The hardest part of catering an event isn’t the food — it’s figuring out how much to order. Order too little and people remember the empty trays; order too much and you’ve blown the budget. After years of catering parties across Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Milton, we’ve turned it into a simple formula. Here’s how to plan an Italian spread that lands just right.
The quick rule of thumb
For a meal-sized serving, plan on roughly 3 slices of pizza per adult and 2 for kids. A standard large pie cuts into 8 slices, so a large pizza feeds about 3 adults as a main. If you’re serving pasta and salad alongside, you can stretch that further because nobody is eating pizza alone.
How much to order, by headcount
Use this as a starting point for a lunch or dinner where pizza is the centerpiece:
- 10 guests: 3–4 large pizzas, or 1 pasta tray + 2 pizzas + a salad.
- 25 guests: 8–9 large pizzas, or 2 pasta trays + 4 pizzas + 2 salads + garlic rolls.
- 50+ guests: roughly double the 25-guest plan — mix pizzas, two or three pasta trays, salads and dessert so there’s variety. For groups this size we recommend calling so we can balance the menu and timing.
Always round up if the crowd skews hungry (game day, teenagers, a long event) and add a vegetarian and a meat option so everyone has something.
Don’t forget the supporting cast
Pizza gets the headlines, but the sides are what make a spread feel generous:
- Pasta trays — a baked ziti or penne tray feeds 10–25 and travels beautifully.
- Salad — one large salad per 10–12 guests keeps the table balanced.
- Garlic rolls or knots — cheap, crowd-pleasing, and they fill plates fast.
- Dessert — a mini cannoli or tiramisu tray is the detail people remember.
Vito’s catering packages
If you’d rather not do the math, our packages are built around the same logic. They serve 10 to 25+ guests and start at $215:
- La Festa Italiana — one pasta, one salad and dessert, with garlic rolls.
- Celebration Package — one pasta, one entrée, one salad and dessert.
- Italian Classic — your choice of pasta, pizza and salad.
You can see full catering details and package pricing here, including vegan and gluten-free options for guests with dietary needs.
Tips for a smooth catering order
- Order ahead. For large groups, please call at least 2 hours in advance — more for 50+.
- Confirm headcount the day before so we can dial in quantities.
- Mix hot and cold. Pasta and pizza stay hot; salads and dessert hold at room temp, which makes serving easier.
- Label dietary trays — we’ll prep gluten-free and vegan items separately on request.
Catering Italian food in Alpharetta should be the easy part of your event. Tell us the headcount and the occasion — corporate lunch, birthday, shower or celebration — and we’ll build a spread that’s hot, fresh and ready to serve. Call (770) 475-0369 or start your catering order.