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About
Private dining, reimagined.
We create elevated culinary experiences for clients who value exceptional food, thoughtful hospitality and the ease of having a restaurant-quality dining experience brought directly to them.
My culinary perspective has been shaped by years of cooking and traveling around the world, including creating private dining experiences aboard yachts. My background also includes working under an Italian chef at a Michelin-rated restaurant.
Expect exceptional ingredients, refined presentation and a dining experience that feels personal, polished, and effortless from start to finish.
Based in Tampa Bay and available for select private events.
A 5.0-star rating across 146 client reviews on Google and Thumbtack.
Overview
Hired 98 times
Background checked
3 employees
7 years in business
Business hours
Sun12:00 am - 11:59 pmMon12:00 am - 11:59 pm
Payment methods
This pro accepts payments via Apple Pay, Cash, Venmo, and Zelle.
Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.
2022
Services offered
Event type
Regular meal
Additional food/drink
Dessert
Cuisine types
American - formal
Projects and media
Projects and media
Reviews
Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, professionalism, and responsiveness.
Exceptional 5.0
68 reviews
5
99%
4
1%
3
0%
2
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1
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Your trust means everything to us. Learn about our review guidelines.
Read reviews that mention:
Christina B.
Dec 25, 2024
•
Hired on Thumbtack
I booked for Christmas and he made it magical. He made Christmas easy. The food was excellent and we were so happy with absolutely everything.
Details: Holiday meal (Mother's day, Valentine's day, etc.) • 3 - 5 guests • Dinner • I'm flexible • American - formal • Meal prepared onsite • Only once • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc.
Chef Matthew Davis's reply
Thank you so much for your kind review, Christina. I truly appreciate you and your family, and it was an absolute pleasure cooking for you. I always enjoy serving local families here in Tampa Bay, and I hope to have the opportunity to cook for you again as I open up more Florida dates in the near future. Much respect, and thank you again for your support.
-Matthew
Personal Chef
Roman H.
Feb 28, 2022
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Hired on Thumbtack
Chef Matthew prepared a wonderful 4 course dinner for 10 adults and special meals for our 2 children in our home. He brought decor and menus to help perfect the presentation. He and his assistant Marcus were a pleasure to work with and besides the fabulous food they served, they cleaned the kitchen impeccably.
Details: Regular meal • 11 - 20 guests • Dinner • Cocktail hour / hors d'oeuvres • Dessert • Premium (high end ingredients) • Dessert • French • Meal prepared onsite • Only once • My home, venue, etc.
Chef Matthew Davis's reply
Roman, thank you so much for such a thoughtful review. It was a pleasure preparing the four-course dinner for your family and making sure the children had something special as well. I always enjoy bringing the full experience together, from the menu and presentation to the little details around the table.
Marcus and I both appreciated how welcoming you and your family were, and we’re glad the evening came together so well. Thank you again for trusting us in your home and for noticing the care we put into both the food and leaving the kitchen spotless afterward. It was a wonderful evening to be part of.
-Matthew
Personal Chef
Nikki M.
May 25, 2022
•
Hired on Thumbtack
I am billing Chef Davis as the hottest ticket in town when it comes to his culinary mastery from start to finish. Recently, I booked Chef Davis last minute for a six-course seated dinner for a party of five. Not only was Chef Davis able to accommodate my unique requests ( 1 vegan menu, source only fresh ingredients, chickpea pasta, only use EVOO, not too sweet, etc.), he patiently worked with me in creating a fantastic menu within my guidelines set forward.
From ambience, and the fanciful, artistic meals here created - the guests were delighted. The presentation was beyond lovely, the service was impeccable, and the wonderful aroma of a mixed medley of flavorful cool, savory, and refreshing notes filled the air in the kitchen, and refreshed everyone's' palette.
When I presented him with my vegan idea - not only did he not stray from my ideas, but he also pushed the boundaries, and created an exquisite menu. Out of left field I added Elk. Though Elk sometimes is super tough, he sous vide it for four hours, seared & basted it with garlic butter. It turned out incredible and was a super dope trip to flavor town.
The standards Chef Davis represented as a classically trained French Chef - is not only impressive, but also the diamond standard. He fielded all questions from guests, engaged them, and truly WOWed them! So much so, he & his cooking has been the number one subject since our dinner. Truly an awesome experience!
One guest was specifically thankful and grateful for his meals, and personally thanked me for putting together the experience with Chef Davis. It was his first time having ice cream in seven years. It was a wonderful opportunity to be granted the honor of booking Chef Davis, and I highly recommend him and his staff for any upcoming event you have. You'll find presentation on point, and full white glove service for whatever the occasion.
Details: Brunch / dinner party • 3 - 5 guests • Dinner • Premium (high end ingredients) • American - casual • Meal prepared onsite • Only once • My home, venue, etc.
Chef Matthew Davis's reply
Nikki, I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to write such a thoughtful and detailed review. This was one of those dinners that I still remember because of how much creativity and trust went into the entire experience. From the beginning, you came to me with a very specific vision, dietary preferences, and a few unique requests, and I genuinely enjoyed the challenge of bringing all of those ideas together into a six-course dinner that felt cohesive, exciting, and personal to you and your guests.
I especially loved being able to work with the vegan portion of the menu while still creating something that felt elevated and full of flavor, and then having the opportunity to incorporate elk into the evening as well. That kind of range is exactly what makes private dining so enjoyable for me. Being able to take an ingredient or an idea that might seem unexpected and turn it into something memorable is a big part of why I love what I do.
What means even more to me, though, is hearing how much your guests enjoyed the entire experience beyond just the food. I always enjoy talking with guests, answering questions, explaining dishes, and making the evening feel personal rather than simply serving plates and moving on to the next course. Knowing that everyone was still talking about the dinner afterward is an incredible compliment.
And hearing that one of your guests was able to enjoy ice cream for the first time in seven years is something that really stayed with me. Moments like that are a reminder that food can be much more than just a meal. Sometimes it becomes part of a memory people carry with them.
Thank you again for trusting me, especially on such short notice, and for allowing me the freedom to be creative while still respecting exactly what you wanted for the evening. I truly appreciate your support, your kind words, and the confidence you placed in me and my team. It was an absolute pleasure cooking for you and your guests, and I’m grateful to have been part of such a memorable evening.
-Matthew
Personal Chef
Crystal H.
Nov 11, 2021
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Hired on Thumbtack
Had an amazing experience with Chef Matthew. He paid attention to every detail for our celebration and came up with the perfect menu after listening to our likes when it comes to a meal. He was on time and took his time to make sure the end result was nothing less than perfect. Came prepared and left our kitchen the way he found it. Highly recommended and we will use him again for other events. Thank you Chef Matthew.
Details: Date night • 2 guests • Dinner • Premium (high end ingredients) • American - formal • Meal prepared onsite • Only once • My home, venue, etc.
Chef Matthew Davis's reply
Crystal, thank you so much for such a thoughtful review. I really enjoyed creating a menu around what you and your guests genuinely liked and making sure the entire evening felt intentional from start to finish. I’m especially grateful that you noticed the small details, because those are often the parts of the experience I care about most.
Thank you for welcoming me into your home and trusting me with your celebration. I’m glad the food and service lived up to what you had in mind, and I truly appreciate you saying you’d have me back for future events. It was a pleasure cooking for you all.
-Matthew
Personal Chef
Sarah t.
Apr 2, 2022
•
Hired on Thumbtack
Chef Matthew is amazing!
He helped me craft an amazing menu for my best friend’s bachelorette party, which was on a boat! He was incredibly professional and flexible, especially when we ran into issues with the stove and oven not working! It took awhile to get fixed, and instead of complaining, he was so patient and even made us drinks!
Most important, the food was phenomenal. From the salad to the filet mignon and crème brûlée — everyone was so impressed and was asking for recipes!
Highly recommend Chef Matthew. Don’t miss out!!
Details: Special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) • 6 - 10 guests • Dinner • Dessert • Cocktail hour / hors d'oeuvres • Premium (high end ingredients) • Dessert • American - casual • American - formal • Meal prepared onsite • Only once • My home, venue, etc.
Chef Matthew Davis's reply
Sarah, thank you so much for this review. That bachelorette dinner on the boat is still such a memorable one for me. Even with the unexpected stove and oven issues, I’m glad we were able to keep the evening moving, enjoy a few drinks lol, and still create the experience you had planned for your best friend.
I had a great time putting that menu together, and hearing that everyone enjoyed everything from the salad and filet mignon to the crème brûlée—and were even asking for recipes—means a lot. Thank you for trusting me with such a special celebration and for being so wonderful to work with. I truly appreciate the recommendation.
-Matthew
Personal Chef
Credentials
Background Check
Matthew Davis
FAQs
What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I charge a set per-person rate, plus the cost of groceries. Pricing is straightforward and based on the number of guests and menu selections.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
My process begins with a complimentary 15-minute consultation to discuss your event, guest count, menu preferences and overall vision to make sure we’re a good fit.
Afterward, I’ll send a customized menu, quote and service policies. Once approved, a 50% deposit secures your date and we’ll finalize any remaining details before the event.
On the day of the event, my team and I handle the setup, cooking, service and cleanup so you can relax and enjoy the experience with your guests.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
* Associate Degree in Culinary Arts
* Baking & Pastry Arts Certification
* ServSafe Manager Certification
* Food Hygiene Level 3 Certification
* ServSafe Food Allergens Certification