Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Blues City Deli became a St. Louis institution in record time. The cozy, New Orleans-inspired Benton Park sandwich joint draws formidable crowds every lunch service, but the wait is worth it. Besides the infectious good vibes, due in no small part to owner Vince Valenza’s cheery effervescence, the sandwiches are outstanding. The massive muffuletta is one of the menu’s signatures and stands up to anything you can find in NOLA. Smoked meats elevate po’ boys and fun originals like the Aporkalypse Pretzelwich: juicy, garlic-peppered pork roast, bacon and gooey Provolone are topped with pickles and spicy boom-boom sauce in a warm pretzel bun.
2438 McNair Ave., St. Louis, 314.773.8225, bluescitydeli.com
The Sauce 75 is a photomosaic of the best in St. Louis dining in 2024. This list is a celebration of the diverse skills, techniques and culinary traditions that meet across our region. In sum, it tells a story about where St. Louis has been, where it is now and where it’s going next. Many great and good St. Louis restaurants have not made the cut. (Seventy-five is a lot fewer than you think!) Restaurants are constantly growing and evolving and go through ups and downs. Newly opened restaurants can take time to find their feet: There are a few exciting new places we’re cheering for, but which we feel haven’t yet fully hit their stride. Read the entire list here.
This article appears in August 2024.