Cedars Deli
Cedars Deli has been around for more than 30 years and is a go-to restaurant for Mediterranean takeout. If it’s a platter you want, order the assorted tray in medium (serves 12 to 15) or large (serves 20 to 25). It comes with spinach phyllo, stuffed vine leaves, falafel balls, hummus, tzatziki and pita. Add an order of dips and pita chips and a tray of baklava to round out your party table. Cedars Deli’s catering menu also includes large orders of salads including tabouli, Greek, bean, lentil and saffi. You can also get individual servings of chicken shawarma, beef donair and falafel. Place your order online.
Seven Calgary locations, cedarsdeli.com
Costa Vida
Instead of trays, this Mexican fast-casual restaurant will sell you everything you need for a burrito, salad or taco bar so people can create their own meal. The taco bar includes tortillas alongside containers of meat (sweet pork, grilled chicken, shredded beef or steak), cilantro lime rice, beans (pinto, refried or black), shredded cheese, lettuce and salsa (pico de gallo, salsa fresca, honey habenero or mango). The salad bar and burrito bar also come with everything you need to build your own dish. Order directly from the location you want to pick up at or use the online order form. You can either pick up your order or request delivery for $25.
Three Calgary locations and one location in Airdrie, costavida.com
Jerusalem Shawarma
Jerusalem Shawarma has 14 different packages starting at $69 that include a full meal, depending on the size of your group. The sandwich bar combos come with sandwiches, potatoes, salad, pop and baklava. The meals bar is divided by three protein options — skewers of kabob and shish taouk, chicken and beef shawarma or falafel and grape leaves — each coming with sides of rice, salad, hummus and garlic potato. You can also get large servings of just falafel, vine leaves or baklava. If you really want a feast and are organized enough to order two to three days in advance, try the Dubai roasted lamb dinner that serves 20 to 25 people ($450) or 50 to 60 people ($800) and comes with lamb, rice, salad, sauces, sweets and drinks. The Jerusalem rice-stuffed roasted chicken meals come with three or four chickens, rice, roasted vegetables, sauces, drinks and desserts.
Six locations in Calgary, jerusalemshawarma.ca
Lina’s Italian Market
If you want an Italian feast, place your order at least 48 hours in advance for Lina’s Italian Market. Its event trays include meat, cheese, fruits, veggies or antipasto. All of those are great for snacking, but if you really want to dig into a hearty meal, order a lasagna (veal, ricotta and spinach or a gluten-free version of either) in sizes large or extra large. Pastas such as cannelloni and spaghetti and meatballs are also on the catering menu and you can get pizza, paninis, meatballs and salads. To order, download the form from Lina’s website and email it to them. They’ll confirm your order and have it ready for you when you need it.
2202 Centre St. N.E., 403-277-9166, linasmarket.comÂ
The Samosa Factory
This is where you go if you want a lot of this delicious (and filling) Punjabi snack. The Samosa Factory sells individual lunchbox servings as well as family packs of 18 samosas, but if you are feeding a party, go for the trays. For the most variety, the holiday platter gets you 10 vegetable samosas, 10 beef and 10 chicken along with 12 pakora and two chutneys for $35. You can also get platters with just vegetable, tandoori chicken or beef samosa, or just pakora. This place gets busy, so call ahead to have your order ready when you arrive.
135, 55 Westwinds Cres. N.E. and 105, 11652 Sarcee Tr. N.W., 403-568-1447 (shared order line), samosafactory.ca
Spolumbo’s
Order online and select how many of each Spolumbo’s sandwiches you want on your tray. You can mix and match and include as many or as few sandwiches as you want. The cost of the tray depends on how many sandwiches you get and what toppings they have. The simple deli sandwich with turkey, ham, smoked meat or roast beef is $8.40 per sandwich while the Spolumbos Special with four Italian meats is $10.50. Calabrese, tuna, veggie, Mama’s meatloaf and the other sandwiches are priced between $7.60 and $10. Spolumbos also has deli trays with sausage, veggies or fruit, salads including potato and pasta and you can get a tray of desserts. All of those are ordered by the serving amount. Spolumbos is closed on Sundays in the winter, so you’ll have to pick up your trays (or order delivery for an additional charge) the day before Superbowl Sunday.
1308 9 Ave. S.E., 403-264-6452, spolumbos.com