Bottom Line: - Great gift location - Smart helpful staff - Worth the small premium on items, for the quality and service Great place for gifts for friends, family, newly-weds, first-homes, and yourself. The staff at Hill's Kitchen is extremely helpful and very knowledgeable. They have helped me pick out everything from a vegetarian cookbook for a friend to a new set of high-end knives for my parents for Christmas. They also have a great assortment of items, and I am sure they would be willing to discuss some item that you want and they don't have. Not only are their products of great quality, they are willing to help you find the best items in your price range and for your needs. The staff will not "bug" you if you want to be left alone, and they will answer every question you have in a fun and honest manner. This knowledge is apparent in their inventory selection, the staff knows why each item is in the store and why it is the best. Best thing about getting a gift here is that they gift wrap things beautifully. The paper, ribbons, and details are FREE with your purchase. read more

Adorable store in Cap Hill. Kitchen supplies galore. My favorite the cookie cutters shaped like the 50 states. Each for only $1.75 each! and they even have the District! If you need something for your kitchen, they undoubtedly have it. Cookware, aprons, cookbooks, olive oil, kitchen cleaning supplies (eco-friendly), cupcake holders, dishclothes, placemats, sprinkles, coffeemakers, espresso machines, measuring spoons, birthday candles, salt and pepper shakes, cheese cutting boards, vegetable steamers, blenders....the list goes on and on. Located on D Street SE, right across from the metro, this is a one-stop shop for your kitchen, and also a great place to buy a gift for a friend if they're a chef. read more

I've always liked Hill's Kitchen and made a point of stopping in with my parents when they were in town. My mom had seen these salad server claws that seemed like the type of gadget you might find in the shop so she asked the owner if they carried them. The owner's response was that her store was focused on items one might use to entertain and that those weren't the type of thing you'd want to actually use in front of guests. She finished with a snide- "You can probably get them at Target or something". It was clear she thought the items and the ask were tacky. A simple "Sorry no we don't have anything like that" would have sufficed. A year later my mom still jokes that she obviously doesn't have good enough taste to shop at fancy shops like that in DC. Though perhaps an isolated incident it wasn't a good look and has kept me from going back. read more

Everything in its place, and a place for everything. This exemplifies how this store is layed out. It all makes sense, and there are so many fun things here. I bought some great food writing (Toothpick, and a book written by local WaPo writer which was signed), and a game called Foodie Fight which I can't wait to play with some other Yelper foodies. They have cute dishes, fun kitchen tools, and a friendly staff/owner there to help. read more

4.5 Stars This review is for both a cooking (knife skills class) and the actual home-store at Hill's Kitchen. Overall I'd give it close to five stars. First, the store. The outside of Hill's kitchen just looks like another nice town house on the hill. Once inside, you have a very extensive collection of cooking gadgets, knives, pots, pans, cook books and a lot more. They offer a very extensive collection of top brands like all-clad, among others. The prices seem pretty competitive considering the location. They actually offer wedding registry, so if you were looking to help out the little guy, rather than William Sonoma, then this would be a nice place to go. I'll probably end up buying a knife here, as its one of the few places I've seen in the area that sells MAC knives. The Class. I took the knife skills I class, mainly so I could learn the proper ways to cut. I cook almost every day and figured it could only help me. The instructor was excellent and helpful. He understood that there are various levels and could help anyone in need of extra instruction. The most valuable tips were in knife care. I would highly recommend classes here for beginners or even more advanced cooks looking to beef up their skills. Prices are pretty reasonable as well. Overall, Hill's kitchen is really a gem on the hill. I had no idea that such a store existed and its nice to know that you don't have to head all the way out to NoVA or Friendship Heights if you need a new kitchen gadget or saute pan. read more

Great little store with a good selection of mid- to higher-end kitchen wares and gadgets. Okay, it's not that little, since it's on the entire first floor of a converted townhouse, so I guess the correct descriptors would be more "cozy" or "jam-packed with merchandise." The store has nearly anything you could want for your kitchen, although not a big selection for each item (then again, how many different varieties of rolling pins and meat pounders does one really need?). Prices are a little higher than what you might pay online or at a restaurant supply store, but if you live in the neighborhood, the convenience factor would trump that. I greatly appreciate that this shop isn't overly precious or bare-bones minimalist. It's kind of as if your good, sensible friend who happens to be a chef set up a store in their own kitchen and invited you to come over and pick out some stuff. Works for me! read more

Bought a kitchen tool and they explained measurement differences after purchase not before - then found in fine print it was Chinese made and 25% more expensive than on Amazon. Next time I'll just shop online. read more

Cooking stores are expensive, and this one is no different. If you have time, you'll be better off getting that $350 Le Crueset at the outlet or online for a lot less. That said, foodies are always trying new things, and sooner or later, you'll end up halfway into a recipe that calls for a butane torch, and you'll not only want a store that sells torches, but that also stocks the fuel you'll need to operate the torch. That's Hill's Kitchen. It's stocked well, staffed by people who cook, and it's convenient if you're on the Hill. read more

I live in CA but I order all my kitchen items from Hill's Kitchen now that it has opened. I have known Leah a long time and I know that she would only carry brands that are the best value - best quality, useful, and cost effective. I ordered all my Christmas gifts from Hill's Kitchen and Leah wrapped all the presents and mailed them. The recipients were thrilled with the uniqueness of the gifts! I love the beehive bundt pan, cruet (oil and vinegar glass container), and Swiss Diamond products. I look forward to my future purchases because I know that I'll always get the highest quality products, good prices, and great customer service. read more

I love Hill's Kitchen - I don't even live near the hill, but when I need kitchen supplies I go to Hill's Kitchen. Why? It is simple: 1) Excellent customer service: knowledgeable and friendly. 2) A good spread of inventory: Whether you have lots or little money to spend, they have the product you need. 3) It is convenient, right across from the Eastern Market Metro. 4) It is fun! Besides having kitchen supplies, they have fun assorted other things, as well. Keep up the great work! read more

This place almost reminds me of cooks warehouse. It's stock-piled with all kinds of cooking necessities and toys. It doesn't hurt that the chick and her dad working there are total foodies and can carry a conversation. We really enjoyed making our purchases there including our game of "foodie fight" and look forward to coming back again in the future! read more

Hill's Kitchen is a fantastic, small kitchen store just a hop, skip and run against the light from the Eastern Market metro stop. What is lacking in the diversity of stock is more than made up by the quality of what is there. Recognize you're shopping at a locally owned specialty boutique when you enter and you will fully appreciate what the owner and her staff are doing here. Prices are not cheap, but that is because the inventory is high end. This isn't saucepans at Target; it's All Clad stock pots and top of the line vanilla from Madagascar. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. I never go to Eastern Market without stopping in. My goal is to eventually collect the 50 states of cookie cutters. read more

This may be hyperbolic, but Hill's Kitchen is the best kitchenware store on the planet Earff. Not just because of the onion-shaped onion savers, adorable, colorful aprons, just-the-right-size tea kettles, the endless assortment of ramikins, and kitchen shears, or the amazing customer service. Those state-shaped cookie cutters alone make me want to bake something, and I don't bake. There something extra, something I can't quite put my finger on, that makes Hill's Kitchen so special. I guess I'll just have to keep going so I can I figure it out. Oh, and they give cooking lessons upstairs, but they fill up super-fast. read more

Hill's Kitchen is like IKEA, but smaller and only for kitchen stuff. It's also not exactly the same level of inexpensiveness that IKEA is known for, but there are some deals to be had. The best part about it is the style - the focus of everything they stock appears to be either smart design or at least stylistic design (a bit redundant language, maybe... but that's what came to mind!). Even if you don't walk out of Hill's Kitchen with anything in your hand, you most certainly had a fun time looking around the store while you were there. It is simply that - a FUN store. read more

Great little kitchen store with competitive prices and an extensive inventory. On top of that, the staff was incredibly helpful and very knowledgeable. On a downside, it's hard to walk through the store without buying something. Who knew there were so many things for your kitchen that I can't live without. read more

Hill's Kitchen is a happy place! Really solid neighborhood kitchen store. They don't have tons and tons of brands, but what they lack in variety they make up in knowledge. Leah, who owns the place, is super sweet and gives really great advice. Had her help me with a big purchase recently, as well as some other Christmas gifts, and not only was she not trying to upsell me at all, she steered me toward cheaper items when she could! I also really like their hostessing selection - usually the front bay window of the store has seasonal items. Such a cute selection. It's 100% worth going here for the neighborhood feel, knowledge and of course to support a DC small business! read more

I wish that I had known about Hill's Kitchen when I was putting together my wedding registries! It is such an amazing, well-curated high quality store with a knowledgeable staff and charming owners. It's the kind of place that you wish Williams Sonoma would be, but never is. I was here for an Eric Ripert book signing recently and the only thing I can say is that I wish the store were slightly better organized. It felt a little cluttered and in a way that seemed untidy and a little disorganized rather than part of the charm. The upstairs where the signing was held (and where they also hold classes) was chock full of extra stock of tons of items to the point that it truly felt like an eye sore. I know that space comes at a premium in DC, but I think that this place could use a little organizational assistance to make it even better. read more

Kitchen Porn. Hill's Kitchen is a cook's happy place. Every practical, fun and outright bizarre kitchen appliance and utensil can be found at here. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and can always make a recommendation or helpful suggestion. I have a mild obsession with their state cookie cutters and vow that one day I will collect them all. (Gotta catch 'em all!) While the space is small and can easily be overrun with shoppers, there is something quaint about it that makes it feel like your mom's house during the holidays. The staff is always happy to put something behind the register if you feel a little claustrophobic carrying things around. Anytime I'm in Eastern Market, I love to pop in and see what's new. You should too! read more

I took a knife-skills class here with Brock and had a great time. I don't know if anyone else teaches it, but I highly recommend his class! The staff is very friendly and helpful, greeting people who come in with familiarity even if they had never been there before. The store area also had some great gadgets for reasonable prices--I most definitely bought a VA-shaped cookie cutter. Wish it was closer so I could visit more often. read more

I passed this place a few times but sadly it was always after-hours. But last Saturday FINALLY had a chance to go in and look around. WHAT A GREAT STORE!! Beautifully laid out and lots of great gadgets as well as cooking necessities. I am so glad to have found this place. Great designed stuff by some good companies. I'll definitely be back and glad to have a kitchenwares shop to go to now in the city (I won't step a foot in that place in Dupont Circle ... the rudeness still chafes years later). I picked up a few small things and also a jar of the LowCountry preserves I'd read a review of in the New York Times a month or so back. The fact that they had it here tells me a lot about this place. Total class! read more

I've taken a number of classes here and they've all been amazing. Brock, the instructor, does a great job demonstrating and then making sure the students get it. I'm currently signed up for three more classes; that's how great they are. Leah does a great job as well. She knows her merchandise. Yes, you will pay more for it than you would online or at Bed, Bath & Beyond. But the personal service you'll get beats them any day. read more

I stopped by Hill's Kitchen after a run on Sunday afternoon. I had passed by the place plenty of times, each thinking "wow, seems like a cool, unique place ... wonder what it's like?" It is a cool little place, tons of unique elements (both high-end and reasonable), and well-worth the visit for any foodie looking for a new toy. As another person wrote, I was greeted like a friend, like "family" upon entering. Usually, you feel some awkwardness whenever you walk into a store ... but not this one. They went out of their way to show me around, make friends, and when I asked for something that they didn't sell, they tried to figure out how to help me. In the end, I wound up sticking around just talking ... all the while thinking ... "wow, this place should sell coffee ... what a fun place to just hang out!" Highly recommend checking it out. read more

Hill's Kitchen is one of those perfect, neighborhood stores - it has everything from cooking basics to holiday and hostess gifts to high end kitchen "toys," all at reasonable prices (in line with the bigger chains) and excellent customer service. Every time I have been in, I have been greeted like an old friend, and in addition to be friendly, the staff are knowledgeable about their products and always willing to help you find what you're looking for (as well as a few things you didn't know you were looking for!). I recently took their Basic Knife Skills class and loved it - I found it to be informative and fun, and there was no pressure to buy their products. Highly recommend! read more

I am so glad this store exists in Eastern Market. It adds a neighborhood feel to the area. Located right next to the Eastern Market Metro, it's easily accessible. The staff are super friendly and helpful. It's the bottom floor of a beautiful row house and has any kitchen need you can imagine from state shaped cutting boards to fancy wine glasses. read more

Awesome little kitchen shop. They have a ton of fun cooking tools and other food related items that I haven't seen anywhere before. Cute reusable bags, cookie cutters, books, a water bottle that filters as you drink, bastes and rubs. Great little knick knacks! Plus they were nice, laid back, had great customer relationships and best of all, were actually enthusiastic about food. read more

There aren't enough good things to be said about Hill's Kitchen. When I walked in, I was greeted in a very enthusiastic manner by the owner Leah, which was a pleasant surprise because that just doesn't happen very often anymore. I told her that I was there to purchase my favorite hot sauce of all time (Uncle Brutha's -- if you've never had it, shame on you) and we proceeded to chat about hot sauce for like 10 minutes! Besides Leah being just a genuinely nice person overall, her prices are incredibly reasonable compared to other kitchen stores in Washington. Seriously, I was shocked at how affordable things were compared to the quality with which they were made. There are kitchen stores all over DC -- especially on 14th St, Logan Circle area -- that are robbing people blind with their prices, so it was great to see that Hill's wasn't following the same pattern. As a result, I ended up buying much more than just hot sauce ;) I'm going back to Hill's as soon as they restock on their burr coffee grinders. WANT. read more

I have been to many, many kitchen stores in my time now. As such, I feel that I have really seen the best of the best. While this store did have a lot to offer, I did not find anything out of the ordinary, and I found the prices to be quite high. The staff was extremely friendly. They really seem to care about the store. I left empty-handed, though. read more

Everytime I go into Hill's Kitchen, I feel like I'm treated more and more like family. During my trip there today, Leah jumped right in to help me find a gift for a friend that is not at all domestic - and she gave me a great number of ideas in my price range ($40 or less) that I think my friend will love. Not only is the store great, but you can also tell that the people there genuinely love what they're doing. While I was there, a few of the guys from Matchbox/Ted's Bulletin came in and I was thrilled to see that they patronized the neighborhood/local businesses - super that Leah and the guys knew each other. It made me feel like our little Capitol Hill neighborhood is definitely a community. read more

This is a great independent small business to have on the Hill. It never fails to impress me with the depth and breadth of their selection each time I walk into their cozy row house location next to the Eastern Market metro. I've bought everything from practical everyday basics to unique and exquisite gifts for housewarmings and birthdays. Overall, one of my favorite cookware shops in the entire region -- and they usually manage to beat the prices of the national chains, all the while offering you service with a smile. So don't hesitate to ask questions, touch things, and really get to know the differences of the merchandise before you purchase it. That way you are truly satisfied with each item you buy -- I know I've been extremely satisfied. read more

I used to like this store for the unique items it offered, but the staff is unbelievably rude. They do not offer web orders, so I called to try to make a phone order and they told me they were too busy to deal with my request and that I would have to come in person. I thought I would do my part to support a small business, but between the staff's attitude and encouragement of unsafe practices during a pandemic, I will direct my business elsewhere in the future. read more

Great selection with some interesting items. Helpful staff. Definitely recommend!

Really a terrific store with a great selection and reasonable prices. Before it opened, I had to buy my cookware on the web or in restaurant supply stores in NYC. Now I do tons of research on the internet and then call Hill's Kitchen, prepared to pay a modest markup to buy locally and see what I'm buying. Every time, Hill's Kitchen turns out to have what I want, at the same price as web stores. Mac kinives? Swiss Diamond omelet pans? Kuhn Rikon pressure cookers? They've got it all. It's too bad that they waste space on various silly tchotchkes like state-shaped cookie cutters, but don't be fooled. Despite their small size, they do a great job of stocking the best kitchenware. read more

Leah Daniels, owner of this treasure chest of a kitchen store, can bend your ear for as long as you like about the metallurgical construction of the pots and pans she's selling. She tests everything she sells, she says. Not bad for someone who used to sell books... http://www.eatwashington.com/article/hill_s_kitchen_one_of_my_favorites/ read more

My wife and I registered for our wedding at Hill's Kitchen in summer 2016, and Leah the owner was wonderful to work with. She helped us pick out the right items for our tastes and lifestyle, was incredibly friendly and patient, and never pressured us to add expensive or extra items. She held all the items people purchased until we were ready to pick them up after the wedding, and months later when we were finishing our thank-you cards, she was super patient, friendly, and wonderful about helping us reconstruct our lost list of who got us what. Both my wife and I have shopped at Hill's Kitchen prior to the wedding as well, and we are fans of Leah and the store in general. Great selection, great staff, and an important local presence in a wonderful neighborhood. Leah knows her neighborhood and her customers, having lived in the area for so long - and if she doesn't know you, she's eager to say hello. As all long time Hill residents know, she and her store are a true Hill treasure! read more

I moved to the Hill a year ago and have been to Hill's Kitchen on a number of occasions since then. While the merchandise is great, the staff--including the owner--are consistently rude and brusque with me. For example, I asked whether the schedule for summer cooking classes was available, and I got a lecture about how absurd it was that I should expect them to hold classes during the summer, when people really just want to be spending time with their families. On another occasion, the owner was extremely inflexible when I tried to use a gift certificate for cooking classes. What is the point of supporting local small businesses if they are mean to their customers??? read more

Now this is my kind of store! If you like to cook and going to stores like Williams-Sonoma and Sur La Table, you'll love Hill's Kitchen! Finding myself on Capitol Hill the other day running a few errands, I spotted Hill's Kitchen a few doors down from the Fedex store I had to visit. Upon entering I was offered a delicious homemade glazed shortbread and jam sandwich cookie which certainly put me in the mood to browse and shop. Yes the way to my heart is definitely through my stomach! I'd read about this store on a blog that mentioned in particular a specialty item they sell, that being cookie cutters in the shape of every state plus the District of Columbia. Having picked out the three I wanted (NJ, where I'm from; CT, where my partner is from; and DC, where we now live), I struck up a conversation with the owner after she'd just gotten off the phone with a discount coupon website that was trying to get Hill's participation. I asked about an item I've been seeking (measuring cups that include odd sizes like 2/3 and 3/4 cup, which were out of stock unfortunately because I was certainly in the mood to buy) and then we got to talking about high end cookware, Le Creuset vs. Staub. I noticed that Hill's Kitchen does not sell Le Creuset which to me seemed a deliberate choice since both brands are popular. And then the owner Leah explained to me why she thinks Staub is a better product. (Full confession: my Christmas present to myself last year was an oval 8.25 quart Staub oval casserole, mainly because I was able to get it on sale at Williams-Sonoma. Leah explained that Le Creuset's white interior will always stain after repeated use. Staub's black interior will look great and the same after years of use.) Not only did the owner fully answer my question and explain the,differences, she also invited another sales clerk to listen to her explanation which impressed me not only because she was opinionated AND knowledgeable but also interested in training her staff to be able to answer nuanced questions that may come from customers. Even though Hill's Kitchen is out of my way and I'm a loyal customer of Home Rule in my own 'hood, I would welcome an excuse to get to Capitol Hill and shop at Hill's Kitchen. I love excellent customer service and supporting local businesses over chain stores and just may find myself one day taking one of their cooking classes upstairs. read more

First off, I think most likely I should be giving four and a half stars, but I'm rounding up :) I think Hill's Kitchen should have two separate areas for review--the store and the classes. The store is small, intimate, well-stocked, cute, reasonably-priced. You can find some really expensive things (in there, too, but for the basics, I think you'll find that the prices are no more than what they would be at Target. And for the higher-end, think something along the lines of William Sonoma. Leah seems to have excellent discretion in buying. For such a small place, it has ALL sorts of goodies. Who doesn't need rocket-shaped popsicle molds? An elephant head funnel? But really, it had lots of basics. I just purchased a candy thermometer (a cheap $6.95) and a bowl scraper (99 cents--yeah, cents!). I get the impression that I could walk in requesting anything, and Leah would special order it. Also, although the hours are listed on the door, I think they stay open a LOT later than is printed on the sign. Leah was there when our class let out at about 8:15 when the door said they closed at 6. So I think it's pretty ok to stop by with fingers crossed and get some late-evening shopping in. Now, onto the classes. I have only taken the basic knife skills class, but it was awesome. I was actually in the class with Evan H. (hi Evan!). I am much more confident as a baker than as a chef, so I wanted to learn the basics of slicing, dicing and chopping to make me a little more comfortable in the kitchen. The class lasted about an hour and a half and was $40. The instructor, Brock, was excellent. He is friendly, funny, and an excellent teacher. He seemed to have an innate sense of what level we were all functioning on coming in to the class, and helped us move from there. It was very hands on, with Brock correcting you, helping you, etc. The class size is limited to twelve, I believe. And that leads to my one gripe--my friend and I had been clamoring to get into a class since AUGUST and just got in yesterday. We would email the second the newsletter arrived in our inboxes only to find that all the classes were full. We finally got in to a December class, but it was rescheduled very last moment and so we had to put it off for another two months. I know that it's a small shop and that they work their butts off to schedule the classes/teach the classes/stay open late. So I'm not going to dock them too many points for that, but I was nearly ready to send an email saying "Okay, so who do I need to sleep with or kill to get into one of these classes?" Fortunately, that didn't prove necessary. And when I finally sent a semi-exasperated email saying "look, I've been trying to get in to a class for a while, then finally got into one and it was cancelled--can you PLEASE give me preferential treatment and help me get into another one?," Mariglynn was super-nice and apologetic and had my friend and me enrolled in a jiffy. Hill's kitchen is really lovely, friendly and personable. I will definitely be back for kitchen gadgets AND classes. read more

Went in to a buy a gift for a dear friend. Staff was super friendly and helpful, the products are top quality and unique. Thank you for your great service! read more

I bopped over to check out Hill's Kitchen on my lunch break and it totally made my day. Everyone in the store was super friendly and unpretentious. I'd love to just hang out in this store for the afternoon. My favorite items in the store are the cookie cutters of all 50 states plus DC! What else does a kitchen tool addict need, you might wonder? Apparently I needed new measuring cups with handles that double as measuring spoons. Who knew? read more

I am a total kitchen store junkie and this place takes the cake as far as DC is concerned. Worth the trip over to 8th st, you can find everything you need...and a lot of things you don't need, but "god, i'm going to get it anyway because its so cool", at this charming little store. I was really impressed with the selection given its such a small store. They had a lot of hard to find kitchen tools, and a great variety of high, medium, & lower priced options for even the most novice cook. I will certainly be back to check out more of their wares!! read more