Cardinal Liquors - Portage Park

Store

3501 N Central Ave
Chicago, Illinois, 60634-4404
United States

(773) 725-0900 | map
cardinalwinesandspirits.com

Formerly Garfield's Beverage Warehouse
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.61
Reviews:
2
Ratings:
4
pDev:
24.93%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews.
Photo of ChicagoJ
Reviewed by ChicagoJ from Illinois

2.67/5  rDev -26%
vibe: 2.75 | quality: 2.5 | service: 3 | selection: 2.5
2/7/15 (Chicago, IL) - This store was formerly Edwards until it was sold decades earlier. They expanded the craft beer selection and added a beer cooler. Beyond Polish and AAL beers, they have some craft beers, mostly regional players.

In 2018, they were sold, most of the craft is gone. No longer shop here.
Jun 08, 2020
 
Rated: 5 by dreadydan42 from Illinois

Jan 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by Buttermilk from Illinois

Mar 18, 2014
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

3/5  rDev -16.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3
2019: Looks like ownership turned over, and the majority of the Garfield's-era craft selection is gone. Some random 750's lingering along the back wall, all looks like stuff held over from the last regime. Best you'll find in the coolers is the usual Rev, Off Color, Maplewood, Lagunitas selection. A dozen plus Polish beers, mostly pale lagers. Check dates.

2015: A somewhat expanded selection, though lots of empty spots on the shelves. Name change late 2014, same ownership based on what in-store signs said. Did not see the Jolly Pumpkin that was here a couple years ago. Empty shelves are always kind of sad. Far from a "5", looks like a staff rating.

2012: looks like someone finally dusted the beer shelves, and they added some new shelving. Even a spotty mix-a-six that at least had some Revolution and Great Lakes. Beermenus is fairly inaccurate, 5-6 beers were nonexistent in the store though updated a couple days ago. Still not much craft in the coolers, Polish singles are randomly scattered in the case aisle. Overall selection is better than a year ago, (new FFF & JP) but still somewhat limited with a handful of seasonals.

2011:
A dingy old liquor store with wood paneling and tile floors. Beer aisles are awkwardly diagonal and difficult to navigate. Very dusty beer shelves, even cobwebs in spots... not a good sign. Check dates of what you buy, if possible. This is an emergency liquor store if ever there was one.

Selection highlights: Daisy Cutter, Tank 7, Alpha King, Hop Stoopid and Walker's Reserve Robust Porter (dusty, streaky bottles), Great Lakes, about a dozen Eastern Euro beers like Staropolskie Porter, Zywiec Porter, Zagloba, and a few other ones not worth mentioning. Coolers were 2/3 macros, very little micro/craft imports besides Unibroue, Chimay, Sam Smith, and Lindemans. Some 5 Rabbit beers were buried in a giant stack of cases near the coolers. Ironically there was a sign that proclaimed "check out our craft beer selection" with the Founders and FFF logos, yet there was very little available from those brewers (didn't see any Founders period).

There were some girls tasting out flavored vodkas at a table up front, and the cashiers were sweet older ladies that call you honey.

Cardinal is pretty much an emergency stop, only worthy of beerfly as there's not much else in this immediate area of Portage Park. Gene's sausage shop is notable, but they have less beer than this place (but plenty of obscure Polish meads). Jewel near six corners is about on par with this place, and Fischmans is vastly superior and just 2 mi. north.
Aug 21, 2011
Cardinal Liquors - Portage Park in Chicago, IL
Place rating: 3.61 out of 5 with 4 ratings