Cardinal Spirits

Jennifer Perry

2024-02

I used to love Cardinal Spirits, but I won’t be going back again after tonight. The cocktails are interesting, though very sweet. The problem was with the food. I ordered a portobello mushroom sandwich that was shockingly disappointing. The basic roll was small and inside were three tiny strips of mushroom, a little bit of melted cheese and a couple pieces of pickled vegetables. I think I’ve had sushi rolls with more filling than this. My husband’s steak sandwich was a decent size and pretty good but he paid $4 extra for just a few French fries instead of the chips. With the automatic 20% tip (which was fine since we didn’t have issues with our service), we were charged over $80 for our two drinks and two sandwiches and I left hungry.

Marci May

2023-05

Did you know that Cardinal Spirits doesn’t just make great alcohol? Cardinal Spirits is a restaurant located on a fabulous little neighborhood street just north of Bloomington‘s Switchyard park bridge. Driving down this tiny little street you’ll see adorable multicolored homes to your east and to the west situated on a hill you will see the Cardinal Spirits restaurant. They have a small parking lot just south of the restaurant. Inside you will find a tiny area containing Cardinal Spirits gifts. These are perfect for your drink local fans. We sat on the deck out front for our date night. We walked in and were able to get the last available table on the patio. There are only a handful of tables including the seating inside so be sure to make a reservation. On this night we were told we got lucky. The host was charming, our server was delightful and knowledgeable. We were greeted by the manager at our table thanking us for visiting their restaurant. The menu items were absolutely delicious and the drinks were superb. Cardinal spirits also hosts group tours of the distillery and would be the perfect place for your wedding party or office event. Since our visit, we have become huge fans of the Cardinal Spirits brand and drink selections. Put this on your must-do list when visiting B-town!

Mike Swinson

2019-05

This is definitely a nice place to check out and have a few cocktails. We did The Distillery tour and while The Distillery itself is not very large the tour was very informative and enjoyable. The staff seems very knowledgeable on what they make and the ingredients they use. It seems like they have a different type of spirit for every taste. The place is clean and folks are friendly. We did not eat there this time but when we come back down to Bloomington we will certainly make it one of our stops. Enjoyed the desperate housewife. That's one of the best drinks I've had in a long time. Do yourself a favor and check this place out.

April Kleber

2024-01

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Josh Jackaway

2024-01

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Maggie Bott

2024-03

Stopped in for a Valentine’s Day dinner. Cardinal spirits has been my go to date spot for years but the last couple times I’ve been in for a dinner I’ve had a pretty lackluster experience. The quality of the food has gotten pretty meh and isn’t worth the price tag. I’ve heard they lost their previous chef that made the food so special.More importantly, I learned they use Israeli mint as a prominent ingredient in one of their gins, so that has convinced me to not support this place.

Troy Maynard

2018-05

Who would have guessed such a simple looking space would produce such amazing food and drink? Everything we've tried has been out of this world. The drinks are delicious, beautiful, and strong. The new food menu is artful and divine. Service is always super friendly and efficient. Prices are reasonable considering the very high quality. Don't miss this spot.

Cameron Reed

2020-05

Wow! We just visited Cardinal Spirits for the first time. I’m sad it’s only our first time! We had three different cocktails, 1) 1979 2) Botanica G&T and last but definitely NOT least 3)Dry Spell! They were all amazing, but the Dry Spell was our favorite...it’s a ginger lovers cocktail, absolutely delicious!The chef also stopped by our table to explain the menu and point out his favorites...he mentioned he tries to stop by any newcomers table if he is able. He was very welcoming and helpful! I am vegetarian and he recommended several items including the dessert Dark Matter (chocolate ganache and a praline mousse with chocolate cake pieces garnishing the top; heaven in a bowl!) which I had first because I couldn’t help myself! I followed it up with and the Autumn Risotto Dish which was incredible...perhaps life changing if you love risotto.The ambiance was that of a craft brewery...all in all the whole experience was lovely! We can’t wait to go back!

Cory Hawkins

2022-05

Update: Brunch is the bees knees. Spice up your hopscotch coffee with a little song bird liquor. "Iced Hopscotch" they say; "Ice It" I say. Also, inside is nice too. Especially when they save a table for you when youre sitting on the patio when the sky turns black and refuse to come in until it really starts dumping.Original Review: You cant stop a great combo of delicious hand crafted drinks and apiced to perfection flavorful food. Oh, and the staff brings out little mini shots to sample different liquors and blends. Patio is clutch. Dont miss a perfect summer night with a cool drink in your hand. Honestly the simple drinks are just as good as the fancier ones. Because they are all made with high quality ingredients. Mozzarella and lamb were perfect. Risotto was a little overpowered but ny hat is off for the effort. Will be coming back so save us a table.

Sandi Warner

2017-05

Fell in love with this place! Perfect place for a quiet relaxing afternoon with a friend. Not much of a liquor person, but their cocktails are satisfying to all types of taste buds. Mature relaxed crowd. Their menu offers yummy and unique appetizers and a variety of cocktails. Can't wait to go back to do the VIP tour of the distillery as well as hear the live music they offer from time to time!

Cayley Gubser

2018-05

The cocktails are good but a little pricey. The drink menu rotates seasonally. They also just opened their own kitchen, but it was a little sad to see the partnership with the food truck end. Overall, this is a great place. The Moscow mules are one of my favorites and you can always order standard cocktails off menu. And, if the weather is nice you can bring your dog and sit outside!

Bradley Patitz

2022-05

I recently went to Cardinal to enjoy dinner and drinks as an early celebration to the weekend. The atmosphere was quiet and undisturbed. Our server Alex provided us exceptional service that was frequent and timely but not bothersome. The appetizer was good and reasonably portioned, the entries were rich in flavor and cooked to order.Overall probably the best combination of both food and service I have received over the past 10 years in Bloomington!

Amanda M

2021-05

We ordered takeout and it was definitely one of the better experiences! The food was still fresh and warm by the time we got home. We ordered the chicken and hominy soup which was fire and then an apple and squash soup which was a little meh. The prime rib sandwich, as many have said, is delicious and the bahn mi was delightfully fresh! The meat and cheese board was well worth it and completely demolished. The quantity of food was perfect, overall a great experience!

Nicholas Hahn

2022-05

Fantastic little spot in Bloomington. Unique cocktails with lots of unique flavor. Had small bites and highlights were the olives and the fried with the spicy BBQ sauce.

Wendy Partenheimer

2022-05

I have been to Cardinal Distillery twice. Unfortunately the first time they were busy and we were unable to have drinks or food. I did purchase the Strawberry Gimlet mixer set. Cannot say enough about how delicious it was!!!The second time we were able to have drinks and wished we were hungry. The drinks were so surprisingly and incredibly good!!! Absolutely delicious!!What I want to share most is that I have a very sick friend who means the world to me.After a post on Facebook he wanted a water bottle (He’s a huge STL Cardinal fan). I offered any amount of money for the bottle and the manager said take it to him.I am not in Bloomington often enough but I will patronize this place every single time I am there!Thank you for your wonderful and fabulous drinks and your above and beyond kindness!!!!!❤️

Stefanie Gillum

2022-05

This place has the absolute BEST cocktails, amazing food, and wonderful service!

Z Ibrahim

2023-05

Unfortunately 90% of the brunch menu on a Saturday was cooked with some form of rum or vodka etc! Definitely not a spot for someone who doesn’t consume any form of alcohol. I had a soda ( non-alcoholic) drink though, and it was relatively ok

Greer Gerni

2023-08

This used to be my favorite place anywhere. The only thing better than the amazing perfectly balanced cocktails was chef Abel Garcia's food. There were so many delicious and creative gluten free options, so we chose Cardinal for every special occasion. After a year away, we visited last night. There was a strange smell throughout the distillery tasting room, but we did our best to ignore it knowing we were moments away from a flavor experience. The new menu has comparitively fewer gluten free options. And simple sandwiches have replaced the previously creative entree options. We opted for OMG fries and the charcuterie board --- hangovers from the previous menu. Much to our disappointment, the fries now come with bottled ketchup instead of the flavorful homemade sauces. The charcuterie board was made with low quality cheese cubes and salami served with ordinary mustard and honey. The gluten free sub for the bread was stale rice crackers. I tried not to be bothered because we were there for the cocktails...but they were also underwhelming. The terra gin cocktail I ordered tasted like spicey watermelon juice, not at all like the handcrafted spirits I came in for. $75 later we left quite disappointed. We spent our meal googling Abel Garcia -- he's at the Elks Club, by the way. We really miss his food...and we really miss the spirits in Cardinal Spirits.Dietary restrictions: A few gluten free options, but not as many as 2022 and earlier

Joey Wańczyk

2023-05

I've been to Cardinal Spirits many, many times since they opened in 2015. I highly recommend this distillery.There simply isn't another place like Cardinal in Bloomington. Even before they had a kitchen, the drinks served here have been interesting, exciting, and wonderful. There have only been a handful of times where my drink wasn't quite as outstanding as others—and even then it was still very good and drinkable.The food has generally been great, depending on who they have as head chef in their kitchen. Much like their cocktails, Cardinal is interested in experimenting with unique flavor combinations while not going overboard. Lastly, the service has always been lovely, even on busy nights. Definitely my preferred spot in Bloomington for excellent cocktails.

Dave Martin

2020-05

My first cocktail was MORE than OK. My second was a delightful berry sour vodka concoction. Trish's recommendations were spot on. Thank you!

Thomas Gerson

2023-09

The atmosphere was great, drinks were great. Food was ok, but the service was not good. After being ignored for most of the night, we were charged extra for a sauce that we never ended up getting.Will probably return just for drinks. Will absolutely avoid the server we were sat with tonight.

Haley Dow

2022-05

Such a lovely experience! The staff was more than accommodating and extremely kind! The food and drinks were INCREDIBLE, too!

Jordan Vohs

2023-05

Great drinks and food! I loved the tofu tacos and the lavender daydream cocktail!

Douglas McLean

2018-05

Fun place with strong drinks! Plus you can purchase bottles to go. Yum!

Nick Sayles

2023-05

A real treasure in Bloomington! Some of the most unique cocktails I've seen and tasted. They really put a lot of thought and care into their craft and come up with unique flavors. I love that they source a lot of their ingredients locally. Jeff is a charismatic and wonderful host and gave a great tour of the distillery. I look forward to going back again. Do yourself a favor and check this place out!

Shelby Pund

2023-05

Would not recommend attending the VIP Distillery tour. Spent almost $100 for two tickets and it did not feel worth it at all. The tour guide was not very engaging and awkwardly threw around some terminology while pointing out some of the equipment for 10 minutes before switching to a tasting of their alcohol. The best part of the tour was that we did get to try all of their different types of liquor. However, the “cocktail class” consisted of the tour guide mixing their coffee liqueur with ice and serving it as well as a rum daquiri that was just a mix of rum, lime juice, and simple syrup. The tour also advertises that it includes a bottle of spirits. My partner and I were not given an guidelines so we chose the four grain whiskey - however that apparently is not included in the deal and we were only given a $5 discount on a $60 bottle of whiskey. Kind of ridiculous considering you can get a $40 bottle of gin for free with the tour. I was not impressed at all and will not be recommending this place to anyone.

Josh Wright

2023-08

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Kennedy Schwartz

2022-05

10/10 every single time we come here. The drinks, the food, the service, the ambience… all are phenomenal. The staff are very friendly and very knowledgeable on products and menu. These are craft cocktails at their finest! Tucked away in Bloomington makes for a cozy, eclectic vibe. And the prices are as good as any other place in town! One of the best small businesses in the area, hands down.

Desmond Williams

2022-05

I went to this place for my girlfriends birthday dinner and we all absolutely loved it. The staff were all nice and our waitress was very accommodating. If I were you I would try that steak sandwich they have but everything I saw was definitely made with love. Their drinks were out of this world which made it even better with the food. Our group had a blast and our waitress even made us laugh. Shout out to the woman whose name started with “M”! 10/10 would recommend for all groups and gatherings.

Hannah George

2023-05

I went with a bachelorette party over the weekend. The service was absolutely terrible with our food taking over 45 minutes with our server disappearing and never checking on us. I paid $30 for a burger and fries that I would maybe pay $7. My bun was burnt and was not that good which sucked because I was so excited to have a burger. My fried paid $25 for 2 tiny drumsticks and cornbread and fries that was burnt and she couldn’t even eat the drumsticks. The food is way overpriced. The cocktails were decent which was the only redeeming quality. If you’re ever in Bloomington, I would save your money and go somewhere else.