In the world of hybrid work and back-to-office mandates, reliable corporate catering has evolved from a luxury to a necessity. Enter EzCater, a B2B platform promising to simplify group food ordering for businesses of all sizes. Over six weeks, I used the service to coordinate meals for team meetings, client lunches, and company-wide events—here’s an unvarnished breakdown of its strengths, pain points, and ultimate value proposition.
First Impressions: Platform Usability and Onboarding
EzCater’s website and mobile app prioritize functionality over flash. The clean interface greets users with a search bar prompting inputs for location, delivery date/time, group size, and cuisine preferences. Filters for dietary restrictions (gluten-free, vegan), budget ranges (12–12–35+/person), and delivery type (drop-off, full-service) appear intuitively, making it easy to narrow options.
Signing up as a “coordinator” took under two minutes—no lengthy forms, just email verification. A welcome email included a dedicated account manager’s contact (a perk for accounts expecting 50+ orders annually), though smaller teams rely on standard support channels.
Test Case #1: A 10-Person Team Lunch
Order: Mediterranean spread for a hybrid team (8 in-office, 2 remote)
Process:
- Search: Entered NYC address, 12-person count (buffer for last-minute attendees), $18/person budget.
- Filtering: Selected “Individual Meals” and “Vegan Options.” Topped results included Dig Inn, Sweetgreen, and local delis.
- Customization: Chose “Build Your Own Box” from a Brooklyn-based vendor. Added falafel, hummus, grilled veggies, and pita—vegan substitutions noted clearly.
- Checkout: Opted for disposable bamboo containers (eco-upgrade: +$1.50/person). Tipping pre-set at 15% but adjustable.
- Delivery Tracking: Real-time GPS updates via email and SMS.
Results:
- Punctuality: Arrived 12 minutes early, packaged in insulated bags.
- Food Quality: Fresh, ample portions. Vegan meals were distinctly labeled.
- Missing Items: One remote worker’s meal lacked utensils—resolved via a $20 credit after contacting support.
Test Case #2: A 100-Person Company Retreat
Order: Breakfast and lunch for a multi-department offsite
Challenges:
- Last-minute headcount increase (from 85 to 100)
- Allergy alerts (2x gluten-free, 1x nut-free)
- Setup/cleanup requirements
Platform Features Tested:
- Bulk Order Editing: Revised attendee count 24 hours pre-delivery seamlessly.
- Allergy Flagging: Vendor confirmed accommodations via in-app chat.
- Add-Ons: Rented chafing dishes (45)andcompostbins(45)andcompostbins(20).
Execution:
- Breakfast: Boxed meals from a local bakery (pastries, yogurt parfaits). Oat milk substitution for lactose-free attendees was mishandled—delivered regular dairy.
- Lunch: Buffet-style tacos with dedicated allergen-free stations. Staff stayed 30 minutes to assist with setup.
- Post-Event: Automated survey link rated vendor 4.2/5; feedback forwarded to the caterer.
Standout Features
- Expense Management Tools
- Multi-Payment Options: Split costs across departments via virtual cards.
- Receipt Automation: CSV exports sync with Expensify and QuickBooks.
- Budget Guardrails: Set per-order or monthly limits to prevent overspending.
- Vendor Diversity and Transparency
- Over 100,000 restaurants and caterers nationwide, ranging from Chick-fil-A to artisanal vegan kitchens.
- Vendor profiles include hygiene ratings, photos of actual event setups, and response time metrics.
- Customer Support
- 24/7 Live Chat: Used twice for urgent changes—resolved in under 8 minutes.
- Insurance Backing: A $1M guarantee covers last-minute vendor cancellations (invoked once; EzCater sourced a replacement within 90 minutes).
Pain Points and Quirks
- Inconsistent Portion Sizing: A “serves 10” BBQ order fed 7 comfortably, while a “serves 8” sushi platter overflowed.
- App Glitches: The iOS app crashed twice during payment processing.
- Hidden Fees: Some vendors added “fuel surcharges” (up to 5%) visible only at checkout.
- Menu Fatigue: High-volume users may notice vendor overlap in metro areas.
Pricing Breakdown: Competitive or Costly?
EzCater operates on a markup model:
- Vendor Prices: Comparable to direct ordering (e.g., $14/meal from a local deli).
- Service Fees: 5–10% per order, waived for orders over $1,000/month.
- Delivery Fees: 5–5–25 depending on distance—steep compared to Uber for Business’s flat rates.
Example:
A 20-person lunch at 18/head+818/head+815 delivery = **408total∗∗vs.408total∗∗vs.360 ordering direct. For busy teams, the premium may justify time saved.
Competitor Comparison
- Cater2Me: Higher-end (avg. $25+/person) with curated menus but less DIY flexibility.
- DoorDash for Work: Cheaper fees but limited to restaurant partners, lacking true catering specialists.
- Platterz: Strong in Canada, weaker U.S. vendor network.
EzCater strikes a middle ground—broader selection than niche players, more catering-focused than gig economy apps.
Who Should Use EzCater?
- HR/Office Managers: Streamlining recurring orders (weekly all-hands, onboarding lunches).
- Event Planners: Needing insurance-backed large-event solutions.
- Startups: Without negotiated vendor contracts.
Who Should Skip It?
- Micro-Teams (Under 5 people): Per-meal fees erode value.
- Businesses with Existing Vendor Relationships: Markups add little benefit.
- Businesses Requiring Complex Menus: Customization beyond dietary filters still requires direct vendor calls.
Pro Tips for Maximizing Value
- Leverage Rewards: Earn 2% credit on orders toward future purchases.
- Pre-Schedule Orders: Discounts up to 10% for orders booked 7+ days early.
- Use the Concierge: Free for enterprise accounts; negotiated a 12% bulk discount for quarterly orders.
The Verdict: A Reliable (But Imperfect) Workhorse
EzCater excels as a centralized hub for hassle-free corporate catering, particularly for mid-sized businesses balancing variety and accountability. Its real-time tracking, expense tools, and vendor redundancy safeguards alleviate the chaos of group ordering. However, inconsistent portioning and occasional fee opacity reveal cracks in its “set-and-forget” promise.
For companies valuing time over pinching pennies—and willing to vet vendors via reviews—EzCater delivers (literally). Yet, organizations with complex needs or existing catering partnerships may find only marginal utility. In the end, it’s a platform that doesn’t revolutionize corporate catering but competently digitizes it—a 7.5/10 in a space still ripe for disruption.
