Cocktail reception, dinner reception or buffet: what is the difference and what should a company choose?

A dinner cocktail reception and an apéritif dînatoire are the same format: a standing meal made of individual canapés. What changes is the number of pieces: 6 to 8 per person for drinks, 12 to 14 for a lunch reception, 16 to 18 for a dinner reception. A sharing buffet, on the other hand, is served in dishes at the table.

What is the difference between a cocktail reception and an apéritif dînatoire?

In everyday French, "apéritif dînatoire" is the term people search for most often to mean a dinner cocktail reception. Both replace a standing dinner, with individual savoury then sweet canapés. For companies we talk about a cocktail reception: the term pins down the format and the number of pieces.

How many canapés for drinks, a lunch reception and a dinner reception?

Format	Moment	Pieces per person	L'Écrin package	Price per person excl. VAT
Drinks	Before or after a meeting	6 to 8	L'Invitation, 8 pieces	€29.90
Lunch reception	At lunchtime	12 to 14	La Réception, 12 pieces	€40.90
Dinner reception	In the evening	16 to 18	La Célébration, 16 pieces	€51.90

The detailed budgets are in the guides lunchtime cocktail reception and dinner cocktail reception for 20 people.

Cocktail reception, sharing buffet or lunch trays: which one?

Format	How people eat	Price per person excl. VAT	Best for
Cocktail reception	Standing, piece by piece, moving around	€29.90 to €51.90	Inauguration, after-work drinks, evening party, send-off
Sharing buffet	Dishes and salads to share, seated or mixed	€34.90 to €37.90	A team that stays seated, a working lunch
Lunch trays	One individual tray	from €28.90	Working meeting, training day

The sharing buffet is sized for 8 to 12 guests per menu. To decide between the two, read sharing buffet or company cocktail reception.

Which format is best for which occasion?

• An inauguration or a reception: a cocktail reception, 12 to 16 pieces depending on how long it runs. See organising an inauguration.
• After-work drinks: the 8-canapé reception, €29.90 excl. VAT per person. See after-work drinks ideas.
• A team lunch: a lunch tray or a sharing buffet. See office lunch ideas.

Are the formats halal and alcohol-free?

The savoury canapés are halal and pork-free, and the menu is alcohol-free, at no extra cost. We do not claim any halal certification issued by a certifying body.

How do you order?

Ask for a quote within 24 hours. Order until 2 pm the day before, delivery from 6:30 am in Paris and the Paris region, with €29 excl. VAT delivery and a €50 excl. VAT minimum order.

L'Écrin Traiteur prices, October 2026, in euros excluding VAT. Calculation: products plus one delivery at €29 excl. VAT, Paris and nearby towns. Minimum order €50 excl. VAT.

Frequently asked questions about cocktail reception and buffet formats