We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary and my 50th B-Day, at Bargetto Winery in Soquel. Chef Mark was a pleasure to work with. Great menu ideas. The food was great. The day of the event all went smooth with Chef Mark at the helm. Also, his catering contract was great all inclusive, included everything, including the tip, cake cutting, coffee service, no additional add ons. We really like this style with an all inclusive catering contract. We would highly recommend Chef Mark for any event. Also, Bargetto Winery patio is perfect venue for all events, We had approx 112 guests and it was a beautiful setting, our guests loved the entire party. It is the perfect venue for any party. Patti & Coult. read more

THANK YOU AFFORDABLE CHEF SERVICES! Chef Mark and his staff did a fantastic job in catering our wedding. We could not have had such a great event if it wasn't for his affordable price. We had 200 guests at our wedding and had cocktails and appetizers following by a great buffet. We chose items from his signature dishes as this is what we figured he did best. Everyone really liked the food and we got some great compliments on the cute bartender as well! His staff was courteous and helpful. Don't be put off by Mark's short emails: he simply gets to the point and gets the job done. We recommend his services if you want to have a nice wedding. He seems to have A LOT of experience and at the end of the day --this is really what you want from your caterer. read more

DO NOT HIRE. BAD REPUTATION. MANY PREVIOUS DELETED REVIEWS. I don't know where to start with this review.... I ALWAYS try to give people chances, hear out their side of things, and make things right but I feel it is my duty to alert all future brides and grooms NOT to use Mark for any catering needs. I had a bad feeling from the moment we did our tasting (at his house). I was sure because of this feeling to get everything in writing and be very clear with what we needed and wanted. 4 weeks before our wedding we went to a rental company and while making small talk with the owner, she asked us who was doing our catering. I informed her and she turned white. She asked if he was providing the rentals and I replied yes. then she stated "nobody in SC county will rent to him so that is a surprise" and i asked why was that. she stated "he doesn't pay his bills, you need to be very cautious with him," Just what a bride wants to hear a month before the wedding! I have put off writing this review for about 6 months to allow mark to make things right and he has failed us over and over again. We hired mark for our wedding in August over a year prior to date. We gave a high estimate of people (220) and prepaid in January 2018. As the wedding approached Mark was notified of the guest count being low (165) and he agreed that after the wedding we would even up and get a reimbursement for what was over paid. During this email exchange mark asked if we would like to change out our menu selections from New York Steak to tri-tip and from Asparagus to green beans, stating that many of his clients were making the change because it is easier. I replied stating that I would like to keep the meat the same but the veggies could be changed. The day of our wedding comes, I arrive at the venue and hear nothing but negative things about Mark. Everyone was telling me how hard he was being during set up. Dinner comes, we were served tri-tip instead of NY steak and asparagus instead of green beans.... I was so disappointed and honestly embarrassed that we had this huge menu sign by the buffet that was misleading our guests. Not to mention the major cost difference between tri-tip and NY steak.... We paid for something that wasn't even provided. The catering staff was a joke. There was one really nice lady who checked on us every few minutes which was amazing but other than her it was a joke. Stained T-shirts and all. there was a boy probably not older than 15 pouring wine for our guests at their tables. The bartender, who was a complete ass was literally never at the bar. Our guest served themselves about 80% of the time. Then to top it off, we had over ordered cases of wine and the bartender was caught trying to take them home. Stating, "Well there is so much extra i thought i would take a couple cases home." He was reminded several times that we provided the alcohol. The staff left behind a number of items, which i collected and took home. After returning from our honeymoon 2 weeks later, I contacted Mark about the refund and returning his items. He stated that he needed to calculate the refund and that he would put a check in the mail and asked if i could drop off the items at a random apartment. Out of good will, i returned the items, hoping mark put a check in the mail. All attempts of contact to Mark were not returned. I sent a final attempt to collect letter and my husband called Mark to see if there was something else going on. Mark refuses to answer the call and responds in text messages which is perfectly fine with me because things in writing hold up better in court. We have been promised many times that a check is in the mail... and still nothing. FYI there were many reviews JUST like mine that have mysteriously disappeared. many of them included the fact that personal checks from Mark had bounced. Do your self a favor and do not go anywhere near this man or his company. He will say whatever it takes to get your money. read more

We were so pleased with the food and the services provided!! Mark was prompt in communications and was wonderful to work with!! We threw him a last minute event and they were able to accommodate all of our craziness. You won't be disappointed using Affordable Chef Services!! read more

Mark handled 4 meals at our wedding at Camp OVY in San Gregorio CA. Mark went above and beyond in all respects, we highly recommend his catering services. All his employees were super friendly and helpful. The food was great! Everything was on time and perfect read more

We hired Mark and his team for our wedding. They were fantastic! Great food, great service, etc. And everything for a super low price compared to any competitor we talked to. AWESOME! read more

My husband and I really enjoyed working with Mark as our wedding caterer and received many compliments on the food at our wedding (especially Mark's veggie lasagna). In addition to catering, Mark also provided the bartending staff for our reception and did the cake cutting. Mark's staff passed appetizers, served drinks and re-stocked the buffet like pros and with 215 guests we were no easy wedding to cater to. I was told by multiple guests how much they liked Mark's staff and how professional they all were and Mark made us feel at ease through the whole process while also being affordable. Mark provided my husband and me with a tasting at our home, which was great, and answered all of my questions in a timely fashion. Mark also provided us with all of our linens and serving needs for the evening (plates, glasses, utensils, etc). I wouldn't hesitate to use Mark again for a future event. read more

Mark and crew are so awesome!! So easy to work with no pretense no BS just solid food, solid service, and plenty of it!! Mark really helped us out by serving a fresh, healthy, and affordable dinner for 70 people including injured service men and women who were in Santa Cruz for the Operation Surf Event. He was really flexible when we had some last minute add-ons, and I definitely recommend his services. We will absolutely use him again and again!! Thanks Mark!!! read more

I cannot say enough good things about Mark and his team! Our wedding was in May 2016, but we already had him booked in 2015. He is very responsive to his emails and offers great rates on catering. His menu is more creative than your standard wedding food, and all our guests loved it! Very well executed on all the dishes, but the vegetarian lasagna and meatballs were my favorite! The plates, silverware and napkins were beautiful and well arranged. Mark has plenty of colors to choose from and is very accommodating. His team did a FANTASTIC job on the day of our wedding!! They knew my husband's and my names, made sure to bring platters of food to us during pictures, and kept everything stocked to keep our buffet line moving. I was so touched that his team knew my name, and even more touched when they asked which appetizers were my favorite so they could bring more to me during pictures! I was not a hungry bride on my wedding day :) read more

GREAT SERVICE We got married yesterday and had to post a review immediately because Affordable Chef was so great! Chef Mark was punctual in replying to my questions before the big day, which, as an out-of-town bride, was very reassuring! At the last minute, Chef Mark was unable to attend the reception, but his on-site chef made delicious food, and the staff were phenomenal! There was one staff member in particular who took an interest in my Husband and I. She told us that we were her "celebrities for the day," made sure we ate appetizers before we walked in, escorted us to the buffet first, and was constantly checking on our drinks. She also took an interest in our families, leading many people to tell us how amazing she was! The bartender Chef Mark sent was also lovely, knew her stuff, and made our signature cocktails perfectly! All in all, a great experience and a company we would trust our next big event to! read more

We hired Mark for our wedding in September. Mark is a very easy going guy that makes amazing food. The entire day went without a hitch, Mark made it all happen very seamlessly. Affordable Chef definitely lives up to its name, with quality to match. read more

My new wife and I hired Chef Mark to cater our wedding last month and were very happy with the results. I was nervous at first because his prices were so much lower than everyone else we looked at but we really had no other option so we rolled the dice. Chef Mark definitely has a laid back attitude but when it came down to crunch time he was very prompt with answering all our questions and guiding us through the hectic final stages of wedding planning. Chef Marks staff was excellent through out the entire party and the food was excellent. We received nothing but compliments and our guests had a blast! Cece and Andrew read more

Chef Mark was indeed affordable! And not only that everyone loved the food! I received many compliments at my wedding especially about the ribs and mac cheese but really everything I had was delicious! I would definitely recommend booking him for your next event! :) read more

Mark is wonderful, what a gentleman he is and how responsive he was for my 50th birthday party event that he catered at my private home. Mark was the best priced Private Chef i could find; he was on time, did everything that he promised to do, was very respctful to my guests and his cooking was deliciouse. I loved his Belini bar specialty and his baked Salmon was a very specail dish that i will reammber for a long time. When mark left my kitchen, it was cleaner than it was when he started. Everything washed and done so quietly as the party ended. My guests felt very special because of Mark and his staff. I really recomend Mark and his staff to anyone wishing to throw a memorable party and who wished to feel like a princess all day long. read more

Stay away from this vendor. Stole $1,300. After repeated requests, Mark finally sent us a check but with insufficient funds. We tried to deposit it twice to no avail. Repeated attempts to contact via email, text, and phone have gone unanswered. We are filing a claim with The Superior Court of California. read more

We booked Chef Mark for our wedding this past summer. He and his staff catered appetizers and dinner for our 100 guests at Highlands Park in Ben Lomond. The Fabulous: Mark is friendly and responded to every one of my bride-to-be wishes, questions, and concerns. It seems there isn't much he hasn't done, so he can pull off just about anything you can dream up! His staff was friendly, energetic, and incredibly responsive. I'm the only bride I know that actually *ate* on her wedding day, and that's thanks to them! The food was marvelous! Of course, the cuisine is true to its name- it is such a great price for such delicious food. Bonus- he can get your rentals- tables, chairs, linens, etc- cheaper than anyone else too! Opportunities for improvement: Mark will give you anything you want, but he doesn't hide it very well when what you want isn't exactly what he wants. I was a pretty down-to-earth bride, but for a few of my requests I felt like he was rolling his eyes at me. Things worked out beautifully on The Day. He even played well with my coordinator, and I'm sure he'll admit to you that he isn't a huge fan of coordinators. ;) Overall, I highly recommend Chef Mark. I wouldn't think of using anyone else in the future!! read more

I was considering working with this business, so I used the request a quote tool on yelp. I got a rude reply back from mark g. The chef saying if you actually went on the website it would a lot more simple for him to quote me and then went on about why i requested the menu I requested...why have to option to request a quote from yelp if you give a rude response to someone that possibly would give you business.. read more

Chef Mark and the Affordable Chef Services were a life saver. We had our caterer back out two weeks before our event. With less than two weeks to go Chef Mark was so accommodating to our needs. We created a BBQ menu to feed approximately 200 people. Not only was the food delivered on time in hot insulated food boxes, but it was delicious. Everyone raved about the ribs. I highly recommend Affordable Chef Services for your next event. read more

March 4, 2011 Amazing Birthday Celebration - Thanks Chef Mark It was my twin sisters 60th birthday and didn't want to just go a restaurant so I searched the internet for a Private Chef. Wow did I find the perfect choice, "Chef Mark Gallagher". We rented an ocean view home on West Cliff and had a Night to remember. He and his server came to the home, cook and entertained the 20 of us with rave reviews. The food was over the top, from the scrumptious hors d'oeuvres passed around before hand to his 5 star dinner all the while keeping the wine glasses full. Baked Rolled Salmon, Fillet Mignon, Fingerling Potatoes, Asparagus Tips. Need I say more - Treat yourself and guests to Chef Mark Thanks Again Bob D. Capitola, Ca read more

This was the worst catering experience I've ever had. The food was terrible tasted like pre-packaged frozen food.

We recently hired Mark at Affordable Chef for our Wedding Reception. Mark and his team were AWESOME! Mark did a taste testing in our home, and kept us smiling the entire time. Mark has easy online payment options, and he's clear and upfront about the cost. Mark was very responsive by email/phone, and flexible with my changing RSVP headcount. On the Wedding Day Mark and his team arrived on time, dressed for the occasion, helped with set up, etc. The food was great! Everyone loved the meatballs and chicken. I enjoyed the vegetarian lasagna with a white sauce. During our reception Mark and his team were helpful, respectful and easily adjusted to the minor changes in the days timeline. Mark's team worked with well with our reception coordinator to help make the night go smoothly, and keep everyone happy! Mark also prepared a Bride/Groom food/cake to go, that we gratefully ate later that night. We definitely recommend Mark! read more

I contacted Chef Mark to see if he had servers for an engagement party at my home. He was very quick to get back to me, had a formula for how many servers I would need based on the number of attendees and confirmed that he could support me within a couple of hours. He sent Summer and Jackie, and they were fantastic! They were seasoned professionals that hit the ground running. I sincerely appreciated not only their support but how they did the job without being distracting. They were efficient, cleaned up during and after the party, and seamlessly provided great service. THANK YOU! I would definitely recommend Affordable Chef Services, and will use them again. read more

Chef Mark did a great job at our daughter's wedding. He arranged all set-up and take-down in addition to preparing the food and having servers for 200 guests. Through the entire process he was gracious and working behind the scenes making it all run smoothly. read more

We had Mark Gallagher provide catering services for our wedding/reception at Villa Viscaya on 10/8/11. The price for what he has to offer is impossible to beat. The food including appetizers and multi-course dinner tasted very good - prepared with high quality ingredients and professional care. Mark is very experienced at catering weddings and events so rest assured he understands execution. Overall, everything went very well. We did notice during setup that the place settings weren't correct, but after calling this to Mark's attention he quickly had it fixed. The only other consideration to mention was that Mark's communication and reassurance during the planning stages isn't his strongest suit. Perhaps that's because he's very experienced at this. Nonetheless, those who like to work out detailed plans with lots of communication may be left wanting. Still, for the price and overall quality of food, it's a tradeoff that's certainly worth considering. Worked for us, that's for sure. read more

Mark catered our wedding in June 2014 and we couldn't be more pleased with how everything turned out. During our 11+ months of planning, Mark was available, accommodating, and did everything that he could to make our vision a reality. On the big day, we had appetizers, dinner, and late night food. It was all delicious, affordable, wonderfully presented, and we were told that the late night pulled pork and mac and cheese were some of the best that our guests have ever had. Mark came with a large staff, including several servers and 2 bartenders, all of whom were personable, professional, and a great addition to our party. Thanks for everything, Mark! read more

Long overdue review for wonderful Chef Gallagher who catered our wedding in 2012 in Ben Lomond. He's a down to earth, Santa Cruz type of guy, which can make an anxious and high strung bride and her San Francisco wedding planner a little nervous, but all my worries were unfounded. Everything turned out perfect! He was quick to respond to emails and phone calls and like other helpers have said, really wants to please. His team of servers were so friendly and courteous, and he also organized all the tables, linens, tableware etc, which was all fabulous. Above all, the food was delicious. Highly recommend Affordable Chef! read more

Chef Mark and his entire catering team were so helpful during our wedding. We gave him a few different menu changes and he worked it out with us every time. His responses through email were prompt, and he was very straight forward with the prices. The food was excellent! My favorite was his veggie lasagna. I just felt bad that he had to work with some power outages at the venue, but still managed to get everything out and setup on a timely manner. I'd like to give a shout out to his running lady, Blanca, who made sure everything was running smoothly. She noticed that my mom was filming and was asking my dad in MY native language for him to bring her some food from the buffet, Blanca noticed that and made sure my mom got a plate of food. She also made sure the DJ was offered food as well, which I had totally forgot to tell her to do. Now that's taking initiative! Chef Mark is lucky to have you! Thanks for a pleasant experience ACS!!! read more

Mark and his team recently catered my daughters wedding reception at our home in Capitola. From beginning to end his relaxed nature + excellent execution + delicious food enabled the guests as well as the hosts to make the event memorable and relaxed at the same time. His experience came in handy when planning the event and he took care of everything from start to finish. My wife and I have thrown many parties over the years and this was the first where we called out for help and it was well worth it. Thanks again to Mark and I would never hesitate to recommend him or call on him again. read more

Chef Mark catered our bicycle club's dinner, for forty hungry cyclists - and it was excellent! It was at a slightly unusual location, but he took it all in stride. On time, organized, reasonable prices, and the food was really tasty - especially the vegetable lasagna! We will definitely be using him again. read more

Affordable Chef is an all in one great place to get everything you need. Chef Mark provided the food, plates, linens, utensils, glasses, tables, and chairs for my 175+ wedding. They provided the best food at the best prices. My wife and I find ourselves thinking about the food at our wedding craving it a year after. Go with Affordable Chef for any catering needs in the Santa Cruz area. He will make your life easy and carefree on the day of your event, and will make sure it's YOUR day and nothing will get in the way! read more

If I could give zero stars I would. Dealing with Mark was the worst decision I made when planning my wedding. He was hired to cater my wedding, talked me into paying up front (which, trust me you aren't actually getting a good deal if you price compare with other companies that include rentals) then shortly after I lost my venue. I then had to cancel with Mark as my new venue was preferred vendors only. (This all happened in less than a month). After notifying him immediately, that I would need my money back (having never received anything from him, no tasting, nothing) all communication stopped. Finally after 7 months, I had to file a small claims lawsuit against him. He finally refunded me the Monday before our Friday court date! But failed to refund the court fees! This small claims case is now a matter of public record. He is completely unprofessional, and I have heard that he has done the same thing to other brides! That was money that I needed for my wedding and he couldn't even give it back without all that extra time and effort wasted in taking him to court! Absolutely terrible! Potential customers beware! read more

DO NOT HIRE this caterer! I have never seen such appalling service as I received from Mark. We hired him for my husbands retirement party based on all the good reviews we read. Mark's communication was terse and non responsive. He and his staff arrived late (almost a half hour with no apology) even though he had assured me they could set the room up and be ready in an hour-- thank goodness we asked friends to come and help us set up the room or it would not have happened. They did not begin service until 25 minutes into the two and a half hour event and then stopped serving food when the speeches began-- that means he served food for only one hour. The food was fine, nothing memorable. We all went home hungry. For this I paid a lot of money. He charged us for an liquor license that he could not procure and has not refunded us the $200. I bought an expensive bakery cake that he did not serve until the speeches were over and everyone was leaving. I took 2/3 of it home. No one knew there was coffee because he didn't put it out and some of the dishes were not offered to all of the guests. His staff was not dressed suitably for a formal event and not all conducted themselves professionally. When the event was over he packed up and took the leftover food with him while we were taking down decorations. The list goes on. I sent Mark a letter after the event and he did not even bother to respond. I am an easy going person and understand there are ups and downs with such events but this was truly appalling. Spare yourself. He has been removed from the university's approved caterer list. read more

We hired Chef Mark to cater an outdoor wedding at my home. He is the full package...providing tables, chairs, linens, dishes, glasses, dance floor and of course the food. He was always quick to respond to email and answer questions. The food at our tasting was delicious and he was flexible on the menu. The day of the wedding went like clock work, the staff was warm, friendly, and accommodating. I would agree that the food at the wedding did not seem as good at the tasting but I have chalked it up to the delay to the start of the wedding and the lengthy photo session following the ceremony. All in all a good experience and I would consider using Affordable Chef Services for future events. Thank you Chef Mark read more

I would HIGHLY recommend chef Mark and Affordable Chef Catering, who we hired for our parent's 50th anniversary on 9/4/10. I was an inexperienced and nervous party planner who wanted everything to be AMAZING, and I was in great hands with Mark who certainly delivered that! He was always quick to correspond and patient. He offered a fantastic menu and worked with me on everything allowing us to throw the party the way we wanted. Mark's style is easy going and "organic" (while I was wound up and overstressed at the time), which means he was totally on it even when I wasn't, knowing where to fill in and jump in as needed, and keeping a great flow to the party. His package was all-inclusive and hiring Mark was the best and easiest part of our event. Satisfied at the end is an understatement. Mark and his staff were super friendly and all went 100% above and beyond. We had so many compliments on the food, so many people asked who the caterer was, and the passed appetizers added such an elegant touch to the affair. I would without hesitation hire Affordable Chef in a heartbeat for any of my future events. Not only is Mark a super nice guy, but he more than delivered on his services. Thank you Mark again for everything and giving us a wonderful event!! read more