Trinacria Macaroni Works

 

3

24

Thea C.

Baltimore, MD

Trinacria is a beautiful, beautiful thing. I don't understand why anyone would go anywhere else for their quality Italian cuisine needs when you have almost everything here and for effin' CHEAP (what a concept!). Maria pretty much covered everything but here are a few other things of note:

1) The amazingness of their deli counter needs to be reiterated--the bulk olive oil, the CHEESES, the delicious deli meats, oh and the OLIVES! I don't think I'll ever buy bulk olives anywhere else.

2) Italian cookies!! By weight! And cheap!

3) The frozen meatballs and eggplant parmesan made by the store make good easy meals. Oh and they have great pre-made sauces. Who the hell needs Prego?

4) One stop spot for impromptu fancy picnics. Made-to-order sandwiches + wine + cookies = good to go.

Some tiny, tiny gripes:

1) Sometimes the bulk basil is a bit sketchy but when it's fresh, it's a good deal.

2) Like most everything in downtown, they close early (4:30pm) and they're closed on Sundays and Mondays. Sadness.

3) Bring your own shopping bag! Which I fully support but sometimes, I just forget and have to haul everything awkwardly in a cardboard box.

What they lack they totally make up for in quality and price.

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6

30

Maria P.

Mount Rainier, MD

I have said I am not a food snob, and it's true. But I am half Italian-American, which means, among other things, that I am not familiar with the concepts of storebought tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese from a can. I know the difference between rotini and rotelle. I have a spaghetti jar and it is always stocked. And as much as I usually shop at hippie organic markets, buying Italian groceries at those places usually isn't worth the unnecessarily high prices and weird selection.

I know there are a couple of other independent Italian groceries in Baltimore, even if you don't count Ceriello Fine (read: bougie) Foods in Belvedere Square. Mastellone's and DiPasquale's are great and each have their own local followings, but as for me...I keep coming back to Trinacria.

This tiny place on an otherwise completely uninteresting block on the west side of Downtown has been around since 1900. It has always been owned by the same family. They've got a fabulous selection of imported canned goods, pastas and other groceries, but I always get the store-made dry pasta ($0.79 a pound last time I checked). Recently they've started selling olive oil in bulk--bring your own bottle or buy one of theirs. In the back and lining the front of the deli counter are various random varieties of wine, seriously priced to move. Wine clearance and special prices range from $3.99 to $6.99 a bottle.

And oh, the deli counter. Italian cheeses (Reggiano for $10.49/lb--take that, Whole Foods), homemade Italian sausage, cold cuts, and a few different kinds of olives. Sandwiches made to order are heavenly--what makes the difference is the crusty, homemade bread and fresh ingredients.

Trinacria is pretty old-school. They're not open into the evening or on Sundays. I'm pretty sure they only started accepting credit cards within the last year or so. And it can get packed on Saturdays when people come from far and wide to stock up for the week, so take a number.

The location is odd, but convenient if you live in Downtown, Mt. Vernon, Seton Hill or Bolton Hill. Also convenient for me, a former Baltimore resident who now mostly comes into town for classes at UB.

The staff is always friendly and helpful and they do remember their repeat customers. Trinacria is a gem--I wish there were a place like it near my house.

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0

8

Clay R.

Baltimore, MD

EVERYTHING in this store is delicious. There's alot of personality to it too. My favorite thing there is the made fresh daily prosciutto bread. And the staff is really nice. Plus its extremely reasonably priced.

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