Sur La Table

I’ll start with, go to Southern Season instead. There are more Unilocal reviews if you look up Sur la table cooking class but Read on for details…
I was really disappointed with this experience. I gave 2 stars because a few dishes were good, the assistants were very friendly and helpful and the espresso/​cappuccino was quite good but I won’t return and wouldn’t recommend anyone else waste their money here when there is a much better choice in the area.
When I arrived, I told the front desk staff it was my friend’s birthday and she advised me that I could bring wine to celebrate. I was surprised that wine pairing wasn’t included in a $ 79 per person cooking class (it is at Southern Season) but it wasn’t a big deal since my friend doesn’t drink. I walked back to take a peek at the kitchen and was struck by how small it was considering they put up to 16 people in a class. Our class only had 10 people and there wasn’t any counter space to spare. The kitchen could also use a good scrub. Prep surfaces were clean but if you looked at back splashes, counter edges, or floor pads they all had gunk built up from a lack of cleaning for a long, long time.
Once most of us arrived, Chef Slate began telling us about his life at IBM, his mother, father, and sister, food poisoning in Canada, etc. It got a little awkward when he brought up IBM again and went off on a tangent about being a technical writer for think pad laptops in Brazil and Japan. I’ve heard of chefs having ego but always assumed it would be related to cooking.
Eventually, we got around to prepping food but not before he pointed out the 10% off coupon on the back of the recipe sheet and how we Only needed to buy a $ 600 vitamix to offset the class (apparently he didn’t know the class was $ 79). This was a little annoying but would have been forgotten if he hadn’t continually suggested shopping and incorporated mini infomercials throughout the 2 hour class. It felt like I had unwittingly signed up to attend a timeshare pitch but was irritating because I paid to be there. $ 790 for two hours should exempt us from sales pressure…
The bruschetta was great, the broccolini was tasty and the beans were good but the flank steak was under seasoned and I was really surprised that they used such a low quality cut of meat. The lemon tart was terrible. We ended up scooping the filling out and eating the crust. One group left their two uneaten and one of the kitchen helpers even asked me for advice on how to fix the leftover filling she was taking home (the recipe calls for Way too much lemon rind so it was bitter and I had commented earlier that I make lemon curd at home) because she agreed it needed help. Later, we went to Cheesecake Factory for dessert since the tart was such a disappointment.
When Chef Warren Slate wasn’t coughing over our food without covering his mouth, he spent a lot of time telling stories about his past in some sort of strange effort to build rapport, never asked any student if they had any background in cooking, what they hoped to learn, if they had attended classes anywhere else, etc. He even told us about running over deer. He didn’t communicate proactively with his assistants so we were frequently moving on to another task without the necessary supplies or utensils and he would zoom through techniques (such as how to easily mince a shallot) so he could go back to his next sales pitch for a garlic peeler, grill top, etc. I’ve taken a class at Southern Season and abroad in Thailand, both were head and shoulders above Sur la Table. If you aren’t looking to outfit a kitchen with supplies from Sur la table, skip the classes.

This review is for the cooking class which Chef Slate and Jeffrey, the knife expert. Jeffrey and Slate are some of the most knowledgable kitchen experts I’ve ever met. They are both so friendly and eager to help you with any of your questions or needs. Great recommendations from both and very skilled at what they do. Thanks to them, I feel like I know so much more about kitchen utensils and how to properly use them. All and all, the whole store is very friendly and very knowledgeable.

If you’re thinking you can’t afford to shop at sur la table, you might be wrong. Sure, they have high end brands like le creuset and kitcheinaid mixers and vitamix (why do you need a $ 743 blender? Oh it’s on sale for $ 649? Cool, do the hundred dollar bills you add to your kale smoothies jam up the blades?). But they also have their own signature line of cookware and housewares, which are pretty affordable. The store is much larger than the Williams-​Sonoma one in the same mall, so they have a wider range of products. I feel like there’s a wider range in prices too.
I keep breaking wine glasses (not intentionally — it’s not, like, part of a dance routine or something, I’m just a klutz), so I wandered in since I saw some sale signs. They weren’t too busy, so I asked the first sales associate I saw (who was very friendly by the way) if any stemware was on sale, and she showed me some options, including a set of 6 sur la table brand glasses on sale for $ 19.99. And they’re dishwasher safe too. I’m not so fancy that I can discern a difference between the bouquet or taste if I pour wine into a different shaped glass. Sometimes I pour wine into coffee cup if I don’t have any clean crystal. Who cares? Not my cat. But if you care, well, they have glasses shaped especially for full-​bodied reds or a soft-​bodied white (I’m a soft-​bodied white, hey-​oh!). But those are $ 15 per glass. I think I’ll just stick with the store branded 6 pack for $ 19.99. That way I won’t cry if I smash another glass or if the dishwasher eats one.
I’ve been here before for kitchen odds and ends — a wooden spoon, a paring knife, a wine stopper and aerator — and I’ve been happy with all of my purchases so far. I’ll be back next time I need something new for the kitchen.
PS they tend to have a lot of sales and promotions around the holiday time, which is convenient because that’s when you might find yourself needing extra flatware or a turkey baster or something.

Love this store and the classes! I have taken several classes here and have enjoyed all of them. The store staff is super helpful and the assortment of items they have is impressive considering the space. Classes do give u break time and show u items they sell to make the food but don’t really push hard and we get a 10% discount when we take the class. Awesome place!

I’ve enjoyed the cooking classes almost all of which offered me good tips and recipies I’ve made again. The no taking leftovers is annoying though. Pie class I took at The Chef Academy in Morrisville sent me home with 5 pies I made.
Was there a week ago and knife sharpening was slow and customer service iiffy. I wasn’t happy that they tossed the perfectly sized box I had brought the knife to them inside. I think they quick sharpen. My newly shapened knife tore through paper instead of cutting through like when it was new. I won’t take knives in again. I can do better at home myself watching You Tube videos.

I’ve always been a fan of Sur La Table, even though I don’t fancy myself as a chef or cook.
I wanted a «healthy» popcorn popper & a quick check of their website showed me a nice selection. I chose the Lukue one & saw that both my local stores had them in stock. Since the Southpoint store is closer to my job, I chose there.
I was greeted immediately by a nice employee & since I didn’t know how to pronounce «Lukue», I described it & she knew exactly what I meant. She showed me where it was AND that it was 20% off! She also showed me a nice set of seasoning & kernels, which I also decided to purchase. She checked me out quickly & I was on my way.
The store is neat, organized & bright. I’ve noticed some items are reasonably priced, while others are more pricey. This is a great store for gifts!

Short and sweet.
Went in, looked around.
Kinda like Williams Sonoma
Without the snooty aproned ladies.
Prices about the same though.
Cooking Classes look promising.
Look in the back if you are a big Java Junkie like me.
There are a lot of Über Expensive Espresso machines there.
I want one, but the one I eyed cost, 5k.
hmmmm…

I go to this store on a fairly regular basis. The layout is open and airy and the customer service friendly and helpful.
They have very good prices on premium brand cookware such as Le Creuset and All Clad. I’ve also been able to find odd items such as a butter dish capable of fitting a large block of Amul butter.
Parking is sometimes an issue in the sense that you often can’t get a spot close and will have to walk a distance; however, the mall has valet parking available a short distance away.

Fancy kitchen toys at expensive prices, and no coupons showing up regularly in the mail like you might see from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There’s a good, but small, selection of everything you’d need in the kitchen to prepare and serve a meal and the majority of these items are well-​reviewed by the likes of America’s Test Kitchen, though it’ll take a bite out of your wallet, but the same is true if you bought these brands anywhere. They let you try out the knives and fully automatic espresso machines. If you are in the market for either, it’s worth a stop here to do some hands-​on research.
They have a few speciality food stuffs, including my favorite small-​batch Soy (Kishibori) and Fish (Red Boat) Sauces, at the same prices as I can find online. I have also have been buying Malden Sea Salt here, which I’m sure I could find elsewhere, but I like to have it on hand so I buy a box when I’m here to pick up soy sauce, fish sauce and to browse the goods.
They have regular evening cooking classes and I’ve taken one. They aren’t that advanced, and you’ll be in five or six pairs of four, so bring three friends if you can’t cope with strangers. I managed to be in a group of three, with the other two being a young couple on a date who couldn’t stomach saying a word to me. During the class, you can try out various pans, knives and gadgets, but I didn’t like that the class was rather basic and they used replacements for ingredients that are exotic for some, but easy to source locally, like Chinese broccoli and galangal, both of which can be found any day of the week at Li Ming only five miles down the road. At the end of the class, they handed out a percent-​off coupon (15%?) for purchases within a week after the class ends, so if you are thinking of dropping a grand on pots and pans check to see if the coupon is a regular bonus for the particpants of the classes, and if so, sign up for a class. It’ll pay for itself and save you money on your purchase if you decide to upload a wad of cash, plus there’s a free meal as you get to eat what you cook after the class. I’ll skip the classes here going forward — there are other options if I’m in the mood to do something like that again.
Service is helpful and willing to pull in back-​up if they can’t get you a good answer. They seemed to know and use what they are selling and I’m sure that they hire people who get into cooking.
An enjoyable shop to visit and to craft a wish list in hopes Santa brings you something nice for the Kitchen assuming you’ve not been naughty earlier in the year. Santa doesn’t like naughty people. Remember that.

This place has everything you need for your kitchen, and lots of things you didn’t know you needed until you saw them here, at AMAZING prices. They have the high end appliances, yes, but they also have the everyday things you need like baking sheets, utensils, etc. Their dish section reminded me of World Market and Crate and Barrel. they have your fun and colorful ones, but also you stark white plain ones, and again, all at amazing prices.
The service is excellent and the staff were very friendly. Can’t wait to go back when I prepped with a list of all the goodies I need for my kitchen :)

I don’t cook much. People are impressed with my cooking ability. I mean, look at this:
I made that. Admit it, you’re hungry now. Wait a sec I just burned bread in my toaster. Be right back.
If I did cook though, this seems like a place I would get things to do cooking stuff. You can get spatulas, cookware, thermometers, and even stuff to make food (like BBQ sauces!). You can also get coffee things. They also have classes apparently, so win.
It’s in the outside portion of the mall, near Barnes & Noble.