Di Pasquale's Harborview in Baltimore: A Deli Built on Italian Import Meats and House-Made Pasta
Di Pasquale's Harborview is a full-service Italian deli and prepared-foods counter housed in a narrow storefront on Eastern Avenue in Highlandtown, specializing in imported cured meats, fresh pasta made daily on-site, and sandwiches built to order. The business has operated continuously since 1989 and serves as both a neighborhood destination and a supply point for cooks sourcing specific Italian ingredients.
What Di Pasquale's Harborview actually is
The shop occupies roughly 1,500 square feet across display cases, a small eating counter, and a kitchen visible from the storefront where pasta is rolled and cut by hand throughout the day. The front windows frame vacuum-sealed packages of pancetta, guanciale, and speck alongside fresh fettuccine and pappardelle hanging on wooden dowels. A refrigerated case runs the length of the back wall, stocked with hard cheeses, soft cheeses, and prepared salads. This is not a casual sandwich shop; it is an Italian provisions store that also makes sandwiches.
Services, menu, and pricing
Di Pasquale's operates a deli counter where customers order sandwiches built on Italian bread brought in daily from a local bakery. A sandwich with house-sliced prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, and roasted red peppers costs approximately $12 to $14; adding mortadella or multiple meats moves orders toward $16. Customers can also buy imported meats by the pound (typically $18 to $28 per pound for guanciale or aged prosciutto), cheeses individually, or jars of prepared items such as marinated mushrooms and roasted vegetables for $8 to $12.
Fresh pasta, made in-house daily, sells for $5 to $7 per pound. Filled pastas such as ravioli cost slightly more. A small number of prepared hot dishes, such as lasagna or braised short ribs, are available by the container for $12 to $18, though availability changes based on the kitchen's daily output.
How Di Pasquale's Harborview compares to other Baltimore delis
Attman's Delicatessen in downtown Baltimore is larger and more famous for corned beef; it maintains a full sit-down dining room and seats 100 guests. Attman's focuses on Jewish deli traditions (pastrami, corned beef, rye bread), while Di Pasquale's centers on Italian provisions and fresh pasta. Attman's is better for a quick or casual sit-down meal; Di Pasquale's is better if you are sourcing specific Italian ingredients or want a sandwich made from imported meats you cannot find elsewhere.
Aldi's Market, also in Highlandtown, offers bulk European imports at lower cost, but does not make sandwiches or fresh pasta and does not operate a deli counter. Di Pasquale's serves customers who need both immediate sandwiches and specialty ingredients in one stop.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Di Pasquale's suits home cooks searching for guanciale, aged pancetta, or specific Italian cheese; cooks preparing Italian dishes for restaurants or catering; and people in Highlandtown seeking a sandwich made from meats they trust. It does not suit anyone looking for quick grab-and-go service; ordering takes time because each sandwich is made to specification. It does not suit budget shoppers; imported Italian cured meats are expensive, and prices reflect that sourcing.
What the first visit involves
Walk in and approach the deli counter. The staff will ask what you want. If ordering a sandwich, specify your meats, cheese, and vegetables; the staff will slice, assemble, and wrap it. If buying meats or cheese by the pound, point to what interests you and state your quantity. The shop has no formal seating, though a few high chairs sit against a side wall for eating standing up. Most customers take their order to go. Cash and card are both accepted. Allow 10 to 15 minutes if the counter is busy.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Di Pasquale's is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed Sundays. Street parking on Eastern Avenue is free but often full during mid-day hours; the neighborhood is dense, and a lot does not exist on-site. The shop is accessible by the #3 bus line. Verify current hours before visiting, as deli hours occasionally shift seasonally.
Di Pasquale's Harborview fills a specific need in Baltimore's food infrastructure: it is the place to buy imported Italian cured meats and fresh pasta without ordering online or driving to the suburbs. For that purpose, it is the default choice in the city.
