Buffet, family style or plated: what each one costs you

The style of service changes the price more than the menu does, because what you are really paying for is people.

Buffet

One server for every thirty guests, two hours of service, and guests choose their own portions. From $32 a guest. It works for anything casual, and it is the fastest way to feed a crowd.

Family style

Platters at every table, passed by the guests, with a server for every ten. From $44 a guest. Everyone eats at the same time, but the tables need room for the platters.

Plated

Three courses at the table with a server for every ten guests and a captain. From $55 a guest. It is the most formal and the easiest to time around toasts.

Cocktail reception

Passed bites and no dinner, from $28 a guest. Guests eat less than you expect at a sit-down, so it suits evenings that are really about the drinks.

What to ask

Ask how many servers are in the price, how long service lasts and what happens when it runs over. The answers tell you more than the menu does.