Reunion dinner catering, and why it books first
Every household that caters for Chinese New Year wants the same evening. That makes the eve the hardest date in the Singapore catering year to place.
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One night, and the whole island wants it
Most catering demand spreads. Christmas office parties run across three weeks, birthdays fall on every day of the year, and a vendor who is full on one date is usually open on the next. Reunion dinner does not work that way: it is a single evening, it is the most important meal of the year for a large share of Singapore households, and there is no second-best date.
The practical consequence is that reunion dinner is worth treating differently from every other catering decision you make. Confirm the date first and choose the menu afterwards. Menus stay available across the season; the eve does not.
Working across a lot of partnering kitchens rather than one helps here more than anywhere — when a vendor is full for the eve we are looking at the others. It is still the date to get in early.
The first date to go
Earlier than the first day, earlier than the second, earlier than anything at Christmas.
Book four to six weeks out
That is normal for reunion dinner. Earlier is better, and costs nothing extra.
Chafing stands for a long sitting
A reunion dinner runs long, which is what a buffet with setup is built for.
Many kitchens, one night
When one vendor is full for the eve, we are looking across the rest.
Ordering a buffet for Chinese New Year
A buffet with setup brings chafing stands, a laid-out buffet table and a crew who sets it up and returns for the equipment afterwards. Chafing stands hold serving temperature across a long afternoon, which is what most Chinese New Year gatherings actually need.
- Minimum order
- 30 pax. Below that, a mini buffet starts at 10 pax.
- Price per pax
- $20 at 30–44 pax, $15 at 45–74, $13 at 75–149, $10 at 150+.
- Setup fee
- $90, charged once per order whatever the headcount.
- Delivery
- Free on mini buffet and bento orders of $225 or more before GST. Below that a $30 delivery fee applies, and a 10 pax order always carries it whatever the order comes to. On the entry-level menus $225 is reached at 15 pax.
- Equipment
- Chafing stands and serving gear are collected after the event, so someone should be there at the end.
- Standard lead time
- One day's notice, subject to vendor availability on your date.
- Booking for Chinese New Year
- Four to six weeks ahead. The tightest dates are reunion dinner on the eve, then the first and second days of the new year.
- Public holidays
- We deliver on them, with fewer vendors operating and narrower delivery windows than a normal day.
- Changing your order
- Headcount and menu changes up to 24 hours before delivery.
- Halal
- Halal menus available from Muslim-owned stalls, certified on request, at the same prices.
- Surcharges
- $30 for delivery at 9.59am or earlier or 7.31pm or later. $15 for postal codes 71, 63, 09, 50 and 49. $50–$100 per level where there is no lift access.
A menu for a Chinese New Year buffet is released closer to the date. Tell us your date and headcount in the menu planner and we will send it as soon as it does.
Setup or drop-and-go
A reunion dinner is a long sitting, so chafing stands earn their place: a buffet with setup holds serving temperature across the evening and starts at 30 pax with a $90 setup fee, delivery included.
For a smaller family table, a mini buffet from 10 pax arrives ready to serve with everything disposable and nothing collected afterwards — worth knowing that its insulated bags hold temperature comfortably for a couple of hours rather than all evening.
How ordering works
Book early for popular dates
Our cutoff is one day before your event. In practice, order earlier: festive periods, year-end parties and weekend slots fill up well ahead, and booking early secures both your slot and the dishes you want.
Mini buffet and bento delivery $30
Drop and go: food arrives in insulated warmer bags that are yours to keep, with serving gear, cutlery, plates, bowls, a disposable table cloth and a trash bag. Free on promotional menus above $225.
Buffet delivery and setup $90
One fee covers delivery, a full setup with a skirted table and cloth, warmers, serving gear, disposable plates, cutlery and napkins, and our team returning to collect the equipment after your event.
Changes up to 24 hours before
Adjust your headcount, menu or timing more than 24 hours before your event, subject to availability. Within 24 hours the food and manpower are already committed, so changes and cancellations are normally not accepted and a fee of 50% to 100% of the order may apply.
Additional charges may apply for outlying areas (Tengah, Lim Chu Kang, Tuas, Sentosa, Changi Airport and Alps Avenue), deliveries before 10am or after 7.30pm, and venues without lift access. Every charge is confirmed in your quotation before you pay. See full terms.
Your menu in three simple steps
- 1
Tell us about your event
Headcount, date, budget per pax and any dietary needs like halal or vegetarian.
- 2
Get your best-matched menu
Our menu planner, with a little help from AI, matches a customised menu with prices to your budget and requirements in 60 seconds.
- 3
Customise and confirm
Swap any dish to fit your requirements, then confirm with our team on WhatsApp or email.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should I book reunion dinner catering?
Four to six weeks is normal, and earlier is better. It is the single tightest date in the Singapore catering calendar, and booking ahead buys you a wider choice of menus rather than a lower price.
Do you cater on Chinese New Year eve?
Yes. It is the first date to fill every year, so confirm the date well before settling the menu.
Which format suits a reunion dinner?
A reunion dinner is a long sitting, so a buffet with setup and its chafing stands usually fits better than insulated bags. It starts at 30 pax with a $90 setup fee. For a smaller family table, a mini buffet from 10 pax works and leaves nothing to collect.
How much does reunion dinner catering cost?
Chinese New Year menus are priced separately from our everyday menus and are confirmed with our partnering vendors closer to the season. Tell us your date and headcount in the menu planner and we will send the current menu with prices as soon as it is released. If you would rather book against something already priced, our everyday menus run right through the period — from $15 per pax at 15 people with delivery included.
What is the minimum order?
The same as any other time of year: 10 pax for a mini buffet, 30 pax for a buffet with setup, and 12 pax for bento depending on the menu.
What if my headcount changes closer to the date?
Changes are fine with at least 24 hours' notice. Over a festive period, tell us as early as you can — vendors are working at capacity and a late increase is much harder to absorb than it would be in an ordinary month.
How far in advance should I order catering?
The latest we can take an order is one day before your event. We recommend booking earlier than that: popular dates such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Christmas and the year-end party season are taken weeks ahead, and ordering early secures your slot and the dishes you want. For large events, the earlier the better.
Is there a delivery fee?
Delivery is free on mini buffet and bento orders of $225 or more before GST. Below that it is $30, and a 10 pax order always carries the fee whatever the order comes to. On the entry-level mini buffet menus $225 is reached at 15 pax. A buffet with setup instead carries a $90 setup fee, charged once per order, which covers delivery, laying out the buffet line and collecting the equipment afterwards. Remote postal codes, deliveries at 9.59am or earlier or 7.31pm or later, and venues without lift access can add a surcharge on top; every one is published and appears in your quotation before you confirm.
What is included with the food?
Mini buffet orders are drop and go: the food arrives in insulated warmer bags that are yours to keep, with serving gear, cutlery, plates, bowls, a disposable table cloth and a trash bag, so you can bag everything up and bin it after your event. Bento meals come individually boxed with cutlery. Buffet with setup includes a skirted table and cloth, warmers, serving gear, disposable plates, cutlery and napkins, and our team returns to collect the equipment.
Can I change or cancel my order?
Yes, with more than 24 hours' notice before your event, subject to availability. Within 24 hours the food and manpower are already committed, so changes and cancellations are normally not accepted and a fee of 50% to 100% of the order may apply.
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