This is truly as good as it gets. The Peppercorn Royale whole pepper blend is my favorite go-to spice for everyday cooking and eating. We keep our pepper corn mill full of this wonderful spice that has a touch of heat with some nice notes of the pepper rainbow - green, white, red and black peppers. At $29.99 plus tax for 16 ounces, it is perfection. The spice selection is vast and surprising. The aroma is divine. I could spend all day in here smelling and trying different, unique and hard-to-find spices from course salts to herbs and custom blends. They also package up custom spices for marinating, rubs for all types of meats and for all occasions - smoking, grilling, baking, sauteeing, etc and each has the Spice House's own recipe recommendations as well. No matter where you are, this place is worth the trip or call and have them ship items to you. I've picked up several pepper and salt mills here for gifts as well. read more

The Spice House - Peppercorns Royale! A must for everyday. - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Before they opened in Evanston, IL. Our family had found them in Milwakuee, Wi. We have been life time customers at the Evanston store. This is the best small business in Evanston. If you are into cooking, know someone into cook or grilling, this is the very best store to get gifts from. Since the opening of the Evanston store in about 1996, I have used them for the best gift boxes. (Ethnic Chicago Neighborhoods Spice Blends Deluxe Gift Box) Everyone I have ever given a box set to, has become life long customers. My top three list: California Seasoned Pepper Blend (I buy 8 oz at a time) Lake Shore Drive Seasoning Back of the Yards Garlic Pepper Butcher's Rub read more

The Spice House - My top three list, must have in any kitchen! - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

My fiance and I discovered this quaint little spice shop in August last year and have been hooked ever since. The Chicago neighborhood spices, specifically the Lake Shore Drive Seasoning and the Back of the Yards Garlic Pepper Butchers Rub are the best spices ever. The Lake Shore Drive is an intoxicating mix of chives, scallions, green peppercorns, shallots, salt, onion and garlic powder. It works really well on fish, specifically salmon. We also enjoy in on vegetables (green beans in particular) and also on top of egg whites (scrambled or omelette style). My fiance is a steak-lover and enjoys using the Back of the Yards rub. It's an aromatic blend of Tellicherry black pepper, garlic, Kosher flake salt, sugar, red bell peppers, shallots, and parsley. The great thing about these spices is that you can really taste each ingredient shining through and they all compliment each other really well. We were so impressed that we quickly rushed back in once our spices ran out. We've bought regular spices, like garlic powder and even some hot cocoa mix. Unfortunately, I wasn't a big fan of the cocoa so that's still sitting in our spice cabinet. The staff is super friendly and willing to help and make suggestions if needed. They also sell gift boxes included Chicago themed boxes that would make a great gift for the cook in your life. Just an FYI for those too lazy to travel to Evanston or their shop in the city - they also sell their spices online so you can have them delivered to you. They are also an artisan on Artizone, which features many local artisans in the Chicagoland area. Check them out the next time you run out of spices or want to add something unique and interesting to your mix! read more

I am so glad I spontaneously stumbled upon this gem in a cute little town of Chicago. It just so happened that I'm going to a coffee shop nearby and saw the spice shop, something I've left bookmarked on yelp! I thought, great! Let's go in and leave with a bag of goodies! Going in, the strong pepper smell will be a bit overwhelming and you'll see jars filled with spices everywhere. It was like heaven! I cook and love baking so it was no doubt I ended up giving 1hr of my time there. Rosey was sooooo kind and amazing. She was above and beyond with the help. It really made my day. Geoff would be the second person to help me; he was so informative and creative with the recipe ideas. He was also very helpful and insists I smell the different variety of curry that they sell. They all smelled very flavorful, but be warned, itll make you sneeze lol. I was told that I can always go online for recipes posted by other people and buy the spices online (since I live in California)! Honestly, I rather shop in person because of their amazing customer service. Parking is by street, $1 per hour or a parking lot nearby. I really recommend coming in here for gifts for those who love to cook or bake! read more

Dropped by for some cinnamon for the morning oatmeal and coffee. The store was pretty busy with customers which was awesome. The employees were all super friendly. They welcomed us, helped us out and thanked us on the way out. There needs to be more stores like this. You can definitely tell they have a quality products. read more

The Spice House - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

If you don't love your food enough to take good care of it, stop reading and stay away. The Spice House is only for those who like to eat good food. They are a hidden gem that specialized is your tastebuds, your smell, and your general enjoyment of life. Their store is filled with their own special recipes of spices made with top flight ingredients, you can buy a blend of theirs or the raw ingredients for a blend of your own. We stock up every time we are in town and rarely have a meal without some Spice House love helping enhance it. I recommend the Tuscan blend, Back of the Yard, or any of their top favorites... buy a bunch, you will enjoy experimenting with them. read more

I think all the 5 stars are probably appropriate for the North Shore upper-middle/upper class families who would definitely appreciate the convenience of the Spice House's variety and full service set up, and friendly/knowledgeable employees.... and don't mind their prices. Variety here is great. They cover so much ground - many kinds of peppercorns and peppers, for example, and dried herbs/blends, many types of vanillas, regional cinnamons, etc. And it's organized decently well. But the price... $1.99 for 1oz of szechuan peppercorns when you can buy 10x that for the same price in a normal Asian grocer.... worth it? Probably not if you're willing to shop at an Asian grocer. Same with the types of dried Mexican peppers. Even the jars of vanilla paste are like 25% more than Treasure Island in the city. Those stuck out to me because I've had experience buying them elsewhere, but I'm sure it applies to many of their items. So basically, I think most of the items they carry are not necessarily rare/hard to find, but conveniently gathered here for those looking to explore new things, or want a place to be able to reliably shop for many regional spices and herbs in one place. But if you want to be more economical, I'd seek these out in the appropriate ethnic grocer of choice (or whole foods, even). I'll say that the spice blends they have seem very unique/convenient/interesting. Most don't have ridiculous ingredients in them that you couldn't think to use yourself, but I tried a few and they were all pretty unique. I think that's worth checking out here, even if you prefer to buy your individual spices elsewhere! read more

What a downturn. This place changed owners and now it's overpriced and they got rid of some of the best items. I heard they are opening other locations, too. I think I'm heading back to McCormick. How sad. read more

Just opened order shipped to Texas. Love their flat pack packaging. Very innovative. Not the same old same old Spices. Good time to be adventurous with cooking. Thank you Spice house. read more

What can I say about the Spice House? I have been to them in Milwaukee (off Third Street), Geneva, and the one downtown. When I walk in the door I am already in love with the smells and all of the options. My spice cabinet is so full of spices from this place. Some of my favorites are: - Old World Third Street (also called Central Street); this is great on potato dishes and beef. - Bicentennial: this is the best poultry spice I have found for turkey and chicken. - Vulcan Fire Salt; some salt with some real kick. - Cajun Spice: I use it with Old World Third Street on burgers For burgers, use plenty of olive oil and then add enough Old World Third Street until you can need it into the meat. Make your patties and then sprinkle with some Cajun Splice and grill the burgers. read more

As far as the spices go, they are great. The Gateway to the North blend is one of our favorites! But I'm writing this review for customer service... I went in looking for citric acid - we are making bath bombs for Mother's Day in my class and it is a key, hard to find ingredient. After checking around town, I looked online and realized the Spice House carried it. I need the citric acid for tomorrow morning and stopped by to get it on the way home from work. Unfortunately, I managed to leave my wallet at home, which was 20 minutes away. They recognized me as a frequent customer and said I could come back and pay them tomorrow. Who does that these days? The Spice House, that's who! Thank you for making my day. read more

Wonderful customer service. Had never purchased anything from the spice house before and I was just so pleased with how willing they were to help me out and explain certain spices. It truly a great shopping experience. read more

I order from this place and their spices are definitely up to par. The sweet chili rub is OUTSTANDING. I can't get enough of it. Prices feel steep, but the quality is what keeps me coming back. read more

Update: I went to grad school in Milwaukee where I became a regular customer at The Spice House. Their products are extraordinary. When I moved to Seattle my sister would mail the spices to me until I found them online. With the one exception, I have felt like a valued customer. The Spice House responded to my concerns and offered to me a resolution that was generous and more than I expected( thanks Nathan). When the dust settles, It's important that we get it right. I feel ultimately, that the The Spice House is a company that wants to get it right. And thank God for that because, "Steakhouse Smoke Seasoning" makes the most killer Steak you've ever had!" read more

You used to be able to get a small amount (an ounce or less) of any spice or blend to keep your spices fresh. Now the minimum you can buy is a flat pack which is a half cup. I get it if you are going to have your spices shipped but if you walk in the store they should be more flexible. They also used to let you try a new blend for free (a small amount) which was another element of what used to be great service. Now the folks who work there are inflexible and borderline rude. What happened? I have been enjoying this gem since they opened. Too bad they no longer serve their customers or care like they used to. SO very sad. read more

I have been getting spices at this store for years. I recently visited again and want to report the excellent service I received from Robert! He absolutely went above and beyond to help me get the spices I needed. I thought that a great way to recognize him and this wonderful shop was to give them a positive review! read more

What hasn't already been said? A great variety of great spices in a beautiful store. The staff is friendly and very helpful. The first time I went in there was to find part of a Christmas gift for my foodie sister and brother-in-law. I myself am not super familiar with the cooking world, so the staff geared me towards the right goods. Not only did they love the gift, they went back for refills of the amazing spice blends. The prices are also reasonable, particularly with the refill bags that are available. I typically find cooking more a pain than a pleasure. Even if you're like me, though, this place is worth a visit. We all gotta cook eventually, right? If so, we should at least make the process a bit more enjoyable, and it may even come about better this time around! read more

I've been shopping at the Spice House for years! I discovered the original store in Milwaukee and was shocked to be told that there was another in Evanston (and in Old Town). In any event, everything that I've ever purchased here is fresh, aromatic and useful. The quality is "sup-herb" and you simply can't go wrong with any of the excellent blends. Go ahead... walk in, "smell your way" through the store and I DARE YOU to leave without buying something. If you enjoy cooking (or eating) it's impossible! You can also order on-line @ http://www.thespicehouse.com The only thing close is Penzey's Spices in Naperville... http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/shophome.html read more

I would give this place 6 stars if I could. Simply put, the Spice House is a paradise for those people who love to cook and bake. As a home cook, this place has become as indispensable to me as my neighborhood grocery store. It's THE place to find the absolute highest quality spices, herbs, extracts, and seasonings. The spices here are so much more fragrant than the ones you'd buy at the Jewel or even ethnic markets and that really makes a noticable difference in your cooking. They carry all of the hard to find ingredients for different cuisines - everything from mango powder to smoked paprika to preserved lemons - so you're bound to find whatever you're looking for here. Even mundane spices like salt and pepper are amazing. A few tips and recommendations: - Be sure to check out of their flower extracts. The rosewater and orange flower water smell like heaven. - The spice blends here are great especially the North African spice mixes Ras El Hanout and Baharat. Works really nicely in place of garam masala. - The crystallized ginger and freeze dried corn are more addicting than crack. Try at your own risk. Bottom line, everything here is top grade, extremely fresh, and cheaper than the spice jars at the grocery store. You don't have to be a chef or foodie to appreciate the Spice House. There is something for everyone here. The staff here is very knowledgeable and offer a lot of good advice. Can't wait to go back! read more

The Spice House - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Great products but way understaffed!!! They state 7 days just to FILL an order then allow shipping time! That makes it too, too late for my holiday cooking. Sad as they had such fine quality. Guess I'll go to Whole Foods or Sunset. Sorry. read more

The Spice House is fantastic. I just worked with Parker. What a delightful sales person and customer service specialist. My favorite Orange Pepper combination spice mix was discontinued. I took my empty bottle with the ingredients listed on the label in with me to buy all of them and mix it myself. Parker read the list and suggested the Florida Citrus Pepper Blend. It has the same ingredients except for salt. He was so fun to work with! I appeciate his genuine interest and his concern and understanding about why I wanted the spice combination that I use on almost everything! (Try it on fresh fruit - a brilliant chef taught me to use pepper on fresh strawberries! The citrus even makes them taste fresher!) Thank you, Parker and The Spice House for being wise enough to hire people like Parker. read more

Even if I don't need spices, I just visit The Spice House to inhale the wonderful aromas. I'm sure there is some spice in the world that they don't have, but it would be an amazing challenge to find it. Try working your way through the row of cinnamon, tasting each one from the sample shakers (provided for nearly every spice in the place). Who knew there could be so many different types? There are dozens of pre-mixed seasoning combinations, including some that don't contain salt that are my favorites. And speaking of salt, there are probably close to 100 types and blends including smoked, and sometimes even salt blocks for cooking. All spices are offered in a variety of sizes and packages that can be measured out for you. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. read more

Chocolate Extract--The Spice House is one of the few places that carry this! It will give your cookies a wonderful chocolate oomph and have many people declare your cookies "the best!" Sriracha powder--wha???? Yes, they have the rooster sauce in powder form--perfect for popcorn! It made an awesome stocking stuffer this Christmas! And speaking of gifts--this is a great place for home cooks, chefs, or anyone that just loves flavor! I love the Chicago Ethnic neighborhood inspired spices. I also put together a Middle Eastern spice gift box too. The spice selection here is amazing. It's a bit overwhelming, but the staff is so helpful and eager to answer your questions. The space is laid out nicely, browsing is encouraged! My new favorite spice blend? Greektown Seasoning--lemon, oregano, pepper, a very rich blend that doesn't skimp on aroma or flavor. read more

Good choice of spices and good quality but when we stopped in 20 min before closing, we were not greeted by any employee nor were we ever asked if we needed help. When we got our spices and checked out, the girl that rang us up seemed very annoyed that we were there. The employees need an attitude check - they're in the service industry. The customer is their bread and butter. This place didn't make me want to return anytime soon. read more

I clearly was struggling with my baby son in his tank of a stroller as I tired to open the door, and to my rescue, my man Rich. My wife had gifted me with a spice list of a book of items to get, down the the ounce. Rich - looked at the list, and said I got this - give me ten minutes (it was very long list). He did this all while entertaining my questions and making jokes for my son. My wife was "proud" of me when I got home that I finally got a list right... thank you Rich! Oh - obviously the spices are great, I had a huge detailed list of a book from all the ones we ran out of. read more

The Spice House is practically a one stop shop for all things spice. They have everything I'm looking for and then some and it's all at affordable prices and fresh! I came for a Yelp event a while back and had a 15% off coupon burning a hole in my pocket. I'd actually intended to hit up another spice shop on the North Shore but they were closed and this was much closer, so I popped in for some more cayenne pepper powder and was in and out in a jiffy, which was really hard since I wanted to linger and smell the smells. I'd have definitely purchased more if I'd not stuck to my list. So far I've tried their Vulcan Fire Salt and their Cheddar Cheese Powder and I'm very happy with both. I made curry with a Yellow Curry Powder they taught us how to make at the event and the spices were great but I just don't think I'm cut out for that type of cooking. Nothing seems to ever come out as good as the samples they put out. read more

This place seriously rocks. I'm not surprised they have a 5 star average. Giving anything less would be a total insult. It's wall to wall spices, herbs, blends, dried peppers, vanilla beans.....the list goes on. I will be brief and recommend getting some kitchen staples here. Did you know cinnamon comes in different varieties? Not only will you be able to smell and taste the differences, you can read up on what makes them different. It's kind of like going to culinary school stepping into this shop. My current favorite purchase: their dried mushrooms have helped me create a truly sinful cream of mushroom soup. And the best part is that it is much cheaper buying them here rather than at a grocery store. read more

My kitchen cabinet is almost entirely stocked with spices, herbs and seasonings from The Spice House. I was sold on them almost 5 years ago when the freshly ground, hand-blended spices first crossed my palate. I like supporting small locally-owned businesses when I can, and this place really delivers the goods. For home cooks, this place is like nirvana. Workers are knowledgable and will answer all questions, and you can sample throughout the store. The 1/2 cup glass shaker jars with the basic spices (oregano, basil, rosemary, etc.) are very reasonably priced: most btwn. $2 - $4. Their selection of original blends is slightly more. Try the Old Town Priemium Spiced Sugar. It's vanilla sugar, cassia cinnamon and cardomom - I sometimes sprinkle it in ground coffee before I brew it. Their taco seasoning and fajita seasonings are addictive and much better than what you'd find on grocery shelves. I also like the variety of ways they have some of their spices. For instance, I dislike the needle-texture of regular rosemary, so I can get it freshly ground here (2 oz. jar = $2.58). We also enjoy the various forms of garlic. It's all good. If you can, go to the store for the sensory experience. But if you can't, they will ship it to your door. (bonus: their website has recipes for just about every product). Five stars! read more

Wow, you gotta love a store like this. They have so many varieties of spices here, plus other items like truffle oil, vanilla paste, and various extracts. They also have rubs and spice blends for beef, chicken, fish, pork, and lamb. This place makes you want to experiment with spices you haven't tried yet. It's definitely a store for the "foodies" in all of us. The last time I went, I purchased a few spices, as well as vanilla paste, the Taylor St. cheese sprinkle, and the blue cheese powder. The cheese powders are really good on popcorn! Again, great selection of spices and the staff was very friendly. I can't wait to go back here. read more

I LOVE EVANSTON SMALL BUSINESSES!! This place is amazing!! I'm seriously addicted to this place. I can't say enough about the super attentive staff whom with I've had many an interesting conversation (ever try a pinch of nutmeg added to your chicken noodle soup?) and the fact that the spices are always fresh and the variety can't be beat. The staff will offer samples, recipe tips and ideas, and taste adventure suggestions. Many of the spices are actually ground on-site, so you know you are getting the fresh stuff! As a lovely surprise, I was given a Seafood Seasoning gift (Shrimp and Crab boil, Cajun seasoning, Chesapeake Bay, and Pepper Lemon) set for my birthday last year along with a bottle of The Spice Shop's LAVENDER SUGAR. (obviously my family knows what I like :) We go fishing a lot, so this set has really came in handy. Not only that, but its great to use in other dishes that include eggs, potatoes, and even a dash of it added to a homemade soup adds that extra little 'something something'. The lavender sugar is perfect for topping off cookies or adding another layer of flavor to my hot tea in the evening. The shop itself reminds me of a country store, with large wooden barrels and rustic decor. Even if I'm just stopping in for one item, I love to browse the shelves and read the thoughtfully written details and reviews of there spices. Take your time in this place! You will probably find your new favorite flavor here. Prices are reasonable, quality is excellent, and there is always something there that I haven't explored yet. Its a taste adventure every time! read more

WARNING: Using the stuff from here will change the way you cook, eat and taste things. The dill dip seasoning has addictive properties (crack) in it. Once you've picked up a botlle of Strawberry-Vanilla sugar and start to shake it on your cereal it is all over for you. Maldon smoked sea salt on eggs, pestle cracked black peppercorns that aren't Tellicherry.... To simply step up your salt and pepper game at home even on say, some scrambled eggs???!!! This will totally change the way you cook. Must have Habanero powder, fresh Garam Masala, an assortment of whole bean vanilla. I'm thinking, perhaps it's best to buy in small quantities and cook your pants off, so you get to use these products all up at the peak of their potency. Oh! they have a molecular gastronomy section. I regret not coming here monthly 10 years ago. This place rules. read more

Since I've discovered the Spice House, I'm never buying spices from the grocery store again! This place is amazing. The Spice house not only has super fresh spices, but they also have a huge assortment. Scattered around the stores are helpful recipes and suggestions on how to use the spices. I also really enjoy that they have spices dedicated to particular Chicago neighborhoods (i enjoy the Ukranian Village and Pilsen spices) They also have specific arrangements for different cuisines. As well as "tasters" so you can try the spices. A great place to get fantastic and affordable spices. The store smells wonderful to. read more

I work right down the street from the Spice House, and, after no longer being able to resist the delicious scents that linger at the storefront, I wandered in to browse...and ended up doing all my Christmas shopping. This place has everything! Fresh spices and mixes and recipes to go with them! The perfect give for any foodie. The staff was really helpful, and knowledgeable and the prices were unexpectedly reasonable. read more

Just quit buying your spices at Dominicks or Jewel. Please, just stop now...put down the McCormick's, and drive to The Spice House. You get much higher quality spices and herbs at the same or better price than anything your grocery aisle carries. Plus, there are tons of varieties, spices you've probably never encountered (ever seen Dominicks carry Grains of Paradise?) and specialty essential oils and extracts. I've always had great customer service in here, and their staff is indeed extremely knowledgeable about the products. You can't have conversations about the benefits of using Tahitian Vanilla Beans vs. Mexican Vanilla Beans in your vanilla bean cupcakes with the staff at Dominick's. Also, check out their website for great recipes to try with your newly acquired spices. Oh, and as a final note...Alton Brown is a fan too. He's taped several episodes of his show from the Evanston location. read more

They were really helpful. I was in a rush and I was able to get what I need in 10 mins or less even though I came in with no clue of what I wanted read more

This store totally rocks. First of all, it feels awesome to peruse interesting spices that you can smell instead of standing semi-clueless in the grocery store. Secondly, the customer service is on point. I've always had helpful store associates, but recently, the woman who helped me was essential in the purchase a great present. I was looking for a unique blend of spices, that did not go together and had no rhyme or reason. She provided really solid recommendations and didn't grow impatient with my indecisiveness. Upon choosing my four spices, she placed them in a super cute box lined with dried herbs and cinnamon sticks, so cute! The Spice House is an excellent place for gifts. You can totally customize and come up with a thoughtful and personalized gifts for around $20. In addition to great customer service, there are some really excellent blends. Highly recommend trying out the Chicago neighborhood options, especially Bridgeport. Even their basics like smoked paprika and cinnamon are just high quality and delicious. Overall, this is the place to get your spices! Reasonably priced and unique, you really can't go wrong and you have to love supporting a local business! read more

I came here for the first time yesterday to purchase some fresh spices in order to add a kick to my cooking. The minute I walked in, I was greeted by some amazing smells. A helpful employee approached me in order to explain the process. Basically, the spices are sold either by the ounce or in little glass jars. They grind them for you as well, or sell them whole. I was amazed by the variety of spices here. Some of them were so exotic, like the black Hawaiian volcano salt. They also had pink salt in a little box. Many different kinds of cinnamon were also available. The helpful staff explained the differences, and also told me what regions/countries in the world certain cinnamons were used. If you want to just tour the store on your own, don't worry, each bottle gives a description and tells you what it would go well with. The different spice blends and rubs tell you if they will enhance the flavor of your chicken, your steak, or your fish. Alas, what impressed me the most was that in the shelf they had in the middle of the store, they had local spice blends. They highlighted a section on Pilsen and tried to capture the taste of this ethnic neighborhood in a bottle. You can purchase the spices on line at a resonable price, but coming to the store is like taking a tour of the world via spices. I would definitely recommend stopping in for the experience! read more

LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! So I went today with my LIST which I do recommend. They have so much there I prefer sitting down and looking at their website w/all the complete listing of spices, herbs, and blends and preparing. I got two custom made gift boxes and one bottle of chai blend for a friend and the chai blend for us and 6 other herb or spice blends. NOW my project is to REALLY learn to use them AND use them every week. They have some recipies and tips on their website. The chai blend my husband says is incredibly good and also the Chinese 5 spice blend was a big hit with my gift recipients too. They have blends for any type of palate or cook. I DATED the bottles so that I don't keep them too long because you should use when fresh, plus they are all stored in airtight containers now. If you bring glass bottles they cannot put herbs straight into them for health code reasons, so leave your bottles at home. They will give you the herbs or spices in a plastic bag and give you an extra label for your jar at home, or you can buy them already in glass jars there. Right when I came in a friendly and patient employee offered to help, and it took us about 40 minutes to get everything on my list, plus the very cute gift boxes packaged. Allow plenty of time unless you just want one thing. If this place inspires me to finally learn how to cook well, they deserve all the stars in the world! read more

My only regret is not going earlier. After finding some recipes online for herbal tea, I avoided The Spice House for the majority of my ingredients, sure that I would go broke in a fancy-dancy spice store that was featured on Alton Brown. Corrected, I stand. My husband and I were greeted by a nice gal with very short hair (I wish I had gotten her name), and she explained the process. We would tell her what spice and how much. She would measure it out for us. For a couple of broke folks making their own Christmas presents, it was nice to feel like we were being spoiled by a personal shopper. Each baggie has all the spice info for your edification. The shop itself is a multi-sensory lollapalooza. You can taste any and all of the spices, oils, salts, and powders. The smell of the place is incredible. And I feel like I'm in an old apothecary store looking at the glass canisters lining the walls. Most of the inventory is bulk spice, but there are lovely, reasonably-priced gift sets for the gourmet in your life. You probably could drop some serious dough here, but we spent about 15 bucks for a big bag of goodies. My mouth is watering for the crystallized ginger, at the moment! read more

FOREWARNING: Do not shop at The Spice House in Evanston unless you know EXACTLY what you want before you go in. They have many sales associates, but none are interested in helping customers. Their policy is NO EXCHANGES / NO RETURNS but they do not mention it at check out - "it's on the receipt" I was in twice this week to buy a gift for a friend that loves to cook. The first day I was there for 45 minutes, and asked for help twice before someone came over. I finally chose an item that was more than I wanted to spend. It took another 5 minutes before someone was told to come to the desk to check us out. I went back today, because the gift I purchased was too large. I wanted to return and/or exchange it for the smaller size(s). I was told they do not refund or exchange their items. It is on the receipt... no signs, no one tells you, it's on the receipt to find out on your own at a later date... I am certain the third time will not be the charm for this place. Not the place to buy a gift. I won't be back. read more