If you’re anything like us, you know that organizing a nice dinner for your teams always goes down a treat.
We’ve got a list of activities set up to use at your next team dinner (or lunch) that will have them bonding in amazing ways.
We’ll be finishing off with 10 of the hottest new restaurant experiences for your teams to sink their teeth into.
So fill up your cups and lay out the cutlery, we’re getting into it!
Why organize a team dinner?
Group dinners stand the test of time in bonding groups of people together. There’s a reason we’ve used food to cherish special occasions for thousands of years. People simply love asking food questions, like, “Which sauce belongs on a burger?” (for us, the Ketchup and mustard combo won’t be beaten).
Team dinners are a wonderful way to celebrate work achievements and milestones as a group. The usual work atmosphere becomes more exciting as fancy dishes are brought to the table.
So to get teams to the next level, we’ve got activities lined up that work fantastically at a team dinner. Organize them in-office to keep things close to home, or get elaborate and use them at a fancy work social event.
Some people believe the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. Carry out a few of our activities to find out if it’s true for your teams too!
Activities and games for your next team dinner
Here’s our list of dinner activities and games. Enough talk, let’s tuck in!
Blind tasting
While the scent of food is in the air, and trays of deliciousness are being set on tables, why not take the opportunity to organize a quick blind-tasting session?
Removing the visual element of a few edible treats slightly pushes members out of their comfort zone and gets them to try something new, which can be a great conversation starter for your teams.
Blind-tasting sessions create an atmosphere of curiosity and excitement, and people often find themselves laughing at their own far-fetched guesses.
Don’t get too crazy with the snacks though, unless the evening’s diners have a very adventurous side. You might want to find out first if everyone wants to risk trying out a roasted silkworm!
Who am I?
Here’s a great pre-dinner game that works fantastically for teambuilding fun, especially as a large group icebreaker. You might have seen a similar version in The US Office TV show.
Bring sticky notes with you to the event, and have everyone write a famous person on one sticky note. These notes then get stuck to a person’s back, one person per note.
The time before everyone sits to eat is usually filled with mingling and pleasant words, so let guests mingle and ask yes or no questions to find the name of the famous person on their back.
Grant a small reward to the first correct. We’re sure this sticky situation is bound to generate laughter and bonding in your teams.
Fireside chat and s’mores picnic
Tap into the power of the great outdoors as part of your next team dinner. Combine the peace of a company picnic with the wonder of a fireside evening reflection. Stick some roasted marshmallows on the top, and you’re in for a memorable team dinner.
An after-dinner fireside chat with s’mores in a unique setting is a surefire way to the hearts of your teams. They’ll be chatting away in an idyllic location and getting to know each other on a deeper level.
Break down barriers and get stories rolling gathered around a firepit under the stars. We haven’t met anyone yet who could resist a gooey roasted marshmallow either. Kindle team spirits and establish deep connections with this memorable event.
What's in the box?
Bring an element of mystery to the after-dinner activities with a game of “What’s in the box?” Challenge everyone to guess food items placed in a curious black box.
Get some unique snacks prepared that fit into your mystery box. Think in terms of exotic snacks that they might not be accustomed to. Wasabi peas, sesame brittle, dried edible flowers. Using snacks like this makes it more unique, you could even ask them to just smell the item, or touch it with their hands.
Use “what’s in the box” to spice up your next team dinner, and introduce them to some weird and wonderful snacks. Just consider providing some gloves if you’re getting them to squeeze a prickly durian fruit!
Fish for your food
Add a creative game to the evening’s proceedings with a bout of “Fish for your food.” Set up an area with some funky little fishing holes. Before you start digging up the restaurant, don’t worry, inflatable ones work just fine!
In each fishing hole, add some funky little plastic fish, each with a message written on them. It’s up to you how to theme the messages, but you could try having different ingredients on each fish. As contestants “fish for their food,” each fish they catch is added to what they eat that evening.
An activity like this works great for a team lunch too! Just don’t add too many wild ingredients, you might find your staff’s appetite suddenly disappears when they see chilies mixed with chocolate!
Story Cubes
Use the popular game “Story Cubes” at your next team dinner to ramp up conversations and have everyone bonding in a fun way.
There are loads of pre-made sets available for purchase online or start designing your own. Each side of a dice is decorated with a symbol or picture, used to represent the next part of a larger story. Each person rolls the cube and weaves the image into the narration.
Story cubes get everyone chatting while thinking on their toes, helping communication and adding fun new twists with each roll. It’s simple to set up, and a nice activity to wind down with after a nice meal. Give story cubes a roll on your next team dinner or company outing!
Murder Mystery dinner
Make the most of the dinner outing with a themed Murder Mystery. This works best after everyone’s done filling their stomachs.
Everyone takes on the role of a suspect or a detective in a made-up crime scenario. They’ll be working together to get to the bottom of mysterious clues and interrogate the suspicious characters.
You can use pre-made scripts or design your own, with character profiles, scripted dialogues, and clues to guide the investigation. After the murder happens in secrecy, detectives follow up by asking questions of the suspects. Allow enough time to get to the bottom of the case.
Murder mystery dinners are great for a fancy work night out with dress-up. Use themed decorations like a haunted house or ghost train for added effect. Dim lights and background music set the scene well too. Try out a murder mystery for some excitement in your next team dinner!
Do the opposite
Here’s a simple icebreaker to get the conversation flowing in a fun way. “Do the opposite” gets everyone thinking on their feet, as they have to do the opposite of whatever the emcee says.
That might be standing up when told to sit down or stepping backwards when asked to walk forwards. This is a simple warm-up exercise best used before a team dinner to get some laughter rolling around the room.
Try this one out in small teams for a quickfire little teambuilding activity. Hand out whatever punishments you see fit, and reward winning teams with gifts to commemorate the evening. Just make sure you don’t continue the game of doing the opposite when you all return to work. Nothing would ever get done!
10 hot topic meals for a standout team dinner
Not entirely sure what kind of food your teams would like to chow down on? We’ve kept dietary requirements in mind and crafted a list of popular meals that can all be customized to cater to any diner’s needs. Here are 10 of the most popular culinary curiosities to try out for your next team dinner!
1. Poke bowl
Poke bowls are storming the world with their popularity. They’re made up of marinated raw fish, and crisp vegetables like avocado and cucumber, then finished off with a garnish and sesame seeds. They’re a great customizable and healthy dining experience. Bring the taste of Hawaii to the table!
2. Build-your-own burritos
Spice up a team dinner with a “build your own burritos” station. They offer a huge amount of variety, from protein choice to spice levels. Beans, rice, fresh salsa, there’s a ton of options to cater for all. Use burritos to build up something special!
3. Taco trucks
Street food has surged in popularity recently. Bring the spirit of street food to your teams with taco trucks. You can support local independent truck owners here while offering a great choice of tacos filled with carne asada, zesty fish, and crunchy veggies. Get ‘em before they’re gone!
4. Unlimited Brazilian BBQ
Another world food that has become highly popular is a Brazilian-style all-you-can-eat BBQ experience. Expect a parade of succulent meats like picanha and lamb, fresh off the skewer. These restaurants also love dishing out fresh, crunchy veg for the vegetarians out there.
5. Mini breakfast skillets
More people eat breakfast later in the day now, we know that. So get into mini breakfast skillets any time of the day. Cast iron skillets hold lovely little versions of all of the options found on breakfast plates. Eggs and crispy bacon on top of fresh toast, who could resist?
6. Charcuterie Board
Now we’re getting artisanal. Charcuterie boards have become hugely popular, and it’s no wonder why. Cured meats, assorted cheese, and fresh nuts, they’re just irresistible. Served on a traditional rustic wood board, they’re great for encouraging sharing. Bite-sized perfection!
7. Tapas
Originating from coastal Spain, tapas brings brightness and packs a punch in flavour. Crispy patatas bravas, chorizo bites, and savory garlic shrimp are all mixed into this rice-based menu. Perfect for sampling and sharing. Because sharing is caring!
8. Bun Baos
We’ve seen a massive rise in the popularity of Asian-styled street food. Named “bun bao” in Vietnam and “baozi” in its place of origin, China, these awesome little steamed buns have an amazing heritage. They bring a sense of tradition and comfort to any team meal, so enjoy a bite of happiness with each little “bao”.
9. Mac and Cheese with Mix-Ins
Ah, there’s nothing quite like the taste of home. For millions of people, that taste is the undeniable mac and cheese. They’re soared in popularity, with many restaurants using them as their main choice, and adding some awesome toppings, like crispy bacon and tangy sun-dried tomatoes. Satisfaction for all.
10. Avocado Toast Bar
Giving a healthy and trendy twist on brunch classics, avocado toast bars let diners customize their meal in fresh new ways. Poached eggs and salmon, all drizzled in zesty sauces, these bars are not one to miss. Avocado production can be seasonal, so check beforehand. Satiate your team’s appetite with fresh avocados!
Savor the flavor of team dinner activities on one of our company retreats!
Organizing activities for a team dinner on or off-site is great, but wouldn’t it be wonderful to carry them out on a unique work getaway? Invite everyone to a team retreat. A twice-annual retreat bonds employees in new ways and gets everyone freshly energized.
We've had the pleasure of organizing over 700+ retreat experiences, including remote teams, for many different companies. Here’s what we offer:
- Stress-free transfers? We got you! ✅
- Quality-assured accommodations? Check! ✅
- Engaging team-building activities? Our speciality ✅
- Restaurant reservations? That's on us! ✅
- Expert retreat planning assistance? Of course, we have this covered! ✅
- Onsite support, tailored to your needs? Absolutely ✅
Not only this but we also have access to 160+ locations around Europe, APAC, the US, Latin America, and now Africa, meaning the sky is your limit when it comes to choosing the right location for you and your team.
Let your teams sink their teeth into dinner activities in a setting they’ll never forget. There’s nothing quite like it! Spaces are limited, get in touch now!
