(Review of their Macaron Making class) Two of my best friends planned a birthday surprise for me that included Sur La Table's Macaron Making class this past Saturday morning. The class started at 10 AM and I rolled into the parking lot at around 10:05. I would highly recommend coming at least 15 to 20 minutes earlier because this particular SLT is located in a busy strip mall and parking can be kind of hard to come by. Also, the instructors start the class right on the dot and you will miss out on instruction time if you're late (I did, but fortunately one of my friends was there early and filled me in). Lastly, if you are coming in a group and would like to find counter space together, definitely come early. We all ended up dispersed in groups with other people, but in the end, we did have an opportunity to each make a different type of macaron (there were three recipes in the packet given to us, and each group tried a different one). This was my first cooking/baking class and I absolutely loved it! Our instructor, Chef Angela Gonzalez, owns her own business, Dial-a-Dessert, and was able to provide invaluable tips and tricks that she has learned in her own macaron making journey. She first demonstrated how to make a batch of macaron cookies, and then invited all three groups to try out a cookie recipe from the packet. The kitchen is not that spacious, but they have installed enough mirrors and screens so that you can catch what your instructor is doing at the front, even if you're standing in the back behind other people. Moreover, there were two other Sur La Table aides there who walked around and made sure to answer our questions. I'm grateful that SLT has a cap on attendees, and with four people in each group, we were each able to take on part of the macaron making process. After the cookies were piped onto the baking sheets, they gave us some time to browse around while they rested and then baked. This is brilliant on SLT's part. Not only is there a table right outside the cooking classroom that has all of the "chef's favorites" that you see being used in class, but you get a solid half an hour to walk around until you decide that you actually really do need a strawberry huller AND pineapple corer slicer. And while you're at it, why not pick out a cookie cutter in every imaginable shape and size. If you have a zeal for gadgets and/or have really poor impulse control... do yourself a favor and leave your wallet in your car. Better yet, just bring your driver license with you and put all your cash and credit cards at home. Precautionary measures! When we returned, the cookies were all ready, and we moved on to the filling portion. This time around, Chef Angela demonstrated how to make each of the three fillings, and once they were put into piping bags, demonstrated the piping techniques and turned us loose to pick out cookies and then fill them back at our stations. I'd say that each person had an opportunity to grab at least two of each flavor cookie (6 total). SLT offers you paper plates and plastic wrap to take your macarons home, but another woman who had taken the class before (with different recipes), brought her own tupperware container (very smart since macarons are pretty delicate). Or, if you're a dessert-aholic like me... there's no need for any packaging since you end up decorating and then immediately consuming. The class is pretty pricey, IMO... $69 per person!... but you walk away with solid recipes that you can modify to suit your taste, PLUS all of the tips and tricks that will save you lots of time trying to make these finicky treats on your own. Highly recommended! read more

Sur La Table - 9.27.14 - Macaron Making w/ Friends :) - Home Decor Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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I came back in here to do some holiday shopping only to encounter a horrendous exchange between an older female sales associate and a customer. The sales associate was insisting that the customer requested the wrong item and loudly berated and corrected her for saying she wanted a "grill pan"instead of a "cast iron grill pan." The customer was humiliated and walked out the door with her husband. Service and training is severely lacking in here. I needed to pick up some tea related items and I was sent all over the store. The items are constantly misplaced. Sadly this is the closest store to me when I need baking supplies since Williams Sonoma does not carry a hefty selection of baking goods. read more

Got helped by Blake at this location, who gave us some great recommendations and a good laugh. Knowledgeable about their inventory and a huge help. Will be coming back to take a look at their cooking classes. read more

The staff here is so friendly. Perfect location for a family day out . They have Gobel , French baking pans so this is my go to store.

I needed a few things for the kitchen and since I was so close, decided to stop in. This is a very dark and cluttered store. Unless you want a coffee pot you'll need help to find anything. Some items are tucked away, almost piled on the floor. The less glitzy (big mark up) the harder it will be to find. So, after I have everything ready for check out, the only cashier was busy with an order. That took about 15 minutes. I just stand there wondering if there is anyone else in the store...I guess I should have asked but I was right there, she could have had someone come to the cash register at any time. When I am finally paying (escaping), a second cashier shows up and asks me to move so he can help someone else. Both cashiers had real attitudes. Thanks for making me feel like a chump. Won't return. read more

If this store had a negative star rating, I would give it. We drove over 45 minutes to get to what seems to be the last remaining store, and now I know why. We went in twice trying to find some items, but nobody said anything to us BOTH times we walked in (after getting lunch). We tried to find a clerk but didn't, and the cashiers looked like they would rather not be there. I picked out my items, got to the counter and they told me their system was down and couldn't take gift cards, although the credit card machine was working. Not sure why they couldn't do something to help, other than look like idiots behind the counter. Just an overall bad experience. Now I know why they went bankrupt. I worked at Crate & Barrel, and if we ever treated our customers that way, we would have gotten fired. read more

When I'm not Yelping, I'm cooking. And most often than not, it is a dish that I've had at a restaurant that inspires me to cook. Sur La Table is one of my go to places to find specialty cookware, bakeware, tabletop entertaining pieces and even ingredients. On my last visit, I took a Bake and Take Thanksgiving Bread and Rolls Cooking class. I received an email for half off cooking classes and decided to take this class. I can make quick breads easily but I'm not very good with yeast breads. The class was good. We made Parker House Rolls that was par-baked and ready to go into the freezer. All we'd need to do on Thanksgiving Day is pop it in the oven, bake, and butter and salt it when it has come out of the oven. We also made a Pumpkin Walnut Spiced Bread. We each took home one of those as well. This is a hands-on class, so you get to take part in the cooking process. The great thing that any home cook appreciates is that the mise en place has been for you ahead of time! I have taken other classes here as well--French Macarons, Pie-making, and Thanksgiving Classics, to name a few. You get a 10% off certificate for attending a class. I make it a point to buy things that I need with that coupon. I bought a bunch of Christmas themed stuff for my upcoming holiday party! :) I'm ready to party!!! read more

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Just completed a hand-on cooking class with David and team at Sur La Table in the Palo Alto store. Class was very hands on with excellent direction and support from the team. Highly recommend the hands on class. Currently small class size which is actually great. The instructions were spot on and we had a wonderful "dinner in Portugal" at the end of class. read more

This is based on our visit today, Evan go home, you're sick and you shouldn't be helping customers. Wiping your nose with you hand, really? And then handling the customers merchandise, totally disgusted by our experience, that's how you spread colds and flush around, I watched everything you touched and the only reason why I didn't speak to a manager was my wife dragging me out of the store telling me not to worry about it. I'm sorry but that is unacceptable in my opinion. To the managers, you need to do a better job and check in with your employees, anytime my employees come in I send them home because they shouldn't be at work interacting with other employees or customers. read more

Terrible customer service. Cranky staff. Not interested in helping customers. I'm certain this is not how Sur La Table wants their stores run. read more

Great experience. Everyone was very helpful, despite it being a busy weekend. A huge bonus for me: the Nepresso section. While in line to pick up some Nepresso pods, I got to chill out and sip a new iced coffee sample. The line moved swiftly and I was out the door with my new caffeine. Very happy customer. read more

Sur La Table is a nice store to browse for kitchen supplies. Some of the stuff seems a bit overpriced but there are other items that are priced perfectly fine. They also have some sale items as well. If you need basics like spatulas, aprons, etc. I would consider Sur La Table. The staff here is friendly as well. read more

I took the Donut baking class. We spent 60 minutes standing around and watching the instructors work. So if "cooking"/"baking" implies taking pre-made dough and cutting it into circles, then applying pre-made glaze... I guess I took a cooking class? Half the donuts got burned in the oil by the instructor. We were rushed out because the next class was coming in. The class was overcrowded and there were limited tools. Save yourself the time and avoid this class or just light $70 on fire... it has the same impact as taking the class. read more

Not surprising that the rating was low. When I walked in a blonde employee accused me of returning a bunch of broken item without even looking what i brought in. I Ordered $700 worth of utensils and drove 40 min for them to tell me that there was nothing they could do without the credit card i used which it didn't not state anywhere on the return paper provided in my package. All they could do was give me $700 to sur la table...but i wasn't satisfied with my purchase so that wasn't helpful at all. Wish they could have acted like they would check to see if there was something they could do instead of sending me back on a 40 mun drive home with nothing accomplished read more

Who doesn't love a good store that sells both kitchenware and home goods? I love Sur La Table, and I really enjoy browsing here almost anytime. I was out shopping the other day and simply couldn't resist stopping by! It's always fun to find a new tool that is either totally useless, or really useful (but only if you're a Top Chef). If I had a decent-sized kitchen, I would want to buy absolutely everything in here :-). Fun gift ideas also abound with fun mugs, napkins, and cute decor items for all of your home and tableware needs. read more

Been going to the Palo Alto Sur La Table for several years. I have noticed a decline in: helpful, supportive, logical, professional, etc. staff. I had an issue with an item I ordered online, defective. I called 800 number and waited for a rep for almost an hour. I was told how to fix the defective item???? Really. I already tried what the rep on phone suggested. Did not work. So, I have to fix a defective item? I called local store to exchange. Gal on phone rude and curt. Claimed didn't need order number, but some number that didn't exist. Told her no such number. I can give: order number, sku number, anything to help fix the problem. She babbled about Covid19 which didn't apply to the situation and wanted me to come in to exchange. I have elderly parents that I mentioned about and doing everything I can to avoid stores if possible. The item was only 40 dollars. Wouldn't replace through 800 online store which is where I originally purchased from either. So I asked if she could please check to make sure the item is in store, stocked or out of stock. No sense in going into store for exchange/replacement if not there. She said, "No I am not going to physically check to see if we have that item in the store. Look I have to go, just come in." She hung up. So, I called 800 number AGAIN! Waited almost an hour again to talk to someone. Explained from first call to 800 number to local Palo Alto Town and Country store. Wouldn't check in stock. Gal on 800 number said fastest on replacement to go into store, etc. So she put me on hold and came back to say that she called Palo Alto store and they have that item and on hold for me. Thanks. I called Palo Alto store, got a nice gal named Pam to inform her and heads up I cannot come in today and will be in tomorrow. She noted it and all ready for replacement. I even brought in printout of order, for some reason it did not print out order number? But, I was told not needed. Went in yesterday and this gal was so rude and asking things that didn't make sense. I kept my politeness and cool. She finally said things like, "I don't have time for this, JUST TAKE THE REPLACEMENT AND GO!!! Get out, go! I must've gotten same gal on phone from first time at Palo Alto store that I got in person on replacement. LUCKY ME!!!!! I WILL NOT GO INTO A SLT store again if this is the kind of staff they continue to hire and hang onto. I will get my kitchenware and cookware elsewhere. read more

Poor Sur La Table Policy. Excellent teacher and assistant. Some friends and I went for a special treat to a 'Rustic Artisan Bread Class'. The dough was already made prior to class which does not work for learning how to make dough. We could have learned to Make the dough but then used another batch previously made to learn the rest of the process like shaping and baking. But no, although we each paid for our class, the bread was ONE loaf between all of us. We also made focaccia and that dough was premade too. And we got ONE focaccia between all of us. Basically you pay individually and pretty steeply priced, but you get to take only one thing per table!! How can that possibly be ok? Do flour water and olive oil cost so much? The teacher was excellent with loads of experience and the assistant was very efficient. The bathroom was dirty. There was no toilet paper in the bathroom. The store was not kept up. It was messy. I would not recommend it at all. read more

$24.95 for a 13-inch tagine? It's obviously no Emile Henry, but really? I know this is unusual for Sur La Table since I usually just leave these stores with drool on my shirt and lust in my heart. But... This store is dangerous. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but this store seems to actually have a few good deals and they seem to carry a few different items that I've never seen at other locations. Sur La Table is my candy store and for some unexplainable reason I like this one a little more than the Fourth Street-Berkeley and way more than the Ferry Building stores. The layout is more chaotic than others but still strangely organized in the insane kitchen of my mind. It's like having a disorganized office or desk, but still knowing exactly where to find everything. Or maybe the truth is I'm still on a sugar high and getting some good deals at Sur La Table cancels out everything that's cruel and unfair in this elite kitchen gadget world. Note to self: Leave credit cards at home. Don't cross any bridges. Stay on my side of the Bay. Better yet, stay home. Period. read more

sir lah taab-leh / French for "on the table". I've stopped here a when in need of kitchen appliances. In fact my Vitamix and Jura were both bought at this location. The staff if friendly, helpful and knowledgable without being pushy. I have recently stopped in twice in the past week to introduce friends to the ever impressive Jura J9 (which I own). On both occasions, Patty was there to demonstrate the ins and out of the machines as well as to provide samples. She is well informed on the machines and a delight to speak with. If you are in need so a great coffee/espresso machine, skip the Nespresso bar and zip right over to Patty for an amazing shopping experience. Sur La Table also has a vast variety of kitchen goods including small appliances, cookware, bakeware, cutlery, tabletop items and some food items. I have yet to experience it, but Sur La Table also offers cooking classes in store for a nominal fee. Go here for best tools to keep your kitchen well-stocked. read more

Cooking Class: Only for COMPLETE Novices We signed up for the Valentines Dinner class at $85 each. On arrival, we were told we should bring wine...nice to know. So we sprinted over to TJ's -- along with the rest of the class -- for 2-buck chuck. Nice. The class had been oversold, so there was "no room for the cheese and appetizers we usually have," said the instruction. Nice. The tables in the crowded room were randomly assigned courses: one got the lamb with pesto and mustard, another the dessert, and we got the salad. We were instructed on the art of vinaigrette, something my wife makes three times a week. Here's how to hold a knife, here's how to cut, here's how to squeeze a lemon, here's how to emulsify, etc. But then, our instructor insisted that oil to vinegar/citrus ratio should be 3:1. We went along reluctantly, he assuring us this was correct. The result? Oil, with a hint of taste. We spent the next 10 minutes emulsifying with every drop of vinegar he could find in the store. We finally got the right mix, but the dressing was pretty bad...the chief instructor told us as much, eying us as if we were idiots. Then we took a break while the staff prepared the tables and did the hard stuff...cooking. There was some audience participation, but only if you were standing in the right place and the right time. That's when we decided the right place was a restaurant, and the right time was now. We bailed. And we won't be back to class. But the store is nice. read more

1. Horrible customer service. Unless you are well-dressed, respectable and wealthy looking, the staff don't even make eye contact. My friend joked that I should dress in brightly colored Lululemon yoga outfit and push a sporty stroller to get any attention. 2. Disorganized. The bakeware section is utter chaos. The items are often times scratched. 3. Long lines/ wait time. Even if they have more than appropriate amount of staff in the store. Often times there's just one cashier while other staff members nonchalantly polish the coffee machines or wander about. 4. Knife sharpening service -- I've always mildly tolerated their incompetence because I love Sur La Table products. However, this time they really set me off. I dropped off three knives to be sharpened on Monday and was told they would be ready Wednesday at 5 PM. I waited until Thursday noon time to pick up, just in case. The knives weren't ready and the salesperson reassured me that they would be done Friday at noon. Today is Friday. Went in, was told they weren't done because the knife person didn't come in on Thursday and that they'd be done Friday afternoon. I asked for a refund. If you can't have the knives at previously specified time, call the customers and let them know. Do you think that I love spending my lunch hour driving to that tiny little plaza and be told to come back again and again? Or do you only cater to rich housewives who have a lot of time to spare? Never again. Going to stick with the Santana Row store from now on. read more

For what is a very popular establishment rivaling Wiliams Sonoma, Sur La Table serves up some of the finest cooking, baking, and kitchen tools out there. While many folks can resort to cheaper options by going online, seeking outlets, or restaurant supply stores, you can't get the quality of service and warranty that Sur La Table provides. As I found out, they offer a complete satisfaction warranty, and it helped me exchange my Bodum french press for a bigger one. The problem I have is with this particular location in the Town and Country shopping center. The center is typically packed with pedestrians and cars, that the average shopper will spend too much time trying to get in and out of this place. While I understand this is the fault of the developer and being next to El Camino Real, it stands as a deterrent for shoppers, unless they have time to shop. As for the location, I find their cooking classes to be overpriced, and probably tiered for local Los Altos or Palo Alto residents who have a great deal of time on their hands. If you haven't ever visited a Sur La Table, check it out. Do take your time to look at their brands and the craftsmanship behind a number of the pots and pans. I find it to be all equally interesting, and fun to check out. Who knows, the staff may even offer you a free coffee sample while you're waiting, as they did to me. read more

Okay...I've been in this store three times and 1.) I shower every day so I know I don't stink, 2.) I wasn't wearing grubby sweat pants or a t-shirt that says "Get Mommy a Drink" across the chest, so.....what's with the stuck up service?? This place has a lot of items but lordy, if you need assistance, go three doors down to the trendy clothing shop with the equally stuck up sales person and doll yourself up to look like you are moneyed to get any help. Or wear a fashionable yoga outfit, minus any unsightly butt-sweat, and you might get some help. Might. I bump this place up one star for the sheer amount of items stocked in this place but, I'll do my shopping elsewhere. read more

Friendly staff, and high quality products, (often high priced as well.) We recently discovered a clearance area tucked away in the back of the store. We've been here many times, and never noticed it before. There were lots of nice items highly discounted! We bought a few things, and were happy with our purchases, and pleased to get them for less. read more

It is Dungeness Crab season once again and I was looking to replace my real cheap 16 quart aluminum stock pot from Smart & Final with a real nice stainless steel one! It had served me well for two crab seasons, but with my glass stove top I practically had to shake it to get the burners to acknowledge it was there! Not a good ideal with large amounts of hot liquid. I shopped around on the net and found Sur La Table had a sale on a very nice stainless steel one!! I printed out the ad with the sale price and drove here after work. It is quite a place in the upscale Town and Country shopping center, but I must admit like some of the other Yelper's customer service can really be hit or miss. One sales person behind the counter would not even make eye contact with me. She gave me that 'if we ignore the customers, maybe they will go away' attitude. On the other hand the people at the Nespresso corner (Nestle's version of K-Kup) were extremely friendly, but I have a personal caffeine curfew of 1:00 PM., so as very nice and engaging as they were, no free samples that late in the evening! There seemed to be an older lady that appeared to own the place, I was going to tell her I was there to actually buy something or a few somethings if I could get someone to wait on me. Then a very friendly chubby Asian gal came to my rescue and I showed her the print out of the item I wanted to by and she cheerfully came from the back with my new stainless steel stock pot at the price advertised on sale. I was so happy to FINALLY get some true customer service we went looking for a cordless hand blender and a few other items I need for the kitchen. Nice store, sort of eclectic layout, and but not so good customer service. read more

the world according to noelle ~2012~ This location of Sur La Table always has excellent and friendly customer service. What I love is that they have all sorts of great kitchen gadgets and they have a wonderful selection of Le Creuset. I usually like to shop here early in the morning because this place is a mad house (the parking lot area) is crazy right before noon on a weekday. Do yourself a favor- shop at this location or at the one in the Ferry Building because the Sur La Table at Santana Row has horrible customer service. read more

I'm not to usually write one star reviews, but I was so insulted at the end of my visit. I had called ahead to reserve an item at the store. When I came to pick it up, I was met by an extremely rude cashier, who gave me the wrong item. When I went to pick out the correct item, he dismissively waved at me, telling me to "move along". I was so insulted. read more

I wanted to love this place, I should love this place especially being a self proclaimed kitchen gadget freak, but the store itself is so small and cramped with merchandise that I was becoming irritated because I didn't know where the simple espresso mugs were. So confession time here: I am a former Williams Sonoma retail associate. I may be so used to my former place of employment that I quickly jumped into having an instant bias and didn't give this place a shot. That being said, 10 minutes in the store and my attempt to locate Bodum espresso mugs was an obvious bust, I gave in and asked an associate for assistance. I shouldn't have to wait for someone to ask me if I needed assistance but that's another gripe for another time. read more

Today I had the pleasure of meeting Carol. She was so personable, genuine and eager to please. WWhatva delight to come in contact with her today. Carol made my shopping experience fun, entertaining and full of laughs. Normally when I shop in a store, there's no engagement, it's get in, and get out. She made me want to stay! Carol was so hospitable; she even offered to make me a coffee drink of my choosing, WOW!!! I will be returning to this location to see her and this wonderful store. Thank you Sur La Table. read more

A Sur La Table with classes?! How can you beat that?! I've already taken the croissant class and the bread making class. I LOVED the croissant class because of the instructor! Chef Tom Campbell was informative, funny, and a great instructor! I wish all the classes were taught by him because he would tell you visual cues that you can look to see when to stop rolling or when to let the dough rest. Another instructor told me that it's done when you feel it's done...What does that even mean? Answers like that make me not want to take classes again. However, you can't beat a Bay Area Sur La Table that offers classes and the 10% savings pass you get after the class! read more

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*** DANGER *** If you are a kitchen geek, stay away! Too much cool, cute, and clever stuff at Sur la Table. We went in to buy a new tea kettle and a BBQ thermometer, and nearly walked out with about eight other doodads. Only sheer force of will saved us. That, and an urgent need to find a bathroom (which is on the other side of this "block" of the Town & Country, next to the opticians, if you need it). I see a lot of grousing from people who had poor customer service, but our experience was fine. One of the clerks gladly checked to see if a specific kettle came in a specific color (no) and another gladly changed my ringup in mid-ring when I realized I'd grabbed the wrong thermometer. To the people who are upset they can't bring their dogs in: IT'S A FRICKIN' KITCHEN STORE. I like dogs fine, but I don't want your pooch's slobber and dander on my new kitchen equipment. So I'm siding with Sur la Table on this one! Anyhow, it's undoubtedly expensive and such, but it's so much fun, I don't really care. read more

Love this place. Reason 1) They let us return an oyster knife that we had broken during a trip up at Tomales Bay, and exchanged it for a different one that seemed more sturdy. And, because the newer one was a dollar less than what we had paid for our original knife, they gave us the difference in cash! So, we went in with a busted knife, and walked out with a sturdier knife, and cash to boot. What other store offers this for their customers? Reason 2) Just had two knives sharpened for free the other week. Both knives came out great. Now, slicing and dicing is a joy again. Thanks SLT! read more

While the store and staff were nice, this class really is for those who have no prior/unsuccessful cooking experiences. There are only two tables with four burners. I was with a group of eight others. We took turns from turning up the burner, to dumping together the previously prepared and portioned ingredients, to stirring and mixing. There was no actual knife use in our class. Food was okay. There were snacks you could munch on along with water and one of those fancy flavored coffee machines to drink during the class. Also was just okay. I think the class was overpriced and am very unlikely to return or recommend. read more

If you are an avid baker you would love their bakewear section as they have any kind of baking pan you can think of, and the related supplies and icing, sprinkles stuff. But the prices are not cheap! It's better to buy the items on sale than pay full price as most of the bakewear you can probably find it somewhere else for cheaper, if you know where to get it. $29 for a cake/cupcake carrier that's made of plastic? The cost is probably under $1 to make that! The table linens and silverwears selection is not impressirve at all either. This store has more young, college-age employees working there. Somtimes they are not as helpful as the ladies at their Berkeley store. read more

I've taken 5 cooking classes at this Sur La Table and I absolutely love them! They are fairly expensive, but you're paying for the experience. Also if you book another class right after completing a class you get $20 off! Also you get a 10% off coupon for all purchases that day! While everything in this store is expensive (classes and cookware) I am always sure I am paying for a great service/product. All of the cooking instructors are amazing especially Elizabeth Prado! Cooking Classes taken: Macaron Making, Date Night by the Shore, Easter Baking, Knife Skills, Brunch Cooking (also doing a Thai class in a couple weeks!) read more

A friend and I came here for their "Date Night in Paris" cooking class. For $79, we (and 14 others) made salmon with citrus beurre blanc, herbed chèvre soufflés, frisee salad, and a pear galette for dessert. The lead chef had three others working alongside him, all of whom were knowledgeable and personable. I dock one star because we were encouraged to walk the floor during break to take advantage of a 10% off coupon they gave us (valid for one week) and I found the people on the floor to be pushy. Easy there tiger! read more

This review is for the cooking classes. I've been to three this far. Two date nights And one summer cooking. All three classes were with different instructors and all three were so helpful and easy going. I love coming back here especially when they have their class sales. The instructors always answer my questions thoroughly and all the instructors have lots of real working experience. Id recommend this place to anyone wanting to learn how to cook really easy and delicious meals. I've also been to the SF sur la table and I can tell you that the woman who is in charge of the cooking classes (white, short, brown hair, mid thirties) has a real big attitude. When I took a baking class there she have me the "look" when I walked into the room 10 mins before it was set up. The actual instructor for the class was very nice and helpful. I think she should be the boss. read more

The other day I went in to Sur La Table for some kitchen items. The first thing that I recalled from my many trips here is that this is the kind of place that when you do not need help everyone is asking if they can help you and buzzing around you, but when you really need someone they all are averting their eyes and running for cover. The other thing is that their checkout lines are the slowest most inefficient efforts I've ever seen anywhere. They will have 2 registers and as many or more people in the checkout "island", but they will be holding everyone back while they talk and do the informing they should be doing out in the store, holding everyone up and generally moving slow as a snail in molasses. The thing I needed was some gaskets for my stovetop espresso coffeemaker. I really love those things and they are hundreds if not thousands less than the big fancy espresso makers and the coffee is superb, a real best buy. I like the little things that are great and serve a good purpose. As I was looking through the coffeemaker stuff I chanced to overhear someone who was in the adjacent juicer section talking to one of the staff. The customer asked the staffer what kind of juicer he would recommen. The staffer without hestitation or giving any information went right to the most expensive juicer they had. I felt bad for this helpless guy ... soon to be victim, so I turned to him and give him a quick primer on juicers. 1. Two kinds, centrifugal and masticating. 2. Centrifugals are very loud, enough to harm your ears and wake the dead and will mix more air in with your juice which oxidizes the vitamins more so the juice is not as good and cannot be stored as long, but they are usually less expensive. 3. Masticating juicers squeeze the juice out of the produce slowly using a kind screwing action. They are slow and quiet and do not introduce air into the juice, but they cost a little more in general though the prices have come down. 4. One of the biggest factors in a juice and whether you will use it or not is how easy it cleans up, because who wants to spend 20 minutes washing fruit and veg, cutting them and then make juice and spend 20 minutes scrubbing and rinsing the juicer. Sur La Table has a lot of interesting kitchen stuff and I guess they have cooking classes too ( which I have never attended so I cannot comment on ) but they are the most high priced place for this stuff, and they do not have really good customer service or knowledge of their inventory. Something is just off about this place, like they have a store, and that is it, they do not care or think about customer service in the contemporary sense that we see in most other top notch stores that endear themselves to you. Sur La Table seems to almost get a kick out of going the other way to irritate their customers and make you feel like you are really bothering them. I go to this place when I need to, and if I have no other option I will pay the twice or more the price of online or some other places, but I don't like this chain or the people who pretend to work there. read more

I've been in this store several times over the past few years and every time I've received subpar customer service. This last time, on the day before New Year's Eve was the worst it's ever been and I will not be returning to this store. My husband and I were literally walking around with armfulls of stuff wondering aloud where we could find a particular item and were passed by at least 3 different employees who made NO attempt to help and deliberately avoided eye contact. They were not helping other customers and instead were congregating at the register to chit chat. Normally when I'm in a store and decide not to buy something, I put it back where I got it from. I used to work retail many moons ago and I know how annoying go-backs are but I was so annoyed this time, that I dumped all my stuff in one place and just walked out. Thank goodness for William Sonoma and Amazon.com! read more

People like to think the slave trade is dead, but that's only propaganda perpetuated by the Corporate Moguls who continue to exploit the masses. Case in point, Sur La Table. The Wife's Slavemaster had decided that it would be appropriate to fit another day's work into the day by forcing his employees, and their spouses, to become kitchen drudges for a night. They set the work stations complete with aprons and knives (that they hold with a competence that suggests if you don't do what they say, you'll soon be called Lefty), and provide the work orders that you must do. They offer you only bread and smelly cheese, and even force you to drink your own grog as the Surrogate Slavemasters come by, flog you, and tell you it's easier to dice your shallots by slicing them along the grain lengthwise first, and then cut them in slices. All in the name of Slave efficiency, of course. Then, if you're lucky, you get to cut the meat, and they'll show you tips on how to use the scraps to feed the slaves while the royalty gets the good cut of meat. You'll apply kosher salt (because iodized salt is only good for slaves) and pepper, and place it in searing hot oil that splatters and burns you because no slave deserves protective clothing. The other slaves will also work, but not as hard as you, of course. You'll see the lady slaves spending their mate's hard-earned chits for items at supposed discounts that you wonder if they will ever use. In the end, they marshall the plebes to a table and kick half of the dregs into serving the other half the horrid concoctions they produced, while you desperately try to cut your meat with a butter knife. So until the next revolution, bow down to your masters and work at Sur La Table, and maybe some day freedom will be ours. FREEDOM! read more