Private Chef Menu Styles: From Casual BBQ to Fine Dining

Any examples in this guide are hypothetical and show how a service could be planned for an eligible booking.

The answer depends on three things: your occasion, your budget, and how formal you want the night to feel. A backyard birthday BBQ needs a completely different menu than an anniversary celebration for eight guests. Here's how the main menu styles break down, what you actually get at each level, and what they cost in Lisbon and across Portugal.

1. Casual BBQ (€85 per person)

Best for: Large groups, outdoor events, summer gatherings, family celebrations, relaxed atmospheres.

A casual BBQ menu means I'm cooking on the grill steak, chicken, sausages, vegetables and serving it family-style or buffet-style. It's high-quality ingredients cooked well, but without the ceremony of plated courses. Think premium cuts of meat, proper seasoning, sides made from scratch, but served in a way that lets people mingle, grab seconds, and eat at their own pace.

What's included:

• 2-3 types of grilled protein (beef, chicken, pork, or lamb)
• 2-3 salads (green salad, potato salad, coleslaw, or Mediterranean)
• 2 sides (grilled vegetables, rice, roasted potatoes)
• Bread and condiments
• Full BBQ setup and service
• Complete cleanup

Optional add-ons: Seafood (prawns, fish), premium steaks (ribeye, picanha), dessert platters.

Best suited for: Justin specialises in events for 8 to 100 guests, with larger groups welcome and scoped individually. Eight guests is the hard booking minimum.

2. Family-Style Service (€85 per person)

Best for: Dinner parties, villa rentals, holiday gatherings, events where conversation matters more than formality.

Family-style means dishes are served in large platters or bowls on the table for guests to pass around and share. It's more structured than a BBQ but less formal than plated service. The food is restaurant-quality think whole roasted fish, braised short ribs, pasta dishes but the vibe stays relaxed because people are serving themselves.

What's included:

• 3 courses: Shared appetizers, mains, and dessert
• 2-3 mains (mix of proteins and sides)
• Fresh bread and accompaniments
• Professional plating on serving platters
• Full table service and cleanup

Why it works: Family-style encourages interaction. Guests pass dishes, help each other, talk across the table. It's ideal for villas, Airbnbs, and homes where the goal is to feel like a big family meal but with food you'd never actually cook yourself.

3. Plated Service (custom quote)

Best for: Special occasions, anniversaries, intimate dinners, events where presentation matters.

Plated service means each guest gets an individually plated dish, restaurant-style. I'm cooking in your kitchen but the result looks and tastes like fine dining. The pacing is slower, the presentation is deliberate, and each course arrives at the right temperature at the right moment.

What's included:

• 3-4 courses: Appetizer, entrée, main, dessert
• Restaurant-quality plating and garnishes
• Professional service (I bring each course to the table)
• Course descriptions and pacing
• Full cleanup

Example menu: Prawn carpaccio with mango and avocado → Pan-seared sea bass with saffron risotto → Beef tenderloin with truffle mash and red wine jus → Chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream.

Single-event private chef service starts from €85 per person. Premium requirements receive a custom quote.

Best for: Foodies, milestone celebrations, events where the meal IS the experience.

Justin owns Downunder by Justin Jennings, selected for the MICHELIN Guide in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

What's included:

• 5-7 courses designed from scratch
• Mix of seafood, meat, and vegetarian courses
• High-quality ingredients freshly sourced according to the agreed menu
• Chef explanations for each course
• Professional plating and service
• Full cleanup

Wine pairing option: Wine, cocktail and beverage options are confirmed by custom quote when requested.

Single-event private chef service starts from €85 per person. Premium requirements receive a custom quote.

Best for: High-end celebrations, VIP guests, events where budget isn't the primary concern.

The luxury tasting menu is everything from the standard tasting menu, but with premium proteins and ingredients: A5 wagyu, fresh lobster, truffle, Iberico pork, oysters, caviar. The techniques stay the same I'm still cooking in your home but the raw materials go up a level.

What changes: Ingredient quality. You're getting the same attention to detail, the same service, the same creativity but with proteins and garnishes that cost 2-3× more at wholesale.

How to Choose the Right Menu Style

Here's the decision framework I use with clients:

If your event is:

• Justin specialises in events for 8 to 100 guests, with larger groups welcome and scoped individually. Eight guests is the hard booking minimum. → Casual BBQ
• Villa rental, family gathering, relaxed but nice → Family-Style
• Justin specialises in events for 8 to 100 guests, with larger groups welcome and scoped individually. Eight guests is the hard booking minimum. → Plated Service
• Milestone celebration, foodies, memorable experience → Tasting Menu
• High-end, no budget concerns, impress VIPs → Luxury Tasting

You can also mix styles. Any examples in this guide are hypothetical and show how a service could be planned for an eligible booking.

What's NOT Included in the Price (But Can Be Added)

All menu styles include groceries, cooking, service, and cleanup. What's not included unless you add it:

• Wine Wine, cocktail and beverage options are confirmed by custom quote when requested.
• Tableware Plates, cutlery, glassware (I assume you have these; if not, rental available).
• Serving staff Required service staff and any missing equipment hire can be arranged during consultation and included in the custom quote.
• Special dietary menus Justin has extensive experience in allergy and cross-contamination avoidance. During consultation, he discusses allergies and preferences directly with the client and caters accordingly. An allergen-free environment is not promised.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of private chef menus?

Private chef menus range from casual (BBQ, family-style) to fine dining (plated courses, tasting menus). Chef Justin Jennings offers: service starting from €85 per person, with premium formats receiving a custom quote.

How much does a casual private chef BBQ cost in Lisbon?

A casual private chef BBQ in Lisbon starts at €85 per person with Chef Justin Jennings. This includes premium meats (steak, chicken, sausages), salads, sides, and full BBQ service. Seafood options available for an additional cost.

What's included in a private chef tasting menu?

Ingredient choices are assessed during menu planning and reflected in the custom quote.

Can I mix menu styles for a private event?

Yes. Chef Justin Jennings can combine menu styles for example, a casual BBQ starter followed by plated mains, or family-style appetizers with individually plated desserts. Hybrid menus are priced based on the combined elements.

What's the difference between family-style and plated service?

Family-style means dishes are served in large platters on the table for guests to share (more communal, relaxed). Plated service means each guest receives an individually plated dish (more formal, restaurant-style). Service starts from €85 per person, and plated formats receive a custom quote.

Related Reading

• → Private Chef Tasting Menu at Home in Lisbon
• → Private Chef for Dinner Parties in Lisbon
• → Hire a World Cook Champion Chef in Lisbon