What to confirm on service, staff and cleanup

Booking someone to cook and serve a private dinner at your home means trusting them with your space, your guests and a meal that sets the tone for your evening. Before you commit, you need clarity on three practical things: how they'll deliver the service itself, who will actually be there, and what happens when the cooking and eating are done. These details separate a smooth evening from one where expectations collapse halfway through.

Understanding what the service actually includes

A private dining quote can sound complete on paper and still leave gaps. Ask your potential caterer to walk you through the full timeline—what time they arrive, how long they'll need in your kitchen, when plating happens, who brings dishes to the table, and when they'll be completely finished and gone. Some caterers plate in the kitchen and serve courses formally; others set everything out and step back. Some expect you to clear plates between courses; others manage it all.

Confirm whether they're bringing their own serving pieces, cutlery and glassware, or using yours. If they're using your kitchen, ask what equipment they'll need—oven space, stovetop burners, a large prep area. Discuss whether they'll need to arrive earlier if your kitchen is small or if your stove has limited capacity. Ask too about temperature control: if your home runs warm or the dining space is far from the kitchen, how will they keep food at the right heat through service? These aren't small details; they're the difference between a roasted dish arriving warm or lukewarm.

Clarity on alcohol matters. Will they pour wine or champagne, or do you handle that? Do they serve non-alcoholic options? If you have specific wines you want served, can they manage that, or do they prefer to bring their own selections? Getting this straight avoids awkward pauses during your dinner.

Who shows up and what they'll do

You need to know how many people will be in your home and what each is doing there. A private dining service might be one chef in your kitchen, or a chef plus a server (or two). Some use staff from their regular team; others subcontract. Ask directly: will the same people you've spoken to during planning be there, or different staff?

Staff credentials matter less for a one-off dinner than consistency does. Request that:

• The caterer confirms the names of everyone arriving and their arrival time
• Key staff (the chef especially) have worked private dinners before
• All staff understand your home layout, where the kitchen is, where guests will sit, and any areas that are off-limits
• They know how to move through your space without disrupting your guests

Ask about their background-check or vetting process. You're letting them into your home; it's fair to ask how the business ensures staff are trustworthy. If they work through an employment agency, find out which one and verify it's legitimate.

Discuss dress code too. Do they wear chef whites, business casual, or something else? This shapes the whole feel of the evening.

What happens after the last bite

Cleanup expectations are where plenty of private dining bookings go sideways. Confirm exactly what the caterer will and won't do. Will they wash dishes, or load your dishwasher and leave them? Do they pack away leftover food and store it in your fridge? Will they sweep the kitchen and dining area, or just tidy what they've directly used?

Set a departure time. "We'll clean up and leave when we're done" is vague; ask for a specific time or a clear agreement that they'll stay, say, 30 minutes after guests leave. If the dinner runs late, do they stay anyway, or do you end up finishing cleanup yourself at midnight?

Bring up breakages too, plainly. If they damage a glass, plate or piece of furniture, what's the process? Do they replace it, or does your insurance cover it? Most caterers carry liability insurance; ask to see proof.

Once you've got clear answers on service flow, staff and cleanup, you're ready to make a confident choice. Look for a verified private dining caterer on Strove who's willing to spell all of this out—their willingness to be detailed is itself a good sign.