lunch catering

Lunch Catering That Keeps NYC Offices Running on Schedule

What Is Lunch Catering and Why Does It Matter for NYC Offices?

Lunch catering in NYC is a professional food service where a caterer prepares, delivers, and sets up a midday meal for corporate offices, meetings, or client events at the client’s location. Formats range from boxed lunches and buffets to plated service, with per-head pricing based on headcount, menu complexity, and service style.

Midtown offices run on tight schedules. A noon meeting starts whether the food is there or not, and if the caterer is still loading through the freight elevator at 11:55, your client lunch just became an awkward wait. That is the operational reality most office managers in Manhattan deal with regularly. Let’s be honest — getting the food right is half the job. Getting it there, set up, and ready before anyone walks into the room is the other half.

Urban Affairs has been handling office catering services across all five boroughs since 1998, with DOHMH-compliant, HACCP-certified kitchens and a fleet that knows which buildings require loading dock reservations by 6 AM.

Lunch Catering Menu

SANDWICH PACKAGES

8 Guest Minimum – Side Dish Options

URBAN EXPRESS  20.95

• Assorted sandwiches and wraps
• Choice of one side dish [see p. 16-17]

WORKING LUNCH 25.95

• Assorted sandwiches and wraps
• Choice of one side dish [see p. 16-17]
• Dessert platter

NEW YORK LUNCH  28.95

• Assorted sandwiches and wraps
• Choice of two side dishes [see p. 16-17]
• Dessert platter

PREMIER LUNCH 35.95

• Assorted sandwiches and wraps
• Choice of two side dishes [see p. 16-17]
• Sliced Fruits
• Dessert

MEAT & CHEESE PLATTERS 38.95

• Build your own sandwich
• Roast Beef, Black Forest Ham, Grilled Chicken, Roast Turkey, Salami, Assorted Cheeses, Olives, Peppers, Sliced
• Tomato, Artisan Breads, Dressings, Egg Salad, Or Tuna Salad. A Tray Of Lettuce, Tomatoes, And Kalamata Olives.
• Choice Of Two Side Dishes [See P. 16-17]
• Dessert
• Sliced Fruit
• Add Potato Salad Or Coleslaw +2.25

BOXED LUNCHES

10 guest minimum- Convenient for picnics, corporate outings, bus rides, traveling, etc

Simple Box 20.75

• Sandwich or wrap
• Side salad
• Cookies

CEO Box 24.25

• Sandwich or wrap
• Side salad
• Fruit salad
• Potato chips
• Cookies

Deluxe Box 26.50

• Sandwich or wrap
• Side salad
• Fruit salad
• Potato chips
• Cookies
• Beverage

HEROES BY THE FOOT

42.25 Per foot [3 feet minimum]- One foot serves approximately 5 guests. Accompanied by a garden salad

• Classics Italian : Prosciutto, Genoa Salami, Capicola, Provolone, Lettuce, Sliced Tomato, Fresh Oregano, Oil And Vinegar
• Chicken Capri : Grilled Chicken, Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Peppers, Baby Greens And Balsamic Vinaigrette
• American : Roast Beef Roast Turkey, Baked Virginia Ham With Swiss Cheese, American Cheese, Lettuce And Tomato
• Turkey : Crispy Bacon, Jarlsberg Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, And Roasted Onion Mayonnaise
• Vegetarian : Roasted Vegetables, Lettuce, Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Peppers, Sun-Dried Tomatoes And Balsamic Vinegar

SANDWICH LIST 13.95

[V] = Vegetarian. [VG] = Vegan. Gluten-Free Bread and Wraps Available Upon Request. {+2.00}.

DELI STYLE

• Ham And Swiss – Honey Mustard
• Turkey And Cheddar – Russian Dressing
• Tuna Salad – Cucumber
• Chicken Salad – Sun Dried Tomatoes, Baby Arugula, And Basil
• Grilled Chicken – Lettuce, Tomato, Pesto Aioli
• Roast Beef – Lettuce, Tomato
• Dilled Egg Salad – Arugula

VEGETABLES

• Urban’s Salad Wrap – Baby Lettuce, Grape Tomatoes, Sun-Dried Cranberries, Caramelized Walnuts, Feta Cheese, Balsamic Vinaigrette [V]
• Fresh Mozzarella – Tomato, Basil, Pesto, And A Drizzle Of Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil And Balsamic [Vegetarian]
• Chickpea Smash – Smashed Roasted Garlic Chickpeas, Israeli Salad, Red Cabbage, Tahini Citrus Aioli, Pickled Onion
• Falafel + Hummus -Chopped Lettuce, Pickled Cucumber, Pickled Red Onion, Hummus, Pita Pocket [Vegan]
• Italian – Grilled Portobello Mushrooms, Sundried Tomato, Mixed Greens And Herbed Whipped Feta Spread [V]

MEAT

• Smoked Turkey & Brie – Turkey, Brie, Green Apples, Baby Kale Sun Dried Tomato, Honey Mustard
• Turkey – Cheddar, Grilled Portobello Mushroom, Roasted Pepper, And Baby Arugula With Salsa Verde
• Beef Short Rib -Caramelized Onions, Fontina Cheese, Baby Kale, Horseradish Cream
• Sliced Roast Beef – Cheddar, Raspberry Chipotle, And Crisp Greens
• Grilled Sirloin Steak – Roasted Peppers, Crispy Onions, Green Leaves And Chimichurri Sauce
• Black Forest Ham – Gruyere, Watercress, Tomato, Dijon Mayo
• Prosciutto And Fresh Mozzarella – Roasted Red Peppers, Tomatoes, Basil Pesto
• Classics Italian – Prosciutto, Genoa Salami, Capicola, Provolone, Lettuce, Tomato, Fresh Oregano, Oil And Vinegar

CHICKEN

• Buffalo Chicken- Celery – Bleu Cheese – Classic Buffalo Sauce
• Chicken Capri – Grilled Chicken, Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Peppers, Baby Greens & Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Caesar – Grilled Chicken, Parmesan Cheese, Roasted Peppers, Tomato, Romaine Lettuce And Caesar Dressing
• Chicken Cutlet – Provolone, Roasted Pepper, Leaf Lettuce, Plum Tomato And Ranch
• Grilled Herb Chicken – Mesclun Greens, Goat Cheese, Sundried Tomato Pesto
• Chicken Salad – Chicken Salad, Carrot, Lettuce, Red Cabbage, Tomato And Dijon Mustard
• Shawarma Sandwich – Chicken Shawarma White Cabbage, Israeli Salad And Pickle

FISH AND SEAFOOD

• Cured Salmon Gravlax – Arugula, Frisee, Caper Berries, And Pickled Red Onion
• Shrimp Po’boy – Lettuce, Tomatoes, Sliced Pickles, Lemon Aioli
• Tuna Salad – Roasted Pepper, Mixed Baby Greens, Carrots, Alfalfa, Cucumber

Side Salads

SERVED AS AN ACCOMPANIMENT TO YOUR SANDWICH

GREENS SALADS 7.95

For Vegan Cheese +2.50

• Mixed Berries And Spinach -Baby Spinach, Fresh Berries, Feta Cheese And Cherry Tomatoes
• Asian Kale Salad – Shredded Carrots, Beets, Toasted Garbanzo Beans, Dried Cranberries, Watermelon Radish, Sesame Seeds
• Urban – Field Greens, Sliced Apples, Spiced Walnuts, Cherry Tomato, Feta Cheese Golden Raisins And Dried Cranberries
• Butternut Squash – Roasted Butter Nut Squash, Arugula, Bulgarian Feta, Pumpkin Seeds, Crispy Shallots, Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Classic Caesar – Cherry Tomatoes, Grana Padano, Herbed Croutons, Baby Romaine Hearts
• Fatush Salad – Arugula , Kalamata Olives , Red Onions, Tomatoes , Cucumbers , Herbs , Sumac With Toasted Pita
• Dates Salad – Baby Greens, Frisée, Mangos, Cherry Tomatoes, Candied Nuts, Dried Dates And Avocado
• Greek – Pepper, Cucumber, Tomato, Red Onion, Olives, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Feta Over Crispy Romaine Hearts Sprinkled With Fresh Oregano
• House Garden – Field Greens, Carrots, Tomato, Pepper, Broccoli, Asparagus, Cucumber, Sprouts And Mushroom

. Add Protein To Any Salad +7.00

PASTA SALADS 7.95

Gluten-Free Pasta Available +2.00

• Farfalle Parmesan – Farfalle Pasta With Fresh Basil, Oven Roasted Vegetables, Sundried Tomato, And Shaved Parmesan Tossed In A Light Sundried Tomato And Pesto Sauce
• Urban Penne – Oven Roasted Eggplant, Oven Roasted Tomato, Feta Cheese, And Oregano Vinaigrette
• Three Color Fussily – Portobello , Fresh Basil, Sundried Tomato, Spinach, Tossed With Basil Pesto Sauce
• Mezze Rigatoni – Fennel, Tomatoes, Artichokes, Ricotta Salata And Kalamata Olives
• Korean Noodle – With Sauteed Fresh Vegetables And Soy Sesame Dressing
• Gemelli – Roasted Cauliflower, Caramelized Onion, Parmesan, Golden Raisins + Toasted Pignoli And Zesty Lemon Vinaigrette

BEANS & GRAIN SALADS 7.95

• Moroccan Cous Cous – Roasted Vegetables, Chickpeas, Dried Fruit, Cumin And Cilantro Vinaigrette
• Chickpea – Scallion, Cherry Tomato, Feta Cheese, Watercress, Radicchio With Curry Vinaigrette
• Wheat Berry – Baby Kale, Roasted Eggplant, Chickpea, Tomatoes With Za’atar
• Wild Rice – Roasted Vegetables, Sun-Dried Fruits, Toasted Nuts With Honey Orange Vinaigrette

SPECIALTY SALADS 7.95

• Roasted Yukon Potatoes – With Olives, Scallions, Caramelized Onions, Cilantro And Chipotle Dressing
• Ciliegine Mozzarella – Cherry Tomato, Arugula, Roasted Eggplant + Basil Salad Tossed With Pesto Sauce
• Brussel Sprout Slaw – Hazelnuts, Cranberries, Baby Kale, Shredded Parmesan And Honey Mustard
• Tahini-Roasted Cauliflower – Currants, Capers, Crispy Shallots, Date Molasses, Tahini-Lemon Dressing
• Tomato & Avocado – Shaved Fennel, Feta, Cubed Cucumbers, Dressed In A Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
• Roasted Beets – Orange And Fennel With Dijon Vinaigrette

À LA CARTE ENTRÉES

15 Guest Minimum

Selection of Artisanal Breads with Herb Butter Included. Entrées Are Available Hot In Chafers or At Room Temperature on Platters. Metal or Flameless Chafers Are Available [Extra Charge]. 5 Per Person Upcharge For China Presentation. Please Let Us Know Your Preference. Add Sweet Tray or Salad [+4.95]

Single Entrée Package 36.95

One protein, two side dishes, mixed greens, breadbasket, dessert platter

Double Entrée Package 39.95

Two proteins, two side dishes, mixed greens, breadbasket, dessert platter

VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN 18.95

• Moroccan Khardola Tajin – Mixed Vegetables, Pumpkin, Raisins, Chickpeas, Saffron Broth, Olives and Preserved Lemon And Harissa
• Faux Cod Cakes – Blend Of Artichoke and Hijiki Seaweed, Tofu, And Herbs Served with Tartar Sauce.
• General Tso’s Tofu – Crispy Tofu Sautéed with Steamed Broccoli, In A Spicy Brown Sauce.
• Tofu Picatta – Sautéed with Shallots, Mushrooms, Capers, Lemon Juice and White Wine
• Seitan – “Faux Chicken” – W/ Mushrooms Marsala Sauce
• Portobello Napoleon – Layered Portobello Mushrooms, Zucchini, Peppers, Provolone, Basil, And Balsamic Glaze

POULTRY 25

• Chicken Chevre – Stuffed with Spinach, Goat Cheese And Fresh Herbs. Served With A Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
• Classic chicken Tagine- Baked chicken With Peppers| Tomato| Olives| Preserved Lemon And Chermoula-Spicy Green Herbs Sauce
• Harissa Roasted Chicken – Moroccan Spice Blend, Rose, Thyme, Lemon
• Chicken Marsala– Mushroom Marsala Sauce
• Chicken Salina – Artichokes, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Portobello, Basil With Lemon Butter Sauce
• Chicken Francaise – Lemon, Butter And Chardonnay Sauce

MEAT 27

• Beef Tajine – Simmered with Aromatic Blend of Herbs And Eastern Spices W/Stewed Vegetables
• Beef Brisket –Slow Cooked, Roasted Root Vegetables, Pan Gravy [36 Hours’ Notice]
• Braised Beef Short Rib– Port Demi-Glace, Crispy Shallots
• Grilled Filet Mignon – Sauteed Wild Mushroom Blistered Tomatoes, Horseradish Sauce 35.00
• Lamb Kofta – Mini Lamb Meatball – Mostarda Pipette

SEAFOOD 27

• Paella – Saffron Rice, Shrimp, Chicken, Chorizo Sausage 33.00
• Ginger Orange Grilled Salmon -with Pineapple Red Pepper Salsa
• Miso Glazed Salmon -Mirin and Soy Sauteed Kale with White Sesame And Black Seeds
• Red Snapper – Pan Seared, Brodetto Di Mare. [Market Price]
• Sesame Crusted Tuna -Pickled Ginger, Wasabi Creme Fraiche, Braised Bok Choy [Served Rare]
• Shrimp Scampi – In Garlic, Fresh Tomatoes, Parsley, White Wine

ENTREES SIDES

Served As Sides For Ala cart Entress

POTATO 6.95

• Whipped Potatoes
• With Butter Milk
• Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
• Garlic And Fresh Rosemary
• Roasted Red Bliss Potatoes
• Garlic And Rosemary
• Potato Au Gratin
• Gruyere & Parmesan Cheese
• Sweet Potato
• Honey Orange Zest And

GRAIN+BEANS 7.95

• Basmati Rice Pilaf
• Peas, Onions And Corn
• Saffron Rice – Garden Peas, Carrots And Herbs
• Spinach And Mushrooms
• Rice Pilaf
• Jasmine RiceCorn & Carrots – Slightly Sticky
• Moroccan Couscous – Roasted Vegetables
• Quinoa Pilaf
• Zucchini, Onions, Roasted Peppers
• Toasted Israel Cous Cous
• Grilled Vegetables And Fresh Dill

HOT VEGETABLES 6.95

• Sautéed Broccoli
• Garlic And Olive Oil
• Roasted Brussel Sprouts
• Maple Siracha Glaze
• Braised Bok Choy
• Ginger and shallots
• Green Beans Almondine
• Sautéed Green Beans With Butter And Sliced Almonds
• Grilled Seasonal Vegetables
• Medley With Olive Oil And Fresh Herbs
• Pan Roasted Asparagus
• Shallots And Dill.

INTERACTIVE LUNCH

20 Guest Minimum

MAKE YOUR OWN BAR

29.75

Grains – choose 2
Quinoa	Farro	Jasmine Rice	White Rice
Brown Rice	Basmati
Proteins – choose 2
Grilled Chicken	Thai Chicken	Teriyaki Chicken	Grilled Steak
Teriyaki Salmon	Korean Bulgogi	Herb Salmon	Herb Shrimp
Crispy Chili Tofu
Accompaniments – choose 6
Baby Spinach	Baby Kale	Asparagus	Roasted Cauliflower
Mixed Green	Avocado	Sautéed Mushrooms	Artichoke Hearts
Sautéed String Beans	Broccoli	Roasted Zucchini	Bell Peppers
Seasoned Seaweed	Wonton Stripes	Edamame	Peanuts
Pickled Ginger	Dried Seaweed	Grape Tomatoes	Roasted Carrots
Roasted Beets
Sauces – choose 3
Sweet Chili Sauce	Ginger Sriracha	Ginger Lemongrass Soy	Teriyaki Sauce
Sweet & Sour	Ponzu Sauce	Ginger Soy
Dressings – choose 1
Italian	Ranch	Balsamic
Complimentary	Sesame Seeds	Scallions

BURGER BAR

28.50

• Hamburgers, turkey burgers and veggie burgers, buns on the side
• Assorted toppings – avocado, sautéed mushrooms, bacon, caramelized onions and cheddar platter with lettuce, tomato and sliced pickles
• Ketchup, mayo, pesto, chipotle aioli and bbq sauce
• Sweet potato wedges
• iceberg salad with chopped tomatoes and blue cheese

MEXICAN TACO FIESTA

38.95

• Choice of 3 – pulled pork | slow-cooked beef brisket| blackened tilapia pulled chicken | chipotle lime chicken| adobo chicken | shrimp grilled sliced flank steak | spicy ground beef
• Accompanied by – sautéed bell peppers | onions
• Toppings – shredded lettuce | chopped tomato | pickled jalapeños chopped red onions | chopped cilantro | Pico de Gallo | guacamole | crema | shredded jack cheese
• Yellow rice
• Black beans
• Mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette
• Corn tortillas, flour tortillas
• Cookies, churros and Tres leches cake shooters

Boxed Lunch, Buffet, or Plated: Which Format Fits Your Meeting?

The format you choose depends on headcount, meeting type, and room layout. Each has a different cost structure, setup footprint, and service flow. Here is how they compare for typical Midtown and Financial District offices.

Format	Per-Head Range	Best For	Setup Time
Boxed lunch	$18–$28	Working meetings, training sessions, 10–50 guests	15 min
Buffet	$25–$45	Team lunches, all-hands, 30–200 guests	30–45 min
Plated service	$40–$65	Client entertaining, board meetings, investor lunches	45–60 min

Boxed lunches work when people eat at their desks or rotate through a conference room in shifts. Everything is individually packaged and labeled, which also solves the dietary tracking problem — each box can be tagged for vegan, gluten-free, or halal without any guesswork at the table. For working meetings where nobody wants to pause for a buffet line, boxes keep things moving.

Buffets are the workhorse of corporate lunch catering. They scale well, allow guests to self-select, and give you variety without plating costs. The difference shows up when you have 80 people and only a 30-minute window — a well-organized buffet with dual serving lines handles that. A single line does not. We run double-sided setups as standard for any buffet over 50 guests.

Plated service makes sense when the meal itself is part of the impression. Client lunches at law firms, investor presentations at private equity offices, board meetings where the food needs to arrive silently and look polished. It costs more, but the perception gap between a buffet and a plated lunch in a Financial District conference room is real.

What Goes on a Corporate Lunch Catering Menu?

A strong lunch menu covers five categories that let every guest find something they actually want to eat. Dietary accommodations are not an afterthought — they are built into the menu from the start.

• Sandwiches and wraps — grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, turkey club, smoked salmon on ciabatta
• Salads — grain bowls, chopped salads, roasted beet and goat cheese, Caesar with grilled shrimp
• Hot entrees — herb-roasted chicken, pan-seared salmon, braised short ribs, eggplant parmesan
• Sides — roasted seasonal vegetables, garlic mashed potatoes, jasmine rice, mixed greens
• Dietary-specific options — vegan lunch options, gluten-free proteins, halal-certified selections, nut-free preparations

For offices that run lunch catering weekly or daily, menu rotation matters more than any single dish. Nobody wants the same grain bowl three Tuesdays in a row. We rotate menus on a two-week cycle for recurring accounts, and every cycle includes at least two culturally diverse options — Caribbean, Mediterranean, South Asian, or Latin — because that reflects what people in New York actually eat.

If your team needs small plates for working lunches, those menus overlap well with lunch catering and can be mixed in for lighter meeting days.

Timing and Logistics for Midtown Lunch Delivery

Anyone who has booked catering for a noon meeting at a Midtown high-rise knows the margin for error is about ten minutes. Building freight elevators run on reservation windows, lobby security needs advance manifests, and parking a catering van on Sixth Avenue at 11 AM is not something you leave to chance.

Our standard lunch delivery timeline runs like this: kitchen production finishes by 9:30 AM, vehicles load by 10, and the setup crew arrives at your building by 11:15 to 11:30. Food is staged, chafing dishes are lit or cold displays are set, and the team does a final check before stepping out of sight. By noon, the spread is ready and the caterers are invisible. That is how it should work.

The risk of hiring a caterer that does not run its own fleet is that you are depending on a third-party courier to handle hot food, cold food, and setup equipment across three separate deliveries. One delay and your board lunch looks like a buffet that got lost in transit. Urban Affairs runs our own refrigerated vehicles and uniformed setup crews — one team, one delivery, one point of accountability.

For offices running daily dining programs, the logistics simplify further because the route, the building protocols, and the menu cadence are already locked in.

Get a Custom Catering Quote for Your Event

Urban Affairs Catering & Events has been feeding New York City offices since 1998 — from boxed lunches for a 10-person strategy session to plated service for 200-guest investor events across Manhattan. If you’re ready to plan your next corporate lunch, request a catering quote here or call 212-981-5832 and we’ll get back to you within one business day.

Frequently Asked Questions