Beware! There's a 3 percent "admin surcharge" & 20 percent automatic gratuity for a party of 2. One person ordered a canned drink and received no glass and the other had a draft beer only. Server was friendly but 23 percent service charge is patently absurd.

Gratuity of 20% (for 2 people just having drinks at the bar) was automatically added. The loudmouth bartender claimed she deserved it because she was alone doing the work of several people. Ridiculous and probably not legal since no mention of such a thing was disclosed verbally or even on the menu. The service was pretty bad on top of that. The entitlement of the person behind the bar is something else, we were too tired to dispute it but someone should. We won't be back.

Love this place. Great drinks, great atmosphere and an even better staff. Literally a hole in the ground but a great place to hide

Merry Christmas from San Antonio! Kayla took exceptional care of us on our tenth anniversary trip recently. We were at the bar every morning at 11 for drinks and an early lunch, and wound up at Cardozo’s for happy hour several times. The food is exceptional and it’s pretty cheap to drink there, considering the neighborhood. The mix of folks at the bar is eclectic and a lot of fun, and nobody left thirsty. Kayla even gave us a little gift that resides on our back patio. I can’t imagine going to Chicago again without a visit to Cardozo’s.

I am so happy Cardozo's is still thriving!! It was my favorite spot for pre-show cocktails before the pandemic. Sometimes we'd have too much fun and would skip the show entirely, no regrets! Last night was no exception; Kayla treated us to the warmest service with our holiday drinkies. I'll definitely be back again soon, show or not!

I was unable to receive service during my work lunch hour. I did not have an opportunity to eat. 1 bartender/server during lunch rush. It's an old place, but I just wanted to sit for lunch and be waited on. Corner Bakery next door saved me. Certainly had to rush through lunch instead of relax.

Those who know it, know it fondly. Those who don’t, might not be able to find it, and that’s part of the charm. A loop mainstay for decades, food isn’t special, but drinks selection is good and staff is friendly. Very noisy after work hours and crowded then too.

This is one of the happiest places in the loop

Solid spot for some food and drinks. Good prices for the loop. Check it out!

Perfect dive in the heart of downtown, had good beer and a great "grandpa's basement" vibe. I will definitely be back for food!

This is a hidden gem in that it is in a lower level. Love the decor, drinks, service. Great place to stop after work and finish the day.

Been coming here for years, one is my favorite Chicago staples.. PLEASE don't EVER close. In business for 50 years 💕

Food wasn't bad but they were out of food and the fryer was down during lunch hours on a Friday. I felt bad for the waitress because she had to turn away patrons because there wasn't even enough food. My meal was suppose to be with fries as the burger, fries, and a beer for 10 and had to have salad instead. Then they were out of salad too. She lost tips for herself by having to turn away people. She was very nice about it but poor business for that area especially.

This place is awesome. Don't come here.

Blue cheese watered down and weeks/months old. Wings are subpar and fries salty. Drinks are good.

Manager was absolutely wonderful! It was the best service I've had in a long time!!! My friend and I had a great time! Will definitely be back the next time I'm in the city!

Used to come in 2018-2019 and it was a ol' boys club with very quiet conversations. Now with Kayla running the place, 5 Star Dive bar. She runs a tight ship but makes sure we are taken care of.

Dining in for Holiday party of 16 they gave us plastic cups because they didn't want to do dishes. They had to collect and wash our salad plates to return them so we could eat our main dish on them -apparently not enough plates? Not enough tables to sit together although they said they could accommodate 20. Price was suppose to include soft drinks but never got any. Manager was rude when anyone asked for a better option that looked feasible and gave an absurd excuse for not accommodating us.

Nice basement restraunt/bar block away from daily center. Bartender was amazing food all home made. Nice spot.

Very overpriced, and as a woman, I would strongly recommend that you do not go unaccompanied by a man. The men at the bar are really desperate.

Perfect vibes for an after work drink or a space to catch up with friends. Met the owner who recently took over and LOVE her, so enthusiastic and caring about the space she cares for, and an incredible bartender!

4 stars for the atmosphere, 4 stars for service. I sat at my table for 30 minutes and had to ask the hostess about a server twice before anyone came to our table... I watched the tables fill up in the establishment and servers go to other tables before this -_- if this place had better service it would be a million times more enjoyable!

Awesome place to relax and have a few drinks

i love eating here. i had a cousin come into town and she asked me to go back here. this place has a great atmosphere. feels similar to a restaurant in philadelphia that i enjoyed visiting.

Food was good and price was reasonable. Decent "whole in the wall" vibe. Waitress was rude and ignored us 95% of the time. Bus boys helped us more than the waitress did. But food was yummy and came out quickly for the lunch rush which is why I gave 4 stars. Will definitely go back.

This place would be 5 stars if it wasn't for the waitress. For what it is, it's a nice place if that's the kind of vibe you're going for. Great food. One of the best burgers I've ever had. Lots of beers to choose from. However the waitress was one of the most unpleasant people I've ever dealt with. We were polite and friendly with her. Unfortunately we weren't given the same courtesy. She clearly hates her job. Based on the other reviews here, I'm wondering why they keep her around.

What a great spot. I've worked in the Loop for two years and only recently discovered this hidden gem of a dive bar down a non-descript staircase. The cocktails aren't very good, but they're cheap. More importantly, the beer is beer, and also cheap. The service is quick and friendly, and it's way less crowded than the more obvious Loop after-work bars. Don't come here for a fancy meal or to impress a date, but if all you want is a cold beer after a tough day in the office, this place is awesome.

Closed on weekends but conveniently located in the loop for a happy hour stop. Nothing special but it's nice to go somewhere different now & then.

Incredible food, cheap drinks, and excellent service. Kayla was an amazing host, we loved our experience here! Perfect place to kick back after work and relax. Very much has a welcoming, non-pretentious feel to the place. Will definitely be back soon!

Legendary. Terrific pub fare and beverages in a unique, underground location served by friendly, professional staff.

Hidden Gem! Great drinks, ambiance and excellent food! Friendly staff makes you feel at home. Highly recommend Cardozos for a fun time!

One of the best bars downtown, drinks are made strong, food is excellent (patty melt and toasted ravioli are a must) and Kayla is a saint who makes everyone feel at home

Look don't come to this place e expecting a modern, upscale restaurant. But you can expect a good meal and drink with great prices. It's refreshing to find a good place this cheap in the middle of the Loop.

Came for drinks and stayed for the food ! Very generous portions, and loved the classic restaurant atmosphere. Highly recommend the gnocchi soup and chicken club

I've only ever been here for drinks, but I love its basement atmosphere and it's right in the middle of the Loop!

Got the chicken club, the food was incredible with awesome music and vibes to match. Bartender was great

Patty melt was of unbeatable consistency and flavor with some of my favorite fries ever. Also have great drink specials. Unique subterranean venue with a classic Chicago feel - well worth supporting over chain restaurant alternatives.

Went here after work with my team. Loved the chill vibe, and Kayla was a gracious and friendly host to our party. If I lived in Chicago, this would be a place I'd be a regular at