Stadium game-day hospitality
Our team has handled the pace of stadium game-day events: high guest volume on a schedule that cannot move.
Appetizers · Finger Food · Miami
Appetizer Trays From $65, Delivered in Miami
Order two trays or more 48 hours ahead. Want our team on site instead? A cocktail reception starts at $78 a guest.
Get My Quote in 24 Hours
Appetizer and Finger Food Catering in Miami
Miami Plate Catering offers appetizer and finger food catering in two formats. Delivered trays hold 12 to 30 pieces and cost $65 to $95 each, with a minimum of two trays ordered 48 hours ahead. A cocktail reception with our staff on site starts at $78 per guest, with a minimum of 25 guests. Events under 50 guests add $10 per guest.
Send your date and address first: the quote shows the delivery cost for that address next to the tray price, and appetizer catering near me in Miami works for office parties, birthdays and family gatherings alike.
- Delivered trays. Order two or more at least 48 hours before your event. Delivery depends on your address and is shown in your quote.
- Cocktail reception. Our team serves at your venue for four hours, and an extra hour is $5 per guest.
- Vegan dishes. We cook fully vegan menus and can add vegan dishes to any other menu.
- One clear total. Your quote lists the price, the service charge when staff are on site, and Florida sales tax on its own line.
- Fast reply. Answer five questions about occasion, guest count, date, area and budget per guest. A coordinator replies within an hour during business hours.
How it works
How Catering Works, From Your Request to Event Day
- 1
Answer five questions
Tell us the occasion, guest count, date, area and budget per guest. Prefer to talk? Call, email or message us on WhatsApp.
- 2
Get your quote in 24 hours
A coordinator calls about guests, venue and menu. Your quote lists the price per guest, the service charge and what it covers, sales tax and the total.
- 3
Approve and book
You review the menu and the quote, then sign and pay the deposit. Tasting terms are below.
- 4
Confirm the final count
Menu and count are due 10 business days before the event. After that the count can only go up.
- 5
Event day and after
We set up, serve and clean our area, and pack leftovers on request. Tell us within 24 hours if anything was not right and we make it right with a credit, remake or refund.
Experience
Who Cooks and Serves Your Event
Our own team cooks and serves your event. We staff it by guest count, with about one team member for every 25 guests. The roles are a chef, an event coordinator, cooks and servers. The company has 10+ years in catering.
How we cook
- In our kitchen. We prepare the food in our licensed commercial kitchen in Aventura and deliver it in our own vehicles, from office lunches to yacht platters.
- On site. For grill and paella menus we finish the food at your venue using our own professional equipment.
- In your kitchen. For a private chef dinner, your chef cooks and serves in your kitchen, and groceries are included in the price.
Events our team has handled
Four yachts, one day
We managed the catering logistics for four yachts on the same day, with yacht-safe packaging and delivery before each departure.
A four-day 60th birthday
Over 40 different dishes across four days, cooked by our private chef team.
Golf tournaments
Our team has catered golf tournament events.
Images on this page are illustrations.
Appetizer Trays and Cocktail Receptions Compared by Price
Pick trays when you want the food delivered and plan to serve it yourself. Pick a cocktail reception when you want our team to set up, serve and clean up. Both formats get a quote within 24 hours, and the table shows what changes between them.
| Delivered trays | Cocktail reception | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $65 to $95 per tray | From $78 per guest |
| Size | 12 to 30 pieces per tray | Under 50 guests, add $10 per guest |
| Minimum | 2 trays | 25 guests |
| Order ahead | 48 hours for trays; the 10-business-day deadline in the booking terms below is for staffed events | Private events usually book 2 to 3 weeks ahead |
| Service | You serve the food | Our team on site, 4 hours included |
| Service charge | Not added | 18% up to 100 guests, 15% for 101 to 200, 12% for 201 to 300, 10% above 300 |
| Sales tax | Florida's 6% plus county surtax of 0.5% to 1.5%, on its own line | Same |
Example: 60 guests × $78 = $4,680 before the service charge and sales tax.
The service charge is mandatory for events with our staff on site. It covers staffing, setup and breakdown, and kitchen operations, and it is not a tip.
Planning a wedding? Silver, Gold and Platinum packages include 8, 10 or 12 kinds of canapés. See wedding catering in Miami.
Booking terms
Catering Booking Terms Without Small Print
These are the terms we put in your contract, in plain words.
Deposit, price lock and payment
50% after you approve the menu and quote, or 30% when you book 6+ months ahead. Your contract price does not change before the event. Pay by card, Zelle, ACH, check or cash; 4% off without a card.
Guest count and final payment
Due 10 business days before the event, 48 hours for office and yacht orders. You can reduce the count by up to 10% of the contract.
Cancellation
7+ days before: event credit with no expiry or a refund minus 30%. Less than 7 days: no refund. Drop-off orders: full refund up to 24 hours before delivery. If we have to cancel, we refund your deposit within 10 days and, less than 30 days out, help find a replacement and pay the price difference.
Rain plan
It’s Florida. We bring a tent or switch to a covered format, quoted in advance.
Tasting
Free for booked weddings and events of 100+ guests. Before booking, a tasting is $100, credited to your order if you book within 14 days.
How to Plan Your Appetizer Order
A tray holds 12 to 30 pieces, so the number of trays depends on your guest count and on what else you serve. Tell your coordinator whether appetizers come before dinner or are the whole meal, and the plan comes with your quote. Three situations decide it: the meal that follows, the diets at the table and what else you order.
Before Dinner
Appetizers that lead into a meal need fewer trays. Share the time dinner is served and how long guests mingle first, and your coordinator sets the number of trays with you.
Instead of Dinner
When finger food is the meal, often called heavy hors d'oeuvres, plan for more trays or choose a cocktail reception priced per guest. A reception also comes with 10% more food than your guest count, at no extra charge.
Mixed Diets
Vegan dishes can be added to any menu, and fully vegan menus are available. Put every dietary need in your request and your coordinator goes through the menu with you. For a fully plant-based spread, see vegan catering in Miami.
Something Sweet or Something Bigger
Planning a sweet table too? See dessert catering in Miami. Hosting a party or an office event? See party catering in Miami and corporate catering in Miami.
Areas
Catering Across South Florida
We cater in five South Florida regions, from Key West to Vero Beach.
Miami-Dade
Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah, Miami Gardens, Kendall, Doral, Homestead, Cutler Bay, Aventura, Pinecrest, Miami Lakes, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, South Miami, North Miami Beach
Broward
Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, Miramar, Weston, Sunrise, Plantation, Deerfield Beach, Tamarac, Coconut Creek, Hallandale Beach, Davie
Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Worth
Florida Keys
Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Key West
Treasure Coast
Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Vero Beach
Appetizer Catering Questions Before You Order
How much does appetizer catering cost in Miami?
Delivered trays cost $65 to $95 each, and each tray holds 12 to 30 pieces. A cocktail reception with our staff starts at $78 per guest, plus the service charge and Florida sales tax as separate lines. The table above compares both formats side by side.
How far ahead should I order appetizer trays?
Order at least 48 hours ahead, with a minimum of two trays. For a cocktail reception with staff, private events usually book 2 to 3 weeks ahead and company events 4 to 8 weeks. Send your date first, since the quote takes 24 hours.
What is the minimum order for finger food catering?
Trays start at two. A cocktail reception starts at 25 guests, and events under 50 guests add $10 per guest. From Thanksgiving through New Year's Day the minimum doubles. See holiday catering in Miami.
How many appetizers do I need for 50 guests?
A tray holds 12 to 30 pieces. Tell us your guest count and whether appetizers come before dinner or replace it, and the quote lists the trays. Receptions come with 10% more food than your guest count at no extra charge.
Can you deliver appetizer trays to my office or home?
Yes. Delivery depends on your address and is shown in your quote, so add the address to your request. For regular office lunches, see corporate catering in Miami.
Can I order vegan appetizers?
Vegan dishes can be added to any menu, and fully vegan menus are available. Name the dishes you have in mind in your request, and the estimate confirms what we prepare. More on vegan catering in Miami.
Is the service charge on appetizer catering a tip?
No. Only a cocktail reception with our staff carries one. The service charge is mandatory for events with our staff on site. It covers staffing, setup and breakdown, and kitchen operations, and it is not a tip. Gratuity is optional and never added automatically. Delivered trays carry no service charge.
Do you cater appetizers in Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach?
Yes. We cater in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, the Florida Keys and the Treasure Coast. Delivery depends on your address and is shown in your quote. See catering in Fort Lauderdale and catering in Boca Raton.
Contacts
Talk to a Catering Coordinator
We are here daily, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Send your date and guest count and we reply within an hour during business hours; the full quote follows within 24 hours.