We just used Hel's to cater our Thanksgiving and Xmas family gatherings. We ordered the food from the holiday menu and it was so good! This place rocks!!! read more

We worked with Hel's for our Wedding (June 4th 2016) and it was a fabulous experience. We started off with Will as our liaison but after he moved on we were given Julie R. The transition went incredibly smooth, and our wedding day was magical. Everyone at Hel's (but especially Julie and Will) were amazing to work with. Extremely professional, quick to respond, and willing to cater to our imaginations. They worked with us to do just about everything that we asked, all while keeping us within our budget. {For example my husband and I were really interested in having a raw oyster/shellfish bar. Catering was one of the first vendors we hired so we kept saying we'd pull the funds from somewhere else in the budget. Will kept insisting we DONT do that, and said if we got close to the wedding day we could always add it on later. He was so right, we ended up not being able to afford it and are so grateful he insisted that we stick to our pre-set budget and didn't let our spending get out of hand. The food was phenomenal and all of our guests enjoyed it (we even enjoyed it for a few more days after the wedding due to all of the leftovers). Our wedding day menu... Specialty drink: Pimm's cup (mixed by Hel's). Garnished beautifully with lemon and cucumber. Tasted great. Appetizers: Chorizo stuffed dates (loved them at the tasting session, didn't get to try them on the wedding day but guests raved about them) Mango Chutney Cheese Puffs. Unexpectedly delicious. I HATE mandarin oranges (each puff is garnished with a mandarin slice) but I was completely blown away by these. We loved them so much we ordered 2 per guest. Sweet onion empanadas. Liked them at the tasting, didn't get to try them the day of. I ordered these to make sure my vegetarian guests had plenty of options. All of the vegetarians praised these the day of the wedding. Mini meat loaf bites. These were delicious at the tasting and the day of the wedding. Would highly recommend these as well. Hot soft pretzel bar. We worked with Hel's to create this for my husband. It was reasonably priced if you had cold dipping sauces (spicy brown mustard, honey cinnamon butter) but for some reason the pricing went way up because my husband insisted on hot oozy pretzel cheese. I kept persuading him to just have pub cheese style spread but this was one of the very few things he HAD to have. Personally I'd order this again but keep the cost lower with just cold dips. Salad course: baby greens with brussel sprouts, roasted corn, goat cheese, blueberries and balsamic vinaigrette. We loved this salad and many of the guests commented on how delicious and 'expensive tasting' it was. Dinner: beef medallions with wild mushroom bordelaise. Everyone loved this dish, AND it is one of their cheaper beef options. Highly recommend this one. Boneless chicken breast with mushroom duxelle and tarragon cream sauce. (this one was delicious at the tasting, but we ordered it without the phyllo for the wedding. I think fewer people at this because the beef was so great (all guest were given both proteins). If I were to order it again I would have left it the way Hel's intended it prepare it, wrapped in phyllo dough. Parmesan potato galette, absolutely delicious, a great side for our menu. Roasted asparagus topped with gremolata. The day of the wedding it didn't notice the gremolata topping. It either didn't get put on or dissolved into the dish somehow. But it really didn't matter because it tasted great. Vegetarian option: individual sized Eggplant timbale. This was a huge hit. I actually had some meat eaters order the vegetarian option and everyone that tasted it loved it. read more

We used Hel's Kitchen for our recent wedding at A New Leaf, and they were awesome to work with! Nikee Fellows was my coordinator, and she was just great. So friendly and so on top of things (even with a 3 mo. old baby!). I loved her! On the day of, they showed up way early and were well underway setting up by the time I arrived at 2 PM. They all worked quickly and courteously. Our supervisor for the night, Kelly, was just SUCH a gentleman. He really went above and beyond. When it was discovered that Sam's had not delivered any of the red wine they had charged us for, he walked down the street to Treasure Island and bought a bunch of wine for us. He was so sweet and seemed like a great guy to work for. Our bartender was really nice as well, though I can't remember her name. No one complained about the service, and most importantly, EVERYONE LOVED THE FOOD. We had several people tell us that it was the best wedding food they'd ever had, and it was a buffet! Yay for Hel and his liberal tree-huggin' kitchen!! read more

I'm not surprised to see the other glowing reviews for Hel's Kitchen. I was lucky enough to meet Nikee Fellows at a bridal show. Both my mother and I thought she was amazing right off the bat. Still, I did my research and received proposals from about 10 other caterers for our July 2010 wedding. Not only was Hel's the best priced option, but they were the only ones that actually listened to what I wanted. I felt like Nikee understood the kind of wedding we were having and would make sure it was wonderful. She was an absolute joy to work with and I loved the way she set up our venue, which we found through her recommendation......Prairie Production in the west loop. It was exactly what we wanted. She was there on time and had the place looking fabulous when we arrived. Kelly was our day-of coordinator and he was great to have running the show. The staff was so friendly and accommodating. Everyone raved about them----and they thought the food was outstanding! I have told everyone I know about Nikee and Hel's Kitchen and I'm positive I'll use them again in the future for any party I need catered. I know it will be stress free and delicious! read more

I contacted Julie at Hel's Kitchen to plan a cocktail party for about 40. She was very helpful in assisting me in making choices. We went with the Holiday package and added a few extra items to it. As luck would have it, we got about 7" of snow that day. The team and the food arrived right on time. Melissa, Lupe and Phil were wonderful and got the table and the bar sent up so they looked beautiful and arranged them for great traffic flow. They were so efficient, I realized that my husband and I could just go and enjoy our guests. The food earned raves, especially the beef tenderloin bites, shrimp with orange clove sauce, steak wrapped aperagus. They were not inexpensive but it was so nice to have fun at our own party. They left the house in perfect condition.Would love to use them again! read more

Contacted Hel's Kitchen to check on how much notice was needed for an order to be placed that Saturday. I was told placing the order by Wednesday would give them plenty of time. Fast forward to that Wednesday when I attempted to place an order and was told by the same person that they had decided "weeks ago" they had closed down service for that day and would not be able to help. They've now cut down the time we have to find an alternative with no apology whatsoever, only denial that they had ever said it in the first place. Obviously will never attempt to work with them again. read more

Simple garden party. Terrific in every way. Helpful planning of set-up and rentals, great tasting food, classic presentation, outstanding professional and friendly staff of servers, bar tenders, etc. to enhance the event. Total clean-up and packing of left-overs. Place looked better than when we started. Guests loved it. Once we finish the yummy left-overs, we'll plan another event with them. read more

We've used Hel's kitchen for big birthday parties, smaller business and political events, and family gatherings they have always been the best. David is great at recommending items you might not choose on your own but wind up being the hit of the party. Our guests have always loved the food - it's terrific. And they are so service-oriented. They'll customize everything to your needs, everyone who works there is helpful, and they can recommend wonderful people to set up and serve if you need that as well. I can't recommend Hel's Kitchen more highly. Since we found them we haven't used anyone else. read more

Hel's Kitchen did an outstanding job catering our wedding at the Redfield Estate. They are so much more than just caterers. Linda was our event manager and she thought of every tiny detail to make our night outstanding. I knew our wedding would be something special after our tasting. Every bite of food was so expertly crafted and delicious. The fresh ingredients and creative menu are not what you find with other caterers. We had many food allergies to take into consideration and Linda and the chef worked together to ensure that everyone could eat to their heart's content, safely. Linda was familiar with our venue and was able to give expert advice on the set-up of our wedding. We rented all of our serving ware and linens from Hel's Kitchen. They handle all of the set-up and take-down of the tables and chairs for the ceremony and reception. Having the rentals of these items and the set up come from the caterer made it so much easier for us to navigate. Our food was served buffet style and this was no ordinary buffet. It was classy, simple and elegant, complete with palm leaves, succulents, hand written signs listing allergens, and attentive staff. Hel's Kitchen provided the bartenders for us, and the women who worked our event were friendly, professional and fun. If you're looking for a caterer that provides a fresh, quality and creative menu, excellent customer service and great attention to detail, go with Hel's Kitchen. read more

Hel's Kitchen catered our daughter's wedding last weekend at the Byron Colby Barn in Grayslake as well as the post wedding brunch at our house the next morning. Everything about the experience was outstanding. Linda exercised incredible patience as we pondered our options and changed our minds a few times, but always offered suggestions and alternatives as needed until we figured it all out. The food was delicious and plentiful and the servers were friendly and efficient. The young man who delivered the food early the morning of the brunch made fast friends with our dog who's wary of strangers, so that's a plus in my book as well! We couldn't be more pleased with all aspects of our daughter and new son-in-law's fabulous wedding weekend, many thanks to the folks at Hel's Kitchen. read more

Hel's Kitchen was simply amazing for our wedding on October 23, 2010. I had the greatest time working with Nikee, and she was absolutely as sweet as could be with all of my last minute changes, requests, details, questions, etc. etc. I couldn't say anything that would be "too nice" for the group that was staffing our event, either. The food was prepared impeccably and the front of the house was top notch. Every little detail was taken care of, and we truly felt like guests at our own wedding. I highly suggest anyone who is looking for a caring, creative and unique catering experience to call Nikee, you will be stunned with the results. read more

Hel's Kitchen catered our wedding on 8/4/2012. We had a great experience with them, the food was great and the service was wonderful. We worked with Linda mostly and she was friendly, accommodating, and professional. I would recommend Hel's Kitchen to anyone having a wedding or event in the Chicago area. read more

Hel's Kitchen catered my daughter's wedding. Linda Norgaila made sure everything was perfect, from the tasting session to the linens and china to the food. She was helpful in planning the set up and working with the venue to make sure everything was where it should be. We had appetizers, cocktails, and a buffet dinner. The food was delicious and the service could not have been better. Everything was just the way we wanted it. As an added bonus, when they left, you could not even tell they had been there. read more

We hired Hel's to cater our wedding at the Garfield Park Conservatory. Our experience with Hel's and especially with Linda was terrific. They were competitively priced, sensitive to our budget, great at handling the many special food requests, and very easy to communicate with. The food was very good and the staff were highly professional. We had pies delivered by another vendor instead of a traditional cake, and they did a beautiful job of setting them up and serving them, even though they weren't the ones providing the dessert. The only surprise to us was that wine wasn't served during dinner - we just assumed it would be. Not a big deal but if it is to you you might want to specify it. read more

We hired Hel's kitchen to cater Mothers day brunch at our home. All of the staff made it very easy to order and stress free. The driver was on time and he was very helpful with set up. The food was awesome. Everything was very fresh and seasoned perfect. We will use Hel's Kitchen again. read more

I got married at the Grove in Glenview this past September and had Hel's Kitchen cater it. They did a wonderful job. Our catering coordinator was Linda and she worked with my husband and I to create an awesome brunch menu. Linda worked with the chef at Hel's to include dishes that weren't on their menu. On the day of the wedding they completely exceeded my expectations on how they set the place up. Linda really had great attention to detail and set the dinning area in the Pavilion perfectly. The wait staff was extremely helpful, professional and friendly. They were a pleasure to work with. And last but certainly not least, the food was AMAZING! I've never had food that good at a wedding. My family and friends are still talking about how good the food was. I had an amazing experience with Hel's Kitchen and I highly recommend them to anyone wanting amazingly good food! read more

Hel's Kitchen catered my mom's 100th and 101st birthday parties and just catered the "shiva" following her funeral. The staff could not have been more helpful, even coming out to my mother's apartment to see how the setup should go, advising me to order more substantial food for the dinner hour and supplying fantastic help who set up the whole place while our family was at the funeral and cemetery. They were efficient, compassionate, professional and very aware of not letting things sit too long on the buffet table. They did everything with only three days of planning. I cannot thank them enough. And oh yes! The food was fabulous, and they had gluten free options, wine, drinks and all sorts of features I never even thought to order! They are the best people to work with, and I will call them many times in the future. read more

I used Hel's Kitchen for my 50th birthday party at an outside venue. From the minute I talked to Will Borris I knew I was in great hands. Will was professional and extremely consultative in talking about the options I had for the event. I had several people that needed gluten free and they were very accommodating. Will helped me pick a fabulous menu. The food was fantastic. My friends were calling for weeks complimenting the food. The service was attentive and really exceptional. I didn't have to think about a thing and they had everything paced and cleaned up without me even noticing them so I could enjoy the party. They were fantastic! I would highly recommend Hel's Kitchen for any catering needs. I know I will use them again. read more

We used Hel's for a 45 person buffet rehearsal dinner at a venue they were recommended by. It was my first time handling an event with catering, etc. The event planner, Linda N. was knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. I felt like I could ask her anything and get an honest answer without any condescension. Night of the event, the team who worked for us were wonderful. David R. the manager, Eric the chef, Hunter the bartender & Michael the waiter all worked very hard without being intrusive. They kept everything moving without hurrying and were always around when needed. And the food was delicious, hot or cold as needed. The only disappointment was the coffee. It tasted pretty bad (very weak). Leftovers were packed up in alum trays and given to me. Special requests were remembered. Hel's helped make a great evening. 8/ 20 Update: Hel's did not charge me for the coffee service upon finding out I was not satisfied. read more

We found Hel's Kitchen by simply walking around the ORT show and tasting food. We were already approximately 2 booths away when we tasted the sample that we took and immediately went back to speak with them. Their food was OUTSTANDING! What made it even better was the service. Julie is wonderful, very patient, and accommodating. She eased all my stress and provided food, service, and even price that was better than any expectation. Can not recommend higher. read more

Terrible - I hate to hate - but man they royally screwed up. I had a small wedding party (100 guests) at my parents house. It was set up very nice with a tent, chairs, flowers, music. The food NEVER showed up. We tried calling over and over after we realized it was getting a bit late. No one was around on a Sat. early evening. We just got an answering machine. We had to quickly run to California Pizza Kitchen to get large pasta platters, salads, ect. We did not have enough food so my parents and my husband and I did not eat!!! This was set up to be a great time and Hel's Kitchen ruined it. It was almost embarrassing - thank god it was family. We spent plenty of thought and time picking out the menu and it was all for Nada. I would say skip them if you don't want to worry about them showing up!! read more

We used Hel's Kitchen as our caterer for our wedding reception at the Redfield Estate at the Grove. It was one of the best decisions we made. Living in Denver, we had to do a lot of our wedding planning over email & the phone. Our coordinator, Nikee, did a fantastic job helping us throughout the planning process. I was even more impressed by how smoothly our reception ran. The food was amazing! The staff was so friendly, helpful and attentive to all our guests. Everything worked out just beautifully! Hel's Kitchen went above and beyond to make sure my husband & I, as well as our guests, were taken care of throughout the whole evening. I cannot express how pleased I was with their services. I would highly recommend them and I will use them again if we ever do another event in Chicago. read more

I used Hels Kitchen this past weekend to cater a dinner in my home for 22 people. I served an Italian themed dinner off their regular 'drop off menu'. It included cesear salad, chicken piccata, veg lasagna, yellow and red grape tomatoes with mozzeralla cheese, and a variety of breads. There was ample food (with a few left overs). the staff who I worked with on the phone were helpful and polite as was the man who delivered the food. Heating instructions were simple and the serving ware (baskets, chafing dishes, etc) were nice. Food was great. Total cost including delivery and pick up was less then $350. I would recommend them. read more

Impeccable service and food-Hel's Kitchen catered our cocktail reception; i.e. we had gotten married in a tiny ceremony the month prior and at the end of July had the big bash at A New Leaf. There was only one tiny hiccup with a few hi boy tables being delivered that would have needed table cloths when we had asked for brushed metal ones. My husband called David and he corrected the problem immediately. Throughout the process, David was professional, friendly, and responsive. We already felt good about going with Hel's because he had recently catered his niece's wedding at our venue and we hoped that we would be happy with the end result. We were very happy. First of all, all the servers had a great attitude. I was at an expensive wedding reception recently where the bartender just glowered at you and all the staff seemed luke warm. I mean, it's a wedding, you want people to look happy and it's part of their job to act like it. Hel's kitchen staff were polite and smiled, and they actually seemed glad to be there. The food was great, and it was set up well and displayed very attractively. We had many people tell us after and during how much they enjoyed the food. The bartenders were great. David worked with us throughout because we wanted to make sure we knew how much everything would cost and why, not just see a bill and blindly pay it. He was patient and thorough and on top of that seems like a genuinely nice guy. I was pleased to meet him at the reception--he was very accommodating and gave the sense that he had everything well handled, which is what you want when you're worried about whether people will have fun at your party. Altogether I would say both my husband and I were very impressed and would not hesitate to recommend Hel's Kitchen or to use their services for a other occasion in the future. read more

Hooray for Nikee!!!! The food at our wedding ROCKED. We wanted a vegetarian wedding and, early on, we started to doubt that decision because we were worried our meat-eating friends and family would be faint with iron-deprivation halfway through the cocktail hour. Nikee reassured us that we could have a kick-butt vegetarian buffet that would leave no one missing meat. And oh did Hel's deliver! The food was AWESOME - our guests were raving about it and everyone was stuffed. What we really appreciated, however, was how warm, friendly and flexible Nikee was. She was fun to work with, she was easy with recommendations that would help us save money, and we trusted her 100%. We nevereverever felt like we were being ripped off and Nikee was always quick to get back to us, answer out nutty questions, and all the other vendors she recommended (cake, flowers, liquor) ended up being awesome too. We had a small snafu with our liquor delivery and Nikee went out of her way to work it out for us, even though it was our problem to deal with. Should we need a caterer again, we will DEFINITELY go with Hel's. THANK YOU NIKEE!!!!! read more

Hel's Kitchen catered our wedding in September 2013 at the South Shore Cultural Center. Everything went smoothly, and my wife and I were 100% satisfied. The original planner left the company (to care for family members on the West Coast) during the planning phase, but the transition to Will was seamless. I was admittedly worried about this, but to my surprise there were no hiccups. One of the first questions the planners asked me while we shopped around for caterers was what was important to me. I told them the food had to be memorable and that I didn't want any surprises. Well, Hel's delivered both! The food at the reception was just as good as it was at the tasting! The service was impeccable. They worked with me to stay within my budget, yet exceeded all my expectations. They were honest in telling me what was good, so-so, and what to stay away from based on my taste/preferences. They portioned everything out perfectly (hardly any leftovers) so I didn't feel as if we wasted any $ , food, or alcohol. They were super flexible with the table and station arrangements, which ensured our guests were fed in a timely manner. The staff member that tended to the head table was extremely friendly and efficient. We made at least eight revisions to our menu, but never felt we were an inconvenience to Will and the team. Best of all, there were absolutely zero hidden surprises when I got the final bill. I will continue to recommend Hel's to my friends and will always consider them for future events! read more