If you hire this pro, you’re covered by a money-back guarantee. Learn more
If you hire this pro, you’re covered by a money-back guarantee. Learn more
About
Restaurant quality dining. Charleston hospitality. Your table.
Plates & Thyme creates elevated private dining experiences throughout Charleston and the surrounding islands, led by professionally trained Chef Juan Acevedo.
With 16+ years of culinary experience and a background spanning luxury hospitality, resorts, private clubs and professional kitchens, I bring restaurant level execution directly into your home or vacation rental.
Every menu is customized around your occasion, tastes and dietary needs, from intimate three course dinners and family style gatherings to Chef’s Table tasting menus, cocktail parties, celebrations and vacation-chef experiences.
I handle the sourcing, preparation, cooking, plating, service and kitchen cleanup so you can simply enjoy your guests.
Any Place. Any Time.
Overview
Hired 4 times
Serves Mount Pleasant, SC
Background checked
1 employee
1 year 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, Credit card, Google Pay, PayPal, and Zelle.
Customers rated this pro highly for professionalism, work quality, and responsiveness.
Exceptional 5.0
13 reviews
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Your trust means everything to us. Learn about our review guidelines.
Read reviews that mention:
Joelle R.
Sep 21, 2026
•
Hired on Thumbtack
Our experience with Chef Juan was absolutely flawless and highly recommended for making any vacation or special event truly unforgettable. From the very beginning, he was professional, easy to talk to, and responded quickly to all of our requests, including assistance in creating an exquisite menu that fit within our budget. Throughout the evening, Chef Juan’s passion for cooking and meticulous attention to detail shone through, from his timely arrival to the thoughtful touches like providing custom printed menus and happily answering all of our guests' culinary questions. He was personable, and blended seamlessly into our gathering. He delivered an absolutely amazing meal of the highest quality giving us the feeling of being in a high quality restaurant in our beach house. We would gladly have Chef Juan again. Thanks Chef!
Details: Regular meal • 6 - 10 guests • Dinner • Standard (basic ingredients) • Italian • Barbecue • Mediterranean / Middle Eastern • Southern • Vegetarian or vegan • Gluten free or celiac • Meal prepared onsite • Only once • My home, venue, etc.
Plates and Thyme by Chef Juan's reply
Joelle, thank you so much for this incredibly thoughtful review! It was truly a pleasure cooking for you and your guests and being part of such a special evening. I’m so glad you enjoyed the menu, the personalized touches, and the overall experience. Your group made me feel right at home, and I genuinely enjoyed sharing my passion for food with everyone. I would be honored to cook for you all again whenever you return to Charleston. Thank you again for trusting me with your celebration!
Personal Chef
Rebecca F.
Mar 3, 2026
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Hired on Thumbtack
Juan catered my birthday party with the most delicious paella! He was very responsive and willing to work with me to figure out the best options for my group. Highly recommend!
Details: Special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) • 11 - 20 guests • Dinner • I'm flexible • Mexican / Latin American • I'm flexible • Only once • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc.
Personal Chef
Croix F.
2 weeks ago
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From Google
We had Chef Juan come to our home tonight for a private dining experience, and he was absolutely fantastic! From start to finish, everything was top-notch. The food was incredible, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. Juan was professional, personable, and made the entire evening feel special and effortless.Having a restaurant-quality meal prepared in the comfort of our own home was such a great experience. You can tell Chef Juan takes pride in what he does, and it definitely shows in his cooking. We couldnt have asked for a better evening. Highly recommend him to anyone looking for an amazing private chef experience. We will absolutely be booking him again!
Plates and Thyme by Chef Juan's reply
Croix, thank you for such a thoughtful review and for welcoming me into your home! I’m grateful you chose me to be your chef. Giving you an evening where you could relax, enjoy the food, and spend time together was exactly what I hoped for. Your kind words mean so much, and I’d love to come back and cook for you again! Chef Juan
Luke S.
2 weeks ago
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From Google
Chef Juan prepared an excellent dinner for my birthday party. Went above and beyond our expectations!! Everything was delicious and he worked with all of our dietary restrictions and made the night perfect. Will absolutely be reaching out to him again!!
Plates and Thyme by Chef Juan's reply
Luke, thank you for choosing me to be your chef for your birthday! It was a pleasure putting together a dinner everyone could enjoy, and I’m so happy it exceeded your expectations. I appreciate you letting me be part of your celebration. I’d love to cook for you all again. Happy birthday once more!
Chef Juan
Ty S.
2 weeks ago
•
From Google
Chef Juan was very professional. Every course he cooked us was absolutely phenomenal. Hands down the best pork I have ever eaten in my life. I can't recommend him enough! Thank you!
Plates and Thyme by Chef Juan's reply
Ty, thank you so much! Hearing that it was the best pork you’ve ever eaten definitely put a smile on my face! I appreciate you choosing me to be your chef, and I’m so glad you enjoyed every course. It would be a pleasure to cook for you again! Chef Juan
Credentials
Background Check
Juan Acevedo
FAQs
What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Pricing is based on guest count, menu, number of courses and style of service. Private dining experiences include customized menu planning, ingredient sourcing, on site preparation, cooking, plating/service and kitchen cleanup. Multi course tasting menus, cocktail hours, family style dinners and custom celebrations are available. Once I know your date, guest count and vision, I can provide a personalized proposal.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I like to make the entire process simple and personal. We start with your date, guest count, location, dietary needs, and vision for the occasion. From there, I create a customized menu and proposal for your approval.
A 50% deposit secures your date, and we finalize the details leading up to your event. On the day of your experience, I typically arrive 1½–2 hours before dinner with the ingredients, prepare everything fresh in your kitchen, cook and serve your meal, and handle the cleanup afterward.
You enjoy your guests, I’ll take care of the rest.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I’m a Le Cordon Bleu trained chef with more than 16 years of professional culinary experience across restaurants, luxury hotels, resorts, and private clubs.
My culinary style combines Southern hospitality and Charleston’s coastal ingredients with French technique and influences from my African American and Puerto Rican heritage, along with an extensive Italian culinary background.
That experience allows me to create everything from approachable family style dinners to refined multi course tasting experiences while maintaining the same attention to detail, organization, and hospitality.
