Catering questions that show what the crowd ate and what it missed
Ask attendees about the food, the coffee and the timing of lunch at your event. Each question below comes with when to ask it and what the answer tells you.
What event catering survey questions tell you
Event catering survey questions ask attendees whether there was enough food, what was missing, how the coffee was, whether allergens were labeled clearly and how much of their lunch they finished. Catering takes a large share of an event budget, and these answers show where the money fed people and where it went in the bin.
Ask the evening the event ends or the next morning, by email to your attendee list, or show a QR code at the coffee points during the afternoon break. Pick four or five: the amount of food, what was missing, the catering grid, allergen labels and one open question. For a multi-day event, ask a short version each day so the caterer can adjust.
Each written answer is given a theme, a sentiment and an urgency as it arrives, so a missing allergen label stands out from a comment about the coffee. Give every allergen problem an owner in the inbox, and share the grid with your caterer before the next day's menu.
- Questions
- 14
- Best asked
- The evening the event ends or the next morning
- Industry
- Events
- Where to find them
- From library in the Usertick survey editor, on every plan
The 14 feeding a crowd questions, with when to ask each
Grouped by what they tell you. Use them as they are or change the wording.
Enough food and the right food
Start with the amount and the gaps on the menu, then the labels, the grid and how well the food kept attendees going.
- 01Multiple choice
How was the amount of food?
A quick read on quantity. A share of Not enough is worth checking against your headcount, and a share of Too much points to food going to waste.
- 02Multiple choice
What was missing from the menu?
Attendees pick everything they missed, with Nothing for a complete menu. Results shows a bar for each, a direct brief for the caterer's next menu.
- 10Yes / No
Were the allergens labeled clearly?
A yes or no on allergen labels. Give every No an owner in the inbox and raise it with the caterer the same day, since an unclear label is a safety problem.
- 06Matrix
Rate the catering on each
Rates taste, variety, temperature and labeling in one grid. The heat map shows which part of the catering pulls the experience down, so you can raise it with the caterer.
- 09Big scale
How well did the food keep you going through the day?
A ten point score for how well the food kept attendees going. A low score with a good taste rating points to the timing of meals or the snacks between sessions.
Coffee and drinks
Rate the coffee and ask about drinks on their own, since they run all day and have their own supplier problems.
- 03Stars
How would you rate the coffee?
One star rating for the coffee. Results shows the average and the share who rated it 4 or higher; for long event days, it is worth tracking on its own.
- 08Ruler
How many drinks did you pick up during the day?
Drinks picked up during the day, from zero to ten. Results shows the median and the middle half, which helps the caterer plan drinks and cups for the next event.
- 13Text
What would you change about the drinks?
Asks what to change about the drinks. Each answer gets a theme, so requests for water stations, better tea or more choice are easy to read together.
Lunch timing and format
Ask when and how attendees want to eat, before you set next year's program and brief the caterer.
- 04Ruler
How many minutes did you spend over lunch?
Minutes over lunch, from zero to ninety. Results shows the median and the middle half; read it next to the lunch format question to see whether attendees want more time or faster service.
- 07Multiple choice
When would you rather eat lunch?
Asks whether lunch should be earlier or later. Results shows each share on a donut, a quick guide before you move lunch in the program.
- 11Date
What time should lunch be served?
Asks when lunch should be served. As a date question, Results shows a calendar of picked dates; to compare times, change its answer type to multiple choice with a few lunch times.
- 12This or that
For event catering you prefer
Two pairs: a seated lunch or grab and go, fewer dishes or more choice. Results shows a split bar per pair, which helps before you brief the caterer.
What to keep and what went uneaten
Ask which dish should return and how much of lunch was left, so the next menu keeps favorites and wastes less.
- 05Text
Which dish should come back next year?
Asks which dish should come back. The answers give the caterer a list of favorites for next year's menu, in the words of the people who ate them.
- 14Slider
How much of your lunch did you finish?
How much of their lunch attendees finished, from zero to 100. Results shows the median and the middle half; a low median points to portions or dishes to change.
Tips for asking about feeding a crowd
Small choices that get honest, useful answers.
- 01
Ask during the afternoon break
Show a QR code at the coffee points after lunch, while attendees still remember what they ate.
- 02
Treat allergen problems first
Give every No on allergen labels an owner in the inbox, and raise it with the caterer before the next meal.
- 03
Ask each day of a longer event
For a multi-day event, ask three questions each day, so the caterer can change the next menu.
- 04
Share the grid with the caterer
Send the catering grid and the missing items to your caterer within a week, while next year's menu is still open.
Add these questions to a survey
From the library to the first answers.
- 1
Open the library
In the Usertick survey editor, choose From library, filter by industry and topic, and add several questions at once.
- 2
Or paste your own list
Paste questions reads up to 10 questions from any text on Free, 100 on Starter and 200 on Pro and above, keeps your wording and picks an answer type for each.
- 3
Choose where it runs
Show the survey on your website, send it by email, share its link and QR code, or switch it to a conversation.
- 4
Read the answers
Results counts every score and choice, and Usertick reads each written answer and files it by topic, on every plan.
Templates and more questions about feeding a crowd
Full surveys that ask about the same things, and neighboring topics in the library.
Templates
Browse all templatesFrequently asked questions
During the afternoon break with a QR code at the coffee points, or the evening the event ends by email. For a multi-day event, ask a short version each day.
Four or five. Use the amount of food, what was missing, the catering grid, allergen labels and one open question.
On the registration form, before the event, so the caterer can plan. The questions on this page ask how the food worked on the day.
Yes. Share the grid, the missing items and the dishes to bring back, and give any allergen problem an owner in the inbox first.
Yes. The question library comes with every plan, the free plan included, and the free plan covers 150 responses a month across your surveys.
Yes. Once a question is in your survey, reword it, change its options or its answer type, and add logic to skip it for some answers.
Yes. The library is translated into Usertick's built-in languages, and in any other language it shows in English for you to translate.
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