I always say "cocktails at 5, dinner at 6" so people know there's a cushion. We also entertain families with little ones, so I get it.

Otherwise, it really depends on the recipe. For dinner parties, I try to make dishes that come out of the oven onto the table with minimal fuss, so I put it in the oven x minutes before it's time to eat, with 5 minutes to cool or set/rest a bit. I don't tend to do stews, crockpot dishes, etc., with guests, although we eat those a lot during the week. Feels too casual!

Our microwave also has a keep warm feature and a shelf that can be used to stack dishes like sides that wouldn't be ruined by nuking for a while (mashed potatoes, etc.). Anything that cooks in a Dutch oven would stay quite warm for a while, too.

16:38 had some good suggestions. I'd use the crock pot if possible for a chicken dish, lasagna, soup, or stew. An extra hour makes no difference. Rice can be made hours ahead. Roast some borrowing in the last twenty minutes or have a funky salad.

Agree with the cocktail hour and set time for dinner service. But i think the real key is to serve foods that dont need to be piping hot, or at least sides that can be less than hot. Would love suggestions.

Dinner is at "x" o'clock. If your guests are more than 15 min late so be it. Start without them. they start at whatever course you are on when they arrive. If that is main course salad or dessert, so be it.

I don't hold dinner for anyone, especially at a dinner party. It's rude to those who actually made it on time.

Agree with PP. Have some light munchies while dinner cooks. While dinner is cooking get what everyone wants to drink and everyone can sit and then dinner is served hot

I am a fan of cocktail hour! But it's not always great for families with young children especially if the party needs to wrap up for kids' bedtimes.

I'd suggest planning to serve dinner thirty minutes after guests are due to arrive. Make it a dish that either bakes in the oven or simmers on the stove with little babysitting required in the time immediately before serving. Lasagna, chilli, a pot pie, a stew.

Set out some nibbles for everyone so there's something to eat when they arrive. Chips, dip, crunchy veggies.

That's what cocktail hour is for. It gives a cushion between when your guests arrive and you sit down to eat. And if someone is more than an hour late, they shouldn't be surprised if dinner isn't hot anymore.

What are you making?

We are having 2 other families over for dinner this weekend. I am pretty good at getting a fresh, hot
meal on the table for my small family, but I'm a little worried about the food getting cold if one of
the families is running late. I could use advice on the best way to keep the meal hot. Turn the oven down to 200 once everything is ready? Tent with tin foil? Any other ideas? Thanks!