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Categories: Home Decor, Kitchen & Bath [Edit]
Neighborhood: Union SquareMon-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
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This review is for service more than anything else. The items carried here were like what they have at most Sur La Tables that I've been to. But the service was especially delightful!
Everyone was so polite, friendly and professional. Staff that asks if you need help finding anything, staff that says "pardon me" as they pass you on the stairs between the main and basement levels, staff that actually walk over with you and help you find some autumn leaf cookie cutters because you pulled making pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving and you procrastinated buying the cookie cutters that you wanted for decorating said pies with until the weekend before Thanksgiving.
This location is one that I'll go out of my way to pay a return visit.
After reading about the future great chef's horrible experience here, I had to try this place that I usually go to.
On entering this store, I found Bob was asking everybody on the first floor if he/she had any questions or needed help. He asked me the same as well. I also noticed that there are only male employees around 5:30p.m. on Saturday.
I was like "Where is an usual unfriendly lady?"
I checked white truffle oil but did not buy on the first floor.
I also checked the basement level, where they had cooking class going on with nice smell filled in the store.
I bought two packs of hilarious napkins and my clerk was Jim.
He was very friendly and so was the female clerk next to him.
They were so friendly that even customers were relaxed and enjoying the conversations each other around them.
I had no problem with thier service and I am still wondering where the not-so-friendly lady is?
By the way, I was wearing suit and tie. Did that make the difference? I do not think so.
A great shop. I had a good experience this morning. I am semi-intimidated by cooking my first Thanksgiving dinner. Juan was great and helped me get what I needed. I got some good equipment and I love that the salespeople all cook and really want you to get what you need, not what they want to sell you.
I have purchased a lot of cooking equipment here and for any serious home cook or professional, this store has the best range of high end to lower end cooking equipment in the Bay Area.
I've never been treated so rudely at a store before. I've never rushed home to write a Yelp review before.
My poor chef's knife was in desperate need of sharpening, so when I heard that Sur La Table was doing free sharpenings during October, I was pretty excited. I needed to cook that night, so I called ahead to find out how long it would take to have one knife sharpened. They said they could take care of it in a few minutes while I waited, so I hopped on my bike and schlepped down to Union Square, knife in tow.
I'm a pretty big foodie with an obsession with kitchen toys, so I was sure I would be walking out with more than just my knife. But from the get-go, the lady at the front treated me like a freeloader. When she told me that I could pick up my knife the next day, I politely told her that I had spoken to someone earlier and that I had come all the way downtown just to have the knife sharpened. She walked away to go speak to her manager while I lusted over the wall of knife sharpeners.
Suddenly, I heard a voice boom from across the store. "HEY BUDDY, YOU HAVE TO GET IN LINE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. I HAVE LOTS OF KNIVES AND I WILL DO YOURS WHEN I GET TO IT. I'M NOT JUST GONNA DROP EVERYTHING AND SHARPEN YOUR KNIFE." It felt like someone had kicked over an old-fashioned record player. Every person was staring at me. My face burning with embarrassment, I mumbled something stupid and stuffed my knife back into my bag. With a huff, I stormed out of the store.
I'm 25 and I probably looked like a hipster with my messenger bag and my flannel shirt, but that's no excuse for treating your customer like a thief. The service was free, but I had fully intended on buying something that day. And regardless, when every single item in the store can be found on Amazon for 30% less, you'd think they would put a premium on customer service.
Were they racist? Ageist? Hipsterist? Bicyclist-ist? Who the hell knows. They were incredibly rude, and they'll never get another dime from me.
Is there something on my face? Did I forget to wipe my 5 year old, Converse sneakers on Opera Singer's (who bellows just before your front door) rug?
No one greeted me upon entering. It was a Sunday, there were many more staff members than customers (maybe 3, 4 besides myself?) and no one said a word to me. I spent over 10 minutes hovering over the peelers because I couldn't decide which one. None of the 3 workers glaring at me with their big pastry chef wannabe eyes, gave me the slightest bit of help.
I don't like to pull cards of any kind, but I'm 19, a pretty grungy kid clothing wise and part African American. I think they all thought I was going to steal something. Not until I got in line with my muffin pans and accessories did one of the female associates perk up to my existence.
"One moment, miss."
Alright, I'll wait. I'll be kind, say please and thank you as I walk out the door...and never come back. Customer service is key.
Sur La Table, like Ralph Lauren, is one of those store or brand names that is often mispronounced. Fortunately there is no confusion about the treasures you will find in Sur La Table.
I love to cook and bake, so Sur La Table is like my dealer, legal of course. The store on Maiden Lane is two stories tall which means there is plenty of room for lots of goodies.
The sales associates were extremely helpful and gave great recommendations. My latest purchase was a super cool (no pun intended) ice cream scoop. It is stainless steel with a spring release to ensure every bit of ice cream you scoop is placed in your dish or cone and does not remain in the scoop. Yay! I love acquiring new kitchen gadgets. :)
Here is a helpful tidbit: did you know that you can use an ice cream scoop for cookie dough and cupcake batter? Using the scoop will help keep your cookies or cupcakes the same size and ensure more even baking. ;)
Prefer this well hidden location to the one at the Ferry Building.
I eat too much. It's evident in my portly 5'1 frame of 400+ pounds. If I am not eating at a restaurant, I am cooking at home or dreaming of my next meal. My dreams of being a sumo wrestler are closer and closer.
Places like this help my dreams come true. This location seems a bit cluttered. The location in the Ferry Building is much nicer, in my opinion. The service was nice, I bought way too much. Wish we ran into this store before I spent too much money at Williams-Sonoma.
I usually try and stay away from pricey places like this. Of course they lured me in for their FREE Knife sharpening, they offer in April. Limit of 2 knives only. and no serrated edges.
This store has two levels, the basement level is the goldmine level. Once I saw the Clearance section, my arms started to fill with items I must have. The clearance prices have brought the items down to prices I would expect to pay for whatever I'm buying and reminds me why I don't normally shop in the regular part of the store unless there is something essential I need.
So thanks to their yearly free Knife sharpening in the month of April, I'll be checking out their clearance shelf. But don't listen to me, I don't need anyone beating me to any good deals..
Much like Bi-Rite, this is one of the most dangerous places I can go in the City. My money is safer in the Tenderloin than here. I try to control myself, I really do. I go in with a list and I am usually pretty determined to stick to it. But, when I see that there are egg whisks AND jug whisks, I think "Wow, I NEED this!" Or when I see all of the different baking pans, and the petit-four molds, or all of the Riesling wine glasses that I don't currently own...well needless to say I start to unravel and my list doesn't serve much purpose.
It's just nice to know that there is at least one store in the City that has everything I could possibly think of to fulfill my passion for cooking. Hmmmm where can I buy Silpat? or a scale? Mini souffle ramekins? or a Wusthof pairing knife? It gives me some piece of mind to know that all of that is just a short Bart ride away.
Sometimes the service can be rather slow, and of course if you're looking for a deal this isn't the best place to shop. But if you're looking for something very specific, or just have the urge to drop a couple hundred dollars for no reason whatsoever, sur la table can satisfy those needs.
Dear Diary,
Every time I walk into this store, I want to toss my current life aside and become the French baker I dream about. Spatulas, whisks, and baking pans of all shapes, sizes, colors, (and prices) dance about in my head. Shiny cooking devices-strange and familiar lure me in and a rainbow of textiles hang like clean laundry in the streets of Naples (or so I've read).
One day, I will find a free evening & indulge in one of your many cooking classes. Until then, I'll continue to stop by periodically & peruse your aisles in gastronomer's heaven.
Love,
Jen L.
This review is for the crepe cooking class I took last Saturday morning.
Our teacher, Jen, was awesome! She was knowledgeable, patient and fun! Everyone in the class was great too - just a good vibe all around - we all got along surprisingly well.
We made 5 varieties of crepes: tex mex crepe, crepe suzette, chicken & spinach crepe, crepe complet, and my favorite... nutella crepes! Yummers! We walked away stuffed from the food we made (yes -I'm a crepe master!!!!) and full of real life recipes we can make at home.
We definitely will be back for another cooking class with Jen. :D
i should've opened a wedding registry here!
my boss arranged a team offsite cooking class at sur la table. it was SO much fun. our group of 5 made sumptuous small plates. on the menu included:
Lettuce Cups with Minced Gingered Chicken and Peanuts
Miniature Smoked Salmon Croque Monsieur Sandwiches
Salt-Roasted Prawns with Lemon-Oregano Pesto
Shitake-Scallion Pot Stickers with Sake Dipping Sauce
Mexican Chocolate Fudge Brownies with Cinnamon Whipped Cream
afterwards, we were given 15% discount cards for the day (10% for the week) at sur la table.
i highly recommend the cooking class here...
Cooking class at Maiden Lane:
I did the 'Vegetarian Feast' class, and it was great. There were about 15 people in the class, 2 teachers, and 2 aides. Ideally, I'd like it a tad smaller, but it was a pretty good size. We basically made 5 dishes/courses and had 3 people working on each team. There was enough time to walk around to the other teams and observe, but I would have preferred taking part in each course as there was a little too much waiting around. I do feel like a learned a few helpful things though, such as how to properly hold a knife and various techniques. And I LOVE the recipes we made. It is a little pricey, but I feel pretty much worth it since you get a great dinner (with wine), meet knew cool people, get to take home a bunch of new delicious recipes (that you now have experience making), and learn a bunch too!
I don't cook.
I don't have time, I don't know how, and I'm not really that interested in learning. You see, I get much more satisfaction out of eating food that someone ELSE slaved over for hours, than slaving over food for hours myself. You follow?
Proof I'm not a Chef (in no particular order):
-I'm happy crunching on celery sticks and hummus for dinner. And breakfast.
-I own a cookbook (which was a Christmas gift from my ex-boyfriend's mom, inside she wrote two words, "Try it").
-I own an apron (which I purchased from an olive oil store, because it says "Extra Virgin" on the front).
You'd think that owning an actual cookbook and an apron would make me wanna cook, but so far, I ain't feelin' it.
Now that I'm done sharing my http://Match.com profile, which has received surprisingly few hits (not sure why), I'd like to tell you why I like Sur La Table:
Random. Crap. For me.
On Sunday, I picked up a sparkly spatula ($12), orange hot cocoa ($1.50), leaf sprinkle cupcake toppers ($4.50), and a sheep that turns into a tape measure when you pull its tail.
See how much fun cooking can be?!?!
Sure, none of this stuff was NEEDED per se, but I walked out $50 poorer and happy as a clam. I had a fabulous time with the friendly staff, and this two level Maiden Lane location gives me plenty of square footage to explore.
When I get an ultimatum from the future Mr. Janney B, I will probably take a deep breath, give a pouty look, and finally put my cookbook and apron to good use. But until that dark and dismal day, it's nice to know that I can accompany my chef friends to Sur La Table (15% Industry discount) and be entertained for hours.
Far too often, you go shopping and get crappy customer service. As we wallow through this recession, I found myself the only customer that the four employees working here on a recent Sunday had to pay any attention to.
I took the "Five Classic Recipes Every Cook Should Know" class here this past Tuesday, and was quite surprised...although not necessarily in a good way. So for those of you that know me, know I don't cook...ever. I eat out a lot (haha, never thought those words would leave my mouth, huh!?) I only went because my friend's boyfriend canceled last minute and she needed a fill-in. Since she'd already paid the $85/per person, I figured what the hell. Well, for those of you looking to take a class, hopefully I can help clarify a few things:
*You need basic cooking skills for these classes. They like to say "it's for all skill levels." Blah blah blah. No it isn't. You need to know basic things, and by basic I mean you had to have cooked REAL meals in the past. You need to know how to slice and dice vegetables. You need to know how to "simmer." You need to know that you don't ever put dirty knives in your sink. You need to know what a stove looks like. This may sound very elementary to you, but for bachelors like me who have Ken's Kitchen on speed dial, this is not so easy.
*Our teacher...not so nice. I'm sure she was probably annoyed because I had to ask like five-hundred questions, but that's what she's there for, right? She would huff and puff when I asked how to do things. She did *not* seem to enjoy her job. She especially did not appreciate my snickering when she mentioned the "dutch oven." The other students and I joked about her crabbiness and learned to just work around it. I refuse to name names in my reviews (usually,) so if you are looking into taking a class, look into who teaches THIS class and I would not recommend her.
*You do not "make" all five recipes. You go through a super fast "review" of all five recipes with the teacher demonstrating about one step from each one and then you break up into teams. Your team is then responsible for making one of the five recipes and then everyone comes together at the end to eat all five dishes. Thankfully my team could care less that I didn't know ANYTHING about cooking and left simple tasks up to me. Mostly I just stood around pretending to look busy. It seemed to work.
So while it was fun, I didn't really learn anything. It all seemed really confusing and detailed and made me happy that I don't want to be a chef. However, it wasn't all negative. The manager of the store (I think that's who he was,) was super friendly and helpful. After the class he pointed us in the direction of the nearest "cool" bar, which we were more than thankful for. I also think this would be an awesome date idea. Last but not least, the other students were mostly friendly and laid back, which I liked. So finally, after all that, the BIG question...was it worth missing 90210 for? No. But you live and you burn stuff and you learn.
So strange. I purchased kitchen towels at Sur La Table in 2002. I have used them every day since then , washed them hundreds of times,and they still look brand new...Just a little softer.
Great selection of knives and cookware as well and expert guidance from the staff. Love the maiden lane loc.
So being a foodie and chef-in-training makes me automatically love this store. Their selection is impeccable, and their employees are very knowledgeable in terms of what knife works best for a specific project. I can't help but walk out of there with a bag; be it large or small.
I've taken 5 cooking classes there and have always walked away satisfied. The knife skills class is among my favorites because they teach you skills that are easy to learn, and can be used forever. All of their chefs are really easygoing, never pretentious or snobby. They are eager to teach and definitely make sure that you learn what you're supposed to learn.
Prices are super affordable and from my experience, staff don't try to sell you the most expensive item just to rip you off. They'll list the advantages and disadvantages of each, so that you can make the ultimate decision and most of them own the products sold there so they can speak from honest experience. Never had a bad experience so far.
The Sur La Table on Maiden Lane is so cute. When you first walk in, the store doesn't seem that big. However, there is a HUGE downstairs area. Sur La Table is like heaven for me...I love all of the gadgets and cookware. (I really want a nice set of knives and a red KitchenAid mixer!)
My review is also based on our experience with a cooking class last Saturday. We took a class entitled "Southern brunch" and it was so fun! Our teacher's name was Alexandra Lopez and the menu was pulled pork sandwiches, greens, jonny cakes, buttermilk coleslaw, succotash, and fried apple pies. YUM! I would definitely recommend it. She was a great teacher. I prefer the SF cooking class over the one in Los Gatos for the following reasons: better teacher, younger crowd, bigger kitchen, and nicer area to eat.
Sur La Table has all sorts of gadgets and glassware and plates and pots and pans and towels and oven mitts to suit all your cooking, baking, and entertaining needs.
They also have restrooms downstairs.
I just thought you might like to know...you know, just in case your needs are more immediate.
I never learn. I just never learn. I should have known better but oh, no! I am familiar with Sur La Table, their notoriously poor service, and their outrageous prices. STILL I ventured in on the hunt for a casserole dish for my boyfriend so HE can start cooking for ME.
I ask the first person I see in SLT getup to point me in the right direction. Blank stare. I ask again.
Him: "Oh, are you talking to me?"
Me: "No. I'm talking to all the people who DON'T work here. YES, I'm talking to you."
Him: "Wha...huh? What did you need?"
Me: "A casserole..."
Him (cutting me off): "We don't actually sell food here. Just tools for cooks and cooking and dining products."
Me: (sarcastically) "Really? Because I'm starving."
Him: "Yeah. I know. The name's confusing."
Me: "Never mind."
I found the damn casserole (thanks much for letting me finish my sentence) dishes. They did not impress me. Ranging in price from $100-$300 (for the most part), I'd expect them to chop and dice as well. The few casseroles they had on offer in a reasonable price range were dollhouse-sized and not really what I was looking for. Now I know how expensive Le Creuset is and for good reason but what about those of us who are only going to use said dish once a month or so and therefore do not need our cookware to be of such high caliber? I would like some representation, too, Sur La Table!
It was difficult to get additional assistance after my first bizarre encounter and I left somewhere between fed up and fuming. The staff here are generally more knowledgeable than the Ferry Building staff but less helpful, which gets me nowhere. The store is organized well and I got my favorite apron here a long time ago as well as some learning chopsticks with little animals on them for my friend's little girl. Still, I feel like I could have gotten that stuff anywhere.
Three stars for being convenient and well stocked but I'm just over these people and their jacked-up prices and what I consider crappy customer service. I am looking forward to taking some cooking classes here (I have enjoyed the classes at the Walnut Creek branch) and I will re-review after I get around to taking one. In the mean time, I'm shopping online.
I want it, I need it.... I want it, I neeeeeeeed it!
I want to touch everything that looks good to me, and that's why
the Sur La Table catalog doesn't cut it.
From my experience your husband/boyfriend/girlfriend/lovah will happily buy you whatever your little heart desires because the probability is high that you will be using it to make something really delicious for them tonight....
Bon appetit and buy me three.
Bears almost no resemblance to the Ferry Building version. Sits in the middle of SF's version of Rodeo Drive, but looks like Costco on the inside.
Go a few blocks down to Williams Sonoma, or go to the SLT at the Ferry Building. Not worth the hassle.
Three stars because of the selection. The store was lifeless, dimly lit, and had a very strange layout. Nothing seemed to flow, rather, it was arranged into small theme sections. The only cookbooks that hey have are for the celebrity know-it-alls from the Food Network (puke). If I feel like running up my credit card, I would much rather go to Williams Sonoma http://www.yelp.com/bi... (identical selection, and much nicer store layout too).
To the uppity 40-something 'sales associate' that followed us around the whole told eavesdropping on our conversation, and then budding in every time we commented about an item..."NO MEANS NO! WE DO NOT NEED ANY HELP."
Tip: 'Competitive pricing' is not in their vocabulary. Every single item can be found for less somewhere else.
You must know about this chain. It's the borders books of kitchenware. Bigger and nicer than the usual mall junk, at twice the price.
It's the store with a serious chicken fetish. Chicken tumblers, chicken aprons, chicken-shaped terrines, spoons with chicken handles, hats with chickens on top.
There are kitchen gadgets and necessities, some plates and dishes, and a smattering of food, books, greeting cards, cooking classes, and sundries. Some high end (global knives, copper pots), some frivolous (an electric spinning spaghetti fork) or just silly (blue-colored hot chocolate mix), and some UFC (they're making everything out of silicon these days).
And always expensive. But there are many sales, promotions, and bargain tables. They are famous for food fads and purchasing mistakes so you find gems like last season's chicken-shaped salad plates for two dollars each, or a once famous / now in rehab actor's grandmother's chicken grill rub that at 80% off is competitive with grocery store brands. Plus the obligatory oil and balsamic tasting bar / splash zone.
This location is overlooked because it's a block too far from Union Square hidden in a basement off a dark alley best known as a holding pen for VIP line rejects of the notorious nightclub Otis. Also, it's outclassed by a splashier outlet in the Ferry Building nearby, as well as the more elaborate Williams Sonoma flagship on the Square.
What makes it special is the staff, competent and friendly and giving. They kept the registers open half an hour after closing during an after-hours cooking class for customers who lingered.
They've got attitude, man! I got insulted by 3 different employees at two different SLT's yesterday and today! This negative experience opened my eyes to their other faults. Sure, they stock a lot of kitchen gear, but it's as disorganized as my own kitchen cabinets. You need help orienteering yourself in the store towards the right section and if you ask for help, you get insulted. AWESOME!
Here's my story: I went to buy a gingerbread man shaped cookie cutter and when I asked the employee, she told me "what were you thinking, we are sold out. It's December 18th already!" Employee #2 upstairs had a bit more sense of humor but the same "you're on crack" smirk on his face when he told me I was "too late" to shop for a cookie cutter!
What is it, are they perishable? Why can't they just stock more cookie cutters? Why can't they politely tell me that they may be out of stock? Ugh. I also tried the Embarcadero store and got the almost exact same response which makes me suspicious. I wonder if it is in the employee training manual to insult customers for making unreasonable requests such as looking for a cookie cutter!
Went in for a Global... walked out with a Shun 8" Chef.
They have a block where you can test out the knives.
Next month, I'll have to go back for the honing rod.
Staff is very friendly, knowledgeable & non pushy.
I would have given five stars if they had more inventory based on what I am used to (I have exclusively shopped at Williams Sonoma for a long time). Never the less, this two storied gem boasts a wide variety of great pots and knives. Having studied the culinary arts for a year - I would say I could easily find a good amount of things I used in school at this store, and what they did not have, I know I could find it at Williams Sonoma. The staff at Sur are very passionate about cooking and baking which makes the trip so worthwhile. I especially love the silicone pot holders and the lodge grill inexpensive cast iron collection of pieces they sell. I plan to shop here again because I have a great appreciation for the passion the staff effortlessly exude.
I had a massive ravioli craving when I was preggers with the Kid. I was so crazy about ravioli that I even bought that very expensive cranking pasta maker with the rav attachment from Williams Sonoma at the time (I eventually returned it unused because I had a hard time figuring out how to work the attachments and being the cheapskate that I am, I don't want to waste piles of dough to get rid of the grease and silver metal shavings inside the machine. Major design flaw, why can't the manufacturers clean it so we can use it out of the box?). Anyway, I digress....
I was strolling by Wms Sonoma yesterday when I saw a manual ravioli press (it resembles an ice cube tray where you layer the pasta, put the stuffing in the hole and throw another piece of pasta on top. One roll of the enclosed rolling pin and Voila, you got cut and stuffed homemade ravioli!). After I got a price quote from the WS Clerk ($19) I asked them how if it was easy to use. They sheepishly informed me that since this was a new item, they don't know how to use it.
I got back home and jumped on the internet to find out more about the ice cube tray /ravioli mold and to price check around the other cookware places. Surprise, surprise! Sur La Table's mold is cheaper than WS,' which is probably not the norm based on the reviews here.
On my lunch break I walked down to Maiden Lane (for some reason I thought the Ferry Bldg one would be more expensive) to visit SLT. I walk in, did a cursory look upstairs and went down to find the elusive mold. A clerk came by and asked me if I needed help. He took me back upstairs and led me directly to the mold. The staff has also used it because they gave me some general directions on how to place the molds. After the clerk helped me, he pretty much left me alone to browse (I like to shop in peace for those of you who have read my cranky pants posts about yappy clerks).
This store is packed with lots of gadgets. They have more than WS. They even have individual ravioli molds shaped like a rubber stamp (holder attached to a metal mold). Prices are expensive, depending on what you look for. The clearance section is downstairs and stuffed to the gils with stuff.
I did not find the clerks unfriendly or unhelpful. I even got a free sample pumpkin muffin on my way out with the clerk cheerily saying "enjoy" to me. I was also thanked profusely on my way out the door.
If you shop wisely, you won't lose so much from your wallet!
Amazingly, I found the cookie cutter that Kristina R. was looking for...right there, under my nose, an Adonis cookie cutter!
Lucky me! Now if I could just get up the effort to roll out the dough, I'd call her up and say, hey, wanna eat an Adonis? He's sprinkled with red hots :)
I then purchased the offset spatulas to use when frosting a cake. Spent $13. Not bad, I say. Got outta there cheap-like. I could spend lots of my hard earned cash here. Not that I have room for any of it in my 10x8 kitchen. I just love kitchen stuff. And they have lots of the high-end kind of kitchen stuff.
The Adonis cookie cutter was $15...but well worth the look on Kristina R.'s face when she reads this.
I took two cooking classes here and they were both excellent! One was a Treasures from the 'Vietnamese Kitchen' by Andrea Nguyen where I learned how to make Ban Seo (Vietnamese equivalent to a crepe) and the infamous smelly, but good, Nuoc Mam (fish sauce)
The other class was 'A Taste of Spain - Tapas Party' by Mat Schuster, where we made Spanish Lentils with Chorizo Sausage and Beef Empanadas which were all delicious.
This is a great place to have a date night or just hanging out with the girls. The great thing about it is that they have fabulous volunteers that prep the food and clean up afterwards (my least fav part of cooking)!
Final perk: you get 15% off the whole store that day, which is good because kitchen stuff gets pretty pricey. They have a well rounded selection of cooking utensils, cookbooks, and a great bar section. Check out the clearance section for some cheap, cool kitchen deals.
Mon Dieu!!! The love/hate relationship I have with this store. Let me break it down for you....
Love: Everything in here, the many cookie cutters, baking trays, unique cool gadgets that I think are soo cool and will probably only use once but I will take out to show everyone I know that loves to collect cool kitchen gadgets. Not to mention how helpful, friendly and knowledgeable the staff is. The last time I went in there the girl had only worked there for a day and she already knew where everything I needed was - and they say you can't get good help these days?
Hate: How light my wallet is when I leave :(
It's got everything a hardcore home chef/baker would need. Outside of a professional restaurant supply it's fairly well-stocked. The staff is generally knowledgable regarding items. Service at this location is pretty good.
The only thng that I've found that they, and for that matter anybody else, do not carry are dragees. The teeny, tiny edible metallic cookie decorations are apparently not allowed to be sold in California. Nothing makes me want something even more than to be told that I can't have it.
Sur La Table saved my Christmas! After reading about the trivia game, Foodie Fight, in magazines and articles online from KQED and NPR, I knew I had to buy it for my boyfriend. (We had agreed to a budget of $20 this year and the game was perfect.)
After checking everywhere online to find that it was sold out, I traipsed all over the city looking for it. Chronicle Books, the publisher, even told me that it was sold out everywhere and I probably wouldn't find it. Sur La Table was my last chance.
And lo and behold, they had ONE left. It was the store's display copy. The sales girl was a little weirded out when I shrieked that I wanted it. I did not care for I had my precioussss....
Anyway, my boyfriend loved it and we played our first game Christmas morning. Normally I don't like trivia games (b/c I suck at them) but this one is fun and informative. For example, what mushrooms have slender stems and tiny caps? Enoki mushrooms, of course! See? I learned that.
I specifically went here for an air tight canister for my coffee. Note that I walked here from Crate & Barrel which had maybe one or two ugly types.
The guy who worked there and helped answer questions downstairs was very good and nice. Even though I looked forever and took my time, he didn't get in my way and was close enough to come over when I finally did want to talk to him.
The upstairs people were more quiet and reserved. Better for those big spenders.
I walked out with a beautiful white pottery air tight seal canister with a wooden spoon and holder attached.
I love it.
Would totally go back next time I wanted to splurge on a gift for myself or a good friend.
Whenever I need some esoteric cooking implement, I always head over to Sur La Table, and rarely, if ever, am I disappointed. German bag-clips for sealing cereal bags? Yep - and in three sizes. Japanese Slicky for grinding sesame seeds? Check. New England crocks for storing all of my utensils? Check (ordered and held for me for a month when I was still living in Germany and waiting for a business trip to bring me back to the states to pick it up).
The only problem is that every time I go there, I end up getting something - a citrus press here, a silicone basting brush there. The only point off is because of their house-brand All Clad knockoffs. I picked up an 8 inch stainless steel frying pan, and the weight balance is so off, that if you don't put it JUST RIGHT on the gas burners of my stove without anything in it, it flips over - not something I want with a red hot pan.
Not really sure how this location stays open because I never see more than 2 customers inside the store. I have on occasion purchased a thing or two every once in a while but I don't think it'll be enough to keep them in business.
Perhaps they have corporate customers who buy by the gangload. I dunno except it's always creepy when you walk into a store and can hear your own footsteps. It is litterally like stepping into a cave especially the basement level.
One thing I noticed last time I was in the store that prices are a little higher than Williams Sonoma. Insane? Yes but not out of the question seeing as they are on Maiden Lane.
I did a cooking class (well...really it was a demo) here that was pretty fun! The instruction was good, kitchen is state-of-the-art, but I wish there had been more actual hands-on training instead of just taste testing.
I enjoyed my brief shopping experience too, especially since the store was closed so we had free run of the place (plus you get 10% off purchases when you take a class). Fantastic kitchen gadgets and great housewares here - much better than Williams-Sonoma in my opnion!
My company organized a team building event for the women of our office here... we booked the kitchen for 4 hours on a weekday nite and had a fabulous time.
Our hosts were very friendly/knowledgeable and patient (which they needed with a roomful of 30 A personalty women tipsy on wine... later in the evening they admitted they had never had a group as competitive before...oops)and shared cooking secrets with us (i.e. the *claw* while cutting onions, garlic, etc).
Prices are high but the presentation is just SO CUTE, how can you resist? Will definitely return!
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