Accurate prices that match your in‑store and website pricing (equal‑price guarantee)
Serving sizes (per person or serves X–Y people)
Utensil/tableware information, including:
- Whether plates, napkins, and utensils are included, free on request, or added as a paid option
Dish descriptions, including:
- Key ingredients
- How the item is presented (boxed lunch, tray, buffet, bar, etc.)
Packaging information:
- Individual vs group (tray/buffet) packaging for each item
Dietary details:
- Which items are vegetarian, vegan, gluten‑free, etc., so they can be labeled and filtered correctly

Pricing requirements

Your ezCater pricing must follow our equal‑price guarantee:

Menu prices and fees on ezCater must match the lowest prices and fees you charge for substantially similar offerings on your own website or any other online channel for that same location

This keeps pricing consistent for customers and avoids confusion between channels.

Recommended menu structure & content

Based on ezCater ordering data, the following menu patterns make it easier for customers to order and can help drive more sales:

Include catering packages

Catering Packages are among the most‑ordered categories on ezCater
- Packages give customers a complete meal (main + sides, sometimes dessert/beverages) in one click, saving them time
- Popular package formats:
  - Build‑your‑own bars (taco bars, bowl bars, etc.)
  - Bundles (entree + side + salad)
  - Hot breakfast or lunch buffets

Offer boxed lunches and individual meals

Roughly a quarter of ezCater orders include individually packaged items (boxed lunches, salads, bowls)
- Boxed lunches should clearly state:
  - What’s included (e.g., sandwich + side + cookie)
  - Whether beverages are included or can be added
- Make sure individually packaged items are labeled on your menu to support meeting‑style and dietary‑friendly orders

Include dietary‑friendly options and labels

Menus that highlight vegetarian, vegan, and gluten‑free options can increase average order size and help you appear in filtered searches.
At minimum, aim to include:
- 1–2 vegetarian mains
- 1–2 gluten‑free or “naturally gluten‑friendly” options
- Clearly labeled items for other common needs (dairy‑free, nut‑free, etc., where appropriate)

Don’t forget drinks and desserts

About 1 in 3 ezCater orders includes beverages, and 1 in 5 includes dessert
Include both single‑serve and group options:
- Beverages: bottled water, assorted sodas, gallon iced tea, coffee, juice
- Desserts: cookie or brownie trays, assorted dessert platters

Include tableware and thoughtful packaging

A large majority of orders are placed with restaurants that offer plates, napkins, and utensils, often at no extra charge
Call out:
- Whether tableware is included by default or selectable as an add‑on
- Any sustainable or recyclable packaging you use; many customers care about this

Choose quality over quantity

It’s better to feature a focused menu of items that:
- Travel well
- Are operationally realistic for large orders
- Work in multiple formats (packages, trays, boxed lunches)

Looking to update your menu? Read more here

Sending your menu

Send us a menu that represents your business and we'll transcribe it into our system and make it shine.

Recommended ways to send us your menu:

Spreadsheet format (view our menu template)
From your website via a link
Branded PDF document

Be sure to include: pricing, serving sizes, descriptions, dietary information, packaging information

Photos

High‑quality photos make your menu stand out and help customers understand what they’re ordering. ezCater data shows that menus with photos convert significantly better than menus without them, and customers often consider photos more important than text descriptions or reviews when choosing where to order.

Technical requirements for photos

All photos used on ezCater must meet these standards

Images must:

Accurately represent the item listed on the menu.
- Example: if a package does not include drinks, don’t show drinks in the photo
Belong to you – you must own and have rights to the images (no stock images).
Show food as the central focus, with ample space around the food so our system can crop correctly
Be high‑quality, bright, and crisp, generally with:
- Horizontal orientation
- Minimum 1200 x 800 pixels
- File type: .jpg or .png

Images cannot:

Contain people, text, or graphics (except small logos on packaging/labels)
Be blurry, dark, or heavily shadowed
Include logos or watermarks, or be collages/composites
Be AI‑generated or generic stock photography

Types of photos to prioritize

Menu item photos

Focus on your hero items:
- Catering packages
- Boxed lunches and popular entrees
- Signature sides and salads
Photos should:
- Match the portion size and packaging the customer actually receives
- Show only what’s included in that item (no extra “props” that aren’t part of the order)

Banner image

The banner is the large image at the top of your ezCater menu and in Marketplace search results
Requirements:
- Horizontal, minimum 1200 x 800 pixels
- No text overlays or watermarks; must be your own food
- Ideally an overhead (flat‑lay) shot highlighting several popular menu items together

Logo

Use a simple horizontal logo where possible so it displays clearly across devices

Ways to get great photos onto your ezCater menu

Send existing photos to ezCater for review and upload

If you already have professional photos:

Before sending, confirm they meet ezCater’s technical requirements.
Then:
1. Use the photo submission form, which is best for small batch updates
2. For larger sets or shared folders, email:
  - [email protected] and include links to Dropbox, Google Drive, or similar
Make sure files are named to match your menu items, so the Photo Team can quickly pair each image with the right dish

ezCater may reject photos that don’t meet quality or technical standards; in those cases, the Photo Team or your Partner Success contact may recommend retakes using the ezPhoto guidelines.

Take professional‑looking photos with your smartphone

Setup

Use natural light: place food near a window or in bright shade outdoors. Avoid harsh direct sun
Keep backgrounds simple and clean – a neutral tabletop or backdrop works well

Framing & angles

Hold your phone horizontally
Try:
- A 45° angle for most plated foods, or
- An overhead / straight‑down shot for platters, buffets, and banner images.

Styling

Use freshly prepared food and neat plating or actual catering packaging (trays, boxes, etc.)
Avoid clutter and props that distract from the food
Do not use portrait mode or filters; keep the look natural

Schedule an ezCater photo shoot

If you’re an active ezCater partner, you may be eligible for a free photo shoot in select markets:

A professional photographer visits your location for about one hour
You prepare the food; ezCater sends a shot list ahead of time with recommended items
The photographer captures:
- A banner image
- Photos of key catering items and packages
Photos are typically reviewed and uploaded to your ezCater menu within two business days

Available Markets

ezCater is available in the following cities/metro areas for photoshoots:

East

Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., Richmond (VA), Baltimore, Louisville, Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville (SC), Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, Atlanta, Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Birmingham (AL)

Central

Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Houston

West

Seattle, Portland (OR), Salt Lake City, Denver, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Los Angeles, Riverside (CA), Orange County (CA), San Diego, Phoenix