Logan Square Liquors

Store

3018 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, Illinois, 60618-6623
United States

(773) 227-1793 | map

Formerly Avondale Armanetti Beverage Mart and Danny's Liquors.
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.95
Reviews:
3
Ratings:
3
pDev:
8.86%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by Rasputin:
Photo of Rasputin
Reviewed by Rasputin from Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +12.7%
OK...first off, I wrote off this place after reading the two reviews below. I'm not a huge fan of east European beers, so I walked past this place many times before actually going in to see for myself. I'm very glad I finally gave it a shot.

Second off, this place is no Sam's. Few place are going to be able to compete with a giant like Sam's. So, you should lower your expectations from that.

That off my chest, I can say this place was great. The clerk may have spoken Polish or something along those lines, but his English was flawless, and he was very helpful and enthusiastic about beer. I was told he had spoken to one of the 3 Floyds brothers earlier that day. This is a very good sign.

They do have a good selection of East European and belgian beers, including a few I'd never seen before. However, they had a great American selection too. Prices seemed average for the area, with a few beers a little cheaper than usual. Nothing amazing, but worth noting.

In short, I wouldn't recommend coming out here if you don't live in town. If that's the case, stick with Sam's. However, if you live in town, and north of Sam's, Armanetti is definitely worth a look-see. You'll be glad you did.

Note: clerk mentioned that for the month of June 07, they're going to have beer tasting most every Fri night, wine tastings on Saturdays, and maybe liquor tastings on Sundays. Don't quote me on that though.
May 23, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

3.71/5  rDev -6.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
2021: Inexplicably changed their name to "Logan Square Liquors" when the store is squarely in Avondale.

2011: High time for a re-review. They put in new coolers recently, so the entire beer selection is cold. Odd random stuff up front to the left when you walk in, then about a dozen plus bombers in one case towards the back, including 3 FFF beers, and 5 Southern Tier bombers. Walk around to the other side and find a good selection of craft beers, including seasonals. FFF Gulballhead, APW, Moloko, APC, AK, Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster, Founders range x5, including Devil Dancer. Wild Onion Hop Slayer and Emmett's Victory Pale and McCarthy Red in the local dept. Not many meads anymore, but they do sell Kurpiowski.

**EDIT 2008: Shelves have been filled up with a ton of Steigl and Franziskaner, kind of weird, when there used to be 30 varieties of Euro imports on those shelves. No more Belgians at all, or respectable glasses. Sam Smith is still there. This place is going downhill big time, but they have to cater to their local clientele, and they buy the cheap swill. At least the stack of Panther Ice is gone! Sadly so is the Staropolskie Porter.

**Local food: I'd agree about trying out the deli's in the area, Endy's at Milwaukee & Lawndale is worth a stop too. If you're looking for a great restaurant in Avondale, my recommendation would be La Oaxaqueña, another hidden gem located further north at 3382 N. Milwaukee. They serve regional specialties from Oaxaca, Mexico, including wonderful homemade molé sauces (not BYOB though).

**12/2007, A recent visit found a couple empty beer shelves, what was left was in disarray. Still some cheap Polish singles and a couple Apis meads, but they have declined quite a bit since my first "glowing" review. Selection goes down a point.

11-03-2006:
This place has been known to me for a year or so, i've considered it to be a hidden gem for Eastern European imports.

If you like Baltic Porters, EPL's, Czech Pilsners, etc. this is worth a stop. They deal with Stawski and J&B Brands for imports, so they get a few that aren't around elsewhere. Not sure what the turnover is here really. The place is slightly gloomy, some dusties, usually with a $0.99 special on certain half-liter bottles. The "best" import singles are down the first aisle on the right. Can't go wrong with Okocim Porter/Palone, Staropolskie Porter, Perla, Klaster, and Schwelmer. Some of the Sam Smith line. Several German Hefes and Lagers. Check out the truly wacky, giant ceramic beersteins on the top shelf. Do not buy, they have been there for a couple years.

Cold 6-packs are against the far wall on the left. Some oddball stuff like Gluek Honey Bock and Hamm's may reside therein. Meads are separate from the beer, in the liquor section toward the back (several obscure varieties available). "Old Krupnik", a spiced honey liqueur (stronger relative of Mead), is in the "Eastern European Liquor" section, center shelf.

Some glassware can be found, mostly pilsner style, stange, and mugs branded Okocim or Steigl. Cases of Panther Ice are right at the front door, catering to the brown-bag clientele.

I've asked questions on several occasions, to different clerks, and responses have always been helpful. A couple of times i've encountered a tall older fellow with glasses, and he has answered my beer questions.
Aug 21, 2011
Photo of 4thoseabout2bock
Reviewed by 4thoseabout2bock from Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -6.3%
So, we actually did not realize that Armanetti was not a chain, and having recognition of the name, we stopped at this shop along this old world section of Milwaukee Ave. (we have since been to armanetti on lincoln and admire their selection and fine service).

However, I thought this place should be noted on BA because they have a decent selection of polish/lithuanian beers and other countries of that ilk (which includes some novel-to-me strong pilsners and baltic porters).

Even though the importers are located in Chicago, the beers carried here are not widely available in the usual BA beer haunts (i.e. I don't think I've seen them at Sam's and Binny's).

Some of the brands they had include Flensberger, Moosbacher, Zamkowe, Schwelmer, Konigsberg, Klaster, Krusovice, Rycerskie, Strzelec, Yarpivo. (Of course also Baltica and Okocim, but those you can find most places).

My favorite acquistion so far has been Black Boss Porter.

I did see the Black Boss at Woodman's in Wisconsin, but Avondale's Armanetti is the only place so far I've seen it in Chicago.

The staff is probably not going to be too helpful with specific questions about the beers -- its a small neighborhood place, and I suspect they thought I was a little crazy for standing in their beer aisle and writing down the names of beers. But, the beauty of this store is that its a cheap visit to Eastern Europe. Complete the trip with a visit to Kurowski Sausage nearby.
Nov 03, 2006
Logan Square Liquors in Chicago, IL
Place rating: 3.95 out of 5 with 3 ratings