Marty's Delicatessen & Restaurant in Baltimore: A Jewish Deli Built on Corned Beef and Consistency
Marty's is a full-service Jewish delicatessen and restaurant that has anchored Baltimore's deli landscape since 1929, operating as both a counter-service spot for quick sandwiches and a sit-down dining room for full meals. The menu centers on house-cured and smoked meats, with corned beef as the anchor item, alongside pastrami, brisket, and traditional sides that reflect the mid-Atlantic Jewish deli standard. Unlike many regional delis that have closed or scaled back over the past two decades, Marty's maintains production in-house and serves as one of Baltimore's remaining old-line delis rather than a casual interpretation of the form.
What Marty's Actually Is
Marty's operates as a hybrid: the front counter moves sandwiches and prepared foods quickly; the back dining room seats roughly 100 and serves dinner entrees with sides. The space itself preserves period details and signage from decades past, though the building has been updated for kitchen function. The customer base splits between longtime regulars, families taking children for the full-meal experience, and people stopping in for a corned beef sandwich on rye. This is not a trendy reinterpretation of deli food; it is a direct continuation of the form.
Menu, Pricing, and House Specialties
Corned beef sandwiches run approximately $16 to $18 for a single, depending on weight; pastrami and brisket sandwiches fall in the same range. Sides, including pickles, coleslaw, and fries, are ordered separately at $3 to $5 each. Full dinner entrees, served with two sides and bread, range from $22 to $28; the roast beef platter and brisket dinner are standard orders. Breakfast is available and priced in the $12 to $15 range for egg-based plates with sides.
The corned beef is brined, smoked, and sliced to order; consistency in thickness and seasoning is maintained across visits. Pastrami follows the same house method. Sides are prepared daily, and the pickle barrel is continuously refreshed. Prices reflect Baltimore's market and have moved incrementally; call ahead if exact current figures matter for planning.
How Marty's Compares to Other Baltimore Delis
Baltimore's deli options have contracted significantly. Nate & Wally's, in Pikesville, operates similarly as a full-service deli with corned beef and a dining room, though it draws a more suburban clientele. Attman's, also in Pikesville, focuses on corned beef sandwiches and retail meat sales with less sit-down seating. Marty's location makes it more accessible to downtown and Canton residents; its dining room is more developed than Attman's. Compared to Nate & Wally's, Marty's has a longer operating history in its current location and a more integrated neighborhood presence. Choose Marty's if you want sit-down dining with full meals in a central Baltimore location; choose Attman's or Nate & Wally's if you are already in the northwest suburbs or prefer retail butcher shopping alongside takeout.
Who This Place Suits, and Who It Doesn't
Marty's works well for families seeking a sit-down meal, longtime residents looking for consistency, and anyone wanting corned beef or pastrami in a traditional setting. It suits people without time pressure; service is steady but not rushed. It does not suit anyone looking for a casual, minimal-seating counter experience like a modern fast-casual deli; the dining room is the point. It also does not cater to dietary trends; the menu is meat-forward and traditional, with limited vegetarian options.
What a First Visit Involves
Enter through the front, where a counter display shows the day's meats and prepared sides. You can order a sandwich to go or ask for a table. If seated in the dining room, a server brings water and a printed menu; decisions on entree and sides are made together. Corned beef sandwiches are made fresh after ordering. Full dinners arrive with bread and butter; eating time averages 45 minutes to an hour for a complete meal. Payment is cash or card.
Hours, Parking, and Getting There
Marty's is open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday hours vary (call ahead to confirm). Street parking is available on the surrounding block, though turnover during lunch and dinner peaks can be tight. The location is accessible by bus and a short walk from the Charles Center area. Verification: hours can shift seasonally; confirm by phone before a late visit.
Marty's endures because it produces its own corned beef in-house and has not abandoned the sit-down model that defines a full deli. For Baltimore residents and visitors seeking corned beef with continuity and scale, it is the most accessible remaining option in the city proper.
