Simone Private Chef Services — Attraction in Upper Saddle River

I chose this company based on the extremely positive reviews. However, I had a HORRIBLE experience and ultimately did not make it to the dinner because the owner suggested to cancel the event, but then refused to return my $675 deposit. I worked with Kelly who assured me we can do a plated dinner with fish with a $1,200 budget. This resulted in me putting down a $675 deposit to begin the menu curation. A few weeks later, I received a message from Kelly asking if I had received my final menu because they think they sent it to the wrong person, I told her I had not received any menu. She later sent a menu with vegetarian food only, which confused me since we had agreed on fish. After a phone call to go over my questions, she sent me a new menu with fish, and an estimate for over $1,700. She claimed that I never asked for fish on the menu and they could only do a vegetarian menu for $1,200. I referred her back to the message that she had sent me directly to confirm a fish menu after I put my deposit down, but she did not acknowledge it. After trying to get us back on track and help Kelly realize that we had always agreed on fish for $1,200, Kelly (the owner of the company) suggested canceling the event, and said she would refund part of my deposit. I accepted this as solution since we were not getting what we had originally agreed on. But I argued that a full refund was appropriate since they were breaking our agreement. Kelly disagreed and then stated that since I cancelled the event they may not refund anything. She refused to refund the deposit even though she was the one who suggested cancelling it. She later responded to me by saying she would only negotiate a refund if I first agreed to not post any reviews on social media. I did not agree to this because she never told me what amount would be refunded and I believe that others have the right to know how a company operates before choosing to work with them. We never received any of the $675 back and had to scramble to find another chef for our event less than 2 weeks before it was scheduled. In my opinion, Kelly acted unprofessionally and unethically when on 2 occasions she presented me with an offer that I accepted only to retract it after my acceptance. When hiring a company I would hope that they would dedicate time to listen to what the client wants, and write it down in detail in order to execute a thoughtful dinner. Unfortunately, Kelly’s communication was extremely disorganized, it seemed she always had me confused with other clients and was unable to recognize her mistakes in our communication in order to fulfill the agreement. I do not recommend working with this company, as we were put in a very unfortunate situation because of their lack of professionalism and...

Overall Experience: Our recent Fourth of July trip to the Catskills was made even more memorable thanks to the exceptional private chef service we used. My wife, adult daughters, and I enjoyed two nights of gourmet dining that exceeded all our expectations, providing both convenience and high-quality meals.

Night 1: Drop-off Dinner On the first night, we opted for a drop-off dinner. The meal was delivered promptly and laid out family-style with care. Each dish was meticulously prepared and beautifully presented. We enjoyed:

Appetizer: Tomato basil bruschetta Soup: Chilled gazpacho Main Course: Braised short ribs accompanied by white rice, sautéed broccoli with chili garlic, and roasted carrots Dessert: Delightful selection of assorted cookies

Night 2: Full-Service Dinner The second night was the highlight, featuring a full-service dinner. Chef Efraim and Kelly arrived early to set up and prepare the meal on-site, creating a fine dining experience in the comfort of our rental home. The evening included:

Amuse Bouche: Bite-size lobster rolls with garlic aioli Appetizer: Crab cake with herb and fresh mango salsa Salad: Grilled Caesar with fresh dressing and shaved parmesan Main Course: Herb-crusted lamb chops, with sweet baby green cauliflower mashed and a jus drizzle Dessert: Fried apple pie eggroll with a cinnamon and brown sugar coating accompanied by vanilla ice cream

Service and Presentation: The professionalism and friendliness of Chef Efraim and Kelly were outstanding. They took care of everything, from table settings to cleanup, allowing us to relax and enjoy the evening. The presentation of each dish was impressive, and the flavors were exquisite, showcasing the chef’s culinary expertise.

Conclusion: Overall, our experience with this service was phenomenal. Both nights offered a unique and delicious dining experience that made our Fourth of July trip truly special. We highly recommend this service to anyone looking to elevate their vacation in the Hudson Valley with a...

I am one of those people who look through most reviews, to gauge experiences and memories. I look at the 3 and 2 star reviews as much as the five star, for what people may not say. In this case, I happily write a 5 star review for many reasons. My husband and I hosted a 50th birthday for 17 people. We interviewed several chef services who were in the vicinity. In this case the vicinity was 50 miles, as the Catskills is spread out, from what i found. When I talked to Chef Kelly at Simone Private Chef Services, we hit it off immediately. The questions she asked were great. Standard ones as you would expect, and then some really interesting ones so she can get the likes, dislikes of the guests, flavors, ingredients, personalities, etc. She wanted to learn as much as she could about us to give us an event that was relevant and memorable. And let me tell you... every box was ticked. The moment she and Chef Efraim, walked in the door, it was like old friends meeting. The vibe and smiles, the laughter, just infectious. And then came the food. We had vegans, meat eaters, gluten and dairy intolerant guests... They were not daunted and in fact came up with menus for 3 days that have been spectacular.Probably the best brisket i've ever had. The veggies were stunning to look at and seasoned to perfection. Salmon croquettes, chicken wings, short ribs, mushrooms, beans, and a whole lot more... like a lot more, just flowed through the house, filling it with amazing smells. The proof... not too many leftovers, and the Chefs made a lot. We couldn't be happier and it couldn't have been easier. Wonderful people. Great food obviously made with a lot of passion and skill. I would absolutely, and without a doubt recommend them to anyone in need. We will be working...