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Name: Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop
Address: 222 Albemarle St, Baltimore, MD, 21202
Telephone: (410) 685-4905
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.84

Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop

222 Albemarle St, Baltimore, MD, 21202

(410) 685-4905
Store is closed

Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop Menu

Salads

Fresh Mozzarella & Tomatoes

Caesar Salad
Panini

The Ed Hale

Big Boss

Little Boss

He's A Ham
Mufalato

Original

Margarita

Turkey

Veggie
Specials

Mama Jo Chef Salad

Chicken Pesto Salad

Chicken Pesto Mufalato

Blt Mufalato

Italian Grilled Cheese
Sides

Tortellini Salad

Pasta Salad

Hot Pepper Salad

Marinated Artichokes

Olives & Asiago Cheese
Italian Cakes

Rum Cake

Tiramisu

Cassata

Chocolate Hazelnut Cake

American Cheese Cake

Italian Cheese Cake

Healthy Meal suggestions for Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop

Salads

Fresh Mozzarella & Tomatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Panini

The Ed Hale [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Boss [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Little Boss [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

He's A Ham [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Mufalato

Original [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Margarita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Specials

Mama Jo Chef Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Pesto Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Pesto Mufalato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blt Mufalato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Grilled Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Tortellini Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Pepper Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Marinated Artichokes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Olives & Asiago Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Italian Cakes

Rum Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tiramisu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cassata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Hazelnut Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

American Cheese Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Cheese Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Vishal S.

This review is for dessert only. I stopped by Vaccaro's for a scoop (or 2) of their gelatos. After sampling a few I settled on Vanilla Chocolate Chip Gelato. It was heavenly to say the least :) Just creamy enough for my liking and very flavorful! It was a treat biting in to the chocolate chips!! Staff was friendly too :)
(4)
K S.

Entering Vaccaro's was a huge, huge mistake. My family and I were furious when we left forty minutes after first stepping through the front door. If possible, I'd give this dreadful place ZERO stars. First of all, it took forever to get seated despite having multiple tables ready and available. After grudgingly taken to our seats, the waitress disappears for over fifteen minutes - we were all but forgotten and did not even have water to drink on such a hot afternoon. When she finally returned with the much needed water, we were ready to order and did so promptly: an iced cappucinno ($7??!) , a slice of tiramisu cake, a regular gelato, and five cookies. Excluding the coffee, nothing needed preparation since all the sweets were displayed in the glass counters. With only three other small tables being served at the time, the food should have been served in a reasonably quick manner. We were wrong. It took an astonishing ten minutes for only the coffee to arrive. A nearby couple had to go pick up their order. What lousy place has such a terrible work ethic and (can it even be called this?) service? It's ridiculous! No customer should have to go fetch their own food like this. Over thirty minutes of waiting, and what did we get? Something that takes less than two minutes to pull out of the counter and some tasteless coffee. It turned out that the food was sitting back there and none of the staff was bringing it out. We decided to pay for the coffee and leave, but the waitress didn't even know what we ordered! In the end she said we didn't have to pay. Unbelievable! The waiters were all goofing off in the back so we went to complain about the service to the manager, who was overseeing everything the entire time. He rudely brushed us off and ignored us. Forty minutes of waiting, all for nothing. A sad waste of time. What started out as a simple quest for sweets ended up giving us a sour taste in our mouths. I do not recommend going here: you will receive terrible service and overpriced mediocre fare. There are better places.
(1)
Tu-van L.

THE dessert cafe to go to in the friendly Little Italy neighborhood. Typical Italian dessert fare with the mainstay pastries and gelato. I've had better gelato in Little Italy in NYC, but the quality is just as comparable and you definitely get more for your money. The canolis are excellent - the regulars are super sweet and tasty. You can order some pre-filled or fill them yourself. And they have both regular and amaretto tirimisu (the latter being very tasty and liquidy-runny if you let it sit for too long). I'd give this more stars but the toronne they sold was pre-packaged Ferrara brand - you can get the same thing fresher in Ferrera in NYC! Not impressed with that. Especially impressed with how late this place opens (until 1or2 am on weekends). Definitely check this out if you're in this part of the neighborhood.
(4)
Gabriel K.

Original colosseos is a must-eat item. When you get it, the belgian waffle is crisp even though it's exposed to melting gelato. Mini cannoli dips are good too.
(5)
Michele T.

Nice Italian pastry, try the sampler that has some great amarettos and cannolis. The cappuccino is good but not to die for. not a cheap place either. Service is slow and not so friendly.
(2)
Kathleen M.

Just heaven. Toward the end of my meal at Fogo de Chao, I couldn't believe I was saying it, but I wanted something sweet after the insanity of meat I had just eaten. I was tempted to get something there, until Jim B. piped up with "I know a place." Well GOOD LORD. What a place! Thank you Jim! We had to wait for a couple of minutes for a clear table, but it was totally worth it. A packed place is typically a good sign. What I loved most about Vaccaro's (aside from the mountain of chocolately goodness I inhaled) was the people there. It was so fun to see people coming from all sorts of events (we were there around midnight on a Saturday). People celebrating birthdays, out on a date, or coming from some fancy-pants ball or party. When we walked in, I knew it would be good, as I could see all the pastries stacked up at the counter. Jim and I decided to split the "Death by Chocolate," which at one point we thought might actually cause us to die. These desserts can definitely be split many many ways. I just loved the atmosphere and idea of this place and was so happy to see that the food delivered. I am going to track down the DC locations and become a regular,just before I'll have to go on a major post-holiday diet.
(5)
tania t.

Oh lord, those cannolis are good! ...and there's a Monday night all you can eat dessert and coffee (read: be a glutton, eat dessert for dinner!) for $12.95 per person. Ridiculous! It happens every Monday from 6-9pm in the Little Italy location. Unbelievable. A great way to pack on the pounds to stay warm this winter. Oh wait, that's for hibernating bears...
(5)
S T.

Awesome tiramisu!!! whenever i go thr, I buy the half tiramisu (i think its arnd 10-12 bucks) ...and then hv it 3-4 days in a row after meals. simply superb!
(4)
Claire S.

Went there tonight, and split a $7 bowl of gelato with my dad. We got the pistachio gelato. It was horrific. It had a grainy, strange texture, and the flavor was not good. It was also almost fluffy, in a really strange way. After 4 bites I just couldn't take anymore. It tasted more and more grainy as I kept eating. So, basically, I paid $7 (+ tip) for this horrible food experience. One extra star for the very nice waitress. But seriously... beware the gelato.
(2)
mike b.

I don't mean to rain on the local's parade, I mean I know they love this place, maybe because there really aren't that many other options in Baltimore. Many of the desserts are expensive. They're expensive because the portion sizes they serve are absolutely ridiculous. You want to know why America has an obesity problem? Try ordering one of the sundae's like death by chocolate from Vaccarro's. Just because you get a lot doesn't make a place good. I'd much rather pay more for less if the quality of ingredients are good. Most of the desserts are sickenly sweet and too overdone. IF you manage to somehow wolf down a whole dessert here by yourself, it'll probably set you back 3000-4000 calories. The cannolis are just OK. I'm by no means a foodie snob, but have definitely had cannoli's that were way better in NYC or Washington DC. There's something that is just a little off about the cannolis, maybe it the quality of the ricotta or mascarpone, who knows. For Baltimore, it's an OK try. I'll give it 3 stars. It's good for an after dinner espresso and shot of Italian liquor.
(3)
Steve K.

Vaccaro's is a fun little dessert place that's done very well for itself. Unfortunately I'd chalk that up to having a good idea (a pastry shop in Little Italy open late with sit-down food) as opposed to having good desserts. Vaccaro's is known well enough that there's an outpost in the Harborplace mall, but I feel it's kind of like everything else in Harborplace - slightly old, tacky, chain-like, and not really very good. I think a lot of people come here after drinking, which may explain raves about the food. It reminds me a lot of Friendly's with more variety. The tiramisu that I had had a bad offtaste. The whipped cream tasted straight out of a can. Chocolate sauce - Hershey's, brownies - stale, etc., etc. Vaccaro's, like everything else in Little Italy, tastes inauthentic, Americanized, touristy, and from straight out of the 50's.
(2)
Karman L.

This place remind me "Mike Pastry" in North End Boston. I had tirmasu!reat little place to stop by for dessert! I didnt even finish the whole thing!! It was crowded, not that much seating, maybe it just the time I was there!
(4)
Tamiko J.

Ginormous portions of dessert. I've had better gelato, but not presented like this and with two floors of seating. Again, they only serve dessert. Wow. I'd recommend sharing a dessert with a friend, but if you can handle it order your own. The ice cream sandwich was huge and mad yummy, although the brownie part could have been a bit more moist. The rum cake was pretty blah. If you're in B-more, you must indulge in this neighborhood institution. It's worth the extra pounds.
(3)
Asher Y.

I had a chocolate eclair after lunch at Roy's, a slight walk away. It was big and decent, but nothing mind blowing. The size of the eclair is daunting and bigger is not necessarily better. My wife says the cannolis are to die for but I just was not awed by it.
(2)
Sabree S.

My parents and I have been going to Vaccaros ever since I was a little girl and the desserts have ALWAYS been absolutely delicious. The food is well made, affordable and very delicious. Bellisimo!
(5)
Nechari R.

I'm not a fan of people wiping their butts in my face due to the extremely cramped quarters, however, the tiramisu gelato was scrumptious and more than enough for two people! I sampled one of their cannolis and...I've had much better.
(3)
Adrianne T.

After a decade out of my hometown, I had my old standard chocolate chip cannoli and a cream puff that brought me RIGHT back. sis enjoyed the sfogliatella even though it was crispier than I expected after years of only seeing them. anyway, this is a tourist draw that still works for the locals who pile in there every night. The cannoli seriously is the greatest. Stop here, take a late night stroll around the hood and it's a perfect date-ender if you ask me.
(4)
Amber A.

I've accepted the fact that my sweet tooth will probably give me diabetes, but if it means having these desserts on a regular basis....I happily accept my fate! There's even a line on a Sunday night out the door bc this place is so wonderful. Tables are available inside if you can wait for one. I had my very first Cannoli and am still drooling a day later. I don't think you can get anything bad here. It's perfect for a sweet-tooth fix. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because we had to wait so long and our service was just mediocre. They can use some work in that department, but they don't need any advice in the kitchen.
(4)
Jennifer M.

We stopped here for sandwiches and stayed for dessert. We had a mufaltto (original) and had a chocolate Napoleon for dessert. Everything was great. We also bought a apple Napoleon and briscotti to bring home. Yum
(4)
Alan D.

Love the desserts here, the cream-puffs and almond slices are my favorites. Came for dine in one night with my dad and brother. Ordered a banana pie/ice cream special. So rich and creamy, tasting the bits of brown sugar, were amazing. Pricing is steep, my dessert alone was $8 but oh so good. A great place to spoil yourself or a date
(5)
Sofia Z.

No offence ......but seriously this shop is overrated. I am a cannoli fiend and always order a cannoli if I can and this one is not good at all. I've been all over the world (East coast, West coast, from NY, Boston, DC to San Francisco, to Los Angeles and San Diego...and then all the way to Sicily). The best cannoli I've had so far...are from a little mom and pop (Sicilians) shop in a suburb of San Francisco (San Mateo). I'm not kidding you....the cannoli there are devine(!!) and really what a cannoli worshipper is dying for. You've got to have the ricotta filling just right, not too sweet, not to grainy and then the shell has to be delicate but with that yummy slight taste of being deep fried. Honestly, I don't know why Vaccaro's calls theirs a "cannoli"... it's more like an eclair or something. One last thing, I was there with my family and while the desserts we ordered were large and looked pretty good...none were that appealing.
(1)
Karen C.

Unfortunately, Baltimore doesn't have a lot of options when it comes to Italian pastries so people get pretty excited about Vaccaro's. Some of the desserts are pretty good including the colosso (monstrous tower of ice cream over a belgian waffle). Their amaretto and pignoli cookies are pretty good as well. But prices are a little high for what you get. I don't think the desserts are on par with what you can get for cheaper at the north end in Boston (Mike's or Modern Pastries). Also do not order cookies at the table because they will charge you 3 dollars for one cookie on a doily.
(3)
Pascal P.

The coffee here is only average, but that's the only complaint I have with Vaccaro's. Their desserts are large and delicious, prices are reasonable, and the service has always been good. Tiramisu is my favorite item, but I've also had their cannolis, rum cake and some some of their cookies, and they were all extremely tasty.
(5)
L G.

Have been a big fan of Vaccaro's cannoli for years. Finally had the chance to visit their flagship location in Little Italy. Family and I stopped in for dessert after lunch. Ate in. On the plus side, the shop's been nicely remodeled and has a nice vibe. The cookies were amazing. The cannoli, cappuccino and latte were good, too. However, on the negative side, they only serve cannoli with lots of chocolate chips mixed in with the filling. No option without. Odd. I'm a bit of a purist and would have preferred without. My daughter was very disappointed -- she loves cannoli but doesn't like chocolate chips. Also on the negative side was the service. Our waitress wasn't to blame -- she had to seat customers, take orders, prepare the orders, serve the orders, and bus/clean tables. The other three employees in the store? They weren't doing much of anything. One middle-aged woman who looked to be an owner-type sat at a table and pitched in for maybe all of 30 seconds during the time we were there. And one teenage staff member who appeared to be a relative of the owner-looking person stood/sat around basically doing not much of anything. As a result of the lack of attentiveness/effort by those two, our waitress was left to hopelessy fall behind on serving customers. Overall, had expected different/better. Still have a warm place in my heart for Vaccaro's, but probably won't make the effort to visit their Little Italy location again anytime soon.
(3)
J H.

Devine and Delish Just like everyone else is saying, definetely try the cannolis, you won't be disapointed. I always get the chocolate napolean with black coffee. Lemon gelato is my favorite. Defintely date worthy after a nice meal in Little Italy.
(5)
Vincent V.

One of my can't miss stops whenever I'm in Baltimore, and I usually end up leaving town with a box of canolis and eclairs for the trip back to Atlanta. It's the kind of small, well-established neighborhood eatery that you just don't have further south in the land of strip malls and urban sprawl. I love going for walks in the neighborhood when I'm visiting my friends nearby. I had told my wife stories about Vaccaro's leading up to our last trip to Baltimore. I'm happy to say that the desserts more than lived up to the hype for her as well. Can't wait to come back and have some more.
(5)
Karen L.

I was so full after dinner, but I couldn't stop eating the dessert. I shared the Baci Ball (which should be "balls" because you get 3 mongo cream puffs filled with chocolate hazelnut gelato topped with fudge and whipped cream) and a Strawberry Vanilla Napoleon. Both desserts were delicious and not too heavy or too sweet. I almost want to say that the napoleon was better than the one at Veniero's (NYC). Uh oh... Would definitely make it a point to come back here the next time I'm ever in Baltimore. Oh, and I got the Peanutto gelato to go (peanut butter/chocolate gelato). Yums.
(4)
Stephen C.

Tiramisu was ok. Nice atmosphere and the curbside dining is a plus on late summer nights. I don't know, I'm from NY and the Little Italy is on a different level.
(3)
Stacey M.

Walking through Little Italy on the way back to the hotel, I had a dessert craving and we stopped in at Vaccaro's. What a mistake! There was a line to be seated, the service was painfully slow, the prices were outrageous, and nothing was very good. A cup of coffee: $3, and good luck getting refills. A latte: $6, served in a 6-oz coffee cup, so weak that it looked like it was made with a shot of coffee instead of espresso. Coffee beverages were served with a small tasty butter cookie, which was actually the only thing I liked. We ordered the $6 plate of mini cannolis: three cannoli, one plain and filled with plain filling, one plain and filled with chocolate cream, and one chocolate dipped filled with plain cream. Lots of mini-chocolate chips and powdered sugar dusted over everything. EVERYTHING TASTED LIKE CINNAMON. I don't claim to be an expert on Italian pastry, but when you take your first bite and the only thing that comes to mind is cinnamon flavored chewing gum, you have a problem. Cloyingly sweet, and even with the chocolate cream, it was hard to recognize the cocoa flavor under so much cinnamon. The pastry shells were OK but tasted a little greasy. I ordered the small baci (chocolate hazelnut) gelato, ($5.40) and they brought out a huge bowl with two scoops of fluffy crap. When I think gelato, I think rich, dense, explosive flavor. This was fluffy like grocery store ice cream, and was made with cocoa powder instead of chocolate -- you could actually feel the grainy cocoa powder in the gelato. I think the hazelnut flavor was the result of a syrup, although there was a generous amount of hazelnut slivers in the mix. The takeout prices were approximately 70% of the dine-in prices. They may have some authentic cookies or pastries, but I would stick to less sugary options. Carry out the dessert and get your coffee anywhere else.
(1)
Kara M.

Little Italy, I miss you you. I went to the all you can eat dessert and coffee fest one time and I was sold. I then periodically went back for the tiramisu and I love it. the cannolis were good and the filling was just right and not too sweet. I even caught them on their 50th Anniverssary night and they had a special for 50 cent desserts with a limit of two! that was awesome and the line was around the corner! you used to be able to register on their site so that on your birthday you can go and get free dessert. I've since moved from charm city but if you live there it would do you well to visit the website for info (if it still exists). I do think it's a little expensive though so that's what keeping me from giving it 5 stars. But if you're in Bmore and you're looking for a good dessert this place is a winner
(4)
Tom P.

Dear chewy, nutty and sweet Pignoli: I want you. Not in an innocent food crush kind of way. In a gooey, warm, nibble-first-then-devour-you kind of way. For a fleeting moment, all my troubles dissolve and it's just you and me, a little taste of almond pine nut heaven. Oh, and the gelato is good too.
(4)
Risa B.

I went for the first time last night. It was ok. I am the kind of person who would prefer to pay less money for less food, and that doesn't seem to be an option at Vaccaro's. I got the "famous" cannoli, and it tasted like powdered sugar. In my opinion, cannolis are supposed to taste like ricotta. The shell was nice and crunchy though, and my friend loved her peanut butter panic. I might go back.
(3)
AustinSLin ..

Although nestled in a seemingly obscure corner just south of Abermarle and Pratt Streets in Baltimore's Little Italy, the locale itself is not difficult to find, even at night. Just look for the line of people stretching out from the corner entrance out into the intersection. Vaccaro's original full service location commands lines of people and their sweet teeth for its home-batch recipies, its answer to anyone's weekend night craving for gelatto, and its classic cannoli recipe (among other high-decadence treats). My favorite has always been the "Lost At Sea"--which is a Belgium waffle topped with fresh walnuts, ice cream, whipped cream and fudge drizzled on and on and on. This is just one of what we called the "Columbus series" of ice cream desserts---they are tiered in level of sugary agglomeration--starting with the beginners-only Nina, the slightly more ingredient-y Pinta, the Santa Maria, and the crown jewel of sugar-shock, the Lost At Sea. These are offered in three portion sizes---a full size (just under $10), a half size, and a quarter size (just under $7). The last is my indulgence of choice---Vaccaro's desserts are rich, rich , rich and even the quarter-size Lost At Sea is enough to kick my sugar buzz into high gear. The tiramisu is standard tiramisu size with a Vaccaro's touch. The eclair rivals the size of a loaf of bread and unless you're a self-proclaimed sugar uber-beast, think about sharing it so your bloodstream doesn't take vengeance on you. All desserts here are large (either literally in terms of sheer mass, or in terms of sugar-content-per -cubic-millimeter), but everything is hand crafted in house and delectably yummy. Vaccarro's satellite locations "Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shops" around Baltimore and Washington, DC don't really compare to ths original destination in terms of selection and freshness, but still can quell the hankering for Vaccaro-ness if you're on the go (or too far of a commute) from the Little Italy restaurant. Prices range from $4 or so all the way upwards of $10 for sinlge desserts. For a group of 7 folks, all with a range of desserts, a couple of cappucinos and a cup of Lavazza brewed coffee, the tab was just shy of $75, including tip. The major downside is the wait on its oft hopping nights. There's even a nice disclaimer on the menu that forewarns those who may be "in a rush". The dining area is not large at all---a table of 7 took up the central part of the dining room, which is already sharing a sliver of tile space with the gelatto line. So waiting---be it for a table or for your desserts to be plated, is part of the Vaccaro's modus operandi as well. If you're in a hurry, heed the disclaimer's advice and come back next time--when you can relax, have conversation, and enjoy gradualliy increasing your blood sugar level by orders of magnitude. Parking is also just as competitive as scoring a seat---Little Italy, with its close concentration of so many fine Italian restaurants, shares neighborhood street parking as well. If you're coming during the day, keep an eye out for the parking rules/signs posted in your sidewalk-side of choice. If you're coming from the Inner Harbor, the most convenient way (in my once-upon-a-Baltimore-life opinion) is to stay on Pratt (the main street through the heart of the Harbor), cross over President, and turn right onto Albermarle. If you're with a group of people, definitely do a drive-by-dropping-off of your party at Vaccaro's so they can get in line while you scavenge for a parking spot. Moral of the story is, regardless of where your dining plans are in Baltimore, save room for dessert. Here.
(4)
Sara J.

I got the colloseous dessert and shared with 3 other friends and it was more than enough!! the vanilla ice cream was real delicious, heaped upon a warm belgian waffle with strawberries and caramelized nuts. Really good! the hot chocolate comes with loads of whipped cream and choco chips, the strawberry butter cookies are also pretty good. I hear if gets busy around 9 or 10. On your birthday you can get a free dessert, also watch for all you can eat dessert days!
(4)
Laura B.

I love this place. Among the best cannoli in Baltimore. I can't comment on the other desserts because it's all I've ever gotten. But, definitely go to the Little Italy location. The Canton location may as well be Dunkin Donuts as far as atmosphere goes.
(4)
Maria F.

We recently had lunch at Vaccaro's. Upon arriving, the shop is so cute, you can see and smell the wonderful Italian pastries and gelato. It brought me back to South Philadelphia and the amazing Italian bakeries that I grew up around. My husband, daughter and were seated (after much confusion as to who would seat us!). It then took at least 20 minutes for someone to acknowledge that we were there and ready to order. During this time we observed 8 young people that were "working" there. One girl consistantly chewed on one plastic utensil after another while leaning all over the counter. Others were loud and horsing around with each other. We had to ask for someone to take our order. The food was delicious, but the service was awful. We were without a refill of water for at least 30 minutes. The entire lunch experience took well over an hour, where most of that time we were trying to get someone's attention to attend to us. There didn't seem to be any adult in charge and that is certainly what they needed!
(2)
Rachel O.

I've lived in Italy twice, seriously dated an Italian, and "worked" in my best friend's Italian bakery so I consider myself a big critic of the Italian cuisine. With all of this experience, I've learned that the best places are hole in the wall joints and this is one! The food is cheap, huge, and full of calories because it is just that good! I had the canoli which had enough filling for three canolis. My date had the tiramisu and couldn't even finish half of it. Bring your appetite, but leave the big bills at home. Buon Appetito!
(5)
Donna H.

This place is quaint, and has a great selection of delectable desserts! Don't be fooled by the high prices - if you are not alone, feel free to split the desserts, as they are HUGE! I ordered a single scoop gelato, and couldn't even eat 1/3 of it. The gelato was very good, and I was sorry I couldn't possibly eat more. The latte was good, but the regular coffee was weak. If you are in the area, this is a neat little shop to check out.
(4)
Meredith M.

Great selection of desserts. I always stick with the cannoli. So yummy that whenever I am in a bad mood my boyfriend will bring one home to make me feel better!
(5)
C S.

Outstanding. Bring your appetite here as the desserts are wonderful. We sampled the cookies, gelatos, graniti, and coffees. All were delicious!! The sundaes we saw others eating were gastronomically huge. Vaccaro's is a short walk from the Inner Harbor. But it is so popular, plan for a wait if you want to sit down at a table, or if you do takeout from about 5pm on... We liked it so much we went twice in one day.
(5)
Juliann A.

Not great. The cannolis and cookies are okay. However, even if you order a couple of big boxes of mixed pastries as we did, don't make the mistake of thinking you can sit down and sip the drink you also ordered there and nibble on a couple of the treats you just purchased. I can appreciate the rules when the place is packed but at opening time on Sunday morning with only one other customer in sight? However, if rules are meant to be followed, there must be a nice way to point them out to your paying customers.
(2)
Frank W.

I think this has to be one of the most overrated Italian bakeries ever. I've been to better Italian bakeries in Chicago, SF, New York, and many other places. I had a better cannoli yesterday in South Brunswick, NJ than the last time I was there. If you are in little Italy or the train station and need a snack it's fine, but if you make a special trip you're dead to me.
(3)
Meimei S.

old school style Ice-cream, heavy and dreamy yum!!!
(4)
Melissa Y.

i moved 3000 or so miles away and this is a place that I miss so much. You can't find anything like it in CA.
(5)
H T.

All i can say is "yumm". Makes my mouth drool just thinking about this place. There is such a wide selection of desserts to choose from! Portions are hugeeee! I usually share "THE ORIGINAL COLOSSEO" with my boyfriend and that's more than enough for the both of us. I definitely leave feeling satisfied.
(5)
Eric P.

Mmm! Insanely large quantities of yummyness. Not the absolute best dessert you will ever have, but they up there. This is the Little Italy location -- with table service. Monday nights are all-you-can-eat for $12, but keep in mind that a $5 dessert on a normal night is still more than a mortal can eat...
(5)
Eva T.

Having moved away from Baltimore, this is one place I definitely miss. They have the best gelato (chocolate hazelnut and amaretto are amazing). Having been to Italy, Vaccaro's gelato is pretty good (especially in Baltimore). I'd like to get mine to-go in a child-size portion... their regular adult portion sizes in general are huge. Their rum cake is also very good. The place can get really crowded at night, especially on weekends.
(5)
justin p.

Mmmm, their cookies are deelish. Gelato is good too, but regular size portion is huge, so beware. Cookies are expensive, but worth it, especially at holiday time.
(5)
Gareth M.

I'll usually skip dessert at my favorite restaurants around town just so I can go to Vaccaro's. Or just skip dinner and get $15 all you can eat dessert (before 7pm)! I love the Tiramisu Ice Cream and Bocca Grande (Mocha Ice Cream Pie). The Napoleons are nice too.
(4)
Scott A.

If you want dessert and you are already in Little Italy there is just no reason not to come here. The Chocolate Hazelnut and Mint Chip Gelato's are amazing. The other ones are probably similarly good but those are the only ones I've had so far. The prices are cheap and the quantities are, as other have said, quite satisfying.
(5)
Adam O.

Vaccaro's is the real deal! This is authentic, original Baltimore at its finest. The pasteries and ice creams all becon me when I'm in the mood for sweets (which is typically always). Remember to bring a friend because the portions are ginormous. I can't believe my eyes when I see somebody going at a Vaccaro's dessert alone. Also, bring your patience because lines can get long, but then again that speaks to how great Vaccaro's is. No visit to Baltimore is complete without a visit to Little Italy's most famous denzien.
(5)
kevin k.

good dessert place with neighbor feel. i spotted ex-governor current comptoller of md, shaffer, 3 times here. that old man just luv this sweet italian place. some servers are awesome here. as for dessert, tiramisu man. and some other like canoli. good coffee. must go for little italy and for dessert. usually crowded but be patient it will be worth the wait. n what for those small shop they opened in baltimore, annapolis, and dc. not as good as here.
(4)
Cheryl K.

I'm not sure if there's much that I can add to existing reviews. This place is awesome and I've been coming here for years, as Vaccaro's is my go-to place for overwhelming decadent desserts. I did try a panini (I had a turkey, my boyfriend had ham) and that was delicious as well. I ordered olives on the side and they gave me a really generous portion. My go-to desserts are the tiramisu gelato and the rum cake- they've been consistently fantastic. I can also vouch for the white hot chocolate- also delicious, but it's served in such a huge mug (with a piece of biscotti) that it's really a dessert all on its own. Also- their chocolate martini is fantastic. Very indulgent, very delicious.
(5)
Andy G.

You might be taken aback by prices, but the deserts are huge. A desert at this establishment should be split by 2 or more normal sized people. The exception to this is the cannoli, and I dare someone to show me a better cannoli than the ones at Vaccaro's. I had the hot chocolate last night and it was unreal. It had "whipped cream" that had a texture more like cake icing, and there were real chocolate chips floating in the drink. You can't come here more than every few weeks because of the real potential of ending up diabetic.
(5)
Keith W.

Vaccaro's is the cannoli kings.....you could wait a while on the weekend but it is well worth it. I have only had the cannoli's but when you do something perfect there is nothing else to try!
(5)
Natalie F.

Holy Cannoli!!! This place is heaven on earth for desserts! There are so many delicious, traditional Italian treats to choose from, and every one of them is phenomenal! I'm partial to the cannoli's and cream puffs. They also have lots of different cookies, cakes, eclairs, pies, pastry's and ice cream to indulge in. It's usually always packed and very busy. I've never come to sit down and eat off the full menu but I can't imagine that the lunch and dinner menu is anything short of scrumptious. They also have fantastic cappuccinos and traditional coffee drinks. The staff is always friendly and eager to help. Located in the heart of Little Italy, this place is not to be missed! They also have another location in Canton.
(5)
Carl W.

Love it. Gelato and ices were excellent. Waitress and service were very friendly and prompt, the place was clean and the atmosphere buzzing, it was like being in Manhattan.
(5)
Priscilla K.

-1 star since it does get a bit pricey. walked here from inner harbor, got the staples: cannoli, pignoli, amaretto, almond cookies, and a scoop of pistachio gelato and raspberry ice. there's a broken down bench down the street where we always sit, and thi
(4)
Ai-Chen Y.

"The tiramisu founder @ Baltimore" People said that the founder of Vaccaro's is the first one who made Tiramisu. I enjoy the Tiramisu a lot, the coffee wine smell great and when it blend with the cream and melt in the mouth, it is enjoyable. However, I do not like the soft lady finger in the bottom. Also, I had a bad experience when I went there last time. One of my friends came from the other state and hoped to come to this store to taste the tiramisu. We were not very hungry, so we only ordered one coffee and one tiramisu for 4 people. After they served the coffee and tiramisu, and we ate it about 10 to 15 minutes, the waiter asked us to pay the bill and drop a hint that we should leave...(While we were still eating...) At that time, the store was not crowded, there were only 4 tables with customers, and 7 or more empty tables... My friend came from a far away area, I felt embarrassed that I took him to this store... Since I came to Vacarro's many times, I had great experience all the time, but the worst experience happened this time........ The flavor of Tiramisu and Napoleons are great, the price of the ice cream is reasonable, but the service this time make me decide not to go Vaccaro's anymore. I would give Vaccaro's 4 stars before, but after this experience, sorry that I could only give it 2 stars the most.
(2)
E G.

Great pastry shop that is always busy (yes, even on a tuesday night). Variety is a big draw for me here. Always something enticing no matter what type of sweet you want; from the understated biscotti ai pinoli (not sure why every place calls this 'pignoli'..but..ok) to something chocolate dipped in more chocolate and then topped with sprinkles or something (not very italian in my humble opinion..). Allora, dozens of amazing italian treats and gelato. Personally recommend the butter balls (how can this not be good?) and the cannoli. While it may be a little pricey I think it is well worth it for the sugar rush and the carb coma. Go in the late evening and you may see someone's granddad playing bocce ball up the street.
(4)
Joseph C.

Be prepared: Space is at a premium. You may have to wait...it is worth it. I don't believe that bigger is always better; however, Vaccaro's does sweets & coffee better & bigger at the same time.
(5)
TJ P.

Vaccaro's is an experience to be endured as much as enjoyed. Almost any time you go there, the crowd spills out onto the street corner, and you crawl through the humanity to wait for a table. Inside, it's bustling and noisy. Upstairs or downstairs, the lighting shouts at you. When you sit down, your table is still warm from the last party that sat there. You hope it's clean. Above your table, the portrait of Mr. Vaccaro looks down on you. And the desserts! Italian excess like they never knew in Italy. Cream puffs and cookies and gelato, oh my! Order one dessert for three people. Have a cappuccino or one of their spiked coffees and a few Italian cookies. You're in Baltimore and this is the after dinner place to go. Just smile and endure it. You will come back.
(4)
Maria M.

They redecorated the top floor which is always cool so that the wait isn't as long. I've gone here a couple of times and the desserts have always been delicious. I guess I only give it a three because on of my favorite dessert ever is the tiramisu and I found that I wasn't a huge fan of their tiramisu which pretty much is just rum with some coffee ice cream. So yeah. The belgian waffles are good though. Very nice balance of hot and cold dessert. Definitely cannot finish a half one by myself so I always make sure to sure. One of the good things in this place is that you do get a lot of dessert for what you pay for. =) Go on weekdays or early on weekends because there's always a long line otherwise =)
(3)
Georges S.

I've been to Vaccaro's on three occasions. As far as prices go, they are on the moderate side -- they might seem high, but typically the portions are rather large -- on the quality side, it can be a little hit-or-miss. The highlight of my last experience there were the cannoli. Best I've had since living in Italy. However, on the otherhand, the gelato was of very poor quality. I ordered an amaretto; it was not smooth; in fact it was a bit grainy. I was going to order a pistachio, but it had a neon-green synthetic appearance -- not at all natural like sage green I've been accustomed to elsewhere. The service I've experienced has also been lukewarm. During my last experience, the waitress brought the wrong order to us -- no big gripe there. However, we waited for a long time for our check, and once it was delivered, we waited a long time to have it taken -- we ended up almost going up to the take away counter when another waiter took it for us.
(3)
Hung T.

D-LISH-OUS! Not your average pastry shop. This place is fancy. Just take a look at the decor. It feels like a 90s lounge. I got the cream puffs, not bad, not great. Others got pistachio gelato and some other desserts that i don't remember. They were good!!! Overall a nice pastry shop that has lots of variety and a huge menu. It is a bit pricey but I guess they need the money for those fancy lights.
(4)
Amy L.

So large, so good, so affordable. Went with a few friends so we each got to taste each other's dessert. For $5.95 off of the specials menu, you get 2 large scoops of coffee gelato PLUS a huge slice of hazelnut cream chocolate cake. So large, so good, so affordable. Next up - the Peanut Butter Panic - peanut butter gelato topped with crushed peanut butter cups, whipped cream and chocolate syrup. So large, so good, so affordable. Last but not least - the Sampler - 2 mini cannolis, 2 cream puffs, 1 pignoli cookie, 1 almond cookie and 1 unidentifiable powedered sugar cookie that wasn't worth the calories. The cannolis were the best part of this. I wasn't a fan of the cream puffs (my homemade ones are much better - pat on my back) and the cookies were ok. The other 2 desserts were much better.
(4)
Erin K.

Eaten in and taken out AMAZING Italian desserts here. If you ever want to treat yourself after a meal downtown, swing by here! If you're out late, prepare to even have a little wait out the door of this sweet little place for some sweets to go! Beware, most 'regular' portions are HUGE. I can only handle HALF of the SMALL Gelato, all flavors are succulent and fill your senses! I nearly always choose one regular cannoli. As rich as it is, I eat the whole thing - it's too delicious to save for later! An eclair, on the other hand, you'll be eating for a couple days. Coffee drinks are great, too. Never disappoints!
(5)
Barbara D.

There's a crazy amount of variety, and an awesome all-you-can-eat deal on Monday nights. The menu is pretty extensive, but there's always a short list of changing $6 dessert specials that are always good. Be warned that the portions are HUGE. Definitely plan on splitting a dessert with at least one other person. The service is hit or miss - sometimes you have to wait a while to get the waitstaff's attention even though the place is empty. But you're not coming for the atmosphere. You're coming to stuff your face.
(4)
Chris D.

I'm always skeptical about Italian places and this place was no exceptions despite the ridiculous number of rave reviews online. My skepticism was unfounded; walking into this place actually reminded me of being at my grandmother's house. The furniture and decor was aged, in only a way your grandparent's can be, but for whatever reason it was comforting. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs so we made a go of a sampler platter of cookies and cakes as well as a few scoops of gelatto. Everything was pretty much on par with what I remember from my childhood. The pignoli and almond cookies were good and the cannoli were as good as any homemade ones I've had. I guess it's really not that hard to do this stuff well, but I've eaten my share of crap over the years... so maybe it's not that easy. If you're in Baltimore, be sure to check it out. Evidently they have two locations in DC, but I've never been to either. I'm interested in hearing the responses of anyone who has.
(4)
kristina l.

I have gotten their cannolis and it is AMAZING. Not only can you fill it yourself but they give you a ton of cream to take home. I can't seem to make myself stop craving their cannolis! This place is a must - oh and their italian cookies are also DELICIOUS as hell! Only downside is that they are pretty expensive. I guess I won't be eating there often - even though I live a few blocks away.
(4)
Alexis B.

Delicious dessert, and dessert is my favorite! Cannoli's were delicious and so was the mint gelato. It's trendy and neat inside and I can't wait to come back! Also got some italian cookies to take home which were SO good. Me and my parents really enjoyed the cookies. I want to go back just thinking about it! :)
(4)
Alisa K.

Delicious! The giant waffle with ice cream is amazing if you don't mind that you are consuming a week's worth of calories. Good hot chocolate and gelato. Good Italian cookies. A really fun place to go after dinner with friends. I think you get a free something or other if you go on your birthday
(4)
Howie C.

5 for the food (minus 1 for the slow service if that matters to you). My only night in Baltimore was capped off with Vaccaro's in Little Italy, raved about by my Chinese and Vietnamese friends that lived out East. So much to try and only eight ounces of room left in my stomach. Do I go for the cannolis? The gelato? Since I've never been a huge cannoli guy (they are known for them), I went with the rum cake (which they are also known for). The fat slice of rum cake was just a tad dry but eating the cake portion with the vanilla and chocolate creams evened it out to make it a heavenly experience. The two seperate layers of cream, combined with the rum flavor played like violins in the night. Hundreds of almond slices died to cover the side of the cake. The creamy pistachio gelato I ordered on the side came in it's own seperate bowl ($4 with dessert order, $5.40 a la carte) and was monstrous. My friend ordered the Neopolitan Pizzelle (which I also happened to be eyeing). Pizzelle (thin waffle like cookies) cookie tower fitted with chocolate, strawberry, and pistachio gelatos between each floor. All three gelatos were very creamy, as the strawberry wasn't an italian ice, it was a gelato. So good, so sinful. I couldn't leave without taking some cookies back to Cali. $18.60 a lb. for cookies? Holy cow! That beats the $41.07 I would have had to pay for 1 lb. with ground shipping. I had the apricot filled, raspberry filled, italian strudel (fig & nut), sliced almond, and lemon ice. All were good. If you love almond and the almond marzipan flavor, you'll appreciate the crunch outside and the chewy moist inside. The flavoring amd texture are done perfectly (but you can probably find this cheaper at your local Jewish deli). If I was a Baltimore Raven fan, I know where I'd be after every game, Vaccaro's, whether celebrating the win or to console myself after a loss. In town for business? Stop by and you'll have the perfect food gift to bring home for your family or office mates. Now I know why people worship this place.
(5)
Jenn S.

Cannolis to die for!
(5)
kathy a.

THE BEST PIGNOLI COOKIES I HAVE EVER HAD, PERIOD. Worth every penny, and you'll spend about 100 per cookie. Would kill for the recipe.
(5)
Katie Anne N.

Best decision ever. My sister suggested that we get dessert after consuming about 2 pounds of crab at a nearby restaurant. We were promptly seated at a table that fit 8 and our waitress was quick to bring us waters and take our orders. The menu is HUGE. They also serve food as well but the desserts were the main attraction. I had the ammaretto tiramisu and a hazelnut coffee. The tiramisu was HUGE and soaked in alcohol. Me likely. Coffee was great as well. Highly recommend this place for a sweet treat and to relax and hang out friends.
(4)
Tri N.

Not a place to take a date. Although inexpensive, desserts are mediocre.
(2)
Amit P.

I love this place. It's a tad on the pricey side when it comes to desserts (their hottest seller), but their food is good all around. As far as desserts go, their gelato, cookies, coffee, canolis, cream puffs, and any combination thereof are absolutely fantastic. What I've found is relatively understated about this place is what a deal their paninis are! They're absolutely fantastic, and they're big enough for two people to share (they come conveniently cut in half too!) and cost just about as much as a Chipotle burrito but smack of flavor and are a bit more novel because they're from a local place made with love. I know this place is a tourist trap, but I live just down the street from it and can't stay away from their sandwiches and coffee. Come here on your birthday and you'll get a free treat!
(5)
Esther L.

I was excited to try the cannolis here. I saw the good reviews for the place. However, it was a bit underwhelming. The cannoli shell was good and extra crisp, but the filling was a little lacking. You could still taste a bit of the vanilla extract and it was not fluffy enough. We also had their raspberry and nutella cookies which, honestly, I feel like I could make better ones myself. We got their iced cappuccinos for our drinks and it was good coffee--the roast tasted great. However, I think the barista--one of the many teenage girls behind the counter--went a little half-and-half crazy.
(3)
Ria S.

During lunch break, I went to buy a very expensive coffee drink ($5!) and tried to sit down but a worker wouldn't let me because I had "carry out". The restaurant was EMPTY mind you, and because I wasn't ordering a full menu meal, they wouldn't let me sit down! What the crap is that? I asked for clarification; they then informed me there was a "separate" section for us "carry out" folks. I asked them where that was. The man helping me said I could sit down if I allowed him to change over my dishware into a proper glass/china. Then the man took my coffee away and started to dump it in a mug. I stopped him, realizing how ridiculous that was, took my $5 coffee and left. Meanwhile, I looked over to the other 2 young ladies working, asking for help--they did nothing, just laughed, and went on chit-chatting with each other. I just finally left. Common courtesy and communication go a long way, Vaccaro's.You just lost a loyal Baltimore customer. There are so many other great places to go in Little Italy. Skip this one.
(1)
Janeen D.

Oh Vaccaro's how i miss you! I long for the summers when I am back in Batimore so I can taste your exquisite creamy cannolis! I grew up on your cannolis, and remember fondly your small shop across the street. In high school when I started driving, I would come down with friends, and introduce them to your new space where we could have cappuccino, espresso, gelato, pignoli cookies, and of course, my favorite, cannolis. I love the fill your own cannoli take home pack! I do not even need shells, just give me that tub o' cream filling with mini chocolate chips and I am in heaven!
(5)
Joe P.

Great Italian desserts. Only qualm is that everything is pricey, probably due to its location in little Italy. I must say that the price is worth it. Get a cappuccino and a cannoli, and you're set. The gelato is tasty too.
(4)
Sarah G.

The almond paste cookies were perfect - OMG sooo good! And the gelato was terrific. There was a super sweet girl that helped us. This would be 5 stars but we had 2 other cookies (nutella and chocolate macaroon) that were good but underwhelming compared to those almond ones! But all around well worth the trip!
(4)
KuangYou C.

I had a high expectation with the Tiramisu because of the originality. However, I was a little bit disappointed. The coffee smell was good but the bottom part, Lady finger was so wet!!! I don't really like this part. My friend told me it was not that wet when she came here before, so I don't know what happened. Personally, I prefer cake with dry bottom so I only think this shop is ok!
(3)
Mary M.

Yum! Yum! Yum! This place is full of wonderful Italian pastries with enough assortment for everyone to find something they like. Whenever I'm in Little Italy I make a stop here, but some times are better than others. I've only been during the evenings, and there is inevitably a line at Vaccaro's and I've never been able to sit inside and enjoy my pastry - but that has never turned me off to this delectable experience!
(4)
Alison L.

Everything here is amazing. Period. Great gelato, great place to hang out, excellent baked goods all around. There's really nothing to complain about except that parking may be hard, and if you go when it's busy, then you may have to wait for seating. Highly recommend the gelato and Napoleons.
(5)
Kate T.

I've never had a dream come true until the day I found Vaccaro's. It was love at first sight when I saw my favorite quote ("Life is Uncertain-- Eat Dessert First!") on their signs outside the shop. When you walk in, you're in an Italian heaven. There are cannolis, cookies, and huge vats of gelato. If you take ice cream out, it's a bit cheaper. However, if you sit down, you're part of the Vaccaro's family and with that induction, comes Italian portion sizes. Even though you may believe that these sizes are excessive, once you take the first bite of the delicious ice cream, you'll be excited for every bite. A definite Baltimore must-visit!
(5)
Amy S.

Fantastic Italian desserts. Huge portions. Great specials with reasonable prices. Fun and stylish atmosphere. Fabulous coffee ice cream. A little overboard on Franciscan: just too much goodness! Not sure if that's a bad thing, though. Finally, the women's bathroom had a flatscreen tv. Never seen that before!
(5)
Allison L.

Don't bother eating desserts at any other Italian restaurant in Little Italy... just come here. Any choice will be a good one, although the peanut butter pie is my personal favorite. There's also various locations around Baltimore County... the one in Hunt Valley seems to be particularly good.
(4)
Dan G.

Just stopped to get some sweets to bring back to the hotel. They have every type of Italiano sweet you can think of in a big glass case, so you can mix and match. Got a variety of cookies, and I was surprised at the price, I think it was about $20 a pound as my small bag was $10. When I ate some of them. they all were very good, but a little too expensive for what you get. They had a bunch of gelato flavors, but it was cold so didn't try it that night.
(3)
Amy B.

Stopped in here after our epic little italy outing on friday (going from vino rosino to la tavola to vaccaros). We were looking for a nightcap after a medicore dinner at la tavola and came upon this packed pastry shop. We each had a sweet cocktail (my chocolate grey goose martini was cheaper than my happy hour drink earlier in the evening!). We split mini cannolis, which was delicious, but we were stuffed from the other components of our meal, so we left an egregious amount of pastry cream on the plate. Prices were quite good and the place had a fun vibe and a great mix of people. Loved it!
(5)
Ralph J.

Ive had better cannoli's
(2)
Eric N.

Best desert in Baltimore, and phenominal gelato. You must try the italian ice cream sandwhich, as well as the italian pound cake.
(5)
Leo M.

Great place, have been there several times and never disappointed. Gelato is great as well as spumoni.
(4)
James J.

The cannoli cream here is amazing, it's the best cannoli cream I have ever tasted. They are pretty expensive, but the portion sizes are HUGE for every dessert except the cannolis. It would be nice if they gave you a bit more cannolis, but if you order any of the other desserts (especially anything with gelato) the portion is way more than you expect. We try to go to Vaccaro's whenever we visit the inner harbor. One downside of the Little Italy location is that it is always busy when we go (evenings on the weekend), there is usually a line out the door, and it can be hard to get a seat. Also when it gets busy it appears as though they are understaffed with waitresses, the service can be slow at times. I'm willing to overlook those issues though because the desserts are so yummy! Favorite: Cannolis
(4)
Matt M.

If you're at a restaurant in Baltimore, skip the $5-7 little slice of cake or pie, and come here and pay $5-$8 for a gigantic awesome dessert that is enough for 2 people.
(5)
Eric B.

Holy Cannoli! Yes, these are fantastic. I have some friends that buy shells and filling, bring it back to DC, and freeze it for later. Delicious. Their other pastries are pretty good - some better than others. We really enjoyed the powdered lemon cookies - a bit crunchier than they look, but great flavor and texture after you get a bite in your mouth. Also, as others have mentioned, it is pricey. I don't know if the cannolis are priced individually or by weight like the rest of the pastries, but I didn't get much, and it was $25. Overall, worth it for the cannolis.
(4)
Danny M.

this is a baltimore must!!! then some Bocce ball!
(5)
Carrie N.

AMAZING desserts--get your sweet tooth fix here!
(5)
Krissy R.

This place is pretty good. There aren't a lot of good pastry shops in the area so I wish I could give this place 5 stars, but every time I go here I am disappointed. The cookies are just "okay" and the prices are high for what you end up getting. The gelato is good. The cannolis are what saved my review from being lower-- they are awesome. The shell is the perfect consistency and the filling is creamy and not too sweet. There are just the right amount of chocolate chips. All in all, I will be back for cannolis (even though they are expensive). I can't argue with a good cannoli!!
(3)
Jeff C.

The best compliment I can give Vacarro's is that they are the closest you can get to NYC Italian pastry shops. Actually, they have some of the best Pignoli cookies anywhere. Canoli's are great, everything in their sweets department is delicious and the perfect thing to bring to a party or friends. Even living in the NYC area I miss Vaccaro's.
(5)
Jason P.

Cannolis. Treats. Drinks. If there is a line... you'll be waiting for a few minutes - but suck it up, you'll enjoy what you get.
(5)
Sarah H.

Sfogiatellis done the right way and really good cookies. Line out the door for a reason.
(5)
Erica G.

If you don't like this place, I question your taste. Being someone Italian and being raised with an Italian upbringing, food is everything and Vaccaros does not disappoint. Their menu is simple but everything is perfect. Best authentic muffulettas and cannolis I've had in quite sometime. Save room for cookies! Good prices, casual nice atmosphere.
(5)
Holly N.

Cream filling, oh my!! Velvety ooey gooey custard. That's why I love this place. Portions are HUUUUUGE, so order with caution. I would give them four stars but I I find their cookies so dry! But I love their layered vanilla custards and eclaires!
(3)
Garrett B.

I have eaten here twice and I love it!!! The canoli are to die for and the menu has something for everyone. Beware of the Belgian waffles. Do not order the whole waffle unless you are willing to eat a piece of dough the size of your head. The atmosphere is wonderful and a great place to go with a group of friends.
(5)
Teresa L.

yum yum and yum! this place is awesome, would definitely come back here!
(4)
Maggie W.

Best. Cannoli. Ever. ...that's all I've ever ordered, so I guess this isn't a comprehensive review. But their cannoli are absolutely amazing--when you order them to go they give you a tub of filling and a bunch of shells so they don't get soggy! Amazing. Delicious. Tiny chocolate chips. Yum.
(5)
Jessica S.

This place is awesome! We went last Saturday after the Orioles game. At 8:30 PM, we got a seat upstairs really quick. The line out the door is for carry-out/the pastry counter. I had the Italian cookies and cream gelato and it was great. Others at the table got the bacci ball, eclair, and cream puffs - prices are great. There were four of us total and we ended up taking two containers of food home. There was just too much to finish. My family is Italian and I would definitely go back.
(5)
BJ F.

I have been going here for about 30 years. The last 2 visits were very disappointing. Last time the cappucino was terrible and the cookies were stale. This time the the cappucino was luke warm mostly milk and whipped cream. I got cookies too, they were pretty good and much fresher than last time. The service here is always terrible but today it was especially awful. I should have just walked out but was really looking forward to a treat. There were at least 6 young kids behind the counter talking with each other, checking their phones and 3 of them were trying to write "happy birthday" on an eclair for the lady in front of me. They ended up messing up 3 eclairs and clearing out the pastry cabinet before they got it right. There were no adults behind the counter directing anyone. When I first walked in there was only 2 people in front of me. I thought "this is great! I will get in and out quickly". It took me at least 20 minutes and by the time I left there was at least 20 people behind me lined out the door. The young girl that waited on me was moving in slow motion, no one behind the counter seemed to care that people were now lined out the door. This is the last time I will visit Vaccaros I am sad to say. As with the rest of Baltimore's Little Italy I think their time has past.
(1)
Jessie J.

Only gotten desserts here before so my rating is based on that. First time there I got the chai gelato, which is awesome. My boyfriend got the tiramisu , which I found just alright, although I'm not a huge fan of the dessert to begin with. On our second trip we got the coconut napoleon and choclate/vanilla napoleon, and those were both delicious. I've never dined in the restaurant, only taken desert to go, so I don't know what the wait staff are like. But the people operating the registers have been pretty rude every time I've gone. All young, probably late teens, and more preoccupied with texting than taking orders. They were not helpful at all, just forget about any pleasantries,
(3)
Angelica G.

3.5 Italian deserts get way better than this! There's definitely room for improvement Mr.Vaccaro! +s Good variety of pastries Great Gelato Place is cute and homelike Good Coffee -s Tiramisu I had was very weird tasting Portions are too big! Tables and sits are too close together Tips: It's a pretty good place to spend and afternoon with the ladies if you don't mind being nearly comatose from the sugar overdose!
(3)
Jessica A.

Oh my gosh - what DON'T I like about Vaccaro's?? Cappuccinos so huge they practically come in a fishbowl and giant servings of spumoni, Nerf-ball-sized eclairs with light pastry and rich buttery delicious vanilla cream filling & yummy decadent chocolate on top... italian cookies that are to die for. I love this place. The downstairs has undergone a major facelift recently - very nice.
(5)
Rebecca B.

Most awesome place to have dessert in Baltimore. Italian cookies, gelato...they make dessert an event!
(5)
Traci P.

If you want to taste the most unbelievable cannoli in the world- GO TO VACCARO'S!!! WOW, there are almost no words to describe how amazing it tasted. We split one cannoli (they are rather big) and each had one of their specialty coffees (alcohol coffee drinks). Being as how we were there on a Saturday night, it was PACKED! Who would've thought there would be a 15 minute wait at a bakery? But it went fast and the hostess stayed in great communication the whole time. Our server had great customer service. It would've been nice if she had been a little more attentive, but she was the only server downstairs, so she was really stretched thin. This is most definitely somewhere I plan to re-visit as many times as humanly possible! I heart Vaccaro's!
(5)
Olivia L.

Only had cookies from the take-out counter. I basically got one of each, and my fave by far is the sliced almond thing (it's in the case closest to the ice cream, on the top shelf -- there's a pine nut version too) which is just super delicious. Moist, chewy, with a crunchy exterior studded with sliced almonds! It's kind of like a parisian macaroon, but more dense (and without the filling). I could eat a whole dozen. Minus a star for the annoying tourist group that just totally left one person in line for the 10 of them who swooped in just as the placeholder got to the front of the line. Bah.
(4)
Annie L.

We had the waffle with 6 scoops of gelatos topped with whip, walnuts, and fudge! It was amazing! We got there at 10pm and the place was packed. There was a line for table service and take out. The place have about 20 tables but there was only one waitress on duty so it took her a long while to take our order and the order took forever to come. Despite the service, the dessert is amazing and it is highly recommended. ***thumbs up***
(5)
K D.

Everything is SO SWEET but also so yummy. Only come here if you are looking for a sugar HIGH!
(4)
Kelly J.

Wow these desserts are huge (that's what she said)!! And delicious. Went here for a birthday and wasn't expecting the portions they provided. (Thank goodness we decided to share) I would not have been able to eat one by myself. The only downside to this place are the crowds of people (but once you eat here, you'll see why) I recommend not making this a dessert after dinner treat or you'll be having a 2 hour wait. Or make a reservation (not sure if you can or not)
(5)
Samuel G.

Just a quick update - We finally got a chance to do a 'sit-down', now that the remodeling job on the lower dining room area is finished. The wait for a table wasn't quite as long as our wait in line had been on Trip #1. They did a pretty respectable job opening things up, though the space is still kind of cramped...Don't be surprised if you wind up sharing a table and rubbing elbows with another party of people you don't know. But guess what? You probably won't mind, either - we didn't! It's kind of difficult to be in a crappy mood (or stay that way) when you're cramming your face full of chocolate and other carbs. My hope is that when we manage to get back to Balto (hopefully in the summertime), the upstairs portion will be reopened as well, and we can take our time really enjoying the experience - not that we didn't before. Hey, it's dessert, but more than that, it's VACARRO'S dessert.
(5)
Taylor Z.

Pastries are stellar but a little pricey, probably because the portions are huge. Overall good though. Stop in if you're in the area.
(4)
stephenie s.

Great cannoli... But the server at the take out area was really rude and condescending Taylor needs a lesson in customer service or a new career.
(3)
Justin W.

Hands down the best cannoli's I have ever had. This is a gem in Baltimore. The best desserts and they are open late. I also go back here for a treat when I am in Baltimore.
(5)
RJ M.

So after eating at Obryckis we headed over here. There was a party that sat next to us that must of overheard what we were talking about for dessert because we saw them there. Anyways, the dessert was good. We had a couple different cannoli's, Gelati, Eclair, Plain Waffle and Mini Cream Pulls - plain and Chocolate topped. Sounds sweet right. It was, but it was worth the try since we were leaving town. I've had better cannoli, but I did like their chocolate mini cream puff and gelati. It satisfied the sweet tooth craving. The company I was with mad the dessert taste better. Would I come back? Probably, just to try other items and mostly likely around brunch time instead of dinner time.
(3)
Francesca L.

My friend takes me here everytime I'm in Baltimore. Though there is always a wait, the waitstaff is friendly and accomadating. I will not comment on the past since they were a while ago, but this recent visit I tried the cream puffs. The bread was not puffy as I expected, dry, and too thick for my liking. I won't be getting these again. My dad had the raspberry napoleon, which was ok..as Lola S mentioned, the filling is like a donut. The other dessert I tried I can't remember the name of but it was strawberry, pistachio, and baci gelato layered between crispy waffle cone..now this was sooo good and totally worth it!! The strawberry was nothing special, but the pistachio and baci had a distinct and memorable flavor. Very enjoyable. It's a cool place to check out if you are in the area and it has late hours so perfect to go after another evening event.
(3)
Asha J.

I would have given it 5-sars, but the prices are out of this world! They recently under went ridiculus renovations, which looks really good, but now the customers have to pay for it! Let me break it down for you: A latte is 7 dollars (no alcohol) , a tiramisu is 8 bucks (it's a square of a serving). I really like Vicarro's desserts, but not too keen on the prices.
(4)
elizabeth m.

Ahhh, this pace is a must-visit whenever I'm in Baltimore. Saturday night - expect to wait in the line that is wrapped around the block. I was just there on a Wednesday night, around 9 pm - and it was about a 5 minute wait. The cannoli's are amazing - and I do recommend getting one 'to go'.
(5)
Crissie H.

Outstanding!!!!! A must when in city of Baltimore! This caps off your night in Little Italy with famous bakery of cannoli's!! I personally would just buy the cannoli cream and eat with a spoon!!! Slow! Savor every bit. Or enjoy with shot of espresso or cafe.!!
(5)
Antony S.

Best desserts ever. i don't even really like sweets, but this place is amazing. if the italian ice cream sandwich was a women i would marry her.
(5)
Jess K.

I really, really, really do not like this place. I am not sure why the Italian restaurants in the area get their desserts from here and I think it is a regrettable decision. The first time I experienced Vaccaro's was when I saw Eddie Money perform at some random high school and we stopped here for dessert afterwards. I tried a few different pastries and thought they were way less than remarkable. I thought that might be because I lived in Boston's North End for two years so I know what good Italian pastries are. But after eating at a restaurant in the neighborhood and having a Vaccaro's cannoli I really think this place sucks. The cannoli was weird and runny and not really a cannoli at all. We all looked at each other with confusion after tasting it and agreed that it was weird. I think they need to be trained by some real Italian pastry chefs or something.
(1)
Meatdowntown C.

Absolutely the best Hot White Chocolate and the Cappuccino is just excellent and big! The desserts are crazy huge but they aren't good. I made a mistake and got Amaretto Tiramisu and it wasn't good at all. Then, I read some reviews and decided to check the canoli... OMG it is horrible. Just go to the North End in Boston and get done with it. In my book, this is not really a bakery... so maybe lunch (food) is better than desserts. They serve food also but I have not been there for food. I am sure this is overpriced as
(2)
Tim C.

Great desserts, although I wasn't as big of a fan of the canolis as some others on here. The gelatos and shakes are awesome though. Choose wisely if you go in for the all you can eat on Monday nights. I know the gelato waffle is a favorite but its huge so that may be the end of your night. And bring some lactaid; I think I killed some small critters outside on my way home.
(5)
Christy W.

Huge delicious cannollis. Cappuccino with whipped cream. Yum!! Beat the line by sitting down in the cafe. Great service. Fun for kids.
(3)
Patrick W.

I generally write my reviews right after I visit a place. Its been about 2 months since I stopped in at Vaccaro's, but I still have wonderful dreams of their Cannoli. I'm a pretty round guy. I enjoy my pastries and sweets. Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shop has knocked every other Cannoli I've ever had into a faded memory. The pastry was crispy- the filling was perfectly sweetened- It was the high point of my trip to Baltimore. I'll be back- I promise. Recommendation: Coffee and a Cannoli
(5)
Sheldon H.

Terrible apple napoleon. The canned apple pie filling was horrible.
(1)
Tyler S.

Okay, so I can't necessarily say that I've sat down here to eat...but I had a mini cannolli and I LOVED it (sp?). I saw a couple having a dessert dish with a cappuccino on the side, and I was sold. Figured that this would be a great place to take a girl out to satisfy that sweet tooth ;). Will definitely be visiting here again!
(4)
Rebecca C.

Leave the gun. Take the cannoli. If I hadn't visited Vaccaro's at its absolute crowded-est (about 8:30 p.m. on a Saturday night) I would probably be giving it five stars. They have cannoli like I grew up eating in NY and haven't had down here yet. This is the first place outside of NY that I have seen the bakery clerks fill the cannoli as you ordered them -- preserving crunchiness. The cream itself was a little different than I was used to (less stiff) but it was still really good, with the chocolate chips mixed in. One thing I will say is that I was surprised about the prices. Six filled mini cannolis, and probably 10 cookies, with two coffees, somehow came to $30! Maybe I was spoiled by the bakeries at Little Italy in the Bronx, where things were cheaper than NY's downtown Little Italy, but that seemed super pricey to me. Ultimately, though, I'm still giving it four stars because I think what they have is worth the price. The place is loud and a little disorganized, but I really can't say that it ruined it for me -- I've never been into an Italian bakery that wasn't. Get ready for the line, though, if you go on a weekend. It will be a good thing that you decided to leave the gun. ;-)
(4)
Kathryn G.

It's 10:30pm on a Saturday night, we're hungry for dessert and our waitress from dinner suggested we try Vaccaro's because the desserts at Vaccaro's are better. Thank goodness we listened to her. We get up to the door and the place is packed! If it were warmer, I'm sure the line would have streamed out the door - but because it was so cold, people contorted themselves into weird shapes to fit themselves into the bakery. And let me tell you, the desserts TOTALLY make up for the wait. i had 4 cookies: raspberry filled shortbread sandwich cookie, coconut chocolate cookie, chocolate-dipped shortbread, anise flavored cookies. I would recommend all of them.
(4)
Trevor T.

It's not often you're told by a waiter or waitress that the best desserts can be found just down the street. But that's exactly what Helen our waitress did. The line @ 10:30PM was out the door. There was a lot of confusion on where to stand if you wanted a table or where you should be if you wanted take out. We opted for take out. Orders included lemon cookies, anise cookies, shortbread cookies with raspberry, gelato, and canolis. Everything was delicious and the cookies and cream gelato I had was some of the best. If you're visiting Baltimore as we were, it's a short cab ride from the convention center and you'll be in Little Italy.
(3)
B. P.

Recommend cheese cake and cream puff.
(4)
Yelp Fan F.

The pros: cannoli is great. I like the gelato as well. They have daily specials for dessert items. Cons: When dining in, there is a looong waiting time for the check. Another time, we phoned and told they will close at 10 pm, yet they would not let us sit down even at 9.35 pm. The cakes and cookies are fairly ordinary.
(3)
Brad S.

Tasty pastries and lemon ice. Great food
(4)
Erica C.

The pastries are OKAY....but just okay. The gelato is fairly tasty. I must say I do like the cannoli, but they are pricey as can be. The napoleans are good, but taste similar to freezer phyllo with pudding that was made with heavy cream. I'd rather save the cash and hit up Poupon. But, if you are having one of those tacky Little Italy dinner dates, this is sure to please.
(3)
melissa m.

Delicious panini's, great variety of tasty dessert's.
(4)
Darryl L.

Picture's are worth a thousand words but this adage does not apply to Vaccaro's. From the abundance of stellar reviews and endless enticing photos, one would be lead astray by false expectations. All the popular recommended desserts like the Bacci ball, Tortufo , and their so-called famous cannoli employ a facade of a photogenic presentation to mask a failure to even achieve mediocrity. For a shop known for it's baked goods, the biggest let down is the poor quality of baking. The gelati makes no attempt to achieve mediocrity as the quality fails to achieve the level of smoothness that is expected from a well executed gelati. The service further the trend of incompetence as employees dawdled instead of doing their jobs to serve customers. Bottom line: Little Italy in NYC is the place for Italian desserts.
(2)
John K.

If you're a dessert fan and you live remotely close to Baltimore, you've probably heard about Vaccaro's. Got the Lost at Sea Colosseo which is big enough to satisfy 4 fat people or 16 really skinny people. Four heaping scoops of gelato topped with whipped cream wet nuts and supported by a freshly made waffle. DEEEEEEEEEEELISH!
(4)
Michael C.

Excellent desserts. my friends and I shared snickers gelato, tiramisu gelato, and a coconut Napoleon. Each of them was as good as the next. Portions are enormous and worth waiting in the small, crowded space for dessert.
(5)
Trang P.

I was contemplating on whether I should leave a review or not because there are already so many good reviews. Let me just help confirm this. Vaccaro's has an awesome atmosphere where you can take a date or go with a group of friends. They have great service. The seating area was full one time and they went out of their way to find me some seating. (Thx Vaccaro's!) The amount of desserts they have is incredible! The cannolis are amazing, probably one of the best in Little Italy, Baltimore. It's nice to have a place where you can sit down for some coffee and have an array of amazing desserts to choose from. There are so many different types of cookies, pastries, cannolis, and even gelato! This spot will definitely hit the spot if you have a sweet tooth! I am drooling as I type this...
(5)
Esther K.

desserts taste as good as it did wen i was in college. cookies were fresh and moist. napolean was just super tasty and very fresh. great cappuccino. friendly service. just a fun cute place! HUGE portions too!
(5)
Venessa C.

I've seen cannoli's on Cake Boss and was always curious about how they tasted. I had my first at Vaccaro's and it was love at first taste. I got the one with chocolate chip cream and it was beyond my expectations. Despite my lack of experience in the cannoli tasting department, I figured I wasn't the only one who felt this way because people were wrapped around the building to get a taste of Vaccaro's wide variety of pastries.
(4)
D R.

Fantastic cannolis... Very very good. Nothing fancy but well done. American-style Italian (vs true Italian) but very good.
(4)
Andrew K.

Their desserts are huge and it is more than enough to share with 2 people. I really like the colosseo with the vanilla gelato and waffle underneath plus wet nuts and strawberries on top. I also like the apple strudel with vanilla gelato and the tiramisu gelato is also really good. I've been coming here for a couple years now but I feel like the service has gotten worse recently. There's always a long wait if you get there on the weekends after 8pm but I feel like the last few times I've been there and it wasn't a weekend, the service was really slow and now they charge you $1 extra to split the bill more than 2 ways which I find annoying. I still like the dessert here but I think I'll probably get it to go than wait and sit at a table.
(3)
Chris G.

On my opinion, Vaccaro's is overpriced and not very good at all. Actually i am being nice giving them 2 stars. I think they have gotten way too big with the openings of a few other shops inside and out if the city. Quality is not their number 1 priority and they need some competition.
(2)
James M.

Nice bakery in Little Italy neighborhood of Baltimore. The pignoli cookies are outstanding. They dont have a ton of italian pastries for sale, sort of limited, but what they do have is very good. I did not try the gelato but it looked delicious and other people whom I talked to say it is. Service was a little slow and disorganized, but not terrible. Overall I would come back to this place if I am ever back in the area.
(4)
TJ M.

Pretty good, but not overwhelming. It seemed to be coasting on its high cachet among the tourist crowd. The cannoli was quite good, but a chocolate cake we got was, frankly, dry. I also had an adult coffee that our waitress chose for me. The drink was good, but the standout was what the whipped cream. I wish I could get my cream whipped into that kind of shape. Overall, a clear 3 stars. Worth going if you're in the vicinity, but not worth seeking out. Also- why no beers? Come on, you have a liquor license. Help me out.
(3)
Michael y.

after eating at la scLa, decided to go to an old stand by that I visited 7 years ago. had the hazelnut chocalate layer cake N cupucinio. Bellisimo!!!! Check my pics, the place was packed like a canoli!
(4)
amanda b.

I love the concept. A dessert restaurant seems like so much fun- and it is! There's something absolutely delightful about being given a menu of desserts, and having a waiter come take your order for it. I don't know, maybe I'm easily entertained. Unfortunately, the food just doesn't cut it for me. The desserts are large enough to fill a bathtub. Teaming up with another woman on a single dessert, we barely even made significant headway. We had ordered the chocolate-hazlenut gelato served over a brownie. The gelato wasn't too shabby, but the brownie itself was unpleasantly dense, sticky and gooey, and the whole thing was four or five times as sweet as it really needed to be. I would happily have traded quantity for quality. I ate there one other time- I still loved the concept and was desperately hoping I'd just picked the wrong thing. Again, I was disappointed. Everything was just so substandard... Sigh.
(2)
Fat T.

Inventive flavors for their gelatos. Recommend if the lines aren't too long.
(4)
Nick S.

If you like cannolis, this is your one stop awesome shop. Vaccaro's is a place I always go whenever I go out to dinner in Baltimore. I will advise my friends not to order dessert so that we can go to Vaccaro's and get some of their amazing baked goods. Besides great cannolis (which you can also get in a take home kit to make yourself) I greatly enjoy their almond cookies and their delicious gelati. It's only a few blocks to the harbour from Vaccaro's and in warm weather is a great destination when walking with a friend. Everytime I go there seems to be a line, but the staff gets through customers very efficiently. Overall, if you have a chance I would highly recommend trying Vaccaro's out, I bet you'll be hooked.
(4)
angelo t.

This place has "jumped the shark" as far as being a worthwhile dessertery. They should focus more on quality rather than quantity: it does not take much skill to mix together sugar, dough and icing and call it a dessert and "Super-sizing it" does not make it better. Vaccaro's seems to do good business because of the inertia of their name and history in Baltimore, but saavy diners have long abandoned this place and left it for clueless inner harbor tourists along with Tio Pepe's and most restaurants in Little Italy. I would recommend a trip to one of four vastly superior alternatives: 1) Pitango Gelato 2) Sofi's Crepes, 3) Meli, 4) Piadigrotta bakery That said, I do admit enjoying the canoli filling and shells as a carryout item. you can get them separate (and fill the shells later). This is a nice dessert to bring to a dinner party. You can get the canoli (and avoid the crazy crowd) at Vaccaro's satellite store in Canton Square.
(2)
Rocky R.

Update 10/5/13: I have noticed that the staff gets annoyed anytime a patron orders a sandwich or salad for takeout, presumably because it takes time to prepare and the line just gets longer. They usually give free bread with the salads - at least they have every time I have ordered a salad - but this last time the lady made it sound like she was doing me a favor by giving me a piece of bread to go with my salad. It is a piece of bread, and you should provide this with the salad without the customer having to ask anyways, so don't be so stingy when a repeat customer (who tips well, I might add) requests a piece of bread with his salad. If you're annoyed that people order a salad or sandwich for takeout, then take it off your menu. If the chicken pesto salad wasn't so darn good, I would not bother coming here anymore! -- Can't give more than 2 stars. Their cookies are OK, their coffee is pretty good but very pricey for coffee, and their desserts are good but again, very pricey. I would consider this place to be a tourist trap. As I write this review, my friend says "I would say their prices are outlandish." I agree. Way, way, way too overpriced for what you get.
(2)
Lola S.

I went here for the first time this weekend (Saturday 7pm) with a friend that swears up and down about this place (her mom has been going there since she was little) - and it was packed! We quickly got a table- we were served promptly and well taken care of even though they were slammed. The prices were steep but the portions were huge. We tried cannoli (not a fan), chocolate gelato (HUGE portion and Mmmm Mmm GOOD!), the tiramisu (which reminds me...i have leftovers in the fridge YAY!) and come gross raspberry thing that tasted like cheap donut filling. Not really impressed. It must be a tradition kind of thing.
(2)
Jennifer K.

Go on Wednesdays for 1/2 off gelato!!
(4)
Thea C.

*3.5 Vaccaro pastries kind of remind me of something my non-existent Italian grandmother would make. They are well-meaning, yes, but these sugartastic, ginormo-sized treats will probably leave you in a diabetic coma if consumed in one sitting. One GIANT eclair fed me and my roommates--a total of 3 people--for 2 dessert sessions. Which boggles my mind that there IS a $13 All-You-Can-Eat Dessert Night on Mondays (who can eat that much dessert unless you have a death wish?!) Nonetheless, I love Vaccaro's. Alright, so for the most part, it was my first ever experience with an "Italian bakery" ever. I have been to Italy immediately after and you betcha the cannolis and gelatos were a lot better there. But I'm not in Italy anymore and this suits me just fine until the next time. I still love their cannolis and their lemon ice. I've tried other things before but the only thing in my mind that sticks as memorable thus far are the coconut cookies. Honestly, some of those napoleons or cakes just look sketchy to me and they weren't anything special when I tried them. Their coffee drinks aren't bad though and I like a good Italian Ice Tea (ice tea with a scoop of lemon ice) in the summer. So why do I keep coming back? Well for one, there's no other place like it in Baltimore. Though it's always packed, there is still something really comforting to pick up a nice treat or sticking around for it in the dining area with others. It is very much like grandma's house in that cozy feeling and the cooking--it may not be the best in the grand scheme of things but it's comforting and will certainly bring your spirits up even if you get so full you can't move anymore.
(3)
Julaine N.

Love the cannoli! Try the assorted mini cannoli plate. The espresso is delicious and the gelato too. It can be a little pricey for dessert, but they do it well.
(4)
Matthew L.

The pastries are not of great quality and the gelato is so so. However there is the all you can eat dessert on Monday and every night you can get the Colosseo, 4 scoops of Gelato over a waffle covered in toppings. Make sure to bring a few friends as this can comftorably feed 5 people. It's not the quality, it's definately about the quantity.
(3)
Melissa L.

This place is definitely generations away from being really Italian. That being said they do have amazing Cannoli's. The cannoli filling is fantastic and I love the chocolate covered cannoli shells. However, all of their desserts are very expensive. i don't particularly think their cakes are super tasty and are sometimes dry. They do have specials during the week that make some of these choices more affordable. The eclairs are okay. I've definitely had better. I'm sure some people will love how huge they are, but I still think they are expensive for how they taste and their size. I usually order the mini's and I think almost 3 dollars for a mini is really overshooting the price. The tartufi type dessert is not similar too Tartufi I've had at other Italian restaurants. Their breakfast menu is expensive and greasy. The focus on food here is big portions. The reason to come here is for their cannolis but besides that I think that you money is better spent elsewhere.
(2)
N S.

Totally skating on past reputation. The cannoli I had was overly sweet with a gritty texture. Unexceptable...and my cappuccino came topped w/ whipped cream??? Anyway, I tried Sabatino's Restaurant during restaurant week. Vaccaro's basically has a monopoly on all cannoli filling in the Baltimore/Washington area. VERY FEW restaurants actually make their own filling, so I was pleasantly surprised when I asked them at Sabatino's if they made their own considering they are located DIRECTLY ACROSS from Vaccaro's. They told me that yes, they made their own filling, but did purchase the shells from Vaccaro's. Their cannoli was excellent. Smooth, creamy, not overly sweet. Get one from them.
(2)
Tom D.

Stopped here to pick up some baked goods -- so I can't speak to their cannoli, gelato or tiramisu -- but the cookies were rather disappointing -- with the exception of their amaretti, which were excellent. Biscotti and Italian almond cookies were very good, but all of the other cookies did not impress.
(3)
Dave A.

The canoli filling was heavy on the cinnamon and for $4.25 it should have been perfect. I guess they can charge that much because it's in touristy Little Italy.
(3)
Andrea R.

Worst service I have experienced EVER. On top of it, the very slow worker behind the counter was overtly checking me out the whole time I was there. The gelato was nothing special. They could NEVER compete with gelato in Italy. Aside from that, I also had the pignoli cookies, which were honestly so good that I might just stock up and buy a whole box full, so I don't have to ever go to this place. Oh and the renovations make you walk through some ghetto first floor.
(2)
Emily C.

I am not a fan of the cannolis. They are way too sweet, and so overpriced. But maybe I'm partial the Mike's Pastry in Boston. Vaccaro's does have an all you can eat dessert night for I believe $12.95, so if you have a major sweet tooth, you can definitely satisfy it here. I tried it once, but it's not for me. I left feeling full, slightly sick from all the sugar, yet craving salty food because you really can't substitute dessert for dinner.
(2)
Jim B.

It doesn't matter where you eat in Baltimore, come here afterwards for dessert. Tuck you and your friends (or date) away into one of the tables and get ready to eat some fantastic food. (you may have to wait though, this place gets busy!) During the colder fall and winter months, Vacarro's is even cozier, as they seem to turn the temperature up to the high 70's. Maybe so you can enjoy the gelati all year round? Just keep in mind that one of the "Specialita Della Casa" desserts has about a 4:1 person to dessert ratio, in my opinion. Meaning you and three of your closest friends better decide on one dish to divide and conquer if you ever hope of finishing it.
(5)
JOHN C.

Love those cookies! Cake Boss who?
(5)
David L.

This place serves desserts on steroids. I have never seen eclairs that are the size of a small loaf of bread, it was pretty delicious too. I was in Little Italy with some friends a while back and after dinner we passed by Vaccaro's. The line was out the door at 10 pm at night, and everyone was buying tons of desserts. ALL the desserts were huge! We also got a tiramisu and cannoli. I would definitely come back and get a regular cannoli. The texture was just right and it was nice and rich. The service was a bit slow, but it was worth the wait.
(4)
Samir N.

Damn me and my sweet tooth. This place had me reconsidering my Baltimore culinary experience. When wandering through Little Italy, just look for a place on the corner with a line going out the door. That is generally a sign of great things to come. The problem was deciding what to eat - gelato, cookies, pastries, oh my! I had the lasagna version of an apple turnover (I forget the name) and can definitively tell you what heaven tastes like.
(5)
Jeff C.

The cannolis were fabulous. Wait service was great. Have been here a couple times and both visits were great.
(4)
Mark S.

If you are on a diet, AVOID! Walking in, you are greeted with a huge pastry case with cookies, cakes, canollis, and more. Their gellato is amazing. They also do a mean espresso. Must go!
(5)
blowfly x.

As an Italian I feel qualified to judge cannoli - these are the best I've had. Creamy, not grainy, little chocolate chips, nice crisp shells. Another plus is that my husband gets the opportunity to use one of his favorite movie quotes when we get home ("leave the guns, take the cannoli)." Of course get them unassembled if you are taking them home. The various Italian cookies are great. The sundaes are INCREDIBLE but they are also ENORMOUS. They only offer one size, I think it's like three scoops, or eight scoops, or some huge number of scoops. We ordered one thinking we'd never be able to finish it but we DID, which was sick. They're so good that you keep eating it. Ugh. One sundae is good for at least four people, so don't get one unless you have four people because you will certainly eat it no matter what. Everything is pretty expensive, especially the cookies. I wouldn't say the staff is particularly friendly and they're kind of domineering about making you sit down or stand in line or whatever. And there usually IS a long line, no matter when we've gone.
(3)
Yesy D.

I was too full to try their famous cannoli, but my friend really liked them. I had the lemon Italian ice and it was just delicious and refreshing. Perfect ending to the heavy Italian meal I had next door.
(4)
Vishal S.

This review is for dessert only. I stopped by Vaccaro's for a scoop (or 2) of their gelatos. After sampling a few I settled on Vanilla Chocolate Chip Gelato. It was heavenly to say the least :) Just creamy enough for my liking and very flavorful! It was a treat biting in to the chocolate chips!! Staff was friendly too :)
(4)
Cheryl K.

I'm not sure if there's much that I can add to existing reviews. This place is awesome and I've been coming here for years, as Vaccaro's is my go-to place for overwhelming decadent desserts. I did try a panini (I had a turkey, my boyfriend had ham) and that was delicious as well. I ordered olives on the side and they gave me a really generous portion. My go-to desserts are the tiramisu gelato and the rum cake- they've been consistently fantastic. I can also vouch for the white hot chocolate- also delicious, but it's served in such a huge mug (with a piece of biscotti) that it's really a dessert all on its own. Also- their chocolate martini is fantastic. Very indulgent, very delicious.
(5)
Andy G.

You might be taken aback by prices, but the deserts are huge. A desert at this establishment should be split by 2 or more normal sized people. The exception to this is the cannoli, and I dare someone to show me a better cannoli than the ones at Vaccaro's. I had the hot chocolate last night and it was unreal. It had "whipped cream" that had a texture more like cake icing, and there were real chocolate chips floating in the drink. You can't come here more than every few weeks because of the real potential of ending up diabetic.
(5)
Keith W.

Vaccaro's is the cannoli kings.....you could wait a while on the weekend but it is well worth it. I have only had the cannoli's but when you do something perfect there is nothing else to try!
(5)
Natalie F.

Holy Cannoli!!! This place is heaven on earth for desserts! There are so many delicious, traditional Italian treats to choose from, and every one of them is phenomenal! I'm partial to the cannoli's and cream puffs. They also have lots of different cookies, cakes, eclairs, pies, pastry's and ice cream to indulge in. It's usually always packed and very busy. I've never come to sit down and eat off the full menu but I can't imagine that the lunch and dinner menu is anything short of scrumptious. They also have fantastic cappuccinos and traditional coffee drinks. The staff is always friendly and eager to help. Located in the heart of Little Italy, this place is not to be missed! They also have another location in Canton.
(5)
Carl W.

Love it. Gelato and ices were excellent. Waitress and service were very friendly and prompt, the place was clean and the atmosphere buzzing, it was like being in Manhattan.
(5)
Priscilla K.

-1 star since it does get a bit pricey. walked here from inner harbor, got the staples: cannoli, pignoli, amaretto, almond cookies, and a scoop of pistachio gelato and raspberry ice. there's a broken down bench down the street where we always sit, and thi
(4)
Ai-Chen Y.

"The tiramisu founder @ Baltimore" People said that the founder of Vaccaro's is the first one who made Tiramisu. I enjoy the Tiramisu a lot, the coffee wine smell great and when it blend with the cream and melt in the mouth, it is enjoyable. However, I do not like the soft lady finger in the bottom. Also, I had a bad experience when I went there last time. One of my friends came from the other state and hoped to come to this store to taste the tiramisu. We were not very hungry, so we only ordered one coffee and one tiramisu for 4 people. After they served the coffee and tiramisu, and we ate it about 10 to 15 minutes, the waiter asked us to pay the bill and drop a hint that we should leave...(While we were still eating...) At that time, the store was not crowded, there were only 4 tables with customers, and 7 or more empty tables... My friend came from a far away area, I felt embarrassed that I took him to this store... Since I came to Vacarro's many times, I had great experience all the time, but the worst experience happened this time........ The flavor of Tiramisu and Napoleons are great, the price of the ice cream is reasonable, but the service this time make me decide not to go Vaccaro's anymore. I would give Vaccaro's 4 stars before, but after this experience, sorry that I could only give it 2 stars the most.
(2)
E G.

Great pastry shop that is always busy (yes, even on a tuesday night). Variety is a big draw for me here. Always something enticing no matter what type of sweet you want; from the understated biscotti ai pinoli (not sure why every place calls this 'pignoli'..but..ok) to something chocolate dipped in more chocolate and then topped with sprinkles or something (not very italian in my humble opinion..). Allora, dozens of amazing italian treats and gelato. Personally recommend the butter balls (how can this not be good?) and the cannoli. While it may be a little pricey I think it is well worth it for the sugar rush and the carb coma. Go in the late evening and you may see someone's granddad playing bocce ball up the street.
(4)
Joseph C.

Be prepared: Space is at a premium. You may have to wait...it is worth it. I don't believe that bigger is always better; however, Vaccaro's does sweets & coffee better & bigger at the same time.
(5)
TJ P.

Vaccaro's is an experience to be endured as much as enjoyed. Almost any time you go there, the crowd spills out onto the street corner, and you crawl through the humanity to wait for a table. Inside, it's bustling and noisy. Upstairs or downstairs, the lighting shouts at you. When you sit down, your table is still warm from the last party that sat there. You hope it's clean. Above your table, the portrait of Mr. Vaccaro looks down on you. And the desserts! Italian excess like they never knew in Italy. Cream puffs and cookies and gelato, oh my! Order one dessert for three people. Have a cappuccino or one of their spiked coffees and a few Italian cookies. You're in Baltimore and this is the after dinner place to go. Just smile and endure it. You will come back.
(4)
Maria M.

They redecorated the top floor which is always cool so that the wait isn't as long. I've gone here a couple of times and the desserts have always been delicious. I guess I only give it a three because on of my favorite dessert ever is the tiramisu and I found that I wasn't a huge fan of their tiramisu which pretty much is just rum with some coffee ice cream. So yeah. The belgian waffles are good though. Very nice balance of hot and cold dessert. Definitely cannot finish a half one by myself so I always make sure to sure. One of the good things in this place is that you do get a lot of dessert for what you pay for. =) Go on weekdays or early on weekends because there's always a long line otherwise =)
(3)
Georges S.

I've been to Vaccaro's on three occasions. As far as prices go, they are on the moderate side -- they might seem high, but typically the portions are rather large -- on the quality side, it can be a little hit-or-miss. The highlight of my last experience there were the cannoli. Best I've had since living in Italy. However, on the otherhand, the gelato was of very poor quality. I ordered an amaretto; it was not smooth; in fact it was a bit grainy. I was going to order a pistachio, but it had a neon-green synthetic appearance -- not at all natural like sage green I've been accustomed to elsewhere. The service I've experienced has also been lukewarm. During my last experience, the waitress brought the wrong order to us -- no big gripe there. However, we waited for a long time for our check, and once it was delivered, we waited a long time to have it taken -- we ended up almost going up to the take away counter when another waiter took it for us.
(3)
Hung T.

D-LISH-OUS! Not your average pastry shop. This place is fancy. Just take a look at the decor. It feels like a 90s lounge. I got the cream puffs, not bad, not great. Others got pistachio gelato and some other desserts that i don't remember. They were good!!! Overall a nice pastry shop that has lots of variety and a huge menu. It is a bit pricey but I guess they need the money for those fancy lights.
(4)
Amy L.

So large, so good, so affordable. Went with a few friends so we each got to taste each other's dessert. For $5.95 off of the specials menu, you get 2 large scoops of coffee gelato PLUS a huge slice of hazelnut cream chocolate cake. So large, so good, so affordable. Next up - the Peanut Butter Panic - peanut butter gelato topped with crushed peanut butter cups, whipped cream and chocolate syrup. So large, so good, so affordable. Last but not least - the Sampler - 2 mini cannolis, 2 cream puffs, 1 pignoli cookie, 1 almond cookie and 1 unidentifiable powedered sugar cookie that wasn't worth the calories. The cannolis were the best part of this. I wasn't a fan of the cream puffs (my homemade ones are much better - pat on my back) and the cookies were ok. The other 2 desserts were much better.
(4)
Erin K.

Eaten in and taken out AMAZING Italian desserts here. If you ever want to treat yourself after a meal downtown, swing by here! If you're out late, prepare to even have a little wait out the door of this sweet little place for some sweets to go! Beware, most 'regular' portions are HUGE. I can only handle HALF of the SMALL Gelato, all flavors are succulent and fill your senses! I nearly always choose one regular cannoli. As rich as it is, I eat the whole thing - it's too delicious to save for later! An eclair, on the other hand, you'll be eating for a couple days. Coffee drinks are great, too. Never disappoints!
(5)
Barbara D.

There's a crazy amount of variety, and an awesome all-you-can-eat deal on Monday nights. The menu is pretty extensive, but there's always a short list of changing $6 dessert specials that are always good. Be warned that the portions are HUGE. Definitely plan on splitting a dessert with at least one other person. The service is hit or miss - sometimes you have to wait a while to get the waitstaff's attention even though the place is empty. But you're not coming for the atmosphere. You're coming to stuff your face.
(4)
Chris D.

I'm always skeptical about Italian places and this place was no exceptions despite the ridiculous number of rave reviews online. My skepticism was unfounded; walking into this place actually reminded me of being at my grandmother's house. The furniture and decor was aged, in only a way your grandparent's can be, but for whatever reason it was comforting. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs so we made a go of a sampler platter of cookies and cakes as well as a few scoops of gelatto. Everything was pretty much on par with what I remember from my childhood. The pignoli and almond cookies were good and the cannoli were as good as any homemade ones I've had. I guess it's really not that hard to do this stuff well, but I've eaten my share of crap over the years... so maybe it's not that easy. If you're in Baltimore, be sure to check it out. Evidently they have two locations in DC, but I've never been to either. I'm interested in hearing the responses of anyone who has.
(4)
Howie C.

5 for the food (minus 1 for the slow service if that matters to you). My only night in Baltimore was capped off with Vaccaro's in Little Italy, raved about by my Chinese and Vietnamese friends that lived out East. So much to try and only eight ounces of room left in my stomach. Do I go for the cannolis? The gelato? Since I've never been a huge cannoli guy (they are known for them), I went with the rum cake (which they are also known for). The fat slice of rum cake was just a tad dry but eating the cake portion with the vanilla and chocolate creams evened it out to make it a heavenly experience. The two seperate layers of cream, combined with the rum flavor played like violins in the night. Hundreds of almond slices died to cover the side of the cake. The creamy pistachio gelato I ordered on the side came in it's own seperate bowl ($4 with dessert order, $5.40 a la carte) and was monstrous. My friend ordered the Neopolitan Pizzelle (which I also happened to be eyeing). Pizzelle (thin waffle like cookies) cookie tower fitted with chocolate, strawberry, and pistachio gelatos between each floor. All three gelatos were very creamy, as the strawberry wasn't an italian ice, it was a gelato. So good, so sinful. I couldn't leave without taking some cookies back to Cali. $18.60 a lb. for cookies? Holy cow! That beats the $41.07 I would have had to pay for 1 lb. with ground shipping. I had the apricot filled, raspberry filled, italian strudel (fig & nut), sliced almond, and lemon ice. All were good. If you love almond and the almond marzipan flavor, you'll appreciate the crunch outside and the chewy moist inside. The flavoring amd texture are done perfectly (but you can probably find this cheaper at your local Jewish deli). If I was a Baltimore Raven fan, I know where I'd be after every game, Vaccaro's, whether celebrating the win or to console myself after a loss. In town for business? Stop by and you'll have the perfect food gift to bring home for your family or office mates. Now I know why people worship this place.
(5)
Jenn S.

Cannolis to die for!
(5)
kathy a.

THE BEST PIGNOLI COOKIES I HAVE EVER HAD, PERIOD. Worth every penny, and you'll spend about 100 per cookie. Would kill for the recipe.
(5)
Katie Anne N.

Best decision ever. My sister suggested that we get dessert after consuming about 2 pounds of crab at a nearby restaurant. We were promptly seated at a table that fit 8 and our waitress was quick to bring us waters and take our orders. The menu is HUGE. They also serve food as well but the desserts were the main attraction. I had the ammaretto tiramisu and a hazelnut coffee. The tiramisu was HUGE and soaked in alcohol. Me likely. Coffee was great as well. Highly recommend this place for a sweet treat and to relax and hang out friends.
(4)
Tri N.

Not a place to take a date. Although inexpensive, desserts are mediocre.
(2)
kristina l.

I have gotten their cannolis and it is AMAZING. Not only can you fill it yourself but they give you a ton of cream to take home. I can't seem to make myself stop craving their cannolis! This place is a must - oh and their italian cookies are also DELICIOUS as hell! Only downside is that they are pretty expensive. I guess I won't be eating there often - even though I live a few blocks away.
(4)
Alexis B.

Delicious dessert, and dessert is my favorite! Cannoli's were delicious and so was the mint gelato. It's trendy and neat inside and I can't wait to come back! Also got some italian cookies to take home which were SO good. Me and my parents really enjoyed the cookies. I want to go back just thinking about it! :)
(4)
Alisa K.

Delicious! The giant waffle with ice cream is amazing if you don't mind that you are consuming a week's worth of calories. Good hot chocolate and gelato. Good Italian cookies. A really fun place to go after dinner with friends. I think you get a free something or other if you go on your birthday
(4)
Amit P.

I love this place. It's a tad on the pricey side when it comes to desserts (their hottest seller), but their food is good all around. As far as desserts go, their gelato, cookies, coffee, canolis, cream puffs, and any combination thereof are absolutely fantastic. What I've found is relatively understated about this place is what a deal their paninis are! They're absolutely fantastic, and they're big enough for two people to share (they come conveniently cut in half too!) and cost just about as much as a Chipotle burrito but smack of flavor and are a bit more novel because they're from a local place made with love. I know this place is a tourist trap, but I live just down the street from it and can't stay away from their sandwiches and coffee. Come here on your birthday and you'll get a free treat!
(5)
Esther L.

I was excited to try the cannolis here. I saw the good reviews for the place. However, it was a bit underwhelming. The cannoli shell was good and extra crisp, but the filling was a little lacking. You could still taste a bit of the vanilla extract and it was not fluffy enough. We also had their raspberry and nutella cookies which, honestly, I feel like I could make better ones myself. We got their iced cappuccinos for our drinks and it was good coffee--the roast tasted great. However, I think the barista--one of the many teenage girls behind the counter--went a little half-and-half crazy.
(3)
Alison L.

Everything here is amazing. Period. Great gelato, great place to hang out, excellent baked goods all around. There's really nothing to complain about except that parking may be hard, and if you go when it's busy, then you may have to wait for seating. Highly recommend the gelato and Napoleons.
(5)
Ria S.

During lunch break, I went to buy a very expensive coffee drink ($5!) and tried to sit down but a worker wouldn't let me because I had "carry out". The restaurant was EMPTY mind you, and because I wasn't ordering a full menu meal, they wouldn't let me sit down! What the crap is that? I asked for clarification; they then informed me there was a "separate" section for us "carry out" folks. I asked them where that was. The man helping me said I could sit down if I allowed him to change over my dishware into a proper glass/china. Then the man took my coffee away and started to dump it in a mug. I stopped him, realizing how ridiculous that was, took my $5 coffee and left. Meanwhile, I looked over to the other 2 young ladies working, asking for help--they did nothing, just laughed, and went on chit-chatting with each other. I just finally left. Common courtesy and communication go a long way, Vaccaro's.You just lost a loyal Baltimore customer. There are so many other great places to go in Little Italy. Skip this one.
(1)
Janeen D.

Oh Vaccaro's how i miss you! I long for the summers when I am back in Batimore so I can taste your exquisite creamy cannolis! I grew up on your cannolis, and remember fondly your small shop across the street. In high school when I started driving, I would come down with friends, and introduce them to your new space where we could have cappuccino, espresso, gelato, pignoli cookies, and of course, my favorite, cannolis. I love the fill your own cannoli take home pack! I do not even need shells, just give me that tub o' cream filling with mini chocolate chips and I am in heaven!
(5)
Joe P.

Great Italian desserts. Only qualm is that everything is pricey, probably due to its location in little Italy. I must say that the price is worth it. Get a cappuccino and a cannoli, and you're set. The gelato is tasty too.
(4)
Sarah G.

The almond paste cookies were perfect - OMG sooo good! And the gelato was terrific. There was a super sweet girl that helped us. This would be 5 stars but we had 2 other cookies (nutella and chocolate macaroon) that were good but underwhelming compared to those almond ones! But all around well worth the trip!
(4)
KuangYou C.

I had a high expectation with the Tiramisu because of the originality. However, I was a little bit disappointed. The coffee smell was good but the bottom part, Lady finger was so wet!!! I don't really like this part. My friend told me it was not that wet when she came here before, so I don't know what happened. Personally, I prefer cake with dry bottom so I only think this shop is ok!
(3)
Mary M.

Yum! Yum! Yum! This place is full of wonderful Italian pastries with enough assortment for everyone to find something they like. Whenever I'm in Little Italy I make a stop here, but some times are better than others. I've only been during the evenings, and there is inevitably a line at Vaccaro's and I've never been able to sit inside and enjoy my pastry - but that has never turned me off to this delectable experience!
(4)
Kate T.

I've never had a dream come true until the day I found Vaccaro's. It was love at first sight when I saw my favorite quote ("Life is Uncertain-- Eat Dessert First!") on their signs outside the shop. When you walk in, you're in an Italian heaven. There are cannolis, cookies, and huge vats of gelato. If you take ice cream out, it's a bit cheaper. However, if you sit down, you're part of the Vaccaro's family and with that induction, comes Italian portion sizes. Even though you may believe that these sizes are excessive, once you take the first bite of the delicious ice cream, you'll be excited for every bite. A definite Baltimore must-visit!
(5)
Amy S.

Fantastic Italian desserts. Huge portions. Great specials with reasonable prices. Fun and stylish atmosphere. Fabulous coffee ice cream. A little overboard on Franciscan: just too much goodness! Not sure if that's a bad thing, though. Finally, the women's bathroom had a flatscreen tv. Never seen that before!
(5)
Allison L.

Don't bother eating desserts at any other Italian restaurant in Little Italy... just come here. Any choice will be a good one, although the peanut butter pie is my personal favorite. There's also various locations around Baltimore County... the one in Hunt Valley seems to be particularly good.
(4)
Dan G.

Just stopped to get some sweets to bring back to the hotel. They have every type of Italiano sweet you can think of in a big glass case, so you can mix and match. Got a variety of cookies, and I was surprised at the price, I think it was about $20 a pound as my small bag was $10. When I ate some of them. they all were very good, but a little too expensive for what you get. They had a bunch of gelato flavors, but it was cold so didn't try it that night.
(3)
Amy B.

Stopped in here after our epic little italy outing on friday (going from vino rosino to la tavola to vaccaros). We were looking for a nightcap after a medicore dinner at la tavola and came upon this packed pastry shop. We each had a sweet cocktail (my chocolate grey goose martini was cheaper than my happy hour drink earlier in the evening!). We split mini cannolis, which was delicious, but we were stuffed from the other components of our meal, so we left an egregious amount of pastry cream on the plate. Prices were quite good and the place had a fun vibe and a great mix of people. Loved it!
(5)
Ralph J.

Ive had better cannoli's
(2)
Eric N.

Best desert in Baltimore, and phenominal gelato. You must try the italian ice cream sandwhich, as well as the italian pound cake.
(5)
Leo M.

Great place, have been there several times and never disappointed. Gelato is great as well as spumoni.
(4)
James J.

The cannoli cream here is amazing, it's the best cannoli cream I have ever tasted. They are pretty expensive, but the portion sizes are HUGE for every dessert except the cannolis. It would be nice if they gave you a bit more cannolis, but if you order any of the other desserts (especially anything with gelato) the portion is way more than you expect. We try to go to Vaccaro's whenever we visit the inner harbor. One downside of the Little Italy location is that it is always busy when we go (evenings on the weekend), there is usually a line out the door, and it can be hard to get a seat. Also when it gets busy it appears as though they are understaffed with waitresses, the service can be slow at times. I'm willing to overlook those issues though because the desserts are so yummy! Favorite: Cannolis
(4)
Matt M.

If you're at a restaurant in Baltimore, skip the $5-7 little slice of cake or pie, and come here and pay $5-$8 for a gigantic awesome dessert that is enough for 2 people.
(5)
Eric B.

Holy Cannoli! Yes, these are fantastic. I have some friends that buy shells and filling, bring it back to DC, and freeze it for later. Delicious. Their other pastries are pretty good - some better than others. We really enjoyed the powdered lemon cookies - a bit crunchier than they look, but great flavor and texture after you get a bite in your mouth. Also, as others have mentioned, it is pricey. I don't know if the cannolis are priced individually or by weight like the rest of the pastries, but I didn't get much, and it was $25. Overall, worth it for the cannolis.
(4)
Danny M.

this is a baltimore must!!! then some Bocce ball!
(5)
Carrie N.

AMAZING desserts--get your sweet tooth fix here!
(5)
Krissy R.

This place is pretty good. There aren't a lot of good pastry shops in the area so I wish I could give this place 5 stars, but every time I go here I am disappointed. The cookies are just "okay" and the prices are high for what you end up getting. The gelato is good. The cannolis are what saved my review from being lower-- they are awesome. The shell is the perfect consistency and the filling is creamy and not too sweet. There are just the right amount of chocolate chips. All in all, I will be back for cannolis (even though they are expensive). I can't argue with a good cannoli!!
(3)
Jeff C.

The best compliment I can give Vacarro's is that they are the closest you can get to NYC Italian pastry shops. Actually, they have some of the best Pignoli cookies anywhere. Canoli's are great, everything in their sweets department is delicious and the perfect thing to bring to a party or friends. Even living in the NYC area I miss Vaccaro's.
(5)
Jason P.

Cannolis. Treats. Drinks. If there is a line... you'll be waiting for a few minutes - but suck it up, you'll enjoy what you get.
(5)
Sarah H.

Sfogiatellis done the right way and really good cookies. Line out the door for a reason.
(5)
Erica G.

If you don't like this place, I question your taste. Being someone Italian and being raised with an Italian upbringing, food is everything and Vaccaros does not disappoint. Their menu is simple but everything is perfect. Best authentic muffulettas and cannolis I've had in quite sometime. Save room for cookies! Good prices, casual nice atmosphere.
(5)
Holly N.

Cream filling, oh my!! Velvety ooey gooey custard. That's why I love this place. Portions are HUUUUUGE, so order with caution. I would give them four stars but I I find their cookies so dry! But I love their layered vanilla custards and eclaires!
(3)
Garrett B.

I have eaten here twice and I love it!!! The canoli are to die for and the menu has something for everyone. Beware of the Belgian waffles. Do not order the whole waffle unless you are willing to eat a piece of dough the size of your head. The atmosphere is wonderful and a great place to go with a group of friends.
(5)
Teresa L.

yum yum and yum! this place is awesome, would definitely come back here!
(4)
Maggie W.

Best. Cannoli. Ever. ...that's all I've ever ordered, so I guess this isn't a comprehensive review. But their cannoli are absolutely amazing--when you order them to go they give you a tub of filling and a bunch of shells so they don't get soggy! Amazing. Delicious. Tiny chocolate chips. Yum.
(5)
Jessica S.

This place is awesome! We went last Saturday after the Orioles game. At 8:30 PM, we got a seat upstairs really quick. The line out the door is for carry-out/the pastry counter. I had the Italian cookies and cream gelato and it was great. Others at the table got the bacci ball, eclair, and cream puffs - prices are great. There were four of us total and we ended up taking two containers of food home. There was just too much to finish. My family is Italian and I would definitely go back.
(5)
Crissie H.

Outstanding!!!!! A must when in city of Baltimore! This caps off your night in Little Italy with famous bakery of cannoli's!! I personally would just buy the cannoli cream and eat with a spoon!!! Slow! Savor every bit. Or enjoy with shot of espresso or cafe.!!
(5)
Antony S.

Best desserts ever. i don't even really like sweets, but this place is amazing. if the italian ice cream sandwich was a women i would marry her.
(5)
BJ F.

I have been going here for about 30 years. The last 2 visits were very disappointing. Last time the cappucino was terrible and the cookies were stale. This time the the cappucino was luke warm mostly milk and whipped cream. I got cookies too, they were pretty good and much fresher than last time. The service here is always terrible but today it was especially awful. I should have just walked out but was really looking forward to a treat. There were at least 6 young kids behind the counter talking with each other, checking their phones and 3 of them were trying to write "happy birthday" on an eclair for the lady in front of me. They ended up messing up 3 eclairs and clearing out the pastry cabinet before they got it right. There were no adults behind the counter directing anyone. When I first walked in there was only 2 people in front of me. I thought "this is great! I will get in and out quickly". It took me at least 20 minutes and by the time I left there was at least 20 people behind me lined out the door. The young girl that waited on me was moving in slow motion, no one behind the counter seemed to care that people were now lined out the door. This is the last time I will visit Vaccaros I am sad to say. As with the rest of Baltimore's Little Italy I think their time has past.
(1)
Jessie J.

Only gotten desserts here before so my rating is based on that. First time there I got the chai gelato, which is awesome. My boyfriend got the tiramisu , which I found just alright, although I'm not a huge fan of the dessert to begin with. On our second trip we got the coconut napoleon and choclate/vanilla napoleon, and those were both delicious. I've never dined in the restaurant, only taken desert to go, so I don't know what the wait staff are like. But the people operating the registers have been pretty rude every time I've gone. All young, probably late teens, and more preoccupied with texting than taking orders. They were not helpful at all, just forget about any pleasantries,
(3)
Angelica G.

3.5 Italian deserts get way better than this! There's definitely room for improvement Mr.Vaccaro! +s Good variety of pastries Great Gelato Place is cute and homelike Good Coffee -s Tiramisu I had was very weird tasting Portions are too big! Tables and sits are too close together Tips: It's a pretty good place to spend and afternoon with the ladies if you don't mind being nearly comatose from the sugar overdose!
(3)
Jessica A.

Oh my gosh - what DON'T I like about Vaccaro's?? Cappuccinos so huge they practically come in a fishbowl and giant servings of spumoni, Nerf-ball-sized eclairs with light pastry and rich buttery delicious vanilla cream filling & yummy decadent chocolate on top... italian cookies that are to die for. I love this place. The downstairs has undergone a major facelift recently - very nice.
(5)
Rebecca B.

Most awesome place to have dessert in Baltimore. Italian cookies, gelato...they make dessert an event!
(5)
Traci P.

If you want to taste the most unbelievable cannoli in the world- GO TO VACCARO'S!!! WOW, there are almost no words to describe how amazing it tasted. We split one cannoli (they are rather big) and each had one of their specialty coffees (alcohol coffee drinks). Being as how we were there on a Saturday night, it was PACKED! Who would've thought there would be a 15 minute wait at a bakery? But it went fast and the hostess stayed in great communication the whole time. Our server had great customer service. It would've been nice if she had been a little more attentive, but she was the only server downstairs, so she was really stretched thin. This is most definitely somewhere I plan to re-visit as many times as humanly possible! I heart Vaccaro's!
(5)
Olivia L.

Only had cookies from the take-out counter. I basically got one of each, and my fave by far is the sliced almond thing (it's in the case closest to the ice cream, on the top shelf -- there's a pine nut version too) which is just super delicious. Moist, chewy, with a crunchy exterior studded with sliced almonds! It's kind of like a parisian macaroon, but more dense (and without the filling). I could eat a whole dozen. Minus a star for the annoying tourist group that just totally left one person in line for the 10 of them who swooped in just as the placeholder got to the front of the line. Bah.
(4)
Annie L.

We had the waffle with 6 scoops of gelatos topped with whip, walnuts, and fudge! It was amazing! We got there at 10pm and the place was packed. There was a line for table service and take out. The place have about 20 tables but there was only one waitress on duty so it took her a long while to take our order and the order took forever to come. Despite the service, the dessert is amazing and it is highly recommended. ***thumbs up***
(5)
K D.

Everything is SO SWEET but also so yummy. Only come here if you are looking for a sugar HIGH!
(4)
Kelly J.

Wow these desserts are huge (that's what she said)!! And delicious. Went here for a birthday and wasn't expecting the portions they provided. (Thank goodness we decided to share) I would not have been able to eat one by myself. The only downside to this place are the crowds of people (but once you eat here, you'll see why) I recommend not making this a dessert after dinner treat or you'll be having a 2 hour wait. Or make a reservation (not sure if you can or not)
(5)
Asha J.

I would have given it 5-sars, but the prices are out of this world! They recently under went ridiculus renovations, which looks really good, but now the customers have to pay for it! Let me break it down for you: A latte is 7 dollars (no alcohol) , a tiramisu is 8 bucks (it's a square of a serving). I really like Vicarro's desserts, but not too keen on the prices.
(4)
elizabeth m.

Ahhh, this pace is a must-visit whenever I'm in Baltimore. Saturday night - expect to wait in the line that is wrapped around the block. I was just there on a Wednesday night, around 9 pm - and it was about a 5 minute wait. The cannoli's are amazing - and I do recommend getting one 'to go'.
(5)
Samuel G.

Just a quick update - We finally got a chance to do a 'sit-down', now that the remodeling job on the lower dining room area is finished. The wait for a table wasn't quite as long as our wait in line had been on Trip #1. They did a pretty respectable job opening things up, though the space is still kind of cramped...Don't be surprised if you wind up sharing a table and rubbing elbows with another party of people you don't know. But guess what? You probably won't mind, either - we didn't! It's kind of difficult to be in a crappy mood (or stay that way) when you're cramming your face full of chocolate and other carbs. My hope is that when we manage to get back to Balto (hopefully in the summertime), the upstairs portion will be reopened as well, and we can take our time really enjoying the experience - not that we didn't before. Hey, it's dessert, but more than that, it's VACARRO'S dessert.
(5)
Taylor Z.

Pastries are stellar but a little pricey, probably because the portions are huge. Overall good though. Stop in if you're in the area.
(4)
stephenie s.

Great cannoli... But the server at the take out area was really rude and condescending Taylor needs a lesson in customer service or a new career.
(3)
Justin W.

Hands down the best cannoli's I have ever had. This is a gem in Baltimore. The best desserts and they are open late. I also go back here for a treat when I am in Baltimore.
(5)
RJ M.

So after eating at Obryckis we headed over here. There was a party that sat next to us that must of overheard what we were talking about for dessert because we saw them there. Anyways, the dessert was good. We had a couple different cannoli's, Gelati, Eclair, Plain Waffle and Mini Cream Pulls - plain and Chocolate topped. Sounds sweet right. It was, but it was worth the try since we were leaving town. I've had better cannoli, but I did like their chocolate mini cream puff and gelati. It satisfied the sweet tooth craving. The company I was with mad the dessert taste better. Would I come back? Probably, just to try other items and mostly likely around brunch time instead of dinner time.
(3)
Francesca L.

My friend takes me here everytime I'm in Baltimore. Though there is always a wait, the waitstaff is friendly and accomadating. I will not comment on the past since they were a while ago, but this recent visit I tried the cream puffs. The bread was not puffy as I expected, dry, and too thick for my liking. I won't be getting these again. My dad had the raspberry napoleon, which was ok..as Lola S mentioned, the filling is like a donut. The other dessert I tried I can't remember the name of but it was strawberry, pistachio, and baci gelato layered between crispy waffle cone..now this was sooo good and totally worth it!! The strawberry was nothing special, but the pistachio and baci had a distinct and memorable flavor. Very enjoyable. It's a cool place to check out if you are in the area and it has late hours so perfect to go after another evening event.
(3)
Jess K.

I really, really, really do not like this place. I am not sure why the Italian restaurants in the area get their desserts from here and I think it is a regrettable decision. The first time I experienced Vaccaro's was when I saw Eddie Money perform at some random high school and we stopped here for dessert afterwards. I tried a few different pastries and thought they were way less than remarkable. I thought that might be because I lived in Boston's North End for two years so I know what good Italian pastries are. But after eating at a restaurant in the neighborhood and having a Vaccaro's cannoli I really think this place sucks. The cannoli was weird and runny and not really a cannoli at all. We all looked at each other with confusion after tasting it and agreed that it was weird. I think they need to be trained by some real Italian pastry chefs or something.
(1)
Meatdowntown C.

Absolutely the best Hot White Chocolate and the Cappuccino is just excellent and big! The desserts are crazy huge but they aren't good. I made a mistake and got Amaretto Tiramisu and it wasn't good at all. Then, I read some reviews and decided to check the canoli... OMG it is horrible. Just go to the North End in Boston and get done with it. In my book, this is not really a bakery... so maybe lunch (food) is better than desserts. They serve food also but I have not been there for food. I am sure this is overpriced as
(2)
Tim C.

Great desserts, although I wasn't as big of a fan of the canolis as some others on here. The gelatos and shakes are awesome though. Choose wisely if you go in for the all you can eat on Monday nights. I know the gelato waffle is a favorite but its huge so that may be the end of your night. And bring some lactaid; I think I killed some small critters outside on my way home.
(5)
Christy W.

Huge delicious cannollis. Cappuccino with whipped cream. Yum!! Beat the line by sitting down in the cafe. Great service. Fun for kids.
(3)
Patrick W.

I generally write my reviews right after I visit a place. Its been about 2 months since I stopped in at Vaccaro's, but I still have wonderful dreams of their Cannoli. I'm a pretty round guy. I enjoy my pastries and sweets. Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shop has knocked every other Cannoli I've ever had into a faded memory. The pastry was crispy- the filling was perfectly sweetened- It was the high point of my trip to Baltimore. I'll be back- I promise. Recommendation: Coffee and a Cannoli
(5)
Sheldon H.

Terrible apple napoleon. The canned apple pie filling was horrible.
(1)
Tyler S.

Okay, so I can't necessarily say that I've sat down here to eat...but I had a mini cannolli and I LOVED it (sp?). I saw a couple having a dessert dish with a cappuccino on the side, and I was sold. Figured that this would be a great place to take a girl out to satisfy that sweet tooth ;). Will definitely be visiting here again!
(4)
Rebecca C.

Leave the gun. Take the cannoli. If I hadn't visited Vaccaro's at its absolute crowded-est (about 8:30 p.m. on a Saturday night) I would probably be giving it five stars. They have cannoli like I grew up eating in NY and haven't had down here yet. This is the first place outside of NY that I have seen the bakery clerks fill the cannoli as you ordered them -- preserving crunchiness. The cream itself was a little different than I was used to (less stiff) but it was still really good, with the chocolate chips mixed in. One thing I will say is that I was surprised about the prices. Six filled mini cannolis, and probably 10 cookies, with two coffees, somehow came to $30! Maybe I was spoiled by the bakeries at Little Italy in the Bronx, where things were cheaper than NY's downtown Little Italy, but that seemed super pricey to me. Ultimately, though, I'm still giving it four stars because I think what they have is worth the price. The place is loud and a little disorganized, but I really can't say that it ruined it for me -- I've never been into an Italian bakery that wasn't. Get ready for the line, though, if you go on a weekend. It will be a good thing that you decided to leave the gun. ;-)
(4)
Kathryn G.

It's 10:30pm on a Saturday night, we're hungry for dessert and our waitress from dinner suggested we try Vaccaro's because the desserts at Vaccaro's are better. Thank goodness we listened to her. We get up to the door and the place is packed! If it were warmer, I'm sure the line would have streamed out the door - but because it was so cold, people contorted themselves into weird shapes to fit themselves into the bakery. And let me tell you, the desserts TOTALLY make up for the wait. i had 4 cookies: raspberry filled shortbread sandwich cookie, coconut chocolate cookie, chocolate-dipped shortbread, anise flavored cookies. I would recommend all of them.
(4)
Trevor T.

It's not often you're told by a waiter or waitress that the best desserts can be found just down the street. But that's exactly what Helen our waitress did. The line @ 10:30PM was out the door. There was a lot of confusion on where to stand if you wanted a table or where you should be if you wanted take out. We opted for take out. Orders included lemon cookies, anise cookies, shortbread cookies with raspberry, gelato, and canolis. Everything was delicious and the cookies and cream gelato I had was some of the best. If you're visiting Baltimore as we were, it's a short cab ride from the convention center and you'll be in Little Italy.
(3)
B. P.

Recommend cheese cake and cream puff.
(4)
Yelp Fan F.

The pros: cannoli is great. I like the gelato as well. They have daily specials for dessert items. Cons: When dining in, there is a looong waiting time for the check. Another time, we phoned and told they will close at 10 pm, yet they would not let us sit down even at 9.35 pm. The cakes and cookies are fairly ordinary.
(3)
Brad S.

Tasty pastries and lemon ice. Great food
(4)
Erica C.

The pastries are OKAY....but just okay. The gelato is fairly tasty. I must say I do like the cannoli, but they are pricey as can be. The napoleans are good, but taste similar to freezer phyllo with pudding that was made with heavy cream. I'd rather save the cash and hit up Poupon. But, if you are having one of those tacky Little Italy dinner dates, this is sure to please.
(3)
melissa m.

Delicious panini's, great variety of tasty dessert's.
(4)
Darryl L.

Picture's are worth a thousand words but this adage does not apply to Vaccaro's. From the abundance of stellar reviews and endless enticing photos, one would be lead astray by false expectations. All the popular recommended desserts like the Bacci ball, Tortufo , and their so-called famous cannoli employ a facade of a photogenic presentation to mask a failure to even achieve mediocrity. For a shop known for it's baked goods, the biggest let down is the poor quality of baking. The gelati makes no attempt to achieve mediocrity as the quality fails to achieve the level of smoothness that is expected from a well executed gelati. The service further the trend of incompetence as employees dawdled instead of doing their jobs to serve customers. Bottom line: Little Italy in NYC is the place for Italian desserts.
(2)
John K.

If you're a dessert fan and you live remotely close to Baltimore, you've probably heard about Vaccaro's. Got the Lost at Sea Colosseo which is big enough to satisfy 4 fat people or 16 really skinny people. Four heaping scoops of gelato topped with whipped cream wet nuts and supported by a freshly made waffle. DEEEEEEEEEEELISH!
(4)
Michael C.

Excellent desserts. my friends and I shared snickers gelato, tiramisu gelato, and a coconut Napoleon. Each of them was as good as the next. Portions are enormous and worth waiting in the small, crowded space for dessert.
(5)
Trang P.

I was contemplating on whether I should leave a review or not because there are already so many good reviews. Let me just help confirm this. Vaccaro's has an awesome atmosphere where you can take a date or go with a group of friends. They have great service. The seating area was full one time and they went out of their way to find me some seating. (Thx Vaccaro's!) The amount of desserts they have is incredible! The cannolis are amazing, probably one of the best in Little Italy, Baltimore. It's nice to have a place where you can sit down for some coffee and have an array of amazing desserts to choose from. There are so many different types of cookies, pastries, cannolis, and even gelato! This spot will definitely hit the spot if you have a sweet tooth! I am drooling as I type this...
(5)
Esther K.

desserts taste as good as it did wen i was in college. cookies were fresh and moist. napolean was just super tasty and very fresh. great cappuccino. friendly service. just a fun cute place! HUGE portions too!
(5)
Venessa C.

I've seen cannoli's on Cake Boss and was always curious about how they tasted. I had my first at Vaccaro's and it was love at first taste. I got the one with chocolate chip cream and it was beyond my expectations. Despite my lack of experience in the cannoli tasting department, I figured I wasn't the only one who felt this way because people were wrapped around the building to get a taste of Vaccaro's wide variety of pastries.
(4)
D R.

Fantastic cannolis... Very very good. Nothing fancy but well done. American-style Italian (vs true Italian) but very good.
(4)
Andrew K.

Their desserts are huge and it is more than enough to share with 2 people. I really like the colosseo with the vanilla gelato and waffle underneath plus wet nuts and strawberries on top. I also like the apple strudel with vanilla gelato and the tiramisu gelato is also really good. I've been coming here for a couple years now but I feel like the service has gotten worse recently. There's always a long wait if you get there on the weekends after 8pm but I feel like the last few times I've been there and it wasn't a weekend, the service was really slow and now they charge you $1 extra to split the bill more than 2 ways which I find annoying. I still like the dessert here but I think I'll probably get it to go than wait and sit at a table.
(3)
Chris G.

On my opinion, Vaccaro's is overpriced and not very good at all. Actually i am being nice giving them 2 stars. I think they have gotten way too big with the openings of a few other shops inside and out if the city. Quality is not their number 1 priority and they need some competition.
(2)
James M.

Nice bakery in Little Italy neighborhood of Baltimore. The pignoli cookies are outstanding. They dont have a ton of italian pastries for sale, sort of limited, but what they do have is very good. I did not try the gelato but it looked delicious and other people whom I talked to say it is. Service was a little slow and disorganized, but not terrible. Overall I would come back to this place if I am ever back in the area.
(4)
TJ M.

Pretty good, but not overwhelming. It seemed to be coasting on its high cachet among the tourist crowd. The cannoli was quite good, but a chocolate cake we got was, frankly, dry. I also had an adult coffee that our waitress chose for me. The drink was good, but the standout was what the whipped cream. I wish I could get my cream whipped into that kind of shape. Overall, a clear 3 stars. Worth going if you're in the vicinity, but not worth seeking out. Also- why no beers? Come on, you have a liquor license. Help me out.
(3)
Michael y.

after eating at la scLa, decided to go to an old stand by that I visited 7 years ago. had the hazelnut chocalate layer cake N cupucinio. Bellisimo!!!! Check my pics, the place was packed like a canoli!
(4)
amanda b.

I love the concept. A dessert restaurant seems like so much fun- and it is! There's something absolutely delightful about being given a menu of desserts, and having a waiter come take your order for it. I don't know, maybe I'm easily entertained. Unfortunately, the food just doesn't cut it for me. The desserts are large enough to fill a bathtub. Teaming up with another woman on a single dessert, we barely even made significant headway. We had ordered the chocolate-hazlenut gelato served over a brownie. The gelato wasn't too shabby, but the brownie itself was unpleasantly dense, sticky and gooey, and the whole thing was four or five times as sweet as it really needed to be. I would happily have traded quantity for quality. I ate there one other time- I still loved the concept and was desperately hoping I'd just picked the wrong thing. Again, I was disappointed. Everything was just so substandard... Sigh.
(2)
Fat T.

Inventive flavors for their gelatos. Recommend if the lines aren't too long.
(4)
Nick S.

If you like cannolis, this is your one stop awesome shop. Vaccaro's is a place I always go whenever I go out to dinner in Baltimore. I will advise my friends not to order dessert so that we can go to Vaccaro's and get some of their amazing baked goods. Besides great cannolis (which you can also get in a take home kit to make yourself) I greatly enjoy their almond cookies and their delicious gelati. It's only a few blocks to the harbour from Vaccaro's and in warm weather is a great destination when walking with a friend. Everytime I go there seems to be a line, but the staff gets through customers very efficiently. Overall, if you have a chance I would highly recommend trying Vaccaro's out, I bet you'll be hooked.
(4)
angelo t.

This place has "jumped the shark" as far as being a worthwhile dessertery. They should focus more on quality rather than quantity: it does not take much skill to mix together sugar, dough and icing and call it a dessert and "Super-sizing it" does not make it better. Vaccaro's seems to do good business because of the inertia of their name and history in Baltimore, but saavy diners have long abandoned this place and left it for clueless inner harbor tourists along with Tio Pepe's and most restaurants in Little Italy. I would recommend a trip to one of four vastly superior alternatives: 1) Pitango Gelato 2) Sofi's Crepes, 3) Meli, 4) Piadigrotta bakery That said, I do admit enjoying the canoli filling and shells as a carryout item. you can get them separate (and fill the shells later). This is a nice dessert to bring to a dinner party. You can get the canoli (and avoid the crazy crowd) at Vaccaro's satellite store in Canton Square.
(2)
Mark S.

If you are on a diet, AVOID! Walking in, you are greeted with a huge pastry case with cookies, cakes, canollis, and more. Their gellato is amazing. They also do a mean espresso. Must go!
(5)
Rocky R.

Update 10/5/13: I have noticed that the staff gets annoyed anytime a patron orders a sandwich or salad for takeout, presumably because it takes time to prepare and the line just gets longer. They usually give free bread with the salads - at least they have every time I have ordered a salad - but this last time the lady made it sound like she was doing me a favor by giving me a piece of bread to go with my salad. It is a piece of bread, and you should provide this with the salad without the customer having to ask anyways, so don't be so stingy when a repeat customer (who tips well, I might add) requests a piece of bread with his salad. If you're annoyed that people order a salad or sandwich for takeout, then take it off your menu. If the chicken pesto salad wasn't so darn good, I would not bother coming here anymore! -- Can't give more than 2 stars. Their cookies are OK, their coffee is pretty good but very pricey for coffee, and their desserts are good but again, very pricey. I would consider this place to be a tourist trap. As I write this review, my friend says "I would say their prices are outlandish." I agree. Way, way, way too overpriced for what you get.
(2)
JOHN C.

Love those cookies! Cake Boss who?
(5)
Lola S.

I went here for the first time this weekend (Saturday 7pm) with a friend that swears up and down about this place (her mom has been going there since she was little) - and it was packed! We quickly got a table- we were served promptly and well taken care of even though they were slammed. The prices were steep but the portions were huge. We tried cannoli (not a fan), chocolate gelato (HUGE portion and Mmmm Mmm GOOD!), the tiramisu (which reminds me...i have leftovers in the fridge YAY!) and come gross raspberry thing that tasted like cheap donut filling. Not really impressed. It must be a tradition kind of thing.
(2)
Jennifer K.

Go on Wednesdays for 1/2 off gelato!!
(4)
David L.

This place serves desserts on steroids. I have never seen eclairs that are the size of a small loaf of bread, it was pretty delicious too. I was in Little Italy with some friends a while back and after dinner we passed by Vaccaro's. The line was out the door at 10 pm at night, and everyone was buying tons of desserts. ALL the desserts were huge! We also got a tiramisu and cannoli. I would definitely come back and get a regular cannoli. The texture was just right and it was nice and rich. The service was a bit slow, but it was worth the wait.
(4)
Samir N.

Damn me and my sweet tooth. This place had me reconsidering my Baltimore culinary experience. When wandering through Little Italy, just look for a place on the corner with a line going out the door. That is generally a sign of great things to come. The problem was deciding what to eat - gelato, cookies, pastries, oh my! I had the lasagna version of an apple turnover (I forget the name) and can definitively tell you what heaven tastes like.
(5)
Jeff C.

The cannolis were fabulous. Wait service was great. Have been here a couple times and both visits were great.
(4)
blowfly x.

As an Italian I feel qualified to judge cannoli - these are the best I've had. Creamy, not grainy, little chocolate chips, nice crisp shells. Another plus is that my husband gets the opportunity to use one of his favorite movie quotes when we get home ("leave the guns, take the cannoli)." Of course get them unassembled if you are taking them home. The various Italian cookies are great. The sundaes are INCREDIBLE but they are also ENORMOUS. They only offer one size, I think it's like three scoops, or eight scoops, or some huge number of scoops. We ordered one thinking we'd never be able to finish it but we DID, which was sick. They're so good that you keep eating it. Ugh. One sundae is good for at least four people, so don't get one unless you have four people because you will certainly eat it no matter what. Everything is pretty expensive, especially the cookies. I wouldn't say the staff is particularly friendly and they're kind of domineering about making you sit down or stand in line or whatever. And there usually IS a long line, no matter when we've gone.
(3)
Yesy D.

I was too full to try their famous cannoli, but my friend really liked them. I had the lemon Italian ice and it was just delicious and refreshing. Perfect ending to the heavy Italian meal I had next door.
(4)
K S.

Entering Vaccaro's was a huge, huge mistake. My family and I were furious when we left forty minutes after first stepping through the front door. If possible, I'd give this dreadful place ZERO stars. First of all, it took forever to get seated despite having multiple tables ready and available. After grudgingly taken to our seats, the waitress disappears for over fifteen minutes - we were all but forgotten and did not even have water to drink on such a hot afternoon. When she finally returned with the much needed water, we were ready to order and did so promptly: an iced cappucinno ($7??!) , a slice of tiramisu cake, a regular gelato, and five cookies. Excluding the coffee, nothing needed preparation since all the sweets were displayed in the glass counters. With only three other small tables being served at the time, the food should have been served in a reasonably quick manner. We were wrong. It took an astonishing ten minutes for only the coffee to arrive. A nearby couple had to go pick up their order. What lousy place has such a terrible work ethic and (can it even be called this?) service? It's ridiculous! No customer should have to go fetch their own food like this. Over thirty minutes of waiting, and what did we get? Something that takes less than two minutes to pull out of the counter and some tasteless coffee. It turned out that the food was sitting back there and none of the staff was bringing it out. We decided to pay for the coffee and leave, but the waitress didn't even know what we ordered! In the end she said we didn't have to pay. Unbelievable! The waiters were all goofing off in the back so we went to complain about the service to the manager, who was overseeing everything the entire time. He rudely brushed us off and ignored us. Forty minutes of waiting, all for nothing. A sad waste of time. What started out as a simple quest for sweets ended up giving us a sour taste in our mouths. I do not recommend going here: you will receive terrible service and overpriced mediocre fare. There are better places.
(1)
Tu-van L.

THE dessert cafe to go to in the friendly Little Italy neighborhood. Typical Italian dessert fare with the mainstay pastries and gelato. I've had better gelato in Little Italy in NYC, but the quality is just as comparable and you definitely get more for your money. The canolis are excellent - the regulars are super sweet and tasty. You can order some pre-filled or fill them yourself. And they have both regular and amaretto tirimisu (the latter being very tasty and liquidy-runny if you let it sit for too long). I'd give this more stars but the toronne they sold was pre-packaged Ferrara brand - you can get the same thing fresher in Ferrera in NYC! Not impressed with that. Especially impressed with how late this place opens (until 1or2 am on weekends). Definitely check this out if you're in this part of the neighborhood.
(4)
Gabriel K.

Original colosseos is a must-eat item. When you get it, the belgian waffle is crisp even though it's exposed to melting gelato. Mini cannoli dips are good too.
(5)
Michele T.

Nice Italian pastry, try the sampler that has some great amarettos and cannolis. The cappuccino is good but not to die for. not a cheap place either. Service is slow and not so friendly.
(2)
Kathleen M.

Just heaven. Toward the end of my meal at Fogo de Chao, I couldn't believe I was saying it, but I wanted something sweet after the insanity of meat I had just eaten. I was tempted to get something there, until Jim B. piped up with "I know a place." Well GOOD LORD. What a place! Thank you Jim! We had to wait for a couple of minutes for a clear table, but it was totally worth it. A packed place is typically a good sign. What I loved most about Vaccaro's (aside from the mountain of chocolately goodness I inhaled) was the people there. It was so fun to see people coming from all sorts of events (we were there around midnight on a Saturday). People celebrating birthdays, out on a date, or coming from some fancy-pants ball or party. When we walked in, I knew it would be good, as I could see all the pastries stacked up at the counter. Jim and I decided to split the "Death by Chocolate," which at one point we thought might actually cause us to die. These desserts can definitely be split many many ways. I just loved the atmosphere and idea of this place and was so happy to see that the food delivered. I am going to track down the DC locations and become a regular,just before I'll have to go on a major post-holiday diet.
(5)
tania t.

Oh lord, those cannolis are good! ...and there's a Monday night all you can eat dessert and coffee (read: be a glutton, eat dessert for dinner!) for $12.95 per person. Ridiculous! It happens every Monday from 6-9pm in the Little Italy location. Unbelievable. A great way to pack on the pounds to stay warm this winter. Oh wait, that's for hibernating bears...
(5)
S T.

Awesome tiramisu!!! whenever i go thr, I buy the half tiramisu (i think its arnd 10-12 bucks) ...and then hv it 3-4 days in a row after meals. simply superb!
(4)
Claire S.

Went there tonight, and split a $7 bowl of gelato with my dad. We got the pistachio gelato. It was horrific. It had a grainy, strange texture, and the flavor was not good. It was also almost fluffy, in a really strange way. After 4 bites I just couldn't take anymore. It tasted more and more grainy as I kept eating. So, basically, I paid $7 (+ tip) for this horrible food experience. One extra star for the very nice waitress. But seriously... beware the gelato.
(2)
mike b.

I don't mean to rain on the local's parade, I mean I know they love this place, maybe because there really aren't that many other options in Baltimore. Many of the desserts are expensive. They're expensive because the portion sizes they serve are absolutely ridiculous. You want to know why America has an obesity problem? Try ordering one of the sundae's like death by chocolate from Vaccarro's. Just because you get a lot doesn't make a place good. I'd much rather pay more for less if the quality of ingredients are good. Most of the desserts are sickenly sweet and too overdone. IF you manage to somehow wolf down a whole dessert here by yourself, it'll probably set you back 3000-4000 calories. The cannolis are just OK. I'm by no means a foodie snob, but have definitely had cannoli's that were way better in NYC or Washington DC. There's something that is just a little off about the cannolis, maybe it the quality of the ricotta or mascarpone, who knows. For Baltimore, it's an OK try. I'll give it 3 stars. It's good for an after dinner espresso and shot of Italian liquor.
(3)
Steve K.

Vaccaro's is a fun little dessert place that's done very well for itself. Unfortunately I'd chalk that up to having a good idea (a pastry shop in Little Italy open late with sit-down food) as opposed to having good desserts. Vaccaro's is known well enough that there's an outpost in the Harborplace mall, but I feel it's kind of like everything else in Harborplace - slightly old, tacky, chain-like, and not really very good. I think a lot of people come here after drinking, which may explain raves about the food. It reminds me a lot of Friendly's with more variety. The tiramisu that I had had a bad offtaste. The whipped cream tasted straight out of a can. Chocolate sauce - Hershey's, brownies - stale, etc., etc. Vaccaro's, like everything else in Little Italy, tastes inauthentic, Americanized, touristy, and from straight out of the 50's.
(2)
Karman L.

This place remind me "Mike Pastry" in North End Boston. I had tirmasu!reat little place to stop by for dessert! I didnt even finish the whole thing!! It was crowded, not that much seating, maybe it just the time I was there!
(4)
Tamiko J.

Ginormous portions of dessert. I've had better gelato, but not presented like this and with two floors of seating. Again, they only serve dessert. Wow. I'd recommend sharing a dessert with a friend, but if you can handle it order your own. The ice cream sandwich was huge and mad yummy, although the brownie part could have been a bit more moist. The rum cake was pretty blah. If you're in B-more, you must indulge in this neighborhood institution. It's worth the extra pounds.
(3)
Asher Y.

I had a chocolate eclair after lunch at Roy's, a slight walk away. It was big and decent, but nothing mind blowing. The size of the eclair is daunting and bigger is not necessarily better. My wife says the cannolis are to die for but I just was not awed by it.
(2)
Sabree S.

My parents and I have been going to Vaccaros ever since I was a little girl and the desserts have ALWAYS been absolutely delicious. The food is well made, affordable and very delicious. Bellisimo!
(5)
Nechari R.

I'm not a fan of people wiping their butts in my face due to the extremely cramped quarters, however, the tiramisu gelato was scrumptious and more than enough for two people! I sampled one of their cannolis and...I've had much better.
(3)
Adrianne T.

After a decade out of my hometown, I had my old standard chocolate chip cannoli and a cream puff that brought me RIGHT back. sis enjoyed the sfogliatella even though it was crispier than I expected after years of only seeing them. anyway, this is a tourist draw that still works for the locals who pile in there every night. The cannoli seriously is the greatest. Stop here, take a late night stroll around the hood and it's a perfect date-ender if you ask me.
(4)
Amber A.

I've accepted the fact that my sweet tooth will probably give me diabetes, but if it means having these desserts on a regular basis....I happily accept my fate! There's even a line on a Sunday night out the door bc this place is so wonderful. Tables are available inside if you can wait for one. I had my very first Cannoli and am still drooling a day later. I don't think you can get anything bad here. It's perfect for a sweet-tooth fix. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because we had to wait so long and our service was just mediocre. They can use some work in that department, but they don't need any advice in the kitchen.
(4)
Jennifer M.

We stopped here for sandwiches and stayed for dessert. We had a mufaltto (original) and had a chocolate Napoleon for dessert. Everything was great. We also bought a apple Napoleon and briscotti to bring home. Yum
(4)
Alan D.

Love the desserts here, the cream-puffs and almond slices are my favorites. Came for dine in one night with my dad and brother. Ordered a banana pie/ice cream special. So rich and creamy, tasting the bits of brown sugar, were amazing. Pricing is steep, my dessert alone was $8 but oh so good. A great place to spoil yourself or a date
(5)
Sofia Z.

No offence ......but seriously this shop is overrated. I am a cannoli fiend and always order a cannoli if I can and this one is not good at all. I've been all over the world (East coast, West coast, from NY, Boston, DC to San Francisco, to Los Angeles and San Diego...and then all the way to Sicily). The best cannoli I've had so far...are from a little mom and pop (Sicilians) shop in a suburb of San Francisco (San Mateo). I'm not kidding you....the cannoli there are devine(!!) and really what a cannoli worshipper is dying for. You've got to have the ricotta filling just right, not too sweet, not to grainy and then the shell has to be delicate but with that yummy slight taste of being deep fried. Honestly, I don't know why Vaccaro's calls theirs a "cannoli"... it's more like an eclair or something. One last thing, I was there with my family and while the desserts we ordered were large and looked pretty good...none were that appealing.
(1)
L G.

Have been a big fan of Vaccaro's cannoli for years. Finally had the chance to visit their flagship location in Little Italy. Family and I stopped in for dessert after lunch. Ate in. On the plus side, the shop's been nicely remodeled and has a nice vibe. The cookies were amazing. The cannoli, cappuccino and latte were good, too. However, on the negative side, they only serve cannoli with lots of chocolate chips mixed in with the filling. No option without. Odd. I'm a bit of a purist and would have preferred without. My daughter was very disappointed -- she loves cannoli but doesn't like chocolate chips. Also on the negative side was the service. Our waitress wasn't to blame -- she had to seat customers, take orders, prepare the orders, serve the orders, and bus/clean tables. The other three employees in the store? They weren't doing much of anything. One middle-aged woman who looked to be an owner-type sat at a table and pitched in for maybe all of 30 seconds during the time we were there. And one teenage staff member who appeared to be a relative of the owner-looking person stood/sat around basically doing not much of anything. As a result of the lack of attentiveness/effort by those two, our waitress was left to hopelessy fall behind on serving customers. Overall, had expected different/better. Still have a warm place in my heart for Vaccaro's, but probably won't make the effort to visit their Little Italy location again anytime soon.
(3)
J H.

Devine and Delish Just like everyone else is saying, definetely try the cannolis, you won't be disapointed. I always get the chocolate napolean with black coffee. Lemon gelato is my favorite. Defintely date worthy after a nice meal in Little Italy.
(5)
Vincent V.

One of my can't miss stops whenever I'm in Baltimore, and I usually end up leaving town with a box of canolis and eclairs for the trip back to Atlanta. It's the kind of small, well-established neighborhood eatery that you just don't have further south in the land of strip malls and urban sprawl. I love going for walks in the neighborhood when I'm visiting my friends nearby. I had told my wife stories about Vaccaro's leading up to our last trip to Baltimore. I'm happy to say that the desserts more than lived up to the hype for her as well. Can't wait to come back and have some more.
(5)
Karen L.

I was so full after dinner, but I couldn't stop eating the dessert. I shared the Baci Ball (which should be "balls" because you get 3 mongo cream puffs filled with chocolate hazelnut gelato topped with fudge and whipped cream) and a Strawberry Vanilla Napoleon. Both desserts were delicious and not too heavy or too sweet. I almost want to say that the napoleon was better than the one at Veniero's (NYC). Uh oh... Would definitely make it a point to come back here the next time I'm ever in Baltimore. Oh, and I got the Peanutto gelato to go (peanut butter/chocolate gelato). Yums.
(4)
Stephen C.

Tiramisu was ok. Nice atmosphere and the curbside dining is a plus on late summer nights. I don't know, I'm from NY and the Little Italy is on a different level.
(3)
Stacey M.

Walking through Little Italy on the way back to the hotel, I had a dessert craving and we stopped in at Vaccaro's. What a mistake! There was a line to be seated, the service was painfully slow, the prices were outrageous, and nothing was very good. A cup of coffee: $3, and good luck getting refills. A latte: $6, served in a 6-oz coffee cup, so weak that it looked like it was made with a shot of coffee instead of espresso. Coffee beverages were served with a small tasty butter cookie, which was actually the only thing I liked. We ordered the $6 plate of mini cannolis: three cannoli, one plain and filled with plain filling, one plain and filled with chocolate cream, and one chocolate dipped filled with plain cream. Lots of mini-chocolate chips and powdered sugar dusted over everything. EVERYTHING TASTED LIKE CINNAMON. I don't claim to be an expert on Italian pastry, but when you take your first bite and the only thing that comes to mind is cinnamon flavored chewing gum, you have a problem. Cloyingly sweet, and even with the chocolate cream, it was hard to recognize the cocoa flavor under so much cinnamon. The pastry shells were OK but tasted a little greasy. I ordered the small baci (chocolate hazelnut) gelato, ($5.40) and they brought out a huge bowl with two scoops of fluffy crap. When I think gelato, I think rich, dense, explosive flavor. This was fluffy like grocery store ice cream, and was made with cocoa powder instead of chocolate -- you could actually feel the grainy cocoa powder in the gelato. I think the hazelnut flavor was the result of a syrup, although there was a generous amount of hazelnut slivers in the mix. The takeout prices were approximately 70% of the dine-in prices. They may have some authentic cookies or pastries, but I would stick to less sugary options. Carry out the dessert and get your coffee anywhere else.
(1)
Kara M.

Little Italy, I miss you you. I went to the all you can eat dessert and coffee fest one time and I was sold. I then periodically went back for the tiramisu and I love it. the cannolis were good and the filling was just right and not too sweet. I even caught them on their 50th Anniverssary night and they had a special for 50 cent desserts with a limit of two! that was awesome and the line was around the corner! you used to be able to register on their site so that on your birthday you can go and get free dessert. I've since moved from charm city but if you live there it would do you well to visit the website for info (if it still exists). I do think it's a little expensive though so that's what keeping me from giving it 5 stars. But if you're in Bmore and you're looking for a good dessert this place is a winner
(4)
AustinSLin ..

Although nestled in a seemingly obscure corner just south of Abermarle and Pratt Streets in Baltimore's Little Italy, the locale itself is not difficult to find, even at night. Just look for the line of people stretching out from the corner entrance out into the intersection. Vaccaro's original full service location commands lines of people and their sweet teeth for its home-batch recipies, its answer to anyone's weekend night craving for gelatto, and its classic cannoli recipe (among other high-decadence treats). My favorite has always been the "Lost At Sea"--which is a Belgium waffle topped with fresh walnuts, ice cream, whipped cream and fudge drizzled on and on and on. This is just one of what we called the "Columbus series" of ice cream desserts---they are tiered in level of sugary agglomeration--starting with the beginners-only Nina, the slightly more ingredient-y Pinta, the Santa Maria, and the crown jewel of sugar-shock, the Lost At Sea. These are offered in three portion sizes---a full size (just under $10), a half size, and a quarter size (just under $7). The last is my indulgence of choice---Vaccaro's desserts are rich, rich , rich and even the quarter-size Lost At Sea is enough to kick my sugar buzz into high gear. The tiramisu is standard tiramisu size with a Vaccaro's touch. The eclair rivals the size of a loaf of bread and unless you're a self-proclaimed sugar uber-beast, think about sharing it so your bloodstream doesn't take vengeance on you. All desserts here are large (either literally in terms of sheer mass, or in terms of sugar-content-per -cubic-millimeter), but everything is hand crafted in house and delectably yummy. Vaccarro's satellite locations "Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shops" around Baltimore and Washington, DC don't really compare to ths original destination in terms of selection and freshness, but still can quell the hankering for Vaccaro-ness if you're on the go (or too far of a commute) from the Little Italy restaurant. Prices range from $4 or so all the way upwards of $10 for sinlge desserts. For a group of 7 folks, all with a range of desserts, a couple of cappucinos and a cup of Lavazza brewed coffee, the tab was just shy of $75, including tip. The major downside is the wait on its oft hopping nights. There's even a nice disclaimer on the menu that forewarns those who may be "in a rush". The dining area is not large at all---a table of 7 took up the central part of the dining room, which is already sharing a sliver of tile space with the gelatto line. So waiting---be it for a table or for your desserts to be plated, is part of the Vaccaro's modus operandi as well. If you're in a hurry, heed the disclaimer's advice and come back next time--when you can relax, have conversation, and enjoy gradualliy increasing your blood sugar level by orders of magnitude. Parking is also just as competitive as scoring a seat---Little Italy, with its close concentration of so many fine Italian restaurants, shares neighborhood street parking as well. If you're coming during the day, keep an eye out for the parking rules/signs posted in your sidewalk-side of choice. If you're coming from the Inner Harbor, the most convenient way (in my once-upon-a-Baltimore-life opinion) is to stay on Pratt (the main street through the heart of the Harbor), cross over President, and turn right onto Albermarle. If you're with a group of people, definitely do a drive-by-dropping-off of your party at Vaccaro's so they can get in line while you scavenge for a parking spot. Moral of the story is, regardless of where your dining plans are in Baltimore, save room for dessert. Here.
(4)
Tom P.

Dear chewy, nutty and sweet Pignoli: I want you. Not in an innocent food crush kind of way. In a gooey, warm, nibble-first-then-devour-you kind of way. For a fleeting moment, all my troubles dissolve and it's just you and me, a little taste of almond pine nut heaven. Oh, and the gelato is good too.
(4)
Risa B.

I went for the first time last night. It was ok. I am the kind of person who would prefer to pay less money for less food, and that doesn't seem to be an option at Vaccaro's. I got the "famous" cannoli, and it tasted like powdered sugar. In my opinion, cannolis are supposed to taste like ricotta. The shell was nice and crunchy though, and my friend loved her peanut butter panic. I might go back.
(3)
Karen C.

Unfortunately, Baltimore doesn't have a lot of options when it comes to Italian pastries so people get pretty excited about Vaccaro's. Some of the desserts are pretty good including the colosso (monstrous tower of ice cream over a belgian waffle). Their amaretto and pignoli cookies are pretty good as well. But prices are a little high for what you get. I don't think the desserts are on par with what you can get for cheaper at the north end in Boston (Mike's or Modern Pastries). Also do not order cookies at the table because they will charge you 3 dollars for one cookie on a doily.
(3)
Thea C.

*3.5 Vaccaro pastries kind of remind me of something my non-existent Italian grandmother would make. They are well-meaning, yes, but these sugartastic, ginormo-sized treats will probably leave you in a diabetic coma if consumed in one sitting. One GIANT eclair fed me and my roommates--a total of 3 people--for 2 dessert sessions. Which boggles my mind that there IS a $13 All-You-Can-Eat Dessert Night on Mondays (who can eat that much dessert unless you have a death wish?!) Nonetheless, I love Vaccaro's. Alright, so for the most part, it was my first ever experience with an "Italian bakery" ever. I have been to Italy immediately after and you betcha the cannolis and gelatos were a lot better there. But I'm not in Italy anymore and this suits me just fine until the next time. I still love their cannolis and their lemon ice. I've tried other things before but the only thing in my mind that sticks as memorable thus far are the coconut cookies. Honestly, some of those napoleons or cakes just look sketchy to me and they weren't anything special when I tried them. Their coffee drinks aren't bad though and I like a good Italian Ice Tea (ice tea with a scoop of lemon ice) in the summer. So why do I keep coming back? Well for one, there's no other place like it in Baltimore. Though it's always packed, there is still something really comforting to pick up a nice treat or sticking around for it in the dining area with others. It is very much like grandma's house in that cozy feeling and the cooking--it may not be the best in the grand scheme of things but it's comforting and will certainly bring your spirits up even if you get so full you can't move anymore.
(3)
Julaine N.

Love the cannoli! Try the assorted mini cannoli plate. The espresso is delicious and the gelato too. It can be a little pricey for dessert, but they do it well.
(4)
Matthew L.

The pastries are not of great quality and the gelato is so so. However there is the all you can eat dessert on Monday and every night you can get the Colosseo, 4 scoops of Gelato over a waffle covered in toppings. Make sure to bring a few friends as this can comftorably feed 5 people. It's not the quality, it's definately about the quantity.
(3)
Melissa L.

This place is definitely generations away from being really Italian. That being said they do have amazing Cannoli's. The cannoli filling is fantastic and I love the chocolate covered cannoli shells. However, all of their desserts are very expensive. i don't particularly think their cakes are super tasty and are sometimes dry. They do have specials during the week that make some of these choices more affordable. The eclairs are okay. I've definitely had better. I'm sure some people will love how huge they are, but I still think they are expensive for how they taste and their size. I usually order the mini's and I think almost 3 dollars for a mini is really overshooting the price. The tartufi type dessert is not similar too Tartufi I've had at other Italian restaurants. Their breakfast menu is expensive and greasy. The focus on food here is big portions. The reason to come here is for their cannolis but besides that I think that you money is better spent elsewhere.
(2)
N S.

Totally skating on past reputation. The cannoli I had was overly sweet with a gritty texture. Unexceptable...and my cappuccino came topped w/ whipped cream??? Anyway, I tried Sabatino's Restaurant during restaurant week. Vaccaro's basically has a monopoly on all cannoli filling in the Baltimore/Washington area. VERY FEW restaurants actually make their own filling, so I was pleasantly surprised when I asked them at Sabatino's if they made their own considering they are located DIRECTLY ACROSS from Vaccaro's. They told me that yes, they made their own filling, but did purchase the shells from Vaccaro's. Their cannoli was excellent. Smooth, creamy, not overly sweet. Get one from them.
(2)
Tom D.

Stopped here to pick up some baked goods -- so I can't speak to their cannoli, gelato or tiramisu -- but the cookies were rather disappointing -- with the exception of their amaretti, which were excellent. Biscotti and Italian almond cookies were very good, but all of the other cookies did not impress.
(3)
Dave A.

The canoli filling was heavy on the cinnamon and for $4.25 it should have been perfect. I guess they can charge that much because it's in touristy Little Italy.
(3)
Andrea R.

Worst service I have experienced EVER. On top of it, the very slow worker behind the counter was overtly checking me out the whole time I was there. The gelato was nothing special. They could NEVER compete with gelato in Italy. Aside from that, I also had the pignoli cookies, which were honestly so good that I might just stock up and buy a whole box full, so I don't have to ever go to this place. Oh and the renovations make you walk through some ghetto first floor.
(2)
Emily C.

I am not a fan of the cannolis. They are way too sweet, and so overpriced. But maybe I'm partial the Mike's Pastry in Boston. Vaccaro's does have an all you can eat dessert night for I believe $12.95, so if you have a major sweet tooth, you can definitely satisfy it here. I tried it once, but it's not for me. I left feeling full, slightly sick from all the sugar, yet craving salty food because you really can't substitute dessert for dinner.
(2)
Jim B.

It doesn't matter where you eat in Baltimore, come here afterwards for dessert. Tuck you and your friends (or date) away into one of the tables and get ready to eat some fantastic food. (you may have to wait though, this place gets busy!) During the colder fall and winter months, Vacarro's is even cozier, as they seem to turn the temperature up to the high 70's. Maybe so you can enjoy the gelati all year round? Just keep in mind that one of the "Specialita Della Casa" desserts has about a 4:1 person to dessert ratio, in my opinion. Meaning you and three of your closest friends better decide on one dish to divide and conquer if you ever hope of finishing it.
(5)
Pascal P.

The coffee here is only average, but that's the only complaint I have with Vaccaro's. Their desserts are large and delicious, prices are reasonable, and the service has always been good. Tiramisu is my favorite item, but I've also had their cannolis, rum cake and some some of their cookies, and they were all extremely tasty.
(5)
Sara J.

I got the colloseous dessert and shared with 3 other friends and it was more than enough!! the vanilla ice cream was real delicious, heaped upon a warm belgian waffle with strawberries and caramelized nuts. Really good! the hot chocolate comes with loads of whipped cream and choco chips, the strawberry butter cookies are also pretty good. I hear if gets busy around 9 or 10. On your birthday you can get a free dessert, also watch for all you can eat dessert days!
(4)
Laura B.

I love this place. Among the best cannoli in Baltimore. I can't comment on the other desserts because it's all I've ever gotten. But, definitely go to the Little Italy location. The Canton location may as well be Dunkin Donuts as far as atmosphere goes.
(4)
Frank W.

I think this has to be one of the most overrated Italian bakeries ever. I've been to better Italian bakeries in Chicago, SF, New York, and many other places. I had a better cannoli yesterday in South Brunswick, NJ than the last time I was there. If you are in little Italy or the train station and need a snack it's fine, but if you make a special trip you're dead to me.
(3)
Meimei S.

old school style Ice-cream, heavy and dreamy yum!!!
(4)
Melissa Y.

i moved 3000 or so miles away and this is a place that I miss so much. You can't find anything like it in CA.
(5)
Maria F.

We recently had lunch at Vaccaro's. Upon arriving, the shop is so cute, you can see and smell the wonderful Italian pastries and gelato. It brought me back to South Philadelphia and the amazing Italian bakeries that I grew up around. My husband, daughter and were seated (after much confusion as to who would seat us!). It then took at least 20 minutes for someone to acknowledge that we were there and ready to order. During this time we observed 8 young people that were "working" there. One girl consistantly chewed on one plastic utensil after another while leaning all over the counter. Others were loud and horsing around with each other. We had to ask for someone to take our order. The food was delicious, but the service was awful. We were without a refill of water for at least 30 minutes. The entire lunch experience took well over an hour, where most of that time we were trying to get someone's attention to attend to us. There didn't seem to be any adult in charge and that is certainly what they needed!
(2)
Rachel O.

I've lived in Italy twice, seriously dated an Italian, and "worked" in my best friend's Italian bakery so I consider myself a big critic of the Italian cuisine. With all of this experience, I've learned that the best places are hole in the wall joints and this is one! The food is cheap, huge, and full of calories because it is just that good! I had the canoli which had enough filling for three canolis. My date had the tiramisu and couldn't even finish half of it. Bring your appetite, but leave the big bills at home. Buon Appetito!
(5)
Donna H.

This place is quaint, and has a great selection of delectable desserts! Don't be fooled by the high prices - if you are not alone, feel free to split the desserts, as they are HUGE! I ordered a single scoop gelato, and couldn't even eat 1/3 of it. The gelato was very good, and I was sorry I couldn't possibly eat more. The latte was good, but the regular coffee was weak. If you are in the area, this is a neat little shop to check out.
(4)
Meredith M.

Great selection of desserts. I always stick with the cannoli. So yummy that whenever I am in a bad mood my boyfriend will bring one home to make me feel better!
(5)
C S.

Outstanding. Bring your appetite here as the desserts are wonderful. We sampled the cookies, gelatos, graniti, and coffees. All were delicious!! The sundaes we saw others eating were gastronomically huge. Vaccaro's is a short walk from the Inner Harbor. But it is so popular, plan for a wait if you want to sit down at a table, or if you do takeout from about 5pm on... We liked it so much we went twice in one day.
(5)
Juliann A.

Not great. The cannolis and cookies are okay. However, even if you order a couple of big boxes of mixed pastries as we did, don't make the mistake of thinking you can sit down and sip the drink you also ordered there and nibble on a couple of the treats you just purchased. I can appreciate the rules when the place is packed but at opening time on Sunday morning with only one other customer in sight? However, if rules are meant to be followed, there must be a nice way to point them out to your paying customers.
(2)
H T.

All i can say is "yumm". Makes my mouth drool just thinking about this place. There is such a wide selection of desserts to choose from! Portions are hugeeee! I usually share "THE ORIGINAL COLOSSEO" with my boyfriend and that's more than enough for the both of us. I definitely leave feeling satisfied.
(5)
Eric P.

Mmm! Insanely large quantities of yummyness. Not the absolute best dessert you will ever have, but they up there. This is the Little Italy location -- with table service. Monday nights are all-you-can-eat for $12, but keep in mind that a $5 dessert on a normal night is still more than a mortal can eat...
(5)
Eva T.

Having moved away from Baltimore, this is one place I definitely miss. They have the best gelato (chocolate hazelnut and amaretto are amazing). Having been to Italy, Vaccaro's gelato is pretty good (especially in Baltimore). I'd like to get mine to-go in a child-size portion... their regular adult portion sizes in general are huge. Their rum cake is also very good. The place can get really crowded at night, especially on weekends.
(5)
justin p.

Mmmm, their cookies are deelish. Gelato is good too, but regular size portion is huge, so beware. Cookies are expensive, but worth it, especially at holiday time.
(5)
Gareth M.

I'll usually skip dessert at my favorite restaurants around town just so I can go to Vaccaro's. Or just skip dinner and get $15 all you can eat dessert (before 7pm)! I love the Tiramisu Ice Cream and Bocca Grande (Mocha Ice Cream Pie). The Napoleons are nice too.
(4)
Scott A.

If you want dessert and you are already in Little Italy there is just no reason not to come here. The Chocolate Hazelnut and Mint Chip Gelato's are amazing. The other ones are probably similarly good but those are the only ones I've had so far. The prices are cheap and the quantities are, as other have said, quite satisfying.
(5)
Adam O.

Vaccaro's is the real deal! This is authentic, original Baltimore at its finest. The pasteries and ice creams all becon me when I'm in the mood for sweets (which is typically always). Remember to bring a friend because the portions are ginormous. I can't believe my eyes when I see somebody going at a Vaccaro's dessert alone. Also, bring your patience because lines can get long, but then again that speaks to how great Vaccaro's is. No visit to Baltimore is complete without a visit to Little Italy's most famous denzien.
(5)
kevin k.

good dessert place with neighbor feel. i spotted ex-governor current comptoller of md, shaffer, 3 times here. that old man just luv this sweet italian place. some servers are awesome here. as for dessert, tiramisu man. and some other like canoli. good coffee. must go for little italy and for dessert. usually crowded but be patient it will be worth the wait. n what for those small shop they opened in baltimore, annapolis, and dc. not as good as here.
(4)

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Address : 222 Albemarle St
Baltimore, MD, 21202
Phone (410) 685-4905
Website https://www.vaccarospastry.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :9:00 am - 10:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dessert
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop

222 Albemarle St, Baltimore, MD, 21202

Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop Menu

Salads

Panini

Mufalato

Specials

Sides

Italian Cakes

Healthy Meal suggestions for Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop

Salads

Panini

Mufalato

Specials

Sides

Italian Cakes

Vishal S.

K S.

Tu-van L.

Gabriel K.

Michele T.

Kathleen M.

tania t.

S T.

Claire S.

mike b.

Steve K.

Karman L.

Tamiko J.

Asher Y.

Sabree S.

Nechari R.

Adrianne T.

Amber A.

Jennifer M.

Alan D.

Sofia Z.

Karen C.

Pascal P.

L G.

J H.

Vincent V.

Karen L.

Stephen C.

Stacey M.

Kara M.

Tom P.

Risa B.

AustinSLin ..

Sara J.

Laura B.

Maria F.

Rachel O.

Donna H.

Meredith M.

C S.

Juliann A.

Frank W.

Meimei S.

Melissa Y.

H T.

Eric P.

Eva T.

justin p.

Gareth M.

Scott A.

Adam O.

kevin k.

Cheryl K.

Andy G.

Keith W.

Natalie F.

Carl W.

Priscilla K.

Ai-Chen Y.

E G.

Joseph C.

TJ P.

Maria M.