Why bother with a catered lunch?
A catered lunch is one of the simplest ways to bring a team together. It gets people away from their desks at the same time, and it’s a good excuse to mark something: a new office, a finished project, a quarter that went well or a team that’s been working hard.
The catch is that it has to fit a working day. The food needs to be ready on time, served quickly, and light enough that people can still concentrate afterwards.
Idea 1: a food truck in the car park
If your building has a car park, yard or open space, a street-food truck or trailer turns lunch into an event. People step outside, queue, chat and eat in the fresh air. It works well for a monthly team lunch, a summer celebration or a welcome day for new starters.
You’ll need permission from the landlord or building manager, and a level, safe spot for the truck or trailer with room for a queue. We’ll talk through access, power and water with you.
Idea 2: a build-your-own taco bar
A taco bar lets everyone choose exactly what they want. Warm tortillas, a few fillings, salsas, guacamole and toppings are set out, and guests build their own plate. It suits offices with mixed diets, because each filling and topping is kept separate and labelled. See our taco bar guide for how it works.
Idea 3: burrito bowls for a working lunch
If people are eating at their desks or in a meeting room, burrito bowls are easier than tacos. Rice, beans, a filling, salsa and toppings in one bowl, eaten with a fork. They’re filling without being heavy, and easy to make vegan or gluten-free.
Idea 4: a Friday afternoon treat
Loaded nachos and tacos at the end of the week, with aguas frescas or, if the setting allows, a cold Mexican beer. It feels relaxed and gives people a reason to stay and talk. If you’re serving alcohol, the right licence is needed, and we’ll check the licensing with you.
What to serve: a sample lunch menu
Menus are agreed with each client. A lunchtime menu might include:
- Two or three fillings, for example chicken tinga, pork carnitas and spiced black beans
- Corn tortillas for tacos, or rice for burrito bowls
- Fresh salsa, guacamole, pickled red onion, lime and coriander
- Cheese and soured cream kept on the side for anyone avoiding dairy
Keep the spice level moderate in the main dishes and put the hot salsas on the side. Our guide to how spicy Mexican food is explains why that works.
Make it work on a busy day
- Fix the time. Tell the caterer exactly when lunch starts and how long people have.
- Stagger the break. If 150 people all come down at 12.30, someone waits. Split teams into slots.
- Send a menu round. People decide faster in the queue if they’ve seen the options.
- Collect dietary needs early. Ask in the invitation, not on the day.
- Have a plan for rain. The truck serves in the rain, but guests need somewhere dry to eat.
Diets and allergens
We offer vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free (with corn tortillas) and dairy-free options, and give allergen information for every dish. We plan carefully and keep options separate, but we can’t promise a kitchen where any allergen is completely absent. Colleagues with a severe allergy should talk to us before the day. Read allergens at events for more.
Numbers and quotes
Our truck and trailer service usually suits around 50 to 400 guests. Smaller lunches are quoted case by case, so tell us your numbers. We don’t publish prices because every office and every lunch is different. Contact us for a quote, or see corporate Mexican catering for more.
Planning an event? Tell us about it and we’ll suggest a menu and send a quote for your event.