Dilone Grocery & Restaurant in Baltimore: Where Groceries and Lunch Counter Food Meet

Dilone Grocery & Restaurant is a corner market and lunch counter in West Baltimore that sells packaged groceries, prepared foods, and sandwiches from a single small storefront. It functions as a neighborhood convenience stop rather than a destination supermarket, drawing regulars who want a quick meal or staples without traveling to a chain. The business occupies the ground floor of a rowhouse on Pennsylvania Avenue and operates as both a working grocery and a place to eat standing at the counter or taking food away.

What Dilone actually is

Dilone operates as a hybrid: the front half holds shelves of canned goods, snacks, drinks, and dairy; the back counter prepares sandwiches, fried chicken, hot vegetables, and other warm plates. The space is compact—roughly the size of two narrow rowhouse rooms—and designed for speed rather than lingering. No tables or seating area exists inside. The business serves the immediate West Baltimore neighborhood, particularly people passing through Pennsylvania Avenue who need food or groceries in one stop.

Menu and pricing

Sandwiches run $6 to $10 depending on meat and build. A turkey or roast beef sandwich sits at the lower end; a specialty build with multiple meats or toppings reaches $10. Fried chicken quarters and halves range from $5 to $8. Hot sides—collard greens, mac and cheese, candied yams—cost $3 to $4 per container. A plate combining protein, two sides, and cornbread or rolls runs $10 to $14. Grocery items (canned vegetables, beans, rice, bread, milk, soda) track standard Baltimore corner-market pricing, typically 5 to 10 percent above chain supermarkets. Prices shift with ingredient costs; verify current figures by calling ahead or visiting.

How Dilone compares to other Baltimore groceries

Corner markets across Baltimore serve the same dual purpose: Shorty's Market (South Baltimore) and various independent groceries on North Avenue operate on a similar model of packaged goods plus a prepared-food counter. Dilone's menu leans more heavily toward fried items and traditional soul-food sides than some North Avenue spots, which may stock more fresh produce or prepared salads. For people in the immediate West Baltimore area, Dilone eliminates the need to walk to a larger supermarket for basics plus a hot meal. Customers trading speed and neighborhood convenience for selection will find better range at Eddie's of Roland Park (prepared foods and full grocery) or a SuperFresh, but neither is as embedded in their neighborhoods as Dilone is in West Baltimore.

Who Dilone suits and who it does not

Dilone works best for people living or working within a few blocks who want a quick sandwich, sides, or staple groceries without making two stops. The no-frills counter service and standing-only format appeal to those who eat on the move. The business does not suit people seeking extensive fresh produce, a wide prepared-foods selection, comfortable seating, or a destination dining experience. A family planning a large grocery haul will find better range and parking at a supermarket.

What a first visit involves

Walk in, look at the handwritten menu posted above or near the counter, order from the attendant, and pay. Cash preferred; confirm whether cards are accepted before ordering. Food comes wrapped and ready in 5 to 10 minutes if items are already prepared, longer if the kitchen is busy. If buying groceries, grab items from the shelves, add them to your order, and settle up. There is no formal checkout line; transactions happen at the counter where food is prepared.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Dilone operates weekdays and Saturdays; hours typically run 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., though these shift seasonally. Verify current hours by phone. Street parking on Pennsylvania Avenue is available but tight during peak hours. The location sits on the 2400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, accessible by the 3 or 40 MTA bus line. No parking lot exists.

Dilone stays in this guide because it serves a real need in its neighborhood: affordable food and groceries in one stop, no chain necessary.