Attman's Delicatessen in Baltimore: A Jewish Deli Counter That Still Makes Its Own Corned Beef
Attman's is a Jewish delicatessen on East Lombard Street in the Fells Point neighborhood that has been slicing corned beef and pastrami by hand since 1915, operating from the same building where it started.
What Attman's actually is
Attman's is a counter-service deli without table seating. Customers order at the window or inside the small retail space, then eat standing at a ledge or take food away. The kitchen is visible from the ordering counter, and the smell of meat smoke and salt curing fills the narrow shop. The business is family-owned and operates as a retail butcher shop as well, selling whole cuts and prepared items to customers who take them home. On weekends, the line extends onto the sidewalk.
Menu and pricing
Corned beef on rye is the anchor sandwich, priced around $18 to $20 for a full order (prices subject to change; confirm current rates by phone at 410-563-2666). The meat comes sliced thick or thin per request, and the sandwich arrives hot and wrapped. Pastrami, turkey, and beef salami are also available at similar price points. Sides include potato pancakes ($6 to $8), pickles served free from a barrel, coleslaw, and mustard. Individual sandwiches can be ordered half-size for roughly $12 to $14. A full order is genuinely large; most diners cannot finish one without help. Attman's also sells whole briskets and corned beef to customers who want to take meat home raw. Beer and soda are available; there is no liquor license.
How Attman's compares to other Baltimore delis
Catonsville Deli, located on Frederick Road, serves corned beef and pastrami but sources its meat from a supplier rather than curing it in-house; sandwiches run $15 to $17. Lenny's Deli at the Belvedere mall closed in 2022. Of the remaining Jewish delis in the Baltimore area, Attman's is the only one that still smokes and cures its own brisket using the same process it has used for over a century. Choose Attman's if you want to eat the sandwich at its origin point and see the meat being prepared. Choose Catonsville Deli if you are in that neighborhood and do not want to travel to Fells Point, though the experience will be quieter and the meat quality will differ.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Attman's suits people who want a straightforward, heavy sandwich with no menu complications, who do not mind eating standing up or in a car, and who are comfortable with a no-frills environment where service speed matters more than hospitality. It does not suit anyone seeking a leisurely sit-down meal, a wide menu range, or a quiet atmosphere. Vegetarians will find nothing here. The shop is cash-friendly but also accepts cards.
What the first visit involves
Walk in, stand in line (which moves quickly despite the crowd), order a full or half corned beef, choose thick or thin slicing, and decide on sides. The sandwich is made to order and arrives wrapped in paper. If there is a ledge space available, you can eat inside while leaning against the window; otherwise, people eat in parked cars or while standing on the sidewalk. The entire transaction takes 10 to 15 minutes if the line is moderate.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Attman's is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed Saturdays). Hours can shift seasonally; verify before a special trip. Street parking on East Lombard Street is limited and requires patience on weekends. The shop is a short walk from the Harbor East parking garage. Public transportation via the MTA's #40 or #23 bus routes serves the area. The storefront is small and crowded; large groups should expect to wait outside.
Attman's survives because it still does the labor that food companies outsourced decades ago. That choice defines what you get when you buy a sandwich there.
