How to Present Sandwich and Buffet Platters

To display sandwiches on a platter, cut them all to one shape, lay them in straight rows with one filling per row, turn the cut side towards the guest, and use a platter the sandwiches fill edge to edge. A full platter looks generous. The same sandwiches spread across a bigger platter look sparse. A buffet works the same way at table scale: lift some platters for height, and lay the table out in the order guests pick things up.

Below is the platter layout step by step, the buffet layout, and a sizing table of the platters, trays and boxes we stock, taken from their product pages.

In this guide

• How to lay out a sandwich platter
• Sandwich and buffet displays: height and flow
• Setting up the buffet table
• Platter and buffet questions

How to lay out a sandwich platter

1. One shape per platter. Fingers, triangles or squares, all cut to the same size, so the rows stay straight.
2. One filling per row. On a round or oval platter, work in blocks instead of rows. Guests can see the choice without lifting anything.
3. Cut side out. Turn the cut edge towards the guest so the filling shows.
4. One layer, or a slight overlap. Stacking hides the fillings and leaves the bottom layer hard to reach.
5. A platter the sandwiches fill. A long, narrow tray suits one row of one filling; a wider platter suits several rows. The sizing table below gives the real dimensions.
6. Name the fillings. A small card at the end of each row saves guests asking.
7. A second platter ready. Swapping in a full platter looks better than topping up a half-empty one.

The four palm leaf platters and trays in the table each list sandwiches on their own product page: the Large Rectangle Palm Leaf Platters list "Sandwich Displays", for example, and the Extra Large Oval Palm Leaf Platters list "Sandwich Selections". If your platters tend to go soggy or spill, our guide to building a board that does not get soggy or spill deals with exactly that.

Sandwich and buffet displays: height and flow

Height. A table where every platter sits flat reads as one level, and the back row gets lost. Lift some of the platters at the back, on stands or a sturdy box under the cloth, and keep the lower platters at the front, where guests reach first.

Flow. Lay the table in the order guests use it: plates first, then sandwiches and the larger dishes, then sides, with each sauce next to the dish it goes with, and napkins and cutlery at the far end so hands stay free while guests serve themselves. For a bigger crowd, set the table so guests can serve from both sides.

A long, narrow tray suits a single line of one filling along the front edge. The Long 33cm Rectangle Palm Leaf Serving Trays are 33cm x 9cm with a 2cm raised rim, and their page lists them as "Ideal for buffet displays". The Pinewood Display Leaves are 36cm x 14cm in natural pine wood; the page lists "Buffet Displays" and says "Perfect for cold foods".

If the buffet grows into a full spread of boards with cheese and cold meats, our guide to creating a grazing table with sustainable serving products covers it. For canapés on spoons, cones and cups alongside the sandwiches, see our guide to how to serve canapés.

Setting up the buffet table

• Place it where a queue fits. Leave room for guests to line up without blocking a door or the route from the kitchen.
• Plates at the start, napkins and cutlery at the end. Guests fill a plate first and pick up cutlery last.
• Space between platters. Leave enough room for a guest to rest a plate while serving.
• A label for every platter. One card per filling or dish.
• Refills kept back. Hold full platters in the kitchen and swap them in whole.

Platter, tray and box sizes

Every size here comes from the product page. From-prices are the cheapest pack available, ex VAT, as the pages label them.

Delivering platters. The Platter Box with Window is 38.5 x 26 x 8.5cm in cardboard, with a clear display window and a secure closure, and its page lists "Food Transportation" and "Food Delivery". Neither the box page nor the platter pages say which platter fits inside, so put the two sets of measurements side by side, or ask us, before you order. The Cardboard Trays with Handles list "Food Delivery" too, but their page notes they are "only suitable for lightweight canape foods". For more platters and trays, the four palm leaf pieces in the table are in our Palm Leaf Serving Trays collection, and the wider range, including the Cardboard Trays with Handles, is in Eco-friendly Disposable Serving Trays.

Platter and buffet questions

How do you display sandwiches on a platter?

Cut them to one shape, lay them in straight rows with one filling per row and the cut side facing out, keep to one layer, and choose a platter they fill edge to edge. Label each filling, and keep a full platter ready to swap in.

How do you set up a buffet display?

Plates at the start, food in the order guests take it, sauces next to their dishes, and napkins and cutlery at the end. Raise some platters at the back for height, and let guests serve from both sides if the crowd is big.

What do caterers deliver platters in?

A box that keeps the platter flat and closed, often with a window so the client sees the food without opening it. Ours is the Platter Box with Window, 38.5 x 26 x 8.5cm, from £79.99 + VAT for 50.