30+ Examples of How to Say “Thank You for Lunch”

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Plus expert advice on when & how to give your thanks
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When someone treats you to lunch, it’s a polite gesture to thank them for their kindness and generosity. While saying, “Thank you for lunch” is a polite phrase that works for professional and casual situations, there are plenty of other great ways to express your gratitude. In this article, we’ll go over formal and informal ways to thank someone for treating you to lunch, whether they’re a boss, colleague, mentor, or close friend. We’ll also explain when and how to say “Thank you for lunch,” too.

Great “Thank You for Lunch” Messages

  • “Thank you for the productive and enjoyable lunch.”
  • “Thank you for the generous meal.”
  • “Lunch was delicious, thank you.”
  • “I can’t thank you enough for lunch.”
  • “I enjoyed our discussion over lunch immensely.”
Section 1 of 5:

Formal & Professional Ways to Say “Thank You For Lunch”

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  1. 1
    “Thank you for lunch. It was a pleasure getting to talk with you.” This is a great, formal phrase to use when thanking a boss, business contact, or colleague for lunch. This extends your appreciation for being treated to lunch while also showing them that you enjoyed getting to know them and are grateful that they gave you their time to network and discuss important work projects.
    • Example : “Thank you for lunch. It was a pleasure getting to speak with you and learn about your company.”
  2. 2
    “I am very grateful for lunch.” Use this simple and polite alternative to “Thank you for lunch” when you want to emphasize your appreciation and gratitude. This formal phrase makes it clear that you were touched by the kind gesture and are deeply thankful that someone took the time and effort to treat you to lunch. [1]
    • Example : “I am grateful for getting lunch with you today. I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me.”
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  3. 3
    “Thank you for the generous meal.” When your boss, business partner, or colleague treats you to a more extravagant lunch, opt for this phrase. This is a formal and polite way to highlight their generosity for treating you to lunch. It emphasizes their kindness and shows your respect for them, which they’re sure to appreciate.
    • Example : “Thank you for the generous meal. It was very kind of you to treat us to lunch.”
  4. 4
    “I appreciate you taking the time to treat me to lunch.” If an important client or colleague took time out of their busy day to take you to lunch, use this phrase. It acknowledges their busy schedule and shows that you appreciate them giving you their full focus so you could meet and talk with them. Plus, it extends your gratitude for treating you to a meal. [2]
    • Example : “I appreciate you taking the time to treat me to lunch today. I’m glad we could meet and discuss the new project.”
  5. 5
    “It was very thoughtful of you to treat me to lunch.” For a slightly more personal touch while still staying formal, say, “It was very thoughtful of you to treat me to lunch.” This not only shows your appreciation for someone paying for your lunch, but also for the person’s kind gesture to think of you at all. It’s a warm way to show gratitude for their consideration and generosity.
    • Example : “It was very thoughtful of you to treat me to lunch. I appreciate you reaching out to me and setting up this meeting.”
  6. 6
    “I can’t thank you enough for lunch.” This is another polite and formal phrase to use if a boss, colleague, or new business relationship treats you to a more expensive and lavish lunch. Saying, “I can’t thank you enough,” shows your deep appreciation for their very kind and generous gesture.
    • Example : “I can’t thank you enough for lunch. It was very generous of you to treat the entire team before the holidays.”
  7. 7
    “Your hospitality is very appreciated.” When a colleague, business partner, or boss hosts a nice lunch for you or your company, thank them for their hospitality . This shares your gratitude to them for hosting the event, showing them that you appreciate their time, effort, generosity, and welcoming presence.
    • Example : “Your hospitality is very appreciated. You put together a lovely lunch and I enjoyed getting to talk with everyone.”
  8. 8
    “Thank you for the productive and enjoyable lunch.” This is a great formal phrase to use when a colleague, business partner, or boss treats you to a work lunch to discuss current business or new projects. Saying this shows them that you appreciate the meal, as well as the constructive and worthwhile meeting you had.
    • Example : “Thank you for the productive and enjoyable lunch. I’m glad we got to discuss our business goals for the coming year.”
  9. 9
    “I appreciate your thoughtfulness in arranging lunch today.” This is a polite and respectful phrase to use when the person who treated you to lunch took great care in planning the event. For instance, they might have worked around your schedule, chosen a place that fit your dietary needs, or found a place close to you. So, saying this emphasizes your appreciation for their consideration and effort.
    • Example : “I appreciate your thoughtfulness in arranging lunch today. The restaurant you chose was delicious.”
  10. 10
    “I’m thankful for the opportunity to connect over lunch.” If you met with a mentor or new business contact over lunch, this is a great, formal phrase to use to show your appreciation. This shows that you’re grateful for their time and the opportunity to network with them and get to know them better. [3]
    • Example : “I’m thankful for the opportunity to connect over lunch. It was great to finally meet with you and discuss your partnership with our company.”
  11. 11
    “I enjoyed our discussion over lunch immensely.” Opt for this phrase if you had lunch with a client, colleague, or mentor to discuss important business plans, projects, or goals. This highlights the value of the conversation you had, as well as your appreciation for the meal and their time.
    • Example : “I enjoyed our discussion over lunch immensely. Thank you for the meal and the great conversation.”
  12. 12
    “Your generosity means a lot, thank you so much.” For a formal phrase with a bit of a personal touch, say, “Your generosity means a lot.” This emphasizes the person’s kindness and hospitality, especially if they treated you to an expensive meal, which shows them that you truly appreciate their cordiality. [4]
    • Example : “Your generosity means a lot to me, thank you so much. It was good to chat with you over such a great meal.”
  13. 13
    “Thank you for lunch and the meaningful conversation.” If you had a great conversation with your boss, colleague, or mentor over lunch, thank them for their company and contribution to the valuable discussion. It’s the perfect way to show them that you value their opinions and perspectives, as well as their kindness for getting you lunch.
    • Example : “Thank you for lunch and the meaningful conversation. I have a lot of exciting ideas to work through now, which I appreciate.”
  14. 14
    “I’m honored to have been your guest for lunch today.” This is a very formal and respectful way to thank someone for lunch, so use it when a mentor, boss, colleague, or new business relationship invites you to an important event. It expresses your appreciation for the person’s generosity and thoughtfulness, showing them that you’re deeply grateful for the invite.
    • Example : “I’m honored to have been your guest for lunch today. Thank you for thinking of me and inviting me to this event. I enjoyed it immensely.”
  15. 15
    “I’m looking forward to our next lunch meeting.” Using this polite phrase makes it clear to the person that you’re grateful for the lunch and enjoyed getting to meet with them, so much so that you can’t wait for the next lunchtime event. They’re sure to appreciate this gesture, as it tells them that you enjoyed both the lunch and their conversation.
    • Example : “I’m looking forward to our next lunch meeting. It was great talking with you today.”
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Section 2 of 5:

Casual & Personal Ways to Say “Thank You For Lunch”

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  1. 1
    “I appreciate you treating me to lunch.” This is a slightly more casual way to thank someone for getting you lunch, making it perfect for saying after a relaxed meeting with a close coworker or a get-together with a friend. It’s a straightforward but warm way to express your sincere gratitude.
    • Example : “I appreciate you treating me to lunch! It was so kind of you to do that.”
  2. 2
    “Thank you for the wonderful lunch.” Make it clear how much you enjoyed lunch with this phrase. Adding an adjective like “wonderful” or “amazing” lets your friend or close colleague know that you're extra grateful for lunch because the food was good and the company was better.
    • Example : “Thank you for the wonderful lunch! I’m glad we got to try this new restaurant together.”
  3. 3
    “Lunch was delicious, thank you.” Emphasizing how tasty the lunch was is a warm and casual way to thank your friend for the meal. Feel free to use other positive adjectives to describe the lunch, like “lovely,” “splendid,” or “amazing.” Consider adding a specific compliment about the food or restaurant, too, to make your gratitude even clearer.
    • Example : “Lunch was delicious, thank you. You picked an excellent place to try!”
  4. 4
    “It was so kind of you to treat me to lunch.” Use this phrase if you want to express your sincere gratitude for a friend or close coworker treating you to lunch. Emphasizing the person’s kindness is a sweet way to show them that you didn’t expect them to get you lunch and that their generosity didn’t go unnoticed.
    • Example : “It was so kind of you to treat me to lunch! I really appreciate you and your generosity.”
  5. 5
    “Thanks for lunch, I had a great time.” If you had a wonderful time catching up with your friend, coworker, or date over lunch, let them know! While they’ll appreciate knowing that you’re thankful for the meal, they’ll probably find it even better to know that you enjoyed yourself and liked spending time with them.
    • Example : “Thanks for the amazing lunch, I had a great time! It’s always fun getting to catch up with you.”
  6. 6
    “I really enjoyed our lunch together, thank you.” This is a similarly warm and friendly way to let someone know that you enjoyed spending time with them over lunch and are grateful for their company. To make your thankfulness even clearer, let them know that you enjoyed catching up, or tell them what you liked best about the food.
    • Example : “I really enjoyed our lunch together, thank you! It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other, so I’m glad we could hang out.”
  7. 7
    “Thank you for the great meal and company.” Use this sweet and friendly phrase to acknowledge the quality of the food you ate at lunch, as well as the person you spent lunch with. Saying this can make your friend or date feel all warm and fuzzy, as they know that you appreciate their generosity as well as their friendship.
    • Example : “Thank you for the great meal and even better company! I loved getting to hear about how life’s been for you lately.”
  8. 8
    “Thanks for sharing a meal with me.” This is another personal and warm phrase that’s great for appreciating your friend’s, coworker’s, or date’s company. Saying that you’re thankful for sharing a meal with them places extra value on your connection and time spent together, making it clear that this was an experience you both enjoyed.
    • Example : “Thanks for sharing a meal with me. I’m glad we got to connect and catch up.”
  9. 9
    “I’m so glad you invited me to lunch.” If a new friend or connection asked you to join them for lunch, use this phrase. This is a warm and friendly way to express gratitude for them thinking of you and showing interest in your friendship, which can help you become even closer.
    • Example : “I’m so glad you invited me to lunch! Thanks so much for thinking of me and choosing such a great restaurant.”
  10. 10
    “I enjoyed lunch so much, thank you for including me.” When a friend includes you in their plans to grab lunch with other pals, or invites you to a lunchtime celebration, use this phrase to express your gratitude. This shows your appreciation for their generosity and kindness and lets them know that you had a great time at their event, which they’re sure to be grateful for.
    • Example : “I enjoyed lunch so much, thank you for including me! You planned such a lovely event!”
  11. 11
    “I had a wonderful time at lunch. Let’s do it again soon.” Whether you got lunch with a new friend or someone you’ve known for years, telling them that you want to get together again is one of the best ways to express your thanks. This is a friendly and casual way to make it clear that you enjoyed their company and are grateful for the meal you had with them.
    • Example : “I had a wonderful time at lunch getting to chat with you. Let’s do it again soon!”
  12. 12
    “Lunch was exactly what I needed, thanks.” If a friend treated you with lunch to cheer you up or simply add some positivity to your day, use this sweet and sincere phrase to thank them. This communicates that you're grateful for their friendship and that their efforts were helpful in making you feel better, which they’ll appreciate.
    • Example : “Lunch was exactly what I needed, thank you so much. I appreciate you cheering me up and making me feel better.”
  13. 13
    “It was so great to catch up over lunch. Thank you.” Use this phrase when you haven’t seen someone in a while, whether that’s a friend, close coworker, or family member. Letting them know that it was great to catch up is a warm and kind way to appreciate them taking the time to hang out with you and get lunch. It also expresses that you enjoyed your time together, which can help you plan more hangouts in the future.
    • Example : “It was so great to catch up over lunch! Thank you for the laughs and great conversation.”
  14. 14
    “I appreciate the time and effort you put into lunch; it was delicious.” If a friend invited you to their house for lunch, or spent a lot of time planning an elaborate lunch at a restaurant, use this phrase. This expresses your appreciation for the time and effort they spent cooking and planning the event, as well as inviting you to it. Adding a compliment about the lunch itself is an extra sweet touch.
    • Example : “I appreciate the time and effort you put into lunch. The food was fantastic and your home is so beautiful.”
  15. 15
    “Thanks for lunch! Next time is my treat.” If a friend, family member, or date treated you to lunch, a sweet way to show your appreciation is to tell them that you’ll pick up the check next time. While this shows them that you’re grateful for lunch, it also communicates that you don’t expect them to spoil you every time—you intend to reciprocate their generosity and pay back their kindness, too.
    • Example : “Thanks for lunch! I appreciate you grabbing the bill. Next time is my treat!”
    EXPERT TIP

    Jamila Musayeva

    International Etiquette Consultant, Author and Youtube Educator
    Jamila Musayeva is an International Etiquette Consultant, Author and Youtube Educator based in Azerbaijan. Through her work, she is dedicated to promoting elegance, cultural awareness, and refined living. Her YouTube channel, where she focuses on etiquette and personal development skills, boasts over 1 million subscribers. Through her best-selling books, online courses, and widely followed YouTube channel, Jamila shares insights on etiquette, hosting, and cross-cultural traditions. Her expertise has been featured in numerous notable magazines and media outlets, including Forbes, Arabian Business, Daily Mail, Cosmopolitan, USA Today, HuffPost, and many more. She speaks over five languages and is continually expanding her linguistic repertoire. With a mission to inspire individuals to embody sophistication and grace in everyday life, she continues to be a leading voice in the world of modern etiquette. She graduated summa cum laude from The George Washington University, majoring in International Relations with double minors in History and Sociology, and later obtained a Master’s degree from the College of Europe, Brugge, specializing in European Administrative and Political Studies.
    Jamila Musayeva
    International Etiquette Consultant, Author and Youtube Educator

    It’s common courtesy to return a nice gesture, such as being treated to lunch. Aim to return the gesture within 1 to 3 months to maintain a good relationship with your friend. For instance, treat them to a similarly priced meal, or get them a gift that’s about the same amount.

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Section 3 of 5:

Etiquette for When and How to Thank Someone for Lunch

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  1. 1
    Thank them in person directly after the meal. When lunch is finished and you’re saying your goodbyes to the person, make sure to add in a “Thank you” for the meal. Use a formal “Thank you” if you got a polite lunch with a business colleague or someone you don’t know well, and say a casual “Thank you” if you had a friendly, relaxed meal with someone you know very well.
  2. 2
    Write a thank-you note or email in more formal and personal situations. In addition to saying “Thank you for lunch” in person, it’s a nice gesture to follow up with a thank-you note . You might do this if a mentor met with you for lunch, your boss got food for your team, or a friend treated you to your favorite restaurant. A handwritten card is great for very formal and personal situations, while an email is fine for slightly more relaxed lunches. [5]
    • Not sure what to write in your note? Etiquette coach Tami Claytor says to start by saying “Thank you.” Just be specific about what you’re thanking the person for (e.g., treating you to lunch, meeting with you, having a productive convo). It’s also a nice gesture to compliment the person. Then, sign off with a warm greeting, like “Best regards.” [6]
  3. 3
    Bring a gift if you’re attending lunch at someone’s house. When someone is hosting a planned event in their home, Claytor says it’s traditional to bring them a host gift. This doesn’t have to be anything huge or fancy, just a small gift that shows your appreciation to the host. For instance, this could be a vase of flowers, a basket of fruit, cookies, a bottle of wine, soap, or a candle. [7]
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Section 4 of 5:

Is it professional to say “Thank you for lunch?”

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  1. Yes, it is polite and professional to say, “Thank you for lunch.” “Thank you for lunch” is the standard way to share your gratitude for being treated to lunch—it works in formal, professional, and casual situations with people you don’t know well and your very close friends. It’s a polite way to express your appreciation that helps cultivate a positive relationship with the person.
    • For instance, you can say “Thank you for lunch” after sharing a meal with your boss, an important business client, a close colleague, or a family member.
Section 5 of 5:

Pros and Cons of Saying “Thank You for Lunch”

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  1. 1
    Pros: It’s a positive way to express your gratitude. “Thank you for lunch” is the standard way to express your appreciation for being treated to a meal because it’s polite and positive. It communicates your gratitude well, shares your respect for the person, and helps nourish an even more positive and deep relationship between you and the person.
  2. 2
    Cons: It can be overused and generic-sounding. Because “Thank you for lunch” is the most common way to express your gratitude, it can sometimes sound generic and impersonal. While it’s still a good way to share your appreciation, other “Thank you” phrases can communicate more depth, warmth, and personal feelings.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/writing-tips/thank-you-so-much/
      2. ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/writing-tips/thank-you-so-much/
      3. ↑ https://www.thebalancemoney.com/thank-you-phrases-and-wording-2064014
      4. ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/writing-tips/thank-you-so-much/
      5. ↑ https://hbr.org/2024/08/5-tips-for-writing-meaningful-thank-you-notes
      6. ↑ Tami Claytor. Etiquette Coach. Expert Interview
      7. ↑ Tami Claytor. Etiquette Coach. Expert Interview

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