Disclaimer: This review is purely based off of my interactions when trying to book for a birthday…read moreparty. I am also leaving this review so that others do not have my experience and are not mislead. I was looking around at different options for my daughter's joint 8th and 9th birthday party. Last year we had their party at mocatinas and it was so impressive. I was trying to find something that would be equally as good. I found the Conche chocolate and cake studio and was interested in their party package. I contacted them and even on their Yelp page they advertise pictures of the parties in a private studio. We thought that was really awesome and wanted to do their cake pop making party. At no point during my discussion with their employee did they disclose that this party would not be at their private studio. There were so many chances they had to let me know during our conversations. I finally was given a contract by them and quoted over $800 for the party. We were happy to pay that but during that conversation I realized that it was casually mentioned it would be held in a restaurant. I paused right there and carefully re read everything. I made sure to ask questions and confirmed that not only would the party not be held in their private studio that the owner advertised on this very Yelp page, it would be held at a completely different restaurant. Not even the conche restaurant and no private at all. I think it's incredibly sneaky to charge someone $800 and not give a full disclaimer that this would not be held at the advertised location. Also in my personal opinion it's greedy. I told their employee I cannot justify paying that amount for a children's birthday party held in the corner of a restaurant open to the public. When initially it was advertised as private and even showed pictures. I called them out and said you do know that you have a private studio advertised right? They tried to come up with an alternative solution to put the kids in a "cramped room". While still charging $800 lol. No thank you. We have booked somewhere else. This sort of situation turns me off from even eating at their other restaurant. It's a complete lack of general care. I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else and I really hope people read this review so they are aware that children's birthday parties are held at a random corner of a rest and not the advertised private space on this page.

Not only do they sell some of the most unique and delicious chocolates and cakes I've ever tasted -…read morethey also offer a wide variety of classes so you can learn how to make them yourself. There are mommy and me chocolate sculpture classes for the little ones to more complex classes for adults. You can also order custom cakes and chocolates here, host a team building exercise or private party (gingerbread house classes are available for Christmas!) This is Charlie's Chocolate Factory for the real world.

Couples Date Night Cooking Class = Amazing! In-Store Experience = Needs Work…read more My husband and I attended a Couples Date Night cooking class at Sur La Table in Tysons Galleria, and the class itself was absolutely fantastic. Chef Jonathan was incredible--his instructions were clear, engaging, and easy to follow. The dish we made can definitely be recreated at home because he explained every step so well. His personality and interaction with everyone in the class made the entire evening fun and memorable. The team assisting him during the class was wonderful too. We loved the experience so much that we returned the very next day to purchase several items for our home. The sales associates we interacted with were pleasant and helpful, but unfortunately the manager on duty on 12/7 around 5:30 PM was the complete opposite. She came across as rude and bothered by even the simplest interaction. You could feel her employees walking on eggshells around her--some looked genuinely nervous to ask her a question. It created an uncomfortable atmosphere for both staff and customers. I truly love Sur La Table and especially this Tysons Galleria location, which is why this stood out so much. When customers are spending hundreds--even thousands--of dollars, it's not unreasonable to expect warmth, respect, and professionalism. Chef Jonathan and the cooking class team set the bar incredibly high; I only wish the in-store management reflected the same level of hospitality.

Bought a cuisineart mini food processor that I used once and realized the thickness of the canister…read moreis quite thin. Looks like it would break easily. I also compared it to an older cuisineart model that I have to note that difference. Went to return the item within the return period but was told by the manager that because I used it once I can't return it. I read the return policy and it states returns can be made on items in new condition, not unused. Manager did not communicate the correct policy to me. I called customer service and fortunately the person I spoke with simply said that if I wasn't satisfied with the item I could return it. He didn't even say it had to be new or unused. Just be aware if you want to make returns for an item that you tried out and disliked. The manager there that night clearly doesn't understand their own policy. She wasn't very nice either so I'm docking her for lack of customer service.

Went with owner Alison Marriott on a private tour of Virginia wineries to look at venues and…read moreavailable wines in Loudoun county. Alison was very helpful navigating the area (how on Earth can you figure out which wineries to go to?) and explaining the difference in the varietals we tried. She also asked questions of the venue I would not have thought to ask, and I found two possible locations for my event (and learned which wines made it through the difficult 2011 growing season!) As someone who enjoys wine but really needs a little extra help, Alison has been my go-to "wine Rolodex" and was invaluable to learning what options were available in Loudoun County.

I hosted a small dinner party to celebrate my husband's birthday and had it catered. Thought it…read morewould be fun to have someone come in and do a wine pairing with the meal and talk to the guests about wine throughout. I was referred to Alison and she was AMAZING. She went above and beyond, talked to me about the choices prior to the dinner, seemed willing and able to work with any budget and her selections were fantastic. She was engaging, down to earth and entertaining. everyone loved it and her. She also took a few pictures of the party, which I'd forgotten to do so I have lasting memories of a very special night. I would definitely use her again.

I recently took a virtual wine class led by Ashwin and organized by my apartment's management…read morecompany. He emailed everyone with photos and a description of the two bottles of wine that we should buy for class, with alternatives suggested. Was very impressed with Ashwin's ability to engage us over Zoom, educate us in an approachable and warm way, and answer our questions without pretentiousness (what's the best glass for this type of wine?). What distinguishes Ashwin from, say, just Googling a question about wine is that Ashwin actually has a point of view that he isn't shy about sharing (like his opinions about the homogenization of the big champagne brands vs. grower-made champagnes). Especially during the time of COVID, his Zoom classes are a welcome distraction--and an excuse to drink more wine. Totally recommend his classes as a fun group event.

Ashwin did a virtual wine class through my apartment building - what a fun time! In times of COVID,…read moreit is hard to see what virtual events are worth it - Ashwin's definitely was! He did an excellent job of managing the technology, creating smaller groups to reflect in, and leading a large class! I learned so much and had such a great time drinking wine and learning about the knowledge and history. The impression I got was of a sommelier who wants to not only teach people about wine, but help us reflect on our own culture, our experiences, and how we view the world (and therefore wine!). I went into this class with a fair level of background knowledge, but I still felt like I learned something and I found several good bottles of wine! I would love to take another class with Ashwin!

Relish Catering was featured by SDSC Gaithersburg for the second time. I missed the first time…read more It was a wonderful and smooth experience from ordering to curbside contactless pickup. It was a pre-set menu: peach salad, choice of seafood or veggie cannelloni, and choice of strawberry pretzel pie or chocolate ganache cake for $22. There was an optional add on of the pina colada sangria for $10. The peach salad with candied walnuts and balsamic vinegar was wonderful start. Next, I choose the seafood cannelloni. It came with heating instruction. The cannelloni was filled with plenty of seafood. It was divine. Lastly I choose the strawberry pretzel pie. At initial look, it didn't look like anything special, however after the first bite, I realized how wrong I was. I did ended up ordering the sangria - it was strong and plenty. Overall, the experience, food and service were excellent!

Ordered rosh hoshanah catering from relish. Alison was very friendly, responsive, and easy to work…read morewith. She brought the meal out to our trunk when we were parked on Nebel street. We enjoyed all of the dishes and they were all well prepared. The chicken should have been cooked a bit longer but otherwise everything was good. I would order from them again but would also be curious to try other caterers in the area.

Paradise Springs Winery is such a beautiful spot, especially if you're looking to spend a relaxing…read moreday outdoors. The grounds are amazing--surrounded by trees and rolling hills, with a vineyard nearby that really adds to the atmosphere. On a nice day, it definitely gets busy--almost every picnic table was taken when we visited--but there was still plenty of seating inside and on the patio. They had a food truck on site, and you can also order charcuterie platters at the counter. I liked that you can bring your own picnic too (just no outside alcohol). They are also dog-friendly! I was a little surprised to see so many kids, but thankfully parents were keeping a close eye on them, so it didn't take away from the experience. There's a solid selection of wines available by the bottle or as tasting flights, so it's easy to find something you like. Tastings at the bar with a wine educator are a nice touch, though they can be a bit limited if the place is really crowded. The only downside was that they seemed a bit short-staffed during, so tables weren't cleared as quickly as they could be. That said, there are plenty of trash cans and bottle bins around, so it's easy enough to help keep things tidy. Overall, a great place to unwind with friends, enjoy some wine, and soak in the scenery--just be prepared for crowds on nice days!

One of my favorite wineries that's not too far from PG County. I really like how they've set up…read moreseparate areas including child and dog-free spaces which makes it easy to choose the vibe you're going for. There's plenty of parking, although it can get pretty crowded and a bit tough to find a spot when they're busy. The wine is on the pricier side but it's always a good time whenever I visit. They also usually have a good food truck on-site which makes the whole experience even better.

I absolutely love Stacie!! She is a down to earth, lovely person with an amazing disposition of…read moremaking you feel comfortable with whatever level of cooking skill you have. It's a fun time of getting to know people and learning new recipes and skills. Perfect class for those wanting to learn how to step up your cooking game.

Wow!!! I had the honor of spending the morning cooking with Stacie and several other ladies. Stacie…read moreis such a natural in the kitchen, she is very skilled and knowledgable about every cuisine she cooks. It just comes so natural to her, her ability to teach and show those in her kitchen is an art. You not only get to help, you then sit down for a full tasting. Our menu was Vichyssoise, Sole Meunière, and Herb Hollandaise Sauce, Roasted Asparagus and Tarte aux Pommes. I highly recommend anyone wanting to expand their cooking adventures, you will not walk away disappointed.

Great instructors, very communicative! I am currently…read moretaking a course with Kasia. She is clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about wine! Would definitely recommend!

I took 2 WSET exams at the school. Both were conducted in a very professional and friendly manner…read more The registration prior to the exam handled by team member Kirstyn Kralovec was very efficient, So was the service later on, to deliver the Certs.

Did not enjoy myself in the slightest. I was not relaxed and quite frankly very overwhelmed. There…read morewas a family with 2 kids running around and screaming and chasing each other and playing hide and seek throughout the establishment. The family had a whole play set out with toys and what not. I am a mother and this was supposed to be a getaway for me, not a family function with all the kiddos. The amount of overstimulation in here was unmatched, im not even this overstimulated with my own toddler. I am very disappointed as I was traveling to visit family... the workers said NOTHING to this family, they also didn't apologize for allowing this type of customer into their establishment. NOT TO MENTION... we walked in and were not greeted in the slightest. In fact it felt as though we were ignored. The workers were not apologetic at all and I will not beg for an apology, will NEVER come here again. DO NOT COME HERE IF YOU ARE TRYING TO RELAX. You might as well buy some wine you haven't tried before and buy some cute glasses and have your own wine tasting at home. To the workers, if you are not able to acknowledge workers while helping others, you need to take a class in customer service or find a new job and also learn how to read a room. Respectfully...

Jackie was very personable and informative. Whoever she worked with tonight was rude to me for…read moredrinking a couple of glasses of wine.