From appetizers to desserts, everything was incredible. The presentation, the taste, the quality, the service, all top notch. Amanda was soo easy to work with. She has a ton of knowledge and gave us very valuable advice. Her team worked so quickly to set up our reception room during cocktail hour. Every person on the team was extremely professional and attentive to our guests' needs. And, of course, everything was DELICIOUS. The steak was buttery and cooked perfectly, the dessert table was overflowing, and people loved the live bananas foster station! Chef by Request will exceed your expectations. Rob and Ali 9.5.25
Amanda and the Chef by Request team made our wedding so special! Amanda and I were in touch about my wedding for about a year and a half where she was very patient answering all my questions! They have a wide variety of different menu options and our guests LOVED the Chicago menu. For our guests who were vegan or had allergies they were very accommodating. The wedding itself went so smoothly and the catering staff asked my groom and me how everything was going throughout the night. They made sure we got to taste everything because they know how weddings go and put our cake in such a nice to go container. On our end everything was really perfect, I can’t say enough nice things about Chef by Request team!
Jessica Sent on 10/15/2025
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Guests said best food at a wedding they've ever had
Our experience with Chef by Request was nothing short of incredible! From start to finish, Amanda went above and beyond to make sure our wedding menu was everything we dreamed of – and more.
We wanted our food to feel personal, starting with carefully chosen hors d’oeuvres that showcased our favorite flavors. From there, we designed “his and hers” stations: a made-to-order pasta station and a roasted pig carving station (a total dream come true for my husband!). Along with a Caesar salad, fresh focaccia bread, and desserts like cannolis and crème brûlée, everything was absolutely delicious. Our guests are still raving that it was by far the best food they’ve ever had at a wedding!
One of the most special things about Chef by Request is the variety they offer. Their wide assortment of options made it easy to build a menu that truly reflected us as a couple – and having something as unique as a roasted pig available was astounding.
Amanda was such a breath of fresh air to work with. She was kind, accommodating, and genuinely cared about helping us stay within our budget without ever making us feel pressured. She wasn’t a typical vendor trying to squeeze every penny – she was a partner who wanted to make our day amazing. Our tasting was so much fun, and we left feeling confident (and full!).
We couldn’t be more grateful for the delicious food, thoughtful service, and all the warmth Amanda brought to the experience. Highly, highly recommend!
Are you interested?
Madisom Sent on 09/21/2025
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Highlight of the Wedding!
We cannot say enough good things about Chef by Request! The food was amazing and all of our guests kept talking about how much they loved it. Amanda was incredible throughout the whole planning process. She went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. She was so accommodating and even jumped in to help with things that weren’t catering related. I honestly don’t know how we would have gotten through the day without her. Chef by Request gave us the best experience and we’re so grateful!
Kelly Sent on 08/19/2025
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Delicious Wedding Food
Our venue Wilder Mansion had Chef by Request as a preferred catering option and we are SO happy we went with them!! Amanda was communicative, helpful and kind throughout our entire planning process. She answered all of our questions very efficiently and thoroughly along with providing lots of valuable insight. We got so many compliments on the food at the wedding from the appetizers (shoutout the chicken quesadilla cones!!), to the plated dinner and the late night snacks. We also used their bar service which was wonderful as well! We highly recommend Amanda and her team!!!
Dave Sent on 08/11/2025
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Great Food!
Chef by Request was incredibly easy to work with. Amanda was so kind and literally answered a 100 emails from me and my wife. The food was delicious and the chefs at the event were amazing.
Karli Sent on 10/22/2024
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150 Guest Wedding
Chef by Request catered our wedding hosted at The Crawford for roughly 150 people. Amanda was so easy to communicate with and executed a near perfect dinner on our wedding night. The staff was absolutely amazing. I felt as if we were at a fine dining restaurant as they served and bussed our tables. Appetizers held everyone over til the abundance of food was served for dinner. We chose their Chicken Vesuvio, Eggplant Parmesan (my personal favorite), and Choice Sirloin served family style. Everything tasted amazing and the meat was cooked to perfection. Guests commented "Some of the best wedding food I've ever had". We also had linens and table settings provided by Chef by Request. They have several color options to chose from and it made the rental process so much easier! I Would definitely recommend this company to anyone looking to host a big event!
Christine Sent on 10/17/2024
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Chef By Request Review
We are beyond happy we chose Chef By Request for our wedding. Not only was the food phenomenal but the service was as well. Amanda is so professional, responsive and extremely helpful. We appreciated her guidence so much. She made the process easy and enjoyable.
Stevep60565 Sent on 10/05/2024
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Excellent Experience
We used Chef by Request for my daughter's wedding. It was a wonderful experience from beginning to end. Amanda was so helpful and responsive from the beginning of the planning phase all the way to the end. She was very helpful with suggestions. The food was delicious, and the presentation was beautiful. All of the staff were very professional the food service was great! I highly recommend Chef by Request.
User1975524 Sent on 08/12/2024
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Amazing Catering Company!
Working with Chef by Request was such a delightful experience. Amanda was incredibly helpful, kind and responsive during our planning process as well as offered such great insight into our culinary visions. Chef by Request delivered impeccable service, attention to detail, and delicious food. It was such a gift to be fully present in our celebrations and not worry about a single component because Amanda and her team were so dedicated to providing an outstanding catering experience. If you want a seamless evening and know that you will be taken care of, I recommend Chef by Request and look forward to using their services for future events!
Sandy Sent on 05/27/2024
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Delicious Food, Awesome Service, Great Value
We hired Chef By Request for our wedding at the Paramount's Meyer Ballroom, and our guests had nothing but wonderful things to say about the meal. Selecting our menu was the hardest part because there were so many amazing choices. Amanda and her team were so accommodating and reassuring, and able to make last-minute adjustments. Everything turned out wonderful without a hitch! Thank you to Amanda and her team for helping make our event fabulous! We loved that the wedding cake was part of the package - the Leeza bakery in Elmhurst did a fabulous job providing us with a beautiful and delicious three-tiered cake.
Andrew Sent on 05/16/2024
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The only catering company you need to Request!
CBR made things so simple and easy for our wedding on 5/10/2024. From the initial contact Amanda was always patient and communicative to our needs. Even when we took so long to get in for a tasting she was prompt in getting us a sensible timeline for what was next. It never seemed like a hassle to reach out to her and the day of, even with some unexpected occurrences her and her team made it seem as though everything was operating as planned. Our pallets were overly pleased with all of our selections, and I can't speak highly enough with how smooth of an operation this was for a 150 person wedding. THANK YOU!!!!!
Maggie Sent on 05/16/2024
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Chef by Request
Amanda was amazing to work with. I would use her again for any future events.
Nancy Sent on 05/13/2024
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Excellent Experience
Your food was fantastic. Everything arrived on time and everything was fresh and delicious. I will definitely recommend you.
Gina Sent on 08/23/2023
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A breeze to work with
Amanda and the entire CBR team are amazing to work with. All of my questions (there were a lot) were answered quickly. The food itself was exceptional. We loved every second of our wedding, dinner was phenomenal. Excellent job.
Anna Sent on 04/22/2023
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Wonderful experience!
Food and service was wonderful! We got so many compliments from guests at our wedding about the food! The process was very easy from beginning to end. Amanda made everything go so smoothly and was timely to all my emails!
Tina Sent on 01/29/2023
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Amazing company!!
Our wedding was 1/20/2023 and people are still talking about the food! Working with Amanda was incredibly simple and fun. She worked with us to create a well thought out menu, shared recommendations for our appetizers, late night bites and dessert pros and cons. We really appreciated her guidance and help. The food was out of this world. The staff treated my groom and I like royalty and really helped to make the night special. We would recommend them 1,000 times if we could!
Mary Sent on 01/26/2023
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Only Caterer I'd Recommend
I cannot say enough good things about Amanda and Chef By Request. I emailed Amanda for about 16 months about our wedding and changed my mind about 150 times and she was so helpful during the process and so patient with me in deciding what we truly wanted on our wedding day. They provided food for my bridesmaids and me the morning of our wedding, our cocktail hour, dinner, dessert, and late-night snacks and I cannot say enough about how great everything was. From our tasting to the wedding day, it was EXACTLY the same which is rare. The Chef By Request team is phenomenal and Amanda's professionalism and genuine care are unmatched - I'd recommend them to anyone. Thank you again for all of your support and for making our wedding day more than we could've dreamt of.
Jessica Sent on 12/12/2022
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Amazing food, drinks, and service!
I hired Chef By Request for my wedding and they did an amazing job! We actually had a brunch wedding, so Amanda helped us to create a completely customized menu with omelet stations, a carving station, pastry station, an amazing buffet, plus build your own bloody mary and mimosa bars! People were passing around the food getting each other to try things and still tell me how great the candied bacon was to this day. Not only was the food incredible, but working with Amanda was so easy, she is incredibly responsive and professional. She also helped us to keep the bill reasonable. I am so glad that we went with them, I would highly recommend and use them again!
Claire Sent on 11/15/2022
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The best wedding food our guests have ever had!
All of our guests raved about our appetizers, dinner, desserts and late night snack - the short rib risotto was a highlight but everything was fantastic! Amanda and team were great to work with and everything with our catering was a breeze. Highly recommend!
Krystal Sent on 11/05/2022
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Could Not Have Hired a Better Caterer
I cannot begin to explain how AMAZINGGGGGG Chef By Request is. Amanda was my main contact and she is an absolute treasure. All of my questions and concerns were immediately addressed and resolved. The day of my wedding was quite literally the best day of my life, and it was really through Amanda and her staff's help and dedication that everything went so smooth. The food was DELICIOUS, the cake was utterly IRRESISTABLE, and the drinks were absolutely flowing~
We did all the food, all the desserts and cake, all the alcohol and drinks, and even equipment rental from them!!!!
Thank you Chef By Request and especially you Amanda for being a part of our wonderful day. Hopefully will see you soon, because I'm 110% recommending you guys to my friends and family (some of them also getting married soon~)
Noelle Sent on 10/06/2022
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10/10 Recommend Chef by Request!!
Choosing Chef by Request as our caterer was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding! They have SO many dinner possibilities and their extensive selection of both hors d’oeuvres and desserts made it hard to choose which ones to pick (too many delicious options)! Their packages were also much more affordable than other caterers we looked at. Aside from the food, Amanda was phenomenal to work with. She was extremely patient and always gave detailed answers to my questions, even if I sent 15 questions in one email! She was always friendly and kept in contact even when she was swamped with events. Our guests are still raving about the food (especially the wild mushroom chicken) and the staff members too. Everything was wonderful with CBR and we cannot recommend them enough!
Samantha Sent on 09/10/2022
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Excellent food and service
Chef by Request was great! The coordinator Amanda was always helpful and on top of the work. The staff were very nice, and they left the kitchen in better condition than they found it. They followed the flow of the evening, and were quiet during the ceremony (which was fantastic!). The food was delicious, literally restaurant quality. My wedding guests are still complimenting the catering, I’d recommend it to anyone planning a wedding or event! 10/10.
Jennifer Sent on 08/08/2022
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Amazing and Fabulous!
Amanda was amazing!! She made sure we had everything covered down to the final details. The day of coordinator and staff were fabulous. Very attentive and helped us navigate the day so nothing was missed. All of our guest were raving about the food and how delicious it was. I will always recommend Chef by Request for any event that needs catering. Fabulous job and we cannot thank you enough for the experience.
Amy B. Sent on 07/27/2022
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Delicious, Smoothly Operated, Warm and Professional
Amanda made our experience with Chef by Request so wonderful. Out of all the caterers I contacted, she was the most responsive and helpful, willing to go the extra mile to make things work for us, even at a venue that was far away and more challenging in terms of on-site places to prepare food. Even when our ceremony and reception were delayed, CBR handled the change in schedule fairly smoothly. The only thing I wish we had done differently was to communicate more clearly about our layout and to designate which tables would be served first so that our wedding party / family tables weren’t waiting as long to eat. Even though not everything went according to plan on our special day, I knew the whole time the one thing I didn’t have to worry about was whether people would enjoy the food. Overall I would highly recommend CBR to anyone for how easy they are to work with, how delicious their food is, and the reasonable pricing.
Susan Sent on 07/06/2022
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Great experience with Chef by Request!
We used Chef by Request for our recent wedding celebration. We can't say enough about how positive the experience was. Amanda was fantastic in working with us to plan an interesting and creative menu of small bites and the on-site staff did a phenomenal job. Our guests raved about the food and the attentive level of service. HIGHLY recommend Chef by Request!
Sasha Sent on 06/25/2022
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Honest Catering Group
There are so many caterers to choose from, but Chef by Request is definitely an experienced group serving up delicious food! Because we hosted a brunch reception, we did not have a traditional food tasting prior to the event; however, the brunch buffet (especially the live omelet bar) was an all around favorite for us and our guests. Chef by Request is honest, highly organized and maintains an open line of communication through the planning process. We really appreciated the detailed breakdown of costs and their flexibility while our final numbers came in. They make recommendations based on experience, but are also flexible to your needs/vision. We would definitely hire them again for a major event!
Ritse Sent on 06/23/2022
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Couldn't be Better
Working with Chef by Request was easily one of the best decisions we made throughout our entire wedding planning process. From the first email, our contact Amanda Ingle went above and beyond to provide all the information and support she could, including suggesting creative ways of cutting costs. She was always professional and prompt in our communications, patiently explaining anything we had questions about. She continued to be an MVP on the day of the wedding, even helping us make table number cards by hand when we realized that was something we had overlooked. And of course, all of the food was phenomenal. We 100% would work with Chef by Request again.
Melissa Sent on 03/27/2022
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Incredible vendor!
This is the second wedding in my family which we have used Chef by Request because the food, service, and coordination are amazing! At both weddings guests were so happy with the delicious food! Amanda helped us immensely through 3 postponements due to COVID and was always understanding and kind! She was able to make everything we wanted happen in an affordable way. We are so impressed and can't recommend Amanda and her team more!!
Pamela Sent on 02/28/2022
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Professional! On time, courteous, & absolutely delicious
Birthday party in my home. Fantastic variety of delicious food! Great communication, delivery, & presentation. Everyone loved the food!! Worth it so I could enjoy the party and not cook!!
Debi Sent on 12/08/2021
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Engagement Party Hit!
The catering by Chef By Request was handled flawlessly! The food was not only delicious & hot, but beautifully displayed and passed by professional servers at our daughter's engagement party! Our guests especially loved the Filet Slider Bar and the Risotto Croquettes! But everything was fabulous! I highly recommend them!
A35F6Ffdc383D0Fccb1533F0B88085Fcb30B93D0 Sent on 08/23/2021
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10/10 would hire again!
Amanda is amazing! She was super responsive and helpful throughout the whole proposal through final contract process. The food was great, and they even set aside an app plate during cocktail hour to make sure we (bride & groom) ate the food we selected for our guests! They worked directly with the venue on all the logistics, and it was honestly a pretty easy process for us, all we had to do was the tasting and select what we liked!
Crystal Sent on 07/13/2021
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Compliments for Days
Amanda was amazing to work with from start to finish, and worked with my budget to help bring our vision to life without over extending ourselves. From first interaction, to the tasting, to the wedding itself I cannot say enough how pleased we were with the service, quality, and professionalism from Chef By Request. We got sooooo many compliments on how great the food was at our wedding (apps, buffet dinner, and late night snacks)! My only regret is not eating more :D Stop looking, Chef By Request is where it's at!
Dominique Sent on 06/17/2021
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Amazing to work with!
Chef by Request was amazing to work with for our wedding! Our event captain Amanda made us feel comfortable right from the beginning, and and was able to accommodate our requests. We choose to do their taco station for our dinner. During the tasting we were blown away with the quality and taste. They also made us an elote hors d'oeuvres per our request. At our wedding all of the food tasted as it did at the tasting, and all of the staff were wonderful! One server made sure that I got taste all of the hors d'oeuvres, and another came to check if we needed any more food before we made our rounds saying hello. All staff were professional, kind, and a joy to work with!
Jelena Sent on 06/06/2021
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Excellent food
Food was amazing!! Everyone raved about it!! ❤️
Jacqueline Sent on 02/10/2021
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Book with them!
Chef by Request was top notch! We had the privilege of working with Amanda. From start to finish she provided a perfect experience. She was clear in communications, always willing to take a questions/clarify anything, and provided a variety of options without pressuring. There were never any concerns or issues along the way. The day of, the staff were warm, friendly, & on point. Even more, the food was perfection! Us and our guests could not stop raving about how delicious the food menu was from start to finish for all (vegetarians included!). Can’t say enough awesome things about them!
Tess Sent on 10/13/2020
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Operational Efficiency
CBR was extremely helpful and flexible with our many changes (due to COVID) for our wedding. The bartender we had was simply amazing, and I could not recommend her more!!! Food was delicious, too!
Michelle Sent on 09/09/2020
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Fantastic service; Amanda was so easy to work with
Amanda was fantastic to work with! We had to make several changes bc of covid, and she rolled with the punches and made our lives easier. The servers/chef were so kind and helped clean up, very professional. Bartender was ok.
Erin Sent on 07/08/2020
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Top notch!
We found out about Chef by Request through family friends, and now that we can speak for ourselves, we'll be recommending them to anyone and everyone in need of catering! Our guests are still talking about how delicious the food was! Favorite selections included the bacon wrapped dates, parmesan crusted filet mignon, and macaroni and cheese! Amanda and her team were professional and flexible when our wedding plans changed some due to Covid. We were also happy to partner with a business that gives back to their community. Can't say enough good things!
Tammy Sent on 01/21/2020
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Best Food highly recommend.
My guests could not get over how delicious the food was and the variety we had selected. We had 40 guests and served 5 hot and 5 cold. We did our own desserts and alcohol. The presentation was so beautiful. I did greenery too and balloons. It was exquisite.
Teresa Sent on 08/12/2019
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EXCELLENT in every way!
I send a big THANK YOU to Chef by Request, and to Amanda Ingle in particular, for making our wedding reception a huge success! We had a smaller wedding (around 62), and some of the catering companies don't like to work with small groups or even charge extra money if the group is under 100 people. But Chef by Request was happy to cater our wedding reception. From the first phone call, to the tasting, to the planning, and to the actual event, Amanda made everything easy and fun! She was always accessible and promptly returned my phone calls. Amanda is very professional, in a relaxed way. I especially appreciated her expertise and her willingness to make suggestions when we didn't know what to do. She was patient in answering all of our questions and was never pushy. Everything went like clockwork and was PERFECT on the day of the wedding! We especially appreciated how the Chef by Request team was very attentive to me (the bride) and to the groom on the day of our wedding. During the cocktail hour, they made a point to find us when we were having photos taken, and they brought us a plate of appetizers so that we wouldn't miss out on them. They even surprised us with a special plate of desserts on our sweetheart table! The food was OUTSTANDING!!! We got many compliments from our guests, who said that the food tasted like it came from a gourmet restaurant. All of the food was cooked on-site. It wasn't pre-cooked and then just warmed up. So it tasted like it just came out of the oven because it did! When we first started planning our wedding, I checked out quite a number of caterers, and Chef by Request outshined them all in professional, friendly service coupled with delicious food at very reasonable prices. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Chef by Request, and I will happily use them again in the future!
Andrew Sent on 07/24/2019
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Competent, professional and delicious
I cannot say enough about the quality and professionalism of Chef by Request, and of Amanda in particular. The person in charge of our venue was a bit chaotic and stressful, and Amanda was an island of calm and competency during our most anxious moments, even coming back early from a family trip to make sure everything went smoothly at our wedding. The food was delicious, the staff prompt and capable and competent, and just an overall delight to work with - they made our wedding low-stress and delicious. From the tasting up until our wedding day they made our wedding planning lives easier and coordinated seamlessly with our other vendors to make for a perfect wedding day. Highly recommend!
Kmmcginn Sent on 07/01/2019
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Wonderful Experience & Wonderful Party
We used Chef By Request for an engagement party we were hosting. Amanda made the planning painless, and Colleen, Amanda & Jeff made the event run smoothly. The food was excellent, the staff professional, and people raved about the event. So happy we went with CBD.
Hilaryd Sent on 01/23/2019
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Choose CBR for your event!!!
Chef By Request did an absolute wonderful job catering for our wedding reception. Amanda was a delight to work with. She went above and beyond by answering all my questions even outside of normal business hours! Everything went so smoothly on our big day thanks to CBR. I arrived early to our venue to be there in case CBR had questions during the set-up process. When I arrived, everything was set up EXACTLY as I envisioned. CBR are truly experts in what they do. I highly recommend the Sweet Home Chicago themed menu. The food was amazing and our guests loved it! Thank you again to CBR. I would highly recommend them for your event catering.
Kelly Sent on 01/02/2019
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Delicious, Stress-Free
My fiance and I worked with Amanda and she couldn't have been more helpful or kind throughout the whole process. She listened to all of our needs right from the beginning. We were SO pleased with all the food that was served at our wedding and all of our guests only had great things to say about the food (especially the mac n cheese!!). I can't thank Amanda and the Chef by Request staff enough for making the entire process a breeze. I would recommend Chef by Request to anyone looking for an amazing caterer.
Jacob Sent on 09/27/2018
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Working with Chef by Request for our wedding was an absolute pleasure. Amanda was amazing in getting back to us quickly on everything and making things as easy for us as she possibly could. The food was absolutely amazing! So many of our guests have let us know that they loved all the food from hors d'oeuvres, to the soup and salad(seriously may be my favorite soup of all time-the mushroom!), to the entrees everything was perfectly executed and tasted the same at our wedding as it did at the tasting, if not better. They are also super affordable and really worked around us. The waiters and cooking staff were all super friendly and helpful day of as well.
Allison Sent on 08/20/2018
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Chef by Request and Amanda were sincerely great. She was prompt in her responses, took care of all our requests, and made the night so smooth. She went out of her way to please guests, and Jackie also went out of her way to make sure the head table had what they needed. We had the taco and pasta stations, and our guests are still raving about how they've never had such a great experience or "food they liked so much," at a wedding. Thank you all so much!
Chrysa Sent on 08/04/2018
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We were happy to have Chef By Request as the caterer for our wedding day! The food was delicious and our guests gave so many compliments on both the food and the service! Amanda made sure that everything was perfect for our reception. She is wonderful to work with! I highly recommend Chef By Request.
Cp Sent on 07/30/2018
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Wonderful food! Great menu selection! Worked with us to meet our needs! Amanda is great!
Kathy Sent on 07/11/2018
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Start to finish Amanda and her staff at Chef by Request were friendly, professional and responsive. The wedding day 7/1/18 was PERFECT. Service was excellent and all our guests have commented on the delicious food.
Van Sent on 07/09/2018
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Amanda and staff were extremely accommodating and professional. They helped us create a beautiful event that we will remember forever! I had many guests come up to me throughout the night saying that it was some of the best food they had had at a wedding. Seriously, don’t pass up the pork belly appetizer!
We planned our wedding from out of town, so it was particularly stressful to not know how things would turn out. We are so thankful to have worked with Amanda and CBR. They were a pleasure to work with: the food was great, the staff were friendly and diligent, everyone understood weddings, and it all came at a transparent and reasonable price.
Thank you CBR!
Amy Sent on 06/18/2018
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Wow, Chef by Request is great!! On top of the food being really great, which is what you want at your wedding, they were incredibly easy to work with - very responsive, communicative, collaborative, and helpful! They helped us narrow down what we wanted and what would work for a large crowd, and made it all happen! Our menu was partially customized and worked out great. From our tasting, through all the remote communication, to the actual wedding, everything was wonderful. We worked primarily with Amanda, and really cannot sing her praises more. She quelled any worries we had, she updated invoices quickly, she gave us wiggle room paying our final bill when we didn't know we needed a cashier's check, and day-of she made everything go so smoothly. She even fluffed my dress before I walked down the aisle.
Day-of, all the Chef by Request staff were super top-notch. Several servers came by during our cocktail hour picture-taking to make sure we were getting our appetizers! They brought us drinks! The bartenders acted excited when they got to serve me (the bride) for the first time and asked how I was feeling! When dinner was running just a little behind, they were super communicative and made sure we got a little snack before the buffet opened! We can only imagine all the things they did behind the scenes that we don't even know about. Hiring Chef by Request for our wedding was a super great decision, and we recommend them!
User3418010 Sent on 02/24/2018
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The food that Chef By Request prepared for our wedding was phenomenal, everyone couldn't stop raving about how delicious it was. We would highly recommend using them as a caterer for your special event!
Theresa Sent on 02/10/2018
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LOVED Chef by Request, and especially our contact person, Amanda. She was so helpful and accommodating. We did the "Sweet Home Chicago" menu, which we were so excited about because we didn't want traditional wedding food. Chef by Request handled our cupcakes that the baker just dropped off, and set them up on the cupcake stands. I think they also helped place our centerpieces. They were really half caterer, half day of coordinator, and I don't know what I would have done without them.
Ann Sent on 02/09/2018
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OMG! It is difficult to describe the service we received without overdoing the superlatives We had a vintage wedding in a historic mansion - The Barrington White House Mansion- and we hired the dance band, Soda, to play because that was the band playing on the night we met. We wanted our family and friends to have a fabulous dining and dancing experience without the "stuffiness" of wedding. As a result, 2 bars, 4 bartenders and we wanted a buffet dinner so that we could minimize the time between dinner and dancing and transitioning the dance floor. Ever other vendor we talked to discouraged us and urged us toward plated dinners. Not Chef by Request! And their Farm to Table menu we ultimately selected was so delicious. Every bite of the choices at the tasting made it more and more difficult to choose. But the Chef at Chef by Request guided us through what would be best for our guests. For appetizers we chose Forest Wild Mushroom Soup with sherry cream sauce, a Baby Arugula Salad with beets, goat cheese and candied walnuts, and Grilled Spring Asparagus with lemon thyme sauce, crumbled blue cheese and oven-dried tomatoes. For entrees, we chose the Char-grilled Flank Steak with smoked tomato butter and shallots and the Amish Thyme Roasted Chicken with grilled fennel in a natural stock reduction. To add color to the buffet, we offered the Sugar Roasted Organic Carrots and went with the Yukon Gold Smashed Potatoes Their pricing on their website made it easy to calculate the costs and the descriptions of all the foods will make you drool. Every bite was delicious from beginning to end. Our planner Amanda was extremely helpful, our bartenders and servers discreet and courteous. Could not be more pleased.
Regina Sent on 12/23/2017
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We were so lucky to find Chef by Request to cater out wedding. As soon as I looked on CBR’s website, I knew they were special. The food looked amazing on the website! Their website was very detailed, listing all of their catering packages with pricing. Some other websites were not clear about cost or what is included, but I felt good going into our tasting having an idea of what our total was going to be and what we were going to get. Communication was excellent throughout our entire time working with CBR. I worked with Amanda from the start, and even right from our first conversation, I felt great about working with them. She listened to our vision and helped to take it to the next level. The food for our tasting was unbelievable – the hardest part of the whole process was narrowing down our choices! We also had to order tables, linens, and even the oven from CBR as our venue was not equipped with any of that. Amanda made the process so easy for me, and answered all of my questions in a timely fashion. We had very specific requests for the tableware (black plates and gold flatware) and Amanda got us exactly what we were looking for. She was an amazing help with setting up the floorplan for the tables too – our venue had a very different layout then most weddings and she set up everything in a way that flowed perfectly and didn’t make our guests feel crowded. One room that had been used for dinner also had to be converted to the dance floor and her team made the switch seamlessly and quickly. Our guests gave rave reviews about the food. Everyone I spoke to about it said it was the best food they had had at a wedding! Amanda stayed the whole time as well to make sure everything went smoothly. I was so impressed with the attention to detail Amanda and her team gave not only the day of, but throughout the entire planning process. I can’t begin to recommend CBR enough. They truly made my wedding day so special and stress free!
Becca Sent on 10/30/2017
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I used Chef By Request for my catering needs ... which were MANY. I chose a venue that only supplied tables, chairs, and alcohol so I entrusted CBR to provide not just the delicious food, but everything from the flatware and bread baskets, to linens, water goblets, barware, ice tubs, and all of the little things you would never remember in the midst of planning your big day! My go-to through the planning process and tasting was Amanda, who went above and beyond to make sure every detail was taken care of. The whole crew was extremely friendly, listened to your requests, and nothing was out of the question. If there was a will, there was a way! Everyone raved about the food, and the late night snacks were a hit as well. Every server had a smile on their face, and truly met/exceeded every need and request I asked for. I would HIGHLY recommend this company, and Amanda, as there were no hidden fees, no miscommunication, and no detail left out. Thank you for helping make our day absolutely wonderful, we truly couldn't have done it without your team!!
Adrian Sent on 10/11/2017
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Awesome catering team. Very professional, responsive, affordable, and most importantly the food was delicious. Our guests loved it!
Sara Sent on 09/13/2017
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They were amazing from the food, the service to doing all the extras they really weren't required to do. I would totally recommend them.
Nevair Sent on 06/21/2017
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When looking for a catering company for my wedding, I was immediately sold-out when reading the reviews and menus that Chef By Request had to offer. The Farm to Table menu was so unique and delicious! Amanda was amazing in accommodating what I needed and always responded in a timely manner. It's always a great thing when guests repeatedly tell you how wonderful their meal was at your wedding! Thanks Chef By Request for being so wonderful to work with and for going above and beyond for my guests and the bridal party...I highly recommend you!
Jameelah Sent on 03/07/2017
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AMAZING is all really there is to say about this catering company. From dealing with Katie(who's the most amazing lady) to going to the tastings, to eating every last dish to the end.....There's not one bad thing to say about them. Professional, Kind, Flexible, Adheres to Budget, and Truly Cares!!!! I'd have them prepare every meal for me if I could!
Lynn Sent on 12/16/2016
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Chef by Request and Katie Merkle are amazing!! This was by far the best choice we made for the wedding. It was such a great experience working with Katie to pick out the menu and find the right floor plan. We had a flip with the ceremony and dinner which went flawlessly. The food was fabulous and catered to a lot of gluten free requests. We served everything family style and everyone loved that, and people could have seconds if they wanted! The staff was incredible, I thought the service was better than at high end hotels. I have had soooo many compliments about the food since the wedding. I am still getting emails asking for the caterers name! Our DJ said of the hundreds of weddings he has been at this is the best food ever!
Lauren Sent on 06/30/2016
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My art museum wedding was beautiful and I had Katie constantly checking in with me to make sure my husband and I were happy. They were more than accommodating with our financial situation. Very professional! So happy with how it all turned out.
Elisabeth Sent on 06/26/2016
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Do you want your guests walking up to you the entire night of the wedding and for weeks after telling you how good your wedding food was? Awesome, me too! Chef by Request made that happen. Katie was so much fun and awesome to work with! She really helped build a completely custom and perfect menu. We had a chicken and steak dish off of their "Farm to Table" menu and a two different appetizers. Everything was SO good, I wish I could have it again!! Chef by Requests staff the night of was very attentive and polite too. I highly recommend CBR for your event!!
Taryn Sent on 11/05/2015
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Absolutely impressed with the quality of the food, helpfulness of the staff, and ease to work with. We had a backyard reception and they did a great job...Although it was in our backyard, it wasn't super casual based on the food/decor. We had a buffet-style with chicken, pasta, and a meat as an entree, veggies, potatoes, etc. People were extremely impressed with the quality of the food and service. (We also hired them as bartenders.) Pricing is fair for what they provide, and much less expensive than other caterers in the area. THANK YOU! :)
Shannon Sent on 10/21/2015
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Chef by Request was the caterer for our wedding and they were a hit. All around, everything you could want in a caterer. The food (appetizers, salad, plated main course, late night snack) was delicious, served warm and fresh (made on site) by a great team of friendly servers and staff. We worked with Katie Merkle, who was so awesome. She listened to our needs, provided feedback and helped us build a menu that was personalized, seasonal and pleased all of our guests. Chef by request was so accomodating and welcoming--we couldn't have asked for a better vendor to handle this important part of our wedding day. If you are planning an event in the Chicago area, you owe it to yourself to give them a call!
User2335240 Sent on 09/26/2015
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Katie Merkle and the rest of the staff at Chef By Request did an exceptional job making our vision come to life. We had a breakfast-for-dinner superhero-themed wedding, and Katie and the staff were 100% on board from our first meeting. Never once were we made to feel like we were doing something wrong or inappropriate by having a nontraditional event; in fact, Katie was eager to send ideas about themed drinks and even had the bartender show up dressed as Batman! All of the wait staff and both bartenders were professional and on point all evening. We did run out of bacon before the end of the evening, but I found out later that some of my guests sneaked in for seconds before some people had had firsts!
Overall, my husband and I had an overwhelmingly positive experience working with Katie and her staff from entree selection to budgeting to service delivery, and we would recommend CBR to anyone. Just make sure to order extra bacon. :-)
Mark Sent on 09/10/2015
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We decided to use their Brazilian Menu, and the executed the entire event with professionalism, quality, and more important amazing food (beyond our expectations). Many guests said this was the best food they have had in any other weddings.
Becky Sent on 07/02/2015
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I got married and Danada House so Chef by Request was already a recommended vendor which made my decision really easy. I was choosing between 2 caterers and I chose CBR because the food was fantastic and Katie, the sales manager, was attentive, but not pushy. The process was incredibly easy for us. Katie was easy to work with and completely on top of everything. She worked with Danada house and our Band on everything so I only really needed to work with her instead of 4 different people. The day of the wedding the wait staff was very nice and attentive and Katie was there and on top of things. They were extremely accommodating. The 3.5 year old ring bearer really loved macaroni and cheese, but also wanted the beef entree the adults were getting so they put together a combination plate for him which he loved. My fiancee and I loved all 3 entrees and had a hard time choosing so they brought all 3 for us, while only charging for 2. They also brought out extra meals for our photographer when my fiancee found out he didn't enjoy the vendor meal all that much and wanted to make sure he had a good meal since he had been so amazing to us all day. I have no complaints about Chef by Request and highly recommend them to anyone with the amazing food and the amazing service from Katie.
Yolanda Sent on 06/25/2015
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Pulled off a perfect evening! Everything went smoothly and we were able to simply enjoy our wedding! The service was terrific and the food was delicious!
Aly Sent on 06/24/2015
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Katie Merkle is a DREAM!! We had a hard time finding a caterer that would be a good fit for our less than traditional, oversized wedding. Chef by Request was everything we wanted and more. Their food was incredible, we did Chicago-themed served family style for our 270 person outdoor wedding. While the food was delicious, the service staff and professionalism of CBR was what really blew us away. Like I said, Katie is one of my favorite people on earth. Amazing energy and ready to take on any challenge. And our wedding was definitely a challenge. Our reception was in a tent located probably 30 feet away from a lodge that had the kitchen for the CBR staff. And right about dinner time it decided to monsoon, meaning the staff had to run back and forth through INSANE rain, trying to get the food out to all of our guests in a timely manner, while at the same time, keeping it covered so the rain wouldn't destroy it. They were INCREDIBLE!! And the servers were all amazingly attentive and very kind! Honestly, they were the best choice we could have made and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a STELLAR caterer for any event! Thank you Katie and the CBR team!
Colleen Sent on 05/17/2015
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My fiance and I recently worked with Chef by Request for our wedding in May 2015. We could not have asked for a better partner in not just catering our wedding, but also assisting in planning our wedding. We worked closely with Katie M. throughout the process. She is fantastic!! Katie was very patient and very helpful, while being very responsive. Katie as well as the whole Chef by Request team, were very flexible. They helped us create our perfect wedding day, while being mindful of our budget and special needs. We had the most memorable and amazing wedding day, we literally could not have asked for more!
The food was very well received by our guests. Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted amazing!! I would highly recommend the artichoke beignets as an appetizer, they are amazingly delicious! The catering team also set up the space at our venue and it was beyond stunning! It was so great working with such a competent, experienced and quality team. My fiance and I were completely at ease the day of the wedding, knowing that everything was in Katie and Chef by Request's capable hands.
We would highly recommend Chef by Request to anyone looking for a considerate, flexible, helpful and all around fantastic caterer! You will not regret this decision!
User1807314 Sent on 09/12/2014
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Chef by Request was one of the best decisions we could have made for our July 17th wedding. I'm not sure if the negative reviews here are even talking about the right company.
CBR was the first company to call me back (within a day or two of my leaving a message) and worked closely with us to provide the absolute best experience for our big day. In the middle of planning the event specialist changed due to our original girl taking a different position. At first I was nervous because Daniel had worked so wonderfully with us, but Katie Merkle was absolutely amazing and soon set me right at ease.
These guys switched so many things around for us, answered so many of my crazy phone calls, worked closely on keeping everything right in our budget, made the day just beautiful and did so much more than I think normal catering companies do. From advice on making things flow smoothly, to recommendations based on their expertise, to my finally deciding to order a wedding cake on Monday and them having something even more beautiful than I imagined there on my Thursday wedding they just blew us away. I almost felt like they were my wedding planner they were so involved with every aspect! So professional, so helpful, and the day of they just held the most elegant event that our guests are still talking about. The food was just wonderful, some of the best I've ever had at a wedding (and I think most wedding/catered food tastes the same!), and they were able to provide for several of our guest's specialty diets including gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, while providing good protein options for those guests to enjoy!
Because we had our wedding outdoors on the lawn my husband wasn't feeling too well just before dinner due to the heat. His stomach was bothering him and he could only drink water. Katie couldn't have that so she searched high and low to find him some medicine even offering to leave to go get some from a convenience store if she couldn't find it! We did get some from
Jaime Sent on 01/21/2014
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We really enjoyed working with Chef by Request for our wedding. They were very helpful in helping us figure out the perfect menu for our special day that was within our budget. The Chef by Request workers were extremely organized, timely, and polite the day of our event and made sure we (including the bridal party) had everything we needed throughout the reception. I would definitely recommend hiring Chef by Request for your event!
User1514454 Sent on 01/21/2014
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The food was excellent and we hired a server who was outstanding and made it possible for me to enjoy the event. I would not hesitate to have Chef by Request cater another event for me. I received so many positive comments from the people that attended the shower. Everyone enjoyed themselves and the food.
Mary Sent on 01/16/2014
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We contacted Chef By Request at a very late date - approx. 3 months before our event. They were patient & thoroughly involved in helping us refine their catering for our garden wedding! The tasting was certainly helpful, and they continued to work with us to tweak every detail till we were 100% sure of our decisions.
We decided on 3 chef-stations & the final result was fabulous! The unique & high quality meal was applauded by all our guests! We had many guests who were known for their culinary skills & these people made a point of seeking us out to ask about the catering company & complimenting us about the all the food!
Camille Sent on 01/13/2014
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We were very pleased wih the food, service and pleasant attitude of the staff - willing to help in all areas.
Linda Sent on 01/13/2014
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Staff was very nice to work with very concerned that I was happy with everything.
Kathy Sent on 01/10/2014
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Great staff and service by Katie!
Kathrine Sent on 01/09/2014
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The food was unbelievable and the service was impeccable. The staff was very professional and made the party a success.
Mary Sent on 01/09/2014
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Dave is a pleasure to work with at all times. He helped with our Charity event and never said no to anything we asked. In fact he would make suggestions and then delivered on his promises. I would highly recommend him for any event, private party or occasion, I would work with him again.
Wendy Sent on 01/09/2014
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This is our "Go To Caterer" for all of our catered events. We've been very happy with the quality of food and personnel, the professionalism of the staff and the attention to detail.
I always get to truly enjoy my own parties!
Joanne Sent on 01/09/2014
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WE SCHEDULED THIS CATERER VERY CLOSE TO THE EVENT DATE FOR A HOLIDAY OFFICE DINNER PARTY. THEY WERE VERY QUICK TO RESPOND AND WORKED WITH US ON THE MENU TO SELECT THE PERFECT FOOD FOR OUR GROUP. THEY ARRIVED AT OUR HOME 2 HOURS BEFORE THE EVENT, HANDLED ALL THE PREPARATIONS INCLUDING ANTICIPATING MY PREFERENCES. SERVICE WAS EXCELLENT AND FRIENDLY. THE FOOD WAS OUTSTANDING. WE WILL DEFINITELY USE THEM AGAIN.
Siobhan Sent on 01/09/2014
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I was very pleased with the whole experience of using Chef by Request from my dinner party. From my first interaction with Katie when planning, to the day of our event. I was impressed by the professionalism and quality of the food. It makes entertaining so much easier when you know things will be taken care of and you can actually enjoy your event!
User1501635 Sent on 01/09/2014
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At the last moment, I was able to find this business to provide a high quality lunch at an affordable price and they took care of everything. My clients were impressed.
Laura Sent on 01/09/2014
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We have hired Chef by Request to cater our Cub Scout Blue & Gold events for the last couple of years with great success!!! Parents love the food. Kids love the food. Chef by Request shows up on time, set everything up, there is plenty of food for everyone. Several pack parents have hired Chef by Request for their own private and corporate events. I will definitely call again!
Highly recommend!
Kim Sent on 01/09/2014
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The food was delicious and the presentation was beautiful.
Sue Sent on 01/09/2014
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From the very beginning working with the events director, Katie, on through the service provided at the party by Edwin, I was very pleased and most grateful. Katie offered good suggestions and ideas that made for excellent food and service, while keeping within a tight budget. Everyone raved about the food. Katie told me the Midwest Pot Roast was delicious and a great choice. Was she right! The green beans, rolls, salad, very impressive. There was plenty of food, even though Edwin had to calmly assure me that we wouldn't run out. We had more than enough. The CBR team is professional, flexible, friendly, and customer-oriented with excellent food at a great value. What else do you need from a caterer? I've already referred them and will use CBR again. Thank you to the CBR team!
User1497893 Sent on 01/06/2014
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We have used Chef by Request twice and both times their staff (bartenders and servers) were exceptional...definitely made our party a success!
Nicole Sent on 01/06/2014
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We had the best experience working with Katie! They helped us figure out what we wanted and then made it all happen. They also went above and beyond helping with setting up and taking down decor. The food was amazing! We did a pub style buffet everyone loved.
Jane Sent on 01/06/2014
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At Chef By Request, they are dedicated to assisting their clients with every aspect of the event planning process. Just as the brochure states: exquisite cuisine, first class presentation and impeccable service were combined to exceed our highest expectations! Starting the evening with delicious appetizers that pleased every palette on a cold winter evening, to perfectly cooked filet mignon and filet of salmon, mashed potatoes served with asparagus sprinkled with diced red peppers, the meal was a 5 STAR! The tables were set with elegance and perfection. And the excellent staff served and cleared without being noticed. The wines and champagne recommended by Chef David Miller were superb. Danielle Guzman, our wedding coordinator, was outstanding! Most importantly, the staff catered to our needs and did not upsell us on a single item needed for the wedding. The Dan Hayes Orchestra was the entertainment for the evening and complimented the Chef By Request staff for cooperating with the logistics of a 12 piece orchestra. Our daughter and son-in-law's wedding was a night to remember for years. We highly recommend Chef By Request!
Lora Sent on 01/03/2014
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I also used your catering services for my sons 1st birthday. Fabulous once again. I Will continue to use Chef by Request. Both events were different themed menus and can't wait to experience the rest!
Ask for Katie, she was professional, personable and thorough.
User1493748 Sent on 01/03/2014
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Everyone I spoke with was super helpful. I didn't give them much notice and I made some last minute changes and they did everything possible to accommodate our requests...and the food was great!!
Melissa Sent on 01/03/2014
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Amazing food and service. I would use Chef by Request again. All guests complemented food as well. Pricing was fair for Thanksgiving meal.
C Sent on 01/03/2014
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I have used Chef By Request for years and they never disappoint! The food is always hot, quickly replenished and always delicious! I recommend them to everyone and they are extremely professional and responsive to changes and requests. Love their servers also. They always go above and beyond!
Margaret Sent on 01/03/2014
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Chef by Request wowed our guests. They were blown away at the food selection, even the cake. We've used them several times, so they send the same servers, another special touch. It made the party so much more enjoyable that I didn't have to worry about the food or restocking it. They even rearranged the food all night so as the amount got smaller, it still looked pretty.
Jennifer Sent on 01/03/2014
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Great to work with! Very helpful, prompt in response. Wonderful food. They were organized and efficient so we could sit back and enjoy the shower without having to worry. Our guests loved it!
User1493454 Sent on 01/03/2014
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We used Chef By Request for our office holiday party. We were very pleased with quality of food, the service and the menu selections.
User1497986 Sent on 01/03/2014
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David was so easy to work with and he made our wedding fabulous! He went above and beyond the typical cater and made us feel like it was the most special day of our lives which it was. We had a really poor florist who did not create the centerpiece that we envisioned so he went and added other features to our tables so that it looked great. He also had a few surprises to our night and made sure that was organize and that we did not have to worry about anything. We always recommend him to people who are getting married in the area
Renee Sent on 01/03/2014
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Everything from the planning to the food and drink to the service and clean up was top-notch. The party at our home for 150 was effortless because we used Chef By Request.
User3418010 Sent on 02/24/2018The food that Chef By Request prepared for our wedding was phenomenal, everyone couldn't stop raving about how delicious it was. We would highly recommend using them as a caterer for your special event!
User1807314 Sent on 09/12/2014Chef by Request was one of the best decisions we could have made for our July 17th wedding. I'm not sure if the negative reviews here are even talking about the right company.
