Sur La Table

I was so excited yesterday to go in Sur La Table to shop for some necessities needed for this weekends baking. Unfortunately that didn’t go as planned due to the extremely poor (if any) customer service provided.
Upon entering I noticed the store was not crowded at all so I grabbed a basket as I figure its not crowded I can get everything and move freely, so I started on my way. I started on the left side and planned to work my way over to the rear right where the baking supplies are. Now while I’m making my way I notice I hadn’t been greeted –acknowledged — nor asked if I needed assistance. I have been in this store numerous times recently and noticed the lack of service but tried to make an acceptable excuse like. maybe its the holiday. the store is crowded, the staff may be new … The reason is my first ever visit here went well I was greeted, asked if I need help, got a coffee demo, and an invite to classes (forgot the guys name but I haven’t seen him lately)
Anyway I went on to grab items need for baking. I approach the baking supplies and I am literally right beside two workers who are talking at this point I have been in the store about 15mins. I start to get irritated when I see another worker come and peep at me and then leave. So I said well maybe I need to «act like I need help’. I attempted to reach high items (NO ONE HELPED). I looked puzzled as I sorted through cake pans (NO ONE HELPED) stood and compared spatulas (NO ONE HELPED) went to the more open area near the bar items (NO ONE HELPED). I went back to the baking section where I actually did need advice again workers just walking by making eye contact !(NO ONE HELPED).
Finally I decided I had enough I started putting items back one by one that I googled on my phone and could find elsewhere. I refused to patronize this store any more than what I absolutely could not find elsewhere. Once I reached the counter the cashier (same one who was peeping) says did you find everything okay? I gave a slight nod. she rings the items and ask for my card and id. I hand it over in silence. Next she says «receipt in the bag» again a slight nod. I notice her face change to a concerned /​confused look as it should. I did that just to give her an example of how loud silence speaks. So the next time you choose not to greet, help, acknowledge, or assist a customer it wont go un-​noticed. She didn’t say Thank You or Come Again absolutely no attempt to make a loyal customer .
Granted I could have asked for helped, told them I needed help, but when you are hired and assigned to provide customer service you are supposed to at least attempt to do just that ! I got in line with just a few items and there was only 1 person in front of me, the holidays are over, 3 to 4 staff insight and its 1:00pm on a weekday .SO even more validation that store was being terribly ran!!. I doubt I will be returning to this store. It is convenient to my work area but I will just take the ride out to Wheaton in the morning to get better service. Actually I will not be returning! I don’t wish bad on the store or the business but, I do hope management will reiterate to the staff the importance of customer service to every customer.
FYI– 2 stars is only for the gentleman who helped me here on my first visit a few months ago.

I took an interest in upscale espresso machines and Eric the clerk was happy to demonstrate how to make a «Flat White», which is a frothy milk coffee drink which I had never heard of before. I also enquired about a drink dispenser without plastic fixtures for making Kumbucha. Although the store did not have anything in stock, he offered some great suggestion. I was impressed by the breadth of knowledge, helpfulness and courtesy given the customer. I heartily recommend this store for upscale culinary sundries.

Love this place I could spend all my Money here. I can spend hours just looking around. It’s well kept and the people are so nice

Not a great experience! From the second I walked in I received no help although there were plenty of associates around and barely any customers. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a young adult or other circumstances but instead of asking me if they could help one of the store associates proceeded to stare and follow me around the store in an uncomfortable matter. Probably not a good selling technique to treat your customer as thieves… just saying. I did not get what I came for. Next time I will go to target.

Overall: Packed to the brim with fun and useful cooking tools!
Selection: In addition to the store brand, which is actually pretty darn good, there are the usual higher-​end options like Vitamix, Wusthof, Cuisinart, Le Creuset etc. You can probably find the items for a few dollars cheaper online somewhere, but sometimes I need instant gratification!
Service: The majority of the employees I’ve encountered are helpful and knowledgeable. It’s clear they love cooking and that helps a LOT.
Location: Psst! It’s a stones throw from a Williams Sonoma so if this location doesn’t have something, you’re close to another option!

Sur La Table is filled with all the kitchen things you didn’t know you needed, but even cuter. While there is a Williams Sonoma on the other end of Galleria, Sur La Table is better suited to whimsical shopping. It has a good sense of humor about the kitchen. They also often have free sample coffee that is fantastic.
I’m a baker myself and I find that, among cooking stores in the DC area, Sur La Table reliably has the best selection of baking tools and toys. This is where I buy my parchment paper rounds, frosting tips, novelty baking pans, special sugars, etc. This location is well stocked and the staff has always been friendly and helpful.

LOVE this place! — bought a christmas present for family here and the staff could not have been more friendly, more helpful, more knowledgable!
we even forgot our free extra coffee and Heather (she’s awesome… SUPER nice and SUPER helpful!) ran through the mall to find us! :)
Wish we could find this kind of service, friendlyness everywhere!
Great Job Sur La Table!

Great people working here, and as at every Sur La Table store, tons of things to look at. My only quibble is that it is way at the end of the mall from where I usually park, but at least it’s a bit bigger than its old location. I also want to add a shout-​out to SLT’s customer service number. These people are terrific and the woman I spoke with (Amanda) knew everything about the knife I was enquiring about. Just an incredible shopping experience all around.

Much like Williams-​Sonoma, Sur La Table is another of my foodie fetish stores. I love how Sur La Table stores always are cramped, maxing out each square foot of floor space with shelves packed to the rafters with every food appliance and gadget, seemingly taking its store layout cues from the original Sur La Table store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Unfortunately, the Galleria SLT location bears resemblance in name only. The store looked dated and appeared to have a lot of unused floor space. More damning, it seemed to lack the variety, selection, and volume of inventory that I’ve found in other locations like the one in Pentagon Row or in Pike Place Market. While it may not be closing, it gave off the impression that this location may be on the verge of closing soon. Frankly, I was disappointed that it paled so greatly in comparison to the Williams-​Sonoma in the Galleria. I’ll stick to the Pentagon Row location for my Sur La Table fix.

My husband sums up this Sur La Table this way — They moved from a place that was small and cluttered to a place that is large and cluttered.
I like Sur La Table but can’t give it 5 stars due to the cluttered and illogical layout. When they moved to their new location, I thought that it would be easier to navigate and find things. Sadly, this is not so. It is still somewhat stressful to visit especially when it is busy. I find myself dodging groups of people standing in the aisles. When that happens, I worry about knocking something over and breaking it.
Yet we still go because we find things we need — even things we never thought we needed until we spotted them there. For example, we found a collander that is partly made of silicon that is collapsible thus easily fits in the dishwasher.
Once we were in Dean and DeLuca in DC and discovered a great olive oil. D&D had some out for sampling and we loved the taste. It’s Tiburtini olive oil and is very smooth and mild. It works equally well with salads and for cooking. Well… we discovered that Sur La Table also sells it — and it was $ 5 cheaper than D&D! On our most recent visit to Sur La Table, I went to get some more olive oil — and it was on the very top shelf. I’m short and used to getting creative when it comes to getting things on the top shelf, but this was ridiculous! The only people who could have reached it would have had to be as tall as Shaq! The sales clerks keep step stools at the register for things like this.
Yet…one of our best finds at Sur La Table is the wok «shovels». Well… actually, they’re spatulas but as you can see from my photo, they look like shovels. My husband, who loves to stir-​fry as long as I do all the prep work, has been looking for quite sometime for the perfect wok cooking implements. He came across the wok «shovels» at Sur La Table’s old location. Yet… he only bought one despite my urging to buy the other one. When the new store opened, he couldn’t find the replacement. However, on the second visit, he struck gold. Which brings me to the problem of an illogical layout. We looked where the woks were kept but no «shovels». Instead, they were thrown together with other spatulas.
The sales clerks, for the most part, are very knowledgeable about the stock. Once I took my daughter to a different Sur La Table because she wanted to buy a good whisk. We found the whisks and were amazed at how many shapes and sizes they come in! A clerk came by and explained to us what each and every whisk was meant to be used for which was a tremendous help. Yet… one time at the McLean store, there was a clerk near the olive oils telling someone all about the various varieties. When he engaged me in conversation, I asked him what other olive oils are similar to Tiburtini — he couldn’t give me a straight answer.
So…go knowing that the place is cluttered and illogically laid out. Plus, be prepared — you may end up buying something that you never thought you needed — until you spotted it!

I am a fan of Sur La Table and love this location like the other local locations. The staff here is well versed with the products they sell and are ready and willing to provide more information on any product that I am considering to purchase.
Their customer service is far above their peer and that makes the buying experience even more sweeter :)
The only drawback with SLT is their limited selection of stuff, which is not an issue if you know what your are looking for.

I have to echo the 2 previous reviews as I am obsessed with nice kitchen tools and gadgets. I’ve been in a few Sur La Table’s in the area and around the country on my travels and I have to say I got some excellent service at this one. The friendly guy helping us didn’t offer up his name (something I always wait for the salesperson to offer) but he was knowledgeable and helpful but not pushy.
He was able to speak intelligently to all the small items as well as the large ones I had questions about. Definitely makes is a welcome place to spend hundreds of dollars on kitchen tools! Will be back here before I go to Williams and Sonoma.

I ALWAYS pass by Sur la Table without any REAL agenda to buy anything and ALWAYS wind up coming out with something. Sink drain mat, caramel/​marshmallow treat. This time, I wound up coming out with a Shun Elite Deba knife. WHAT the WHAT?
At least I can comfort myself in knowing that the knife was an excellent purchase as I was able to test it out before buying. On a cutting block. With a potato. (They have veggies in the back awaiting potential knife buyers to test to their heart’s delight!)
Store has a fun selection of kitchen items-​gadgets, cookware, cutlery, bakeware, tabletop, etc, etc, etc.
William Sonoma? Nice– but a little too sterile compared to Sur.
Staff is fairly knowledgeable on the products being sold.

Let me just say, I have an obsession with kitchen gadgets. You name it, I’ve played with it and coveted it. This place has it all. Margarita machine made by the Parrothead king, Jimmy Buffet? Yup, they got it and sell it for $ 300. I am secretly spying on the Global knife set. Japanese blades… mmmm, so beautiful.
Be sure to check out some of the sales this place offers. The in-​store specials can make those out of reach products slightly less out of reach.

This is my equivalent of a toy store. I love browsing all of the cool kitchen accessories, lusting after the gorgeous cappuccino machines, seeing who has sold out via their cookware lines, etc. This store is gorgeous, with large wire shelving units holding everything, which makes it look clean and attractive. My favorite section is the bakeware, because it’s interesting to see how much people will spend on sprinkles shaped like the latest holiday symbol/​cartoon.