For clients
How ChefPalz works
A private chef in your home, booked in minutes. Browse vetted chefs, choose a menu, and let them handle the rest — shopping, cooking, and cleanup. You just enjoy the meal.
The experience
What is a private chef?
A private chef comes to your home and cooks a restaurant-quality meal made just for your event — an intimate dinner party, a birthday, a special occasion, or weekly meal prep. Unlike catering, it is cooked on site and personalized to your tastes and dietary needs. You get the restaurant experience without leaving home, and you are a guest at your own table.
Step by step
From craving to clean kitchen
- 1
Browse & compare chefs
Explore private chefs near you, filtered by cuisine and city, with menus, real reviews, and background-check badges.
- 2
Choose your chef & menu
Every chef lists clear per-person pricing and menu packages. Pick the one that fits your occasion and guest count.
- 3
Request your date
Send your date, guest count, location, and any dietary needs. Your chef reviews the request and accepts.
- 4
Pay securely
Pay a simple deposit (or in full) through Stripe. Your payment is held safely and only released to the chef after your event.
- 5
Message & finalize
Chat with your chef in the app to fine-tune the menu, timing, and kitchen setup before the big day.
- 6
Dine, then review
Your chef shops, cooks in your kitchen, serves, and cleans up. Afterward, rate the food, presentation, cleanliness, and your chef.
What is included
More than just cooking
Custom menu & consultation
Menus tailored to your tastes, your occasion, and your guests — not a fixed template.
Fresh ingredient shopping
Your chef sources and shops for everything; ingredient costs are built into the per-person price.
Cooked in your kitchen
Restaurant-quality food, prepared on site and served fresh — not dropped off.
Full cleanup
Your chef leaves your kitchen the way they found it. You never touch a dish.
Dietary accommodations
Allergies, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and more — handled on request.
Optional event staffing
For larger gatherings, some chefs can coordinate extra help. Just ask in your request.
Why ChefPalz
Booked with confidence
Certified background checks
Chefs can complete an FCRA-compliant Checkr screening — the same used by Uber and DoorDash. Look for the Background Checked badge on their profile.
Secure escrow payments
Your money is held safely and only released to the chef after your event is complete.
Transparent pricing
Clear per-person rates. The price you see is the price you pay — no added booking fee.
Flexible cancellation
A clear, tiered refund policy protects you if plans change. See the details in our Terms.
In-app messaging
Coordinate every detail with your chef in one place, before and after you book.
Real reviews
Ratings across food, presentation, cleanliness, and the chef — from real diners.
Questions
Frequently asked
- What areas do you serve?
- Chefs set their own service cities across the U.S. Browse chefs to see who covers your area.
- How much does a private chef cost?
- Chefs set clear per-person pricing by menu, so you always see the total before you book. Prices vary by menu, number of courses, and guest count.
- Is this only for big events?
- Not at all. Book a private chef for a date night, a family dinner, a birthday, a dinner party, a holiday, or weekly meal prep.
- What about allergies and dietary needs?
- Add them to your booking request and message your chef. Most accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergies, and other preferences.
- When am I charged?
- You pay a deposit (or in full) to request your booking. Any balance is due before the event, and funds are only released to the chef after your event takes place.
- What if I need to cancel?
- Refunds depend on how far out you cancel, under a clear tiered policy. See our Terms for the full cancellation details.
- Do I need the app?
- You can book on the web or with the ChefPalz app — whichever you prefer. Your bookings and messages stay in sync across both.
Ready to dine?
Find a private chef for your next event and bring the restaurant home.