All of Volusia County and some areas within an hour away
Service area
About this vendor
AWARD WINNER (1X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Chef Papa’s Catering & Cafe is a family-owned and -operated cuisine business based out of Daytona Beach, FL. This establishment works hard to provide their clients with inspired fresh and local dishes. With them, quality doesn’t have to come with an outrageous price tag.
This business has four decades of history in providing exceptional culinary services. When Chef Tom Papa isn’t busy crafting delightful morsels, he can be found teaching at Daytona State College or at one of his own successful establishments. His versatile skills allow him to be the ideal culinary brains behind a successful event, party, or wedding.
It’s all in the family with Chef Papa’s Catering & Cafe. Callie, the daughter of the renowned Chef Papa, is there to manage all the cafe and catering services. Along with her team of talented staff members, Callie is able to make both large and small events a resounding success.
Bespoke menus are available for unique and personalized events. No matter what theme or taste the soon-to-be married couple desires, this catering business is ready to deliver. Vegetarians and gluten-free dieters have no reason to fear, as restrictions can be easily accommodated. If couples have a specific menu in mind, that’s no problem. Chef Papa is pleased to take the worry out of any wedding.
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Chef Papas catering received glowing reviews for their food and service at weddings. Guests raved about the delicious appetizers, particularly the chicken & waffle and shrimp penne alfredo, at the cocktail hour and main dinner. The friendly and accommodating staff, notably Callie, received praise for their professionalism and communication throughout the planning process. Reviewers appreciated the affordable pricing, generous portions, and the option to take home leftovers, making Chef Papas highly recommended for catering needs.
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Mark B
5.0
4/20/2025
The appetizers at the cocktail hour and main dinner were great, would highly recommend.
Jessie Ruth S
5.0
4/30/2024
I would give Chef Papas 10 stars if I could! Chef Papas catered our April 2024 wedding and our guests have absolutely RAVED about how amazing the food was - the best wedding food they’ve ever had. The chicken & waffle appetizers were a huge hit, and my personal fave was the shrimp penne alfredo. Callie & Chef Tom did an excellent job & left all of our guests full and happy. The cost per plate really helped us stay under budget & I feel it was worth every penny. They boxed up leftovers for us and our parents to take home which kept the party lasting longer. Excellent food, excellent service. Highly recommend for any and all catering needs!
response05/01/2024
Thank you so much for the wonderful review Jessie so happy to hear you all enjoyed. It was...
our pleasure to make your day a good one and glad you could enjoy some leftovers later! If you ever need us for anything else don't hesitate to call and best wishes to you both!
Thank you, Chef Tom & Callie
Any questions?
Sarah S
5.0
11/13/2023
I’m so glad we chose Chef Papa’s for our wedding! Callie was so sweet and so nice to work with. Communication was top notch and best of all everyone loved the food! The staff was super friendly and professional. Highly recommend!
response11/14/2023
Thank you Sarah, I'm glad you all enjoyed the food & service, so happy to hear everything ...
was good. It was my pleasure!
Thanks, Callie & Chef Tom
Nicole S
5.0
6/07/2023
Chef Papas is AWESOME. The workers were so helpful and nix to all of our guests. They brought my husband and I plates of food. Cocktail hour was perfect with more than enough apps to go around for all guests, and us too while we were taking photos. All the food was delicious and guests could come up as many times as they wanted. We got to take home the leftovers and enjoyed the food the next days after the wedding. We loved the Caesar salad and chicken and waffles soooo much. Seriously, we were so happy with Chef Papas- I definitely recommend!
response06/08/2023
I'm so happy to hear you and your guests enjoyed everything, it was a pleasure catering yo...
ur wedding. Thank you for the wonderful review and best wishes to you both in the future.
Thanks, Chef Tom & Callie
Yadira P
1.0
4/24/2023
I honestly do not know where these reviews are coming from, but I will say our tasting was not good at all. Not one tasting was good unfortunately.
response05/10/2023
We are very proud of all of our 5 star reviews, but we recognize that we can not make ever...
yone happy. We apologize that your tasting experience was not what you hoped for but we wish that your special day is a wonderful one.
Ardyst Z
5.0
11/16/2022
We found about about Chef Papas catering because my parents frequently visited their storefront for lunch. First off, Callie was so flexible and sweet to work with. We had a special request for an appetizer that was off menu, and it was no problem for them to accommodate it! We LOVED the food at our wedding, and specifically got a ton of compliments for our chicken and waffles at cocktail hour. We’re so happy we went with Chef Papas! We also did a bartending service through them, which was also great.
Caitlin A
5.0
11/03/2022
Loved working with this company. Callie was super helpful and communicative with the planning process and changes we made. Super laid back and accommodated us since we live about an hour away. Everything was delicious. I’ve had a few people call me about the sausage stuffed mushrooms that were passed during cocktail hour and how amazing they were. Dinner was perfect and we finished all the leftovers! Extremely affordable as well. A bonus to the amazing food.
response11/09/2022
Thank you very much Caitlin it was our pleasure, I'm so happy to hear you all enjoyed and ...
your guests. Glad you got to enjoy your leftovers!
Thanks, Callie & Chef Tom
Susan C
5.0
7/04/2022
BEST food I've ever had at a wedding, and I'm not just saying that because I was the bride! I got SO many compliments on the food for our wedding, and not one complaint! Chef Papas was so accommodating and flexible when needed. The food and service was amazing. One of their cooks actually stayed behind to record our private last dance for us, it was an amazing surprise and I am so lucky! Our day went so smooth and I couldn't have asked for a better company to provide amazing, over the top food and service! I HIGHLY recommend this company to anyone in the area. You will not be disappointed!
response07/05/2022
Thank you so much Susan always happy to hear you & your guests enjoyed everything. Hope th...
e best to you both in the future and if you ever need us for anything don't hesitate to call. Thanks, Chef Tom & Callie
Nicole P
5.0
4/10/2022
Chef Papa's food has had my guests talking for months now! His prices are so reasonable, the food is incredible, he even threw in an extra appetizer for cocktail hour at no charge. His staff brought heaping plates to the bride and groom so we didn't have to get up or wait in line, they checked on us frequently to see if we needed anything, and one even kept running appetizers out to the couple and bridal party during photos so we didn't miss out on cocktail hour flavors (or go hungry)! I cannot recommend them highly enough. Do yourself a favor and get the penne alredo---it is the best thing I've ever tasted (and all our guests agreed, even after we hyped it up!) and he makes it on site at the venue so there's no reheated cream sauce 😋. Just brilliant.
Kim R
5.0
11/05/2021
Chef Tom and Callie were great! They were so helpful when we first met for our tasting. And on our wedding day everything was so delicious! Our guests couldn’t stop talking about how great the food was!
response11/09/2021
Thank you Kim it was our pleasure to cater your big day, I'm so happy to hear everyone enj...
oyed the food! Thank you and best wishes to you both in the future! Chef Tom & Callie
Katie K
5.0
9/11/2021
Chef Papa was amazing! The food and service was excellent! Chef papa was very responsive and easy to work with. Highly recommend for wedding day food!
response09/16/2021
Hello Katie thanks for the wonderful review it was a pleasure catering your wedding best w...
ishes for you & Mario in the future! Thank you, Chef Tom & Callie
Alina G
5.0
4/05/2021
First of all Chef Papa's is amazing! The food was crazy delicious every single guest loved all the appetizers and their dinners! Secondly, the staff did a phenomenal job. They were so attentive to our guests and to us! They even brought us out appetizers while we were taking pictures during the cocktail hour so we didn't miss out!! We would definitely recommend Chef Papa's to everyone who needs catering, they were fantastic!
response04/06/2021
Thank you Alina it was a pleasure to cater your wedding appreciate the great review, I'm ...
glad you and your guests enjoyed. Congratulations and thank you!
Chef Tom & Callie
Jaelis T
5.0
3/07/2021
The food and service was amazing. My guest couldn’t stop raving about the chicken and waffles. Chef Papa and Calie are the best of the best.
response03/10/2021
Thank You Jaelis it was a pleasure catering your big day, I'm glad to hear everyone enjoye...
d the food. Best wishes to you & Mario!
Thanks, Callie & Chef Tom
Jessica K
5.0
1/23/2021
Chef Papa and his daughter served a delicious dinner for our wedding! The prices are very affordable, without having to compromise on the quality of food. The h'dourves especially the chicken and waffles, were a huge hit with our guests! Chef Papa was also very accommodating and professional when we had to postpone and downsize our April 2020 wedding to January 2021. We highly recommend Chef Papa catering for any event!
response01/27/2021
Hello Jessica thanks for the great review, I'm happy you enjoyed your day and the food esp...
ecially the chicken & waffles! Best of luck to you both and if ever need anything just give us a call.
Thanks again, Chef Tom & Callie
Kindra W
5.0
1/15/2021
Chef Papa's was completely amazing throughout the entire wedding caterer planning process! Add a global pandemic in the mix and they were still readily available with answers to all things Covid related, easing any fears or concerns you may have for the safety of your guests. They are so easy to talk with and truly want to help cater to your day! The food was amazing and we knew we would book with them before we even finished our tasting. We were able to create a customized menu that had sentimental value to us as a couple. The staff truly treat you like family and I was so happy to see them on our wedding day! We highly recommend them and we will definitely eat at their restaurant every anniversary! Thank you guys once again!
response01/27/2021
Hello Kindra thank you for the wonderful review it was a pleasure catering your wedding ha...
d a great time. Thanks again for everything and I'm glad you enjoyed your day, don't hesitate to call if you ever need anything in the future.
Thanks again, Chef Tom & Callie
Ariel V
5.0
11/09/2020
Chef papas took on our wedding at the last minute when our original caterer cancelled on us. They came highly recommended by our venue. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating. The food was absolutely delicious and even though we ended up paying for extra plates, there was nothing left over by the end of the night! All of our guests told us how much they loved the food. We are so happy we ended up going with them in the end!
Carlisa C
5.0
10/23/2020
Chef papa is the real deal!.We knew we picked a great choice, just from our tasting.
Prices are amazing and fit in our budget.
The day of the wedding, the food was even better then the tasting. We loved everything, we got so many compliments about our food.
Thank you chef papa!!!
response10/23/2020
Thank you Carlisa & Chad it was a pleasure catering your big day, I'm glad you enjoyed eve...
rything it was a great wedding! Chef Tom & Callie
Beatrice O
5.0
4/18/2020
The food was amazing! Everyone loved it so much they were still talking about it after the wedding. The price was perfect for our budget, and we had so many choices to choose from. They came highly recommended and it was well deserved.
response04/22/2020
Thank you Beatrice for the review appreciate it and it was pleasure to cater your wedding....
Hope you're staying safe & healthy!
Thanks Chef Tom & Callie
Sandie N
5.0
6/02/2019
Chef Papa catered our meal for our wedding and it was amazing everyone complimented us on our food and our appetizers even one of my Husband’s family members who is a chef herself said that’s how you feed your wedding guests her compliments to the chef. The staff is wonderful too always made us feel like family I couldn’t have found a better caterer then Chef Papas
Molly B
5.0
11/29/2018
Chef Papa and his staff are true professionals! He was responsive and easy to work with from Day 1 and always quick to help us with anything we needed. We are so thankful we chose them to cater our wedding. The food was incredible and the staff was excellent!
Tara S
5.0
8/17/2018
We had Chef Papa's cater our wedding, and also held our rehearsal dinner at their restaurant. They are amazing! Everything that they made was absolutely delicious; nothing was just "good." All of our guests raved about how fantastic the food was. And the service was excellent too! Their whole team is extremely nice, quick to respond to calls and e-mails, and they really go above and beyond to make sure your experience is nothing but positive. They came highly recommended both by our wedding venue, and by family who had worked with them before, and we could not be more happy that we took their advice!
Cristi M
5.0
6/25/2018
Tom and Callie are the best! My mom and I met with them first and then my husband and I and my father came back and did a full sampling. Everything tasted amazing and the customer experience was exceptional. We hired Chef Papas for our rehearsal and our wedding. They literally catered to our EVERY need. Jamie and I got a whole platter of appetizers brought to us as soon as we arrived to the reception. It was a buffet, but they brought us our plates and they brought our signature drinks to us throughout the reception without us ever asking! Tom and Callie are like family now and we love them! You would be crazy not to hire them. Great food, service, and reasonably priced. Thank you!!
Christine M
5.0
6/04/2013
I fell in love with Chef Papas Catering the first time I tried a sample at a bridal show and instantly knew he was going to cater my wedding!! No doubt the best food in town. Home made Italian style foods, absolutely amazing!! Best Chef around! Best caterer in town, also supplied linens plates napkins silverware and more.
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