Sandwiches in this metro run through The Hill's counters as much as any diner case, and the standard is the same everywhere: enough meat to matter, bread that holds up, and a counter that keeps the regulars coming back on a Tuesday. This list runs from Hill red-sauce subs to a Maryland Heights strip-mall counter, judged only on what lands on the tray.
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Adriana's sits deep in Hill comfort-food territory, where the burger and the meatloaf plate carry more weight than any sandwich board special. The mac and cheese rounds out a menu built for a family table rather than a quick counter grab. It reads as a neighborhood dining room first, a deli second, the kind of place where the regulars would notice if the meatloaf changed.
What to orderburger, meatloaf, mac and cheese
№ 02
Ninth Street Deli @ Howard's
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The pastrami on rye and the half-smoke put Ninth Street Deli in the same conversation as any big-city sandwich counter, and the Mediterranean chicken wrap, loaded with fresh chicken breast, vegetables, and tzatziki, alongside well-seasoned fries, gives the menu range beyond deli classics. Counter service moves fast at lunch. The staff gets singled out as much as the sandwiches, which says something about how the room runs.
What to orderMediterranean chicken wrap, half-smoke, pastrami on rye
№ 03
Hi-Pointe Drive-In
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The Frisco Melt anchors Hi-Pointe's menu, dressed up here with bacon and jalapeño and a choice of Andalouse or DLux sauce on the side. The double burger gets cooked to order and the sweet potato tots hold their crunch. It works as a post-zoo lunch stop or a weekday counter meal, with service that stays quick even when the room fills up.
What to orderdouble burger, Frisco Melt, sweet potato tots
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Blues City Deli built its name on the Pastrami Reuben, stacked heavy on rye bread that holds its structure under the meat. The Italian chopped salad comes large enough to split, finished with oil and vinegar and a scatter of croutons. Lines form at the corner counter on busy days, and the portions justify the wait. Roast beef rounds out a menu built for a serious appetite.
What to orderPastrami Reuben, Italian chopped salad, roast beef sandwich
№ 05
P'Sghetti's Pasta & Sandwiches
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P'Sghetti's runs an order-at-the-counter operation built around a sub sandwich list with real range, including a meatball sub and a classic Italian sandwich. The bread is the draw here, sturdy enough to hold a large-format sub without falling apart. It works as a stop after Cliff Cave Park or any casual neighborhood lunch, priced for a quick, no-frills meal.
What to ordersub sandwich, meatball sub, Italian sandwich
№ 06
Carl's Deli
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Carl's Deli treats the Rachael, its pastrami Reuben, as the anchor of a genuinely old-school sandwich counter, piled high on rye with meat cut into smaller pieces rather than thick slabs. Mac salad and potato salad arrive in portions built for sharing, not garnishing. This is a deli that leans into scale: bring an appetite, because the sandwiches do not come modest.
What to orderRachael (pastrami ruben), mac salad, potato salad
№ 07
Snarf's Sandwiches Maryland Heights
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Snarf's Sandwiches in Maryland Heights runs a counter built for pickup as much as sit-down, with an egg salad sandwich and a veggie sandwich that draw repeat orders alongside an eggplant Parmesan sandwich that pushes past typical deli fare. A side pasta salad rounds out the plate. The prices stay modest and the sandwich construction, bread to filling ratio included, holds up.
What to orderegg salad sandwich, veggie sandwich, eggplant Parmesan sandwich
№ 08
Steve's Meltdown
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Steve's Meltdown, a stop inside The Foundry, centers its menu on a grilled cheese flight, four half sandwiches built around well-melted cheese and evenly grilled bread. A straightforward grilled cheese sandwich is also on offer for anyone not ready to commit to the full flight. It is not reaching for novelty, just consistent execution on a simple format, which is exactly the point.
What to ordergrilled cheese flight, grilled cheese sandwich
Frequently asked
What is the best sandwich spot near me in the St. Louis area?
It depends which side of the metro is closest. This list covers The Hill, south city, and Maryland Heights, so check the municipality listed for each restaurant rather than assuming everything sits inside the city of St. Louis. Every pick here is ranked by its Insider Score, which is built from the review record, not from any payment; no restaurant buys its way onto this list.
Which deli has the biggest portions?
Carl's Deli and Blues City Deli both build sandwiches and sides meant for a serious appetite, with mac salad, potato salad, and an Italian chopped salad sized to share. Their Insider Scores reflect that consistency across a large volume of feedback, not a single visit.
Is there a St. Louis style sandwich on this list?
None of these entries lean on Provel or the St. Paul sandwich specifically; this guide covers the deli and sandwich-counter tier rather than the chop suey tradition. Each entry is scored on its own signature dishes and the room's actual operating pattern.
Are any of these restaurants paying to be featured?
No. Every restaurant on this list carries an Insider Score generated from the public review record, and placement is not for sale. The order reflects that score, not advertising.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Nico Marchetti
Staff Writer · Top of St. Louis
The Hill and Heritage Editor. Third-generation Hill family who grew up bagging hot salami on Saturday shifts. Covers the red-sauce canon, St. Louis-style pizza, and the kitchens of Cherokee Street, South Grand, and the Olive Boulevard corridor. His standard: the regulars would notice.
