A Plus Grocery & Deli in Baltimore: Old-School Italian Sandwich Counter in Highlandtown
A Plus Grocery & Deli is a narrow Italian grocery and sandwich counter in Highlandtown that has operated since 1978, built around Italian cold cuts, fresh mozzarella, and made-to-order sandwiches rather than prepared food for grab-and-go. The business occupies a single storefront with limited seating and serves primarily as a lunch destination for construction workers, office staff, and regulars who know what they want.
What the counter actually sells
A Plus stocks Italian imports alongside Baltimore staples. The case runs the length of the shop and holds Boar's Head and domestic cold cuts, mortadella, capicola, and imported prosciutto. Fresh mozzarella arrives regularly and rounds out sandwich builds. The deli also carries jarred roasted peppers, olives, imported cheeses, and canned goods typical of Italian groceries. No prepared hot foods sit under heat lamps; everything is built to order at the counter.
Sandwiches and pricing
A standard Italian sandwich (cold cuts, cheese, oil and vinegar on a roll) runs $9 to $12 depending on meat selection and portion. The shop does not publish a full menu; regulars order by name or describe what they want. A mozzarella and tomato sandwich costs around $6 to $7. Specialty builds using mortadella or imported prosciutto push into the $13 to $15 range. Prices have not changed dramatically in recent years but confirm current cost at the counter, as wholesale meat prices shift. Cash is preferred; card payment is accepted.
How A Plus compares to other Highlandtown and Canton delis
Highlandtown has thinned considerably of independent delis. Attman's Delicatessen, operating since 1915 in nearby Fells Point and owned by the same family, offers a similar old-school model but on a larger scale, with table seating, a full retail grocer section, and prepared sides like potato salad and coleslaw. Attman's prices are similar ($10 to $13 for a standard cold-cut sandwich), but the operation feels more formal and less neighborhood-centric. A Plus has no frills: a counter, a few stools, sometimes a wait, and no sides unless you buy them separately. Choose A Plus if you want to be recognized and a sandwich built exactly how you specify it; choose Attman's if you want table service and prepared sides included. For convenience-store sandwiches at lower cost, Wawa and 7-Eleven appear throughout the city, but neither sources cold cuts or builds on fresh rolls the way A Plus does.
Who this suits and who it does not
A Plus suits people who understand delicatessen culture: you order by type and quantity of meat, specify cheese and toppings, and wait your turn without expecting a menu board. It suits lunch crowds and regulars. It does not suit anyone seeking a full restaurant experience, vegetarian options beyond cheese, or seating for a leisurely meal. It also does not suit first-time visitors who prefer clarity; the lack of posted prices and visible menu can frustrate newcomers.
What a first visit involves
Walk in, look at the cold-cuts case, and tell the person behind the counter what you want: the type of meat, how much, what cheese, what bread. They will build it in front of you, wrap it, ring it up. If you do not know what to order, ask for a recommendation; regulars will hear this and may chime in. Eat at one of the two or three stools by the window or take it with you. The whole interaction takes five to ten minutes at off-peak hours; expect a short line around noon.
Hours and parking
A Plus is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed Sundays). Verify these hours before a visit, as family-run delis sometimes shift seasonally or close for inventory. Street parking along Highlandtown Avenue is free but competitive at lunch. The shop has no dedicated lot.
A Plus survives as one of the last independent Italian delis in Highlandtown because it does one thing well and does not try to be everything. The sandwich is honest, the meat is fresh, and the regulars keep it alive.
