I came across Gmarket from an internet search - and thought wow ALL five stars?!? And my experience was absolutely the same!! I wanted to plan a birthday dinner at my home and hadn't worked with a private chef before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The short of it is I was blown away by Frank and his team from start to finish!! Frank was very responsive after my first inquiry and subsequent (read: MANY) requests. He proposed an amazing menu while accommodating several severe allergy requests. I changed the number of guests several times, which he also just rolled with. And then (!), I realized I REQUESTED THE WRONG DATE. A major error on my part. I don't recommend doing that, but Frank was also somehow able to accommodate my date change. I was incredibly grateful for that!! The dinner itself with Chef Charley was INSANELY DELICIOUS. We had an amazing round of starters, followed by a multi-course dinner and dessert. Everything was just SO, SO good. So flavorful. Cooked just perfectly. And there was plenty of food for all of the guests. (I was worried that maybe there wouldn't be generously sized portions, but this was not the case whatsoever.) On top of that, Chef Charley himself was an awesome guy and I really enjoyed working with him. We spoke before the dinner to run through everything, he helped make the dinner layout look gorgeous with some extra props I wasn't even expecting, and his cleanup job was A+. Icing on the cake for an incredibly talented chef!!! I am truly looking forward to my next opportunity to work with Frank, Charley and their team again! read more

BELIEVE THE HYPE. We are a difficult crowd to impress and Gmarket soared above our expectations for a 15-person Thanksgiving extravaganza. It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to host our loved ones at our home. We trusted Gmarket at the helm and we are very grateful and glad we did. This team is professional, responsive and cares about their work in a way that translates to the table. Exceptional food. Our guests were heard singing the praises throughout diner, on repeat. We were a rowdy bunch and Chef Bobby and his crew knew how to handle us. By the end of the night, it felt like we were all celebrating the holiday together. We are grateful to Gmarket for the memories and I am looking for another excuse to get a caterer! read more

Incredible catering. We hired them last minute (only a week notice), and needed appetizers and dinner for 40 people. They were fantastic. Great food, great service, and cleaned our kitchen so well it looked like they were never there at all. 10/10 will be back again! read more

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Visited GMarket Chef in Lakeview for the first time and it was such a great experience. The food tasted super fresh -- I had the bulgogi bowl and the flavor was incredible, really well seasoned and a good portion size. Service was friendly and fast, even though the place was busy around lunchtime. The space is clean and has a relaxed vibe, perfect for a quick meal or takeout. Definitely coming back again. read more

Gmarket made our son and future daughter-in-law's rehearsal dinner truly spectacular and stress-free. We reached out to Chef Frank a few months in advance with some initial ideas, and within a week, the menu was perfectly planned. We opted for heavy appetizers and bartender services, which were a huge hit. Everything was homemade, beautifully presented, and delicious. Drew and the team arrived early (bringing ovens since our venue didn't have any), handled all the prep, and left the space spotless afterward. Phil, our bartender, crafted three specialty drinks that we collaborated on, and his service kept the energy of the evening going. We highly recommend Gmarket and will absolutely use them again for our next event! Wish I took pictures of the tables and food to share but was too busy enjoying the event. read more

Chef Drew and Chef Wes prepared and served an in-home four-course dinner at our friends'. They worked with our hosts to create the perfect menu, then executed it both beautifully and deliciously, and at the end of the night the kitchen was spotless. I can't recommend them enough! read more

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Great service and quality. Solid communication from Frank throughout the ordering and set up process. His team took care of everything and all we had to do was eat and drink! read more

This was such a fun experience ! Chef frank worked with us on the menu and chefs JT and Wes were our chefs for our dinner ! Everything was excellent and we had such a fun time! Food was amazing ! read more

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We used Gmarket for our 30-person vow renewal that was held at our home. Frank was wonderful to work with leading up to the event. We even had to reschedule at the last minute due to a serious illness, and Frank was beyond understanding and accommodating. When we were finally able to hold our event, the two chefs that prepared and served the food were unbelievably kind and personable. They answered questions from our interested guests and created the most gorgeous spread. They were very careful to keep meat and vegetarian items separate at my request. Everyone absolutely raved about the food. Even my super picky dad said that it was the best food he has had in Chicago! They left our kitchen sparkling. We will not hesitate to use Gmarket again in the future. read more

Absolutely knocked it out of the park. Gmarket handled my wife's 40th birthday party in our backyard and it turned out better than I had even hoped. Frank was extremely responsive and amenable in setting up logistics and designing the menu. On the day-of, the food tasted exceptionally and chef Brandon's service was top-notch. It meant a lot to me to have such special event handled so beautifully. Highly recommend. read more

Brandon and Frank did a fantastic job on a catered work party. Highly recommend and will use them again!

We hired GMarket chef to cater our daughter's first birthday. They executed beautifully and flawlessly on a Derby theme. They made even the most basic of dishes taste out of this world. We also used their bartender who did a great job and created a signature cocktail for the event. Food- outstanding Service -outstanding Happy people who take pride in their work- outstanding:) Can't wait to use them again. Best personal chef in Chicago! read more

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We cannot begin to explain how incredibly amazing Chefs Brandon and Sam were last night. They showed up on time, were so friendly, and went straight to work to create the most delicious food from my meager kitchen - we were blown away! The beautiful display they set up for our appetizers to greet our guests during the cocktail/mingle was unexpected and so high end. Chef Brandon explained each app and our guest just Wow'ed as we tasted each - the bacon wrapped date with chorizo, the saffron chicken skewers...just mouthwatering! And no one believed that it was hummus on the 3rd app, it was too delectable! The meal was incredible, we had a heated debate over whether the salmon or the hanger steak was the best! The SALAD was definitely a favorite, so fresh and flavorful! The truffled gnocchi was so tasty too! The brownie/chocolate mousse with salted carmel pieces was absolutely perfect, not overly sweet but savory and with layers of flavoring. My kitchen was spotless after dinner, they even vacuumed and clean the floor! And we were so happy they packed up all extra food so we had to enjoy the next day, especially as we starting talking about all the tasty dishes. We had to resample that next morning! We would recommend Chef Brandon and Chef Sam enthusiastically! Start to finish, amazing talented professionals with wonderful friendly personalities, far exceeded expectations! Cannot wait for our next event to enjoy their creations! read more

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This review is way overdue "by 2 years". In November of 2022 I had a small event at my place, 15 people, some vegan. frank kwiatkowski was do patient with me. I wanted to make sure there was enough food, good variety that could accommodate everyone, nice presentation,... Etc. And oh it was perfect. The gentleman that came over to my place to set up everything and heat the food that was supposed to be served warm did amazing. Everyone was so impressed. I am just beyond thankful for such amazing experience. I know this was a small job for them but it really exceeded my expectations in every way. Thank you! read more

Worked with Frank to help plan a menu for my wife's birthday party. One of the guests was gluten-intolerant but it was easy to pick a high-quality, gluten-free menu with a varied assortment of starters, mains, and a dessert. On the day of the event, Bobby and JT arrived a few minutes before advertised and got right to work--they did the food and I handled the bar. They had appetizers plated and ready to go before guests arrived. It was easy to share the kitchen with them--I've got to say that these guys had a consistently helpful, positive attitude, which added to the levity of the occasion. All I had to worry about was table, chairs, glassware, and tablecloths, everything else was taken care of. Guests were uniformly blown away by the quality of the food. Flavors were bright, fresh, and clean. Throughout the dinner, guests stopped to remark on how much they were enjoying their meal. I also have to say that this may have been the best creme brulee I've ever had. Can't recommend Frank and his team enough--they helped give us a memorable experience that my wife and our friends will not forget. Several asked for Frank's contact info, which I was happy to share. Will definitely hire Frank and his crew again! read more

We hired GMarket for a home holiday party (~40 people) and we were so pleased with their delicious food and friendly service. I'm so happy we had the food professionally prepared instead of trying to do it ourselves, and they brought everything ready to be warmed and served. They took care of all the plating and presented it so nicely. What set their food apart were all the garnishes, extra sauces, and great flavors that a home cook wouldn't think of. It was restaurant quality. They provided extra servings and we had more than enough food. Thank you for taking such good care of us! read more

Just Wow! This was my first time hiring a personal chef. I was nervous because I did not know what to expect. But Chef Bobby was the best (also he is the tailgate chef for the Bears). He went above and beyond for my small dinner party of 6. He set up the table so beautifully. There was plenty of delicious food left over as well. Everyone raved about the food. Perfect summer treat. He also cleaned my kitchen and put away everything! Will plan to hire him again . Chef Frank, the owner was easy to get in touch with and was able to squeeze me in- I contacted them less than 1 week to my party. Overall amazing experience. read more

We worked with Frank for our wedding and could not be happier with how the food turned out. It's so rare to like food at a wedding and it was delicious. Frank worked with us to let us try the entrees ahead of time which sold us on working with him. He was super patient and accommodating when we updated our menu a few weeks out to add a vegan option and dessert. Our guests raved about the food!! I will definitely work with Frank again in the future! read more

Chef Frank was fabulous!!! He and his server were punctual, professional, and personable. Our meal was absolutely delicious- each course felt special. His food prep was impeccably well organized and the overall service was excellent. As a cherry on top, they left our kitchen spotless! I will absolutely hire him again in the future and would recommend him to any of our friends in the Chicago area. read more

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We worked with Frank and his team for a few parties we have had so far. First was my Birthday dinner that my husband arranged for us... it was a girls dinner and everything was AMAZING! Friends were talking about the food for weeks to come, and I still remember the meal... yummm, the gnochi and the delish dessert! Most recently we had the team help out for my husband's 40th Birthday party. We had over 50 guests to our home and we had a chef a server and a bartender. It was the perfect combination to make our party a huge success and worry free. Again, the food was SO GOOD! Steak skewers, lamb meatballs... everything was amazing. CANNOT wait to work with them again! read more

Fantastic menu! Great thanksgiving dinner cooked and delivered. It was amazing and my family is still talking about it. Highly recommend! read more

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I highly recommend Chef Frank's private dining services! He was very communicative, easy to work with and service at the event was great. Plus, the food was incredible! I would have never imagined a brussel sprout salad could be so delicious read more

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Frank and his Team did my 40th Birthday in Chicago and it was amazing!!!! proffessional, elegant, and everything was delicious. would recommend them to anyone. Thanks again, Mark read more

Frank and his team were incredible for our housewarming brunch. The food was fantastic, innovative, bright, flavorful, and on brand. Both Frank and our bartender Carson helped with navigating the drinks and cocktails, tidying up, keep us on track and managing the most difficult parts that allowed us to be present with our guests. Thanks team! read more

We've had Frank cater at 2 events so far and the food has been outstanding. Both the events were very well planned for the menu. Also, very different items and Frank was great to work with. We had mexican for our first event and Grill menu for the second. Guests loved it and almost everyone asked for the chef's name. Would love to work with Frank in the future and highlight recommend them for professionalism, quality and taste of food. read more

GMarket Chef - Caterers Near Me

We hired Frank to make dinner for my bday dinner party at my home for 15 people. We were blown away by his food, as well as how he and his assistant executed everything so flawlessly. He arrived about 15 min early, then asked where our pans and chopping boards were as we left him alone in the kitchen while we hung out on the deck. I had no idea what Frank and his assistant were doing, but it didn't matter since we got to enjoy our guests while they served us a delicious meal. They also cleaned up everything afterward. Beyond the dinner experience, he's also very responsive and easy to work with. If you're on the fence about hiring Frank, just do it. It was soooo worth it! It was a memorable dining experience in our home. read more

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After Covid upended our usual plans of dinner out for my wife's birthday, I was forced to get creative. Chef Frank and his team went out of his way to prepare a custom menu in advance, keep in contact throughout, and over delivered on the day of our private brunch. Everyone loved the concept, really enjoyed the meal, and left stuffed. They even left us with left overs for days. Highly recommended! read more

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We held a casual alumni lunch event yesterday and we asked GMarketChef for food catering. I am a first time, volunteering event holder with no idea or experience at all. The process with them went super well (I "waited" for some other catering provider to reply, then just response immediately!) and would for sure recommend them to anyone I know, for the delicious food and the service! Of all other good things about them, the number one thing would be their delicious food! We asked for pictures for the food so that we can put on our posters and they kindly provide that and the food was delivered as described in the picture! It was super delicious linguini and chicken!!! From the beginning, we live on a budget so I had to go back and forth with Frank on the menu to cut off the items to stay in budget, all the time they hear what we need and provide options to meet our goals. Meanwhile, the comparison between them and the other service provider make Frank and the GMarketChef stand out. To add some fun to our event I hired a bartender from a different place. Our event is in an office building located south loop chicago business center, the hardest area to find a parking. Our bartender had such trouble find parking and keeps calling me texting me while driving asking for where to park, and as a result was 30 min late for the event and had to left early worrying about her car! Frank on the other hand, show up at the event prior to the time we set, waiting there patiently in the "a little messy crowed" waiting for me while I got pulled behind on the call with the bartender guiding her to find the parking... Lastly, there food is more than delicious as I mentioned at the beginning. read more

GMarket Chef - Caterers Near Me

Would strongly recommend. Recently catered an at-home event for about 30 people. Needed to come up with apps and dinner for both the meat eaters and the plant based crowd and everything was fabulous. Frank will work with you on a menu and what will be delivered will not disappoint. Reasonably priced as well. read more

I cannot recommend GMarket Chef more highly. Our experience was absolutely superb, from initial consultation through the last bite of our delicious meal, and beyond. Frank and his team were consummate professionals, and delivered an incredible experience on a very short notice. If you are looking for a gourmet, personalized service, look no further. Thank you Frank for making our company appreciation dinner such a success!!! read more

I was searching for a private chef to cook for a small group for my sister's 30th birthday, and Frank delivered! After quite a bit of researching, Frank was the only Chicago-area chef who would quickly give me a quote (and a very affordable one at that!), would customize the menu in partnership with us, would use (and wash!) our china dining set for us, etc. We were thrilled before the party even began by how easy Frank was to work with, but the food was even better than we could have hoped for. From a charred Brussels sprout salad to Parisienne butternut squash gnocchi to chicken roulade, ever think was exquisite both in taste and the plating display. Plus, the portions were generous, leaving us all stuffed and with leftovers. On top of all that, Frank and Ryan (the other chef) were incredibly kind and easygoing. They also kept their masks on the entire time and took COVID precautions very seriously. We will definitely be inviting them back for future celebrations! read more

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Although Frank was unable to accomodate us on the short notice we provided him (we had a death in our Chicago family), he took the time and gave us the consideration to find us a caterer in the area who could help us. If his food and service are even close to his Customer Service, you have a real winner here! read more

This was my 2nd time using the Gmarket chef and it was awesome both times. Frank cooked an amazing meal for a group of 7 at our home. He was very flexible with timing and the menu and accommodated all dietary restrictions. His food was is creative yet approachable but most importantly it was all delicious. His prices are reasonable for a private chef and the portions were more than enough to enjoy again the following day. I can't wait to book Frank again! read more

I've worked with GMarket Chef twice for big events and Frank and his team are beyond amazing. From the very beginning you are provided a detailed menu and they will work with you on all the ins-and-an outs of food preferences. Their goal is ultimate palate perfection. My party was filled with great because the food was loved by everyone. Incredible appetizers started us and led to a delicious dinner. Beautiful service, professional interaction and ultimately the most incredible food you could ever imagine. read more

My husband and I hired Frank to cater a party for 75 guests to celebrate our wedding. Prior to finding Frank, I was getting very discouraged in our attempts to hire a caterer, repeatedly being underwhelmed with the menu options that were presented to us and overwhelmed by the price tag. Frank offered a substantial, tasteful and interesting menu at a reasonable price. He took our input about the menu and further customized it according to our feedback. He was easy to work with and responsive throughout the process. At the event itself, the food was beautifully presented, his staff were very professional, and the food was delicious. We received many compliments from the party guests who said that the food was "amazing", and "beautifully presented". More than one guest asked for his business card at the party. I would hire Frank again without hesitation. read more

Chef Frank and his team did a spectacular job with our dinner party. For my wife's 40th, Frank cooked a delectable meal for 16 people, which everyone loved. The appetizers were presented beautifully, and got crushed. Salad, fresh pasta course, and entree were all fantastic. He allowed our guests to select their protein for the entree in advance, which was much appreciated. They were in our kitchen prepping, cooking, and cleaning, but they were absolutely in the background and facilitated a smooth, enjoyable evening. Frank was easy and fun to work with, and even accommodated some last minute requests with no stress. Highly recommend him and will definitely use him again. read more

We hired Chef Frank for my sister's bachelorette party. Not only was the service affordable (always a plus!), but the food was INCREDIBLE. Chef Frank patiently worked with me to out together a three course meal for several different dietary restrictions - going as far as revamping the menu SEVERAL times to address our requests. He also provided us with recommended wine pairings with each course. On the day of, he came on time, prepared everything to perfection and cleaned. It was above and beyond anything we expected. The girls still text each other about how they dream about the food that night. We will definitely use Chef Frank again - highly, highly recommend! FYI - we all ate the pasta course too quickly to even take a picture of it. read more

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I've used GMarket Chef for multiple events, and each time they have been fantastic! I truly cannot recommend Frank and his team highly enough. Not only is the food incredible, but they make the entire process incredibly easy from start to finish. Years later, our whole family still talks about how Frank's food is some of the best that they have ever had. His salmon is incredible, but it was hard to pick a favorite dish -- from the watermelon salad, chicken & waffles, gnocchi, and desserts, everything was A++. We love how he customizes the menu, and takes into account dietary restrictions and personal preferences. They also do an incredible job setting everything up and cleaning up at the end, so that you feel like you barely have to do anything at all as the host. read more

My business partner and I worked with Frank on a very important event for our new business Vibe Tribe Socials. We really wanted to impress our client and he did an amazing job! His food was absolutely delicious. I'm literally craving part of the menu! Frank was easy to work with and we look forward to working with him again on another event. Our client was very happy and impressed with their dinner. read more

Frank and team did amazing job for a recent dinner event at our home. The food was incredible and my kitchen was spotless. Will absolutely be hiring him again!! read more