Williams-Sonoma

Beautiful store, great staff, great location. However, if you are in anyway in a hurry, don’t go there. Everything takes forever! My husband has now refused to ever go back because we can never get out of the store in under 15 min even if we are simply returning an item.

Worst store. Customer service is the worst. Everyone knows it. I’ve given this store countless opportunities to make it up but they still seem to not care about their customers at all. Don’t get me wrong — there are definitely employees there that are helpful but when it comes to honoring prices or making up for mistakes (damaged items or missing pieces) — they just assume the customer is lying or at fault. I’m done with the store on walnut. Sorry for those employees that seemed like they cared

I guess I’m a grown up if browsing through this store was super fun for me…
But not quite old enough that I could afford anything.
I picked up a few items that were on sale (juicer and coffee strainer) and apparently both were ONLY compatible with that brand. Bleh :/​
Picked up a few other things though.
This store is gorgeous and perfect for housewarming gifts/registry’s but for someone price concious like me, I honestly think you could walk a few more blocks and get similar stuff at Marshalls. I know that’s a little ratchet, but fits in my budget! Otherwise, this place is beautiful, workers helpful, lots of samples!

I love this store, and this particular location was a treat. What a beautiful building this is! I couldn’t help myself from walking in to check out this Williams Sonoma. It’s a big space, bright & airy, with very nice displays! As I walked around, I saw several demo stations that encouraged you to try out the tools for yourself. I really like that.
Once I got past the registers, the store really opened up into a larger space. And for some reason, that space seemed kinda empty. There was a small sale rack in the middle, & a small cookbook shelf, but that’s about it. At least I did see a couple of bowls I wanted to register for! I spent a couple minutes feeling them, lifting them, & checking out the different colors they had on display.
And speaking of those bowls, would you like to know my biggest pet peeve? When I spend several minutes checking out a particular item, & no one asks if I need help. I was in clear view of the registers, and there were several employees manning them and walking around, but only one customer being helped. Surely someone could have stopped over! Ah well.
Despite the lack of service, it’s really a beautiful store, and definitely worth visiting if you’re in the area — if only to try out the cooking tools!

Totally overpriced but I LOVE going in here. Even if I don’t buy anything I like to just go in and imagine what I would buy for my house if I could afford to splurge on kitchenware. If you are buying someone a gift from here, they can shrink wrap it into a cute package for you and tie it with a bow. Even if you buy something inexpensive, they do a great job of making it look like a million bucks. The best part about this store is the sale section in the back!!! Most people don’t know about it but definitely check it out. Thank me later!

It was this very WS that introduced me to the wonders of good German– and Japanese-​made knives and how to use and care for them. For that, I am eternally grateful. Although this location is smaller than some, I do drift in frequently to check out the new merchandise and sales. I recently picked up some of their stock concentrates for 50% off. They come in handy in a pinch and/​or when you don’t want to open a liter carton for just a cup of stock.
Also a huge fan of their artisan-​made stuffing mixes, which should begin to appear any moment. They are the best in the market and a huge time-​saver.
Although many mono-​taskers become drawer clutter, here I have found some that have become invaluable kitchen tools and which have been pressed into unexpected service. For instance, the avocado scoop has proved useful in de-​seeding plum tomatoes and in removing the flesh from mangos. No longer «mono»; now «tri.»
I have not found the sales associates to be the least bit haughty or anything other than solicitous and helpful, and I am sorry to read that others have had negative experiences here.

Williams Sonoma is a great store. It is fun to come in here and see all the 500 $ pots, 200 $ knives, and enjoy the sweet fragrant smells of one of their many food items. While it is high end, there are plenty of lower prices items that make great gifts for yourself or others.
Some locations have snobby employees who won’t give you the time of day if you aren’t dressed to the nines, female, and above middle age. This one, while it could do better, seemed to be above average. I received very good service here.

Holly Golightly may enjoy her early morning breakfast at Tiffany’s, but for me I think I’ll stroll a few doors down and enjoy my myself gazing through the windows of Williams-​Sonoma. I love this place so much… I’m like a little kid in a candy store every time I go in. Need some fancy kitchen knives? Check. Some exotic salts or truffle oil? Check and check. How about a $ 400 pan that I’d probably display in a case instead of cooking on? Yep, they’ve got that too. But despite all the indulgent items that I can’t (and won’t) afford, they do throw in some options for us commoners… maybe a box of gourmet cake mix you say? Sure. How about a salad spinner or a cookbook? No problem. Seriously, what’s not to love about this place?

For a high end retail this has to be the worst online and phone system. Tried to order a gift for $ 400 on a wedding registry and then failing that on the phone. After a 20 minute wait for registry person called back and got a young woman with attitude. I of course should be willing to spend my Sunday morning on hold because they have such wonderful overpriced products. Quickly moved on to bloomingdales and easily purchased something else. Never again!!!

This has to be one of the best places for picking up great items for the kitchen. I am not much of a cook, but some of the great items in this store have really inspired me to spend more time in the kitchen. Most items are a little pricey, but it is always great quality and will last a lot longer than much less expensive alternatives. This store also offers classes on using different items such as making the perfect espresso or preparing sushi, so it is worthwhile to stop in and see if there is an interesting class coming up.

The store smelled like baked cookies and the staff was friendly and helpful. What they sell is a bit overpriced, but they do home cooking ware right.

Located near the corner of Broad and Walnut Streets, Williams-​Sonoma is a wonderful place to look for kitchen essentials in a variety of colors and styles, as well as fun items that are nice to have when you want to use them. I came in just to browse and get inspired for when the day comes that I have my very own kitchen (and because I love kitchenware THAT much), and was delighted to see that there were Marvel Superheroes and Star Wars cookie cutters, mini cake pans, and spatulas! They make great gifts and will please anyone from kids to grown-​ups who are fans!

Let me start this review saying that this store is awesome. Their selection and prices tops any other kitchen supply store I’ve ever been to.
My 1 star rating comes from one experience I had recently. As an employee of a major Center City restaurant I am entitled to a 20% discount on kitchen equipment. I walked into Williams-​Sonoma with the intention of buying a quality paring/​filet knife. Upon arriving at the checkout counter I told the cashier that I am an employee of (restaurant name) and supplied them with a personal business card. I was then asked to fill out the proper paperwork to receive a personal professional chef discount card. While I was doing this I was essentially berated by not only two employees, but the manager as well. Shedding Questioning and dirty looks my way, asking me countless inane questions, and all but flat-​out accusing me of lying about my employment.
I did receive my discount after-​all and was signed up for my personal discount card to avoid further issues, however to be treated like a lying piece of trash by not only the employees but the manager was a very frustrating experience that has really turned me off from this store. I will definitely be taking my future business to other Williams-​Sonoma locations, if not other stores in general.

Quick Tip: Awesome Soda Stream Refill Location

The usual W-​S, with free classes on Sundays.
The staff, however, at this location is not very friendly or helpful. They seem annoyed and overly sarcastic. My boyfriend misheard this woman as she was talking about this soup she was making and she seemed ultra-​annoyed to have to repeat herself and then rolled her eyes and sarcastically said «you really thought I said a lot of things I didn’t say.» I’d maybe expect that from a 21yo working at Hot Topic, but not really some middle-​aged woman working at WS, giving cooking demonstrations.
I’ll come here to buy really pretty, overpriced kitchen supplies and to enjoy the free classes on Sundays but I could do without the snobbery and attitude.

I love this place, too much to the point they are probably mad at me for show up there. i just cant get over the prices though. some of the things are nuts!!! but the food items are pretty good. im addicted to the candy and cider when its around. all in all id rather go to kitchen kapers, nicer staff, and im a chef so i need alot of the little dohickeys they have. i cant tell you how much that store has saved my behind from finickey chef instructors!!! Sonoma is great for gifts and weddings and home indulgences like mixers and such, but for the small mundain whatchamacallits. stick to the cheaper places.

I both love and hate Williams-​Sonoma. I grew up with one of their stores a block away from my house, and every time I walked past it I would gaze longingly at their window displays and all of the kitchen appliances and tools that I so desperately wanted and could not afford (yes, at the tender age of 8 I was coveting cooking and baking supplies. I’m weird.).
Not much has changed since then — although some of their less pricey items I can afford now. But its still the things like the KitchenAid stand mixer and food processor and the Le Creuset dutch ovens that remain out of my reach — and their so-​called sales can be frustrating. Don’t tease me by saying the new Cuisinart food processor was originally $ 450 and your price is $ 249 — its still a lot of money! I know I shouldn’t complain too much, I am talking about top of the line products, but some of their inventory is just silly. Particularly the gourmet food items.
There are other places in Philadelphia where you can find all the necessary AND more obscure items to stock your kitchen with; in fact, they have better selections and prices than Williams-​Sonoma! Plus, the staff here are just not as nice, pleasant, and genuinely interested in finding you THE perfect item for your specific needs as at other stores. The staff is helpful and pretty friendly provided the store isn’t mobbed, but for some reason I’ve just received far more personal attention at places like Kitchen Kapers and Fante’s.

I agree with Meg C — completely. It is fun to browse here and get ideas, but for practical and price I shop elsewhere. I have, however, ogtten a few novelty pans here for seasonal cakes. I also got a great off-​set spatula here years ago before I had opened my culinary eyes wider.

Being the baking whore I am and having the ultimate chef of a husband I have makes Williams-​Sonoma one of the happy spots of Philadelphia, especially when it comes to those hard to find ingredients and nifty appliances that, although are expensive in nature, are an essential part of our culinary indulgences.
Sonoma is the ONLY place in Philadelphia who always has my dutch coco powder in stock and I can’t live without my double chocolate coconut chunk cookies or my chocolate ginger brownies. Mmmmmmm… brownies.
Yes, yes I know some of their things are overpriced and thankfully we have a Target close by to get those essential kitchen gadgets that no matter how hard I try always get broken, but you can’t beat the quality of their entertaining linens and they always have those not-​so-​easy-​to-​find kitchen gadgets that complete your kitchen. Melon baller anyone?

Oh, Williams-​Sonoma. Land of overpriced mono-​task items. I imagine this is what hell would be like for Alton Brown.
I drool over a lot of products at this store. I lust for KitchenAid mixers, all of them, every color. But other times I wonder how often that bundt pan shaped like a pumpkin patch is really going to be used over the course of its life. However, seasonal items go on sale for pretty good prices, so I’ll give them that.
The salespeople are sometimes total snobs and/​or clueless about their products. I once had to explain a coffee maker (the one I have at home) to a clueless clerk. So it is a good idea to do your research about electric items before going to the store. Or, you know, just buy them cheaper online.