On September 24, 2026, Restaurants Canada reported that 80% of Canadians are eating out less often because of the cost of living, up from 75% a year earlier. For a group occasion of 20 to 30 people in Ottawa, the practical alternative is catering at home or in the office: a styled share table from OH! Catering for 30 guests comes to $1,260 at the published starting price of $42 per guest, or $1,305 with delivery and on-site styling within 25 km, plus applicable taxes.
The figures come from Restaurants Canada’s 2026 Foodservice Facts report, the association’s annual national market review. 78% of households earning $100,000 or more are cutting back, against 70% in 2025, and 61% of Canadians say they would visit table-service restaurants more often with more disposable income, up from 53%. The association projects industry sales near $130 billion in 2026, at an average pre-tax margin of 4.1%. Grocery prices are rising more slowly: Statistics Canada reported on September 14, 2026 that food purchased from stores was up 2.8% year over year in August, after 3.1% in July.
For a party, the choice people are weighing is the restaurant booking against food brought to their own room. At OH!’s published figures, a party of 20 to 30 costs from $840 at the starting price of $42 per guest up to $1,950 at the top of the $42–$65 per guest range, which is where a table that replaces the meal sits. Delivery and on-site styling add $45 within 25 km, plus applicable taxes. A dinner out adds drinks, tax and the tip or service charge to the menu rate, so the fair comparison is the restaurant’s full bill for the same guest count.
Every row of the table below clears the $600 event minimum. To compare fairly, hold three things constant: the guest count, the length of the evening and whether the food is the meal. Then ask the restaurant to list four lines separately: the menu price per guest, drinks, the service charge or suggested gratuity, and any room rental or food-and-beverage minimum. Every OH! term, from the deposit to the final count, is on our pricing page.
A styled share table is delivered, composed on your surface and labelled before guests arrive, and it runs self-serve for about two hours. The on-site build takes 45 to 90 minutes and finishes before the first guest arrives. Dietary needs are planned at enquiry and every item is labelled. Pack-down is included, and leftovers are boxed for you. A styled table is built to run itself, so most events need nobody standing behind it. Where yours needs hands on the floor, say so when you enquire and we will tell you straight away whether we can cover your date and what it would take.
December dates fill first, so a party planned for the holidays is best held in October. A 30% deposit and a signed quote hold the date, and the final count is due 7 days before. The workplace version, with invoicing and building access, is on our office Christmas party catering page. To price your own date, send the date, the guest count and the neighbourhood through the enquiry form: the written reply comes within one business day, built from the published figures.
Party catering at home or in the office, Ottawa, before tax
| Guests | Starting price, $42 per guest | With $45 delivery and styling | Table as the meal, $65 per guest | Meal table with delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $840 | $885 | $1,300 | $1,345 |
| 25 | $1,050 | $1,095 | $1,625 | $1,670 |
| 30 | $1,260 | $1,305 | $1,950 | $1,995 |
Common questions
Why are Canadians eating out less in 2026?
80% of Canadians say they eat out less often because of the cost of living, according to Restaurants Canada’s 2026 Foodservice Facts report, published September 24, 2026, up from 75% a year earlier. Among households earning $100,000 or more the share is 78%.
What does catering a party of 30 at home or in the office cost in Ottawa?
$1,260 for thirty guests at OH!’s starting price of $42 per guest, or $1,305 with delivery and styling within 25 km, plus applicable taxes. Where the table replaces the meal, the top of the range puts the same 30 at $1,950 before delivery. Compare that with a restaurant’s full bill for 30: menu, drinks, service charge and any room minimum.
How much does small party catering cost in Ottawa?
$42 per guest before tax is OH!’s starting price, with a working range of $42–$65 per guest and a $600 event minimum before delivery and taxes. Delivery and on-site styling are $45 within 25 km.
Can you cater an office party in the office or at home in Ottawa?
Yes, for roughly 12 to 50 guests across Ottawa, from Kanata and Barrhaven to Orléans and downtown. The table is built on your boardroom table, kitchen island or dining table in 45 to 90 minutes.
8 in 10 Canadians Are Eating Out Less — the short version
- Restaurants Canada, September 24, 2026: 80% of Canadians eat out less often because of the cost of living, up from 75% a year earlier.
- Households earning $100,000 or more: 78% are cutting back, against 70% in 2025.
- Statistics Canada: food purchased from stores was up 2.8% year over year in August 2026, after 3.1% in July.
- Thirty guests at home or in the office: $1,260 at $42 per guest, $1,305 with delivery and styling, plus applicable taxes.
- Where the table replaces the meal: $1,300 to $1,950 for 20 to 30 guests before delivery.
- Compare against the restaurant’s full bill: menu, drinks, service charge and any room minimum.
- December fills first; a 30% deposit and a signed quote hold the date.
Sources: Restaurants Canada, 2026 Foodservice Facts, September 24, 2026; Statistics Canada, The Daily, Consumer Price Index, September 14, 2026.
Planning this kind of event in Ottawa? Read how OH! handles Party Catering in Ottawa, or browse the service areas we cover.
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