Balducci’s Café

Someone recommended and I decided to stop by (while on the go) and try it! I’m so glad I did. The concept of the restaurant & food were amazing! I loved it! Want to go back immediately. Definitely would recommend this location or other locations.

I discovered this place as I took an alternate route through Johns Hopkins Hospital. The main café sits on one side of the court, and its Express location sits on the other side. I got my iced latte in the morning (pictured). It was ok in taste, but it definitely did its job of waking me up.
Later in the day, I returned for lunch. This time, the main café was open, and I went in to check out my options. Along the walls was a big selection of items, and they had a salad station as well as subs. I got a chicken sub to go. I decided to eat in the office, although there was plenty of seating available in spite the fact that it was lunchtime.
The place is clean and modern. I like their plethora of options and their bright display. I will be back to try out their other sandwiches.

You’re in a Johns Hopkins Hospital. You’re looking for healthy food. Don’t just settle for your typical cafeteria blandness… look no further than Balducci’s Café! Now I know you may be scared away by the higher prices, but indeed you are investing in better quality. Balducci’s offers a wide variety of selections from sandwiches to salads to bits and bites that you can grab and go.
My high recommendation is for the make your own salad option. It’s $ 10, but they give you a large large portion (I mean enough for two meals). You can customize it any way you want, with a wide variety of goodies to add on from beets to various nuts and cheeses, to other fruit. They fresh variety makes for an always exciting and color salad for your meal. Best of all, for you protein lovers, you can add chicken or other meat of your choice to your salad. I’ve come here a couple times, and I have never been disappointed by the what I made. The superior selection of ingredients and choices cannot be beat!
Additionally, this is right next to the courtyard and has an ample amount of seating for you and your friends.
Balducci’s is a game changer for hospital food and I like it!

The food here is very good, however sinice it is located in the hospital the prices are a bit high for the area. That is the only reason I deducted stars. I find it hard to tell families to go her to buy food when you could spend around $ 20 a person for meal. Thats just absurded for a hopsital! I only go here when I want to treat myself.

Located right inside of the Johns-​Hopkins Hospital this is the best cup of coffee you will find. You will pay a little more but the flavors are worth it. I recommend this place and will return. Saturday service available.

I am employed at hopkins. Balduccis is overpriced for sure. I was already paying 6 $ for my sandwich but decided I wanted a slice of tomato. 53 cents. Please!

My main issue with this place is the cost. It is just really hard to justify spending between 9 and 12 dollars for a salad when I can walk over to Subway and get a sandwich, drink, and chips for less than $ 7. That being said, the food is good and generally fresh (all though some of the lettuce was less than appetizing). Ive never had the sandwiches but they look good (and monstrous like the salads) and when I went there was no line to get one, as opposed to the 15 minute wait for the salads.
I do come here sometimes to grab a quick and healthy snack, this is really the only place to find anything like that in the hospital! They have a great Mediterranean pasta salad and Ive also gotten just the basic greek yogurt or hummus when I just want a bite to eat. If you’re looking for lunch though, I would say skip Balduccis and get Subway or walk to the market and get your pick of anything there for far cheaper!

Way expensive and staff has been not-​nice in the past. Delicious though and a sunlit area to sit in. If you want a good salad, Salad Creations is hidden near Halsted/​Blalock.

Their Santa Fe sandwich is very popular, it does taste good but I think their prices is a bit on the high end, not very economic if you’re working for Hopkins and need to get lunch every day. I would say give it a try though.

Balducci’s is a great little café and without a doubt the best food option inside Hopkins. They have incredible sandwiches and salads and a varsity of snacks. Prices are a little steep but when compared to other options at the hospital they are definitely worth the premium.
I’ve had a few sandwiches and all have been great. There’s a great selection of healthy snacks and juices and not so healthy treats as well.
Of course there’s the requisite coffee menu as well.
One major tip to keep in mind: do whatever you can to get there before 1130. Right around 1130 the line goes from 0 to 10 – 15 people deep and the staff does not move very quickly.

This is an oasis in a place like a hospital, especially if you are stuck here for a while. A little pricier than the options in the food court, but far better and healthier. The staff needs a bit of an attitude check, but at the hospital I’ll deal with it!

Come for the quality made fresh food and selection. It’s like a tiny specialty Market in Hopkins.
Sandwiches are pre made but of the best ingredients and they will toast them for you. They are very affordable. I recommend the ham and guyere or the pastrami «new yorker»
Salads are cheap at $ 9 you can customize and they will make it on the spot. Not only that but a small will feed at least 2 or 3 people. Huge portion size!
It’s very modern looking and its either very busy or quiet depending on the time of day. Lunch time is a mad house with all the doctors that are in line.
The staff is very slow, for pre made food they move at a snails pace just to toast something.
Worst off despite the cheap price, once you get a drink, side salad and dessert you are looking at almost $ 20 for lunch. Kind of insane but at a great tasting, filling meal you have to wonder if its worth it?
This is really the only good place to eat in the hospital but can get boring if you’re going there everyday. They also don’t stay open very late they close about early dinner time and don’t have breakfast items other than coffee.
Great quality, great taste, below average service, below average overall price point for a full meal. I’d still come back because the sandwiches are some of the best I’ve ever had.

Tried the food here once while passing through, and I must’ve choose th e other reviewers
— OK+ food
— Overpriced
— Lackadaisical staff attitude

Consistently the best (overpriced) food, as others have been mentioned, but oh my is the service horrific. As a Hopkins employee, this place makes me cringe. The staff is consistently unprofessional. Once, I witnessed an elderly gentleman ask for an extra soup cup to share the soup he had just purchased with his wife. He offered to pay for it. The staff argued loudly with him for a full minute, drawing the attention of other customers. The manager there is quite rude, both to customers and her employees, so I suspect it is not the best working environment and the unprofessionalism comes top down. Also opens consistently late. Hopkins should be a healing place and aim to treat patients/​families respectfully, both in clinical and non-​clinical settings. Even eateries reflect on the hospital’s image. Unfortunately, Balducci’s has some work to do.

This place is alright. The food quality is actually quite good for a hospital, but definitely not worth the price. The coffee is pretty hit or miss too. Consistently the most expensive in the hospital, but definitely not the best. Countless times I have had to throw it out because it is closer in consistency to tea. Very watered down; disgraceful at times. When they use an adequate bean to water ratio its good, but this is definitely a gamble, and by and large the staff do not show any signs of caring whether or not the coffee is drinkable.

Overpriced but there is no better place for food in the hospital.
The salads are monstrous. They do start around $ 9 and end up around $ 12 if you get a protein. But you can get two or three meals out of them. You should try the lime chipotle dressing with tuna and cheddar or the Asian sesame on chicken.
The sandwiches are $ 9 as well. But the Santa Fe chicken, the Italian, the grilled chicken and goat cheese (small but good) are my favorites.
They also sell naked juices, yogurts, snacks and such… All again overpriced.
If I didn’t have to pull out a 20 for each meal, it would definitely be a 5 star place.

What is a Balduccis doing in Johns Hopkins Hospital? Making my life a little bit happier, that’s what. This establishment is a bit out of place but does not miss a beat in maintaining the elegance that defines this chain. The menu here basically consists of salads (left line) and hot sandwiches (right line). The santa fe chicken really is amazing. Also love the chicken TBM sandwich. The set up is not the most efficient (which it really needs to be… it’s a hospital people!) As of late, the employees are generally rude and unhelpful. And watch your wallets people-​yes the sandwiches really are $ 10!