The first thing almost everyone asks me is simple: what does this cost? It is a fair question, and I have never understood why so many private chefs dodge it. Call for a quote. Fill out a form and wait to hear back. At Modern Classical Chefs, I publish my prices, because deciding to bring a chef into your home should start with real numbers, not a sales call.

So here is exactly what a private chef costs with us, what changes that number, and what you actually get for it.

How private chef pricing works

A private chef is not a restaurant, and the pricing does not work like one. You are paying for a professional to plan a menu around you, shop for the ingredients, cook in your kitchen, serve you and your guests, and leave the space spotless. The price reflects three things: the chef’s time and skill, the food and materials, and the level of service you choose. Once you understand those three levers, every number below makes sense.

What a private chef costs at Modern Classical Chefs

We keep three core offerings, each built for a different occasion.

Classic for 2, $425. A three-course dinner for two, cooked and served in your home, with a choice of French or American cuisine from our Chef Prix Fixe menu. This is our most popular way for a couple to experience a private chef, with all food and ingredients included.

Classic Tailored, $135 per person ($510 minimum), plus groceries. A fully customized four-course plated dinner designed around you and your guests, with printed menus for the table. This is the option for a celebration, a milestone, or a dinner party where every course is yours. Your per-person price covers the full chef service, and groceries are added separately at cost, so you pay only for what is actually cooked.

Classic Meals, starting at $410, plus groceries. Weekly meal preparation for clients who want restaurant-quality food ready in their own refrigerator, without the planning, shopping, or cooking. Pricing scales with the number of meals and servings. As with Classic Tailored, the price is for the chef service, and groceries are billed at cost.

Those are the starting points. They are real, and they are published here on purpose.

*Classic for 2 includes all food. Classic Tailored and Classic Meals are priced for the chef’s service; groceries are billed separately at cost.

What moves the price up or down

• Guest count. More guests means more food and more hands, so per-event pricing rises with the size of the table.
• Menu complexity. A four-course tasting with premium proteins or seafood costs more to source and execute than a simpler menu.
• Ingredients. Prime cuts, fresh seafood, and specialty items carry their own cost, and that is reflected honestly rather than hidden.
• Travel and occasion. A standard in-home dinner is priced differently than a large event with extended service.
• Service staff. For larger gatherings we bring on extra hands. Parties over eight guests include a dedicated server, starting at $325, so every course is served and cleared without you lifting a finger.

There is no mystery markup. The price tracks the food, the time, and the level of service you want.

Private chef versus a restaurant or caterer

For a small group, people often assume a private chef is the expensive option. It is worth doing the real comparison. Take a dinner for eight at a nice restaurant, then add drinks, tax, tip, the drive, and the reservation that only holds for two hours. A private chef brings that same level of food into your home, cooks it in front of you, serves every course, and cleans the kitchen, and no one has to leave, drive, or rush. For an intimate, unhurried evening with people you actually want to talk to, the value is very different than the sticker price suggests.

What you are really paying for

The food is only part of it. What you are buying is an evening where you host nothing. You do not plan, shop, cook, plate, refill, or scrub a single pan. You sit at your own table as a guest. That is the part that turns a meal into an experience, and it is the reason our clients book us again.

Serving South Jersey and beyond

Modern Classical Chefs cooks in homes across South Jersey, the Jersey Shore, and the Philadelphia suburbs. Wherever the table is, the standard is the same.

If your event is in New Jersey, our private chef in New Jersey page has the county-by-county coverage map and walks through what to expect from booking through cleanup.

Ready to plan your dinner?

If you have been curious what a private chef would cost for your next dinner or celebration, now you know where it starts. The next step is a quick consultation to build the menu and lock your date.

Common questions about private chef pricing

How much does a private chef cost per night?

For Modern Classical Chefs, a private dinner starts at $425 for two and $135 per person (with a $510 minimum) for a fully customized plated experience. The final number depends on your guest count and menu.

How much does a private chef cost per month?

For ongoing service, our Classic Meals weekly preparation starts at $410 and scales with how many meals and servings you want each week. Many clients use it as a recurring monthly rhythm rather than a one-time event. If you are across the river, here is how our personal chef service in Philadelphia and on the Main Line works.

Do you require a deposit?

Yes. A 50 percent deposit reserves and holds your date, and the balance is due the week before your event.

Do larger events cost more?

For parties over eight guests, we include a dedicated server starting at $325 so the service keeps pace with the table. Larger guest counts also affect food and prep, so the per-event price scales with the size of your gathering. For a sense of what a full evening actually looks like, here is a sample private chef dinner party menu built around what is in season.

Is hiring a private chef cheaper than taking a group out to dinner?

For a group, it is often closer than people expect once you factor in drinks, tip, and travel, and you get the experience in your own home with no reservation clock. It is less about being cheaper and more about being worth it.

What is included in the price?

Menu planning, grocery shopping, cooking in your kitchen, full service during the meal, and complete cleanup. You provide the table. We handle the rest.