We had a party of eight that Chef Nic thoughtfully prepared for us. The process, from beginning to end, was easy and the communication was excellent. I'm sad I was so busy enjoying the food that we forgot to take pics! We are an older foodie bunch, all whom have hosted with private chefs before and this one did not disappoint any of us! I asked for unique items (i.e. something I don't usually have or can cook myself) and Chef Nic sent me suggestions to choose from. We ended up with a 5-course meal which was way too much food, so afterwards we asked, "What course would we have skipped?" and couldn't decide! Chef brought most of the food prepared enough for ease of cooking and serving, and brought it all out in surprisingly even serving times. The chef immaculately clean-up my kitchen and even started the dishwasher. We highly recommend Chef Nic and Gather & Forge. read more

Was in Austin for my bachelor party and found Gather & Forge through some research and could not have been more happy with the decision. The experience was top notch from beginning to end. Chef Dan did a fantastic job cultivating a fine dining experience from the comfort of our home and left with raving fans as a result! read more

Completely incredible dinner with Chef Dan at Gather & Forge. The meal was truly exceptional, unique, & everything that came out was presented beautifully. Dan was so nice, helpful at explaining each dish, and made the overall experience seamless for all the guests. We had a large 15 person group and this was the perfect evening meal. EVERYONE was impressed and had the best evening. I highly recommend using them for your future chef needs! read more

I had the BEST dinner experience with Gather & Forge! Chef Andre was absolutely amazing! He made my 40th birthday celebration dinner extra special. The meal was fantastic! Especially the beet salad! The whole process was smooth and seamless. Thank you for such a great experience! read more

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I am sure that the chefs are awesome but I was left hanging not knowing if they were interested in my event. I scheduled a call and spoke with them about an event. They were to schedule and get back with me. I never heard from them again. I guess if you need something reliable I would not use them. read more

Chef Nic came to my house and cooked us a three course Italian dinner that was absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend for a dinner party at your home! read more

Gather and Forge was an amazing company and so easy to work with! They were available to answer all questions and curate a great menu. Very professional, timely, and organized. Special shoutout to Chef Nic for a wonderful meal! read more

Gather and Forge is exceptional every time. today I hosted a lunch for 12 and it was flawless and delicious. Chef Nico is top notch and a pleasure to have in my kitchen. This is my 3rd Gather and Forge private chef event. all outstanding! read more

My partner purchased a private dinner experience with this company as a Christmas gift (over $500), and unfortunately we haven't even been able to schedule it. We were told in January that we'd receive an email with sample menus, but that never came through. Since February 1st, we've made multiple attempts to follow up...voicemails, emails, and texts and have had zero response. At this point, the lack of communication is really disappointing, especially given the cost. We're now considering disputing the charge since we haven't been able to get in touch at all. read more

(Updated from 1 star) I don't write negative reviews lightly, but I feel compelled to share my experience with Gather & Forge so others can make an informed decision. We booked them with the expectation of having an excellent private dining experience for guests I flew in from around the country. Unfortunately, both nights were a disappointment. The chef arrived between 45 minutes to an hour late each night, which set the tone poorly for our gatherings. On top of that, the food was served lukewarm at best, and the overall quality did not match the premium price we were charged. In my estimation, the value was maybe 60% of what we paid. I was frustrated and embarrassed in front of my clients, and at the time I felt my concerns weren't met with much humility or professionalism. That's why I originally left this review. UPDATE: To Ryan's credit, he reached out after the fact, owned the situation, and issued a partial refund that aligned with the value I felt was delivered. He also assured me he would be addressing this directly with his team to prevent it from happening again. In short: my personal experience was not what I hoped for, but the owner did take responsibility and worked to make things right after the fact. I respect that, and I hope future customers benefit from the improvements he's committed to making. read more

We hired Gather & Forge for a private dinner for 23 people, and it was absolutely amazing! The food was incredible -- beautifully prepared and full of flavor. The chef Jakub and staff were professional, friendly, and made the whole evening feel effortless. Gather & Forge was extremely easy to work with from start to finish -- very organized, reliable, and responsive. Pricing was also very fair for the quality and service we received. The only small note I'd make (and I think this can vary depending on the chef) is that the portion sizes were a bit on the smaller side. But honestly, everything tasted so good that it didn't take away from the experience at all. We'll definitely be booking with Gather & Forge again for future events! read more

We had the best time celebrating my husband's 10-year workiversary with Chef Jack's private dinner services. We spent the weekend in a lovely and unique vrbo rental and Chef Jack's delicious food blew all of our minds. We had outstanding wagyu fillet mignon tartare, yummy mozzarella salad with pesto, terrific gazpacho, a mouth-watering espresso chile New York strip and a divine blueberry panna cotta. read more

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Chef Dan Castro from Gather and Forge killed it. These were two of my favorite plates of the 5 course dinner. Love that they come to the house because we just set the kids up with food and didn't have to find a sitter.  The personal interaction with the chef explaining what he prepared and his inspiration behind the meal really gave it the feel of an upscale experience. His personal experiences he shared with us about his background made us feel like he was an old friend just hanging out and made the experience casual and fun. The meals were prepared and served excellently. Everyone in the room had some type of fine dining food service employment background, so we all knew what to look for. Chef Dan delivered at every level.  We also had specialized dietary needs for one diner, and accommodations were made easily and without fuss. There was no sacrifice to the food made with the substitutions. Absolutely recommend. We will be doing this again. read more

Gather & Forge - Tempura Pepper over a fruit Molle. Ridiculous. - Personal Chefs Near Me - Austin, Texas

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It really doesn't need to be said, but with its wealth of BBQ joints and terrific restaurants across the culinary spectrum, Austin has a fantastic food scene. However, with so many of us flying in from across the country (and other countries!) for my buddy's bachelor party, we wanted to do something different than just hit up a restaurant. So, why not bring the food to us? Saves us the trouble of trying to find a place with large enough reservations open and we also get to keep the party going without having to leave the friendly confines (and A/C...) of our Airbnb! Now, I have to admit, as I was researching different caterers and private chefs, Gather & Forge wasn't the first one to catch my eye, but they were the first one we reached out to. Not only did all of their photos on Yelp look awesome, but I liked how each chef on the team brings with them their own style and vision, as opposed to just cooking from a pre-set menu. After going back and forth a bit on the logistics though, speaking with Chef Ryan (the owner?) was what really won us over - he's super friendly, easy to work with, and was really into crafting a meal specific to our group's dietary preferences/restrictions and what was in season. Just hearing about some of his ideas was enough to get my stomach going! Fast forward to the night of our dinner and Ryan and his helper/assistant were awesome. Unfortunately, we couldn't be at the house to greet them, as we were running a little behind schedule, but it was great that they were okay with going in on their own to get started. What's more, after discovering that our grill was out of propane, they even went out to pick up another tank on our behalf before we arrived so that it wouldn't affect our experience. Gotta say - it was great knowing we were coming back to a restaurant-quality dinner, but it was even better stepping into the house to the smell of delicious food in the works! For our dinner, Ryan and I had exchanged a couple of emails on what we had in mind and boy did he deliver! I had mentioned we were thinking of a couple of meaty dishes, but we also didn't want the two vegetarians in our group relegated to eating a generic salad. The result? Flank steak with vegetables, grilled chicken with cilantro and lime, mashed potatoes, a root vegetable dish with strawberries, peaches and nuts, and a sort of strawberry parfait for dessert (if I remember all of them correctly). Exactly the kind of spread we had in mind and then some, quite literally (there was room in our quote, so he added an extra dish/dessert for to our menu). Without getting into minute details about every dish, I'll just say this - across the board, every dish we had was terrific. My least favorite dish was the steak, but that's on a relative scale (it was solid and perfectly cooked). The mashed potatoes were tasty (deliciously smooth with just a few small chunks), the vegetable and fruit dish was so fresh and flavorful, but the star for me was the chicken dish. However, despite how it had the most disgusting thing in the world in it (cilantro), the chicken dish was my favorite - moist and juicy with just a slight char and the perfect blend of spices. Honestly, I would gladly pay for an entire tray of this! Between the fantastic food and terrific service, Ryan and the Gather & Forge team definitely made our experience a memorable one. If I lived in Austin, I would definitely look at hitting them up again for a special occasion or one of their meal delivery kits (perfect to help get through this COVID-19 madness). Highly recommended! Thanks again, Ryan! read more

Gather & Forge - The spread! - Personal Chefs Near Me - Austin, Texas

We enjoyed an incredible dinner courtesy of Chef Bex and I hope it won't be the last! Dinner was a 5 course extravaganza tailored to our preferences based on a consultation we had a few days prior. Every course was delicious but the showstopper was a green curry vichyssoise with brown butter poached lobster and a potato scallion latke with crème fraîche. Every single flavor in that was to perfection. I mean like 3 star Michelin James Beard perfection. If you want to have a special evening, this is how you do it. read more

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Absolutely phenomenal dinner party at our house with chef jack. Party of 12 was so fun and everything was better than anything you could have gotten at a restaurant in town. Can't recommend this place enough!! read more

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Chef Jack was amazing! We had an intimate dinner for 4 on our patio and it exceeded our expectations. The charcuterie was wonderful and the tomahawk pork chops were unbelievably good. Excellent service - delicious food. I can wait to plan another dinner!! read more

Gather & Forge - Charcuterie board - Personal Chefs Near Me - Austin, Texas

Chef Jack did an awesome job creating the most delicious dinner for Valentine's Day. It was so nice to be able to enjoy a five course meal from the comfort of our own home and not have to deal with the restaurant scene on Valentine's Day. Highly recommend. read more

The ultimate Chef's table!! Where do I start? My husband surprised me with a visit from Chef Jack at G&F for a milestone birthday and it was AMAZING. One of the best meals I've ever had anywhere. Chef Jack worked to plan a perfect menu of some of my favorite foods, but added twists to each course so it was really a one of a kind meal. I'm still dreaming about it. Don't hesitate to contact the team at G&F for birthdays, dinner parties or any event that you want to have out of this world food with fabulous service. read more

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Chef Bex DID NOT DISAPPOINT. This was the most amazing experience and she was absolutely wonderful! The food was out of this world and we had the best time. One million percent recommend! read more

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Don't walk, run to book your personal with chef with Gather & Forge. Chef Tony was so great to work with leading up to the event and at the event. We had a bachelorette party of 15 women in an Airbnb in Austin. He made the most beautiful cheese plate and made an epic steak entree. Highly recommend! read more

Gather & Forge - Cheese plate! - Personal Chefs Near Me - Austin, Texas

BEST THING WE COULD HAVE DONE! I booked a private dinner for my husbands birthday and chef Dan Bruce exceeded all our expectations. He came up with the perfect menu filled with all my husbands favourite dishes, with flawless execution. Everything was fresh, delicious and we loved all the textures! Some of the best mango cheesecake we've had in our lives! Thank you so much to Dan and the team for making this night so memorable. We loved Dans passion for food and his craft, and recommend him to anyone and everyone! read more

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Wow! Wow! Wow! I'm reeling from this dinner. Grace, completely wowed the crowed with each course. From the cocktails to the main course and the showstopper dessert finale...i kept screaming at how insanely delicious each dish was. Whatever you do... request the guacamole... you won't regret it. She is amazing and so dedicated to her craft. It's insane. Each dish was so beautiful. Thank You Graceeeeee. read more

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We chose to try a private chef for a celebratory birthday dinner at home with friends for the first time. Gather and Forge to the rescue for a dinner and experience that would rival the best restaurant experience. The entire process was incredible from initial inquiry, questionnaires, pre-event interaction with the chef, accommodating our special dietary needs, to the execution of mouth-watering courses. Our chef was Chef Nicholas Hymel. Simply put he delivered! The private in-home dinner party is our new alternative to going out. An amazing experience and highly recommended. We cannot wait for our next Gather and Forge dinner. read more

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I have been trying to book with Gather and Forge for my last few events, and finally were lucky enough to have them for my husbands birthday! It was our first time having a chef in our home and was an amazing experience. Chef Dan was so nice and the food was delicious. He answered any question the guests had. I can't wait to host another dinner party with them. read more

Gather & Forge - Personal Chefs Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Amazing experience! Our bachelorette crew came back after a day on the lake HUNGRY. Chef Arturo really took great care of us. He was prompt, delivered everything we discussed and left everything spotless afterwards. Food was fantastic, amazing what he turned out from our Airbnb kitchen. Would highly recommend for anyone looking for a great option for a larger group. read more

These chefs came and did a private dinner for my bachelorette party. The food & service was phenomenal!! We were of course running late and didn't phase them; steaks were cooked to perfection. Each course built on the last, and everything was delicious! I even made the statement at one point that all the different flavors were 'an explosion in my mouth!!' Being from Miami, and having now lived in Seattle for 10+ years, I've missed Latin food; they served paella and it was to die for!! Was a nice little taste of home too. Would very much recommend them for anything! You cannot go wrong by hiring this team!! read more

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These chefs are amazing! We are doing the weekly food service and could not be happier. My wife has significant food restrictions based on her illness and we are able to work directly with our chef to tailor each week's meals exactly to her needs. Between G&F and our close friends all of our lunch and dinner needs are met each week and it has relieved a huge stressor in our lives. read more

As a global fitness brand, we were in Austin, TX on a publicity tour. As part of our work we hosted 10 social media influencers in our rented private residence in East Austin, along with our team of five colleagues, for a dinner party. I hired Gather & Forge to not only provide a beautiful and healthy meal, but to also be a part of the evening's fun by incorporating our guests into the meal preparation in some way. They totally delivered! I started by working with Ryan over phone, email and text to book and discuss details. I then worked with Nick to talk food, event flow, wine/beer pairings, etc. On the night of the event Nick was the lead chef, with Ryan and Anthony assisting him, and everything was seamless, beautifully presented, and of course amazingly fresh and delicious. Their creativity blew my mind and truly impressed our guests. With 15 diners, a traditional interactive meal prep was going to be tricky, so they came up with an even better solution -- each person got to prepare their first course dish with dry ice. I don't care how old you are, dry ice is always fun! Ahead of each course, Nick took a moment to share with guests the dish and a little bit about where the ingredients had come from, including some bits of anecdotal information that told me he has a real respect and appreciation for food. All three guys worked well together, were comical and approachable, and communicated well with one another and with me in determining when we were ready to move on to the next course. They also interacted well with our guests by answering questions and holding conversations about the dishes. After the event was done, they cleaned up the kitchen -- like, swept, wiped everything down, and washed every dish by hand so there wasn't so much as a spoon to empty out of the dishwasher the next morning. After our guests had gone, they stuck around and hung out with us in the kitchen as we all toasted to a successful event! Gather & Forge was built from very humble roots and they have a really wonderful story of success through hard work, passion and authenticity. I can't wait for the opportunity to work with Gather & Forge again and have already recommended them to some local friends. They really are the best! read more

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Top notch experience with this company. Our private chef Jack was incredible and did an unbelievable job with the food. The menu was curated perfectly. jack even offered to go grab a few things for us when we were missing some things in the pantry. Lastly he was a lot of fun!!! Great for a bach read more

Gather & Forge - Food bar - Personal Chefs Near Me - Austin, Texas

Chef Bex aka Chef Becca was absolutely amazing. She catered our private retreat in Austin. The presentation and flavors were just fabulous. Her hospitality and customer service was professional and friendly. By the end of the week, it felt like we made a friend as well. Highly, highly recommend her! Ohhhh.... And the dessert was off the chain! read more

Chef Tony cooked lunch for a group of rowdy bachelorette party and it couldn't have gone smoother. We had an incredible meal and cleaned up after. Absolutely worth while experience read more

Tony was amazing & the food was delicious! He worked around a couple different meal preferences for us. We would definitely recommend!

Chef Jack Bright cooked our Thanksgiving dinner and it was perfect. Not only did Jack make a wonderful meal, he knew how to "read his audience". He was perfectly involved with conversations and was over bearing with details and chit chat unless engaged. A wonderful meal!! Thanks Jack ! read more

Chef Tony was a TREAT! Loved everything he made. We hired him for a Bachelorette party dinner night and he was amazing! Communication, food, accommodations and collaboration were a 10/10!! read more

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Absolutely the best dinner party of our lives. (All guests agree!) Food was absolutely incredible, we were dreaming about it and regretting our own dinner choices for nights to come. Planning was easy, timing was perfect, and Chef Luke was amazing. Fun to talk to, easy to work with, and BRILLIANT in the kitchen. We will not only be doing this again soon, but will be requesting him personally! read more

Simply amazing! The entire process was very easy and the execution of the evening was superb. We booked an evening and Chef Jack texted soon after. We had a nice conversation about what we wanted for the event and Chef produce a killer menu. After reviewing the menu with the group I asked for a couple of changes that were readily accommodated. I was pleasantly surprised at just how easy it was to pull together an exciting menu that was good for even one of our more picky eaters. We did five courses and Chef Jack recommended pairings for each. It was so great to be out of the kitchen enjoying time with my family. We were able to enjoy a very pleasantly paced evening without one or more of us being in the kitchen either cooking or cleaning up. Thank you Chef Jack, we'll be in touch soon for a date night. We had a party of five and did the surf and turf. Pics attached. Thank you, thank you, thank you Gather and Forge for introducing us to Chef Jack Bright. We are fans and truly grateful for the evening. These are memories that last. read more

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This was our first experience using a private chef. Chef Becca was amazing. Her food hit the spot! Each course was custom and catered to what we loved. We will definitely be reaching out to her again! Thank you for making our night memorable! read more

Great experience and I highly recommend! Michelle was great helping us schedule and coordinate. Chef Leo killed it.. food was amazing and the interaction with our group was top notch! read more

We hired Gather & Forge for my husbands 50th birthday dinner. Chef Dan was fantastic. We opted for the cooking "lesson" and four courses. Dan picked out some great dishes and everything was delicious. We would recommend them. read more

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