Plan a private dinner around your guests

Define the dinner you actually want

Start with the date, guest count, venue and kind of meal: a seated multi-course dinner, a casual family gathering or a small celebration. Note whether you expect plated service, family-style food or preparation without table service. The provider's actual offer may differ from your initial idea; confirm menu, pacing and responsibilities together rather than assuming every private-dining profile includes the same work.

Build a request with useful context

For a hypothetical dinner for ten, a useful headline could describe the occasion and cuisine; the details could identify the desired meal format, approximate serving time and whether guests will be seated together. The RFQ asks for a future start and duration, city, state and ZIP, guest count, budget and requested chefs, helpers or bartenders. Specify a flexible date window if you have one. Share only coarse location details until you select a provider.

Kitchen, ingredients and service are separate decisions

Indicate whether the venue has a fully equipped kitchen, limited facilities or no kitchen. List equipment available and equipment needed, choose who is expected to supply groceries, and state your cleanup preference. If you need setup or additional service staff, request it explicitly in the staffing fields. These are request inputs, not promises that a provider can supply everything; review what the resulting proposal actually covers.

Choose the appropriate request template

Use the private dinner template for a chef-led meal. If the plan calls for helpers or service staff, the chef + service team template lets you describe that staffing; its RFQ is categorized under private dinner. If you only need bar service, the bartender-only template is a different fit. Do not assume a private dinner automatically includes a bartender or an alcohol-service arrangement.

Compare responses before requesting a booking

Matching approved providers can respond with estimates, proposed staffing and grocery commitments; responses may have an expiry and can change. Check the proposed scope, ask about menu and timing, and compare like with like. Choosing a response creates a booking request, not an accepted final price, payment or reservation. A final quote, terms and later confirmation are separate steps, subject to availability and payment readiness.

Prepare for the day without oversharing

A public RFQ is visible to matching approved providers, so leave out your street address, contact details, links and private health information. Once you have selected a provider, discuss venue access, arrival and serving times, parking, utilities, cleanup and any ingredient questions privately. Listing approval permits a profile to appear and respond; it does not replace your own checks on suitability, references or service requirements.

When another service fits better

If the goal is stocked lunches rather than a served evening, start with meal prep. If a restaurant needs help on its own line, use restaurant chef discovery and discuss shift requirements with the professional. For a drinks-only reception, describe the bar setup and staffing through bartender service. Choosing the right scope makes estimates easier to interpret.

Explore Near to You

• Explore Near to You profiles Browse public provider profiles and their listed services; an account is required to submit a booking request.
• Post or review an RFQ Account required. Post a request for quotation, review responses, and discuss scope; an RFQ is not a booking.

Explore more Near to You services

• Meal prep help Plan a single meal-prep visit and discuss a preferred future cadence.
• Bartender Outline bar-service staffing and event logistics.
• Restaurant chef Discuss kitchen coverage and restaurant shifts with a chef.

Frequently asked questions