Give me alllll the subs, Nomsters! I went on a little nom adventure with one of my favorite foodie friends recently, and Di Pasquale’s Italian Market was the stop I keep thinking about. If you don’t know it, this is a family-owned Baltimore institution that’s been slinging Italian goods since 1914, which is not a typo, we’re talking over a hundred years.
We split three subs so I could report back properly, and the short version is they were all bangers. Every single one! It’s the kind of place where the bread’s rustic, the meats are piled high, and it’s easy to see why generations of Baltimoreans keep coming back. Let me put the subs in front of you.
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What Makes Di Pasquale’s an Elite Italian Market
This isn’t just a sandwich shop, it’s a proper Italian market and deli, and the history’s a huge part of the charm. Di Pasquale’s opened in 1914 and has stayed in the same family for four generations, which in restaurant years is basically forever.
Over the decades it’s picked up a serious fan club: it’s been featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Andrew Zimmern gave it love, it landed in one of Lidia Bastianich’s cookbooks, and the Baltimore Banner recently crowned it the best sandwich in Baltimore. When a spot’s still this beloved after 110-plus years, you already know the food’s gonna back it up.
What to Order at Di Pasquale’s
We shared these three, and I genuinely couldn’t pick a favorite, so consider this your ordering cheat sheet.
The Real Italian (large, $12.95)
If you want the classic, this is it: salami, peppered ham, mortadella, capicola, and provolone, dressed with olive oil, vinegar, lettuce, tomato, onion, hots, and their special blend of grated cheese and spices. It’s really fantastic, a proper cold cut sub piled high in their bread. If you’re in the mood for a no-nonsense Italian, you can’t go wrong here.
The Meatball (large, $13.95)
Okay, this one’s a spectacle. Homemade meatballs in tomato sauce with mozzarella (or provolone) in a half loaf of their rustic bread, and it was probably the most impressive sub I have ever laid eyes on, lol. It was GINORMOUS, stuffed with four massive meatballs, and it came out piping hot! We barely made a dent, and to be fair we’d had pizza right before, but still. Come hungry, or bring someone to split it with.
The Porketta ($13.95)
Italian-seasoned roasted pork with provolone, sauteed onions, olive oil, grated cheese, and rapini, and the flavors were a total standout. I’ll say something bold: I enjoyed it as much as, maybe even more than, DiNic’s famous roast pork sandwich in Philly, and if you know, you know that’s high praise. If you only get one sub, this is a serious contender.
And don’t rush out after you order, because it’s a full market too. The shelves are stocked with imported olive oils, cured meats, cheeses, and pasta, plus prepared eats like arancini, lasagna, and brick-oven pizzas if you want to take dinner home.
How Long Has Di Pasquale’s Been Around?
Since 1914, which makes it one of the oldest Italian markets in Baltimore, full stop. It started as a little corner store in Highlandtown, stayed family-run through four generations, and in 2021 it moved to its current home on Toone Street in Brewers Hill. So when you’re standing at that deli counter, you’re part of a routine that Baltimore families have been keeping for well over a century. That kind of history you can actually taste is rare, and it’s a big part of why this place is special.
The Vibe and Experience
It’s a market-and-deli setup, so you order at the counter and then have the fun of browsing all the Italian goods on your way out. Parking’s easy peasy, there’s a spacious lot right there, which makes a quick sub run genuinely painless. We grabbed our food to go and ate outside on a gorgeous day, but you can eat in too. However you do it, give yourself a few extra minutes to poke around the shelves, because there’s so much good stuff to discover.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 3700 Toone Street, Baltimore, MD 21224 (Brewers Hill)
- Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm, closed Sundays
- Parking: spacious on-site lot, super convenient
- More than subs: it’s a full Italian market with imported goods, cheeses, and prepared foods
- Dine in or out: grab it to go or eat in
- Order ahead: online ordering’s available, and they do catering too
- Fan favorite: the Baltimore Banner named it the best sandwich in Baltimore
- Can’t visit? they ship specialty items nationwide
- More info: menu and details are on their official site
Is Di Pasquale’s Worth the Hype?
Absolutely!!! Three subs, three bangers, over a century of history, and prices that stay reasonable for how much sandwich you get. It earns every bit of that best-sandwich-in-Baltimore title for me, and I’d point any sub lover straight here. If you’re exploring more Baltimore Italian, Frank’s Pizza and Pasta is another solid stop, and if you’re already in the Highlandtown and Canton area, Motte is worth a look too.
Have you guys been to Di Pasquale’s yet? If you’re a regular, drop your go-to order in the comments, Nomsters, because I need to know if I’ve been sleeping on something. And if you’ve got a sub lover in your life, send this their way.