Panera Catering Alternative NYC: Better for Meetings

If you’ve ever ordered Panera for a meeting, you know the routine: someone volunteers, the order gets “customized,” and then… half the room eats, half the room picks, and the rest quietly wonders why lunch feels like “we did something” rather than “we planned something.” Here’s a statistic most people don’t realize until they’ve lived it: 63% of employees eat during in-person meetings, and 82% expect to be able to eat during midday meetings, which means food isn’t a “nice extra,” it’s literally part of the meeting plan (ezCater, 2025). When food shows up late, awkward, or messy, it doesn’t just affect lunch… it affects the meeting.

And in NYC, where schedules are tight, the meal has to elevate the meeting. If it doesn’t, the meeting suffers.

What Most Meeting Catering Gets Wrong in NYC

Most catering options are built for convenience, not flow. They show up with food, and that's about it.

1. No real variety (everyone ends up eating the same 2 items)

2. No timing (food arrives before the meeting starts or late)

3. No presentation (it looks like a pickup order, not a professional event)

4. No reliability

That’s why our alternative option emphasizes reliability.

What a Better Alternative Looks Like for Corporate Meetings

A true Panera alternative should solve two things: organization, and satisfaction. At Hidden City, we design menus the way corporate organizers actually think: How do I feed people without breaking the meeting?

Breakfast that feels organized:Think of an elegant Breakfast Platter (mini muffins, danishes, bagels, croissants) or a classic New York Bagel Platter, and for the “wow,” add smoked salmon (optional).

Lunch that keeps people focused:Our Boardroom Meeting package is built for exactly this: sandwiches/wraps/paninis + salad + pasta salad + a homemade sweet tray, so nobody’s hunting for “something else.”

The New Rule: Food Should Support the Agenda

ezCater’s 2025 Lunch Report found nearly 9 out of 10 employees say being hungry at work hurts performance, with many taking longer to finish tasks (ezCater, 2025). That’s why timing and structure matter much more than people realize. If you want Panera-level convenience but a more professional meeting result, the solution is simple: Hidden City Catering.

Need Food + Event Space in One?

Sometimes the smartest alternative isn’t just different food but it’s solving the root of the problem. If you need a place to host the meeting, presentation, or team gathering, Hidden City Loft is a gorgeous venue in the Flatiron area that’s built for corporate-friendly setups. When I catered a board meeting at Hidden City Loft last Tuesday I witnessed true reliability at its finest.

Book It Now For Amazing Results 

We recommend that you order 48 hours ahead when possible (same/next-day may be possible depending on availability). Choose a menu that matches the meeting type (boardroom vs. training vs. reception). Add the small upgrades that change everything: coffee, OJ, fruit, sweets.

If you want Panera-style ease but are tired of disorganization, that’s exactly where we shine: catering + setup + (optional) venue + production support.