Cardozo's is a hidden gem in the loop. It has a much slower atmosphere than everything else around it. The bar is underground so it has some character. Most importantly it has some of the cheapest beer around, including Green Line! It's the perfect place to hang out with friends and talk. read more

I have been going to this place for a long time having worked in the area and always enjoyed eating here. I never really ventured from the bacon cheeseburger or reuben sandwich part of the menu but friends have and said it was good. This place is mainly geared for the down town work/after work crowd. read more

The other day I was craving old-style Italian food along the lines of Italian Village, and happened across Cardozo's Pub. The service was desultory at best, and the food was...well...awful. I figured I couldn't go too far wrong by ordering spaghetti with meat sauce and Italian sausage, but I was thoroughly mistaken. I already assumed that 'al dente' wouldn't be a term that applied to this place, but I figured 'flavor' might. No such luck. And, quite frankly, the Italian sausage tasted like dog food. I was disgusted and will never be back. Perhaps other items on the menu are better, but I certainly will never find out for myself. I've never had worse pasta in my life. read more

Good food, friendly, kind service and good drinks. Plus a total deal. This place is a best kept secret I hate to share but I want them to thrive. Check them out. Love the avocado blt and even their fish is good. Food also comes out fast for busy lunches. read more

Probably my favorite dive bar in the city. It's usually not crowded, so the servers can stay pretty attentive. The typical bar food is pretty good, and they make the martinis strong. Very good place to meet friends after work if you're not trying to impress anyone. read more

I come here for an after work drink on occasion. It is definitely old-school, which is part of the charm. The crowd is very mixed, which is also nice. It's a nice place to grab a drink and head home (or back to the office). read more

If you're downtown and suddenly feel the urge to have a beer in your grandma's basement, step into Cardoza's to be immediately transported back to 1970. The dimly lit interior with wood paneling and "family restaurant" booths a la Omega in Downer's Grove give this place a frozen in time feeling. If a cold beer is what you're looking for, it's not a bad place to stop and have a drink. It was pretty empty on a Thursday around 5, so you won't have to wait long for your order. read more

If the dictionary had a picture for hole-in-wall, this place would be it. We used to drink here all the time, but recently their drink prices (which seem to change every order) have skyrocket'd. Used to be worth it, but if I'm paying standard Chicago prices I'd rather go some place that doesn't have a mildew aroma. read more

This place is the Best kept secret in town. It's hard to find, and when you find it, your not sure what to expect from this basement bar. Well its Awesome!!!! I Love this Place! The daytime Bartender Noel ,is Sharp, Funny, and on the ball, your glass is never empty, just how I like it. The waitress staff are always really nice, even to non regulars, but you quickly become part of the family here. The drinks are strong, and the prices are cheap for downtown, the food is good too. The people I have met have been all ages, that's what we like about it, on one side you have all the regulars, that have kept this secret alive forever it seems, and then you have the young crowd looking to be them someday. Great people. Great conversation. This place is Huge inside too, plenty of TV's, and its not wall to wall people. Everyone seems to know eachother, and someone will always buy you a drink. I used to go to that dive bar across the street Stocks and Blondes. We will never go back, since coming to Cardozo's. There is more room for our group of friends for lunch, and after work .Like I said the bartenders, and waitress are Great!! and you leave full, drunk, happy, and you still have money left over for a cab. Check it out!! They always have cheap beer, and drink specials. The Food menu is Huge!! See you there. read more

Had lunch with my wife before going to the Christkindle market Creamy tomato soup with chunks of tomato was great. We split a turkey and ham ssndwich. Drinks were reasonable. Love the basement feel. read more

I stopped in here after work for a few beers with some of my co-workers this past week. I liked the relaxed vibe of the place. No frills - just drinks and food. The beer was good and reasonably priced for the loop. We also ordered barbecue wings and buffalo chicken fingers. I was not in love with either but they were fine. All in all this is a good place to go after work for a couple of drinks. read more

Very Chicago! From the decor, to staff, and food.. all screams Chicago, I love it! Great place for lunch and after work drinks. I highly recommend smoked chicken ravioli, maybe save half for later. read more

This is a cool place. A downtown dive bar. The bartender and wait staff are super friendly. Food is better than average bar food. Will be back for sure. read more

Horrible. Just plain bad. I went in with my daughter today and I guess because I wasn't a businessman, we weren't important enough. We ordered a Sprite which we never got. We were given bread but no plates to eat it on. Our meal was supposed to come with a salad but was never mentioned by the waitress or given to us. I guess whatever was on her cell phone was more important because that's what she stared at the whole time. So unprofessional. I know this is a comfy looking place, like a grandma's old basement like one other poster mentioned, but come on. The very nice bus boy had to get her attention so we could even get our check. I used to be a server for many years so I don't feel like I am being over critical, there is just a certain level you should expect. I used to love this place when I worked downtown a few years back but it has fallen apart. Too bad. read more

Good food, God awful service. My waitress made faces at my drink choice, then took twenty minutes to give me my bill and another fifteen to use my groupon and settle. Then I got the wrong change back. Busy or not, that was ridiculous. read more

I love this place because it's a tiny little remnant of the Chicago I grew up in. Haimishe atmosphere, warm and friendly wood-paneled spot full of people sitting down to have a good time with their friends. Chicken breast sandwich hits the spot. Waitress is blunt and hilarious. read more

Eww...met my friend here. I don't even know how people find this place. Downstairs to a dungeon feel. Dark inside. Mostly locals, as in everyone's grandpa. She got a living social deal that did not mention alcohol was not included. They refused to accept it and after so many transactions and confusions, we still have no idea what we paid for. All I know is that my little white Russian cost $9. Are you kidding me? You do realize where you are right? In a dark creepy basement where ex offenders may feel comfy in. I think I can still smell the despair. read more

This place is one step up from prison food. I got a Reuben; the corned beef was cut too thick and was chewy. A pop is $2 with $1 refills also tiny,wtf! I give it 2 stars only because our server was nice and quick! Don't waste your time, there are plenty of great places to eat in the loop. read more

I have only been here for lunch and not for drinks after work. That being said, this place is terrible. Awful. I would give this place negative stars if this website would let me. I'm not sure how this place got good reviews. There are only two logical possibilities. 1) Cardozo paid people to post these 2) These are posts from the people that thought clear Pepsi was a good idea. Tara M, you owe me a lunch. read more

This is a place away from my usual track, and it is an odd-looking basement bar. The real asset, at least for now, is Sheila, who as I understand, is "cute as button." read more

Pretty average place from the drinks to the food. The service is decent but overall did not jump out. If you are in the loop it could be a quick place to grab a beer and watch some TV. I had some chicken tenders here and they were average as well. read more

A fine spot to relax and grab a drink and some bar food. You'll completely forget that you're in the middle of the Loop, and that can be a good thing if you need to park it and stretch out for a minute. I've been here a few times and I'd be back. It's a great alternative to the fancier and pricier bars and restaurants in the neighborhood. read more

Basement dining where you can have a quiet lunch and conversation with people. Not your typical crowded downtown lunch establishment. The food is above average but the service is slow and nothing really impresses here. Cordoza's is a place to go to have a insiders meeting where you dont want people to overhear your conversations. It is not quite cloak and dagger stuff but you feel like you are semi incognito. Every time I visit Cordoza's I always go with the chicken and bacon sandwich. Generous serving of juicy chicken breast topped with crisp bacon strips makes for a satisfying lunch sammy. For downtown it is not a place I would go often because there are so many other places to people watch and dine al fresco. This is literally a basement and it is intended for quiet pow wows. It may feel borderline dingy and overall is not aesthetically pleasing. But it has its purpose among all the over priced and over hyped trendy spots that most suits go to for lunch downtown. read more

Tonight was a nightmare experience! I ordered a burger and at the end of the night, after I paid my tab, the owner had the nerve to ask me why I like my burgers raw?? (I ordered my burger rare not RAW - he explained that he didn't know the difference). He was extremely rude and judgmental. He also asked me why I thought it's ok to trust his cook supplier of meat with my health since I like raw meat! I am NEVER coming back to pay $60 to a place where I can't trust their meat product and also a place where I will be judged by the owner for my preferences! We found out from a bartender after the owner had left that he likes his meat well done and often judges people who prefer anything else. YIKES!!!!! This used to be our happy hour spot, but after meeting the crabby, opinionated, curmudgeonly owner, we will NEVER be back! read more

I had a steak salad that was marginal at best. Nothing very creative on the menu and I think the food was precooked. I have been here before but used Groupon this time. I like the throw back, simple cafe environment, but watching a blasted version of some reality show isn't my idea of kicking back. Friendly service thought and reasonable prices. It is in a basement afterall so prices should be good. They close way too early. read more

Dive bar. Down stairs and cold. Watered down beer and mediocre beer. Okay but not great

Eh. Nothing really 'wrong' with it, but food, service and prices are about what you'd expect. As with most day-drinker spots in the Loop, lotsa regulars, maybe I felt a little out-of-place. Still, if I'm gonna sit in a basement bar and drink at lunch, I'd probably go to the Marquette over on Madison instead, or maybe Beef 'n' Brandy on State. read more

Cardozo's Pub is a dive but it has lots of flavor. Drinks are reasonably priced and as far as Chicago basement bars go, it's solid. Just don't order Jagermeister, as they serve it warm. read more

This place has two big pluses: 1) It's right across the street from my office downtown and 2) It's part of the AA Dining Advantage (so I can get miles for travel from dining). I haven't been here for anything but lunch, but their daily specials are reasonable and the waitress was prompt, which is important for the lunch hour. I'd like to come by here sometime after work and check the vibe at the bar. read more

Just went to Cordozos after work with a buddy for the first time. Great if you want a beer and some bar food in an underground tavern that doesn't care about being cool. Oddly enough, the wait staff was fairly awesome, which, for a place like that, was a surprise. Mixed bag of gents in there for sure, lots of laughs. Bartendress gave us both free drinks because we said we were new to the area. Don't bring your girlfriend here to impress her with Chicago's fine dining. Bring your buddy here if you want to duck in to a corky place with a good vibe. read more

I love Cardozo's!!! I always get their pub burger, its a big @$$ cheeseburger with fries on the side, I get it cooked medium with mozarella, cheddar cheese and bacon, OMG its so juicy and delicious. If its at lunch I order to go and get in in like 10 to 15 minutes, and if its after work, ill go in and have a beer or two and it only comes out to about 20 bucks which is perfect. I love this place and will continue to go here. I also love that its underground, its an older place, kinda divey, but I feel like I fit in there and im not worried about people watching me eat like a pig lol!!!! read more

Awesome basement lunch hideout. No cell phone coverage, no strollers, no bad food. Everything on the menu is good. Great bar.

This bar was right by my sister's work, and we decided to go here after she got off. We've both been to better bars. The drink specials weren't that great, and it took FOREVER to get another drink at times. The waitresses were not friendly either. My first impression before even being served was that it felt like I walked right into my grandfather's basement. So that's why I was a bit excited about the place, but that emotion quickly faded. read more

Cardozo's, I really tried not to hate it there but I had no choice. The place alone feels like a truck stop. I understand it has the traditional Chicago local mob appeal, which I understand. However, I don't think they have invested a cent in the venue since the 1900's. The service was not only poor, but the server made made us feel like every order was an inconvenience. She was busy, but possibly the most unpleasant individuals I have encountered. Not only that, but every beer we were served was expired by 3-7 months. Every one, not an exaggeration. It was busy inside, so I'm not sure how this even happens. The booth was small enough to fit 3 children, and the quesadillas were barely even warm. Then comes the final straw--the restroom. Small enough to make you claustrophobic, which is whatever. However, the stall has a sign: "Flush after use. All paper in the trash, do not flush". There was literally several wads of shit covered toilet paper in the toilet next to the toilet. I walked out through the styrofoam door, paid my check, and walked right out. Gut the place and start from scratch, there is no other remedy. read more

$9 for a well-vodka and soda? on a night that '$5 vodka shots' was one of their daily specials? seriously? or was it because the rude old woman bartending didn't appreciate us talking while she was busy trying to watch Fox News! read more

I wish I could give this place 10 stars. I come with a group of friends and family for happy hour, religiously, once a week. Granted, our "regulars" status with the bartenders may be artificially inflating my views of the place, but Cardozo's is great. The staff is super nice, the drinks are good, and it lacks the pretentious crowd of most of the Loop bars. Make no mistake, it's definitely in the "dive" category, but if that's what you're going for, Cardozo's is the place to be. read more

Great place for a quick bite to eat or drink, basement bar. Staff was really friendly.

Great for after work people watching. Divey. They make really strong drinks too. Very interesting crowd to observe.

Cardozo's is a hidden gem in The Loop. I'm always able to get in and out in just over a half hour during lunch rush, 12-1. The patty melt is to die for, our server always remembers us and our specific order. The soda is kind of bar-like... so you're better off getting a drink-drink or water. Prices are great. It's nice to get out of the rush of The Loop into a homey-like pub. read more

Was in town for the weekend and saw the Groupon. Great I thought. Check Yelp for hours, open until 10 on Friday. Still great. Bought the Groupon, showed up at 6:40, the place is locked up tight. Not so great. Groupon for Chicago restaurant in Indy - worthless. read more