Last updated: 7th October · By Indian Eatery Team
Quick Answer
Indian catering works well for birthdays, anniversaries and family parties because one buffet can serve vegetarians, meat-eaters, kids and grandparents at the same time. At Indian Eatery in Mount Laurel, NJ, you can choose:
- To-go party trays for home parties (just 24 hours’ notice)
- Drop-off catering delivered to your location
- Full-service catering for large celebrations, with setup through cleanup
- Catering packages from $29 per person
We also offer kid-friendly menus (Indo Chinese, Italian, Mexican) and a chocolate fountain, which make birthday parties easier for mixed age groups.
Which Catering Option Fits Your Party?
| Your Party | Best Option | Why |
| Small home birthday or family dinner (10–40 guests) | To-Go Trays | Order from one tray to as many as you need, pick up and serve. Just 24 hours’ notice. |
| Graduation party, housewarming, casual get-together | Drop-Off Catering | Ready-to-eat food delivered in disposable trays. No staff needed. |
| Milestone birthday, 25th/50th anniversary, large reunion | Full-Service Catering | Our team handles setup, service and cleanup, so you can enjoy your own party. |
| Diwali, Eid, holiday or cultural celebration | Special Package Catering | Curated festive menus, customizable to your event size. |
| Any party that wants a “wow” moment | Live stations (add-on) | Chaat or pani puri made in front of guests |
Tip: If you’re refilling trays all night, you’ve accidentally hired yourself. For larger parties, full-service lets you actually celebrate.
Party Trays: The Easiest Option for Home Celebrations
For most home birthdays and family get-togethers, our to-go trays are the simplest choice:
- 24-hour notice: All catering orders need at least 24 hours’ notice.
- Choose your spice level: mild, medium, spicy or mixed.
- Fixed tray pricing: Appetizers and entrées are priced the same regardless of tray size, so you just scale the order to your guest count.
- One tray to unlimited: Order exactly what your party needs.
- Sides on request: Salads and accompaniments are available at extra cost.
- Pickup: 915 Route 73, Mount Laurel, NJ (open 9 AM – 9 PM EST)
Menus for Kids and Mixed Groups
Family parties bring together grandparents who want traditional dishes, kids who want something mild, and guests trying Indian food for the first time. Our menu options include:
- North Indian, South Indian and Gujarati for traditional favorites
- Chaat station (pani puri, bhel puri, pav bhaji, dahi vada) for fun and interaction
- Indo Chinese, Italian and Mexican for kids and guests who want something familiar
- Mediterranean for more variety
- Desserts and a chocolate fountain, a hit at birthday parties
For kids: Pair mild paneer, rice and bread with a few kid-favorite dishes from the Indo Chinese, Italian or Mexican menus. Set the spice to mild on those trays.
Sample Menus by Celebration
| Celebration | Suggested Menu | Service |
| Kid’s birthday | 1–2 mild appetizers, mild paneer dish, rice, naan, kid-friendly Indo Chinese or Italian dish, chocolate fountain or 1 dessert plus cake | Trays or drop-off |
| Milestone birthday (40th, 50th, 60th) | Multiple appetizers, chaat, 2–3 veg entrées, 1–2 non-veg entrées, rice, breads, 2 desserts, optional live station | Full-service |
| 25th / 50th anniversary | Cocktail-hour appetizers, a balanced buffet, the couple’s favorite or regional dishes, traditional desserts plus anniversary cake | Full-service |
| Graduation party | Easy finger appetizers, chaat, buffet entrées, rice, bread, desserts | Drop-off |
| Family reunion | Wide appetizer choice, several veg dishes, selected non-veg dishes, mild and bold options, several desserts | Drop-off or full-service |
| Engagement or pre-wedding dinner | Smaller version of a wedding menu without the wedding-scale setup | Trays or drop-off |
Browse the full catering menu. Custom items are available on request, so if the birthday person or the anniversary couple has a favorite dish, ask us.
Build a Balanced Party Menu
More dishes don’t make a better party. Compare these two menus:
- Menu A: five rich curries, two similar paneer dishes, two similar chicken dishes, three rice dishes and four desserts
- Menu B: one crisp appetizer, one grilled appetizer, a chaat option, a paneer entrée, a lentil dish, a vegetable dish, one chicken entrée, rice, fresh bread and two contrasting desserts
Menu B has fewer items but more variety in texture and flavor, and it costs less and wastes less.
Quick rules:
- Make vegetarian food a main part of the menu, not a side option. Our menu has 29 veg entrées to choose from.
- Mix spice levels: one mild, one medium, one bolder dish.
- If biryani is on the menu, count it as a main dish, not a side.
- If there’s a birthday or anniversary cake, order one less dessert.
- Pair warm and cold desserts, such as warm gulab jamun with chilled rasmalai.
Dietary Needs at Family Parties
- Halal: Indian Eatery offers halal options. Tell us your requirements when ordering.
- Vegan: Many vegetarian Indian dishes contain ghee, butter, cream, yogurt or paneer. Ask which dishes can be made vegan.
- Allergies: Tell us about serious allergies (dairy, nuts, wheat) before ordering. Don’t promise a guest a dish is safe until we’ve confirmed it.
- Labels: For guests new to Indian food, label each tray with the dish name and whether it’s vegetarian.
Packages and Pricing for Larger Parties
For bigger celebrations, our per-person packages make planning easy:
| Silver | Gold | Platinum | |
| Price per person | $29 | $39 | $49 |
| Appetizers (veg + non-veg) | 2 + 1 | 2 + 2 | 3 + 2 |
| Entrées (veg + non-veg) | 2 + 1 | 2 + 2 | 3 + 2 |
| Rice + Naan / Roti | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Desserts | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Fruit platter | – | – | ✓ |
Example: 50-guest anniversary party, Silver package
- Food: 50 × $29 = $1,450
- 20% service charge: $290
- Subtotal: $1,740, before NJ sales tax and add-ons
Extra charges apply for seafood, goat dishes, live stations and delivery. NJ sales tax and a 20% mandatory service charge apply to all packages. See Catering Packages.
On a budget? Sort your wish list into must-haves (core meal), nice-to-haves (extra appetizers, desserts) and extras (live stations, specialty dishes). If the quote is high, cut from the bottom.
Party-Day Checklist
- ☐ Guest count (and whether it’s estimated or final)
- ☐ Order placed at least 24 hours ahead
- ☐ Spice level set for each tray
- ☐ Kids’ dishes and dietary needs covered
- ☐ Cake coordinated with dessert quantity
- ☐ Pickup time, or delivery address with room name, parking and an on-site contact number
- ☐ Serving utensils, plates and warming trays: who brings them?
- ☐ Timeline shared (guest arrival, dinner, cake cutting, speeches)
- ☐ Live station space agreed with the venue and decorator
- ☐ Leftover containers and cleanup plan
Planning a wedding instead? See our Indian wedding catering checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much notice do you need for party catering?
All catering orders at Indian Eatery need at least 24 hours’ notice. For large parties, live stations or full-service events, contact us earlier to secure your date.
Is Indian catering good for a small birthday party at home?
Yes. Our to-go trays are ideal for home parties. Order anywhere from one tray to as many as you need, choose your spice level and pick up in Mount Laurel.
Do you have kid-friendly catering options?
Yes. Along with mild Indian dishes, we offer Indo Chinese, Italian and Mexican menus and a chocolate fountain, which are popular at children’s birthday parties.
Can I choose the spice level for party trays?
Yes. You can choose mild, medium, spicy or a mix for your order.
How much does Indian catering cost for a party?
Our per-person packages are $29 (Silver), $39 (Gold) and $49 (Platinum), plus a 20% service charge and NJ sales tax. To-go trays have fixed pricing for appetizers and entrées regardless of tray size.
Is Indian catering good for a 50th anniversary?
Yes. A milestone anniversary works well with full-service catering, a balanced buffet, the couple’s favorite dishes and traditional desserts.
Can I add a special family dish to the menu?
Yes. Custom items are available on request. Ask early so we can plan it.
Do you offer halal catering for family events?
Yes. Indian Eatery offers halal options. Share your requirements when you order.
Plan Your Party With Indian Eatery
Indian Eatery Kitchen & Catering is at 915 Route 73, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054, catering birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, reunions and family celebrations across South Jersey.
📞 +1 (856) 856-8676 (9 AM – 9 PM EST)
✉️ info@indianeatery.com
👉 Order party trays or request a catering quote