Di Pasquale's Marketplace in Baltimore: Italian Groceries and Prepared Foods Without Markup Pricing
An Italian grocery and prepared-food counter in Highlandtown, Di Pasquale's Marketplace stocks imported pasta, canned goods, and fresh produce at prices that undercut most specialty food retailers in the city, plus a kitchen producing fresh mozzarella, Italian meats, and hot prepared dishes daily. The business occupies a corner storefront on Highlandtown's main commercial strip and draws regulars seeking both staple ingredients and ready-to-eat meals.
What Di Pasquale's actually is
Di Pasquale's functions as a neighborhood grocery with the infrastructure of a prepared-foods operation. The storefront holds shelves of imported Italian products: pasta by the pound, canned San Marzano tomatoes, olive oils, cheeses, and cold cuts. A refrigerated counter displays fresh mozzarella made in-house, ricotta, and imported prosciutto. A hot counter offers items like lasagna, baked ziti, chicken parmigiana, and meatballs ready to take home or eat at one of a handful of small tables. The market serves both people buying ingredients for cooking at home and people looking for a quick lunch or dinner.
Pricing and the prepared-foods counter
Prepared dishes cost between $6 and $12 per pound or per container, depending on the item. A half-pound container of lasagna typically runs $6 to $8. Chicken parmigiana, meatballs, and baked ziti fall in similar ranges. Imported pasta costs $1 to $3 per pound. Cheese and cold cuts price out by the pound as well, often $8 to $16 depending on the item and origin. Fresh mozzarella made on-site costs less than specialty shops charge: around $6 to $8 per pound, compared to $10 to $14 at many Baltimore restaurants or dedicated cheese counters. Prices can shift seasonally, particularly on imported goods, so verification at the counter or by phone is wise before a large purchase.
How it compares to other Baltimore groceries
Acme Fine Foods, located in Canton, stocks a broader range of prepared items and seats more customers, but charges noticeably more per pound on prepared dishes (typically $10 to $15) and imported goods. For pure grocery shopping, large chains like Safeway carry some Italian imports at lower per-unit cost due to volume buying, but the selection is limited and the produce quality is inconsistent. For those seeking fresh mozzarella specifically, Di Pasquale's on-site production keeps costs lower than ordering from restaurants or buying pre-packaged versions at supermarkets. Aldi offers some imported Italian pasta at the lowest absolute prices, but the variety is narrow and the store carries no prepared foods or fresh mozzarella. Di Pasquale's fits the niche of someone who values quality, wants to cook at home but also wants an option to buy a meal, and prefers not to drive to Canton or pay markup fees.
Who it suits and who it does not
Di Pasquale's works well for Highlandtown residents and others on the east side seeking weekday lunch without leaving the neighborhood, home cooks sourcing Italian ingredients regularly, and anyone buying fresh mozzarella for cooking or charcuterie boards. It is less suitable for shoppers who want one-stop grocery shopping (the selection of non-Italian items is minimal), those on a strict budget (prices are fair but not the cheapest in the city for basic items), or people who prefer table service or extended dining space. The tables are informal and the pace is fast; it is not a destination restaurant.
What the first visit involves
Walk in, browse the shelves if needed, and approach the counter. Staff will ask what you want and portion items. If you want prepared food, point to what appeals in the hot case; staff will heat it if necessary and box it. You can eat at the small tables or take it with you. There is no ordering ahead system, so items available depend on what was made that day. Going mid-afternoon or early evening typically offers the widest selection of prepared dishes.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Di Pasquale's is open Monday through Saturday; hours are typically 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., though it closes on Sundays. Street parking is available on the surrounding blocks in Highlandtown, usually without difficulty. The storefront is accessible without steps. The neighborhood is walkable from the Highlandtown Avenue area. Call ahead if you have questions about whether a specific prepared dish is available that day, as the kitchen does not maintain a posted menu or take orders in advance.
Di Pasquale's holds its place because it offers fresh, affordable Italian food and staples in a neighborhood where chain supermarkets do not, and because the prepared-foods counter gives people an option that is faster than cooking but more personal than reheating a frozen meal.
