Sharing buffet or corporate cocktail reception in Paris: how to choose (and get the quantities right)

Sharing buffet or dinner reception? The question comes up at every team lunch or company event in Paris, and the answer has nothing to do with which one is more upmarket. It depends on the moment: a seated meal where the team settles in, or a reception where people move around. Here is how to decide, with concrete guidelines on quantities, budget and dietary requirements.

Sharing buffet or dinner reception: the real difference

The sharing buffet sits in the middle of the table: everyone helps themselves, makes up their plate and stays seated. It is the format for team lunches, monthly meetings and hosting partners over a meal. The dinner reception, on the other hand, is picked at standing up, one canapé at a time, while moving around. It is the format for after-work drinks, product launches and end-of-day receptions. The first feeds people seated, the second feeds them on the move — that is what should guide the choice, not the supposed prestige of one or the other.

How many people does a sharing menu feed?

At L'Écrin, a sharing menu is designed for 8 to 12 people, to be topped up depending on appetite and timing — a 12 pm lunch calls for more than a 2 pm lunch. Each menu combines savoury and sweet recipes in quantities planned to go round without running short: better a menu that ends barely touched than a table that is empty by 12:30.

And for a cocktail reception? The right guidelines

If the event leans towards a cocktail reception, allow 6 to 8 canapés per person for drinks lasting one to two hours, 12 to 14 canapés for a lunch reception and 16 to 18 canapés for a dinner reception that replaces dinner. The full detail, savoury-sweet ratio included, is in our article how many canapés to plan per person.

Our three sharing menus

Three compositions, so you never repeat the same menu twice in a row: Le Méditerranéen (fresh flavours, hummus, focaccia), Le Parisien (bistro classics, smoked salmon, club sandwich) and Le Jardin, 100% vegetarian with no compromise on indulgence. Each menu balances savoury pieces and sweet treats, laid out ready to put on the table. Recipe details and prices per person on the Sharing buffet page.

Dietary requirements: a menu designed for everyone, not as an option

Our whole menu is halal and pork-free by default, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options to specify in the quote. The Jardin menu already covers vegetarian without compromise; for vegan or gluten-free on the other two menus, simply say so when ordering — we adjust the composition without making it an extra effort.

Ordering in Paris and Île-de-France

Order before 2 pm the day before, delivery at the time you choose anywhere in Paris and Île-de-France. €50 minimum order (excl. VAT), company invoicing with VAT. For recurring lunches, a framework quote saves you starting over every week: request your quote and we will set up the format with you.

Frequently asked questions