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Category: Kitchen & Bath [Edit]
Neighborhood: Near North SideNorth/Clybourn (Red)
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today is my birthday and sur la table is where my husband took me to pick some gifts out for myself. i am a mad mad cook. it's my favorite hobby. when i walked in, i simply froze. i stared at cheese graters for the first half hour. then pasta makers. then they gave me free illy espresso.
"would you like some illy while browsing?"
"umm yes please"
my palms began to sweat as i stared at the amazing & colorful cookware ranging in price from $20-$500. then i arrived at the cookie cutter tower. they have EVERYTHING! aprons, cookbooks, brown sugar savers, a WALL of kitchen towels! lime green colanders! tons of great cookbooks, glassware, plates, ramikins, madagascar vanilla PASTE! gourmet salts, oils, vinegars, pepper mills, rolling pins, butcher blocks, knives....
oh my.
god.
Went in to buy a knife set they had and ended up buying a completely different set. We were hungry so sadly I was in a hurry. Won't make that same mistake twice.
Really cool place with lots of fun gadgets for cooking. The staff was very helpful and I was very happy with my purchase. Now that I have some knives I need to get a sushi mat.
One of my favorite stores in the city. I can spend hours going through all the items they have. If I ever win the lottery, I know where I'm headed first. The hardest part is simply pronouncing the stores name properly. Everyone always tells me "it's Tab-leh, not table".
If you are looking for that missing item in your kitchen whether it's bakeware, cookware or any little toy you never thought you needed, chances are Sur La Table will have it. My most recent purchase was the Atlas Marcato pasta roller. It came with two lovely attachments (one for fettuccine and the other for spaghetti). Bring it home, drink some wine and play a little Italian music in the background and you've got a taste of Italy right in your own kitchen. And yes, homemade pasta blows the pants off the store bought stuff. Plus it's way more fun.
The store clerks are always helpful. You can tell they enjoy their work. They don't bother you by asking tons of questions and following you around the store. They are usually busy checking people out but if you ask them a question they really get into it by offering suggestions or recommending certain items. It's obvious they enjoy the items the store sells.
Definitely go if you are into filling your kitchen with great supplies. Just be careful, it's hard not to buy everything you see in the store and things can add up quickly!
I love this store.
1. I was able to find every single cookie cutter I wanted for $1 each which included an ice cream, cupcake, birthday cake,music notes, instruments, elephant, duck, whale, all the alphabets and more.
2. They have gold foil baking cups.
3. They have an array of sprinkles to choose from
4. They are the only ones that carried an Ice cream cone cupcake mold different from the one's at Linens n things and Michael's and I got it for 50% off. =D
5. The employees are very knowledgeable and helpful =D
I agree it's a bit pricey,but if you're in a time crunch and don't have the time looking for better deals this store is great!
Anything you need for the kitchen, can be found here... and it's a
little pricey. If you love to cook you'll love this place.
It's very much like Williams-Sonoma a lot of cool gadgets.
The employees are friendly and I got to try out some free yummy
hot cocoa.
I love visiting Sur La Table when I am in the area, which is hardly ever. There are a few stores down this strip that make me want to visit, and Table is one of them!
I am always down for looking at new cutlery items and cookware. Tabletop items and dishware I usually order from Mikasa, but Sur La Table has everything else I am looking for. I have bought a few items from this store, and never had a bad experience. The store clerks are usually busy with other customers, so if you do have any questions, make them count! If you are a beginner, you should probably do your research before entering this store. They have a huge selection of products that can be confusing, unless you know what you are looking for.
One thing I am guilty of, using Sur La Table as a "price matcher" when it comes to electronic gadgets and whatnot. You can usually find what you are looking for somewhere else at a cheaper price, but not by much.
Don't be like me....buy from Sur La Table!
I love you, Sur La Table!
I had only visited the other location on Walton Street and thought it was ok. On a whim, I stopped in here one day and fell in love. There was an awesome sale on all sorts of goodies.
'Autumn colors' of Wilton gel food coloring for 50 cents each? That's going in the basket.
Cookie cutters in every imaginable shape for less than $2? Yep, better grab those too.
Pumpkin shaped cake pan for $6? Yes? No? No, put that back.
The sales associates were helpful and I loaded up on lots of kitchen goodies that I don't really need but will use anyway.
My only complaint (which Sur La Table has no control over) is the parking and crazy amount of traffic around North/Halsted. Take the red line there and save yourself the headache.
Like Kristen, I use the 20-minute lot. And unless I intend to get more than a couple things, I don't get a basket. These procedures help keep me in the good graces of my credit card company. They also keep my drawers and cabinets from looking like my grandma's.
Certainly not everything here is expensive, but there are always a few things that make me think, "Who is the world needs that?" Like the guy who came in when I was there this morning and bought a $300 bread knife. I was shopping for a bread knife as well, and had told the employee who pointed them out to me that my budget was sub-$100. Proud of my selection (and thriftiness) I made out with the bread knife, a couple ramekins, and a jar of sambal. Forty bucks and change.
I love Sur La Table because they have virtually every kitchen accessory you could want. I hate Sur La Table because they have virtually every kitchen accessory I could want. Alas, my yuppie points are on the rise. Only a few more years before I am The Man, and Sur La Table is not helping.
Hard boiled egg slicer? Check! Three different types of rotary cheese graters? Yessiree! Silicone poached egg holder? Oh my, yes.
I love Sur La Table. I can find anything, and I mean anything, at this joint. One-stop shopping for your bridal kitchen registry or even if you just need a box grater, complete with validated parking and very helpful staff. They have never once made me feel like I was slumming from the gadget section at Target, and they will guide you to just about any item of which you are in need.
The prices are inflated, I won't lie, but the quality and range of the stuff they have is what sort of justifies it. You can go there, get a legit Mexican terra cotta tortilla warmer and an Italian stovetop espresso maker and not feel like either one of them skimps on quality.
Huzzah! Sur La Table!
My *new* favorite cooking store, Sur La Table has everything and free parking. I couldn't ask for a better retail experience in the city of Chicago!
Sur La Table is certainly a store that is a treat for any cook - from novice to professional. Having all the great brands, like Emile Henry and All Clad and Breville and Cuisinart... the service is great and selection beats my other favorite cooking store, Williams-Sonoma.
Parking is free with validation, and there is an express parking lot which is free without validation for 20 minutes. I use the express parking lot because otherwise I'd spend more time in this amazing store and spend lots of money.
THE stop for culinary gadgets.
i work here, but the reason why is that i spent hours in that place before before i even thought about getting a job there.
i know someone said that it was another vanilla retail job. i personally dont think so. if you try, you learn alot about the culinary world just from working there.
also, the employee discount is good enough reason to work there.
What a great place to go just for yourself or the cook, baker, bartender, host/hostess, foodie in your life.......
The Sur La Table on North Ave. has a parking lot which makes for really easy in-and-out shopping... no hassles with meters downtown and it's totally free which is a huge plus in my book. They carry the creme de la creme of cookware.... Le Creuset, All Clad, Demeyere, Mauviel, Viking... and more small accouterments than you can shake a stick at (spatulas, balloon whisks, mixers, bowls, the list goes on...)
With a limited selection of tableware, gourmet food items, dish towels and the like they are just as good as Williams-Sonoma (don't you dare say those two words aloud in SLT... ) but with an added bonus of a staff that actually are really into cooking - it's always a mix of CHIC students and culinary enthusiasts... so yes, they know their stuff.
I spied an amazing DeLonghi Nespresso maker today that would rock my world and put lots of Starbucks-designated dollars back in my pocket. I put it on my list for Santa, but in case he doesn't get to it in time, it's on hold under Brett "desperately needs this amazing and ridiculously expensive contraption" D. - ya know, if you're already in the giving spirit ; )
+DROOL+
I left retail a while back, but I've often been tempted to get a part time seasonal job at Sur La Table, if they'd have me. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and purchases are quick and efficient.
This gorgeous, bright, clean store is a cook's heaven. I'm not sure there is anything in the world of cooking and baking they don't sell. They also have a retail catalogue and website.
I remember when I was younger and my mom wanted to go in places like Williams Sonoma or Sur La Table, and I was sooooo veeeeeeeery boooooored. But now that I'm an adult and I play house with my boyfriend, it's a totally different story... I think I spent about an hour browsing around Sur La Table with my mom the last time we went, so I'm sure she's excited about the change in my attitude.
I really like this store. Convenient El stop location, friendly staff, awesome browsing. It's maybe a tad expensive, but that's what you expect at places like this. I'll tell you one thing, I think it's the only place in town you can get a butter crock. Okay, don't quote me on that, but we did look at a few other places before finally finding one here.
Oh, and delicious samples! The lady who gave me a sample of some yummy lemon ice cream last time I was here told me to make sure I got my bf to buy me the $50 ice cream maker that it came from. Then we got into a discussion about ice cream makers and practically the whole store (employees and customers) got involved. Fun times!
I have had more than a few great experiences at this Sur La Table and I can't believe I haven't Yelped about it before now.
I recently went in for a couple utensils and walked out with $200 worth of goods. They have thought of everything. Everything you could possibly want and things you didn't even think about needing until you walked in. The employees are well informed on just about every item in the store and will even show you hands on how to use it. I once bought their fabulous garlic press and the salesperson whipped out a clove to demonstrate.
This is a wonderful place for gifts and they will even include a wire whisk on top of your package when you get your item gift wrapped. (I am a sucker for packaging, probably because I can't wrap whatsoever).
I have bought everything from a serving platter, to Illy espresso pods, to egg poachers, a pasta machine and even a coffee press. It doesn't matter if you spend $4.00 there or a few hundred, the staff treats you top notch.
At this location there is free validated parking if you are there under an hour and a half.
What's my secret for getting decent deals at this very expensive kitchenware and kitchen gadget shop?
My membership in the WCR! You don't have to be a chef to join and the discounts are great! 15% off at Sur La Table, 40% KitchenAid Appliances....
http://www.womenchefs.org
As a kid, I remember hating kitchen shops because my Crate &Barrel-loving parents would dick around in them for ages hemming and hawing over the stupidest shit...whether to buy the Calphalon cookery set or the poncey brass cookery set. Ughhhh.
So I must be getting old because I had a really nice time in Sur La Table yesterday. I didn't have that much money to spend but I got some great cookie cutters (guitar, unicorn...) and a nice set of measuring spoons. I saw many other things to tempt me, namely a pair of protective onion chopping goggles and a little wheel which lets you chop garlic very quickly.
All the employees were extremely helpful and pleasant, so while I may not save a bundle shopping here it made for a really good shopping experience.
Minus one star for the sub par apron selection. I wanted a boy-apron for my culinary overlord boyfriend but I doubt he would have appreciated aprons with apple print and bows all over them.
Very friendly and knowledgeable staff with a large selection of products for all-things-kitchen. You can find electrical appliances here--spice grinders, espresso makers, toaster ovens, etc. You can also find stemware, flatware, dishes, and kitchen linens here too. There's a plethora of pans, spices, high-end snacky foods and candies. Did I leave anything out?
In sum, Sur La Table is like Williams-Sonoma, but with the stick pulled out of its you-know-what, and with a splash of Pier One.
P.S. This location does NOT have a culinary program (on-site cooking classes).
Finding good basic cookware is easier with the surge in food and entertainment television. While Williams Sonoma and Crate and Barrel usually carry lots of the high-end gear, their selection of basic tools are usually lacking.
Sur la Table looks like it was geared specifically to fit that niche. Their stores carry everything from the smallest, least-expensive implements to high-end hobbyist chef equipment.
The North Ave store is fairly large, and carries a lot of stock but if you don't happen to spot what you want, the staff can order it for you. They are pretty helpful, knowledgeable and friendly (ask for Lindsay - she knows her stuff). With a store that carries everything from $2 egg timers to $200 Le Creuset Dutch Ovens, knowing what's on hand is no mean feat.
The only downsides to this location are:
* expensive parking deck fees ($7 per 30 minutes - make SURE to get your ticket validated by one of the merchants)
* the store can get really busy, and they aren't sometimes staffed for it - be patient
* something these kinds of stores can't really help...customers with far too high an opinion of themselves. For some of the North Shore crowd, this locale is considered slumming, so they come with the idea that we proles come second. Just out-nice them with the staff, and you'll get taken care of...works every time since they usually treat staff like plague-ridden work horses.
If you do have to special order an item, or want to check on stock, the best time to do it is Friday morning. Their stock gets replenished every Thursday, and by Friday morning they have everything ready for sale. Calling on Thursday while the stock is being put away is self-defeating at best.
2 months ago, my boyfriend gave me a set of Global Knives and I love them. They live on a magnetic strip in my kitchen. Yesterday, however, I went to take the chef off the strip and I noticed that there were small rust spots on it. Upon further investigation, I noticed that all the knives had small rust spots on them. I was extremely upset, as I adhere to all the strict "expensive knife rules" like:
**never submerge in water
**never run in dishwasher
**clean immediately after use
**thoroughly dry after use
So, I called Sur la Table and spoke with the manager, Lisa. She was very nice and took time to discuss the issue with me. She told me to come in and she would take a look and probably swap the knives out for me. When I visited the store, Lisa wasn't there, but the Assistant Manager, Ethan was. Ethan examined the knives and agreed that the rust was very strange. He was so helpful and swapped the knives out for me without question. He even threw some knife covers in for me.
I really appreciated the excellent customer service!
A fun store, love to browse, but too much money for my blood. No doubt the merchandise is beautiful, I just don't find it all necessary, although I wouldn't turn any of it away if it was given to me. Wonderful costumer service.
I really like this store. It's great for browsing, especially for checking out all the cool kitchen gadgets. Plus the last time I was there they were doing coffee maker taste tests, pretty cool. You can find a lot of high-end stuff here as well as reasonably priced kitchen accessories.
Go in and look around and you will find items for your kitchen you did not know existed but would like to own. The last time I went in I found vanilla bean paste, it is not made with alcohol and has a strong vanilla flavor because it is ground up vanilla. It's also a great place to pick out small presents, every time I go in I find something for someone...................Especially Me. :-)
Sur la Table may not be as cool as Northwestern Cutlery, but I still like this store. I like looking at their pans. They carry a lot of All Clad, which I cannot afford, but still like to look at (and touch). Their baking nook is plentiful. It's not a big section, more like a corner, but they carry good quality rolling pins, tart pans, cake pans of all sizes (even 3" deep pans if that interests you), a huge selection of cookie cutters, and way cute plastic spatulas/rubber scrapers/whatever you call them. I am obsessed with cute plastic spatulas and they have every color of the rainbow, some have patterns on them, and my fave is the pink glittery ones! I'm such a dork. I also spend a lot of time looking at their cutting boards. For as long as I can remember, I've been on a mission to find the perfect cutting board. Trying to save up for a Boos block and Sur La Table has them. The only thing I don't like about this store is that they carry some of those useless home cook tools. Onion goggles?? Seriously, why? And some of their prices are a bit high. But who am I kidding, I gladly buy the pink glittery spatulas for $10. Over priced yes, but they make me so happy :)
I absolutely love this store! I bought all of my essentials for baking a cheesecake here to creating a birthday cake from scratch! I found this lovely pink cake box and gold dust powder for my chocolate cake, stuff you wouldn't find at William Sonoma or your local Jewel. Parking is pretty easy around this location, there's plenty of street parking along Clybourne and neighboring streets.
I'd give them more than 5 stars if I could mostly because of the great customer service they provide. There are always plenty of people to help me shop, choose a gift, try a new gadget etc. You'll find a great selection of traditional kitchen stuff and new items for the gadget collector. Great place to buy gifts for your foodie friends or the less experienced cook. Parking is easy too! The store on Oak has great cooking classes.
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