Oilerie

My first visit to the Oilerie happened to be when they were celebrating an anniversary of their opening and the tiny place was packed. They had a ton of samples, mainly dishes you could make with their products.
The bacon mac and cheese soup was so damn good! And they even gave out their recipes for free.
I picked up a bottle of the chili oil which is great because it has a likeable slow burn and peppery flavor that doesn’t incinerate your mouth. I really like to sauté peppers and onions in it as well as chicken for fajitas.
I returned a few weeks later to pick up the ingredients for the bacon mac and cheese soup to give as holiday gifts, along with the recipe. I was really surprised that the bottle of seasoning was only 3 bucks. A similar bottle of seasoning often costs more at your average grocery store. And the chile con queso was 5 bucks. I have been to so many specialty stores where the prices are so exorbitant that I was pleasantly surprised by the pricing here.
And the staff have been nothing but pleasant and helpful. They really know the products and are happy to help. So seriously, stop by and get that bacon mac and cheese soup recipe.

It’s all about the service. This small shop in a cramped shopping area on Grand Ave. has many choices of Balsamic, Olive Oil and Pastas and you will be creating cooking ideas in your head before you head out the door. I found the prices reasonable considering the gourmet style product. There are some pricier options. Mainly the lone employee gave me a tour and explanation of the business and how to buy their product. They will fill the bottle for you so heed the signs which is probably about the only rule. This is not your standard super market mix. You will be able to sample the products as if buying wine. The cooking ideas are floating and I have to try my aged Balsamic on a lamb dish.

I stopped in here to pick up a gift for a friend and had to remind myself several times that I wasn’t shopping for myself, cause I kind of wanted one of everything. The woman working was really helpful and educational but didn’t push me to pick a certain thing which I appreciated. They have a well edited selection of olive oils and balsamic vinegars and you’re free to sample all of them if it floats your boat. I wasn’t impressed with the selection of spices so I wouldn’t go there only for those, but the rest is well worth the trip.

Great Italian olives oils and fabulous balsamic vinegars! The lemon evoo and 25 yr aged balsamic are amazing!!! I’ve always had great customer service and appreciate the free recipes and multiple pairing suggestions. Great place to gift shop for cooks and foodies!

No love for the Oilerie.
If any of you are connoisseurs of balsamic old enough to drive a car you’d think it could sell itself. But after going here I’m sorry to say it can’t. Though I walked away with what I was looking for, I don’t plan on coming back, mostly because the sole employee made me feel most unwelcome – like my capitalist experience was ruining a perfectly good afternoon of solitude or iChatting with her boyfriend.
My request for a item I know they had in stock was met with a sigh and a hand wave, even though it was no more than 20 feet from her. She lacked eye contact and friendliness in an industry where customer service is what keeps small business alive. Even my husband remarked to me when we left, «What was wrong with her?»
I wanted so badly to like this place. They are more conveniently located than my regular OO/​balsamic place AND they are open on Sunday (which is huge for people who can’t get all their errands done Saturday!).
I hate to write them off after one visit, but I don’t plan on running back any time soon. That’s something to sigh about!

I stopped here with my wife today and was very pleased with what we found. Although there is not as large a selection as some of the other specialty oil shops in the Twin Cities area, the quality of their selection seems to be very good.
You are free to sample most offerings throughout the store, some of which include salsas, specialty sauces and marinades, salts and other spices, and, of course, a variety of oils.
The staff is extremely friendly and has a terrific knowledge of all of the items in the store. We were given several pairing suggestions and advice on flavors that can be combined to create delicious new varieties. All of the oils are first cold pressed and imported from Italy, and are bottled fresh for you upon request.
As a Saint Paul native and appreciator of fine foods and the art of cooking, I am very grateful for this new addition to the neighborhood and look forward to several returns.