Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dinner Done a franchise?

No, Dinner Done is proud to be a locally owned and operated Tampa Bay business. Dan and Audra Nasser first opened the Carrollwood location in February 2004 after six months of crazy-fun trial "Kitchen Sessions" in their home kitchen with very patient friends, and then later more focused test sessions in a local church facility.

Initially, Dinner Done primarily offered only make-your-own Kitchen Sessions. Over the years, we have shifted our focus to providing ready-to-cook entrees, sides, appetizers and dessert for curbside pickup and delivery. 

Our Menus and Meals

What are Dinner Done entrees like?
Our entrees are ready-to-cook dishes made by our in-house Prep Team using fresh, high quality ingredients. No preservatives are added to Dinner Done entrees and we freeze them immediately, unless otherwise specified. That means Dinner Done dishes are in the freezer for when you need them, and not sitting in the fridge going bad because your plans changed at the last minute!

Many of our entrees can be cooked directly from freezer-to-oven, while others are quick-thaw/sauté and often go freezer-to-table in less than 30 minutes. Dinner Done has been developing high quality ready-to-cook entrees specifically for freezer-to-oven and quick-thaw/sauté preparation since 2004. It is a fairly unique offering and is most definitely our area of expertise! We love that our kids were raised on Dinner Done and now, as young adults, they serve it in their own homes!

How often does the menu change?
Dinner Done’s Featured Entrees Menu changes monthly. Our Grab & Go ready-to-cook meal selection changes more frequently. 

What is the serving size of each entreé?
Our Grab & Go ready-to-cook entrees serve a family of 2-3, unless otherwise specified.  Serving sizes are specified in the description of each dish!

Can I have my entrees customized?
Our Grab & Go ready-to-cook entrees are prepared in batches and are not able to be customized.

Do you take requests?
If there is a Dinner Done dish you loved, please let us know. We are often able to make a batch for our Grab & Go freezer!

Are cooking instructions included with the entrees?
Yes. Each ready-to-cook entree is labeled with specific cooking instructions. Like any ready-to-cook entree, cooking times may vary depending on the starting temperature of the dish, as well as your individual oven and stove. For perfect results every time, we recommend using an instant read thermometer to ensure that your entrees are cooked to the proper internal temperature!

Where do you get your recipes?
We have been creating freezer-friendly recipes at Dinner Done since 2004. We currently have over 600 main dish (entree) recipes and a wide variety of side dish, appetizer, brunch and dessert recipes that have all been developed in-house.

We use a variety of suppliers to ensure the freshest, highest quality ingredients and work to minimize the use of unhealthy ingredients found in many of today’s prepared foods. We do things like make our own Adobo spice blend to ensure it contains no MSG! We read labels, ask questions, and do all we can to guarantee that only the most nutritious and delicious foods find their way to your (and our!) family’s dinner table.

How is your nutritional information calculated?
Dinner Done entrees are hand-crafted.  Unlike entrees prepared in manufacturing facilities, our ready-to-cook dishes are made in the Dinner Done kitchen by our Prep Team.  Because of this, nutritional information can vary though we do our best to prepare each dish exactly as our recipe states.
 
For our customers preparing their own entrees in a Kitchen Session, actual nutritional information can vary considerably as you customize your own entrees in the kitchen.  Adding extra cheese?  Omitting the olive oil?  It can significantly impact calorie counts!

Dinner Done uses software to calculate nutritional information and we strive to make it as accurate as possible.  All nutritional information is based on 6 servings for family-sized portions or 3 servings for petite-sized portions, unless specifically stated otherwise.

Does Dinner Done use organic ingredients?
Dinner Done would love to provide organic ingredients for our dishes, however these products are often cost-prohibitive and not yet consistently available. Our chicken is hormone and steroid free. We do realize that the organic market is growing and are watching for opportunities to add organic products to our offering, while also continuing to provide healthy meals at an affordable price.

As a general rule, we use ingredients that are similar to those sold in local grocery stores and used in fine restaurants. When we find organics at a reasonable price, we purchase those, too, but because the availability changes it is not something that we promise or advertise.

A family member has a severe allergy? Is Dinner Done OK for them?
We are happy to review any recipes with you before you place your order. Customers preparing their own meals in an In-Kitchen Session are able to substitute and eliminate ingredients as desired. Ready-to-cook meals on our monthly menu can also be customized by our Prep Team when ordered from one of our Customizable Menus. 

At Dinner Done, we always work hard to prevent cross-contamination of ingredients, however, please note that we work with a wide variety of ingredients in our kitchen and are unable to guarantee that there will be no cross-contamination. Feel free to stop in and take a look at our kitchen so that you can determine if our services are right for you and your family.

In-Store Pickup

Can I order for In-Store Pickup today?

Absolutely! Order online by 4pm and your order will automatically be set for same day curbside pickup! You can also just pop in the store any time and pick up meals. 

I can’t pick up my order on the date I requested. What do I do? 

No worries. We are happy to hold your order for you until you are able to pick up. If you are delayed more than a few days, please let us know.

Delivery

How often do you deliver to my neighborhood?

Every Saturday, Dinner Done makes $5 Deliveries to one part of the Tampa Bay area. When we offer $5 Delivery to your area depends on where you live. In the online store, use our "Choose Pickup or Delivery Date Here" box to see available delivery and pickup options.  Click here for more information on our $5 Delivery Days.

I’d like to ship meals to an out-of-the-area address. Do you do that? 

We are currently not able to ship meals. 

I have to run out for a quick errand and might be gone when your driver arrives. What are my options? 

If you will not be home during your delivery time but will be returning home soon, you may leave a large cooler in a shady area near the front door with a note clearly indicating that our driver should leave your delivery there.

I forgot you were coming and missed my delivery. What do I do? 

If we have attempted delivery and you were not home, we will bring your meals back to the Dinner Done store and have them ready for In-Store Pickup at your convenience.

In-Kitchen Sessions

Covid-19 Information

In-Kitchen Sessions are currently suspended due to Covid-19. 

What is an In-Kitchen Session?

An In-Kitchen Session is a scheduled time where you can come in and prepare your own month's worth of ready-to-cook entrees. Our In-Kitchen Menu changes each month and features 13 different entrees to choose from. A minimum purchase of 4 family-sized entrees is required to participate in an In-Kitchen Session. Reservations are also required - your reservation ensures we have all of the ingredients ready for you the day of your In-Kitchen Session. 

Can I customize my entrees?

Of course! In a Kitchen Session, you have the opportunity to modify the recipes to suit your family’s taste. If you like spicy foods, add more seasonings. Don’t like onions? Don’t put them in. And, if you'd like to modify an entree to better fit your diet, we provide nutritional information as well as suggestions on how to make our entrées lower in fat or carbs wherever possible.

Can I bring kids to a Kitchen Session?
Each month, we have a Mom (or Dad!) & Me Session in the kitchen. It’s perfect for cooking with your younger child. Older kids are welcome to prepare entrees with you in any Kitchen Session.

Can I bring a friend to a Kitchen Session with me?
Bringing a friend or partner to work in the kitchen with you is fine. We do ask that no more than two people per reservation work together in the kitchen. And, to help keep the kitchen comfortable for everyone in the session, you’ll be asked to work together at the same recipe station throughout the session.

How much do Kitchen Sessions cost?
The minimum order for a Kitchen Sessions is $99.50 and includes your choice of four family-sized entrees. Each family-sized entree serves a family of 4-6. The more dishes you order, the better the value... click here to see all Kitchen Session package prices. 

I can’t make it to my Kitchen Session, what do I do?
If you aren’t able to attend your Kitchen Session, we would be happy to reschedule you for another date or to change your order to include meal pickup or meal delivery service. Because ingredients are ordered and prepped based on session reservations, a 24-hour notice is required to change your Kitchen Session date. To change your order to include To Go or Delivered service (additional fees apply), simply call us on or before the day of your scheduled session.

Payment & Pricing

Is Dinner Done expensive?
Our customers don’t think so. In fact, they often comment on how reasonable our prices are, especially when comparing portion size and prices to other ready-to-cook or prepare-it-yourself meal options. And that doesn’t begin to consider the valuable time you save by not having to plan meals, shop for – and chop - ingredients, prepare the entrées, and clean up afterwards!

View our Grab & Go Menu for pricing on individual items. To see Kitchen Session Pricing or information on quantity discounts for our pickup and delivery orders, view our Pricing page. 

What credit cards do you take?
Dinner Done takes all major credit cards.

Can I pay with a check or cash?
Dinner Done does not accept checks, but if you’d like to pay for your In-Store Pickup or Kitchen Session with cash please feel free to phone us to place your order. We will be happy to place it for you so that you may pay at pickup or the day of your session. Delivery orders must be pre-paid as our drivers are not equipped to take payment. 

Do you store my credit card information?
For your security, Dinner Done does not store credit card information. We apologize for any inconvenience that may cause.

What is a SuperChef certificate?
Make three $99+ purchases in 4-months and you'll automatically receive a $30 store credit to use toward your next purchase. SuperChef store credits are valid for 3 months after their issue date. For purchases to count toward a SuperChef certificate, they MUST be credited to your Dinner Done account at the time of purchase! Unfortunately, we are not able to retroactively add a purchase to your account due to system limitations.

Please note that store credits, including SuperChef certificates, do not count toward the $99 required purchase to earn credit toward a SuperChef certificate. For example, if your purchase is $105.00 and a $30 SuperChef certificate is applied, the "true" order total is $75 and the order will not meet the $99 purchase requirement to earn credit toward a SuperChef certificate. If your purchase is $130.00 and a $30 SuperChef certificate is applied, the "true" order total is $100 and it will meet the $99 purchase requirement!

At Home

Will all this food fit in my freezer?
Yes. We use an assortment of disposable pans and freezer bags. Your ready-to-cook entrées should fit in a standard freezer with no problem.

What is the best way to thaw my entrées?
Many Dinner Done ready-to-cook entrées can go straight from the freezer to the oven. For those dishes that need to be thawed first, there are three safe ways to defrost food: in cold water, in the microwave or in the refrigerator. Thawing on the kitchen counter, or at room temperature is not a safe way of defrosting food.

How long will my meals last in the freezer?
Freezing is nature’s preservative (it's true!). When food is kept frozen at 0F, the food is safe indefinitely. However, there will be a degradation in quality over time. We recommend that Dinner Done meals are cooked within 6 months of purchase, however, should you discover a meal in your freezer that has been there longer (and has been frozen at 0F the entire time), it is safe to cook and eat.