A trained teppanyaki chef comes to your beach house, rental cottage, condo, or private patio in Cape May with a portable grill, all the food, and a full restaurant-quality show — cooked live in front of your guests. No deposit. Pay after the meal.
Cape May is the shore's most refined stop — a National Historic Landmark district full of Victorian B&Bs, an East Coast birding capital, home to Cape May Point Lighthouse and a well-known restaurant scene. The private-event demand here is different from anywhere else on the Jersey Shore: honeymoon dinners at the B&B, small anniversary parties in Victorian house rentals, 20-guest rehearsal dinners the night before a beach wedding. Longer drive from Philadelphia (90 miles round-trip via the Garden State Parkway or the Cape May-Lewes Ferry stretch), so the travel fee is higher — but for a milestone Cape May night, guests remember the private chef setup.
The private-event patterns here are specific — here's how a hibachi chef fits each of them:
Cape May's Victorian house rentals are architectural — private chef on the wraparound porch is a memorable setup for 25th, 50th, or milestone anniversaries.
20–30 guest rehearsal dinners the night before the beach ceremony. Chef comes to the wedding rental, everyone eats together on the deck, no restaurant back-and-forth.
Cape May's smaller beach weddings often include a hibachi-catered dinner reception right at the rental — different from the usual buffet-tent setup, memorable for guests.
Fall migration brings birding groups to Cape May Point. Private chef dinner at the shared rental works for these focused-hobby groups.
The 60th birthday at the Cape May B&B or the retirement weekend at the historic-district rental — Cape May draws these more often than any other shore town.
Also see: New Jersey — full coverage · South Jersey · Greater Philadelphia
Cape May is approximately 90 miles from our Old City Philadelphia home base. Here's the exact math on your travel fee:
Your travel fee: $130
Travel fee is included in the final bill · paid after service · no deposit.
Want an exact quote for your ZIP? Fill out the booking form below →
Most Cape May-area events happen at rental properties — here's what makes each type work smoothly:
Any beach house or rental cottage: chef sets up on the back deck, patio, or driveway. We need about 8×8 ft of outdoor clearance for the grill and no low-hanging fabric awnings above.
Airbnb / VRBO / private rentals: policies on open-flame cooking vary host by host. Always send the host a quick message before booking us — most say yes, but it's worth confirming.
**Historic-district B&Bs:** many require advance approval for outdoor catering — check with the B&B owner well before you book us. **Victorian rentals** (single-family) usually have a wraparound porch or side yard that works well. **Cape May Point** (further south) is quieter and often has more open outdoor space at the rentals. **Ferry-adjacent:** if you're combining Cape May with a Rehoboth Beach Delaware trip, our Delaware coverage is separate — ask about pricing across state lines.
Cape May is a coastal town — the same ocean breeze that makes it beautiful can affect an outdoor grill event. Here's what we plan around:
| Condition | What happens |
|---|---|
| Clear day · wind under 15 mph | Perfect · full outdoor show |
| Wind 15–20 mph | We use wind screens · full show continues |
| Wind over 20 mph sustained | Need a tent, gazebo, or covered patio |
| Light rain | Covered patio, garage with door open, or move indoors with ventilation |
| Heavy rain / thunderstorm | Free reschedule with 48+ hrs notice |
| Hurricane / tropical storm (June–Nov) | Free reschedule regardless of notice window |
Your responsibility: if your rental doesn't have a covered outdoor area and forecast calls for wind or rain, ask the host if the grill can go in a garage with the door open, or plan a rain-date buffer.
| Package 1 · Classic | Package 2 · Group Style | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $50 | $60 |
| Child (12 & under) | $25 | $30 |
| Proteins | Pick any 2 per guest | Chicken + Steak + Shrimp for everyone |
| Best for | 8–15 guests · custom picks | 15+ guests · faster service |
Chef arrives 15 min early. Setup + cook + cleanup runs about 90 minutes door-to-door for most events.
Yes — Cape May is our furthest regular Jersey Shore stop, about 90 miles from Old City Philadelphia. Travel fee is $130 (base $50 plus $2/mile for 40 miles beyond our free 50-mile radius). Included in the final bill, paid after service.
Sometimes, with the B&B owner's advance approval — many historic-district B&Bs restrict outdoor cooking. Victorian single-family rentals (much more common for group stays) usually work fine. Confirm with your host well before booking us.
For smaller weddings (under 40 guests), the chef runs the grill during the reception timeframe — guests come up in groups of 8–10. Two chefs for 30+ guests keeps service moving. Rehearsal dinners the night before are simpler: everyone eats together at one seating.
Party minimum is $500 food — about 10 adults on Package 1, or a smaller group with premium upgrades (Filet, Lobster). For a 6-person anniversary dinner with all lobster + filet upgrades, you'd be right around the minimum.
Yes — both are within the same booking radius as Cape May proper. Same $130 travel fee. Villas (a bit north) is also covered. If you're renting further up in Wildwood Crest, that's our Wildwood pricing at $120.
Cape May summer Saturdays are among our earliest-booking dates — often 6–8 weeks in advance. Off-season (September through April) is much more flexible, sometimes bookable within a week. Wedding-adjacent dates fill first.
More general questions? See our site-wide FAQ — it covers 10 more topics on the booking process, chef arrival, and food safety.
Renting in a neighboring town? We cover the whole stretch:
Also see: South Jersey overview · All of New Jersey · Greater Philadelphia Metro
No deposit · Cape May weekend spots fill 3–6 weeks ahead in summer. Pick your date below:
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Weekend spots at the shore fill fast — usually 3–6 weeks in advance for summer Saturdays.