Do you want to know the best way to thank someone for lunch?
Perhaps you’re unsure about using “thank you for lunch” because you’re worried it’s unprofessional or insincere.
Luckily, that’s not your only option!
This article will teach you how to thank someone for a lunch at work, depending on the tone you need to use.
Is It Professional to Say “Thank You for Lunch”?
It is professional to say “thank you for lunch.” Honestly, you can’t go wrong with it. It’s simple and polite, which goes a long way when thanking someone.
You can use it regardless of who you’re thanking. For instance, it works when speaking to the following people:
- Your boss
- Colleagues
- Customers
As long as you’re polite and direct, you can use this phrase after a lunch meeting!
So, here’s an example to show you more about how it works:
Dear Mr. Parkinson,
Thank you for lunch. I enjoyed the conversation we had.
I’ll be in touch as soon as there’s more to discuss.
Best regards,
Tony Redstone
Pros
- It’s polite and shows how grateful you are to have lunch with someone.
- It’s professional and direct.
Cons
- It’s a bit generic and sounds kind of forced.
- Using it isn’t very inspiring, and there are plenty of more interesting ways to thank someone.
So, “thank you for lunch” is fine to use in formal writing. But we still recommend exploring some alternatives to see what else might work for you.
Keep reading to learn how to say “thank you for lunch” in an email. This article has gathered a list of the best synonyms and explained more about them to give you better ideas.
What to Say Instead of “Thank You for Lunch”
- I appreciate your thoughtful gesture of providing lunch
- I’m glad we got to have lunch together
- I appreciate you getting lunch for me
- Thank you for the delightful lunch
- I thoroughly enjoyed our lunch meeting
- Thanks for lunch; we should do it again
- I’m so glad we got to go out for lunch
- I owe you one for the lunch
- I learned a lot during our lunch; thank you
1. I Appreciate Your Thoughtful Gesture of Providing Lunch
We recommend starting with “I appreciate your thoughtful gesture of providing lunch” as another way to say “thank you for lunch.”
Generally, this works well in formal emails. It’s a good thank-you note to include if someone has met with you and provided you with a lunch treat.
We highly recommend using it when reaching out to a client after a meeting.
If you had a lunch meeting with them, this phrase is a great opportunity to let them know how much it meant to you and that you’re glad to be able to speak with them.
You can also check out this example if you think it’ll help:
Dear Mr. Murphy,
I appreciate your thoughtful gesture of providing lunch.
I’ll be in touch soon once there is more information available relating to this launch.
Yours,
Kyle Jenner
2. I’m Glad We Got to Have Lunch Together
Next, we recommend “I’m glad we got to have lunch together” instead of “thank you for lunch.”
If you’re wondering how to say “thank you for lunch” to your boss, this is the phrase for you. After all, it’s friendly and sincere, and it shows you’re happy to spend time with them.
For the most part, if you want to build a positive working relationship with your boss, you can’t go wrong with this.
After all, it’s respectful. So, it shows you value their time, and you’re glad they spent some of it meeting with you.
Also, this email sample should clear up some things about it:
Dear Mr. Dmitri,
I’m glad we got to have lunch together, as I feel like we learned a lot.
I’ll let you know when I’ve completed that project for you.
Yours,
Dominic Blanc
3. I Appreciate You Getting Lunch for Me
We also like using “I appreciate you getting lunch for me.”
It’s formal and respectful, which goes a long way in most written situations.
Generally, you can use this when contacting a client. It’s an ideal phrase that shows you’re happy to have had a lunch meeting with them.
It works best if you’re trying to improve a relationship with a client. After all, it’s a great way to show them that you care about their time and are happy they spent some of it with you.
If you’re still confused, you can review this example to learn more:
Dear Ms. Howlett,
I appreciate you getting lunch for me, as I’m glad we could discuss these things.
Please let me know when you’ll be happy to meet again.
All the best,
Suzie Dent
4. Thank You for the Delightful Lunch
Next, we recommend using “thank you for the delightful lunch.” Of course, not much changes from the original phrase other than adding “delightful” to emphasize your enjoyment.
This is a direct and thankful phrase that shows how much you appreciate someone’s lunch invitation.
You can use it in a message sent to a coworker. Perhaps they’ve arranged a farewell lunch with you because you are leaving the workplace. Well, this is a great way to say thanks.
Here’s a helpful sample email to show you more about how it works:
Dear Alexandra,
Thank you for the delightful lunch this afternoon.
I had a great time with you, and I’m sure we’ll be able to stay in touch.
Best wishes,
Sarah Mildly
5. I Thoroughly Enjoyed Our Lunch Meeting
You should write “I thoroughly enjoyed our lunch meeting” to show people how keen you are to have lunch with them.
It’s professional and sincere. So, it’s a great way to get into the recipient’s good books when you’re hoping to secure another meeting with them at a later date.
Generally, you can use this when impressing a client. It lets them know that you were happy to meet with them and discuss something about a work project.
Here’s a helpful email sample to show you a bit more about it, too:
Dear Ms. Young,
I thoroughly enjoyed our lunch meeting earlier.
I’m glad we got to discuss some of these issues so quickly.
All the best,
Sonia Murphy
6. Thanks for Lunch; We Should Do It Again
Also, we think it’s good to write “thanks for lunch; we should do it again.”
This works well in a more friendly and conversational situation. Generally, you can use this when you’d like to build a more friendly rapport with the recipient.
For instance, you can use it when meeting a new colleague. If they invite you to lunch to welcome you to the team, this will help you to cement your friendship moving forward.
We also think it’s worth reviewing this example to learn a bit more about it:
Dear Howard,
Thanks for lunch; we should do it again.
I’m glad I got to meet you in a more personal capacity, as I think we have a lot in common.
All the best,
Poppy Naylor
7. I’m So Glad We Got to Go Out for Lunch
It’s also smart to write “I’m so glad we got to go out for lunch” instead of “thank you for lunch.”
Generally, this is a formal and sincere way to appreciate someone’s lunch invitation.
It shows that you were fond of the meeting and had a great time with them.
Of course, it’s a bit more conversational than your average synonym. So, it works best when writing to your boss or someone you’re trying to build a more friendly relationship with.
You should also check out this example to learn a little bit more:
Dear Mr. Rogers,
I’m so glad we got to go out for lunch yesterday.
Please let me know if you’d like to do it again soon.
Yours,
Amy O’Connor
8. I Owe You One for the Lunch
If you’re going for something more friendly than “thank you for lunch,” try “I owe you one for the lunch.”
Of course, this works best in conversational and casual contexts.
You can still use it in emails, but it works best when the recipient doesn’t mind slightly more informal language.
So, try it when contacting a coworker. It’s an opportunity for you to build a better friendship with them after a lunch meeting.
This email sample will also clear some things up:
Hey Marc,
I owe you one for the lunch yesterday.
I feel like we got a chance to really explain our sides of the story, and that’s great.
Best wishes,
Sharon Borrow
9. I Learned a Lot During Our Lunch; Thank You
Finally, it’s worth using “I learned a lot during our lunch; thank you” instead of “thank you for lunch.”
It’s formal and respectful. So, it works well when speaking with someone who you trust and admire.
Try using it when thanking a professor. If you meet with your professor for lunch to discuss an assignment, this is a great way to say thank you for what they told you.
Also, this example will help you to understand it a bit better:
Dear Ms. Greene,
I learned a lot during our lunch; thank you.
I’ll have the assignment ready for you in its final stage by Saturday.
My best,
Jason Vole