When you order pizza for a big party, you often order delivery or takeout. But what if you want to dine out at a pizza restaurant with your big group? That takes a little more finesse. Pizza restaurants are generally pretty welcoming to large groups. Some even have separate rooms they'll set aside for private dining. However, there are still a few tips you'll want to follow when ordering dine-in pizza for a crowd.
Resist the urge to order too many different options
When ordering pizza for a crowd, you want to make sure there is something everyone likes. However, ordering too many different kinds of pizza can just make things more confusing. People end up reaching across the table and hunting for the specific pizza they want, which makes things messy and time-consuming. Instead of ordering so many different options, try to narrow things down to three or four different pizzas.
If someone in the group has a dietary restriction, such as needing a gluten-free or vegan pizza, order a pizza to satisfy their needs. Then, order a couple of other more generic pizzas that you know will appeal to most. If that's not enough pizza, order doubles of the most versatile pizzas. This way, it will be easier for everyone to find what they want once the pizza comes.
Decide beforehand how the bill will be paid
When the bill comes for a big pizza party, you don't want to spend 15 minutes arguing about who will pay, and then asking the server to split the bill 12 different ways. Arranging the bill is even harder when ordering pizza since it's a shared item. So, a good way to simplify things is to agree, before you even order, how you'll handle the bill. It's often easiest to have one person pay for the whole order and then have others give that person whatever they owe. This way, the server does not have to run multiple cards and try to split receipts.
Clear space for the pizzas
When you have a big group, the table fills up quickly with drinks, plates, and other items. But the servers need a place to set all those pizzas when they come out. So, as soon as you order, remind everyone at the table to clear space for the pizzas. They should take purses off the table and hang them on chairs. Ask for empty glasses to be cleared. The sooner the servers are able to set down the pizzas, the sooner you can dig in.
Ordering dine-in pizza for a big group is not always easy, but with the tips above, it is sure to be fun.