At this Benton Park mainstay, the Civil Life American Brown pairs perfectly with the Big Tommy Roast Beef, featuring house-roasted beef on garlic cheese bread with grilled peppers and onions – don’t forget a side of au jus for a true game-changer. The Rueben, stacked with house cherrywood-smoked pastrami, Swiss, sauerkraut and 1000 Island on grilled rye or sourdough, is an ideal match for 4 Hands Octohaze Hazy IPA. Urban Chestnut Zwickel Bavarian Lager or a classic Busch Beer complement any Italian sub, like the 7th Street Sicilian. Celebrating over 20 years of support, Blues City Deli thanks its customers and looks forward to serving you soon.

Blues City Deli is a melting pot of sandwich styles, with hearty Italian subs, New Orleans po boys and muffulettas, New York pastrami, Memphis-style barbecue and even hot dogs. There is something for everyone here, we assure you. Arrive early on Mondays for the hugely popular "Tony Supremo" (pictured) with roast beef, root-beer-glazed ham, provolone, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion and Creole mayo on a warm baguette) and on Wednesdays for the "Aporkalypse Pretzelwich" with garlic roasted pork, bacon, provolone, pickles and "boom boom sauce" on a warm pretzel roll.

Should you crave a classic deli sandwich, previous visitors suggest checking out Blues City Deli in Benton Park or Adriana's on the Hill in – you guessed it – The Hill district. For American comfort food like burgers, wings and nachos, dine at Hendel's Restaurant & Market, Gourmet Soul or Stacked STL. And if you're looking for a quintessential rack of St. Louis-style ribs (which are slathered in sweet barbecue sauce before cooking on a grill), head to local barbecue hot spots, such as Bogart's Smokehouse, Pappy's Smokehouse or Sugarfire Smoke House.

Another welcome sight during these two fraught years: the line to order at Blues City Deli once again snaking out the front door, around the corner and down the block. What draws a crowd to Vinnie Valenza’s corner of Benton Park is no mystery — sandwiches, great and big — and Blues City has been a mainstay of this list since its inaugural edition. But given the number and variety of sandwiches I have eaten during the pandemic (many and many, respectively), I did ponder what sets Blues City apart.

The deli has an average rating of 4.9 stars on more than 2,200 ratings, the highest rating of any restaurant on the list without a perfect score. Just last month, Blues City Deli took the top spot on Yelp's top 100 restaurants in the Midwest. Each day, a line of customers stretches out the door of the Benton Park shop for sandwiches made using high-quality ingredients and from-scratch sauces, condiments and house-smoked pastrami, the review from Yelp said.

Blues City Deli, located in the Benton Park neighborhood, is a beloved deli that offers gluten-free options for sandwich enthusiasts. They provide gluten-free bread and a selection of high-quality meats, cheeses, and condiments to create delicious gluten-free sandwiches. With their lively atmosphere and dedication to quality, Blues City Deli ensures that gluten-free patrons can indulge in a satisfying deli experience.

Vince “Vinnie” Valenza knows well the cycles of his cozy Benton Park restaurant, Blues City Deli. The 10-year-old sandwich mecca has long been a destination for people across the metro area, and they tend to arrive in predictable ways. It’s the locals – especially those who travel five or 10 minutes – who smartly arrive in the minutes just prior to the deli’s 11am opening.

A hearty slab of Italian cold cuts and Grande provolone are served on fluffy fresh muffuletta from Vitale’s Bakery, but what takes this classic to the next level is the olive salad garnish, combining Kalamata and Sicilian green olives with giardiniera and freshly roasted red peppers. Enjoy live music, red beans and rice with andouille, and a craft beer while you eat.

Blues City Deli uses Vitale’s Bakery bread for its amazing muffaletta, with a thick, spongy, focaccia-like bun that’s studded with seeds. It holds everything together, including that fragrant, glossy olive salad. Ham, mortadella, Genoa salami, and Provolone make for a splendid two-napkin, two-person meal.

In addition to pizza, we’ve search all over St. Louis for the best Italian beef sandwich and found it at Adrianas on the Hill – we recommend the Mary’s Special with a side of au jus plus Giardiniera (Please note: Blues City Deli also has a respectable Italian beef).

Basically everyone has their favorite when it comes to this spot and they’re all different because every sandwich on the menu is perfection. This one is named after the neighborhood the deli resides in. Don’t be discouraged by long lines, they move fast.

The only time you won't find a line wrapped around the building at Blues City Deli is on Sunday when their doors are closed. These phenomenal sandwiches are worth the wait and the line moves quickly!. Try the Thunderbird Po Boy or the St. Louis Primo.

- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (368 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (5.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)- Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, Deli- Address: 2438 McNair Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63104-2815- Read more on Tripadvisor

2438 McNair Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104Phone: 314-773-8225 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Blues City Deli (@bluescitydeli)

Happiness is family, friends, and Blues City Deli sandwiches. Hot Italian is my go-to. The best sandwich in St. Louis.