Can I Get Family Platters for Catering in Toronto? Yes — Here's How Mooring Eats Does It
If you've ever tried to feed a group in Toronto, you know the problem. A dozen individual meals means a dozen separate orders, a dozen different preferences, and a table that feels more like a food court than a gathering. Family platters solve all of it: big, shareable trays of food that land in the middle of the table and get passed around. So if you're asking, "Can I get family platters for catering in Toronto?" — yes, you can, and Mooring Eats in South Etobicoke has been making them from scratch since 2019.
This guide explains exactly what a catering family platter is, what comes on ours, how many people each one feeds, and how to order one for your next family dinner, office lunch, birthday, or celebration.
What Is a Family Platter?
A family platter is a large, shareable serving of food designed to feed several people from one tray instead of from individual plates. It's the way Middle Eastern food has been served for generations: generous, communal, and built around the idea that nobody at the table should ever leave hungry.
At Mooring Eats, a family platter takes the dishes our regular customers love — chicken shawarma, falafel, hummus, fresh salads, rice, pickles and house-made sauces — and scales them up for groups. Instead of ordering one wrap per person, you order one platter for the table and let everyone build their own plate.
What's on a Mooring Eats Family Platter
Our family platters are built around your choice of protein, with everything a complete meal needs:
Your choice of protein — freshly prepared chicken shawarma or crispy falafel (or a mix, for groups with different preferences)
Fragrant basmati rice cooked with Syrian spices
Fresh salad — bright, crisp, and dressed with lemon and olive oil
House-made hummus with warm pita and a drizzle of olive oil
Pickled vegetables — turnips and cucumbers brined in our own kitchen
Warm pita bread for scooping, wrapping and building
House-made garlic sauce and tahini — the sauces our customers talk about most
Everything is prepared from scratch, every day. There's no separate "catering recipe" that cuts corners at volume — it's the same food we serve across the counter.
How Many People Does a Family Platter Feed?
Our family platters are designed to feed 4 to 10 people, depending on appetites and how many other dishes are on the table. As a rough guide:
A family dinner for 4–6: one family platter, plus an extra side of hummus if you like to over-order (we don't blame you)
A small gathering of 6–10: one large platter or two smaller ones, so people don't have to reach across the table
A larger group of 10+: step up to our full catering service, which is built for groups from 10 up to 1,000 guests
If you're not sure how much to order, call us and we'll help you figure it out. We'd rather you have a little extra than run short — that's how Syrian hospitality works.
Family Platters vs. Individual Meals: Which Is Better for Your Event?
Both work, and we offer both. Here's how to choose.
Choose family platters when:
You're hosting a family dinner, birthday, or holiday gathering
You want a relaxed, communal feel where everyone serves themselves
You'd like the food to be the centrepiece of the table
Guests have different tastes and you want everyone to find something they love
Choose individually packaged meals when:
It's a corporate lunch where people eat at their desks or in a meeting room
You're serving a school event or conference where shared platters aren't practical
Guests are coming and going throughout the day
Many of our clients mix the two — family platters for a sit-down lunch and individual meals for the people who can't make it to the table.
Halal, Nut-Free and Dietary-Friendly
Every protein on our family platters is halal certified, always, without exception. Our kitchen is also nut-free, which makes us one of the few Toronto-area options you can order from with confidence if your group includes guests with nut allergies.
For vegetarian guests, our falafel platters, hummus, salads, rice and pickles are all meat-free, and many of them are naturally vegan-friendly. You can order a mixed platter and everyone at the table is covered — no separate meals, no awkward questions.
Perfect Occasions for Family Platters
Family platters are the right call for almost any gathering:
Family dinners and weekend get-togethers — skip the cooking and still serve something homemade-tasting
Birthday parties — food that works for kids and grandparents alike
Eid, Ramadan iftars and holiday gatherings — halal certified and generous by design
Office lunches and team meetings — more memorable than sandwich platters
Graduations, baby showers and engagement parties
Condo and neighbourhood events along the Lake Shore corridor
Pickup or Delivery Across Toronto and the GTA
You can pick up your family platter at our restaurant at 2481 Lake Shore Blvd W in South Etobicoke, or ask about delivery. We serve Etobicoke, Mimico, New Toronto and Long Branch, and deliver catering orders across Toronto and the wider GTA, including Mississauga, Brampton, North York, Scarborough, Vaughan and downtown. Contact us to confirm delivery for your address and event date.
How to Order Catering Family Platters in Toronto
Call (416) 253-7171 or visit mooringeats.com/catering.
Tell us your date, guest count, and any dietary needs. We'll recommend the right size and mix.
Get your quote. No obligation — just a clear price for what you need.
Pick up or have it delivered fresh, ready to serve.
We recommend booking 5–7 days ahead for standard orders and 2–3 weeks for larger events, but if you're in a pinch, call anyway — we'll always do our best.
Family Platter FAQs
Can I customize what goes on my family platter? Yes. Choose chicken shawarma, falafel or a mix of both, and tell us about any dietary needs when you order. If your group has a mix of meat-eaters and vegetarians, a combined platter keeps everyone at the same table eating the same meal.
Are family platters good for leftovers? They are. Rice, hummus, pickles and marinated chicken all keep well in the fridge. Reheat the shawarma in a pan or oven rather than the microwave, and add fresh sauce afterwards so it tastes just as good the next day.
Can I order a family platter for a last-minute dinner? Call us at (416) 253-7171. Larger catering orders need notice, but a family platter for pickup is often possible on shorter timelines depending on how busy the kitchen is.
Do family platters work for kids? Very much so. Shawarma in warm pita, rice and hummus are familiar favourites for kids, and the nut-free kitchen gives parents extra peace of mind.
Can I add extras like tabbouleh or fattoush? Absolutely. Fresh salads, extra hummus and extra sauces are easy add-ons that turn a family platter into a full feast.
Why Mooring Eats for Family Platters?
We're a family-owned Syrian restaurant built on a family recipe dating back to 1940. Everything — the garlic sauce, the tahini, the pickles, the marinated chicken, the falafel — is made in our kitchen from scratch. That's what makes our family platters different from the trays you'll find at a typical catering company: they taste like they came from someone's home kitchen, because in spirit, they did.
If you're searching for family platters for catering in Toronto, Mooring Eats is ready when you are.
📍 2481 Lake Shore Blvd W, Etobicoke, ON M8V 1C5
📞 (416) 253-7171
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