Terms of Service

Tableside (tableside.co and related pages, “Tableside”, “we”, “us”) is based in British Columbia, Canada. Tableside connects people planning private dining events (“hosts”) with independent professional chefs (“chefs”).

Chefs on Tableside are independent businesses. They are not our employees, agents, or partners. When a host books a chef, the agreement for that dinner is between the host and the chef — Tableside provides the venue where they find each other, agree on terms, and coordinate.

You must be at least 19 years old (the age of majority in British Columbia) to create an account. One person per account, real names on file, and the information you provide — including a chef's certifications, insurance status, and experience — must be true and kept current. You are responsible for activity under your account and for keeping your password secure.

Hosts post events (or invite chefs to them). Chefs respond with proposals — menu concept, pricing, and terms. Proposals are private: only the event's host sees them, never competing chefs. When a host selects a proposal and the chef confirms, the agreed terms are recorded in a commitment snapshot that neither side can quietly edit afterward. Exact addresses and day-of details are shared only after that mutual confirmation, and only with the confirmed counterpart.

Tableside does not currently process payments, hold funds, or take a fee on bookings. Hosts and chefs arrange payment directly and are each responsible for their own invoicing, taxes, and records. If Tableside introduces payment processing later, we'll update these terms and the price a host agrees to will remain all-inclusive — taxes and any platform fees live inside the agreed price, never added on top afterward.

Cancellations and refunds follow our Cancellations & Refunds standard, which is part of these terms. Cancelling a confirmed booking is recorded on the cancelling party's account history — separately from reviews — and repeated non-emergency cancellations can lead to removal from the platform.

Where Tableside displays verification marks (for example, food-safety certification or insurance), they mean exactly what our published verification standard says was checked, at the time it was checked. Verification is not an endorsement, a warranty of any chef's work, or a guarantee of any outcome. Chefs remain solely responsible for the services they deliver, and hosts remain responsible for their own judgment in selecting a chef.

Chefs are responsible for safe food handling and preparation, for holding the certifications and insurance they claim, and for complying with all laws that apply to their business — including health regulations and any rules around alcohol service.

Hosts are responsible for disclosing guest allergies and dietary restrictions accurately and completely, and for providing a safe, lawful venue and working kitchen as described. Tableside transmits the information both sides provide, but we cannot verify allergy information or kitchen conditions and are not responsible for outcomes that follow from inaccurate or incomplete disclosure.

Chefs receive private information to do their job: names, addresses, access details, and a view inside someone's home and gathering. That information is confidential and single-use. Without the host's explicit consent, chefs may not photograph or record a host's home, guests, or event; post, geotag, or otherwise publicize any of it; retain or share addresses, access codes, or contact details; or use them for anything beyond the booked event. Hosts owe chefs the same respect regarding a chef's personal information. Violating this section is grounds for immediate removal.

Reviews and trust records (like cancellation history) exist so both sides can rely on them. By posting content on Tableside — reviews, profiles, menus, photos, messages — you give us a non-exclusive license to display it where the product needs it. Records of what actually happened are permanent: we will remove content that is fraudulent, abusive, or unlawful, but we do not remove truthful records because they are unflattering.

Don't misrepresent who you are or what you're certified to do. Don't harass anyone. Don't take pre-commitment negotiations off the platform to avoid its protections — proposals, selection, and confirmation happen on Tableside. Don't scrape, copy, or misuse other users' data. Don't use Tableside for anything unlawful. We may suspend or remove accounts that break these rules.

Tableside provides the marketplace “as is.” To the maximum extent permitted by law, we are not liable for the acts or omissions of hosts or chefs, for the quality, safety, or legality of any event, or for indirect or consequential damages. Where liability cannot be excluded, our total liability is limited to the greater of CAD $100 or the fees you paid to Tableside in the twelve months before the claim. Nothing in these terms limits rights that consumer law does not allow to be limited.

These terms are governed by the laws of British Columbia and Canada. If something goes wrong, contact us first — at our size, a human reads every message and most problems get solved by talking. Formal disputes belong to the courts of British Columbia.

We may update these terms as Tableside evolves — material changes will be announced on the platform or by email, and continuing to use Tableside after that means you accept them. Questions: hello@tableside.co.