Vace Italian Delicatessen

I wanted to like Vace because I know it’s a local institution but it left a lot to be desired. I tried their focaccia cold cut sandwich, meatball sub, and plain slice, none of which were very good. The focaccia tastes like instant yeast, the sub rolls are clearly frozen and par baked, and the slice was extremely mid. Prices are pretty high considering the quality isn’t great. However, what really put me off was the service — everyone behind the counter acts like you’ve offended them by daring to order and are clearly extremely unhappy to be serving customers. It’s a shame because it’s the type of spot where you’d expect friendly service. Also, watch out if you’re buying a tiramisu, because most of the containers are broken and the tiramisu are freezer burned as a result.

Vace is a DC institution in my eyes. I enjoy stocking up on the homemade sauces and pastas to store in the freezer. I also like the imported Italian brands they carry. My favorite thing to buy is the pizza dough. It's the best of the best and will hold up in the fridge for several days or more. The staff told me to leave it out for 4 hours before stretching it and topping it. That works well. I may also get a slice to go!

The service is comically bad and almost endearing? I expected it after reading other reviews. The glowing comments about the pizza made me think it was going to be magical but it was just good.

Classic spot on Connecticut Ave. The pizza here is pretty great. I also like that they put the sauce on top of the layer of cheese, which gives a different kind of bite that isn't all that innovative when you think about it, but tastes surprisingly fresh (I started doing that on my own mini pizzas I make at home). Speaking of making your own pizzas, the blocks of whole milk mozzarella cheese they sell are really fantastic. So delicious, and I buy one every time I make a stop at Vace's. They are a small, simple Italian pizza place (no dining in, take-out only) selling pies or slices, but also act as a mini market where you can pick up pastas and cheese, plus other Italian goodies. It's really a fairly simple spot that rightfully gets regular business and, in my opinion, should get yours, too. Try them out 🍕🍝🥫 5/5 stars from me 🥰

Very good pizza with a nice crunch at a very low price of $2.50 per slice. I liked both the pepperoni and the mushroom slices. However, I felt like the lady who helped us was generally quite rude and seemed annoyed we paid using card for a price barely over the $5 minimum.

I had an odd interaction with the cashiers. I ordered a pizza for pickup. I paid with cash and the casher tried rushing me out of line before handing me my change. This was not table service, this was counter service. She was annoyed I asked for $6 back on a $16 pizza. DO NOT PAY WITH CASH!

For 46 years, this Italian market and deli has been making waves in Cleveland Park (and Washington, D.C.). Here's why you should visit: 1) Food: There's a deli in the back that sells Italian subs for under $10 and slices of pizza for $2.50. In an expensive city, it's hard to find a less expensive meal. I ordered a slice of pepperoni pizza. It's thin crusted, but good! 2) Market: They sell all kinds of Italian products from hard-to-get sodas to wines to homemade pasta to all kinds of frozen lasagnas. Cured meats and soccer balls hang from the ceiling. 3) Service: Candidly, it's not friendly and at time abrasive, but it's part of the experience. If you love Italy, wander to Cleveland Park's Vace.

Great Italian deli. Best pizza. Some get sticker shock because “it’s expensive.” You live in DC, the air is expensive. It’s not dominos so shut up and buy the pizza or clear a path so everyone else can. Have also tried a few of their freezer options that reheat well at home. Service is what it is, they don’t work for tips.

DC has a shortage of true cheap eats. And look, I love a li'l sit down place with bougie pizza ft. fried kale or whatever other hoo-ha with a glass of wine just as much as the next person... but sometimes, SOMETIMES, you just want a good cheap slice. Enter Vace. $2.50 a slice plus tax, 5 options or whatever is left. They also have an extensive selection of other things that I have not yet tried, as well as whole pies. Now, based on the reviews of customer service, I was expecting someone like a certain angry soup-maker in a certain popular 90s sitcom. I readied myself. I knew exactly what I wanted. I stepped through the doors, prepared for whatever may happen in my quest for cheap pizza. Y'all... The lady was fine. She spoke directly without smiling, but there was no malice in her words. She is all business. She asked if I wanted my mushroom pizza slice warmed. I said yes. She warmed it. Oh yeah. It hit the spot. I was not there at a busy time, but I could see how if there's a line and you are not ready to order by the time you get to the front you could get a little verbal whack. Until the day someone does parkour over the counter to slap me, I really don't care if the food stays cheap and good. It's $2.50. For a big delicious slice. In DC. In a location convenient to me. Yay.

Italian sub really good Cannoli great Meatball sub good ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ .........................................................

Got a piece of spinach pie and a beer for $7.50. You cannot go wrong! The only thing is, I could not drink the beer in the deli, so the lady gave me a paper bag so I could drink it on the bench while I ate my spinach pie. Easy, fantastic.

Excuse any issues with the service (Vace has a bit of a reputation). If you know that going in and your only expectation is one of the best pizza (if not the best pizza) the city has to offer, you will not be disappointed! Every slice is perfection!

Highly recommend. The sauce is the best part IMO. The pizza was crispy and not floppy. There is a good amount of cheese but not too much. Overall just quality pizza. I give it an 8.3 out of 10.

If you're seeking great pizza in DC that is in the New York vein, look no further than Vace. My partner insisted that we get a pie from here when he was sick, and because pizza is medicine, I agreed, and I'm glad I did because this is without a doubt the best NY-ish pizza I've had in DC. As a born and bred Brooklynite, I would note that the crust is a tad thicker than the thin crust style that defines NY pizza, but Vace does such a great crust that it's still a winner. A LOT of sauce, almost in the Philadelphia tomato pie style, and I initially even wondered where the cheese was. But the cheese was definitely there, and was excellent, and the sauce was very good too. I have to give Vace a hand on the pizza toppings too - they have TWO olive options, one of which is kalamata! Much love for that from this Greek girl. Lastly, I can't hide how bowled over I was by the price - the entire large pizza, with tax, was under $22. That definitely beats New York right now because a good PLAIN pie from a pizzeria there will probably run you closer to $25 these days, at least. I live close to Vace, so will definitely be back for more great pizza (and apparently their other offerings are worth trying too).

Amazingly, I'd never reviewed this place despite its location near the Cleveland Park Metro and its longstanding status. As a deli, it includes a large amount of meat that I don't want anything to do with. Some of the small selection of sauces and noodles looked worthwhile for those actually living in the neighborhood. I suspect the fresh food will be the main attraction for most. They sell pizza by the slice at rates that haven't gone up a ton in the several years since I left the area. Notably, they offer a mushroom slice. The mushrooms appear canned, but they go alright on a slice. Mine was heated for perhaps a bit too long, but it was delicious. This is a place that works within a modest scope, but they do it well.

Food in the coolers is always great, and the takeout pizza is always walk-out-smiling good. We get back there a lot, for obvious reasons!

YUM. This place is so good. Pizza by the slice or order to go. Fresh pasta in the freezer and other ingredients available to make a delicious meal. Nice counter service. Right downtown CP!

I love this place. The onion pizza is unmatched, and the pepperoni pizza is also pretty good. I enjoy the pizza dough for making homemade pizza too.

For 46 years, this Italian market and deli has been making waves in Cleveland Park (and Washington, D.C.). Here's why you should visit: 1) Food: There's a deli in the back that sells Italian subs for under $10 and slices of pizza for $2.50. In an expensive city, it's hard to find a less expensive meal. I ordered a slice of pepperoni pizza. It's thin crusted, but good! 2) Market: They sell all kinds of Italian products from hard-to-get sodas to wines to homemade pasta to all kinds of frozen lasagnas. Cured meats and soccer balls hang from the ceiling. 3) Service: Candidly, it's not friendly and at time abrasive, but it's part of the experience. If you love Italy, wander to Cleveland Park's Vace.

I love Vace. The pizza is cheap and sauced perfectly, neither too much cheese or too little toppings. The staff (at the Cleveland Park location) are very kind and welcoming, you MUST try the spinach pie.

This is truly the best pizza! I love it every time I visit. It never disappoints!! The service is excellent.

As soon as you walk in it just smells right. That old school Italian pizza place vibe is immediate. The pizza is crisp but flexible, stood up to the sauce, but is not at all dry. The sauce isn't overpowering and give a subtle sweetness and hint of herb. They were delicious!

I like this pizza because the sauce is just top tier. The crust is a happy medium between thin and thick and it's well cooked! Toppings are good quality. I really enjoyed the black olives because they weren't those nasty cheap canned kind and actually tasted like those deli olives from back in the day! Definitely a great pie

great pizza by the slice and by the whole pie, plus a variety of dry and precooked pastas. their tiramisu is bomb too.

This is old-fashioned pizza and it's very good. As a former waiter who helped put myself through college waiting tables, I love to tip and appreciate a good effort, and am hurt by those who give food workers a bad name. What isn't good at Vace is the dreadful service and the face of the franchise is a very sullen young woman who takes all the orders. After a very negative earlier experience with Vace, I decided to give them another chance and came in with my kids to pick up a takeout pizza to watch the game. By the way, I searched Vace's reviews for the word, "rude," and mine is the 43rd review, and not even counting all the synonyms for rude. What could possibly go wrong? I ordered a large plain and foolishly tipped upfront and she told me, "15 minutes," so 15 minutes later she comes out with a steaming large plain pizza [mine] and instead of giving it to me she puts it along with the other pizzas by the slice. Wow, she really did that! It took about 30 minutes to get my "15 minute" pizza and, of course, in the interim nobody ordered a slice of plain pizza. Is this terrible service some kind of Performance Art, part of the shtick?

Looking for an amazing Italian for less than 10 bucks, this is the perfect spot. It took less than 10 minutes. Friendly neighborhood people. Rating the Italian 8.7/10. Perfect portion, great taste with everything on it. Not too spicy but just enough! The store looked so classic and they sell pizza dough too!

The subs of my childhood! I have never tasted anything as close as Vace's Italian--fresh Italian sub roll, fresh sliced meats and cheeses that melt in your mouth, and just the right amount of Italian dressing with all of the fixins'. Yes, their shop is a bit outdated and there are cured meats hanging from the ceiling, but there are few places like an old school Italian deli. Lots of prepared pasta dishes to take home and bake yourself, or uncooked fresh pastas to make along with sauces. An assortment of beverages--both alcoholic and non--and a small selection of non-perishable items like jarred olives and roasted red peppers. While I know that there have been other reviews that said the staff was rude, we had a perfectly fine experience. And even if it wasn't the most awesome customer service, I would do almost anything for their subs, sooooo...? ;)

Vace is an old-school Italian deli with a good vibe-tons of goods and meats behind the counter and quick, no-nonsense service. My friend and I got a slice of the white onion pizza and a slice of the cheese pizza which we received in under five minutes. The slices are New York street style, with a crunchy, crackly crust and prices (at $2.75 a slice, one of DC's best bargains). While these slices aren't the world's best, for the price they're hard to beat if you're craving a cheap slice. The white onion slice was appropriately cheesy but needed acid. The cheese slice had a good sauce/crust/ratio and was great for a quick cheese slice. The other menu items also looked good and would recommend if you're looking for a fast, inexpensive bite!

The best Italian store in the aerea - with an assortment of prime cold cuts and the real prosciutto di Parma - service very friendly and ambiance clean and pleasant

Their pies are delicious and hot every time. A classic reasonably priced pie in the cute Cleveland Park neighborhood. Wish they added more cheese!

Vace pizza is the best Order a pie and feel the zest Pepperoni, sausage, and mozarel Is a tasty treat that you want to smell So get in line and don't worry the wait This is pizza that sure tastes great. So many choices on which to embark You'll find them all in Cleveland Park

This place is famous to DC locals for its pizza (which is great for sure don't get me wrong), but they are secretly the creators of the best sandwich in the entire city and possibly the east coast. I will tell you now to get the following sandwich: First thing is first: *****make SURE to order ANY sandwiches from Vace on their homemade focaccia bread; it is heaven.*** Conversely, the hard rolls that they use otherwise are just that; extremely hard, and with no flavor. IF THEY DO NOT HAVE FOCACCIA THE DAY YOU ARE THERE, DO NOT GET A SANDWICH. That is what I call a pizza day. It is very good pizza, so this is not a huge loss, but do NOT eat their sandwich with the hard roll, it is straight up bad bread, and you will think I am wrong about my sandwich assertion. Ok here is the sandwich: Imported prosciutto (yes they have the domestic prosciutto for cheaper; it is worth it for the upgrade), fresh mozzarella, basil, tomato, onion, lettuce, mayo, *little bit* of oil & vin (you don't want it soggy). If you ordered it right (be sure to specify all of these things), then you will be in possession of my favorite all time sandwich. Let me be clear that I lived in Philly for 8 years and NYC for 2; I have been to some amazing sandwich spots, but this is my very favorite sandwich. Do you want a vegetarian version of this sandwich? Because it is a strong sandwich even without the prosciutto (and significantly cheaper). If you're doing it meatless I'd probably recommend getting it without the onion. There are so many reasons this place is special, from the little old nonnas who have been grandmas there since I started going in the 90's to the house cured olives to the tiramisu to the pizza to the homemade pasta you can get in the freezer to the imported pistachios... the list goes on and on. But the sandwich is what makes this place legendary, and above all else. They also have a location in Bethesda which is pretty much as good.

When we first started going to Vace around the turn of the century (lol) our small family could eat dinner for less than $10! (One pepperoni pizza). Our kids have grown, now we need two pies ($44) The prices have gone up a great deal. The wait is usually longer than they say. But that pizza is damn good! Best in DC for me!

30 year old tradition of Cleveland Park, Northwest Washington DC the best New York style pizza in DC since the 90s

Boo. Got to vace at 7:59 pm when it is supposed to be open until 8 pm and it was dark and completely locked up. Not the way to keep customers who are racing to get across town before it closes.

Unpretentiousness deliciousness. Straight forward service. Super local and authentic (at least feels this way).

There aren't many places like Vace left. Their prepared foods are done in-house and follow old school recipes. Nothing here is wild-tasting or chasing trends--mostly tried and true Italian favorites with other things thrown in. Their pesto sauce is creamy and quite lovely. I wish I could get mine to taste like it. I buy it frozen. It's reasonably priced and a good value. I enjoy their pizza. It's nicely made; flavors are moderate and served on a traditional, thinnish crust. I generally buy pizza by the slice here, but have purchased a full size pie, too. Their white pizza is just my speed. If you want a decent cannoli, consider buying some of Vace's. Theirs are made fresh daily and are a throw-back to another time. You'll just have to trust me and see. Counter staff is competent, if a bit stiff.

A best kept secret of Bethesda! So many Italian goodies & old fashioned as well as new world favorites. The fact that they have wine & slices alone is amazing but the list goes on. The place is a gem & kryptonite at the same time!

Such great Italian food! A true hidden gem in Cleveland Park. Subs & pizza are affordable, and taste amazing. I recently went to get pizza by the slice. They didn't have much left, but I got a white slice (my favorite by them now) and a plain slice. Each slice was $2.50 (minimum of $5 for credit card). You can walk in and order, or call online to ofder

The cheese pizza is unlike anything I've had before!! You must try it! We bought eggplant Parmesan and stuffed shells. Both were excellent! FYI- they close down pizza orders 30 min to closing, so make sure to call them way earlier!

My go to spot for grab and go whenever I go to the National Zoo since I usually find street parking along this block to save headache from parking inside the zoo. An old school Italian deli selling pizza by the slice and classic Italian subs. How old school would you say? Probably when Julius Caesar conquered Rome, he was known for the phrase Veni, vidi, vici (Latin for I came, I saw, I conquered). Little known fact, the historian cut him off at the end since the full expression was Veni, vidi, vici, VACE (I came, I saw, I conquered, I'm full! Historians might disagree with my account, but you will feel comfortably full with barely a dent in your wallet if you come here for a meal or a snack. pro-tip: they have frozen meals to go and the spinach focaccia pie is a universal crowd pleaser

Outstanding for more than 40 years. Best pizza in DC, especially the white pizza. None better.

Amazing food and the service is great. They do get rather busy on Fridays and Saturdays.

Classic NW Italian deli always consistent and pizza and spinach pie are amazing. Hard to say which pizza is best the plain, pepperoni or white with onion so I always order one of each and keep the leftovers in the freezer

Staff (namely the woman at the front counter) is downright rude to customers. Will not return to Vace.

Excellent take out. Good deli and/or frozen pasta, too. Be sure to speak up b/c they've got the plexi-screens up still. Service can get snappy at the end of the day but so would I. Oils, a few sweets, and drinks including sodas, spritzers and beer. Nice old place that has weathered well with the neighborhood.

If you are quarantined at home, feeling sorry for yourself because you're alone, and you want a pizza to eat yourself to sleep look no further than the pizza of DC at Vace. I am a frequent visitor of Vace for not only the pizza but their melt in your mouth Italian meats. In this review I will start with the pizza. My go to pizza from Vace is a medium with extra cheese, roasted red peppers, pepperoni, spinach, extra cheese and prosciutto. You may ask why so many toppings including the extra cheese and my response would be that I like that on my pizza and please do not talk to me again Cheryl. Every slice of the pizza is heavenly, you will not find a better crust unless you are looking underneath a tectonic plate. Previously I mentioned how I enjoy to get my Italian meats from this place and ohhh do I love these Italian meats in my mouth. I usually get some sliced pepperoni and fresh mozzarella for my homemade pepperoni rolls. The pepperoni is great, but the cheese is the real star. It's a white goo you have to swallow. Once I am at home with my pizza, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese, I am truly at peace as I cry myself to sleep through the sounds of my lactose intolerance.

This review is based on eating Vace pepperoni pizza at a recent party I attended. The pizza was on the thinner side and more NY style, which I haven't had in forever and is strangely hard to find in DC. I loved the pepperoni so much I asked the host of the party about where he got the pizza from to buy it again for parties I may host in the future. I am looking forward to trying more varieties of their pizza in the future and trying out their pasta as well!

Grew up on this pizza and still love it--can't go wrong! It also keeps and reheats well in my opinion. Also fun to poke around the store for ingredients and prepared food. The lasagna is good to keep in the freezer just in case, and there's tons of fresh pasta. Service is fast and polite. Parking is a bit hard at this location but should be manageable after rush hour.

My favorite pizza by far! Willing to drive 30 minutes each way to get me some! They are also a little market for all things Italian.

Finally tried Vace and will definitely be back! Everything is good - pizza, subs, fresh pasta, cannoli, prices and the people there are super friendly. They have a decent selection of dry/refrigerated goods as well.

Pizza by the slice! Highly recommend! You can call ahead to save time. Take out only. I've bought some of their frozen meals as well and liked them.

My experience wit Vace has been mixed, but in the end I want to award them four stars after all. Let me explain: I was looking for someone to cater for a party at our office. Having just recently returned from a biking trip through Italy, I was on the lookout to recreate some of those food memories and so my Yelp search lead me to Vace. I saw that several of my colleagues had reviewed this place in the past and so I was confident that at least from a taste-point-of-view, I was on the right track. But then I also read in other reviews that many people comment on the (perceived) rudeness of the staff and I would soon encounter that myself: calling the business, I would never have a friendly voice answering the phone. Everyone always seemed to be bothered by me, when in fact I think I just took them away from dealing with clients at the actual store. Eventually I got to speak to Diana, who is in charge of catering and she was able to take my catering order. I placed an order of various focaccias with her as well as multiple lasagna (spinach, meat) and eggplant parmigiana. Overall, an order in the magnitude of close to $1000. Technically, they don't do "catering" in the sense that they come to your office/event and set up everything. They usually only prepare the foods and then you'll have to re-heat it in your own oven. (Great for a house party.) But Diana was very accommodating and they prepared the food just in time and it arrived hot at our office. I am a big proponent of ordering delicious food from great local businesses and I don't mind going the route of calling a business to place an order. However, if you want a seamless ordering process with web interface and all, don't try Vace...that's not what they're all about. I knew that going through a bit of ordering hoops was worth my time when a colleague afterwards thanked me for bringing in food from Vace. Apparently, that's what they had growing up for special events and he said he recognized the smell of their food right away when he entered the party room...

I feel bad for the 4-star review, since this is my husband's favorite pizza spot in DC, BUT it is my review after all! This is a great little Italian deli/pizza shop; apparently they have been in this location for 40 years, and I know they are adored by many! It's takeout only, and often gets very crowded, so my recommendation is to call ahead! Ok, so why not a 5-star review? I don't like this style of pizza where the red sauce is on top of the cheese and all other toppings. Also, the red sauce is way too sour for me taste. I will say that I LOVE their white pizza; olive oil sauce, plenty of cheese and onions (it also comes wth spinach). And at only $2.50 per slice you might as well give it a try and find out what the hype is about for yourself!

The taste of the pizza is outstanding. They use quality ingredients. The small Italian store is also a gem to find meats, sauces, wine, etc. I suggest if you are ordering pizza to call in your order. This is real pizza that takes a few minutes to bake.

Was so excited to try this. Got the classic sub. Paid extra for lettuce. This was the sandwich. Nothing was lined on top of each other. They put way too much mayo. Worst of all the bread was WAY too hard to even bite through. Honestly disgusting. It's too bad as the meat itself was good but the sandwich I wouldn't recommend to anyone!

I am so disappointed with the owners. The pizza, the cold cuts and olives are great. I've been visiting for more than 20 years. I'm trying to go easy even though I feel they've been harsh to me. Their customer service makes me sad. The deli's own website says it's open until 9pm M-F. I go in at 7:50 pm Thursday and I receive a dirty look. Without even being able to ask for something... "WE ARE CLOSING". It was just a month ago that the owner grimaced when I asked to buy sliced provolone after 7:30. I wish they wouldn't yell at each other behind the counter. It makes me uncomfortable. The owners have the right to open their store for any amount of hours they like, but I wish they'd keep their website accurate so I don't park, come in to spend my money and then leave disappointed that I made the effort to buy local and my time was wasted.

If you're in Cleveland Park and looking for pizza, you're better off getting it at the 7-11. UGH! I've gotten pizza from Vace for years and am accustomed to the rudeness of the staff and the light hand with the cheese -- but this has gotten ridiculous! When I got home, I discovered that, on an entire pie that was half-cheese, half-pepperoni/black olive, there was ONE blob of cheese. When I called to complain, the manager (?) offered to make a new one but only after he said "we put our cheese underneath the sauce." UH no - checked before I called - no cheese underneath the sauce. And no thanks - Not going to wait ANOTHER 45 minutes for that. It was so horrible that I took the pizza back to the store the next day (yes, I did that). I asked for a manager and one of the cashiers just looked at me blankly. "I had to say "Do you have a manager? I'd like to speak to them." as if a customer complaining was something new. The other, ruder cashier came over and she knew exactly who I was and what I was complaining about, but offered no solutions and no apologies. I wish I could support a local business, but absolutely cannot in this case.