Private Dining by Francis — Local services in City of Long Beach

I highly recommend Private Dining with Francis. From the first email to the last moment of my aunt's 80th birthday party, everything went so smoothly. My conversations with Debra were informative, courteous and professional. She helped me plan the perfect meal. It seemed Chef Francis could make anything our hearts desired and Debra was there to answer any questions I had and provided pricing information promptly. Even though I was on the other side of the country, she made me feel like she would take care of everything. The on-line menu is extensive, but she assured me the chef would be happy to make anything including the Black Forest Cake my aunt was craving. The whole planning phase of the event was a pleasure.

The night of the party was exactly as Debra promised. Francis and Brendon arrived at the rental house on time. They set up in our kitchen and began bringing out delicious food. They were both so outgoing and friendly and happily answered questions while they worked. Brendon even served drinks, which hadn't been part of the package. We all relaxed in the living room and enjoyed the hors d'oeuvres. Dinner was served at the table. The chef made a special serving at the last minute for my uncle who was on a restricted diet. Once again, all the food was fantastic!

While we relaxed and enjoyed the beautifully made and scrumptious Black Forest Cake, Chef Francis and Brendon quietly cleaned up and packed their gear away. The kitchen was cleaner than when they arrived. Best of all, my aunt thought it was one of the best birthdays she had ever had. I will not hesitate to call on Chef Francis, Debra and Brendon for the next party I throw on Long...

If only there were 10 stars! If you are thinking of hiring Francis, stop. Just do it! We enjoyed Francis' private dining for a group of 18 people while we vacationed on LBI. It was utter perfection. Debra guided us in choosing a menu and we were super happy with our selections. They have some recommendations of his specialties, but you can choose your own menu. They were even very accommodating to a few dietary restrictions in our group. Everything was delicious and many of us "foodies" loved being able to watch Francis work his magic. From the moment Francis and his assistant, Brendan, arrived, they were in full control. We didn't have to lift a finger! Brendan was able to find items for serving dishes, utencils and just "made it work" if we didn't have the perfect thing on hand. We were afforded the luxury of watching the dynamic duo do their thing, and serve us amazing food! The kicker was they cleaned everything up, including dishes and vacumming up the kitchen, when our meal was completed and left and it was like they were never there! (besides the lingering talk about how good the food was!). Highly recommend them for your next gathering (if our family doesn't have them booked for the remainder...

We had a delicious and memorable private dining experience in LBI thanks to Chef Francis. The food was superb, fresh, and beautifully presented with care and charm. We enjoyed an arugula salad with pear and pecorino, homemade tagliolini pasta with tomato concasse, a perfectly cooked Mediterranean-style cod filet with Spanish rice and bayaldi (an elevated ratatouille), and a lovely carrot cake. Chef Francis is a consummate professional—no surprise given his decades of kitchen experience in France, New York, and LBI—and a delightful, amiable presence. He arrived promptly, cooked an unforgettable meal, and left the kitchen spotless—cleaner, even, than he found it. We would be thrilled to hire him again. Merci...