Vace in Baltimore: Italian Deli with a Lunch Counter and Imported Meat Selection

Vace is a neighborhood Italian deli in Canton that sells cured meats, imported cheeses, and prepared sandwiches across a small counter and takeout operation. It functions as both a retail shop for home cooking ingredients and a grab-and-go lunch spot, with a modest but focused menu of house-made and sourced items that serve the local residential crowd rather than tourists.

What Vace actually is

Vace occupies a narrow storefront on Eastern Avenue and operates as a traditional Italian provisions shop with a sandwich counter. The space is tight, roughly the size of a single-car garage, with a display case of cured meats along one wall and a few shelves of imported dry goods. Most transactions are quick transactions: a quarter pound of prosciutto, a wedge of parmigiano-reggiano, or a made-to-order sandwich. There is no seating, and the operation moves high volume during lunch hours on weekdays.

Menu, sandwiches, and pricing

Vace makes sandwiches to order on Italian bread, with the most common builds featuring house-roasted turkey, Italian cold cuts, or seasonal specials. A standard sandwich (turkey, roast beef, or a mixed cold-cut combination) costs between $7 and $9, depending on meat selection and size. The deli also sells portions of cured meats and imported cheeses retail by the pound; prosciutto and capicola typically run $16 to $22 per pound, while block cheeses like provolone or fresh mozzarella fall in the $6 to $12 range. House-made items rotate, but mortadella and sausage appear regularly. Prices on imported goods shift with supplier costs; calling ahead (410-342-6200) before a specific meat purchase confirms current pricing.

How Vace compares to other Baltimore delis

Vace operates at a different scale and price point than Attman's Delicatessen (Eastern Avenue, closer to downtown), which is larger, older, and focuses heavily on pastrami and corned beef in the Jewish deli tradition. Attman's sandwiches run $10 to $14 and the space accommodates sit-down eating. Vace's Italian focus and smaller format make it better for quick pickups or retail meat shopping; Attman's suits customers seeking a seated meal and a broader American deli canon. Lexington Market's various meat vendors (including Kosher butchers and Italian counters) offer retail options but lack the sandwich-focused workflow of either dedicated deli. For a made-to-order sandwich in 10 minutes or less, Vace is faster than Attman's, which can draw lines during peak lunch hours.

Who Vace suits and who it does not

Vace works best for Canton residents and Eastern Avenue regulars who need lunch quickly or shop regularly for cooking ingredients. It serves people building meals at home better than tourists or first-time visitors unfamiliar with Italian cold-cut names and cuts. The tight space and no-frills service mean it is not a destination for a leisurely lunch or a place to linger. Those seeking a full Italian restaurant experience, or diners who prefer table service and a wine list, should look elsewhere; this is provisions shopping with a sandwich counter, not a dining venue.

What a first visit involves

Walk in, wait for the counter to clear if there is a line (busy periods are 12 to 1 p.m. on weekdays), and either order a sandwich or ask to see the case of cured meats. If ordering a sandwich, specify the meat, size, and any toppings (lettuce, tomato, onion, oil). If buying retail, point to what you want and state the quantity (typically by the quarter or half pound). Cash and card are accepted. The transaction takes 5 to 10 minutes from order to receipt.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Vace is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; it is closed Sundays. Parking on Eastern Avenue is street parking only, with a mix of metered and unmetered spaces; expect to circle during lunch hour. The store is accessible by bus (MTA Route 3 runs along Eastern Avenue). No restroom is available on-site.

Vace holds its position in Baltimore as a working deli that prioritizes speed and ingredient quality over atmosphere, fitting the needs of the Canton neighborhood and serving the rare Baltimore visitor who knows what to ask for at an Italian counter.