I really enjoyed the couple of hours I sat here waiting for my car maintenance to be finished. The staff was super friendly and helpful in guiding me to a wine (or two) I would like. The truffle popcorn was really yummy and definitely big enough to share. The variety is not what you'd find at some standard spot. This wine list is curated and it shows. Inside is cozy and inviting. Looking forward to trying more wine there again soon! read more

The Wine Goddess - Delightful! - Wine Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Great place to grab a glass of wine the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The people that come all make it feel like community.

Best store of any kind in the whole world...Truffle popcorn? Delicious!! Da staff? Da BEST!!! Ambiance? So cool and comfy...and, oh! These wonderful folks sell fabulous beverages! read more

The Wine Goddess - Wine Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Up until recently, I've had good experiences at Wine Goddess. But I have to report this total customer service fail. d I stepped in on Saturday night and asked to order food to go. This was 8:20pm. I was told they do not provide food to go because when they are busy, it provides a backup. That's totally understandable. However, on this particular night, only 2 tables were occupied, with a total of 5 people. My husband and I were having drinks around the corner. I wanted to get the food from Wine Goddess before we headed home for the night. I walked over while my husband stayed at the other establishment. I told him what happened, and so we finished out drinks more quickly than we would have otherwise. Once we were done, we walked back over to Wine Goddess. I planned to sit, order my food in-house, and have a glass of wine. It was 8:35. I was told the kitchen closed at 8:30. Wow. That's stellar customer service right there! read more

Hi women owned small business in Evanston. I think the selection is great and good value price

Lovely little wine and craft beer shop in Evanston. Stop in for a good carry out selection, or stop in for a glass with your small crew or (well-behaved) kids in tow. I met up here with Daphne L. and her hubby, and enjoyed some nice drinks and good service. I carried out a few unique Chicago-centric craft beer six packs, as well! Nice comfy little place. read more

The Wine Goddess - Wine Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This is a lovely shop, and they get high marks for the truffle popcorn! However, I was disappointed yesterday when I got my bill...and found out they charged me $10 corkage for the bottle of wine I bought from them. It has always been my understanding that corkage applies to wine that's brought from the outside, and a corkage fee will help a restaurant to offset the profits they lost from not selling the wine in the first place. So when I buy the wine from you...and then you charge me $10 to drink it...that's just super tacky. It left a bad taste in our mouth. read more

Simply the best wine store around, with an expert owner who cares about her business and knows wine. Well-curated selections at various price points with expert advice plus a convenient location provide a perfect spot to buy really good wine. read more

I have only been here once before, when Hailstorm's Hopsecco was for sale (sadly, it was a limited run). This time, I was there to drink some wine. We found the service to be very lackluster. We were a table of three drinking and eating a cheese plate on a not very busy Friday afternoon, so I'm not sure what the problem was. When I wanted another glass, I had to go to the counter to say so. What is up with that? It seems they used to have many more craft beers (including others from Hailstorm besides Hopsecco), but now they don't. I get that wine is their main game, but if there's room for malort (malort? really?) then there's room for craft beer. Why you want us to go to Binny's, Goddess? When it was opening up, I heard that you were mad about it, and now you're pushing us away. I really would rather shop small and local. read more

The Wine Goddess - Wine Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Great, great great! And don't let the name fool you - the owner is not a goddess (at least, I don't think so), and the shop sells more than wine. I'll call the space both cozy and crammed, and each is a compliment. There is such a wide selection of wine, beer, spirits, aperitifs, snacks and more. You'd think the staff would have a hard time staying on top of it all, but they're all warm and knowledgeable in dealing with questions. I was worried about how the shop would survive the pandemic and competition from a recently opened Binny's Beverage Depot, but it's a testament to The Wine Goddess's service, selection, and charisma that it not only survived but is flourishing. read more

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Great customer service! Everyone was friendly and helpful. The shop is very cute! I plan on coming again.

I went to the Wine Goddess today and purchased six bottles of wine, it was like their intro pack. I do not know anything about wine, but had a few favorites. The nice woman explained the difference between big box stores and curated small wine shops. (Who knew? Not me!) she selected my box of six bottles based on what I told her I enjoyed. My husband and I just finished the first bottle: a smooth Chardonnay by The Fableist. It was fantastic! The care and attention I received was top notch. They are open for curb side pick up or consultation. They have a wine patio open in the evenings. The nice folks who own and work here are incredibly friendly and welcoming. So if you are unsure about how to choose wine, if you want a wide selection and to meet some really nice folks, go to The Wine Goddess! You'll be so glad you did! read more

The Wine Goddess - a bottle of wine - Wine Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Had a glass of wine and the cheese platter, along with the truffle popcorn. ALL of it was fabulous. Can't wait to go back. Service was also perfect. Lovely ambience. read more

My husband and I visited Wine Goddess after a trip to Dave's Rock Shop just next door. We had tried to plan our day so that we could participate in the afternoon wine tasting, but were early. The shop décor was bright and colorful though still conveying a pleasant mood for any wine, light and crisp to bold and brooding. The owner was on premises and amidst reorganizing her inventory as well as the layout of the store. I'll say this - the girl knew her wine. If you want a good recommendation that listens to your price point, palate preference and nothing else, this is a great shop to patron. But if you're looking to receive a decent level of customer service along with that, you may be disappointed. I imagine her lack of attentiveness had something to do with the store's reorganizing. There was a lot going on around us. But hey, why not close your doors and reopen when you're actually ready to be open? My husband and I both felt like we were imposing when we had questions. That is a TERRIBLE way to make a customer feel, especially when that customer is trying to support local, independently-owned specialty shops. Also, I'm not sure if her sing-song, chirpy voice is who she is or was over-compensating for the lack of readiness and actual customer service, but either way, it came off near-condescending. I had started with 3 stars, but after reading similar experiences to mine, I knocked it down to 2. Knowing wine isn't enough. If you're on the floor, you need to be personable and available. Bottom line: The two wines we chose per her recommendation were FABULOUS. She had an extensive inventory hitting all price points. I will go again hoping that this was a one-off bad first impression. After all, she was distracted due to an effort to improve her vision and customer shopping experience. read more

The Wine Goddess - Not just selling wines, but knowledge. - Wine Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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We had our first experience here as Birthday Gift to my husband for a wine & Cheese pairing. What an independent wine find this was for us. First off let me tell you the woman who runs the shop and hosted the evenings event Diana Hamm is absolute scream. She is by far the most entertaining and knowledgeable wine person to boot we've had the pleasure of meeting. It can reasonably be called Wine Theater. Or a spin off on the "Marvelous Mrs. Maisal" meets the grapes Ubiquitous Derivative better known as WINE! Get ready to learn and be entertained. We loved her enthusiasm and knowledge so much we ended up signing up for her monthly wine club of which there are 3 levels. She's got some really greats bottles in her collection and the staff is so eager and willing to assist in picking out your bottle. They have weekly tastings and other events which include musical nights with an open wine bar. Can you say I'm in! Their events are listed on Facebook in addition to signing up for their newsletter. Tickets are like hot cakes at this event! They sell out quick. So as soon as you see something jump over to the eventbrite app to purchase your tickets or you'll be out of luck! With Bonny's Wine Superstore coming to Evanston let's show this independent shop some love! You can't get this type of laughter and hands on experience from Bonny's although they do serve their purpose too. You gotta check this place out! Helpful hint, park in the public lot across the street. Street parking is tough in Evanston. Pay meter with CC and place ticket in the window so you can sip the night away without a worry read more

I had been told to check out The Wine Goddess but had never found the time. I finally stopped by and met the owner who was incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable. She offered us wines across a wide price range and types. She so clearly loves her work that it was a joy to work with her. Her co workers also seemed very happy to be there. I will definitely be going back. It's feel more like a community rather than a store read more

Lovely wine shop/wine bar offering a great selection of wines and a thoughtfully curated selection of spirits and beer. Had the frosé at a cute table in the front window. Staff is attentive but laid-back and friendly. They also have a small menu of snacks (cheese and charcuterie, olives, etc) that we did not try, but looked tasty. Would definitely come again soon! A great spot for a date or quick drinks before dinner, or to just linger over wine and conversation. read more

The Wine Goddess - Lavender frosé! The reason for summer - Wine Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Are you looking for a VERY interesting place where you can find unusual wines from everywhere for that special girlfriend lunch or romantic dinner? Or-- do you have a very hot date-- and you want to go to a beautiful place for wine, cheese , and appetizers before dinner? This is it! Warm, personal, the epitome of good taste-- unusual in the best way-- look no further. This place is a small jewel you need to discover. You won't regret it. read more

I was looking for Off Color Dino S'mores all over the city. One big grocery store said they had them in stock. I went there to purchase it, they said it won't be in til end of October. The Wine Goddess was on my list, but it was in Evanston. Not too far for me, but I'd have to catch a few different trains to get to. After work I called them to ask if they had Dino S'mores in stock. They checked and said they did. So I went after work. Hopped on 3 different lines. Short walk from station. When I walked in, an associate asked what I was looking for. Off Color Dino S'mores. The manager who spoke to me on the phone recognized me. The original associate who spoke to me went to the cellar and grabbed 2 single cans. I asked if they had 4 packs. He brought up four 4 packs plus 5 singles. Asked if I wanted to buy all of them. Had to think about it. That's 17 cans that are 16oz each!!! I didn't have a car. He said he can give me a discount. He rang all the cans up and gave me 10% off. Then they packed it up so I could carry them. Had to carry some in my backpack, but it was worth it. This was for my friend's birthday today. It will make his day even more special. Kudos to the amazing staff at The Wine Goddess for making my day and my friend's birthday!!! Definitely will be coming back here. Will recommend this shop to everyone I know!!! read more

!!! I love living on Main St perhaps most of all because I'm nearby The Wine Goddess. I am useless in a wine store. So when the staff listen to what I like (one even has a rolling casual customer profile of me) and we use that to choose what I might enjoy next, I am so happy. There's really good energy in TWG. It's also so amazing that they're running a patio during covid-nineteen, I've had the pleasure of enjoying company there a couple times now! I always highly look forward to my next TWG trip. read more

Fantastic selection, lovely staff, woman-owned business. Good for wine experts and novices. I especially appreciate their particular care for the safety of customers and staff. One of my favorite local businesses. read more

My friends and I have stopped by here a few times. Usually the staff is very friendly and courteous, however on our last visit we had a very bad customer service experience. We were enjoying our drinks at a table when a woman, whom I assume was the GM or owner (older, short hair, glasses), came over to us and very curtly said "if you are not ordering off the menu I need this table." When I replied that we are ordering off the menu she said "oh okay" and walked away. No sorry, no okay great thanks, nothing. Everyone in our group looked at each other and thought....well that was really rude. Probably not more than 30 minutes later the same woman came over to us and said "okay I'm gonna need you to move to that table because I have a group that needs this table." We said sure no problem and again, no thank you, no sorry for the inconvenience, nothing. Our table was promptly given to a group of older clientele. We had no problem moving, but the way in which it was handled was very off putting. After discussing we all concluded that the woman was judging us because we were younger. We're all in our early 30's, so I guess she assumed we are some riff raff who couldn't afford to purchase any $100 bottles of wine, so we weren't worth her time. I've read some of the past reviews and other people seem to have had a similar experience. Again most of the other staff is very friendly but I have very low tolerance for rude, judgmental people. We will avoid this place moving forward. read more

Nothing short of fabulous. Diana has created the most comfortable, welcoming, vibrant environment, with a staff of the most wonderful people. There are wonderful events, classes, tastings, the wine club is worth its weight in gold, and the store is full of gems. The Wine Goddess is truly a gem of Evanston, and we are lucky to have it. read more

This is a tremendous spot, run by caring and knowledgeable people, and I can't recommend stopping in for a drink or buying your beer and wine here enough. We are lucky to live in a town that can support this type of small business and the vibe and offerings in this store far exceed anything their big box competition has to offer. read more

"Give me your prosperous, your pompous, Your huddled one-percenters yearning to breathe exclusivity, The noble elitists of your affluent shore. Send these, the snobs, haughty, to me: I lift my wine glass beside our Wine Goddess door." Thank you, Wine Goddess. My experience at your store inspired me to bastardize our country's most beautifully welcoming, inclusive sonnet in order to accurately portray the inhospitableness I felt upon walking through your front door. The day was September 4, 2013, and I was on a mission to mail several packages. I saw Wine Goddess across the street from the post office and thought, "I have 10 minutes to spare, and our wine fridge is looking a little bare. Time to carpe diem and stock up." When I walked in, I smiled warmly at the two ladies sitting behind the counter. I was the only customer in the store, instantly eliciting a marvelously awkward feeling. In response to their "hellos", I said, "Hi! This is my first time in your shop -- it's so cute!" I was overly cheerful because I suddenly felt as if I was an unannounced guest, rudely interrupting the ladies' busy day. In the name of full disclosure, I need to share an important detail of this story: I was not exactly "dressed up". I was wearing workout clothes -- yoga pants and a striped, short-sleeve t-shirt. Hair pulled back into a pony tail, head adorned with a Northwestern University ball cap. No makeup. However, I was carrying a (pedestrian) Coach purse (not as impressive as Louis Vuitton, I know), so I don't THINK I looked like I belonged in a cardboard box under the "L" tracks. Based on how I was treated, though, I believe the ladies behind the counter thought differently. On the heels of my compliment, I asked a question: "I see your pinot noirs over there -- can you tell me about them?" One of the ladies got up from her chair and walked over to the shelves. Cheerfully yet with a hint of irritation and condescension, she gestured to the top four shelves and said, "These are the high-dollar pinot noirs -- up here." (All of the bottles featured prominent price tags, so I could have come to this conclusion on my own.) Gesturing to the bottom two shelves, she said, "These are the low-dollar pinot noirs. Here is one for $12.50, which is good for the price." Because Midwestern politeness is ingrained in the genetic composition of my DNA, I reacted to her short and insulting description of their pinot noir selection with kindness she didn't deserve: "Oh, okay. Thank you. How about your Chardonnays? Can you tell me a little about the Chardonnays you carry? I tend to like the more 'oaky' and buttery Chardonnays." Again, she gestured to the bottom-shelf wines -- the cheapest ones they carry -- not offering one ounce of information beyond the price points of each varietal. "The low-dollar chardonnays are down here," she said, echoing the information she provided about their pinot noirs. Needless to say, it didn't feel very good to have this woman look at me and surmise that I'm a bottom-shelf wine drinker. I ended up buying two bottles of wine. As soon as I left Wine Goddess, I was kicking myself for patronizing that store. If anything, I should have abandoned all politeness, leaving the store after saluting the lady who "helped" me with my middle finger. Civility and common decency, however, prevented me from acting on this desire. If, after reading my review and the reviews of a few other Wine Goddess customers who had similar experiences with snooty rudeness, I have one note of advice for you: Be sure to walk in with your nose held high and your Louis Vuitton purse in clear view, signaling that you are a member of the Wine Goddess's preferred, pretentious clientele. read more

Ok beer friends, listen up: It may say Wine Goddess out front, but this is the only store that I know of that is getting regular shipments of Zombie Dust. ZOMBIE DUST OMFG RIGHT HERE. After being saved a six pack for one of the wonderful people who works here, I will never, ever shop anywhere else. Also: the wine selection is great. Also: the small liquor section is also great. Please, no more Davis St. No more desperate Jewel nights. Just go to the Wine Goddess. read more

I absolutely love this place. Fantastic vibe created by the staff and the owner, Diana. Right by the el and Metra stops, there's a fun after work crowd. But any time, it's a great place to stop in and stay or carry out. Wine, beer, select spirits and craft bitters, fun little chocolates, napkins, glasses, etc. Fantastic place to pick up a gift. They've created such a great sense of community and are terrific supporters of many local causes. Also have wine classes, music nights, etc. You will enjoy yourself while supporting a wonderful small business. Plus, in warmer weather - outdoor seating and frosé! read more

The Wine Goddess - Cheers! - Wine Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

The Wine Goddess is the bomb! My partner and I recently went to their wine tasting and we couldn't have enjoyed ourselves more. They had a dj, lots of wines to taste, delicious nibblies, not to mention fun locals to mingle with. My partner Tim usually stops by here on his way home right off the metra and grabs several bottles of wine or champagne. The selection of wines, champagnes and beers is quite good with varying price points; and they offer great suggestions every time we walk in. What makes this place stand out is the friendly customer service each time we walk in...but then again, we usually get in return what we give out in the beginning. Hint hint to those who don't receive good customer service! :) read more

The Wine Goddess - Our Go-to wine store! - Wine Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Super pretty store with a really wide selection of wine, of which I know nothing about. Luckily there's these two nice ladies that work there who can help you make the perfect choice. I got a really lovely bottle of pino grigio that didn't give me a hangover even after half a bottle! ;) Not in the mood for wine? (That's insane!) They've also got a good selection of craft beers for sale. I think they're starting classes/workshops too. Can't wait to get back! read more

Love this place. The great folks who work here are spot on in their recommendations. Wine tastings help you discover fantastic wines and in the summer they have frose and frozen sangria. Great neighborhood too! read more

The Wine Goddess - Frozen sangria. Why not! - Wine Bars Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I went here after a stressful week to relax and have fun at a wine tasting with a friend. We walked in and at first all was fine we checked in and paid at the counter (5$ for a wine tasting) and headed to the back booth. HOWEVER, on approaching the wine booth the lady behind serving the wine was incredibly rude by completely ignoring my friend and I (I was later informed SHE IS THE OWNER). THEN she proceeded to acknowledge us but instead of being welcoming she exclaimed at how young I look and went on for a good 5 Minutes in front of everyone there and made a big show of carding me after already carding me. It was very rude and disrespectful certainly didn't make me feel welcome. Additionally, she compared me to her niece who is 18. I am far from 18 and been through enough in my life to be respected than to be disrespected and familiarized so rudely by a woman who has never seen me before, know my age, or my profession. WINE TASTING - She was so focused on the "cheap" wines that were supposedly still good. I was there to taste something nice for when I want to splurge on a nice bottle of wine not something "you don't feel bad mixing." I have been to many wine tastings and this wasn't one of them. Service is bad, we never were allowed to rinse our glasses out USED THE SAME GLASS FOR ALL THE WINES INCLUDING THE WHITE AND RED, and the wine itself was mediocre. I won't be returning. read more

Stopped in for a glass of wine last night. We've been here many times and have always enjoyed the atmosphere. It was busy as there was a tasting going on but that wasn't the problem. The problem was the whining, crying babies. The owner likes to maintain a "kid friendly" environment as there's a small children's play area in the front of the shop but the ones making all the noise were babies and too young to make use of the play area. We would've gladly gone outside to sit at a table and drink our wine but no sidewalk tables were set up. We most likely would have ordered a second glass of wine and a cheese plate but the atmosphere was so unpleasant, we decided to leave and go somewhere else. It's not that we don't like babies/toddlers. We had three of our own but bringing them out on a Friday evening for a wine tasting and then staying out when they became fussy and loud, isn't something we would've done. Friday evening wine tasting at a wine shop seems like an adult activity and maybe management could do something to tactfully get this point across to customers. We later ran into the people who were sitting next to us at Wine Goddess and they also said that they had to leave because of the noise level. We've always enjoyed our trips here and have spent a lot of money at the Wine Goddess over the past couple of years. I hate to give a bad review but last evening was just too much. Apparently people need to be told when to remove their kids or when not to bring them in the first place. read more

I've taken two classes, "Ze Wines of France" and "Wines of Spain," and they were fabulous! Diana, the owner of Wine Goddess and teacher of the classes, makes learning about wine very fun and approachable. In addition to wine, classes also include shared plates of cheese, cured meats, and bread. Wine Goddess has become my go-to location to buy wine and beer/cider (FYI they also carry a small selection of spirits) because Diana and Morgan are incredibly helpful with recommendations for any price point and occasion. read more

JUST. LOVE. THIS. PLACE. The wine selections are stellar, the staff are super knowledgeable and friendly and Diana, well, she's a rockstar. The newsletters are supremely entertaining too. Can't wait for life to go back to normal (for a million obvious reasons but also) so we can resume our classes and in-store samplings. In the meantime, we're enjoying our wine club monthly pick-ups and the fabulous Custer Oasis outdoor location which we hope will continue even in the After-Times... read more

I'm surprised that I haven't written them a review yet. They have a train table - perfect mommy/child playdate here. One of my girlfriends and I have met up several times for a tasting (and grabbed a bottle to go for dinner) with our kids playing at the train table. I've also been to one of their regular private events for the Oktoberfest where we sampled 15 different types of beer and had a blast with it! They also carry hard liquor including our favorite Few whiskey and gin. read more

This place is what Evanston has been in great need of! Great ambiance and I was floored to find that they have frose! Not to mention complementary popcorn. Employees are both knowledgeable and friendly. read more

The Wine Goddess is a hidden gem of Evanston! Not only do they have a kickass assortment of wine, but Diana (the proprietor) always knows exactly what you are looking for and provides that personal customer service that can only be found in a "small business' atmosphere. They now have a wine bar; it's very close to the Purple line and Metra station and a perfect place to get together with friends after a hard day's work. My FAVORITE event that Diana does (and she does several fun events), is the Wine Extravaganza; wine vendors from all over the world come to this event where you pay $15 and can sample oodles of wines from each vendor. The long and the short of it is: It doesn't get any better than the Wine Goddess. They are by far, the best wine shop in Evanston--and quite possibly the state!! read more

A great experience! We had the frosé, Riesling, and Pinot Noir - which were all wonderful. The complimentary truffle popcorn was amazing. Seating was outside only, but the weather was perfect during our stop. Would definitely recommend! read more

This place is great. It has an extensive selection of great wines in all price ranges, as well as some really good craft beers. Everything is competitively priced, unlike some small wine/liquor stores I've been to. Also, the owner and her employees are very friendly and knowledgeable, and they're always eager to help you find something you'll like. Their wine tasting was also very enjoyable (and a bargain!) For these reasons, I would highly recommend this place to anyone. Give it a shot! read more

I love the wine goddess! I drive out of my way to support this amazing shop. The staff is always great at helping pick the perfect wine. The energy of the shop keeps bringing me back. I love the staff and the selection of delicious wine. I have taken a few classes at the shop too and they are a lot of fun. Shop local you won't be let down! read more