Gioia’s Deli

Gioia’s Deli has operated at 1934 Macklind Avenue, across from Berra Park, since 1918, when Italian immigrant Charlie Gioia opened a grocery in the same building. The James Beard Foundation honored it with an America’s Classics award, and the Hill shop remains the original of a small local chain with locations in Valley Park, Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights and O’Fallon.

The draw is the house-made hot salami, a fresh cooked sausage sliced to order for the Original Hot Salami sandwich; the “hot” refers to temperature rather than spice. The menu also covers classic deli sandwiches, salads and build-your-own options.

It is an old-school counter-service shop with some indoor seating, outdoor picnic tables and a pickup window. The Hill location is open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm and closed Sunday, and orders can be placed online for pickup.