Choose a whole bird or ready-cut portions
A whole roast chicken suits sharing but requires carving at the table or in the kitchen. Separate portions simplify serving and may allow a choice of cut. Compare stated weight, sides and whether cooking juices are included. A meal advertised for several people still needs to be judged against appetites and the other dishes planned for the occasion.
Check how the juices and sides are packed
Roast potatoes, vegetables and sauces do not all travel in the same way. Find out whether sides are included and how they are separated. For a chilled delivery, follow the supplied reheating instructions instead of improvising from a generic recipe. Rotisseries and prepared-food retailers offer different formats, which are easiest to compare when quantities are made explicit.