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 3 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
9 reviews
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Your trust means everything to us. Learn about our review guidelines.
Read reviews that mention:
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
Vacation R.
Oct 15, 2025
•
From Google
Chef Juan popped into our office to bring us lunch and let us just tell you! It was amazing!!! Even after traveling to us the food was still hot, tasty and such a great take on a southern classic Shrimp and Grits! Super professional, kind and very knowledgeable! The food is phenomenal. We are happy to add Plates and Thyme to our tried and true catering options for our guests!
Plates and Thyme by Chef Juan's reply
Truly thank the team there welcoming me with the opportunity to work together to create an amazing experience for people who visit or live in Charleston. Thank you!
Joelle R.
3 days ago
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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
Rachael B.
Jul 17, 2026
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From Google
Chef Juan created a lovely experience for my family and me. We had a group of 13 people of all ages, and he was engaging, polite, and professional with everyone.The food was absolutely phenomenal, with everything cooked perfectly. He gave us a ton of wonderful menu options, and each course came out at the perfect time, with everything hot and fresh from the oven. Some people in our group needed substitutions for the fish, and he was able to accommodate them with no problem. Their entres were also cooked to perfection. He asked us how we wanted the food to be served, and we chose family style, which worked great for our group. In general, his presentation of the food was beautiful. Not to mention, he left our kitchen spotless, with all the dishes washed and the counters clean.The whole experience was amazing, and his hospitality and kindness, along with the incredible food, really took it to the next level. Please consider Chef Juan for your next meal, we couldn't recommend him more!
Plates and Thyme by Chef Juan's reply
Rachael, thank you so much for taking the time to leave such an amazing review. It truly means a lot to me. It was such a pleasure cooking for you, your family, and your friends, and I'm so glad everyone enjoyed the evening.
Hearing that you appreciated everything from the food and presentation to the service and even walking into a spotless kitchen afterward really makes all the hard work worthwhile. My goal is always to create an experience where everyone can relax, enjoy each other, and make great memories around the table.
Thank you again for trusting me with your dinner. I hope our paths cross again, and I'd absolutely love to cook for you and your family anytime you're back in Charleston! ❤️
Jynese M.
Jul 4, 2026
•
From Google
Chef Juan service for our private dinner was impeccable. No details were missed and the food was amazing!! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed each dish. His experience and love for cooking shines through each and every plate! We will definitely book him again!
Plates and Thyme by Chef Juan's reply
Thank you so much, Jynese! It was truly an honor to be part of your anniversary celebration. I'm grateful you trusted me with such a special evening, and I'm so happy you both enjoyed every course. Creating memorable experiences like yours is exactly why I love what I do. Thank you again for your kind words, and I can't wait to cook for you both again. Happy Anniversary!
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.
