Party Catering Pittsburgh: Planning Your Menu

What Party Catering Includes

Party catering in Pittsburgh means a restaurant prepares food for a private gathering at a home, venue, or backyard. At Pita My Shawarma, we cater private parties and birthdays, along with lunches and meetings and weddings. We offer halal and vegetarian options, and full-service catering with servers is available if your party needs staff. Contact us to talk through the number of guests, the style of service, and the time you want food ready.

Estimate Your Guest Count

Guest count drives almost every other decision. Many hosts start with the invitation list, then account for guests who may bring family or decline at the last minute. A common planning practice is to add a small buffer, then confirm the final number with your caterer as close to the party as the notice rules allow. For large orders, we ask for at least 24 to 48 hours notice.

Think about the style of the party as well. A seated dinner needs more planning for plates, serving staff, and timing than a casual backyard gathering where guests graze and come and go. Share that detail with your caterer so the quantities and serving plan match how people will actually eat.

Choose a Menu That Works for a Crowd

Party food should be easy to serve, easy to eat, and enjoyable to graze on over several hours. Our hand-stacked halal chicken shawarma makes a satisfying main, and our falafel is gluten-free and vegan. House-made hummus and house-made baba ganoush work as shared starters with fresh vegetables and pita. Halloumi cheese fries and zaatar fries make good shareable sides. Browse our menu to pick the items that suit your guests.

Plan a dessert too. Baklava is a classic Lebanese sweet that guests can enjoy with coffee or tea. If your party runs late, consider whether rice bowls over Lebanese rice or pita wraps will suit your timeline better. Pita wraps contain gluten, so label them. For a mixed crowd, a few simple items like fries, hummus, and fresh vegetables can keep guests happy while the main dishes are being served.

Keep the Food Safe and Fresh

A good party menu also needs good food handling. Keep hot food hot and cold food cold, and do not leave perishable food out for more than two hours. In hot weather, the one-hour guideline is the safer limit, which matters for outdoor parties. Serve food in smaller batches and refill trays as they empty, rather than letting one large tray sit out all evening. Label each dish, and set out a serving spoon for every tray so guests do not need to touch the food with their hands. For outdoor parties, use a shaded table away from direct sun or heat sources so food stays cool.

Questions to Ask Your Party Caterer

• How much notice do you need for my party date?
• Which items are halal, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free?
• Do you offer pickup, delivery, or full-service with servers?
• Are serving utensils, chafing dishes, and containers included?
• What is the drop-off or setup timing for an outdoor event?
• Can the menu be adjusted if the guest count changes?

Get a Party Catering Quote

Send your party date, guest count, location, and service needs through our catering inquiry form, or call (412) 251-1279. Our chicken shawarma is listed as halal on our menu, but please confirm your own requirements before ordering. Pickup is always free, and delivery is available within a 10-mile radius on orders over $200. Tell us your start time and how long the party will run, so we can plan timing around it.