Business Catering in NYC & NJ: Top Office Catering Platforms Comparison

Introduction to Corporate Catering in NYC/NJ

Office managers and executive assistants in the New York City and New Jersey metro area face the challenge of organizing meals for teams, often on short notice. Whether it’s a last-minute client meeting or a weekly team breakfast, business catering in NYC demands reliability, variety, and speed. In a region where same-day office catering can be a lifesaver, having the right platform is crucial. This report explores the leading corporate catering services available to NYC/NJ offices, focusing on those that deliver breakfast and lunch catering with dependable service. We’ll compare top platforms — including ezCater, CaterCow, Relish by ezCater, ZeroCater, and others — and highlight how CaterPlace stands out with its personal touch and unique rewards program.

What Office Managers Look For in Catering Platforms

When choosing a corporate catering service, NYC and NJ office administrators typically prioritize:

• Same-Day Delivery Capability: The ability to handle last-minute orders is often essential. In the fast-paced NYC business environment, meetings can pop up without warning, so platforms that support same-day or morning-of ordering have a clear advantage .
• Breakfast and Lunch Options: Offices frequently need breakfast catering for teams (e.g. morning meetings) as well as corporate lunch delivery. A top platform offers a wide range of meal options — from pastries and coffee to sandwiches and hot buffets — and accommodates dietary needs (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.) .
• Variety of Caterers and Cuisines: New York’s culinary diversity is vast. The best services curate menus from numerous local restaurants and caterers, giving companies access to everything from bagels and deli spreads to sushi and gourmet cuisines. Platforms like ezCater boast tens of thousands of restaurant partners nationwide (100,000+), ensuring no shortage of choices . Others like CaterCow focus on vetted, high-quality local vendors to ensure reliability .
• Ease of Use and Ordering Experience: A user-friendly online interface (or even a concierge text/email ordering service) can save EAs time. Features like group ordering (letting each employee select their meal within a single order) and clear menu displays with photos/prices are highly valued .
• Reliable Delivery and Logistics: Timeliness and professionalism in delivery are critical for office catering. Some platforms use restaurant staff for delivery, while others dispatch third-party drivers or even their own attendants. For instance, DoorDash’s corporate arm leverages a fleet of drivers for wider delivery range , whereas services like ZeroCater or Cater2.me may send staff for on-site setup of large buffet orders . The best platforms provide order tracking and proactive communication if any issues arise.
• Customer Support: When feeding a hungry boardroom, problems must be solved fast. Top platforms offer responsive support — ideally a real human available by phone, text, or chat within minutes. EzCater is known for 24/7 customer service availability , and CaterCow has a reputation for attentive support via phone or email (their users praise the “high-quality and prompt support” provided ). CaterPlace puts a twist here by assigning a locally based concierge team to oversee every order, offering personalized, end-to-end support .
• Pricing Transparency and Fees: Budget is always a factor. Office catering platforms generally let you see menu item prices and any delivery or service fees upfront. Services like Grubhub/Seamless and ezCater make it easy to compare prices across restaurants . Some white-glove services (ZeroCater, Cater2.me) work via custom proposals and may not show pricing until after consultation , which can be less transparent but often includes added services (setup, equipment, etc.).
• Rewards or Incentives: A perk of using catering platforms is loyalty rewards. Many services award points or credits for each order, which can be redeemed for discounts or gift cards — a nice bonus for the office manager or the budget. For example, ezCater’s ezRewards gives roughly 1–5% back in points per order (with most restaurants on the lower end around 1%) . CaterCow offers “CaterCoins” rewards (100 points = $1) equating to about 1% cashback toward Amazon gift cards . We’ll see below how CaterPlace differentiates itself with a significantly higher cashback incentive.

With these criteria in mind, let’s examine the major office catering platforms serving New York and New Jersey businesses.

Top Business Catering Platforms in NYC & NJ

ezCater

ezCater is the largest catering marketplace in the U.S., with a strong presence in NYC/NJ. It aggregates over 100,000 restaurants and caterers nationwide, from local delis to national chains . This breadth means companies in NYC can find options for any cuisine or dietary need, and New Jersey offices get access to many city caterers willing to deliver across the river. Key features of ezCater include:

• Self-Service Ordering: Users browse menus and place orders through a robust online platform. Menu pricing and options are clearly displayed (including large catering trays and per-person meals) . However, because almost any restaurant can join, the curation is limited — not every vendor is vetted for office reliability, so quality can vary .
• Same-Day Capabilities: ezCater supports same-day office catering for many restaurants, as long as you order before the vendor’s cutoff time. The platform displays a countdown for ordering deadlines and shows which caterers can fulfill last-minute orders . This is ideal for unexpected meetings.
• Customer Support: They tout award-winning, 24/7 support. You can reach a human by phone, text, or email within seconds . This round-the-clock assistance is handy for resolving issues like late drivers or changes in headcount.
• Unique Programs: ezCater’s size allows partnerships with big brands — you can even cater from chains like Subway, Denny’s, Olive Garden, and Taco Bell via their site . Additionally, Relish by ezCater (covered below) is an offshoot program for recurring employee meals.
• Rewards: The ezRewards loyalty program gives at least ~$1 per $100 spent (1%), and up to $5 per $100 (5%) in points, depending on the restaurant . Points can be redeemed for Amazon.com gift cards or discounts on future orders . While useful, this reward range is modest compared to some competitors.

Pricing model: ezCater does not charge customers a subscription fee — the service makes money by taking a commission from restaurants on each order. Menu prices are generally the same as ordering directly (though sometimes a tad higher to account for the commission). They may charge a delivery fee or service fee on orders, which is shown at checkout. Overall, pricing is transparent, and you pay for the food and any applicable fees/tip.

Delivery logistics: Many ezCater orders are fulfilled by the restaurants’ own delivery staff. If a restaurant doesn’t deliver, ezCater will dispatch a vetted third-party courier (they have integrations to send DoorDash or local couriers to pick up the food). This means even a caterer without its own drivers can get the food to your Manhattan office by partnering through ezCater. The trade-off is that reliance on third parties can sometimes lead to the same hiccups as typical food delivery apps (traffic delays or mix-ups), but the 24/7 support team is there to troubleshoot.

Unique Selling Point: Sheer scale and convenience. EzCater is a one-stop shop for corporate lunch delivery virtually anywhere — perfect for companies with offices in multiple cities or those who want the widest selection. It’s also known and trusted by many executive assistants (with years in the market). The downside is the limited personalization: you largely self-manage orders on the website, and the curation is minimal (so you have to choose wisely among many options) .

Relish by ezCater

Relish is a special program by ezCater designed for recurring team meals and employee choice. Unlike one-off catering orders, Relish streamlines office lunch programs. Here’s how it works: an office sets up a regular schedule (say, lunch every Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30 pm). Employees individually select their meal from a rotating menu of restaurants, and Relish combines all the meals into one delivery per day . Key points about Relish:

• Rotating Restaurant Selection: Relish offers an “always-exciting rotating selection of local restaurants” for each day . For example, Monday might feature a choice between a salad place and a taco joint; Tuesday might offer Italian and a sushi option, etc. This ensures variety and keeps employees engaged (it’s like bringing different restaurants to your office each day).
• Individual Meals, Group Delivery: Each employee places their own order (usually from a pre-set menu with a few curated options per restaurant to simplify logistics). All individual meals come individually packaged and labeled, but are delivered together to the office at the same time. This hybrid approach combines the personal choice of individual ordering with the efficiency of one group delivery — a big win for offices that don’t have a cafeteria . During the pandemic, this individually packaged model was especially popular for safety.
• Easy Administration: Office managers can set spending allowances or subsidies for employees (e.g. company pays $15 per person, employee pays anything above that), making budgeting straightforward. They also don’t have to collect orders manually — the system handles it, saving a lot of time. One testimonial noted that using Relish saved over 5 hours a week on organizing meals and significantly cut costs by consolidating orders .
• Same-Day vs. Scheduled: Relish is generally scheduled in advance (often as a recurring plan), rather than a tool for true on-demand same-day orders. It’s ideal for offices planning regular meal days or replacing a traditional cafeteria with delivered meals. For ad-hoc needs, you’d use ezCater’s standard ordering instead.
• Coverage: Relish is available in major cities, including New York City. It partners with local restaurants in NYC/NJ, so employees get to enjoy local favorites through a convenient program.
• Support & Management: As part of ezCater, Relish customers benefit from the same strong support team. There is also a Relish dashboard for administrators to manage the schedule, see who ordered, etc.

Unique Selling Point: Relish essentially brings a flexible cafeteria alternative to your office. It stands out by marrying variety with convenience — employees get choice (boosting satisfaction) while companies get a streamlined, single delivery and a simple billing process. For any NYC company looking to provide daily lunches or frequent team meals with minimal hassle, Relish is a compelling solution. It’s slightly different from standard catering platforms, but we include it here due to its prominence and the value it offers for recurring office lunch catering.

CaterCow

CaterCow is a popular online catering marketplace that started in NYC and focuses on curated group dining. It distinguishes itself by offering only vetted, reliable caterers and by presenting creative, themed menu packages that make ordering fun and easy. Key highlights of CaterCow:

• Curated & Vetted Menus: Unlike the open marketplace of ezCater, CaterCow carefully selects caterers and menus to ensure quality. They emphasize options that are office-friendly — e.g. food that travels well and arrives presentably — and they vet restaurants for punctuality and reliability . This curation means fewer total choices than a mega-platform, but often more trustworthy options. As CaterCow puts it, they want to avoid “uninspired sandwich boxes” by curating unique, seasonal menus .
• Group Ordering Features: CaterCow’s platform is built for ordering for groups. You can order in two ways: (1) Standard group catering — one person (the office manager) picks out menu packages to feed the whole group (e.g. a taco bar for 20 people, or a sandwich platter for 10); or (2) Individual Choice group order — you set up a link where each team member selects their own meal from a chosen restaurant’s catering menu, within a budget, and CaterCow consolidates it. Their “group ordering polls” allow each person to choose what they want, which is great for dietary variety . Meals arrive labeled with names and dietary details .
• Managed Catering Service: For companies that order frequently, CaterCow offers a white-glove service with a dedicated account manager . This concierge can handle recurring orders, help plan menus for daily or weekly meals, and accommodate special requests (similar to ZeroCater’s model, but with CaterCow’s style).
• Same-Day Ordering: CaterCow generally encourages ordering at least a day in advance to access its full range of options. Because of the vetting and prep needed, same-day catering options are limited on CaterCow . They do have some vendors who can turn around last-minute orders, but the selection will be smaller (often sandwich shops or local delis that can prepare catering quickly). If you log in morning-of, you might find a “same-day” filter, but plan ahead for best results. This is a trade-off for quality control — the platform prioritizes reliability over speed.
• Coverage: CaterCow started in NYC and has expanded to other cities (Boston, SF, etc.), but NYC remains one of its largest markets. They also serve parts of New Jersey, especially the metro areas near NYC, via caterers that are willing to deliver to corporate clients there.
• Pricing: CaterCow’s pricing is transparent; what you see on the menu is what you pay, plus delivery fees where applicable. They don’t charge users extra service fees; like others, they take a commission from the vendors. Many menu items are priced per person (e.g. $12/head for a certain package with a minimum order size), which makes budgeting straightforward.
• Support: CaterCow is praised for its responsive customer service team, which is reachable by phone or email and quick to assist . Because they are smaller than ezCater, they often provide a more personal touch — the team is familiar with NYC clients and can jump in to fix any issue (e.g. a restaurant running late or a substitution request).

Unique Selling Point: CaterCow’s attention to curation and creativity sets it apart. For example, you might find a “Mediterranean Feast for 10” package or a “NYC Bagel Breakfast for 12” bundle, all vetted for quality. This makes it easy for an office manager to order something interesting without combing through hundreds of listings. CaterCow is an excellent choice for offices that want a one-stop shop with reliable caterers and don’t mind planning at least a day ahead for the best selection. It shines for those seeking a balance between self-service and concierge — giving you tools to order on your own, plus help when you need it. The main limitation is the advance notice typically required and a somewhat narrower pool of vendors (focused on top-rated caterers only) .

ZeroCater

ZeroCater takes a slightly different approach, positioning itself as a full-service corporate catering and cafeteria solution rather than an on-demand ordering platform. ZeroCater started as one of the first office catering concierge services in Silicon Valley and now serves major markets including New York City. This service is best suited for larger companies with ongoing meal programs. Key aspects of ZeroCater:

• Concierge Model: With ZeroCater, you typically work through an account manager for all orders . Instead of browsing menus and clicking to order, you tell ZeroCater your needs — headcount, budget, cuisine preferences, dietary restrictions, frequency of meals, etc. — and they handle the rest. They create a meal plan or proposal for your event or daily lunches, which you approve. This “hand-holding” is great for those who want to offload the work completely .
• Comprehensive Services: ZeroCater goes beyond just drop-off catering. They can provide on-site staff for setup, chafing dishes, labels for dishes, and even manage office snack programs and micro-kitchens . Essentially, they can operate like your outsourced cafeteria team. Some restaurants have exclusive partnerships with ZeroCater, meaning you might get access to vendors not available on other platforms .
• Predictable Scheduling: This platform is geared toward enterprise clients and offices with regular, predictable meal needs (e.g. daily lunch for 100 employees) . If your company wants to provide lunch every day or several times a week as a perk, ZeroCater will coordinate a rotating menu (e.g. Mondays Italian, Tuesdays Mediterranean, etc.), often planning weeks in advance. They utilize feedback and data (even some tech like AI for menu curation) to refine what meals are best for your team over time.
• Flexibility and Transparency: Because ZeroCater’s model relies on personal interaction, there is less upfront transparency on the website. You won’t see menus or prices until you talk to their team and they craft a plan . This can be a downside if you prefer direct control or just want a one-time order quickly. It also means some back-and-forth emailing. However, many clients appreciate not having to micromanage the food selection.
• Same-Day Orders: ZeroCater is not intended for last-minute ordering. It usually requires notice (often they plan menus monthly or need a few days to arrange a new meal). If you have an urgent need, they might try to accommodate through their network, but that’s not the typical use case.
• Support: Clients get a dedicated rep, so you have a specific person (or team) to contact for any issues — often building a first-name relationship. During meal deliveries, they often have coordinators ensuring everything runs smoothly. This high-touch service generally translates to reliable execution, but again it caters to larger orders/budgets.

Unique Selling Point: ZeroCater is ideal for companies that want a turnkey solution to office dining. Rather than placing individual orders, you’re essentially outsourcing your meal program to specialists. They excel in personalization (crafting menus to your team’s tastes over time) and can handle complex setups (like setting up food stations or catering big events). For a 20-person startup needing one lunch, however, ZeroCater would be overkill — those clients might find more value in self-serve platforms. In summary, ZeroCater offers “white-glove” corporate catering with an emphasis on consistency and full-suite services , primarily serving large NYC offices or those with recurring needs.

Other Notable Platforms in NYC/NJ

Aside from the above, a few other services deserve mention for office catering in the NYC/NJ area:

• Grubhub/Seamless for Work: An extension of the popular takeout apps, Seamless (part of Grubhub) has a corporate catering portal. Many NYC companies use Seamless for individual meals (especially for late nights or client meals) since it started in NYC servicing corporate accounts . They offer a huge variety of restaurants and easy same-day ordering, as virtually any restaurant on Seamless might have a catering menu . However, the catering aspect is not their core focus — menus might be outdated and there’s minimal vetting for office-suitable service . Still, for quick same-day office catering with lots of choice, Seamless is a handy option (just filter for “catering”).
• DoorDash for Work (and Caviar): DoorDash and its premium sibling Caviar also have business ordering features . They shine for on-demand orders, using DoorDash’s large driver fleet to reach more distant restaurants quickly . They’re great if you need to order morning-of (even an hour or two in advance in some cases) . The downside is potential reliability issues and higher fees for large orders . DoorDash for Work does allow centralized billing and the use of gift cards for employees, which can help in a distributed workforce scenario .
• Cater2.me: Cater2.me is another concierge-style service similar to ZeroCater, active in NYC. They focus on curated office catering with a personal touch. Like ZeroCater, they require working with an account manager to plan your meals, and they handle everything from menu proposals to setup. Cater2.me historically has a very similar model to ZeroCater (some clients even bounce between the two) . They’ve also innovated with virtual event catering and other offerings post-2020 . An NYC office can consider them if looking for a managed catering experience with variety.
• Fooda: Fooda is known in NYC for its office lunch pop-ups — they bring different local restaurants on-site to serve in a cafeteria style on a rotating basis . It’s a unique model where, say, on Wednesday a Thai restaurant sets up a buffet in your lobby for employees to purchase lunch. For standard catering drop-offs, Fooda also has a service similar to others (with an online portal and concierge for arranging meals) . Fooda’s pop-up solution is great for large buildings or companies wanting the feel of a cafeteria without running one, though it requires coordination and sufficient employee interest . Fooda is present in NYC and parts of NJ, mainly serving mid-to-large offices.
• Sharebite: A NYC-focused platform not mentioned above, Sharebite caters to corporate meal programs with a philanthropic twist (they donate meals for meals ordered). It is often used by financial and law firms in NYC for individual meal ordering similar to Relish or Seamless, rather than traditional tray catering. Sharebite’s emphasis is on group ordering where employees choose their own meals via the app, and the orders are delivered together. It’s worth noting as an alternative for companies particularly interested in social impact and employee choice.
• Hungry: Hungry is a newer entrant in several cities including NYC, which connects offices with local chefs and restaurants. They emphasize chef-designed menus and even celebrity chef offerings for office catering. Hungry also offers on-site staff if needed and has a rewards program. This is another option if looking for something fresh or upscale in the NYC area.

Each of these has its pros and cons, but for brevity we focus our detailed comparison on the major players mentioned earlier. Now, let’s see how they stack up side-by-side.

Competitive Analysis of Major Office Catering Platforms

Below is a comparison of key features across top corporate catering platforms for NYC/NJ offices:

NYC catering platforms

Table Source: Comparison compiled from platform websites, user testimonials, and third-party reviews . (All information is current as of 2025 and focused on NYC/NJ offerings.)

Note: Other platforms like Fooda, Sharebite, Forkable, etc. have their own models (pop-up cafeterias, employee ordering apps, etc.), but the above represents the primary catering solutions directly used by office managers for meal orders in the NYC area. Each platform has a distinct approach, so the “best” choice depends on an office’s specific needs (be it spontaneity, curation, scale, or rewards).

Why CaterPlace Stands Out for NYC Office Catering

Amidst strong competitors, CaterPlace has carved out a niche in the NYC/NJ corporate catering scene by addressing exactly what busy office managers need: reliability, personalized service, and extra value back. Here’s a closer look at CaterPlace’s advantages:

• Human-Touch Concierge Service: “Unlike other catering platforms, we handle everything from start to finish so you don’t have to,” CaterPlace promises. Every order is overseen by a locally based concierge team — real people in NYC who know the local restaurants and traffic patterns. This means when you place an order, a CaterPlace team member triple-confirms it (with the vendor, and via their system) and proactively monitors the delivery . If your meeting runs late or you have a last-minute headcount change, you have a direct line (phone or text) to someone who can adjust on the fly. This level of service reduces the stress on the EA/office manager dramatically. It’s like having an extra assistant focused just on the food order.
• Same-Day Catering Expertise: CaterPlace acknowledges that in New York, “spontaneity is the norm… same-day catering isn’t just helpful — it’s essential” . They have built a platform that excels at last-minute requests. Roughly 15% of all CaterPlace orders are same-day , which indicates both demand and their ability to fulfill it. Through a special “Same Day Catering NYC” filter on their site, you can instantly view which catering partners can deliver on short notice (often within ~5 hours) . The CaterPlace team often helps coordinate these urgent orders, ensuring that even spur-of-the-moment lunches arrive on time. This is a huge plus in NYC’s dynamic work environment.
• Breakfast and Beyond: While many competitors focus on lunch, CaterPlace puts equal emphasis on breakfast catering for offices, knowing how common morning meetings are in NYC. From bagel spreads to hot breakfast buffets, they curate reliable breakfast caterers. They also cover dinners, snacks, and desserts — helpful for everything from late-night team dinners to sweet treats for an afternoon event. It’s truly a one-stop platform for all meal times.
• Top-Tier Rewards (CaterCash): CaterPlace’s CaterCash rewards program is extraordinarily generous compared to industry norms. Companies (or the individual placing the order) earn up to 15% back in rewards on every order . These points are easily converted into Amazon gift cards at a 1:1 ratio — effectively cash back. For example, a $500 catering order could earn around $75 in CaterCash, which can become a $75 Amazon card. This level of return far exceeds ezCater’s typical 1–5% or CaterCow’s ~1% reward rate . It’s a meaningful perk: over a year of frequent orders, an office manager could fund office supplies (or personal treats!) with the accumulated gift cards. “They offer up to 15x rewards on every order,” as their site highlights , making it the best cashback program in the corporate catering space.
• Local Caterer Network with Quality Control: CaterPlace focuses on a handpicked list of reputable NYC/NJ caterers . By working only with reliable vendors (and actively vetting them), they ensure high-quality food and on-time delivery. This curated approach means you won’t find hundreds of random restaurants, but rather a selected roster of the “most reliable, vetted caterers” in the area . Offices benefit from this because it takes the guesswork out of choosing a provider — if it’s on CaterPlace, it’s trusted.
• End-to-End Management: CaterPlace markets itself as providing “easy end-to-end management” of catering orders . From the moment you submit an order to the moment the food is delivered (and even after, in case of any issues), their team is actively managing the process. They coordinate with the caterer, double-check details like delivery address and dietary requests, and ensure everything runs smoothly. It’s a mix of technology and human oversight aimed at a “seamless, hassle-free experience” . For busy EAs juggling multiple tasks, this is a relief — you can “set it and forget it,” trusting that the catering will be handled professionally.
• Customer Satisfaction: CaterPlace’s approach leads to high satisfaction and repeat usage. Their core values of quality, convenience, and customer focus translate to tangible benefits: reliable meals, saved time, and a feeling of being supported rather than on your own. In a way, CaterPlace combines the best of both worlds — the technology of an online platform with the personal service of a dedicated catering concierge. This hybrid model is particularly well-suited for the NYC market, where expectations are high and timing is everything.

In summary, CaterPlace stands out by putting the office client first. The platform acknowledges the realities of corporate life in NYC/NJ (last-minute needs, demand for variety, the value of a personal touch) and builds its service around them. Add in the unmatched Amazon gift card rewards, and it’s clear why many local office managers are turning to CaterPlace as their go-to business catering solution.

Sources have been preserved in the text for reference to factual claims and to add credibility. These include comparisons and statements from company websites, user reviews, and industry analyses to ensure accuracy in our discussion of features and benefits.