We decided to try and hire Danny for his services for our wedding venue despite the single 2 star reivew thinkining it was just a 'fluke'. Especially since Danny responded that it would never happen again. Danny was very responsive at first when trying to acquire our business. We contacted Danny on 7/11 and finally agreed upon a menu and terms on 8/6 as Danny was slow in his response because he was 'busy' with work on the weekends. We took that as a good sign. Then, we were blindsided by Danny when he e-mails us on 8/15 asking us when our event was scheduled since he 'just booked an event' on 9/6. We reminded him it is still on 9/6 as the contract states hoping that it was an error or just confusion on his part. Danny responded and pulls the same deal that he did with your event asking if we would be ok to have his Sous Chef service our event. I was able to convince my fiancee that this is not a good idea based on your review. I went ahead and canceled his services and went though the pain of finding a last minute alternative. read more

Danny was absolutely fabulous. Our office decided on his Christmas Tasting Menu for our company Christmas Party and everyone was thrilled. Danny even modified the menu to accommodate our Boss' wife who is gluten free. He worked with me before our event to be sure the menu was perfect. We had rented out a house for the night and Danny and I spoke about his kitchen needs prior to his arrival. He brought everything with him, including an assistant/server who took everything we had (which wasn't much) and created a beautiful tablescape. I had printed out menus according to what Danny and I had discussed and everything came out perfectly. His menu did come with suggested wine pairings, but he was extremely open to any wine pairings we wanted to do. Not at all a snide or picky chef! In fact, he was extremely accommodating to our price point and we chatted via email back and forth regarding our wine choices. We went with wines form Firestone Winery and they each paired perfectly with Danny's menu. Everything the day of the event was extremely timely and TASTY! Here is the link to the menu we decided on: http://dannydouglascatering.com/uploads/Christmas_Dinner_1.pdf Is your mouth watering yet? We loved everything. Every. Single Thing. Danny was kind, efficient and extremely professional. You could tell he took great pride in his work. He prepped everything at the house and it was such a treat to watch our food being made with such care. We couldn't help but enjoy everything about the evening. And every course was so tasty that we all had to applaud Danny's amazing creations between each course. He was extremely kind and humble. Please consider hiring Danny for your next event. You will NOT be disappointed. read more

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We booked Danny months ago to come to our rental house in Santa Barbara and prepare a dinner for our girl's weekend. We sent our money and deposit in on time. Prior to booking him other chefs and companies were considered. However, we ended up booking him because of his charm, cooking, and communication skills, as well as referrals from others. I can't tell you how much I was looking forward to this! After looking online at reviews and choosing items for him to prepare off his expansive menus listed on his website I was salivating! This meal was supposed to be the highlight of our trip. But unfortunately it turned out just ok. A day or two prior to our dinner, he emailed and said another chef would be coming instead of him. I still kept my hopes up! However, this other chef was simply not prepared for our situation once he arrived...which wasn't his fault in the least. He apparently didn't have the right kitchen appliances or utensils and was simply flustered in preparing the meal. A couple appetizers were fantastic, but the overall meal seemed sort of lacking. Additionally, some items we requested in our appetizer category were not present or modified completely. One, was due to the fact they couldn't get an ingredient (understandable), the other was just changed to a dish most of us did not like. In the meantime, we learned Danny had taken another bigger, better job in Malibu that same evening. So, there you have it. Beware if you book early and even sign a contract, and get your money in, Danny may not be your chef. Additionally, we thought the chef who came possibly worked with Danny but he was just an acquaintance he called to fill in for him. Honestly, things could have been worse...no one could have showed. So, I do appreciate that a replacement was found. I just wish the situation and meal would have been better. read more

We rented a home in Montecito Hills with two other couples for our Valentines anniversary week. Chef Danny accommodated my budget & menu requests to prepare an epicurean feast for the six of us in the home that was by far one of the most delicious & decadent meals we have all ever enjoyed! His culinary excellence & professionalism far exceeded all of our expectations and we can't wait to come back and do this again....Thank you Chef Danny! C & D Johnson read more

Danny just catered our wedding at the Lavender Inn. He + his team were amazing. The food was incredible and he was really flexible accommodating with the menu. Our guests are still raving about how its the best dinner they've ever had at a wedding. Danny was amazing to work with, simply the best! read more

There are MANY reasons why I consider Chef Danny to be a true "Top Chef!" First, and most importantly, his culinary skills are exceptional. The guests at my dinner party could not stop raving about his creations, especially the shrimp & grits and the Cabernet braised short ribs. Next up is his level of patience and flexibility. Since I live in LA, but was planning an event that took place in Santa Ynez, CA, he was so helpful and extraordinary in his communication. Not to mention, his chill vibe truly made the planning experience enjoyable. Last but not least, his pricing is INCREDIBLY fair for the caliber and quality of food he delivers....and the fact that he truly worked with me to create a unique and memorable menu made my event the talk-of-the-town so to speak. Check out the menu he created in the posted photos on Chef Danny's Yelp page. So, all that said...not only do I highly recommend Chef Danny...but he is now my go to personal chef for any gathering where I might want a break from the kitchen as he is willing to come work in LA if you give him enough notice. read more

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We had Danny cater our 90 person wedding this weekend in Ojai and our guests raved about the food! The appetizers were delicious and the dinner fantastic. Also, his staff did a great job and kept a great attitude despite the terrible heat! Thanks so much, Chef Danny for making our wedding perfect! Allyson & Matt Lambert read more

Danny was our caterer for our wedding and rehearsal dinner in Santa Barbara on May 18th. He honestly did an amazing job! The service was impeccable, the food was awesome, and he was always amenable to our requests. We received endless compliments about the food! I would use him again in a heartbeat! read more

Danny Douglas catered our intimate wedding in October and all I can say is, WOW. I will never forgot how incredible everything was. He was so diligent with helping us find the perfect menu and everything about the dinner was phenomenal. The service, the quality, the presentation, everything about it. This will go down as hands-down, one of the best meals of my entire life. I would highly recommend Danny Douglas. There was no stress and he was so wonderful from start to finish. read more

Danny Douglas Catering rocks! Whether you are looking for a casual lunch or catering for a formal dinner - they will work with you to find the menu thats right for your event. Danny uses fresh local ingredients (often sourced from farmer's market or the fish market). Now I just need to make enough money to hire him as my personal chef! read more

You simply cannot do better than Danny Douglas catering. His love for food and food preparation is evident in each and every meal. His attention to detail and desire to make your dining experience a memorable one will have you savoring every bite! Highly recommended. read more

We did a tasting with Danny for our wedding and his food was absolutely amazing. He listened to what we were interested in and created some incredible dishes based on our needs. He was incredibly friendly and personable, and really accommodating. And again, the food was just spectacular. It was beautifully presented and far more gourmet than any other caterers we sampled. This is a guy who really knows gourmet food. We didn't end up working with Danny on our wedding for purely logistical reasons, but as soon as we have an opportunity to hire him we won't hesitate. Highly recommended! read more

Chef Danny cooked for our dinner party and the food was excellent. Both he and his assistant were personable and a pleasure to have throughout the evening, they went above and beyond for our guests. Would absolutely hire again. read more

Fantastic! My party could not have been better thanks to Danny's food. I was getting mmmmm's and rolling eyeballs from the moment the appetizers came out to be passed around, all through his fabulous luncheon. This guy has a magical touch when it comes to designing a menu and cooking up a great meal for your guests. I couldn't recommend him more. Kristin P read more

Danny is absolutely fantastic. His food is delicious and his presentation is exceptional. I can only say good things about our experience with him. He was very attentive and took care of every single detail. I highly recommend Danny Douglas catering. You will not be disappointed. A+++ read more

Danny catered our family dinner for 12 at home in Carpinteria. It was our Mom's 92nd Birthday party, and we wanted it to be perfect. He was very flexible and accommodated certain dietary restrictions in the menu planning, showed up on time, and made himself at home in a strange kitchen. His manner was respectful and subtle, the food was excellent, and we didn't have to lift a finger from start to clean up. We all had a great time, and Mom felt like 'Queen of the Day.' Thanks, Chef Danny! read more

Chef Danny was a great find. He cooked for our group of 13, away on a bachelorette weekend in Santa Ynez. He was able to work with my budget and planned out a menu that was perfect for us. He arrived early, answered all of my questions leading up to the event, and served us with pride and grace the night of. His mushroom risotto and strawberry rhubarb pie are to die for!!! read more

Danny catered my bachelorette dinner in Solvang, CA for 13 women this past June. He was on time, brought a huge grill, and made delicious food. We had so many leftovers! He was very professional and kind, the presentation of the food was great, and he cleaned up the kitchen so well. I'd definitely recommend him for future private dinners! read more

We were one of the couples at the Montecito Hills home with Charlene and Danny J. We truly enjoyed all the dishes created by Chef Danny. They were prepared with skill, care and lots of laughs. We enjoyed every bite and would recommend his services very highly. Ira and Paulette! read more

Eight family members came to Santa Barbara to celebrate my husbands 70th birthday. We wanted to have a special dinner on the night of the celebration so our daughter did some research. Chef Danny was the fastest to respond and the most helpful in preparing the menu. We were even allowed to participate in some of the preparation and answered all of our cooking questions. Chef Danny and his assistant made the evening a fun and very enjoyable evening. Dinner was excellent, from the appetizers to the fabulous triple berry cobbler. We were completely stuffed and thought we would not be able to eat dessert, but it was too good to pass up. We wished we would have had him come a couple of other nights during our stay. Very reasonably priced and a fantastic dinner. Thanks Chef Danny! If we come back to beautiful Santa Barbara some day, we will know who to call. read more

Danny is not a cook. He's not a chef. He's an artist who uses food as his medium. The meal he prepared for our wedding was superb--from appetizers through every course. Just as importantly, it's remarkably easy to work with Danny; his calm demeanor and commitment to ensuring that his clients get what they want takes the stress out of planning. read more

My mother decided to cater her wedding vow renewal ceremony last week and found Danny Douglas on the internet. I was worried Danny would struggle to live up to her dream expectations but Danny delivered! The appetizers were delish, with a red sauce my husband is still talking about trying to make at home! The main course was full of surprise ingredients all pulled together to provide a fabulous flavor for even the pickiest of sisters! What a special night! Danny helped make my mothers dream come true. I highly recommend Danny for your future special events or just a nice dinner off! read more

We had Chef Danny cater nye dinner this year and it was amazing!! Lots of delicious options for meat eaters and the vegetarians in our group. The short rib and risotto with artichokes was amazing as were these oxtails wrapped in lettuce (clearly I'm one of the meat eaters in our group). Chef Danny and his assistant were extremely friendly and added to the vibe of evening. I would highly recommend him for any event you are having. read more

i used danny douglas catering last year for a sit down luncheon for 25. he, his staff and the food were flawless. so in july as i was anticipating my family reunion at lake tahoe (25th year!) i thought about checking to see if danny would be interested in joining my family for the week and cooking for us. over the years food prep has become harder what with increasing family size (30 people this year) and with members becoming vegetarian and now (horrors!) vegan. to my delight danny was excited by the prospect. we had 5 condos and danny stayed with us and within a day was part of the family. he is so easygoing and loves to cook. one family member would be responsible every day to consult with danny to come up with a theme. we had italian night, greek night, burger night (including delicious quinoa vegan burgers), filet and poached salmon. he would go with us to the market to suggest what looked the best that day and road his bike to a farmers market so we would have the freshest available. side dishes galore, predinner munchies, and desserts including strawberry short cake. he would start marketing at 11 am and work straight through for at least 9 hours. as of the 2nd night the family would start chanting DANNY, DANNY, DANNY as he arrived from the next door kitchen with our repast. carnivores were declaring after sampling the vegan portion that maybe they too could be vegans. i will never go to my family reunion again without danny douglas. read more