First Look: Big Belly Deli in Florissant

Big Belly Deli wants you to “eat good, feel good.” The restaurant opened in late December 2023 at 392 St. Ferdinand St. in Florissant, next door to Helfer’s Pastries, which supplies the bread for all of the sandwiches. Big Belly Deli operates in the space that used to be Helfer’s Deli and is co-owned by lifelong friends Chris Timmermann and Nick Boyd.

“The community has absolutely loved us so far,” said Boyd. “Especially, this past week, it’s just been amazing. Every time after a lunch rush, we keep getting three or four five-star reviews. We’re really starting to pop up online as much as the bigger, well-known delis, and it’s really exciting.”

There are a variety of sandwiches available on a few types of bread with the specialty being Dutch crunch, which is golden, crackled and crunchy thanks to the use of white flour topped with rice flour. There’s also marble rye, Italian bread and croissants.

The signature Big Belly sandwich includes turkey, bacon, soppressata and ham, while the CBR, includes chicken, bacon and ranch, served with an optional hot honey sauce. The St. Louis cheesesteak features thinly sliced rib-eye, sauteed mushrooms, onion, bell and poblano peppers, and a housemade Provel cheese whiz on Dutch crunch bread. There’s also a vegetarian Green Goddess sandwich with green goddess dressing, avocado, spinach, cucumber, tomato, red onion and feta served on Dutch crunch bread. Other options include a turkey Rueben and Helfer’s chicken salad sandwich. You can also build your own sandwich with an assortment of accoutrement. 

For breakfast, you can get an egg croissant sandwich or burrito on a flour tortilla, each made with your choice of cheese and protein, including bacon, sausage, ham or turkey. 

There are also a few salads and rotating soups to choose from, plus shareables like garlic-cheese bread, a Bavarian pretzel and a dip of the week served with toasted Dutch crunch bread. For dessert, there are cookies, gooey butter cake, assorted pastries and cheesecake, all made by Helfer’s.

The restaurant recently received its liquor license and is now offering draft beers from Narrow Gauge Brewing Co. and Ferguson Brewing Co., along with a selection of 16-ounce cans of Midwest craft beers and a few domestics and imports. There are some canned cocktails, including Cutwater and High Noon. In the near future, they’ll have a full bar with a variety of spirits, a few wines and a frozen machine that will offer a rotating frozen cocktail. Be on the lookout for twice-monthly happy hours, as well as after-hours spirit tastings. They're also proud to offer discounts to first responders.

The two-story space is nearly 2,500 square feet with a capacity of 24 on the main floor where ordering takes place. That level has two tables, along with six window bar stools. The main seating is upstairs with room for 34 additional guests between three high-top and six regular tables 6 tables. There are also two 55-inch TVs upstairs. A patio will be open as the weather allows. The owners support local schools by displaying jerseys and photos of area sports teams. “We’re trying to build a family atmosphere,” Timmermann told Sauce previously. “We’re both proud to be born and raised in Florissant and we’re here for the long haul.”

Big Belly Deli is open from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Check out the slideshow below for a look at the new restaurant.