Portion planning
How much food per person.
Our trays are sized by headcount, so the maths is simple. A small serves 10, a medium 20, a large 30. The real question is how many different dishes to order.
Tray sizes
Sized by headcount.
| Tray | Serves | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 10 | A team lunch, a small gathering |
| Medium | 20 | An office floor, a birthday |
| Large | 30 | Parties, receptions, large events |
Those counts assume the tray is one of several dishes on the table, which is how Indian catering is normally eaten. Every curry tray already includes basmati rice, and biryani comes with raita, so you are not buying sides separately.
The actual question
How many dishes?
Match the tray size to your headcount, then pick how many different dishes. More dishes means more choice, not more food.
| Guests | Simple lunch | Standard | Celebration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 2 small | 2 small + biryani | 3 small + biryani |
| 20 | 2 medium | 2 medium + biryani | 3 medium + biryani |
| 30 | 2 large | 2 large + biryani | 3 large + biryani |
| 60 | 4 large | 4 large + 2 biryani | 6 large + 2 biryani |
Rule of thumb: one vegetarian dish for every meat dish, always. It covers the vegetarians in the room and the people who simply want both.
Avoiding the two mistakes
Short, or wasted.
- Count the room, not the invite list. Order for who will actually eat. For an office lunch that is usually everyone; for an evening event, fewer.
- Round up on vegetarian. It is the dish non vegetarians also eat, so it empties first. If you are unsure where to add, add there.
- Biryani eats like a main. Add one and people take less of everything else, which is why two curries plus biryani feeds a room comfortably.
- Do not order a dish per person. A buffet is shared. Three dishes for 30 people is a generous spread, not a thin one.
- Going over 60? Tell us the room and the serving window. Staffed service keeps a long line hot and stocked.
Portion questions
Asked often.
Order by tray, not by person. A small tray serves 10, a medium 20 and a large 30, assuming it sits alongside one or two other dishes. For most events, two curries plus a biryani sized to your headcount is the right amount.
Yes. Every curry tray includes basmati rice, and biryani trays come with raita. You are not buying those separately.
Tell us the split and each is cooked and kept separate, labelled on the buffet line or packed in its own box. Vegetarian runs through our whole menu rather than sitting in a section of it, so there is no shortage of choice.
Yes, and it is often the smart move. A large tray of the popular vegetarian dish alongside medium trays of the others matches what people actually eat.
Not sure?
Tell us
the headcount.
Send your guest count and the occasion. We will tell you what to order, and say so if you are over ordering.
- Small
- Serves 10
- Medium
- Serves 20
- Large
- Serves 30