Vivola Express
Vivola Express Takeaway. Fantastic local sandwich shop with top-quality meats, cheeses, and breads. The classic Italian sandwich was a 8.1/10 for $14. Expect a line of 20-30 minutes by 11:30 AM. I have no idea how Subway stays in business next door.
How Vivola Express Stacks Up
Weight, meat, and price weighed against every other St. Louis sandwich I've reviewed. Vivola Express is highlighted below.
| Place | Score | Price | Type | Weight | Meat | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blues City Deli | 9.7 | $10.50 | Roast Beef | 13.7 | 5.2 | 8.0 |
| Carl's Deli | 9.3 | $11.95 | Pastrami | 14.3 | 9.6 | 6.0 |
| Legrand's Market & Catering | 8.8 | $10.49 | Special | 11.4 | 7.6 | 8.0 |
| Parker's Table | 8.7 | $13.00 | Special | 9.0 | 4.8 | 5.0 |
| Nomad | 8.3 | $14.00 | Pastrami | 13.6 | 7.6 | 6.0 |
| You're hereVivola Express | 8.1 | $13.00 | Italian | |||
| Gioia's Deli | 7.8 | $12.00 | Italian | 24.0 | 8.0 | 10.0 |
| Eovaldi's Deli | 7.2 | $11.95 | Italian | 27.8 | 13.8 | 9.0 |
| Mom's Deli | 7.1 | $9.50 | Special | 16.9 | 9.8 | 9.0 |
| Lion's Choice | 7.0 | $7.89 | Roast Beef | 7.7 | 5.4 | 4.0 |
| Adriana's on the Hill | 6.9 | $13.50 | Roast Beef | 17.0 | 6.8 | 12.0 |
| Snarf's Sandwiches | 6.4 | $13.50 | Italian | 24.4 | 5.6 | 12.0 |
| Pickles Deli | 4.1 | $10.99 | Special | 8.3 | 3.6 | 6.0 |
| Fozzie's Sandwich Emporium | 2.1 | $12.95 | Roast Beef | 15.0 | 6.8 | 6.0 |
| Protzel's Deli | 1.9 | $13.00 | Pastrami | 12.8 | 6.8 | 6.0 |
Vivola Express Experience Summary
Vivola Express is a throwback to the small delis I experienced growing up on the East Coast in New Jersey and New York. They pride themselves on the quality of the meats, cheeses, and breads they use in their recipes. The Italian Classic sandwich I had came with garlic cheese bread sourced from Pete's Bread, a local bakery, and freshly sliced pepperoni, soppressata, genoa salami, and mozzarella. All for $14, which is basically the same price as the Subway next door.
The sandwich was huge, heavy, and delicious. It's the kind of sandwich that makes you only want to eat vegetables for dinner. It didn't beat my favorite Italian Hoagie from White's Deli in New Jersey's LBI, but it would land in the top three.
The line was maybe 15 people deep at 11:30 AM, and it took us 26 minutes to get through it. When we left at 12:30 PM, the line was 20-25 people deep. So you can expect to wait at least 30 minutes unless you arrive early.
The Food At Vivola Express
The best part of the food at Vivola Express is the apparent high quality. They freshly slice each sandwich's meats and cheeses from a fridge in the front.
They are constantly experimenting with new cheeses - they were giving out fresh samples of a new peperjack to everyone in line. One of the guys I was with built his sandwich around it.
The bread is all locally sourced. Vivola Express is particularly proud of the garlic cheese bread, which acts as the recommended bread for most sandwiches.
The subs were probably 8 inches long, but they packed so much meat and cheese that I was full all day. I'm on a diet, and this sandwich was the first time I felt full in three weeks. It's a great sandwich as part of a hard day's work.
They have a solid mix of peppers, Giardiniera, and all the usual toppings you'd expect at a sandwich shop. Ms. Vicky's chips and a fountain drink can round out your meal.
Overall, it was a very solid 8.1/10 sandwich and one of the best sandwiches I've had in St. Louis.
Vivola Express Atmosphere And Miscellaneous
I was able to talk to the family that owns and runs the deli for a bit. They said they serve about 200-250 sandwiches a day and have been in business for 24 years.
Vivola Express had a dozen or so tables for eating in, but a good chunk of people took their sandwiches to leave.
It was interesting, but 90%+ of the clientele were men - probably about 92 of the 100 people I saw over an hour. It's the kind of place where
Parking At Vivola Express
The parking at Vivola Express is straightforward. The sandwich shop is part of a small strip mall with dedicated parking. Plenty of space when the three of us ate at 11:30 AM.
Vivola Express Receipt
