July 4 falls on a Saturday this year, so the observed holiday is Friday, July 3 — and the week of June 29 starts emptying out as people stretch the long weekend into a few extra days. As the planner running your team's Independence Day celebration, that leaves a clear window: the week of June 22, while the office is still full. This post covers when to book the in-office celebration and what to serve, so it's on the calendar before the room thins out.
The week of June 29 belongs to the long weekend. With the holiday observed Friday, July 3, people start taking the surrounding days, and by midweek the floor thins out. Book the celebration for the week of June 22 and you catch the team together, before people start leaving for their summer vacations. Booking now also gives Metro's kitchen time to lock your date and prep a full spread — the Summer BBQ menu is made for this time of year.
The count is the hard part of a late-June party. People are rotating in and out before the long weekend, so an email the Friday before won't give you a reliable number. Send the invite by the week of June 15 and ask for a firm yes or no.
Order to your confirmed count rather than the full roster. Most of Metro's BBQ packages start at a 10- or 15-guest minimum, so a smaller in-office crowd still works — you're not buying for people already at the beach. While you're collecting RSVPs, ask who eats vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free; those numbers tell you whether to add the Slider Bar's Impossible patties, a Vegan Mac & Cheese, or the gluten-free BBQ Ribs.
Start with the All American BBQ package — burgers, chicken tenders and hot dogs, with potato salad and waffle fries, all from one order that feeds a full room. Add BBQ Ribs for the cookout classic; all four styles, from St Louis to Memphis dry rub, are gluten-free.
For the range of eaters in any office, the Slider Bar handles it, with beef, turkey and Impossible patties, so vegans get a real burger instead of a side dish. White Cheddar Mac & Cheese keeps the vegetarians happy, with a Vegan Mac & Cheese on hand if you need it. Finish with Mini Cupcakes in vanilla, chocolate or red velvet.
Many Midtown buildings don't allow open flames, so if yours is one of them, Metro's flameless setup keeps everything hot without a heat source — flag it when you order. Offices often cut out early the day before a holiday, so schedule the food for late morning or lunch rather than late afternoon; an earlier spread gives everyone a relaxed sit-down before they drift off. For a celebration leadership will see, the Executive Presentation service puts the food on porcelain platters and wood trays instead of foil pans. Either way, you hand off the setup and spend the day with the team, not the chafing dishes.
Independence Day is a Saturday, and the office celebration belongs the week before. Get the date on Metro's corporate catering specialists' calendar now, while the team is still in and the food can be planned without a rush. Book by the third week of June and the 4th of July is handled before anyone clocks out for the long weekend.
Author
Chris Zamfotis
Managing Partner, Metro Catering
Chris Zamfotis is the Managing Partner at Metro Catering, a New York City catering company serving corporate offices, private events, and businesses across Manhattan. With a focus on reliable service, thoughtful menu planning, and polished presentation, Chris helps lead Metro Catering’s approach to modern corporate catering, from daily office lunches to executive meetings, happy hours, and large-scale events.
Metro Catering has been NYC’s trusted corporate catering provider since 1981, offering fresh, high-quality meals for office lunches, corporate events, and workplace dining—delivered on time, every time.
