A holiday party menu is the easy part; the dates, headcount minimums, labour charges and drink permits are what catch Ottawa offices out.
Holiday catering in Ottawa runs from about $17 a person for a sandwich lunch to about $50 for a turkey dinner, going by menus two local caterers post online, and tax and service charges come on top. Most December decisions come down to four questions: how early you ask, whether the caterer drops off or stays to serve, what your guests cannot eat, and who holds the licence for the drinks. This guide covers each one with Ottawa prices, the provincial rules, and three caterers from our directory to call first.
Key Highlights
TL;DR: Start calling caterers in October for a December date, because holiday buffets often carry a 50-guest minimum and a 15% to 20% labour charge. Ask for halal, vegan or allergy-safe meals in writing. For an office party where drinks are free, an AGCO no-sale permit costs $50 a day.
| Quick Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 When to start | October for a December date (our advice; none of the caterers below publishes a cut-off) |
| 📍 Directory | 111 caterers listed at /directory/caterers/ |
| 🎟️ Posted per-person prices | $16.95 to $49.95, plus labour charges and HST |
| ⏰ Bar permit | AGCO special occasion permit; apply at least 10 days before the event |
When to Book Holiday Catering in Ottawa
None of the caterers named in this guide publishes a December cut-off date, so there is no official number to quote. What the menus do show is how much room you need. BYTOWN CATERING sets a 10-person minimum on its holiday hot lunch and a 50-person minimum on its three holiday buffets and plated dinner, with a surcharge for smaller groups. GOODIE'S FINE CATERING asks for 15 guests on sandwich lunches, 25 on hot buffets and 35 on cocktail menus.
Our advice, not a caterer's rule: contact two or three caterers in October with a date, a headcount and a budget, and ask for a written quote. That leaves time to compare menus and still switch if one is full. Bytown's own Easter brunch page says popular times sell out about a week ahead, which is a reminder that busy dates go quickly once people start asking.
Two other deadlines sit behind the caterer. If you plan to serve alcohol, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) says to submit a special occasion permit application at least 10 days before the event. If the party is outdoors, the AGCO says you must also notify municipal authorities at least 30 days ahead, and up to 60 in some places. If your date is flexible, ask each caterer which weekdays are open before you settle on one.
Drop-Off or Full-Service Catering for an Office Party
Drop-off means the food arrives, someone from your office sets it out, and you deal with the leftovers. Full service means the caterer's staff set up, serve and clean up, and the bill carries a labour charge for it. Bytown shows the difference clearly on its holiday menu: the hot lunch comes with biodegradable plates, utensils and napkins and red and green tablecloths, with a 15% labour charge, while the buffets and sit-down dinner include standard dishes, cutlery, cloth napkins and water glasses, with a 20% labour charge for full-service events.
For a working lunch with 15 to 30 people, drop-off usually does the job and keeps the cost down. For an evening party, a plated dinner or anything with a bar, staff earn their fee because nobody from your team has to stop being a guest. Bytown's meetings page describes its service as running from set-up to clean-up, with wait staff and attendants on request. GOODIE'S FINE CATERING says it provides wait staff, chefs and party planning, and also delivers boxed lunches on weekdays.
Ask every caterer the same four questions: who sets up, who clears, how long the staff stay, and what happens to the labour charge if your headcount drops.
What Holiday Catering Costs per Person in Ottawa
Ontario's HST rate is 13%. These are the prices the two caterers publish on their websites as of October 13, 2026. Goodie's menu is undated, so confirm figures before you commit. Bytown states that labour charges and all applicable taxes are added to its prices.
| Menu | Price per person | Minimum guests | Extras on top |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bytown holiday hot lunch (turkey, stuffing, meat pies, pie) | $32.95 | 10 | 15% labour, taxes |
| Bytown traditional holiday buffet | $43.95 | 50 | 20% labour (full service), taxes |
| Bytown holiday sit-down dinner | $49.95 | 50 | 20% labour (full service), taxes |
| Bytown festive feast buffet | $49.95 | 50 | 20% labour (full service), taxes |
| Goodie's tea sandwich, sandwich and wrap lunches | $16.95 to $24.95 | 15 | Surcharge for smaller groups |
| Goodie's hot buffets (chili to salmon) | $19.95 to $34.95 | 25 | Second main adds 30% of the lower-cost meal |
A worked example shows why the labour line matters. Forty people on Bytown's holiday hot lunch is $1,318.00, and a 15% labour charge adds $197.70, for $1,515.70 before taxes. Sixty people on the traditional holiday buffet is $2,637.00, and a 20% labour charge adds $527.40, for $3,164.40 before taxes. Add 13% HST and the real figures are higher still, so ask for a quote that shows labour and tax as separate lines.
Small extras add up. Bytown lists shortbread at $28.95 a dozen and bulk coffee at $129.95 for 55 cups. Goodie's lists squares and cookies at $3.95 a guest on its holiday menu and a fruit platter for 12 to 15 guests at $48.00. Its home page, which promoted a Christmas menu when this guide was written, also lists a full tourtière at $28.50. If you would rather feed the team a meal out than bring catering in, our holiday restaurants in Ottawa guide covers dining rooms, and the buffet restaurants in Ottawa guide covers all-you-can-eat options with pricing.
Dietary Needs: Halal, Kosher, Vegan and Allergies
Collect dietary needs when you send the invitation, not the week before. Then send the caterer one list with a headcount for each need. Bytown says it can prepare vegetarian, vegan and halal alternatives for many cultural and religious needs if you ask in advance. It also states it has prepared "Kosher-style" meals using kosher ingredients but does not claim to follow all kosher practices, and it can arrange for another firm to supply kosher meals on request. That honesty is worth looking for: ask any caterer whether halal or kosher means certified, or only made without pork or shellfish.
If kosher matters to your group, CREATIVE KOSHER CATERING describes itself as a kosher caterer and party designer and lists holiday parties, conferences and corporate meetings among the events it caters. The menu on its site includes party sandwiches, sushi platters and salads for office events. Its site does not say which kosher supervision it works under, so ask for that in writing if your guests need it. The office at 2664 Alta Vista Drive lists weekday hours and asks you to call or email in advance at (613) 788-2713.
For allergies, treat the caterer's answer as a safety check, not a formality. Health Canada lists the priority allergens as peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, milk, eggs, fish, crustaceans and molluscs, soy, wheat or triticale, and mustard, and it groups sulphites with them. Bytown says it prepares allergy meals separately and packages them separately, and that its staff take the food handler course Ottawa Public Health provides. GOODIE'S FINE CATERING invites you to raise dietary concerns on its contact form and lists gluten-free options and vegetarian dishes on its menu. Our vegan Ottawa guide is a useful companion if the plant-based count in your office is high.
Rentals, Staffing and Bar Service
Rentals and staff are where a modest quote grows. Bytown lists tents, tables, chairs and furniture, and upgrades to dishes, cutlery, glassware and linens, for catering clients, with pricing on request at sales@bytowncatering.com. Its bar page is specific about cost: bartenders are $33 to $35 an hour with a four-hour minimum, and a full-service bar carries a $300 set-up fee per bar. The same page says bar service is only offered with an event Bytown caters, that the client provides the alcohol, and that the venue may have restrictions.
Décor is a separate line. CREATIVE KOSHER CATERING offers party design alongside catering, so the same team can plan décor and food. For a typical office party you may not need either. A caterer who can lend plates and glassware and stay for three hours is often enough.
Budget for what happens after the party, too. If you hold the event in your own office, someone has to restore the space, and our office cleaning in Ottawa guide is a starting point if you want a professional clean the next morning.
Venue Rules, Permits and Food Safety
Start with the room. Many venues set their own rules on outside caterers, set-up times and alcohol, so ask before you book a caterer. Bytown suggests community centres, Legion halls and Knights of Columbus halls as options and points to City of Ottawa facilities. Our wedding venues in Ottawa guide covers event rooms and what they typically include.
On alcohol, the AGCO's rules for a private event matter if your party is invite-only, not advertised and not in a licensed establishment, and it names a corporate boardroom as an example. A no-sale permit, for free drinks, is $50 a day. A sale permit, for a cash bar or drink tickets, is $150 a day. The AGCO says most private-event permits arrive in one day and some take up to 10, and it limits permitted hours to 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., with a 3 a.m. end on New Year's Eve. Bytown says its Ontario liquor licence lets it set up an on-premises bar after giving notice to the AGCO, so ask your caterer whether you need your own permit.
For food safety, Ottawa Public Health inspects food premises and special events under Ontario's Food Premises Regulation and posts results online at inspections.ottawapublichealth.ca. It also suggests asking an operator about food safety training, checking that cold food is kept cold in transit, and looking for the blue inspection certificate.
Caterers to Start With
Our directory lists 111 caterers on the Ottawa caterers directory, and these three published enough detail on their own sites to compare. They are one option each, not a ranking.
BYTOWN CATERING is the one with a full holiday menu online, the labour charge spelled out and a page on allergens and cultural needs. Call (613) 745-6389 or email sales@bytowncatering.com, or use the quote form on its site. GOODIE'S FINE CATERING works from 51 Marier Avenue in Vanier, lists weekday hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and posts a full per-person menu from breakfast to cocktails. Call 613-741-5643 or email sales@goodiescatering.com.
CREATIVE KOSHER CATERING is the choice to ask if your party needs a kosher menu or themed décor. It also runs a food shop for ready-to-eat dishes, which may suit a smaller team lunch. If you want a food truck instead of a buffet, our food trucks in Ottawa guide covers that format.
FAQ
Q: How far ahead should I book holiday catering in Ottawa?
None of the caterers in this guide publishes a December cut-off, so we suggest contacting two or three in October with a date and headcount. Holiday buffets from Bytown Catering carry a 50-guest minimum, and an AGCO bar permit needs at least 10 days. Early quotes also give you time to compare.
Q: Is catering in Ottawa taxed at 13% HST?
Ontario's HST rate is 13%, and Bytown Catering states that labour charges and all applicable taxes are added to its menu prices. Ask each caterer for a quote that lists food, labour, rentals and tax as separate lines, so you can compare like with like before you sign anything.
Q: Do I need a permit to serve alcohol at an office party?
If the party is invite-only, unadvertised and not in a licensed venue, the AGCO requires a special occasion permit. A no-sale permit for free drinks is $50 a day, and a sale permit for a cash bar is $150. Most arrive in a day, but apply at least 10 days ahead.
Q: Can a caterer handle halal, vegan or allergy requests?
Often yes, with notice. Bytown Catering says it can prepare vegetarian, vegan and halal alternatives if you ask in advance, and prepares allergy meals separately. Ask each caterer how meat is sourced for halal, whether kosher means certified, and how cross-contact with the priority allergens is prevented.
Q: What is the difference between drop-off and full-service catering?
Drop-off delivers the food and leaves, so your team sets out and clears. Full service adds staff who set up, serve and clean up, usually for a labour charge. Bytown Catering charges 15% on its holiday hot lunch and 20% on its full-service buffets and plated dinner.
Final Thoughts
Holiday catering in Ottawa is mostly a planning job: fix the date and headcount, ask for quotes with labour and tax broken out, and put dietary needs and bar permits in writing early. Compare caterers on the same basis, using price per person, minimums and the staff you actually get. When you are ready, browse the full list of caterers in Ottawa and check each business's own site for current menus and prices.
Source: Bytown Catering: Christmas and Holidays
Source: Bytown Catering: Meetings and Events Catering
Source: Bytown Catering: Bar Services
Source: Bytown Catering: Cultural and Religious Needs
Source: Bytown Catering: Allergens and Cultural Preferences
Source: Goodies Fine Catering: Menu
Source: Creative Kosher Catering
Source: AGCO: Apply to sell or serve alcohol at a private event
Source: Health Canada: Priority food allergens
Source: Ottawa Public Health: Food Safety
Source: Retail Council of Canada: Sales tax rates by province
