cater for vs serve

[Winwin2011]

The school restaurant caters for 500 people everdy day.

Is it possible to use 'serves' to replace 'caters for' in the above sentence?

 

[bhaisahab]

If you wish, yes. But it might not mean exactly the same. They might cater for 500, but only 499 turn up to be served, for example.

 

[Winwin2011]

If you wish, yes. But it might not mean exactly the same. They might cater for 500, but only 499 turn up to be served, for example.

Thanks, Bhai.

Are there any synonyms for 'cater for' ? I couldn't find a synonym in the dictionaries.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Does "feed" work?

 

[Barb_D]

Prepares meals for
Prepares food for
Prepares to serve