Love the products but, this review is solely on customer service which they were deeply lacking today, not one person acknowledged me or my family while we were in the store for at least 15 minutes might I add, they did look but they didn't speak nor do they asked if there was anything I needed help with, what a disappointment for such a great store. My HR background senses retraining is in order! read more

Sur La Table - Kitchen & Bath Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I've spent my fair share of money at this place, sometimes on a whim while cruising through 4th street. I've generally paid the premium for this store with the idea that I'd get good service and good quality products. Lately, that's not been the case - other recent reviews seem to corroborate this. What is particularly irksome is BAD SERVICE lately and the lack of customer friendly attitude. As an example, I bought a kettle about a year ago. After just a couple of months it broke (yes, the whistle part got jammed), so I took it back to the store. The sales rep there was very polite and nice about it, told me that they would do a like-for-like replacement as this particular product had some known defect and other customers had the same experience. So I did the swap, and took the replacement home. A few months later, it had the same problem once again. So I took it again, and was given another swap. I even mentioned to them that they should not still be carrying this product if this has a known defect. In any case, a couple of months later, same issue reappeared. This time around, when I took it back, I was told that its warranty was only valid for 60 days. And, sorry they cant do anything about it, not even give an in store credit for me to replace the defective product. Given how much money I have spent at this place, the disappointment is not about the money that I wasted on this product, but the fact that a premium store like this doesn't anymore treat it's customers as it should. Obviously, they don't care, and they don't train their staff any more to handle these types of issues well - not sure how they can survive? Do they even care? They are not going to get my foot traffic going forward. read more

Williams-Sonoma minus the snootiness! Sur La Table has all the fancy cookware that Williams-Sonoma has and all the affordable cookware that Williams-Sonoma doesn't have. At w-s you'd be hard-pressed to find anything under $20. Soap and lotion anyone? But at Sur la table the have many useful things under 20: bamboo brushes for carbon steel woks, coffee accoutrements, kitchen trinkets. Yes, some of it is useless gimmicks, but at least you have options. The also have store brand versions of cookware, such as an enamel covered braising pan on sale for $60 compared to the $200 version from Le creuset. If you prefer the brand name one you can still get that at sur la table. All that to say they have something for everyone, from the fru fru chef in training to to the practical cook who just needs to get something on the dinner table. read more

Ive always been a fan of this place! Its kitchenware, gadget and stuff for entertaining heaven! Bought 2 items i didn't think they would have: soft-boiled egg top cutter and a string bean threader. Items tend to be a little pricier but way better pricing and variety than William Sonoma! read more

i like this place.... well Sur La Table for me is like a candy store for a kid. I get my baking stuff here. I wish I have all the money and kitchen space to get everything they have. I've been going here since I moved to 15 mins away from here. They have most of the baking pans sizes that I need. Last time I visited this place was last week and the staff were all helpful. No complains... not yet. :o) oh yeah... maybe parking. The area can be really busy on the weekends, it will take awhile to find parking. read more

This place is overwhelming. I prefer Williams Sonoma instead. Prices are similarly high, so I go with the less cluttered and more subdued. Still, I got a big bag of sea salt and amused myself with the green pot of gold hot chocolate mix. Is the corporate office managed by a bunch of crazies!?! cause this place is like genius chaos. Strollers, heavy set people, people who work in merchandising, planning and retail, and people with OCD should stay away. read more

The only reason I can't give this place 5 stars is their prices. The kitchen products are fabulous, just totally overpriced. That notwithstanding, I love this place. Just spent over $300 there! If you need utensils or other kitchen things, they probably have it. read more

Lots of kitchen gadgets here. I got a Le Creuset spoon spatula for $12 in red and Sili-cups: 12 free-standing silicone baking cups for $21.95. Total damage $34.75. Credit cards taken. read more

Oh! I checked in here before!? But, why aren't my check-ins registering?

Nice place to buy kitchen stuff! Dropped in when waiting for a table at cafe m. All these cool items. Expensive too. Go towards the back and you can get some sample coffee from the thousand dollar expresso machines :) read more

I had an excellent experience buying a kitchen knife earlier this summer at this Sur La Table in Berkeley. I walked in not knowing exactly what I wanted, but with a good idea what I needed from a knife. Specifically, I wanted a sharp but not terribly long blade and only for cutting fruit and veggies. From online research, I had gathered that a Santoku might be the right fit, but I had never seen one in person until this fateful visit. There were only a few others in the store browsing, and the lady behind the counter came over to ask if she could help with my browsing by the knives display. I described how I was a raw vegan, and needed a medium sized knife for fruit and veggies. The clerk immediately pulled out several Santoku knives to let me feel the grip and weight. Despite being nearly the same size, the weights of the knives varied significantly and I was able to put back several knives based purely on them being too light to handle or too heavy. With the remaining two knives that felt about right, she presented a small selection of veggies for me to experience slicing the veggies with the two knives I was undecided between. After a few slices with both knives, it became clear which felt the most comfortable in my largish hands. A 6.5" Japanese Santoku by Miyabi was the winner. I've had it over 4 months now and I've never had anything so sharp that handled so well. Slicing tomatoes feels like you're wielding a laser, the tomato parts in two with no effort, gravity is enough to pull the knife cleanly through a tomato. I do have to apply a honing rod occasionally, perhaps because I use a synthetic cutting board instead of a wood board, but I've had no problem keeping the knife blade laser sharp. read more

My visit deserves a raving review. I bought a salad bowl and some tossing utensils as a wedding gift. There was a mixup and they ended up having to wrap my gift twice, both times well done. You get to pick the wrapping paper & ribbon. And it doesn't say Sur La Table anywhere on the wrapping *sigh of relief* beaide a sticker that they refrain from if asked. Plus, I got free coffee while I waited for the gift wrap, got to keep the to-go coffee cup it came in, a free subscription to Bon Appetite for spending $50, and a really huge, really cheap bottle of olive oil. ($10 for hella ounces.) read more

Sur La Table - Kitchen & Bath Near Me - Berkeley, California

A few weeks ago, frustrated with a piece of cooking equipment that just didn't work, I thought I'd spend the big bucks and go to Sur La Table. But the one I bought there ended up not working, either, and I had paid cash and lost the receipt. I was going to the neighborhood anyway, so I brought the item in to show them and explain what happened--which was apparent right off--so they could tell the maker about the problem. They let me get a new one, even without the receipt. That's class. That's service. Good store. read more

Was just browsing the store while in the area 3/2/22 around noon, older lady with glasses approached us rudely probably assuming we weren't gonna buy anything. A few minutes more of looking around and the bald guy gives us the same rude tone as the older lady. Although their tone changed when we ended up buying something, I wish Yelp would let us give this place 0 stars for the way these employees talk to you just because we dress/look a certain way. read more

I am writing this review mostly for the awesome staff member that helped me yesterday, Catherine. She gave us great advice on rolling pins and also shared a number of valuable baking tips! I've shopped at this store before, but I'll definitely go back whenever I need baking tools. One suggestions, could you please not serve candy in individual plastic cups? It's really wasteful. Paper muffin cups would be compostable or at least break down in the landfill. read more

Always love SLT. This location is compact, but well-organized, well-stocked, and well-staffed. Little more expensive, but entirely worth it! 10/27/19: Wanted to update my review based on my latest visit. Susan welcomed my other half and I into the store. I mentioned that we were on the receiving end of the wildfire preemption power shutoffs. Susan kindly let me plug in my phone to recharge while we shopped. She even offered us a sample of coffee or tea to warm us up. This is not just above-and-beyond customer service of the type Sur La Table is known for, it's also humanity. I got some great gift ideas and look forward to Holiday shopping at this store. Thank you, Susan!!!!!!! read more

I'm sort of bummed we had this experience and I don't really care for sharing negative reviews but maybe something will come of this? Who knows. I took my daughter out for an afternoon stroll through 4th Street. We stopped by Paperchase and purchased some fun new stationary, perused through the Vivarium and grabbed some coffee at Peet's. The main objective of our visit was to check out the attachments for her Kitchenaid standup mixer. She's an avid baker and hopes to one day study in France. Anyway, we walked in with our bag from Paperchase in hand and were immediately greeted. The employee eyed the bag and I just thought oh she's being polite. Then we walked around the store and I realized we were being followed by another associate who kept asking if we needed assistance, to which we kindly responded no thank you. She also continued to eye my small paper bag. We walked over to the Nespresso machines (I have one at home) and went to sample a new roast. I immediately heard the original greeter bark at the other one just by name. The employee came over and didn't say anything. I apologized and said I didn't realize I needed to ask for help to which she responded "it's just that sometimes customers don't know how to use it and break the machine"...I told her I had one at home then stood around in awkward silence for a while. We left. Really a shame. I moved away and hadn't been back for a while but Sur La Table has always been a treat for us, me-for at least a decade. I'm not sure what would have caused the staff to treat us that way but I really hope that they work towards tolerance especially in a place as diverse as the Bay Area. read more

Sur La Table has some great products. And they charge a lot for them. But be warned that they don't always support their products. I bought a very expensive coffee maker from them, and when I had a problem with it after their limited warranty expired, Sur La Table made me fend for myself directly with the company. If I had known that they would not provide any support for their expensive products, I would've just bought the coffee maker online for less money. read more

I like this location way more than the WC location.First it doesn't smell like sewage back up,second it is bigger and a more "user friendly" layout, and lastly the customer service here is way more friendly! I so wish I had a bigger kitchen and a bigger bank account. Those two things would be a dangerous combination! read more

My favorite store to shop in! I can spend hours in that store! They have just about anything a home kitchen needs plus a lot more! They have a section where there are clearance items. I can never find anything I need in the clearance shelves because most of them are festive items like snowman napkins, easter plates, etc. I don't do that kinda crap! LOL! I love coming here to buy and browse. I usually *TRY* not to buy whatever I love/see (or I'd be so broke!!). I'd see if Bed Bath Beyond or online stores would carry the same items that I want for a cheaper/discounted price unless I need them NOW!! Staff are usually helpful here for basic questions for usual home cooking gadgets plus more. But when it comes to something gastronomically challenged gadgets/techniques, they stall a bit. But they are helpful nonetheless! read more

I only wish my husband liked this place as much as I do. Years ago, when bell bottoms were popular the first time around, our family took a road trip north and stopped off in Seattle for a few days. While walking around the Pike Place Market neighborhood, we stumbled upon the recently opened Sur La Table, the store that was soon to become my father's Shangri La. My father was not a trained chef but an excellent cook. I have fond childhood memories of him glued to Julia Child in black and white on Channel 9. Anyway, we must have spent over an hour following Dad around that store until my sister's eye-rolling and deep sighs forced us to move on to find the guys throwing the fish. More than a decade later I was in Seattle on business, had some free time, and wandered into Sur La Table -- only to wile away the entire afternoon there. I loved that there was all this great stuff stashed into the space on huge wire racks. I loved that there were miniatures of everything -- something that for some reason still fascinates me. I loved the displays -- bins of spice graters, colorful rubber scrapers, tart pans, and a huge wall of cool and unusual kitchen towels -- not the kind you'd find at Mervyn's in the 'burbs. Pricey? A bit -- but what kitchen store isn't? Seattle is still my favorite store but I never hesitate to stop in whichever store I happen to be near. Today I met my daughter in Berkeley and she insisted that we "check out Sur La Table." We wandered slowly through the crowded displays ooh-ing and aah-ing over every little thing. Shangri La indeed. read more

More like Sur La HEAVEN! This place is HUGE and chocked full of all the wonderful things in the smaller stores and more! Hubby and I weren't on any particular hunt for kitchen goodies however when I said this was one of their flagship stores, we both made a beeline. Set up like many of the other stores, they have a wider selection of items such as espresso machines, gadgets, linens, etc. The staff is super sweet and we learned that this store takes care of their customers when it comes to warranties on their Nespresso Pixie machines. According to one of the store clerks...if it breaks they replace it plain and simple. The manager doesn't want people to have to deal with the hassle of Nespresso so that right there made me want to get a machine and I don't drink the stuff! Hubby was torn but we walked out without one because he still needs to weigh the pros and cons. I wish we lived closer because I could easily make this our home store!!! Bravo Sur or Madame! haha read more

What a great, kitchen mecca-kitchen-land! I love that they have items on sale too and that most of their stuff is not as expensive as William Sonoma. Try buying kitchen nick nacks, an olive oil diffuser and plates from W.S for less than $25...you can't..you just can't. But, I did..all from Sur LaTable.. that's 'Sir LeTaab' for those of you who cannot pronounce it properly. Hey, I'm here to help. read more

I LOVE kitchen gadgets and I keep saying I love to cook but I think I love to eat our even more. Sur La Table makes me happy---I love to see the glistening whatchamacallits and shelves and shelves of gorgeous pots and pans. I wish I was rich and had a HUGE house with a HUGE kitchen and I could spend a gazillion bucks outfitting it. Sur La Table makes me depressed--I hate being reminded that I can't afford 99% of the items in the store and even if I did buy what I wanted there's no place in our teeny-tiny kitchen to put it. But hey all I really wanted that day was one of those cone-shaped wire whips that you use up and down. I've looked everywhere for one to replace the dead, rusted one that I found under the dish rack....RIP. SLT had one--shiny and beautiful; not cheap but the perfect whip! So I bought it along with a couple jars of spring colored sprinkles and I left feeling like a million bucks! And they'll all fit in our kitchen; what more can I ask for? read more

Ok screw all those other places, this is by far, my favourite store ever!!!! I spent hours in this store oooing and ahhing. I literally wanted to buy everything and needed nothing. Yea, it's a little pricey but which cooking store isn't? Yea, it's a little too much infused with the Food Network stars but who never liked any of them? I made out after 3 hours with two cookbooks that I can't wait to go home and use. Eat your heart out Williams & Sonoma :) read more

I could get lost here for hours! This is my preferred location of this store, primarily because we always receive excellent customer service from the sales associates that are friendly and knowledgeable. Not to mention the Pasta Shop across the street where you can spend the remainder of the afternoon perusing. Yes, they are pricey but so is any specialty store of it's kind. Just yesterday our bill was $75 and we didn't buy anything significant, just a few small things. The hours of "research" I do here seems to outweigh the amount at the cash register. Occasionally I've run across a special that features the best price on certain items, such as Le Creuset and Emile Henry, my two weaknesses. It's all about shopping and this is the place to do it. read more

If I wasn't a food professional, they wouldn't get 5 stars. The food pro 20% discount keeps me coming back. I guess without it I would still be a regular, but definitely wouldn't spend the same amount of moolah. Great selection, good service, nuff said. read more

If the Food Network were to open a culinary store this would be it. Already, Ina Garten's face peeks out from behind every Spice Rack and Blender Display like some persistent Sales Associate. Despite their heavy use of a Celebrity Chef to push their goods, I can't diss the quality of their merchandise. On the other hand, you're not going to get the best bang for your buck either. One would do well to shop around before committing to any of the glamourous gadgets available here. I did enjoy the fact that despite coming in on a ridiculously busy Sunday afternoon, the employees were all still very friendly and attentive to my inquisitions. This was perhaps the BIGGEST redeeming factor of my experience. I can't stress how much of a difference customer service can bring. read more

I wander into Sur La Table frequently while waiting for a table at nearby restaurants and always seem to leave with something! I'm pretty set with cookware, but kitchen accessories seem to be my interest. Oyster shucking knives, Shrimp devain tool, a variety of spatulas, and bottle keys. The clearance rack seems filled with stuff I think I need. The staff are very knowledgeable and very willing to help out. My kitchen drawers are fill with expensive junk from SLT, but I'm happy to have it! read more

Possibly my favorite location. If I cooked, cared to cook, or knew even the most basic cooking practices, I would totally shop here. Instead, I eat out (and by "eat" I mean toss back martinis like there's no tomorrow and chain smoke) and reserve this place for browsing and buying the occasional gift for someone who knows how to cook. Usually a relative or someone I don't know, since my like-minded girlfriends likemindedly are admantly opposed to cooking and prefer to drink their dinner like I do. At bars. Where there are cute boys who like girls who drink their dinner. This location is open, airy, light-filled and not crammed with crazy tourists like the behemoth of a store over on the Embarcadero. It's large, easy to navigate, and well organized, unlike the Maiden Lane location. Plus, there are no steps to fall down after "eating" (see description above) your lunch and deciding it's a good time to go shopping for a wedding present for people who are still stupid enough to believe that love lasts forever. It doesn't. Trust me on this. I'm an expert. I digress...if you have to go shopping for things you'll never use or things you can't even identify but look pretty and will make someone else really happy to recieve, Sur La Table is a total no-brainer. They even have really cute kid's items that are fun gifts for children of yuppies. I myself prefer dogs over children, but they even have stuff for Fido. See?! Fun for EVERYONE! read more

Cooking, Baking, Dining, Bar supplies CERAMIC COCKS. Sure you can get a French rolling pin, aspic cutters, and cheese knives. They have many good quality professional tools and accessories. But like Williams-Sonoma, they are increasingly selling stupid crap destined for a landfill. Carrot shaped spreader set? Easter chick spatula? $375 Ceramic Table Cocks? Attention Sur La Table! This is your crisis intervention team. You are sliding down a slippery slope of crap! Abort! Abort! If I want a decorative cock for my dining table, I'll go to Good Vibes. http://www.yelp.com/biz/sW6C7d4Jeucc95qKloPvsw read more

Sur La Table on the day before Christmas - the word zoo doesn't even come close. I was on a quest for some mince pie trays and was having no luck so this place was recommended. After having no luck scouting about on my own I asked a shop assistant, and he spent a while searching with a similar lack of success. No problems, I thanked him and went for a gander at the rest of the store. The knife selection is excellent (15% off today too), with a chopping board and some carrots so you can check the action before buying. Sur La Table is pricey, so I was going to give it four stars, but as I was leaving the shop assistant found me. He'd carried on looking and had come up with a ravioli press that was almost right, but a bit too small. Stonkingly good customer service like that means a five star rating. read more

Walked in there a few months ago (just intending to browse) and walked out with a honking $600 espresso machine. My justification was that we were kind of looking for one anyway and...gee... this one was on sale. I tell you, we've enjoyed at least 2 cups each from that machine every day since we bought it. Awesome coffee that Breville makes... One sad, sad morning we go to make coffee and the machine sounds like it's in machine labor or something. The grinder is making the most bizarre metal-on-metal sound we've ever heard. After hours of taking it all apart, researching on line and calling their customer support, we were hopeless. I called Sur La Table and the nice woman on the other line said that I could simply bring it back to the store for an exchange. They guarantee their products and a $600 machine should last more than a few months. Still skeptical, I packed my massive machine into the car and drove it over to Berkeley. Sure enough, not only did they exchange my broken machine for a brand-spankin' new one, but they did it with a smile and a genuine apology. With customer service like this, you betcha I'll be back to buy my other big ticket items here. Awesome! read more

Classic cookware store. As a homecook, this is one of my safe havens. Friendly staff and good selections.

This Sur La Table exceeded expectations on all fronts. It was a truly delightful experience, and I left the store with a wide grin and a huge bag of culinary treats. I was feeling a bit tired, so I trolled the espresso maker area until a wonderful woman named Cheryl inquired if I needed help. Despite my weathered appearance and clear need for caffeine, Cheryl helped me in finding the perfect espresso machine I will maybe be able to afford in 10 years. I now know that Illy espresso has a bitter quality to it as well, and I walked on with a new bounce in my step. While checking out, I had the wild notion to ask about soft-boiled egg holders and miniature spoons to eat them. It's a weird, slightly dated method to enjoying eggs, but the woman up front knew exactly what I was talking about, and within 3 minutes I had exactly what I needed. The service and quality of product at Sur La Table will keep me coming back for more. read more

I hate to be the naysayer dragging these results down, but man, I HATE THIS PLACE! (Full disclosure: in a previous life, I worked at the corporate offices for williams-sonoma. That does not color this review, I promise.) There is no merchandising at all. The aisles are so narrow that anything you purchase is likely to knock over other items on the way to the counter. For all of these reasons, I resisted the GZ's attempts to have us register there, but eventually, in an effort to be congenial, I gave in. Big mistake. There was only one person in the store who could give us the registry gun. This really surprised me-I assumed this would be one of the first things taught to folks on the floor, seeing as what a land mine registries are for any store. Sure, the woman (Phoebe) was very nice-but I just went online to check our registry and there is nothing on it. Can't say I'm surprised because the registry gun we got had someone else's items on it, and she didn't seem particularly concerned-or take the time to download it before passing it on. While in all fairness, a registry should not be attempted on a Sunday two weeks before Christmas, this was a fairly miserable experience and giant waste of time. read more

Okay, it's Mr. Wrong again. I thought that Williams-Sonoma was the one-stop shop but I quickly found out that I was wrong. Sur La Table has warranties that surpass any other store I can think of. Yes, it's expensive and I'm contemplating in selling my organs to pay for it but anytime you have a lifetime warranty on any of their products (receipt please) then it pays for itself very soon. There we found the Vitamix blender that I've drooling over and when she tells me the warranty my mouth dropped (once again lifetime warranty) while she did Tiger's celebratory fist pump. Tiff was great at explaining everything because initially we came in for some knives and now we got both. Everyone there was extremely helpful which made the time fly by and made us feel like they had our best intentions and not our money. read more

This Sur La Table is actually far better stocked than the other ones I've visited. It's also a lot more popular, so it can get crowded! But it was kind of neat having more choices than I would normally have. That being said, they didn't have the Springerle cookie molds I was hoping to find there, but they had a plethora of other things, as Sur La Table does. It's pricey - I can't deny that. But they carry very high-quality items and the comparative prices for the exact same item elsewhere is usually the same or even sometimes less. So yeah - I don't go to Sur La Table and expect to get a bargain or anything that is cheap but useable. But on the other hand, all the things I've ever bought from any of the Sur La Table stores have lasted me years. So it seems you really do get quality for the price tag. This particular Sur La Table is located in a very cute area of Berkeley and is surrounded by other shops that would be perfect to browse through if you're looking to make that very special food basket for the foodie in your life. It's right across the street from this pasta specialty store that sells a large variety of cheeses and other very high-end items. Next door is a stained glass place and there is a nice tea shop across the street, as well as a Peet's at the corner. So it makes this Sur La Table an especially nice one to visit, since there are so many other pleasant little shops nearby to look at. read more

Ahhh.. that cooking pan, this mixer, those cooking knives, a DeMarle silpat !!! Special cooking takes special tools and certainly you can have fun poking around here. What I liked most of Sur La Table is that here, when I needed a phone number to get my Francis Francis expresso maker serviced, they didn't hesitate to give to me, even though I didn't buy it there. (I did call the number, it was busy, and I think its ILLY thats taken them over) Anyways.. I liked that you can get DeMarle silpats here and something called "carbon" cooking knives, which I've never seen before. There were other cool stuff like super expensive copper cookware, folding strainers, blenders and badly needed Paella Pans! Sur La Table also has cooking classes here, which I think more cookware stores should offer. read more

We were in the neighborhood the day after Christmas looking for necessities as we had just moved cross-country. Grandma was with us and she knew this place very much. After all, this has been her turf for many years. So, when I mentioned to her that we needed new pots and pans, she led us to Sur La Table and talked about it as if it were a drugstore down the street. But I've never heard of Sur La Table! When we entered their store, it reminded me of Williams-Sonoma. Only I thought this was more shopper-friendly in that they carried more brands of a certain item. Gives you more options. But, admittedly most of them are very pricey. Fortunately, we came at a time of good sales just when we were in need. Got my great pots and pans set and threw in a collapsible colander, too! I agree with other reviewers though that customer service isn't still at par. For a store that carries expensive things, you'd think the employees would be more careful at handling. The person who helped us obtain the box from the shelf clumsily dropped it on the floor and assured us that it should be fine. She did not offer to check or to give us a new box. Luckily, each piece survived the fall. However, it was disturbing how they would allow this kind of behavior. Maybe it'll be a different story if it were something made out of crystal. read more