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Supreme Liquors
Category: Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Beer, Wine & Spirits [Edit]
600 Massachusetts AveCambridge, MA 02139
Neighborhood: Central Square
(617) 661-8629
- Nearest Transit:
-
Massachusetts Ave @ Pearl St (1, 47, 64, 70, 70A, CT1)
Central Sq - Outbound (Red Line)
Massachusetts Ave @ Prospect St (1)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 9 am - 11 pm
Sun 9 am - 9 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
45 reviews for Supreme Liquors
Review Highlights
"...has the best selection in Central Square, with a variety of..."
(in 14 reviews)
"...some reason I've never been able to find 6 packs of Harpoon..."
(in 4 reviews)
"They are really helpful when you ask."
(in 3 reviews)
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45 reviews in English
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Review from Stephen T.
Cambridge, MA
11/28/2011 3 Check-ins Here
This is one of the most convenient places to get alcohol in Central Square. Their size allows them to carry many more brands than the next closest liquor store, Libby's. The prices are a bit more expensive, but you pay for the location and the convenience.
Pros:
large selection
discount prices are quite low
friendly service
convenient location
Cons:
regular prices are not the cheapest
central square -
Review from Laura K.
9/5/2011
Four stars for fighting the good fight.
Central Square is a veritable battleground of sorts for those of us just trying to catch the No1 bus or grab a bag of Jaxx at 7-11. I can't imagine what it must be like to protect this fortress day in and day out.
Is the stock a bit jumbled? Sure. But, I know where the Box'o'Sangria is and how to ask for a handle of vodka from behind the counter. Also, the people working the counter are surprisingly pleasant considering, by my count, the usual whackjob to normal human ratio hovers somewhere around 3:1 at all times.
Bring your sense of humor and a penchant for I-Spy. If you possess neither, never fear -- this place is supremely stocked floor-to-ceiling with beer, wine and liquor and no one seems to be enforcing the open container or drunk and disorderly laws on this block. -
Review from Sarah d.
6/11/2011 7 Check-ins Here
I go here for a couple reasons. They have a decent beer selection and they are close to my house. That's about it.
They are kind of overpriced, which is not uncommon in the city but most places that cost this much have more interesting stuff to try. Also, the six packs are always incomplete or mixed up so even if they have what you want you might not be able to find a complete sixer of it. Seriously, the entire beer section is a mess. I hate it. You have to shuffle everything around just to get a simple six pack, which should be an easy grab and go situation.
Also, all their decent booze is behind the counter, so either you loiter around the counter and look like you are cutting in line or you don't know what they actually have until you're paying. Stupid. Also I have terrible eyesight and can't tell half of what is up there even from the counter so I have to ask and I hate doing that.
I am now in the habit of stocking up on beer from Atlas whenever we go to Quincy so I won't have to shop here as often. -
Review from Monique S.
Somerville, MA
8/7/2011
Excellent selection of beer, liquor, and wine. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and the line is not very long. They cater to all price ranges, and have the most reasonable prices I've seen in Cambridge.
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Review from Josephine L.
Boston, MA
12/16/2010
I'm a mixologist-in-training and I love this place. They have a pretty good selection of liqueurs and a huge selection of those little travel-sized bottles that's perfect for my many cocktail experimentations. (Get the Bailey's Mint Chocolate....DELICIOUS!) They even carry seasonal stuff like pumpkin liqueur in the fall. Mmmm.
The wine selection is surprisingly quite extensive. I was able to find some dry Prosecco that I really needed for a cocktail once, and they carry vino from all corners of the globe. Don't care about beer so can't comment on that selection.
Besides its proximity to the T, here's the other main reason you should go here: the service! Service in a liquor store can sometimes consist of a surly foreign person barking at you for ID, shoving change/receipts in your hand and glowering at you as you walk away without a "Thank you". Not so here. My G.O.D., the people here are nice. So incredibly friendly, outgoing, knowledgeable and helpful. The crew that was working yesterday--I swear, I felt like I was a dinner guest in a Southern grandma's kitchen. So warm and inviting. -
Review from Leighann F.
Astoria, Queens, NY
3/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
Guess what? You, yes you, can buy booze here. A lot or a little, fancy or frugal, there's quite a bit to choose from at Supreme Liquors.
The highlights include several steals on various varietals of wine near the front and a plentiful stock of craft beers in the way back. Sadly, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is nearly non-existent here and the cachaça selection pitiful.
Close proximity to the T makes thus a convenient location to stop for some sauce on the way to a friend's house and the size of the store should assure that you won't ever leave empty handed.Listed in: Convenience!, Liquor Stores in Boston, Cambridge Neighborhood:…
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Review from Tom E.
4/18/2007
An above average liquor store simply because it's so large that you get a lot of choice. It's also in a good spot - so close to the T at Central Square.
The pretty extensive world selection of beers and some good choices of the local craft beers is probably the most impressive part of this place. Their is also plenty of the hard stuff behind the counter too including some expensive whiskeys.
On the downside everything is a little overpriced, and the staff aren't very helpful. In fact - the place gives me negative vibes. Still, it's a good place to while away 15 mins hoping that your wallet, gut, brain and tongue will work out a compromise together and steer you to the one of many hundreds that you actually want the most. -
Review from Ligaya T.
San Francisco, CA
10/13/2007 1 photo
Our relationship is one of convenience. Proximity isn't everything but it's right there when I exit the T and five blocks from my house, and as I'm usually frenetically darting around these several minutes saved often means I'm not late.
I'd appreciate if there was an organic/biodynamic selection though Harvest is across the street. Love that they carry Peak ales rounding out a solid beer selection. I'll pay the extra tax for variety and the exotic of all types of alky which they don't have at Libby's.
Hands down the least seedy place to obtain some juice on the block and the cleanest. And the employees are nice (albeit none too knowledgeable) too despite the fact they have to wear those horrendous teal polos.Listed in: Event Planning 101
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Review from Kiwi H.
8/14/2008
The least sketchy place for me to get my tipple in Central Square. It's well-lit, pretty large, conveniently located, and is clean enough. Yay!
The staff is nice enough... not wandering around to be helpful but they're friendly and that'll do if I go in armed with knowledge of what I want. Prices are ok, not particularly low but I've seen worse. Choice is pretty good, I was actually surprised the first time I went in here by the array of things they had which was a nice thing. Nothing compares to the amount of worldly choices I can find at the Davis Square liquor store (my favourite, I think) but definitely not too shabby. Overall, I don't think it's Supreme per se, but pretty decent for sure! -
Review from Mike M.
Dallas, TX
2/14/2010 4 Check-ins Here
So, I think with Supreme Liquors you have to take the Central Square riff raff and inflated Boston prices as a given. If you want your vodka $3 cheaper, drive your car to the NH state line.
That being said, I think this place is pretty great.
- They have an amazing selection of beers - the microbrews and imports selection is especially impressive
- I love the mystery six pack by the register. I have only bought it once and it was pretty awesome - Hoegarden and a Tecate in the same sixer???
- They are really helpful when you ask. I had two sales people helping me assemble the perfect Dark and Stormy the other night with a recommended dark rum. They also carry ginger beer by the can!
- When things are crowded - think New Years Eve and St Pattys - they run out like 5 staff to the registers and get even the biggest line knocked out quick. Pretty impressive.
- plus, the popcorn machine? I always take a bag... who could refuse that?
Supreme is clearly the best liquor/beer/wine one stop shop in the Central Sq area. Bank it!Listed in: New In Town Essential
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Review from Jonny C.
10/19/2009
Hey, for being this close to the office, you cant beat it.
Huge wine selection with fantastic prices. Large liquor selection which runs a bit high, but good sales which bring the prices out of the stratosphere.
To my fellow reviewers: to complain about the homeless/drunken issues of the Supreme is to complain about Central Square itself, not the business. They are not necessarily any more prominent here than outside any other business on this stretch of Mass Ave.
Supreme serves its purpose, and serves it well. -
Review from Neil Z.
Cambridge, MA
2/5/2009
First things first: they treat you kind of like a criminal here. You *will* get carded, and so will the people who come in with you. It happens every single time, no exceptions, never. Additionally, if you show up right before closing time, there's usually a cop there, and the alcohol has to be bought and paid for before 11:00. I've seen people get told to put their beer back and go home. It sucks; it's the law -- do yourself a favor and make that beer run at 10:30 instead of 10:50.
That said, I do a large fraction of my beer shopping here even though it's far from home. The selection here is hard to beat; they've got pretty much every beer made in New England, more imports than I'll ever get around to trying, and a pretty solid selection of beers from the rest of North America. Their specialty-beer selection isn't the greatest but interesting things turn up sometimes: I've found Dogfish Palo Santo and Brooklyn Chocolate Stout here. The prices are, by Boston standards, unbeatable -- off the top of my head I think a 6-pack of Harpoon goes for about $8.
The liquor selection and prices are pretty decent too.
I can't comment on the wine, because I normally get that at Trader Joe's. There's a lot of it here, though.
The sake selection is disappointing, but I feel like a pretentious lush pointing it out.
I haven't found a five-star liquor store in metro Boston, but this is probably my favorite in Cambridge. -
Review from Shaina P.
10/30/2008
Big. Wines. Liquor. Mixers. You know, the usual.
But at some point, Supreme Liquor busted out a great selection of beer. It will never match the diverse offerings of Downtown Wine and Spirits of Davis Square, but it's pretty darn close. Mmm...NY's Rare Vos. Chilled and ready to go. Whale's Tale. Seadog. Allagash. Other stuff. Can't complain except that I have to walk a mile to get there...
A word of note to friends who might be visiting me. If you need to pick up booze and you're coming from the big bad city via the Red Line, get off at Central Square and go to Supreme! since there is NO WHERE to buy liquor from Kendall/MIT en route to Chez Hampshire St.Listed in: My Cambridge: the…, Boston Area Brews: micro,…
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Review from Scott B.
Somerville, MA
3/19/2009
Definitely not what you'd expect from the location... First of all, if you are going anytime after noon, prepare yourself to walk the gauntlet of crazies, druggies, homeless, and homies. Once inside though, you find a spacious and well kept store, stocked with all sorts of varieties of liquors and beer. I was surprised at the selection of microbrews and local beers!
The prices are normal and the staff is very friendly.
Just prepare yourself for the clutter of craziness outside the front door. -
Review from Michael P.
Cambridge, MA
12/6/2009
Right next to the Central Square T stop, there are two booze shops to choose from: Supreme vs. Libby Liquor.
Supreme definitely has BY FAR the larger selection of beer, wine, and liquor and better prices, but the only problem I have with this place is that some out-of state driver licenses don't work here (they can't be scanned or some deal like that, so be aware!) You'd have to get a Mass ID or bring your passport.
Oh yea, sometimes they have a small table set-up where you can try some samples of wine or liquor. Fun stuff -
Review from Peter W.
Boston, MA
1/12/2010
I'll don't really drink anything other than beer so I can't speak to their liquor and wine selection. What I can tell you is this is one of the better beer selections in the area. They are always rotating in new bombers and microbrews and have things that I haven't even seen at the larger chains. The prices are especially good considering the area. I always expect to get screwed when buying beer in the city, yet I never leave feeling ripped off at Supreme.
They are pretty strict in regards to ID. If you are trying to use a fake I'd suggest going elsewhere. I don't even think they will take out of state IDs unless you look 40ish. They often also have either a security guard or a police officer later in the night, especially towards the weeks end. -
Review from nguyet l.
Cambridge, MA
6/9/2011
pros:
large selection of beer, wine, and other hard liquors
cons:
over priced
some employees are rude -
Review from Sahil G.
Boston, MA
7/20/2010
Supreme is pretty good for it's location. Located right in Central Square, they offer a diverse mix of wine, liquor, and beer all at average prices.
I'm not too into wine, so I can't comment on what they have or don't have. But their beer selection is pretty good. They have some great local and regional breweries as well as the a good selection of the American Lagers. I've been able to find some rarer Dogfish Head brews here, and they are usually fully stocked on Stone as well. Prices are ok, not cheap, but not on the high end either. Liquor selection is decent for a store of this size. I've been able to find some liquers and apertifs, as well as good ol Smirnoff Watermelon. Prices are middle of the road, but they occasionally have some great sales (1.75L of Bombay Sapphire for $35 is hard to beat in the city).
Of course, selection can be a bit better all around, but given the space they have it's hard to complain. It's cheaper to come here if you are nearby than to drive somewhere and save a buck or two. Customer service is fine, they are friendly and have often have samples or popcorn. -
Review from Sarah R.
Somerville, MA
7/30/2008
Supreme Liquor is worth braving the cloud of bums and drunks that seem to be ever-present in Central and the completely brokedown Wendy's next door. There's a great selection of pretty much any kind of wine, beer, or spirit that tickles your fancy (and pickles your liver, hey-o!).
The beer selection is awesome, but for some reason I've never been able to find 6 packs of Harpoon UFO. Buy a 12-pack instead? Welllll, I shouldn't, but...gimme gimme gimme!
The cashiers are super-efficient too. I wandered in here on the 4th of July expecting a clusterf*ck of extraordinary magnitude. Sure, there was a line, but within about 3 minutes of getting in said line I was signing the credit card slip for my Leinenkugel and was on my merry way.
I haven't been to Libby's across the way yet, but Supreme suits me just fine for now. -
Review from Julia F.
5/30/2007
I as a policy have always avoided this place. My cousin and friends used to work at Libby's across the street several years ago and so would patronize that store instead (obviously). Since the change of hands across the street, I have gone into Supreme twice and turns out, there was reason to keep clear.
I went in with my older sister (24), my cousin (25) and my friend (25) and myself (22) and we all had ID except for my sister, so once we realized this she wandered out without us and went to Gap across the street. The three of us with IDs went up and tried to pay for it, aparently somebody on the oh-so-helpful-courteous-staff ACTUALLY took note of the four of us walking in and the three of us then paying, they refused to take her passport once they told us she had to come back in to prove she had no ID on her per "store policy" so we went to Dana Hill, where the guy knows us and had no problem. Store policy, my ass. I refuse to go in there again. They charge too much, I would rather give my money elsewhere.Listed in: BOOZE
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Review from Vanilla P.
San Lorenzo, CA
6/18/2007
Out of all the super scary liquor stores in Central Scare, this one is the least freaky, by far. Not that it should justify a trip here specifically...
Yes they close at 11 PM (which is weird, since I just moved from Cali where you cold booze it up anytime, any day). However, I think the employee must have seen my desperation (and soberness) as I ran towards the door at 10:58 -- he held it open and closed it as I slipped inside. Then he refused the next people who tried to scurry in 20 seconds later -- HA!
Grabbed a six pack ( decent selection but not outstanding), then stood in line. Beer was a little pricey, but who am I to be choosy? The most interesting part of the trip was the homeless guy who was trying to bargain with the door employee, and then began harassing the cashier to give him something for free.
Now, I'm just nursing my beer, and trying to lay the smack down on my pre-interview jitters. -
Review from Rachel S.
3/12/2010
I don't usually buy Wine or Liquor here.. I am mostly a beer drinker. It's a great stop if you are coming out of the Central Square T station on your way home from work.
They offer "make your own sixer." It's not something I've found to be common with other beer stores, but I love this option. This way, I can have a few of my favorites and try one or two new beers.
As it's been said before me, they occasionally have samples in-store. Always a treat.
Prices aren't the cheapest but for the types of beer you can get here, I still think it's worth it. -
Review from Grimace M.
Cambridge, MA
8/4/2007
I used to hate this place when it was parallel to the street (pre-Wendys & Tellos) and always went to Libbys. I dunno if the owners changed or what (I think so, the old place mostly had Indians (or Pakistani? I dunno) people working the register).
Given the kind of 'hood that Central Square is, they have a pretty good selection of nicer beers & liquors (I dunno anything about wine, so ...). The service is friendly and somewhat knowledgeable (not 'charles st liquors' or 'downtown liquors' knowledgeable' but I don't expect that). The prices are okay ... not great, but okay. This is where I buy most of my booze. -
Review from Jake M.
12/22/2009 3 Check-ins Here
Currency of supremacy based on readily available and relatively cheap stock of Presidente, the Dominican's finest export lager (and only export lager).
Now if I could only find a liquor store that would stock El Jefe, the beer of choice of the discerning South American dictator.... -
Review from dea a.
5/25/2008
As a total tourist, I was surprised to see this store had it all! Well, almost. The beer selection was awesome, and they had most of the harder to find beers already chilling in the fridge! The people working there were very helpful when we didn't know our way around, and they double bagged our purchases because it started to rain!
As a Belgian enthusiast, I appreciated their selection of Belgian style microbrews (Allagas and Hennepin). -
Review from John L.
7/27/2008
This place probably has the best selection in Central Square, with a variety of different beers/wines/spirits. It is a little sketchy on the outside (it's right next to the Wendy's), but once you get in, there's a wide variety of different available brews and other drinks available.
Definitely a lot more variety here than at, say Libby's across the street. -
Review from Shaina S.
Somerville, MA
6/9/2009
This place is MUCH bigger than it looks from the outside.
There's a surprising amount of variety in the beer and wine sections including some of those tasty yet cheaply priced wines like the Menage a Trois blends. The employees are also really nice, though one admitted to me that he was so in the habit of carding that he has carded for things like margarita mix before. Um yeah...
They sometimes have good deals on certain types of liquor (ex. Margaritaville tequila) so they helped me to furnish a Central Square residing friend's margarita party just fine. -
Review from Abbey B.
Washington, DC
7/9/2008
Better than Libby's across the street.
Here is why I am writing a review of this place: THIRSTY THURSDAYS.
Supreme has recently started Thirsty Thursdays, with beer specials and alcohol tastings (including vodka, etc). I like that they're embracing the college kid population like that.
Good selection of microbrews and wine. The prices aren't anything to write home about, but they're more likely to have what you're looking for than Libby's. -
Review from Hugh R.
Cambridge, MA
1/20/2010
I'm baffled by the reviews on here that claim Supreme's prices are reasonable. I paid 60% more for a bottle of liquor here than I would have paid for the same at Liquor World in Porter Sq. Although, when your comparison is the equally overpriced Libby's across the street, I suppose Supreme's prices DO seem "normal." (Yet the same bottle could have been had at Libby's for 20-25% less....)
It's no wonder there are so many homeless in Central Square; anyone with anything resembling a serious drinking habit cannot be expected to pay these sort of prices and still make their rent each month... -
Review from Alexander H.
New York, NY
9/13/2008
It's a dedicated, not super sketchy, large liquor store.
So yes, I'm a fan.
Seriously, it has a pretty damn good selection of pretty much anything you would need or want when it comes to drinking, and the staff was super friendly and helpful when I was there.
It's not the cheapest around, but for us university kids (especially us MIT students), it's close and convenient. -
Review from Vincent Y.
Allston, MA
10/7/2009
I love that it has a huge chilled beer selection. It has a great international and local beer section. They also occasionally have great wine specials. I haven't seen many stores with a larger selection.
The only quips I have with the store is that they were pretty mean to my friends and I. One day, they yelled "HEY!" across the store in order for us to walk back to the front of the store and get our IDs checked. Despite that, I went back because I loved the selection and I was OK with the prices. It's also conveniently really close to the Central T station.
On Fridays, I guess they have vendor tastings and I had a great chance to taste some Spanish wines and Ginger Liquors from the vendors who were really friendly and knowledgable. -
Review from Mark D.
Medford, MA
9/23/2009
They have a great chilled beer selection and some decent beer prices!
Don't buy liquor or wine here though. I'm a stickler for price and refuse to overpay a penny. The wine selection caters to the bum crowd that hangs around outside the store. You can't park too close so get ready to carry anything you buy. The people working the counter are a little ghetto but whatever. -
Review from Muckenfuss V.
Boston, MA
5/17/2010
Mediocre place but the location is so ideal that going to Supreme for liquor is inevitable, since Libby's across the street, which is just a glorified convenience store, is not a reasonable alternative. The giant floor space produces an illusion of variety; the discerning drunk quickly learns that he doesn't have that much to choose from. There's a weird imbalance in the selection, suggesting that products are being stocked on the cheap from a couple o suppliers: a dozen proseccos but maybe two types of champagne, and only 1 type of Asti and it's $18? a few tequilas and they are all so high up behind the counter that the salespeople don't even want to get them? practically no mixers now that they've cleared out the store window area? The wine selection is reminiscent of a Longs' Drugs rather than a bona fide liquor store: a lot of generic stuff, no nonoaked chards, and lots of California reds that no one in that state would drink. One extra star for "Thirsty Thursdays" price knockdowns on selected products, which brings the cost down to what you would find in a state with reasonable prices like, say, NH or WI.
Supreme's is not for the discerning drunk, just for consumers who just want to get wasted: admittedly that includes myself every so often, but mostly it's students and homeless people. The student target makes it ironic that their ID policy is so stringent: they card entire groups even if only one person is buying (I guess that's the law or whatever), and will demand a second form of ID if you have an out-of-state license. If they had an ID policy corresponding to their selection, and they just became as seedy as their neighborhood, I would respect it more. -
Review from Jennifer B.
Los Angeles, CA
11/7/2010
They are OK but their machine doesn't read california licences so i have to take my passport if i want to go there. it's really lame. can't they get a new machine already??? i've been 5-6 times and i almost always forget my passport and i have to sneakily pass a friend some cash and slip out of the store while they buy my booze. eh... could be better. that's just a huge hassle. selection is decent, price is ok. i don't have much experience with the staff. they gave us a few pointers on what goes best in a white russian so I'll give them 3 stars even though the don't take my license.
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Review from Ben L.
9/26/2008
my thoughts as I walk in:
ok this place seems fine.
hhmmm it's kinda weird that they have all of these mixers in this front area
something's wrong. yeah that's it. this place smells NICE!
I wonder where the beer is, oh! it mist be in that nice big area in the back of the store
why is this woman trying to help me and more important why is she being friendly and nice?
oh they have 1664 yum
now where is their hard liquor?
well it looks nice but it selection doesn't look as large as I'm used to
what? are they hiding certain types of liquor behind the counter? errr
ok, I think that I have enough to get a couple of people drunk back to the mixers
I must be missing something. where is the coke? oh well...
I don't think that I would ever go out of my way to swing by here but I am super psyched at how nice they are and how willing they are to help their customers. If this is in your hood it's well worth a visit. -
Review from Ruth M.
Oakland, CA
5/21/2008
The liquor is relatively more expensive, the beer is relatively cheaper. They have a pretty extensive liquor selection, and a reasonably extensive beer selection. But the specials are where it's at: I had to ask myself a lot of hard questions after stocking up on 99 cent vermouth one weekend. You can usually get cases of cheap beer for... really cheap.
But the beer selection is what impresses me, especially given the vicinity. I've found that throwing a party for a bunch of yuppies is easy enough - get something organic and something from your time studying abroad that is hard to fine, and they're happy. But a party for people you don't know is harder - you need girlie drinks for the girlies, harder stuff for the macho guys, and a non-threatening variety for the people in the middle. This place has helped me out in a pinch more than once, and I always walk away happy with my selection. It never feels like a compromise. -
Review from Mu-Hua C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/11/2010
Large selection, convenient location, and decent prices. One problem. They don't accept out of state IDs unless they are "scannable", whatever that means. The first couple times I came, they let my CA ID slide, but since then they have gotten more stringent. I understand the concept, but I find it silly that a liquor store located in an area so rich in college students and recent graduates would turn away all that business. Their loss, I guess.
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Review from Emma D.
Chicago, IL
6/2/2008
3.5 but I'm rounding up since it's the largest liquor store close to my home. whoo stumbling home with beer!
Also rounding up because I was COMPLETELY surprised at how large this store was. It looks fairly non descript, like nothin special, but when you walk in, it is a long corridor of booze.
Nice beer selection, plenty of wine to choose from, and reasonable for Boston prices. -
Review from Kathleen M.
Cambridge, MA
5/30/2007
Reasonable selection of beer, wine, and liquors, but a bit pricey, as most liquor stores located near T stops seem to be. However, if you're in a bind and need to pick up some beer at 9 am, this is your place!
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Review from molly f.
Cambridge, MA
1/27/2009
Very convenient location makes this my go-to shop for all things boozy. I'm honestly not that wild about their wine selection because I often find more interesting varietals at Trader Joes and other area wine stores...they have a VERY limited selection of Red Zins, which happen to my favorite. On the other hand, its close by, they have good prices on the booze booze, and a ton of beer & cider, which is great. They also get bonus points for not judging when you buy nips of Kahlua (its for cooking, I swear!)
