Experienced catering staff for your next event
Some of the Companies We’ve Worked With
We cater for special events and occasions
A safe service
From food production to delivery, our caterers are all vetted and adhere to our high standards of food safety.
Event expertise
From product launches to annual conferences, our team can cater to just about any corporate event.
Tailored solution
Wide range of menus with a-la-carte style options available for the perfect catering solution for your needs.
Our Services
Professional staff and quality equipment to ensure your events are perfect
Whether you're having wait staff roaming the room with platters of delicious canapés or are hosting a sit-down meal requiring meals to be brought to each guest, our friendly, professional staff services are able to help make your event everything you imagine it to be.
We can also ensure you've got the right serviceware for your event. From crockery and cutlery to glassware to bain-maries, we can provide all the necessities for your function to go off without a hitch.
We can help with bartenders, mixologists and baristas too
Want a bartender to shake, stir, blend and mix the perfect cocktails for your function? Or an expert barista to brew the ultimate cup of coffee to power you through your morning workshops?
EatFirst can place more than just wait staff to serve food at your next event, regardless of whether you're hosting it in your office or at a conference centre.
Hear from our happy clients
‘Delicious food & great customer service’
Order In is perfect for keeping our kitchen well-stocked with food & drinks. We love the wide selection of snacks and fresh fruit. Michael from Order-In always goes out of his way to make sure we have what we need, and to recommend new products for our pantry. Highly recommend!
‘It makes my job significantly easier’
Order-In is the easiest possible way to access a great variety of caterers around. It makes my job easier and allows me to have some fun choosing on the way. Thank you for all your help and support.
Make your events shine
EatFirst's top-rated corporate catering services are how we got started, but we can offer so much more than just great food.
Wait staff, bartenders, crockery and cutlery, glassware, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, decorations and more.
Waitstaff
Bartenders
Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Glassware, crockery and cutlery
What you'll need to know about hiring catering staff and equipment
How many wait staff do I need?
The number of catering staff you should hire depends on your party size, type of function and what services you're hoping to provide.
Generally, we'd recommend:
- Cocktail functions (standing): 1 waiter per 25 guests
- Seated meals: 1 waiter for 10-15 guests
For large events of 100 people or more, you'll likely also need a function supervisor to make sure everything runs smoothly.
How much does catering staff cost?
Expect to pay about $45-$55 per hour, per wait staff required.
So if you're hosting a three-hour, standing cocktail function for 75 people, you'll need 3x wait staff for about five hours. Expect to pay about $675-$825 for the service.
Price vary from company to company and depending on which city your job is in.
Note: Catering staff hire doesn't include things like crockery, cutlery and glassware hire. If you're in need of those items too, we can certainly help, but it will be an additional cost.
How long do I need to hire wait staff for?
Most of our partners have a four-hour minimum for catering staff hired for an event.
To ensure everyone is ready and trained up for your specific event, staff will need to arrive about an hour before they're expected to start serving. They'll also finish up about an hour after the event has finished.
How much equipment do I need to hire for my event?
Equipment isn't quite as straight-forward as wait staff, as it depends on factors like:
- The style of your meal: Is it a sit-down or standing affair?
- How many courses are being served? Do you need dishes for appetisers and dessert or just a main?
- Will you be serving food buffet-style from platters, or as individual servings?
Luckily, our friendly customer service team is more than equiped to help you sort out just what you need so your event runs smoothly.
When will equipment be delivered?
Of course everything will need to be delivered prior to the start of your event! We will need a four-hour delivery window so we can make sure your items are delivered on-time for your event.
We can also pick up everything you've hired within a four-hour window as well. Just let us know the pick-up date and we'll take it from there!
