Central Market

claytong

Vermont

3.8/5  rDev -7.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $$

So perhaps for Dallas this is a great stop, but if youre from out of town I wouldn't go here. They don't have a lot of local breweries (they have some). They had theobroma which I almost bought but decided I probably wouldnt like it that much especially for the price.
Service was okay, the guy stayed around longer than I wouldve liked. I didnt really need to know anything except the prices on the singles (none were marked) but he was just trying to be helpful.
Prices were normal. Some were cheaper, some the same.

06-18-2011 03:42:37 | More by claytong

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4.35/5  rDev +5.6%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Quick dash through Dallas and this is my friend´s go-to store in the area, and for a good reason...

The selection is pretty nice, with dedicated sections to imports, US macros, and Texas-regional production. It includes quality choices with the odd rarity here and there, both in terms of seasonal availability, and stuff I do not get typically in my region.

I was introduced to the beer guy, and we had a nice and helpful chat about the Texas choices he had available. Pricing sits in a common area between "reasonable" and maybe "a bit pricey". But all in all I'd sure make this one of my regular stops if I were settled here.

02-16-2011 17:53:26 | More by Daniellobo

Traquairlover

Virginia

3.4/5  rDev -17.5%
quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 4 | $$

For a grocery store this place has a pretty good selection. Fair amount of imports and craft breweries from throughout the US. Almost all of the beer is in cooler, even though some beers should be served warmer. Selection of individuals contained quite a few good Belgians and craft breweries but not many everyday beers. This last may not be that surprising but I was really only looking for a local beer to kill time in the afternoon. All Texas beers seemed available solely by the 6-pack, 12-pack or case. Shame, didn't get what I wanted this time, but I was impressed. Service was completely absent. Perhaps not surprising for a grocery store but still unfortunate as I did have some questions.

12-30-2008 20:39:28 | More by Traquairlover

promethias405

Texas

4.05/5  rDev -1.7%
quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I was very impressed to find such a great selection at Central Market. Came in to get some gourmet pasta, and walked out with some unique beer that I have never seen before. Didn't really expect such a good variety, but bravo Central Market. I love you even more haha. As far as service, there really weren't any employees around. Although it is a grocery store, so I wasn't too surprised. Prices were inexpensive in comparison to other beer establishments I have visited. Central Market is a great store, and the fact they have a great selection with great prices, makes it indeed a better experience. It would've been better to see some more store personnel around, but it was a busy Sunday, so again I didn't expect too much.

12-09-2008 06:03:49 | More by promethias405

ckeegan04

Texas

4/5  rDev -2.9%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

Dropped in this past weekend while on my search for Divine Reserve 6. Very long cooler of beers, both imports and exports. A good selection of craft beers with a limited representation from the macro breweries. Saw all the Texas beers I cant find in Tennessee such as Saint Arnold, Rahr and Sons, and Real Ale. Very similar to the Plano store but I felt the selection was a touch better at the Plano location. The help was better here though. Still struck out on my search for DR6...damn waiting lists.

06-19-2008 02:23:15 | More by ckeegan04

MrHungryMonkey

Texas

3.55/5  rDev -13.8%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 2.5 | $$

Minimal selection. Just the basics: Sam Adams seasonals, Sierra Nevada PA, Shiner special releases (they have a Black Lager special display right now (05.20.08)), AB microclones (Sundog's not so bad), and the who-can-live-without Lonestar. After that theres the same Big Beer stuff you see at any store, and lots of them. Definitely not more than 10% micro, but it is decent for a grocery store, and it is a nice store. I shop there weekly and their buy beer whenever I feel like getting something they have just for the convenience of it. It's not a beer store, but it's a hell of a grocery store, and in Dallas not all supermarkets carry beer.

Decent wine selection (on an unrelated note) with decent prices so long as you buy what's on sale.

05-20-2008 23:51:54 | More by MrHungryMonkey

Mora2000

Texas

3.8/5  rDev -7.8%
quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

I went to Central Market today to see if the Saint Arnold's Summer Pils was available, which it was. It was the first time I had been to this location (the one on Greenville) and I was fairly impressed. There was a decent selection of beers, but not as good as the selection at other Central Markets I have been to. The one thing I didn't like was that very few beers were available as singles. Maybe I have been spoiled from stores like Grapevine Market in Austin, but I really don't want to buy a six-pack of a beer I am not certain of the quality of.

04-12-2008 04:31:48 | More by Mora2000

Beertracker

Oklahoma

4/5  rDev -2.9%
quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Central Market H.E.B. is a Texas chain of specialty grocery stores with a huge selection of artisanal cheeses, deli & butcher block meats, fresh produce, seafood, plus health, gourmet, & international foods. I started visiting Central Market after the Whole Foods on lower Greenville lost Jeff Engle and the selection started waning. The selection here is fantastic with over 350+ imports & microbrews with some fresh locals in the cooler. Lots of wine for SWMBO! There's usually someone around that can check stock, but don't expect white glove service. This is a recommended stop and should be on any beer lover's map. Don't forget to check out World Market which is just across the way.

CHEERS! Beertracker

02-07-2008 07:54:07 | More by Beertracker

dgallina

Georgia

3.2/5  rDev -22.3%
quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | $$$

This is more or less the same as a whole foods supermarket. The microbrew selection is great by dallas standards. By national standards, however, id consider it only decent for a supermarket and mediocre compared to a better beer store. difficult to guague freshness in general. half to two thirds six packs with a third singles. could definately do with more singles. a few 750s but not many. prices are a bit high for some beers and generally uneven. seems overrated to me, but then i am only visiting dallas for a few months so not completely familiar with the area .

05-12-2007 20:33:49 | More by dgallina

allengarvin

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +5.6%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

One of the better places to pick up beer near downtown. In fact, I've often driven there around lunch to pick up a bottle of good beer and some quality cheese to take back to eat at lunch at my desk.

The selection is pretty darned good--though not as good as the Central Market in Fort Worth that I've been too, and not as good as Hall's, which probably has the best selection in the area; the Lovers' Central Market probably has 85% of Hall's selection (excluding the macros, which Halls has in huge quantity and CM almost none at all, but who cares about those?). They have most of the Belgians available in Texas, including all of the Trappists that are available here. Almost all of the better micros are available as well.

Wine selection is very good, and you should visit the cheese aisle too. It's the best selection of cheese in the area. The cheeses aren't laid out so well, so I've occasionally asked help in finding a particular type or style I liked, and the staff has always been exceptionally knowledgeable and eager to help. I've heard the beer/wine folk are as well, though I've never had direct contact with them. Except at the busiest time, checkout has always had enough cashiers to move quickly through the line.

If you're visiting Dallas and staying downtown and are not able to hit the better outliers in the area (Hall's in Colleyville, Mr G's in Plano), this is probably the best place to go for retail beer selection.

02-26-2007 03:52:26 | More by allengarvin