Choosing a caterer should not start with the menu.
It should start with your event.
A 12-person executive lunch in Downtown Montreal, a birthday dinner in Laval, a family celebration in the West Island and a 60-person holiday gathering on the South Shore may all require catering, but they require very different quantities, packaging, delivery logistics and menu structures.
If you are searching for catering in Montreal, a caterer in Laval, event catering in Greater Montreal or catering near you, this guide will help you compare providers and prepare the information a caterer actually needs before giving you a useful proposal.
Quick Catering Checklist
Before contacting a caterer, know these eight things:
- event date;
- approximate guest count;
- event address and postal code;
- desired meal time;
- type of event;
- preferred serving format;
- dietary restrictions and allergies;
- approximate budget.
Having this information ready can make the difference between receiving a generic menu and receiving a proposal built around your actual event.
1. What Type of Event Are You Planning?
Start by defining the occasion.
Catering for a business meeting is different from catering for a birthday, wedding-related gathering or Christmas party.
Common catering requests in Montreal and Greater Montreal include:
corporate lunches, executive meetings, employee appreciation events, product launches, conferences, training days, birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers, bridal showers, engagement parties, graduations, family reunions, memorial gatherings, housewarmings, holiday parties, Christmas and Réveillon gatherings, Thanksgiving dinners, Easter gatherings, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day meals, summer parties and private celebrations.
The occasion influences almost every other decision.
For a working lunch, individual portions may be convenient.
For a family celebration, sharing trays can create a warmer atmosphere.
For a networking event, food that can be eaten easily while standing may make more sense.
Tell your caterer what the event actually is — not simply how many people need food.
2. How Many Guests Are You Feeding?
Your guest count determines much more than quantity.
It affects:
- menu complexity;
- portion planning;
- packaging;
- transportation;
- preparation time;
- dietary accommodations;
- serving format.
You do not necessarily need a final number when requesting your first quote.
Instead, communicate clearly:
“We expect approximately 25–30 guests; final count will be confirmed closer to the event.”
That gives the caterer useful planning information without pretending your attendance is already fixed.
For larger events, ask when the final guest count must be confirmed.
3. Where Is the Event?
Location matters enormously in Greater Montreal.
A caterer preparing food in Laval may need very different logistics for deliveries to Downtown Montreal, Old Montreal, the West Island, Terrebonne or Brossard.
Do not provide only the city.
Provide the complete address or at least the postal code as early as possible.
Also mention:
- parking restrictions;
- loading docks;
- elevators;
- security desks;
- building access codes;
- stairs;
- delivery entrances;
- restricted delivery hours.
For an office tower in Downtown Montreal, these details can matter just as much as the menu.
4. What Time Will People Actually Eat?
“Event starts at 6:00 PM” is not enough information.
Guests may arrive at 6:00 PM but eat at 7:30 PM.
Tell your caterer:
Guest arrival: 6:00 PM
Food required: 7:00 PM
Meal service: 7:30 PM
This distinction becomes especially important when food must travel across Greater Montreal.
Your delivery time should support the actual meal schedule rather than simply the start time printed on the invitation.
5. Delivery, Pickup or On-Site Service?
Not every catering company provides the same type of service.
Before comparing quotes, determine what you actually need.
You may want:
Pickup — you collect prepared food yourself.
Delivery — the caterer brings the food to your location.
Drop-off catering — food arrives packaged and ready for you to arrange or serve.
Full-service catering — staff may remain onsite for setup, service and cleanup.
These are very different services and should not be compared only by food price.
Pierina – Plats Maison focuses on homemade food prepared from its Laval kitchen, with pickup and eligible delivery throughout its service area. Event requirements should be confirmed when requesting a catering proposal.
6. Individual Portions or Family-Style Trays?
This is one of the most important decisions when planning catering.
Individual portions
Often useful for:
- office lunches;
- training sessions;
- conferences;
- meetings;
- situations where guests eat at different times.
They can simplify distribution and portion control.
Family-style or sharing trays
Often useful for:
- birthdays;
- family gatherings;
- holiday dinners;
- casual corporate events;
- celebrations where food is part of the shared table.
They can create a more relaxed, home-style experience.
Neither format is universally better.
Choose the one that fits how your guests will actually eat.
7. How Much Food Do You Really Need?
Ordering too little creates stress.
Ordering far too much creates unnecessary cost and food waste.
Instead of estimating portions yourself, tell the caterer:
- number of adults;
- number of children;
- meal time;
- whether food is the main meal or part of a larger event;
- whether appetizers or desserts will also be served;
- expected event duration.
A two-hour afternoon reception does not require the same food structure as a three-course dinner.
A professional caterer should help translate the event format into appropriate quantities.
8. What Dietary Restrictions Need to Be Considered?
Ask guests about dietary requirements before finalizing the menu.
Common considerations include:
- vegetarian;
- vegan;
- gluten or wheat;
- dairy;
- eggs;
- peanuts and tree nuts;
- sesame;
- soy;
- seafood and shellfish;
- pork;
- cultural or religious dietary preferences.
Most importantly, distinguish between a preference, intolerance and severe food allergy.
These are not interchangeable.
If someone has a serious allergy, communicate this directly with the caterer and ask what can realistically be accommodated.
A shared commercial kitchen should never be assumed to be completely allergen-free unless the caterer explicitly confirms it.
9. What Is Your Catering Budget?
You do not need to hide your budget from the caterer.
Providing a realistic range can actually make planning easier.
Instead of asking:
“How much is catering for 30 people?”
try:
“We are planning a casual dinner for approximately 30 guests in Laval. We would like a main dish, two sides and a vegetarian option. Our approximate food budget is $___ CAD. What format would you recommend?”
That gives the caterer enough information to design around your priorities.
Remember that a catering quote may include more than food.
Depending on the provider, pricing may also reflect:
- delivery;
- packaging;
- disposable serving items;
- setup;
- equipment;
- staff;
- special menu requests;
- taxes.
Compare what is actually included.
10. How Far in Advance Should You Book Catering in Montreal?
Earlier is usually better, especially for larger events and high-demand periods.
Do not wait until the final guest count is known before beginning the conversation.
Start planning early for:
- December office parties;
- Christmas and Réveillon;
- Thanksgiving / Action de grâce;
- Easter;
- Mother’s Day;
- Father’s Day;
- graduation season;
- summer corporate events;
- wedding-related celebrations;
- major family milestones.
You can often begin with an estimated headcount and confirm details later according to the caterer’s deadline.
11. What Should You Ask About the Menu?
A long menu is not necessarily a better menu.
Ask questions that reveal whether the food fits your event:
Will this dish travel well?
Does it reheat well?
Can it be served directly from the provided container?
Does it work for a mixed group of adults and children?
Can vegetarian guests receive a complete meal rather than simply removing the meat?
Which dishes are best for sharing?
Which options work best for an office environment?
Food that tastes excellent in a kitchen but deteriorates during a long delivery may not be the right catering choice.
Good catering menu design considers transportation and service as well as flavour.
12. Homemade Catering or Traditional Banquet Catering?
Not every event needs banquet-style catering.
Some occasions benefit from something more personal.
Home-style catering can be especially appropriate for:
family gatherings, intimate celebrations, office lunches, team meals, birthdays and events where guests should feel as though they are sharing a real meal.
Pierina – Plats Maison approaches catering from its existing home-style cooking identity: comforting mains, international and Italian-inspired flavours, bowls, soups, salads and dishes designed to be shared.
For hosts who want food to feel less institutional and more like a generous table, this can be an important distinction.
13. Does the Caterer Understand Montreal Logistics?
Greater Montreal is geographically complex.
Traffic, bridges, parking, weather, construction and building access can all affect an event.
A local catering provider should understand that delivery to Downtown Montreal is not identical to delivery to Laval, the West Island, the North Shore or the South Shore.
Pierina prepares its food in Laval and handles eligible catering requests within approximately 50 km of the kitchen, subject to the specific address, event and availability.
Service inquiries may include:
Montreal: Downtown, Ville-Marie, Old Montreal, Griffintown, Plateau-Mont-Royal, Mile End, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Villeray, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Saint-Laurent, Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Westmount, Outremont, Verdun, LaSalle, Saint-Léonard, Anjou, Montréal-Nord and Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles.
Laval: Chomedey, Duvernay, Vimont, Auteuil, Sainte-Rose, Fabreville, Sainte-Dorothée, Laval-des-Rapides and Saint-Vincent-de-Paul.
West Island: Dorval, Pointe-Claire, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Kirkland, Beaconsfield, Pierrefonds-Roxboro and surrounding communities.
North Shore: Saint-Eustache, Deux-Montagnes, Boisbriand, Sainte-Thérèse, Rosemère, Lorraine, Blainville, Terrebonne, Mascouche and Repentigny.
South Shore: Longueuil, Saint-Lambert, Brossard, Greenfield Park, Boucherville, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville and surrounding communities.
Depending on the exact route, requests may also come from areas such as Châteauguay, Candiac, Vaudreuil-Dorion and Saint-Jérôme.
Always confirm availability using the complete event address or postal code rather than assuming coverage based only on the municipality.
14. What Should Be Included in Your Catering Request?
Here is a practical template.
Event: Birthday dinner
Date: Saturday, December 12
Guests: Approximately 24 adults + 5 children
Location: Laval, QC + postal code
Meal time: 6:30 PM
Format: Family-style dinner
Dietary needs: 3 vegetarian guests; 1 guest with a nut allergy
Preferred food: Chicken or beef main, pasta, vegetables, salad
Budget: Approximate total or per-person range
Service: Delivery preferred
Other information: Food needs to arrive ready to serve/reheat
A request like this gives a caterer something concrete to work with.
15. The Best Caterer Is the One That Fits Your Event
There is no single catering format that works for every Montreal event.
The right decision depends on:
occasion + guest count + location + timing + menu + dietary requirements + service format + budget.
A sophisticated plated wedding reception and a homemade birthday dinner should not be evaluated using exactly the same criteria.
Start with the experience you want your guests to have.
Then choose the food and service around it.
Catering for Montreal, Laval and Greater Montreal
Pierina – Plats Maison prepares homemade meals and catering from its Laval kitchen for eligible events across Montreal and surrounding communities.
Our approach is built around food that feels like a real meal: generous, comforting and made for sharing.
Catering inquiries may include:
- corporate lunches;
- office meetings;
- family gatherings;
- birthdays;
- anniversaries;
- holiday celebrations;
- Christmas and Réveillon;
- Thanksgiving;
- private events;
- team meals;
- custom occasions.
For catering delivery, availability depends on the event date, address, guest count, order requirements and delivery route.
Planning an Event?
Before requesting your catering proposal, send us:
your date, guest count, complete location, meal time, occasion, dietary requirements and preferred serving format.
From there, we can determine what makes sense for your table.
Pierina – Plats Maison Montréal
Homemade catering from our Laval kitchen for Montreal, Laval and eligible Greater Montreal communities.
Good food brings people together.
Frequently Asked Questions About Catering in Montreal
How do I choose a caterer in Montreal?
Start with your event type, guest count, address, budget, dietary requirements and preferred service format. Compare caterers based on whether their food and logistics fit the event rather than comparing menus alone.
How early should I book catering in Montreal?
Book as early as practical, especially for large events, December celebrations, Christmas, Réveillon, Thanksgiving, graduation season and other high-demand dates. You can usually begin planning with an estimated guest count.
Does Pierina offer catering in Montreal?
Pierina – Plats Maison prepares catering from its Laval kitchen for eligible addresses across Montreal, Laval and surrounding Greater Montreal communities. Delivery should be confirmed using the event address or postal code.
Does Pierina offer corporate catering?
Yes. Catering inquiries can include office lunches, meetings, employee events, client gatherings, training days and other corporate occasions.
Can I request vegetarian catering?
Vegetarian options and other dietary preferences can be discussed when requesting a proposal. Severe allergies should always be disclosed separately and in advance.
Is catering available on the North Shore and South Shore?
Eligible requests may be served across portions of the North Shore and South Shore within Pierina’s approximate service radius. Availability depends on the exact address, event date and order.
Can I pick up catering in Laval?
Pickup may be available from Pierina’s Laval kitchen depending on the order and confirmed pickup schedule.
What information should I provide when asking for a catering quote?
Provide your event date, guest count, complete address or postal code, meal time, event type, dietary requirements, preferred serving style and approximate budget. This allows the caterer to prepare a substantially more relevant proposal.