I had a very disappointing experience with Williams Sonoma in Lake Forest. Before purchasing a Jura espresso machine, I was informed that there was a 30-day return policy. After receiving the machine, I decided it wasn't the right fit and returned it only 3 days later. To my surprise, General Manager Jenni refused to accept the return simply because the box had been opened, despite the purchase being well within the stated 30-day return period. A customer cannot reasonably evaluate an espresso machine without opening the box. The return policy was not clearly explained at the time of purchase, and I feel misled by the way this situation was handled. The lack of flexibility and poor customer service were extremely frustrating, especially for such an expensive purchase. I would not recommend this store based on my experience. read more

So good to have a quality kitchen/dining goods store in Lake Forest. The staff is always helpful and a good resource for their products, how to use the items, including recipies! No problems with returns. Great stop for a hostess gift as well. read more

They are extremely helpful at this location... It's my go to store for anything kitchen related or for gifts... The staff is friendly and knowledgable.. read more

Pretty store. Hours on the door didn't match yelps hours. But a bunch of stuff. The gummy peaches at the register were like petrified confections, guess they were forgotten years ago. Other than that, nice place. read more

I had a wonderful experience here. I came in to order 4 custom stools and they were patient and walked me through the process. Then when I needed on more stool Jen went above and beyond to help me do it over the phone. She was knowledgeable, professional, and made it so easy. read more

First, it's so wonderful to have a Williams-Sonoma in Market Square. Many local businesses make you pay for the locale but the prices are comparable to any other Williams-Sonoma. Any time I've entered the store I am always warmly greeted. With any question, no matter how random, the staff always works hard to help out. Due to the limited amount of floor space they often have items available downstairs. So if you don't see something you want, always ask. And if they don't have it, they can order it off the site and have it sent to the store to save you shipping. read more

Williams-Sonoma - a storefront with a glass window - Kitchen & Bath Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

Beautiful store and they are great at selling you very expensive products. However, if you need to return something LOOK OUT! I am 0 for 2 on return efforts that include knifes that broke after purchasing and more recently a Wolf Toaster that never worked from day 1. Store salesperson- "Take it up with the manufacture, we dont accept Wolf returns" To add fuel to the fire. "We typically dont sell these $200.00 toasters, we usally give them away when someone makes a real large purchase such as a Wolf Range"? What-say that again??? Ive learned the best shopping strategy is to browse at WS then buy what you like at Target, they will process a return no questions asked. read more

So the Williams-Sonoma in Highland Park just closed and I am very sad about that. I love Williams-Sonoma products that needs to be said up front. This review is just about the Lake Forest store. With the HP store closed I ordered what I needed (a specialty salt) online for in store pick up in LF. The order process went very smoothly and I was emailed when the product was ready for pick up. My problem was only with the personnel at the store. When I walked in to pick up my already paid for package they were just finishing up with a customer at the counter. They were super friendly with her and smiling and laughing. They asked if they could help me and I said, yes, I placed an order online for some salt that should be ready for pick up. The woman literally rolled her eyes at me. I even asked her if there was a problem with my order. She responded no, it's a great product and she loves it. Never said another word to me but finished her cheery conversation with the woman at the counter and walked away to help another customer in the store who already had another employee helping her. The store is small so I asked if there was a problem with my order? They both looked over at me like I was an alien and not a member of some secret Lake Forest Williams-Sonoma club and therefore didn't deserve the time of day. Then one of them walked over, easily pulled my parcel from under the counter and shoved it in my direction. No thank you, no hope it works out for you or anything. It's really too bad because they have an opportunity to really expand their client base with the HP store closed but with attitude or lack thereof like this, they might find it difficult. read more

Do not use Williams Sonoma for shipping items., We received and item shipped from this location. The store literally slapped a label on the box the products comes in, NO packaging at all Well, it rattled and was in pieces we just opened the flap and can see all cracked( reordered shipped from Orland Parks exact same way) Go to Sur La Table read more

I recently called this location to find out if they had any more StarWars cookie cutters. I was put on hold for TEN MINTUES! I hung up and called back and told them this. Their excuse was "there's a sidewalk sale going on; very hectic." (which is why you should schedule more workers that day). I was put on hold again for only about three minutes. The woman came back on the phone saying she's checked upstairs and outside and they don't have any more. As I was in the middle of saying, "okay, thank you" she hung up on me! Horrible customer service; even if it is busy you don't leave someone on hold for 10 minutes. You know what I did for that period of time? I got dressed, put makeup on, and went to the restroom. They are obviously not punctual over there or I wouldn't have been kept waiting for so long! Will not call again. Otherwise, not horrible customer service when you go into the store. Just a bit pricey. read more

Have shopped at this store for years. Used to love going in there, especially at the holidays. It's a small quaint shop. Not so anymore!! I was looking for a shower gift. The employees were standing around talking to each other. It took forever to get some help. Well they didn't have anything i chose in stock anyway. The manager or assistant manager seemed annoyed by my unwillingness to order something. She was rolling her eyes!!! Very professional in her flannel shirt... I'll be shopping in highland park or sur la table from now on read more

I had heard about a new cooking class series at Williams Sonoma through the Tasting Table blog and decided I just had to check it out! Apparently, Williams Sonoma stores nationwide have started their latest classes: the Sous Chef Series. The first recipe on the schedule was provided by Tom Colicchio's sous chef, James Tracey, from Tom's NY restaurant, Craft. I signed up at the Lake Forest store, which was entirely out of my way. But my local WS store was full, unfortunately. When I arrived in Lake Forest, I observed their employee, Maria, expertly cut up brussels sprouts, pearl onions, rutabaga, radish, and carrots to roast with a 4lb chicken stuffed with butter, sage, thyme, rosemary, and garlic. The whole thing just smelled heavenly. Luckily, they provide you with a recipe card so that you can recreate the meal at home! And based on the yummy caramelized goodness of those brussels sprouts alone, I will for sure be making the dish sometime this winter. It took about 45 minutes for the whole thing to cook, so I went outside in search of a small lunch in the town square. When I couldn't wait any longer to go back to Williams Sonoma, I ventured over there through the cold and foudn that the vegetables were done, even if the chicken needed more time to roast. Maria graciously spooned out some of the roasted veggies for me to try. Everything melted in my mouth. The brussels sprouts were wonderfully sweet and soft, and I even enjoyed the turnip and rutabaga! Delicious. The Sous Chef series will take place once a month at Williams Sonoma stores. You can sign up online so make sure not to miss the next class. Bring a friend to make it a social experience! You'll learn how to make your own social meal that will be restaurant-quality. What could be better? read more

Okay, I admit it. Williams-Sonoma is one of my favorite retailers. There. I wrote it and I am not ashamed. I am not ashamed, because Williams-Sonoma has kitchen power-tools. You can get powdercoat oven-cured, or stainless steel power tools; shiny or brushed, yet! (If you want plastic, meh, fine. Your life, wimp.) Williams-Sonoma also offers great, heavy duty, higher-end cookware that could last a lifetime between decent care and storage habits, and the kick-ass manufacturer warranties that finer cookware typically feature. So, what do you do with your new cook wear? (Duh, rotate your tires?) Williams-Sonoma has an array of cookbooks, 'easy' to 'WTF?' difficulty level. I personally ascribe to the "If I can read, I can cook" mindset (I know delusional but, hey, delusion works for me). However, if you feel that you are in too deep, usually characterized by dread accompanied by a mounting sense of impending doom (so I have been told), just ask any of the employees there to talk you down. They do not snap. They do not bite. In fact, they practically will hold your hand and offer reassurance as you level with them about what you are about in the kitchen. Don't tell them tall tales. They are there to help. (Remember, if they laugh it only means that they like you.) However, if you insist that cooking an entire meal would be moving too fast (baby), Williams-Sonoma also offers cooking sauces and other pantry, the shelved closet in your kitchen, items. If you cannot manage to open a jar, Williams-Sonoma offers cooking classes. Oh, and there's gadgets there ... hundreds! They even have stuff to help mop up the water you sprayed to contain the freak flash-fire that suddenly broke out as you were preparing your first meal or warming carry out. ("Defective stove." That's my story and I am sticking to it.) In the event that you actually prepare a meal and may require dishes, glassware, flatware, serving plates and bowls, yup, Williams-Sonoma can set you up, A-Z, without having to run laps to hell and back as one does in a department store to find items which do not come close to the quality of items that one typically finds at Williams-Sonoma. You would be challenged to find another store like it, with staff so willing to help, whether you seek a kitchen power-tool or gadget of the quality that you cannot find elsewhere, or a tip or two about food preparation technique, cooking classes, a standout host or hostess gift, even a side-dish suggestion as you checkout. The only criticism I have is about the limited limited space in the store, which does affect how much stock that can appear in their retail space. Sometimes a needed item may be stored in the basement, so it requires that an employee take a trip down there to determine if an item is there, and in what quantity. If it is busy, through no fault of the store staff, it can take a while. Then again, I would miss the store location. Anyway, tell them I sent you and I guarantee that they will ask you, "Who?". ;o) read more

I love everything about Williams-Sonoma, plain and simple. This location was very conveinent for us, and it always has everything we need. Whenever something wasn't available, the staff was always ready to help us order it online. The gift wrapping is always a great option too. I'll continue to use this location when I am in the area. read more

Wonderful store. Every time we've visited the staff has been helpful and have made great suggestions.

My dad and I came in here on the 23rd to finish up our shopping for my mom. We found the items we wanted, then got in line to pay. After waiting a long time for the cashier to put the previous customer's items in a clear bag, it was our turn. The cashier rang up our items and my dad swiped his credit card... very normal... It took a few moments for the card to process and apparently he didn't respond quickly enough to the signature prompt on the terminal because this woman unloaded on him. She literally screamed at him that he wasn't signing fast enough and that he was holding up the line. There was no one behind us and, anyway, the employees at this store never seem to be in much of a rush (as exhibited, in this case, by how long she spent arranging the previous customer's bag). I have worked retail and I understand that Christmastime is stressful, but there is no reason whatsoever to scream at an adult (a paying customer, no less) like that when a simple, civil "please sign" would suffice. She should stay calm, or at least reserve her rage for shoplifters or people who knock down displays. (The receipt says she was associate #321325, if management reads these things.) read more

This Williams-Sonoma is one of the best staff I have ever encountered. It's a small store and there are always great deals lurking about. The staff is awesome. They are very sociable and always willing to help you. I always hit the sidewalk and seasonal sales at this location first. The Store is tight and I cannot stress that enough, it sometimes gets a little hectic in there. read more