Reviews for Elite Personal Chef Services: Celebrate Your Special Occasion with Culinary Excellence

Chef Nathan catered a private dinner for a bachelorette party of 8 gals in San Diego and he was incredible! Communication was easy, his menu options were all so tempting we had a hard time choosing and he was prompt and timely the day of the event. We started with the most amazing grazing board I've truly ever seen and then his entree and sides spread was over the top in the absolute best way. But the star of the show was the ice cream sundae bar for dessert featuring homemade chocolate sauce, fresh fruit, dozens of toppings and a few fun surprises that knocked our socks off (I won't ruin for any future clients). I cannot recommend Chef Nathan and Plates by Payne enough. He is a must book - I promise you won't be sorry!

Plates by Payne catered my bridal shower, and wow — they absolutely crushed it. The food was incredible (seriously, people are still raving about it, especially the romesco sauce) and everything looked as good as it tasted. The team was super friendly, professional, and made the whole experience so easy. Nathan put together a delicious menu of food that complied with my dietary restrictions and during the event Rachel was always there with a friendly smile, refilling mimosas before we even had a chance to realize we needed a refill. They handled everything with such care and made my guests and I feel totally taken care of from start to finish. And they nailed the lavender shortbread cookie I made a special request for. Nathan even made a few in the shape of the first letter of my name as take away gifts for my guests. And the best part? We actually got to relax and enjoy the party without worrying about a thing. They even cleaned up the kitchen before they left. If you’re hosting any kind of event and want to impress your guests without the stress, Plates by Payne is the way to go!

Chef Nathan was an excellent choice for our private dinner at a short-term rental in La Jolla! Nathan and his team pulled off a great, multi-course plated dinner for our bachelorette group of seven. The theme was "off the market" and the menu matched that perfectly. Amazing produce, beautiful presentation. Nathan was so helpful during the menu development, suggesting surf and turf for our entree, which was an epic surprise for the bride. We really appreciated the lengths they went to source the fish. We were a persnickety group with many preferences and restrictions, and the team made a delicious low-gluten, dairy-free, soy-free meal that accommodated pescatarians and omnivores alike. On top of all of that, Nathan prepared two mocktail bases (fruit purees and herbal simple syrups) for us to mix ourselves the following morning for an 'elixir bar.' YUM. We initially said that we'd do the tablescape, but the Plates by Payne team swooped in and did it all for us. The dinner service was attentive and seamless so I could simply spend the evening celebrating with friends. Our airbnb kitchen was tiiiny, but this dinner was a HUGE win.

We had such an incredible experience with Nathan and his team and were treated to an extravagant experience from start to finish. His food is phenomenal and the service was top notch. He was very communicative throughout the process and helped customize a menu that was perfect for my mom's 60th birthday. We all said, "how will we ever go out to eat at a normal restaurant after this experience?" It was such a special night that we will never forget! We look forward to working again with him for future events!

Nathan cooked a fabulous meal for our birthday celebration. The presentation was beautiful and the food was amazing! I highly recommend him. You will not be disappointed!

Do not hesitate to hire Nathan and his team for your next event. We hired Nathan for a birthday dinner. His follow through and attention throughout the process was excellent. He delivered a lavish celebratory meal for 11 guests. The food and service were perfect. Nathan and our server Rachel created a magical night for our guests. I look forward to hiring him again, treat yourself, hire Plates by Payne.