I needed to kill a little time between stopping at Hewn and picking up some groceries from Jewel,…read moreso I stopped to wander Central Street for a bit. I'm glad I had the opportunity to stop into The Spice House today! When I came in there was an employee standing right near the front who asked if I needed anything, and though they didn't have the item I asked about (a brine bag--Thanksgiving is fewer than three weeks away!), I wandered around a bit anyway. I picked up some vanilla bean paste (I use this in place of vanilla extract), cinnamon maple sugar, some broth concentrate, and a bag of crystalized ginger. That brought me above their threshold for getting a free flat-pack item so I chose some Back of the Yards spice, which is part of their Heritage Collection. The woman who checked me out said that it tastes good as a rub but it's also great in potatoes and stuff. I'm looking forward to tasting it because it sounds delicious... I just wish they had a Ravenswood or Lincoln Square one too! The Heritage Collection is a line of spices created to be reminiscent of various neighborhoods--Pullman, Back of the Yards, Central Ave., etc. Cool idea to celebrate the city and its environs! Staff were really friendly. They also appear to have a tasting bar; I didn't really understand what it was until I was about to leave and saw some folks being offered tasted of stuff. I don't know if I would have wanted to taste what they had out there (though the Greektown spice did sound interesting!) but next time I stop in I'd love to have the chance to do so because it definitely can be intimidating to buy spices you haven't used before, or those for which you have no frame of reference (like the Heritage Collection ones that are made particularly for this store). If I made one suggestion, it would be to have a few recipes here or there. for some of the spices, especially some of those that might not be part of the standard spice cupboard/might be a bit more intimidating than others. They do have suggestions on some of them but I wouldn't mind adding to my recipe collection!

The Spice House has every spice you need and ones you didn't know you needed. I was a bit…read moreoverwhelmed with so many options. The staff were so helpful and were extremely knowledgeable. They had a section of Chicago themed spices that were intriguing and also could be a nice gift. There so many unique spices and excited to try them.

Great stock and supper friendly and knowledgeable staff. Erica was lovely and answered all of my…read morequestions. Will be back.

I never knew this place existed, but I came across it by doing a search online for places that sell…read moreCharlotte's Web recovery cbd gummies. I was happy to find out that they do, and that they charge the same price that Charlotte's Web does (unlike Botanica, which marks it up $6). I've always ordered directly from CW, but only when they have a sale or free shipping deal. I didn't want to pay full price and shipping, so Walsh to the rescue! The store is small but they have a lot of options and it's well-organized. They have an online store as well for non-local folks. The sales associate was super helpful directing me to what I was looking for, and they have a rewards program so you can get coupons and cash back at different thresholds. Great location, too, with plenty of street parking options. I'll definitely be back now that I know they keep the ginger gummies stocked :)

I've been going to JD Mills for nearly a decade and I absolutely adore this store! I'm trying hard…read moreto stay away from the chain supplement stores (I'm looking at you Vitamin Shoppe!) and doing my part to support local and so far it's been paying off. They not only sell vitamins and supplements but it's also a small health food grocery store selling a gamut of organic items from fruit and veggies to prepackaged, frozen items. I especially like their grocery store bulk bins where you can purchase dry goods by the pound. The owner, Mr. Dinesh, is friendly and the store manager has always been helpful. Both always greet me when I visit and if I have trouble finding things, they're always ready to help. One thing not to skip is getting their freshly made in-house samosas. They are ridiculously good and quite possibly the best frickin samosas I've ever had so far. The owner also mentioned to me that they sell lentil soup and Biryani. I'm almost tempted to go back and try that too. JD Mills is situated in a strip mall with ample parking. They have a few dedicated spaces for customers with a 20-minute limit. Check them out! They are an amazing find and a gem in the neighborhood.

Ever since I started making gluten-free bread myself, I buy most of my ingredients here since you…read morecan buy them in small, loose-weight quantities, so you don't have tons of bags with starches/flours/baking sodas etc. cramming the cupboards. I also like that they have the Earth Balance soy-free variety of the vegan butter, since that one is hard to find in supermarkets. And I buy loose-weight jasmine tea here too. Now I've discovered that the owner makes and sells his own samosas here every day -- both regular and gluten-free -- and they taste fantastic and are very reasonably priced ($2.29 each + tax). They come with the two classic red and green Indian sauces. That's a great deal.

Delicious, fresh Thai food! We get takeout, but the dining room is nicely decorated and perfect…read morefor a comfortable meal without loud music, so you can actually have a conversation. Lots of vegetarian choices, and something for everyone- even the picky 5 year old.

This place is incredibly cute if you're looking for a nice ambiance. It was my first time trying it…read moreout and I loved the small attention to details. There was a live saxophone player and I loved the live flowers they had. Our waiter was extremely nice and took the time to explain the menu as well as their customer favorites. I order a Thai iced tea which wasn't bad but I prefer mine a little thicker and sweeter. It came in a thin tall glass which in theory was not a lot of drink. To start we order the chicken appetizer and fried beef on rice to share and unfortunately I did not snap a pic but these were listed under apps or shareables but the portions were extremely small. As our mains came I noticed that they were also small and each were around $20-$30 per plate. Not a bad thing if you don't eat much but I'm a big bang for buck type of gal. My family came to share and this place is a more fine dining thai restaurant which could explain the smaller portions. We ordered the pad Thai which was alright in my opinion I expected a little more flavor, the aubergine which was tossed vegetables as recommended by our waiter which was also ok not much flavor but beautiful plating though, and the coconut curry which was by far my favorite. If I were to come back here I would order that again, it was a nice light yet complex flavor profile which made me savor every bite. Overall good place for an upbeat fancier meal and I highly recommend the coconut curry braised chicken if you visit. Little pricey but that's just my opinion let me know what you guys think if you visit! Oh and they also give your receipt in a boat which they spin and leave a thank you card once you paid which was really cute.

It took me far too long to try Inspired Indian Cooking. And now that I have, I won't make that…read moremistake again. I'll definitely be returning next chance I get. My friend and I decided to get lunch to-go and eat at her place. We both were intrigued by the same two sandwiches, so we decided to order both and split them. I highly recommend this approach since everything is so delicious! We ordered the Chana Melt and the Paneer Tikka sandwiches. Both were so tasty! We had a slight preference for the Chana Melt, but we agreed we loved the Paneer Tikka, so splitting was perfect! The sides are also scrumptious! The coleslaw is crisp and refreshing and the cumin chips are decadent and delicious. I even liked dipping the chips in the coleslaw. Yum! Prices were very reasonable and the order-ahead was super slick and easy. The store front is cute and inviting and the pickup for the food was seamless. No complaints! I can't wait to try Inspired Indian Cooking again, especially the sandwiches we didn't try. Delicious! And vegetarian! Amazing!

I braved the year's first snow day of Chicago to pick up a Bombay sandwich and a cup of chai. It's…read moremy first time here. The pre-order to pick up process via their website was very easy. The Bombay sandwich is extraordinary. Generous amount of ingredients that will satisfy any and all cravings you might have for spicy, sweet, salty, crunchy, pickled, fresh and vibrant. It's not a cheap sandwich, but it's big and split into 2, and since it comes with good quality Indian-spiced chips and a colorful and mayo-free slaw that satisfies the bitter part of the flavor spectrum, you have a complete lunch to share with a friend. I'm really picky about chai. I love it creamy, with cardamom, and with a slight sweetness from condensed milk. The only two chai teas I like in Evanston/Skokie are the irani chai at Complimentary Cafe (on Fri-Mon)... and this one. And both are very reasonably priced. I'll be back to celebrate pay day with a pickup lunch here! :)

do not buy any wheat flour from this place. there are bugs and flies in flour and they blame the…read morecustomer for bad products. very unfriendly people........bad customer service........

Beautiful Evanston restaurant with fun vibe. There is indoor and outdoor seating depending on the…read moreweather. Although we started to sit outside, servers were super accommodating when we asked to move inside. We opted for a few simple rolls which we elegantly plated! Also, had to try the salmon teriyaki skewer which was AMAZING!!! Fresh sushi and other options... we will be back!

Based on the reviews, we decided to try Shinsen for the first time and order takeout. We ordered 8…read moreitems totaling over $130 with tip. The food was absolutely awful. The shallot rice with vegetables had no vegetables at all and tasted as if it was premade and warmed up again in the microwave. The shallot rice with beef was the same and contained tiny bits of burned beef. The sushi was not fresh and the crispy spring rolls were akin to dog treat sticks. The food is expensive and some of the worse food I've ever had. While I appreciate the business owners detailed response, there are contradictions. When ordering the shallot fried rice from the restaurants website on July 2, vegetables were included as an option. Today vegetables have been replaced with herbs. Nevertheless we chose the available vegetable option therefore vegetables were requested. The restaurant received our vegetables request as indicated on the pictured receipt and packaging. We received herbs and rice but no vegetables. We did not order through a third party delivery service. We placed the order through the restaurant website and I arrived early to pick up the food. I hope that the owner is able to receive my feedback constructively and take accountability for the issues my family encountered with the restaurant.

The teas are amazing, and the body polishes are divine. Walking in feels like stepping through a…read morelittle rip in space-time into a self-care haven.

Handmade soaps, cosmetics, candles, men's care, oils, skincare, and no charge for the fantastic…read moresmells. Simply amazing and unique hand soaps, all 100% handmade shampoos, lotions, oils, candles, and much more. The decor and different scents was just beautiful, and the customer service was just incredible. The shop owner and her son were amazing answering any questions and explaining all the ingredients on the soaps, lotions and oils. Love that they will be offering classes to learn to make your own soap, and candles. All the soaps smells so great making it extremely hard to just choose one, they are beautifully hand crafted, and just so elegantly prepared.

Schaefer's is a great liquor store that really focusses on wine. They have a deli and a great…read moreselection of beers and hard liquor. We recently attended the annual Warehouse Sale. This is an event to mark your calendar for - great deals on wine for all price points. It can get crowded and crazy but you get the chance to try every wine available. Schaefer's has knowledgeable sales staff, competitive prices, and a friendly atmosphere to shop in, no matter your budget!

We were in the area and saw online they were having their Annual Wine Warehouse sale so we decided…read moreto make a visit. This local liquor store in Skokie has been in business since 1936 offering an great selection of wines and spirits. They also have a small deli offering gourmet food products. Their retail store has a huge selection of spirits and wines. Prices are slightly higher than some "Box" stores but if you sign up to be a CAP member,prices are reduced on some items. Their Warehouse Wine sale was super crowded in a separate warehouse with thousands of cases of wines at reduced prices. They did offer free tastings of many of the wines on sale . If you love wine Schaefers in definitely the place to go when in the Skokie area.