Freshchef Meal Prep — Restaurant in Milwaukee

UPDATE: Had to stop ordering from Fresh Chef. Meals seemed to get increasingly salty to the point where several meals were downright uncomfortable to eat. The convenience isn’t worth it if it’s no longer edible. They could cut the salt they put on the food in half and still have flavorful food, and I wish they would.

—— Previous 5 star review ——-

BEFORE: I tried Hello Fresh, then Miltown Eats (who provided my first exposure to Chef Austin and I recommend them if you want to support local and you don’t mind cooking), then finally Factor75 before I gave up. My food was spoiling because after a while with the meal kits I would lose the ambition to cook - the after work exhaustion won out. Factor was ok, but the dishes were getting boring and it was so expensive per plate given the portion size (never enough veggies). I tried going back to grocery shopping for a bit, but again stuff would go bad before I could use it and I’d spend about $150-200/week which was mostly convenience food and junk food.

AFTER: It has been about a month and I don’t regret trying FreshChef MKE. My husband and I always have a fresh hot meal when we get home and the ingredients are so much better than a lean cuisine, Kraft dinner, or a frozen pizza. My orders are always delivered with care, on time, with text updates, and still neatly arranged in their containers like their ready for their product photo shoot. Also you get loyalty rewards you can use for discounts on future orders. Whaaaat? Yep, they’re good right away with no referral pyramid scheming necessary. Still, you should refer :) If your appetite exceeds the healthy portions provided, it’s easy to supplement from their a la cart menu with sides, desserts, and additional entrees or with your own sides.

My only note is that some of the dishes can be a little heavy on the salt, but I am admittedly more sensitive to it. Still 5 stars, because I love supporting a local chef and I am so grateful for a healthy solution to a daily...

Over the years, I have tried several meal services for fresh, healthy meals. Some were kits that were way too much work and mess. Some were menu plans that were also a lot of work and often yielded meals that all tasted pretty much the same after awhile. One I do use once in awhile required me to purchase my own special little oven. The meals are pretty good, but I can't take them to work to prepare. I tried to find a delivery service for pre-made meals, but they were all terribly expensive.

When I found Freshchef Mke, I was thrilled to find a service I could stick with. I've ordered just about every week for a year. Here are the benefits:

• Fresh food • Healthy meals • Great tasting food • Variety of choices each week • Reliable - Zero late deliveries to date • Delivery Drivers - great communication and same driver every week where possible. I think I've had the same driver with two exceptions all year. • Customer service - Excellent! • Local company • Time savings • Eating better - no last minute mac and cheese • Cost (see below)

When you first look at the cost, especially if you have not used a meal service before, it seems high. It still seems high to me sometimes. When that happens, I skip ordering and go to the store. Three different weeks, I picked out recipes and went to the store. All three times, I ended up spending within $5 of what I spend on Freshchef just on the meal ingredients. And when I'm in the store, I buy more junk on top of it. So yes, even the cost is a plus.

Things to improve... The only thing for me is I would like some bread, rolls, etc. occasionally. I just add my own, so it's not a big deal, but that is something I am personally missing. They do sometimes have buns, and there are often pasta choices, which I love.

Happy to be starting my second year...

We've been using FreshChef MKE since 2020 and never wrote a review. Obviously we like it if we've been getting it THIS long! I had to write and state how much we like getting already-prepared meals weekly. It saves so much time after work to be able to just throw them in the microwave! If we go out of town, we just don't order for that week. No need to pause a subscription because there isn't one! I think we maybe had an issue twice with something missing from the order (in 4 years) but Austin or an associate quickly answer emails and rectify the issue. There is no minimum order. The app makes it super simple to order and we love that now we can customize the meals to an extent, making it easier to substitute meats or exchange a carb for a lettuce wrap or zoodles. They also cater and have side dishes you can order. It's too late to order a side dish for July Fourth but there's always Labor Day. :) You HAVE to try the POTATO SALAD! I could eat the whole container myself - unbelievable. And I LOVE the fact that they partner with other local businesses like Hundred Acre Farm in Milwaukee for fresh greens. FreshChef's salads are SUPER FRESH and the portions are HUGE. Never had a bad salad yet! They partnered with Hundred Acre Farm to create a basil pesto that's being sold in some local grocery stores and can be purchased from FreshChef. It's the best! Keep up...