Neighborhood store with good service and decent selection. Nice wine selection and premade soups, sandwiches, and rotisserie chicken that sells out each day. read more

We purchased chicken from this local establishment and when we opened the packed packaged the chicken smelled disgusting and sour. I would suggest people to not buy any meat. BEWARE! read more

This place has done some re-arranging and renovating! They've added a soup bar and ready made subs! Their selection of hot foods has improved and their subs are really really good. What sets them apart is the service. EVERY time I visit I am greeted with a hello and a smile. I love our mini conversations at the register as I checkout. They are so friendly here! read more

I appreciate there is an independent grocer in the neighborhood and it has some character to it. I got a couple of day old subs, the turkey avocado and the Italian, just to try them and I'd buy them again. Overall the store is clean with a generally limited selection of items. If there was one thing that would make me rate this a 5 star its if they had more local goods, I don't need the place to be high end or expensive but it might help differentiate itself from the larger chains if it hosted more local options for grocery items. read more

Their turkey club sandwich alone made me write a review. Best ready-to-go sub I've ever had, and a steal at only $6. The decor inside is adorable, love to just wander the aisles and the staff is always super pleasant. Completely ridiculous personal anecdote here - I moved to Chicago years ago and back in my home state every single convenience store consistently carried the AriZona zero calorie Arnold Palmer, but since moving here I had not a single store that sold it. But Carnival Grocer does! Thank you for fueling my continued addiction to these enormous cans of artificial sweetener! read more

Oh, baby, I LOVE Carnival Foods. Even before I moved to the city and was a lil' suburban girl, driving past Carnival Foods intrigued the hell out of me. The building is so colorful! Why is there a freakin' CLOWN on a grocery store sign?! WHAT THE HECK?! I don't live extremely close to this store, but I've been here quite a few times. I love their alcohol selection: From beer, to wine, to whiskey, I could bring anyone here and we could all find something we are interested in drinking. They also have fresh sandwiches, frozen pizzas, a huge ice cream selection, and one time my boyfriend claims he saw Tim Meadows while I was fishing for my credit card. I'm not sure if that's true, but if it is... I'll never forgive myself for being so clueless. As with most grocery stores that aren't major chains, the prices here are a little higher than I'd personally prefer, but you're paying for the convenience and extremely bright and cheery atmosphere. You're a part of my life now, Carnival. See you soon. read more

I'm not sure if there was an ownership change or the threat of a new grocery store moving into the hood, but Carnival is upping its game. After months of piecemeal construction, the store seems to be complete. They've opened the floor plan up a bit, re-did the entryway, and relocated some things. Would I recommend this for everyday, heavy duty shopping? Hell no. Of course, you can score better deals from Trader Joe's, Jewel or Aldi, but nothing beats the convenience of being able to schlep down there in my sweats and slippers to pick up a quick item. (I like to pretend they don't judge me when I do this) I've also always found the staff friendly and helpful in the years I've been coming here. read more

I ABSOLUTELY love Carnival! Yes- some things are higher priced than others, especially if you compare to a "typical grocery store." That's not the point though- how many times have you needed just ONE thing and you totally forgot to get it during your weekly grocery run? This place saves the day. Hop, skip and jump away from home and you don't have to deal with getting back into the car etc. My favorite part about Carnival is the staff. I have a conversation with Dave, Keniysha (sp)?, Armando and the manager Steve every time I go in. I feel like I'm friends with them lol! I like that they're so personable. I think it's really cool too that there are SO many health conscious items- GF shredded cheese (for example). I'm not a huge drinker but based off perception- it looks like they have a solid alcohol and beer selection. Thank you Carnival for being the sweetheart that you are! read more

The place may be small but it has pretty much everything you could want. Yes you'll find lower prices at Walmart however you can't beat it's convenience. They have a lot of natural & organic products, a pretty varied selection of local beers and a good deli (their in house roasted turkey, roast beef and sausages are delicious.) read more

Just bought a grocery item that costs $8.79 at jewel and other groceries stores. Carnival charged me $ 14.79. I went back to ask if there was a mistake and was told nope this is the price. So they charge $6 extra on an $8.79 item. Not sure if they are ridiculously expensive or dishonest but I don't plan to go back. read more

Closest local grocery. Expensive, but they've got practically everything you could need, plus spices. I've picked up sandwiches here from the deli a number of times and they are solid. Good spot in a bind or for lunch. read more

I live right behind this store so I go there multiple times a day. They have a great wine and local beer selection. They have a deli with Boars Head meats and fresh sides as well. Pretty much all the necessities that one would need to run to a local grocery store. However my only suggestion is to lower your prices. I can walk the other way and get everything for half the price and it is always a lot more crowded. Love you carnival, but don't rob us!! read more

Rude, inconsiderate owner. If you're under 50, prepare to face his judging eyes. If you want to charge 2-3x normal prices because you are a small grocery store, be kind to all of your customers. Otherwise, you will continue to lose business. To those raving about the wine selection here...I award you no points & may God have mercy on your soul. read more

Wow, Carnival is really stepping up their game! I used to dread going to Carnival. It was old, dark and musty...kind of like my Grandma's basement (only my Grandma keeps her place a lot cleaner). I only go by when I absolutely have to, I've really actually chosen to walk a mile or drive rather than running across the street. I hated that place. Well my mind started to change yesterday. I ran across the street to pick up some tortilla chips and expected the worst. Much to my surprise, they've renovated...well, they're in the middle of renovating. It's already a million times better. They've moved the meat counter to the front, opened up the aisles and brightened up the place. It looks like a real grocery store now. I took a walk around and noticed that they have some pretty good meat selections and the prices weren't terrible. They may have had these all along but I could never see them before when they were trapped in the back of the store. They also had a new kind of La Croix water that I didn't know existed. If you're not particular about brands, you can usually find what you're looking for at a reasonable-ish price and they do seem to run good specials from time to time. One thing I could always say about Carnival is that they have a good adult beverage selection. I can always count on them to have a decent wine or beer option for whatever I'm looking for. They used to have this section in the front but have moved it. I didn't check it out this time but I'm assuming the selection is still alive and well somewhere else in the store. I would say I'm a fan but I still think it's expensive and I don't find the employees to be overly friendly. I am looking forward to seeing what else they do with the place. I'm so glad they've made some changes, I could see myself growing to like it there. read more

Carnival Foods is a great store. I have been going to this store since I was a kid in the 70's. Unfortunately when Lincoln Park became gentrified, developers snatched up commercial properties to build housing. The Jewel at Clark and Belden closed, the gas station on Armitage Ave closed, liquor stores, laundromats, mom and pop stores and other long time businesses closed. All you basically have is housing and restaurants. But Carnival Foods has remained. Unlike most grocery stores this size, carnival foods has fresh high quality meats and produce, a large variety of frozen goods and other products you would expect to find only in larger stores. The employees are nice and checkout is super fast. And for a smaller store, they open early and close pretty late. The closest major grocery store is more than a mile from here. The only drawback is that Carnival Foods is pretty pricey for some items. A bottle of windex is $5.69. I'd rather get window cleaner at the Dollar Tree. However, there are still cheaper items like shampoo for $1.49 or paper towels for $1.49. That being said, it is very convenient especially in a food desert like the area around Dickens and Lincoln. The quality and variety are good. read more

Ahhh, yes - my neighborhood grocery store. Carnival Foods is one of those smaller, independent grocery stores so the fact that they don't have a huge selection is to be expected. That being said, it is kind of cute in that neighborhoody sort of way. They do have a nice wine selection which is very important to my life. Besides that, everything is organized in a strange way and their produce section is bad. But, if you live down the street from Carnival, it gets the job done...especially for those of us who aren't gourmet cooks and usually only require hot chocolate mix and whipped cream. read more

Convenient because it is the grocery store in a one block walking distance from my townhouse. You pay for that convenience greatly in price though. Expect prices to be at least 30% more than what they should be at comparable stores. For that I never do my full shopping here, only when I need an item or two on an emergency basis. Whatever you do avoid their 'homemade' hummus, because it is absolutely awful. Doesn't have nearly enough oil and it isn't ground enough. Has the queasy texture of eating moist sand. read more

Has anybody ever noticed there is the image of a penis (with balls) in the lower left corner of the mural outside Carnival Foods?! The mural is on the Dickens side (of course it is). The phallus is disguised as one of the vegetables ... check it out and you wont be disappointed. Then you wont be able to not see it. Anyway, as with all subliminal pornography, I'm a big fan. Prices are generally high at this place, and produce is often old. They have a ton of really unique stuff, like fancy cheeses and random Euro/gourmet/health/"ethnic" foods and a surprisingly strong wine selection. If you live in the neighborhood, a stop to Carnival is a good way to hold off until the weekend to go to a 'real' grocery store, and a great place to stop to pick up something for dinner. I hope I don't get somebody in trouble for pointing out the cock, but it is too good not to talk about. read more

I wish this place were more reasonably priced - I think it would be a lot more popular with the neighborhood and get a lot more business. It's so convenient but I find myself avoiding it due to the 1.5x markup on everything. For instance, St. Germain here is $58 and it is $38 at Binny's. Wow wow wow. I give it 3 stars for friendly staff, cold beer room, and convenience/location. Unfortunately I won't ever use this as "my" grocery store. read more

Since there are no recent reviews of Carnival Foods, I feel the need to write and give them their due credit. I went here maybe a year ago and was a little on the horrified side, very cramped, kind of dark, many empty freezers. I got the feeling of a place going under. I vowed not to return even though its two blocks away from my apartment. All that is changing. I went there yesterday, a little on the desperate side because I needed an ingredient for something I was cooking. I was really surprised how much they are fixing the place up, the aisles were opened up more, new freezers, fresh bread and produce (smaller selection though) and a decent wine and beer collection. The prices weren't too crazy either, of course I often shop at Big Apple on Clark, so I guess its all relevant. If it has been a while since you stopped in, please give it another chance. read more

Small, but packs in everything you need. Really, they are not a convenience store, the shop has everything, from produce, deli, to a liquor section with a good wine selection. They even have all-natural brands of dog and cat food, and they even make their own raw food for dogs, such as chicken and sweet potato, they also bake beef marrow bones. They have hummus that is really good. The prices are average, no higher than 7-11 or any convience store, it is a reasonable price since this is not Shop N Save, it's a small business. Pick up one of the huge Cinnamon Raison cookies that are near the register, they are great! read more

I come here for the booze, as there is no where else close to buy it nearby. The wine selection is nice. The beer is overpriced. The staff is nice. The food selection is pretty limited in my opinion. The deli/pre-cooked section doesn't look appetizing. Anyone who pays $7.50 for Cheerios has Bob Barker rolling over in his premature grave. read more

A small and claustrophobic type of store that has a whole bunch of items packed right in. There's a fairly large selection of wines to boot. Very handy for this neck of the woods, as there's not a lot of other choices within walking distance for the concentration of people that reside nearby. This is the type of neighborhood place that you go because the shop keeps are friendly, and mom and pop appreciate it. Unfortunately, the prices are what you'd expect. read more

Carnival Foods is just two blocks from my place. They are not my first choice for major, bulk grocery shopping, but they sure are convenient for a quick trip to pick up stuff I need when I don't have time to make it to the supermarket. "The Carnival" (as my boyfriend calls it) is very small but very well laid out. Prices, as compared to big supermarkets, are pretty high. But you can't beat the convenience. I like that the meat is not prepackaged like it is at a big supermarket. It's like going to a local butcher. The prices for fresh meat/seafood are a bit higher than at the Jewel ($5.99/lb. for chicken breast vs. $3.99/lb. at Jewel; $22.99/lb. for sea bass) but if you have to choose between buying stuff to prepare at home or ordering food to be delivered to you, it's still a better deal. The deli offers really tasty sandwiches, home-made chili, prepared pastas, meatloaf, etc. Nice place to visit if you need stuff for a picnic in Oz Park. Carnival also has wine and liquor, something I can't get used to since I come from NYC where you cannot buy that stuff in a supermarket. Prices of wine and booze are higher than at Binny's or Jewel/Osco. Overall, pricey but convenient if all you need are basic items that you don't need to buy in bulk. read more

Love the wine selection here. It's an adorable, boutique grocery store with everything and anything. The hours are extended which happen to work out with last minute needs! Staff is friendly and very helpful. I love my neighborhood gem. read more

Cool store inside and out. Love the signage in front. Much larger on the inside than it's outward appearance suggests. Cross between a corner store, small supermarket with a few fancy-ish sort of things here and there. Convenience items and liquor located at the front. Good selection of beer and wine. Pretty good produce and deli with Boar's Head meats. Seafood and ready-made salad and pasta type stuff looked a little raggedy but it was later in the day so I can't judge. Some interesting items to be found. Noticed on the way out a cooler stocked with their own home made dog food. Had an entertaining look around and left with some good stuff. Prices understandably a little higher than the usual for most items. read more

Most other reviews correctly note that the prices are as high as expected from a small neighborhood shop and also couch that within the context of unexpectedly large selection, great quality meats / seafood, and good service. For me, the final price of shopping at Carnival isn't much different from the larger discounted stores. At Carnival, the great hours and convenient location allow me to buy in small quantities, so nothing goes to waste. Wine selection is very good. Butcher counter is very good. Deli counter is very good. The produce isn't as good. While the store has a "packed" feel, it allows them to carry all sorts of items that you wouldn't expect to find is such a small place. Excellent staff can help you find things within the store's unique filing system -- look for size 2 Huggies on top of the freezers... Also, they are dog friendly in that they allow you to tie your hound to the bike rack outside, and they usually leave dog treats near the front door. read more

The Carnival Foods is somewhere between a corner market and a full-sized grocery store. It's small, but since I live around the corner, I find it perfect in a pinch. It has all the staples I need including produce, liquor, dry goods, soda, etc. and a few surprising items - like pomegranate molasses and specialty pastas. Generally if I'm making a recipe and run out of an ingredient, it's pretty likely the carnival foods will have that and I appreciate that. I just don't know that I'd buy meat or deli items here as I rarely see anyone purchasing them so I question how quickly the turn over. That said, you do pay for the convenience. Everything seems to be substantially marked up so I'd never do my regular grocery shopping here, but for forgotten items and fill in trips, it's incredibly convenient. read more

Welcome to your neighborhood grocery store. Well maybe not your neighborhood, but definitely mine. Carnival foods is tucked into a random corner in Lincoln Park with a sign that looks like it literally came from a carnival circa 1960. However, inside you find quite a nice little shop! Whenever I go in, usually in a pinch when I am missing an ingredient or suddenly find myself looking at the bottom of an empty wine bottle (no judging!), I surprisingly find what I am looking for. They have all the major sections of a grocery store and have a wide variety of foods in stock. The adult beverage section holds its own too! I must say these guys got an extra star for stocking the O'Fallon Pumpkin Beer in the fall (Best beer ever and a rare find!). Nice staff but I will have to agree with the above-average price points. Oh well- you pay for the convenience... read more

Carries everything you need in day to day life and is a perfect neighborhood grocery store. Has freah produce, milk, eggs, all the other grocery store items like laundry detergent, cereal etc. even has contact lens solution. it also has a deli. Wine selection is VERY good, especially for being a small store. Cashiers are friendly, no long lines. And the hours are great. Open late, especially on weekends read more

This is a Small, Independent grocery store. It is not a large chain, corporate backed grocery store... so do not have the expectation that you will save money. However, in my experience the pricing is not that greatly different for the convenience. Do go here when you don't have an ingredient for what you are cooking, chips/salsa, or a bottle of wine etc. This is a fantastic little neighborhood spot where you can grab a few groceries on your way home from work. They do a great job of stocking staples and specialty items within a small space. We used to live just down the street and this place was incredibly handy to have nearby. We could walk over and tie our dogs onto the bike rack out front while we grabbed whatever we needed... without driving out to Jewel. I seriously wish that the West Loop had something close to Carnival. read more

After three years of living a few blocks north and biking by this place every day, I finally decided to pop into Carnival for some burger meat. The place was basically deserted except for a cashier up front, and nobody was at the meat counter. I know this sounds like nitpicking, but the lighting in there is horrible, which makes the meat look really unappetizing. They also had a whole freezer aisle with about half of the freezer space totally empty other than old price tags. I sort of felt like I had stumbled into some sort of post-apocalyptic zombie movie (walk around the store and see if you don't feel the same way). I didn't end up getting anything, but could certainly see this place being OK in a pinch for booze, canned foods, and other non-perishable stuff. Since I usually want produce and/or meat, I'll be sticking with Big Apple, which has a much better selection and is a short walk north. read more

This is an extremely well stocked neighborhood store with a friendly staff, comfortable environment, and great selection of food and liquor. I am mostly vegetarian and find everything I need as far as non meat products (I love my fake bacon) and health foods go. The deli counter always has several great vegetarian options to choose from, and when I have a craving for fish, Chilean sea bass is the best. They also have a good selection of nice chocolate and a great selection of wine and beer. I always stop here to find a good bottle when I need something nice to bring as a gift or to a party. It would be worth going a bit out of your way for its wine selection. I am happy to pay a little extra to know my cashier, feel at home, and know that I am contributing to an independent business and promoting community cohesion. The staff is also responsive to customer requests and suggestions- you really can't get that at a chain like Jewel or Whole Foods. I love this place! read more

I have been going to carnival since moving into the neighborhood over 20 years ago. They have great meats, fresh produce and a terrific liquor selection. Yes it a bit pricey but worth it for the little extras you can only get from a local market. read more

I'm convinced the only reason this place is in business is because of its location. It's perfect if you need a certain item quickly, but it's not worth going to for the majority of your shopping or if you have the time to run to another store. The items are insanely marked up, the staff is unfriendly, and the produce is never fresh. read more

Carnival Foods has stepped into the breech caused by the closing of the two Treasure Island stores nearby with an expanding array of specialty products from around the world. I was able to make a Beef Wellington for the holidays and get all the ingredients (a perfect beef tenderloin, tender as butter; duck foie gras; imported parma ham; puff pastry). To save a trip to Whole Foods, most of their produce selection is now organic. They have an excellent wine and beer selection as well. Parking is plentiful, right on the street. Why waste hours dealing with the crowds at Mariano's (now owned by Kroger) or waste money with the overpriced Whole Foods? read more

I live directly across the street and come here about everyday for either a bottle of wine, water or some pre made food (the meatloaf is fantastic). You certainly do not want to do the majority of your shopping here because the prices are certainly more expensive. However, there are a few items that are reasonably priced - Gato wine (look down in the wine section), generic laundry detergent and a few others. Additionally, if you're in a pinch, it's okay to come here to get a few brats for a cookout. However, you might spew a few curse words if you need one of the more overpriced items (meat, fish, etc.) but it's better than losing your street parking on a busy weekend to go to Jewel. For better or worse, I'll be back :) read more

Love love love the convenience of having a big store in a little store spot. There isn't a thing they are missing - it's amazing how complete the selection is. Rotisserie chicken, a deli counter, meat selections and wine make this an excellent place to shop. I hate grocery shopping, but could do this every day. read more

So their rent is higher and they buy in smaller quantities..THAT is why they charge 50% more. That said, since their makeover at least I do not feel like I have to watch out for rats when I walk across the street to pick up milk or eggs (they now have organic ) when I prefer not to get into my car. So I am glad they are there, but would NEVER plan to go there, it is only for default read more

We stayed at a Airbnb near this little store, it was a convenient place to stock up on everything we needed for our weekend. Prices may be a little on the high side but the close location was worth the extra cost. read more