Quick answer
To host a Lebanese feast at home for 20–100 guests, plan a mezze-led buffet (dips, salads, pastries), one or two hot mains (grilled meats or a whole roast lamb for big numbers), plenty of Arabic bread, and a simple dessert like baklava or fruit. Order catering for the showpiece dishes and you can relax and enjoy your own party. Plan 4–5 mezze items plus a main per guest.
The Lebanese way to entertain is simple: too much food, always. A full table is a sign of love and welcome. Whether you are hosting 20 friends or 100 family members, here is how to lay on a generous spread at home — how much to plan per person, and where it pays to bring in a caterer so you can actually enjoy your own party.
A simple party menu that scales
- Mezze: hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, fattoush, falafel, fatayer, sambousek.
- Mains: chicken tawook, lamb kofta and rice — or a whole roast lamb for 40+ guests.
- Sides: warm bread, pickles, garlic and chilli sauces.
- Dessert: baklava, maamoul, or a fresh fruit platter.
New to these dishes? Our guide to what mezze is explains each one, and the full catering menu has plenty of ideas.
How much food per person?
As a rough guide, plan 4–5 mezze items plus a main and rice per guest for a full meal. It is always better to have a little too much — leftovers are part of the tradition, and no Lebanese host wants an empty platter. For 40+ guests, a whole roast lamb over spiced rice is the ultimate centrepiece and works out generous per head.
Cook yourself, or order in?
For up to a dozen guests, a keen home cook can manage the mezze and one main. Beyond about 20, most hosts order the food and simply add drinks and finishing touches at home — you get the feast without spending the day in the kitchen or the party behind the counter. Many of our clients order the showpiece dishes and prepare a few sides themselves, which is the best of both worlds.
Presentation at home
Serve family-style down the centre of the table so guests help themselves — that sharing is the heart of the meal. Warm the bread, keep dips topped up, and add colour with herbs, pomegranate and lemon. If you want a real wow moment, a grazing table turns the food itself into the decoration.
Drinks and the Lebanese table
Round out your feast with drinks that suit the food: fresh lemonade with mint, ayran (a savoury yoghurt drink), Arabic coffee and tea, and pomegranate or tamarind refreshers. These are easy to prepare at home while we handle the food, and they complement the bright, garlicky, herby flavours of the mezze perfectly. Keep water and soft drinks flowing and your table will feel complete.
Planning for leftovers
In Lebanese culture, leftovers are a feature, not a failure — and much of a mezze spread keeps beautifully. Dips, salads (dressed separately), grilled meats and rice all store well for a day or two, so a generous order gives your household a few easy meals after the party. Order a touch more than you think you need; you will be glad of it.
Frequently asked questions
Plan 4–5 mezze items plus a main and rice per guest for a full meal — and a little extra, as leftovers are part of the tradition.
For 20+ guests, most hosts order the mezze and mains and simply add drinks and touches at home — so you enjoy your own party.
A whole roast lamb over spiced rice is the ultimate crowd-pleaser and centrepiece for larger gatherings.
Yes — we deliver across London and beyond, with delivery priced by distance from our kitchen.
Hosting soon? Order a Lebanese feast and let us do the heavy lifting.