for your guests.
Disclaimer: The information provided in the article is based on research and analysis of the top 10 catering services and online platforms. It is important to note that the pros and cons may vary based on individual experiences and specific event requirements. Additionally, the availability and offerings of catering services and online platforms may change over time. We recommend conducting further research and considering personal preferences and needs before making a final decision.
