08/21/09

Must visit if you like to cook

by alessia212

The Spice House has become my go-to for myself as well as to get gifts for people who like to cook. They have the best of everything there, spice wise! It is also in a great area - old town!

• Pros: variety of quality spices
• Cons: parking in old town

05/22/08

Excellent Knowledgeable Staff

by mslehman

You can smell this store long before you get to the door. There are so many spices to choose from, at reasonable prices. The staff is very friendly and ready to help you with picking out your spices. I just tried one a couple nights ago. It was amazing. I am so excited to try the other new spices I bought. I really wish we had a similar store where I live. If you are into baking or cooking, this store is somewhere you want to go, even if it is out of the way. When I go back to Chicago, this is one place I will definitely visit again.

• Pros: Service, selection, prices
• Cons: parking can be hard to find on the street

Circa 1957 spice store in Old Town manages to make the everyday art of cooking a near-romantic experience.

by Contributor

In Short
Exposed brick, antique-y lighting and wood shelves displaying hand-ground spices lure foodies to this respected shop. Many linger while reading the tags, which chronicle the historical significance of the various seasonings. While the ordinary is on hand (nutmeg, paprika, pepper), the store also stocks a wide variety of exotic options like Korintje Indonesian Cassiacinnamon, lemon thyme, ras el hanout and garam masala. Kitchen shortcuts can be found in the form of spice blends like the Bicentennial, a mix of flake salt, cracked Tellicherry black pepper, sugar, minced orange peel, coriander and turmeric.

08/13/02

The Best

by drewsgirl

The best thing about the spice house is the variety of spices from everywhere on earth; labels even tell you where that particular spice is from and gives ideas about how it can be used. No, wait, the best thing about the spice house is that the prices are very reasonable No, wait, the best thing about the spice house is that the employees are friendly and knowledgeable,and very patient. With that many spices it is hard to make up ones mind about what and how much to buy. The staff understands that and just lets you "check it out". That's a lot of best things about one store, but that what makes this one of the best stores I have visited in a long time. I can't think of any cons, except that I never take enough money with me to buy everything I want.

• Pros: nice atmoshpere, store smell yummy

06/21/02

Spice delight

by robyngalbos_citysearch

The aroma from this homey little shop is almost overwhelming when you walk in the door, but it's a welcoming smell. They have all sorts of spices and herbs that are not readily available in every grocery store--plus you can buy smaller amounts than what you might get at a grocery store. I love the gift boxes. It's a terrific place to find unique gifts for the baker or cook in your life.

• Pros: Unique gifts, Friendly staff
• Cons: Parking