Catering for Graduations, Birthdays & Family Gatherings

Family parties are hard to plan because you rarely know who will turn up, or when. A graduation open house can run from noon to six with guests arriving in waves. A birthday might be twenty cousins or fifty neighbors. Our trays come in two sizes, small for 10–12 people and large for 20–22, so you can build an order around the guest list you have and adjust it by a tray or two.

What to order for a family crowd

A simple rule keeps most parties covered: one protein, one side and one salad for every guest, plus bread and dessert. Family gatherings also tend to have a few picky eaters, a few vegetarians and a lot of kids, so it helps to mix familiar food with the Mediterranean favorites.

• Proteins most people know: chicken shawarma, gyro and chicken kabobs. Kabobs are sold by the skewer, and the kabob minimum applies.
• Kid-friendly trays: spaghetti with marinara or meat sauce, fettuccine alfredo, penne rosé and cheese pies by the dozen.
• Vegetarian and vegan picks: hummus, falafel, fattoush and tabouleh are marked vegan on our menu; grape leaves, spinach pies and Greek salad are marked vegetarian.
• Finger food for grazing: rolled sandwiches, grape leaves, kibbie and spinach pies are easy to pick up while standing and talking.

A sample order for a 50-guest open house

Here is a starting point for a graduation party of about 50. It covers the full guest list once, which suits an open house where some guests eat a full plate and others only snack.

Qty	Item	Price
2	Chicken Shawarma, large tray	$240
1	Chicken Shawarma, small tray	$65
2	Rice, large tray	$100
1	Rice, small tray	$35
2	Greek Salad, large tray	$130
1	Greek Salad, small tray	$45
2	Hummus, large tray	$120
1	Hummus, small tray	$40
5	Spinach Pies, dozen	$120
5	Tandoori Bread, dozen	$80
2	Baklava, large tray	$180
1	Baklava, small tray	$50
	Food total	$1,205
	Per guest	about $24.10

Food only, at today's menu prices, before tax and delivery ($10 to $30 by distance). Trays are counted at the low end of each size's range.

For a younger crowd, swap the rice for a pasta tray. For a birthday, add a whole lemon cake, strawberry cheesecake or tiramisu from the dessert section. If you want to try other headcounts, the helper below does the tray math for you.

How many trays do I need?

Enter your headcount and pick a dish for each course. We size every course to feed everyone once, using the low end of each tray's range.

Guests

Serve it as

Buffet trays Boxed lunches

MainChicken ShawarmaGyroBeef ShawarmaChicken skewersKafta skewersBeef skewersVegetable skewersMeat LasagnaChicken Fettuccine AlfredoBéchamel Pasta Bake SideNoneRiceRoasted PotatoesMixed VegetablesKousharyPenne RoséFettuccine Alfredo SaladNoneGreek SaladFattoush SaladTabouleh SaladLebanese SaladMediterranean SaladCaesar Salad ExtraNoneHummusBaba GhannougeTandoori BreadFalafelGrape LeavesSpinach PiesKibbie DessertNoneBaklavaKunafaRice PuddingTiramisu

• 1× Chicken Shawarma, large tray $120
• 1× Chicken Shawarma, small tray $65
• 1× Rice, large tray $50
• 1× Rice, small tray $35
• 1× Greek Salad, large tray $65
• 1× Greek Salad, small tray $45
• 3× Tandoori Bread, dozen $48
• 1× Baklava, large tray $90
• 1× Baklava, small tray $50

Food total $568 about $22.72 per guest

Before tax and delivery ($10 to $30 by distance). Prices from our current menu.

Request a quote for this order

Planning an open house that runs all afternoon

When guests drift in over four or five hours, do not put all the food out at once. Set out about half of each tray when the party starts, keep the rest in the refrigerator, and refill as the first round empties. The last guests get food that looks as fresh as it did at noon, and you waste less.

Cold and room-temperature dishes like hummus, salads, grape leaves and rolled sandwiches are the easiest to manage at an all-day event, because you can refill them straight from the refrigerator. Hot trays like shawarma and rice are best put out in smaller batches.

Baby showers, bridal showers and reunions

Showers usually want lighter food: a salad tray, hummus and baba ghannouge with bread, spinach and cheese pies, grape leaves and something sweet. Reunions run the other way, so plan for hearty trays and second helpings. For showers and engagement parties with a more formal feel, see our rehearsal dinner and shower catering page.

Our kitchen opens at 11 am every day. If you need the order earlier, call us in advance and we can arrange a pickup or delivery before 11 am.

How ordering works

1. Pick your trays from the catering menu, or tell us your headcount and we will suggest an order.
2. Place and confirm your order at least 24 hours before your party. Call (540) 372-7755 or request a quote online. Orders placed less than 48 hours before your event are paid in full when you order. With more notice, your order starts as a quote: we review it, call you to go over it and adjust anything needed, then charge your card.
3. Pick up at the restaurant at 9901 Southpoint Parkway, or have it delivered to your home or party venue anywhere within 50 miles of the restaurant. Delivery is $10 for addresses within 20 miles of the restaurant, $20 for 20 to 40 miles and $30 for 40 to 50 miles. Drop-off is standard. Setup, wait staff and other services are available on request and priced with your quote.

Planning something bigger or less family-focused? Our party catering page covers game days and general celebrations, and how much catering for 50 people walks through the math in more detail.