Greek Catering Melbourne — Souvlaki Platters for Events & Functions

We get asked about catering more than almost anything else. Can you do platters for an office lunch? Can we book a section for an engagement party? Do you cater offsite? The short answer to all of those is yes. Greek food is one of the most natural fits for events and group dining, and it's something we've been doing across our four Melbourne venues since we opened in 2018.

This guide covers what we offer, what suits different types of events, and how to get started if you're planning something. Whether it's a corporate lunch for 30, a birthday dinner for 60, or souvlaki platters delivered to your office, we'll walk you through how Greek catering works at Yassas.

Why Greek food works so well for catering

Greek cuisine was designed for sharing long before "share plates" became a restaurant trend. A traditional Greek table is built around communal dishes: dips in the centre, salads passed around, grilled meats served on platters for people to help themselves. That format translates perfectly to catering and events, because it removes the awkwardness of individual plated meals and encourages people to actually talk to each other while they eat.

There are practical reasons too. Greek food holds well. Dips, salads and grilled meats don't fall apart if they sit for twenty minutes while someone gives a speech. The flavours are crowd-pleasing without being unfamiliar — most people know what souvlaki is, most people like halloumi, and almost everyone will reach for loukoumades when they appear.

And then there's the dietary coverage. At Yassas, all our meats are halal-certified, which immediately removes one of the biggest catering headaches for diverse groups. Beyond that, a Greek menu naturally covers vegetarian guests (stuffed vine leaves, saganaki, Greek salad, spanakopita), vegan options (dips, grilled vegetables, beans), and gluten-free requirements (most grilled meats and salads are naturally GF). You don't need to order five separate meal types — the shared format handles it.

"Greek food is group food. It's meant to be passed around, argued over, and eaten with your hands."

What events suit Greek catering?

Honestly, most of them. But here are the types of events we cater for most often:

• Corporate events and team lunches — Platter packages work well for office catering. No individual meal orders, no dietary drama. Set up the platters, let people graze, and get back to the agenda. We also host corporate dinners and team-building events in our function spaces.
• Birthday parties — From intimate dinners of 15 to bigger celebrations of 80+. A Greek spread with dips, mixed grill and loukoumades to finish is the kind of meal people actually remember.
• Engagement parties and pre-wedding celebrations — Shared Greek dining sets exactly the right tone for milestone events. We've hosted engagement dinners, hens nights and bucks parties across our venues.
• End-of-year functions — December is our busiest month for functions. Christmas parties, staff celebrations, and end-of-year team dinners. Book early — we start filling up from October.
• Family celebrations — Christenings, anniversaries, graduations. Greek food has always been family food, so it naturally fits events where three generations are sitting at the same table.
• Hens and bucks nights — Good food, cold drinks, a bit of noise — our venues are built for that kind of energy, especially at Southbank.

Our catering options

We offer three main ways to get Greek catering for your event:

1. Platter packages

Our platter packages are designed for groups and scaled by headcount. They're available for pickup from any of our four venues or can be arranged for delivery depending on location and order size. Platters are ideal for office lunches, casual parties, and events where you want good food without formal table service. View our catering packages →

2. On-site dining in our function spaces

If you'd rather bring your guests to us, we have function spaces available for private and semi-private dining. This gives you the full restaurant experience — table service, our complete menu, and the atmosphere of a proper Greek restaurant — with the convenience of a dedicated space for your group. Our Southbank venue is the most popular for functions, with capacity for larger groups and waterfront views. Explore our function spaces →

3. Offsite catering enquiries

For larger events at external venues — conferences, warehouse parties, corporate headquarters — we take offsite catering enquiries on a case-by-case basis. This typically involves a customised menu, and we'll work with you on logistics, setup and service depending on the scale. Email eat@yassas.com.au to start the conversation.

What's typically included in a Greek catering package?

Packages vary depending on the size and style of your event, but a typical Greek catering spread from Yassas includes:

• Dips and bread — Tzatziki, hummus, taramasalata and melitzanosalata served with warm pita bread. This is the foundation of any Greek table and the first thing guests reach for.
• Greek salads — Horiatiki with chunks of feta, tomato, cucumber, red onion and Kalamata olives. Simple, fresh, and essential for balancing the richness of the grilled meats.
• Mixed grill platters — Charcoal-grilled souvlaki (lamb and chicken), gyros, and grilled halloumi. All meats halal-certified. This is the centrepiece of most catering orders.
• Seafood platters — Grilled prawns, calamari, and pan-fried fish. Available as an addition or as the main platter for groups that prefer seafood.
• Hot sides — Chips, saganaki, spanakopita, stuffed vine leaves. These round out the table and give vegetarian guests substantial options.
• Desserts — Loukoumades (honey puffs) and baklava. The loukoumades in particular are always a hit at events — they're served warm and tend to disappear in minutes.

All packages can be customised. If you need a fully vegetarian spread, a seafood-focused menu, or specific dishes added or removed, we'll work with you to build the right package. Check our full menu for inspiration.

Function spaces at Yassas

If you want the atmosphere of a Greek restaurant rather than catering delivered elsewhere, our venues have options for private and semi-private group dining.

Southbank

Our flagship venue on the Yarra is the most popular location for functions. It offers the largest capacity, waterfront views, and a live charcoal spit that adds theatre to any event. Private and semi-private configurations available for groups from 20 to 100+. View Southbank function details →

Docklands

Located at The District near Marvel Stadium, our Docklands venue works well for pre-event or post-event dining and smaller function groups. Convenient for corporate teams in the Docklands precinct. View Docklands function details →

Eastland (Ringwood)

For events in the eastern suburbs, our Eastland restaurant can accommodate group bookings and semi-private dining arrangements. A good option for birthday parties and family celebrations in the Ringwood area. View Eastland function details →

Craigieburn

Our newest venue in Craigieburn Central serves the northern suburbs and can host group bookings for functions and celebrations. Kids eat free Monday to Thursday here, making it practical for family events. View Craigieburn function details →

How to book Greek catering in Melbourne

Getting started is straightforward. Here's what we recommend:

• Email us — Send your event details to eat@yassas.com.au. Include the date, approximate group size, whether you want platters or a function booking, and any dietary requirements.
• Call us — Phone any of our venues directly during opening hours. Our team can walk you through options and check availability on the spot.
• Use the website — Visit our catering page or functions page for more detail and to submit an enquiry through the website form.

How far ahead should you book?

For most catering orders and function bookings, 2 to 4 weeks ahead is ideal. This gives us time to confirm your menu, arrange any customisations, and make sure we have the right space allocated for your group. For larger events (60+ guests) or bookings during peak periods — particularly November, December and Mother's Day weekend — we'd recommend 4 to 6 weeks notice. The earlier you get in touch, the more flexibility we have with dates and menu options.

A note on dietary inclusivity

One of the reasons Greek catering works for corporate and mixed groups is that it naturally accommodates a wide range of dietary needs without requiring separate meal orders. Here's what's covered:

• Halal — All meats across all four Yassas venues are sourced from halal-certified suppliers. This has been our practice since day one.
• Vegetarian — Dips, Greek salad, saganaki, spanakopita, stuffed vine leaves, halloumi and grilled vegetables are all available as part of standard packages.
• Vegan — Hummus, falafel, grilled vegetables, beans and salads can be arranged as a focused vegan selection.
• Gluten-free — Most grilled meats, salads, dips (without bread) and seafood are naturally gluten-free. We can flag GF-safe items in your package.

If you have guests with specific allergies or restrictions beyond these categories, let us know when you enquire and we'll work it into the menu.