I simply cannot say enough good things about Dream Dinners!!! I've been meaning to write a review for years. We've been going to the Granada Hills location for almost four years! Even when a branch closer to home was open, I still came to GH because the staff is amazing and oh so very friendly. They are like old friends that I love to catch up with each month.
Our friends in Orange County originally turned us on to Dream Dinners. We have game nights with these friends once a month and often serve a DD meal. We know each other's faves and discuss any new dishes. I've tried to get other friends to try it, but the cost sounds intimidating. However when broken down the meals are $4 - $6 a serving!! You really can't beat it, especially if you count quality, nutrition, and convenience. Our family of 2 averages about $200 a month. It varies quite a bit depending on what meals we choose. It sounds like a lot when you see the big total. Try thinking of it like buying a season pass to something. Let's say theater tickets: a musical at Hollywood Pantages theater will cost $45-$100...per person/per show. Let's say you get the cheapest seats in balcony and we all know there are extra fees when tickets are purchased. So let's be conservative and say $50 ea x2 is $100 a show. Let's say you are a huge theater fan and want to see several shows, it becomes a much larger investment. Now when they offer a season pass that lets you get ORCHESTRA seats for 7 shows and it's just over $200 a person...breaking down to $22 a show....it seems like a no brainer, right? RIGHT! DD meals are the orchestra seats!
Dream Dinners has tons of ways for you to give it a try without committing. There is NO pressure to join, though the staff is happy to explain the perks and benefits that does come with joining. They often have special events where you can make a meal at a discounted price. They (usually around Christmas) give members a coupon to give to friends for a free meal. If you are given one, USE IT! People can throw parties with small groups of friends where everyone is introduced to it and makes a discounted meal. Or if you want to just start, the first month of joining has a smaller minimum requirement.
There are no fees to "join". In fact, I'm using the word "join" loosely. You don't have to "join". You don't HAVE to go every month!! But, the more you go, the more perks you get. They give serious perks...their points system transfers to dollar amounts to spend on meals. To get all the possible perks and discounts, the minimum requirement is to order 36 servings every 45 days. The meals come in 3 and 6 serving portions. So it's twelve 3 serving meals, or six 6 serving meals, or a combination of both.
Other yelp reviews give lots of details explaining the process. So please read them for more details. The basic gist is there are stations set up with ingredients to assemble each meal. (You choose ahead of time as they change each month). The stations have all ingredients chopped and available with simple color coded directions on amounts needed. You put everything together for your meal and have the opportunity to adjust by leaving out things you don't like/want. For example, I never add salt. Or say you make enchiladas and half your family likes black olives and other half hates them, you can just add to part of the enchiladas. Once assembled, THEY CLEAN UP ANY MESS YOU MADE, while you move on to next station. You then place in freezer at home and pull out as needed. Cooking now becomes simple as all the prep is done. Some items you simply throw in the oven, while some require a little mixing after meat is cooked. Oh! If you don't have an hour or so to give up each month, you can pay a little more and the staff will assemble for you!! You just have to pick it up.
Ooooh and DD makes the holidays a breeze! Three years ago our friends and I had a happy accident. I had purchased the french cut turkey they offer around Thanksgiving, while friends purchased all the thanksgiving side dishes. We both had the holiday elsewhere and didn't use DD. We realized that combined we had a complete holiday meal, so we got together and had Thanksgiving in January. We now do it on purpose and the kids have named it "Thankmas" as it's the time when we exchange belated Christmas gifts. I've never had more delicious turkey. Simply put in a pan with water and cook for 3-4 hours. Easy peasy.
There are few cons I can think of with DD. 1. The vegetarian options are limited. 2. A couple meals are not ones I'd order again, tho were definitely worth trying.
Dream Dinners makes meal time easier. It is great if you don't cook, don't have time to cook, or even if you love to cook! It is excellent value all around! read more
