Chloe L.

This sandwich was absolutely incredible. I ordered ahead and had no wait when I arrived, though there was already a long line forming to order. Since they close shortly after lunch, I'd highly recommend ordering ahead if you can. The sandwich was enormous....easily enough for two meals for some people and loaded with fresh ingredients. Every bite was flavorful and satisfying. At $20, the value was definitely there considering the quality and portion size. One of the best deli sandwiches I've had in a long time

Amy S.

A local sandwich shop that surely won't disappoint! There's a nice dining area in the restaurant, or you can take it to go. The staff is so welcoming and friendly. I ordered the Let's Go Blues BBQ Beef. It was a pretty tasty sandwich. The crunch of the peppers helped add some needed crunch to the otherwise softer sandwich. The BBQ flavor wasn't too prominent, and it wasn't too spicy. It was a great sandwich that came with a side of au jus, but it just wasn't my favorite.

Emily S.

First time at Vivola Express and wow was this place awesome. I ordered a Buffalo chicken sandwich which they custom made which was super kind. They recommended it on garlic cheese bread with spicy cheese, cream cheese (just trust me, I was hesitant at first but it elevates the sandwich), bacon, lettuce and green pepper. Service was top-notch. I literally don't understand how that Subway next door is still in business when this place is THAT good. I ordered my sandwich to go but there was plenty of seating to dine in when I went as well.

Christina C.

This is a really small family run sandwich shop, so be prepared to wait in a long line because everything is made to order and they are also making food for to-go orders at the same time. I would highly recommend stopping by before or after the lunch rush. Their sandwiches are very large with lots of fresh ingredients and they have your standard sandwiches along with their own specialties. They have gone "viral"locally for their amazing flavor combinations and while I'm not a "sandwich person," I really do like theirs. I wonder how many more times I can say sandwiches in this review? LOL! Have I eaten the best sandwich I've ever had here? No. But they are still solid. Service is friendly and there's a lot of seating because most people take their sandwiches to go.

Absolutely delicious. Love the family atmosphere. You can feel the passion for the food they serve. Definitely would come back.

Byron C.

You could easily live in the area for 30 or 40 years and not know that this place exists. I've worked at four different places nearby, going back to the 1990s, and I'd never even heard of it. It's nestled in a narrow, sunken strip mall in an industrial off of what used to be the far western end of Page Avenue, along with a vape shop and a place that, hilariously, claims to serve the top sushi. I'd verify for the sake of citizen food journalism, but I'm running a marathon in a few days and I can't afford the potential GI distress. Emphasis on potential. We want to be fair here. Inside, Vivola Express (or just Vivola, per its signage) is arranged in such a way that a line with any more than four people in it is a line out the door, or at least a line that blocks the door, like the space may have been designed for a travel agency or some sort of high-interest loan scam that preys on the elderly. Fortunately, the guys behind the counter keep things moving. Clearly, they've made sandwiches before, both for themselves and their customers. The menu is elaborate to the point of being potentially anxiety inducing. All of the sandwiches, on paper, seem similar enough that it's hard to know which one you'd prefer, and there's multiple versions of some sandwiches, e.g. an Italian sandwich and a version of more or less the same sandwich named after, presumably, one of the guys who work there. They're all the exact same price, and it's a weirdly specific, seemingly randomly selected number. On 9/29/25 it was $16.67. A few years ago, it was probably like $5. Thanks Joe Brandon! I went with the Vivola's Classic Italian. I couldn't see the menu well enough to tell what exactly was on it, due to being blind as a bat, but I've eaten enough of these things over the years to know what to expect. This particular version was rich with the most processed of processed meats. Meats that you could store in your pantry rather than the refrigerator, if you had to. Meats that seem to consist of one part nitrates and one part saturated fats. Not that I was complaining. In addition to the salami and what have you, there's a generous helping of "shrettuce," which I'm sure offsets any damage done by the meat, some sort of creamy Italian salad dressing-like substance (uh?) and what appears to be a doorstop-thick wedge of provolone, but it might just be several thin slices of provolone that have fused together, in solidarity. Oh, and a few banana peppers. All of this is intelligently measured so that the various ingredients are both in the correct proportion to each other and not so abundant that the whole thing just kinda falls apart. They've put some thought into this. There's a wide selection of chips, including a few brands that seemed fancy--to me, at least--by virtue of the fact that I'd never heard of them, but no Red Hot Riplets. What's with that? If it's a space issue, they could easily get rid of the Sun Chips, which no one needs. A cookie was on offer, so I was bound by the solemn tenets of citizen food journalism as laid out by IF Stone to partake, even though it brought my bill to the point where I'm gonna have to have a meeting with my accountant, and it might get physical. It was good to the point where they could only sell it and the only problem they'd have is that no one will ever know where this place is.

Tony

Vivola is the best sandwich shop in St. Louis hands-down. Family run operation, dad's there every day along with his two sons and they make a sandwich second to none. They pile on the meat, have every kind of cheese you could choose from have every kind of bread you like and thier lobster bisque available Every day is a perfect finish to a great sandwich. If you don't see what you want on the sandwich board - which would be hard to believe, just tell them what you'd like and they will make it Custom just the way you like it. just go there once and you'll be hooked like everybody else. But don't worry the line moves fast.

Sarah J.

As if I really needed to make a review. This place is drool worthy. I love the fact you walk in and they are slicing fresh meat and cheeses from the cooler. Warm homemade bread from the back. All fresh cut veggies. Yeah!! I didn't mind the wait because I needed every minute to review their menu. There are so many delicious options to choose from. You must read them all to see the special flavors and ingredients. After changing my mind 3 times, I settled on the spicy chicken parm-garlic cheese bread-warm marinara. When he handed me my order, I about dropped it because it was so heavy! Popped open the box and the peeled back the wrapping and BAM! Stacked sliced chicken, pepper jack and sauces- oh the thick hot honey just smothered. It was absolutely delish! I definitely couldn't finish it and didn't need the chips !! My husband chose the Philly. It was awesome! The fresh cut meat, cheese and fresh veggies is a dig deal in my book!!

Dean B.

Ok this place has no glam. We except the Sammy's. It's was my first time here and had the Natty King. Absolutely D-lish. After eating that i will assume all Sammy's are amazing. The whole time here the line was 10-15 deep. Go people go if you want an amazing sandwich/sub. I will be back to try more! Bring your appetite the sammy is like eating a Thanksgiving dinner! Portions are large and in charge! Ahhh, what are you waiting for. By the way! All the workers take great care of you as well. They can feed

Alicia B.

This place has been on my to-do list for awhile. They close at 2pm and not open on the weekends so im never able to go. I was off today and decided to try it. I was stuck between the Angry bird and OG Steve. I went with the recommendation of the worker. OG Steve plus dynamite sauce and he even let us try their meatballs for free. Everything was fire , I will definitely get a meatball sub when I return. Kinda pricy but worth a once in a while splurge. Customer Service was top tier. I went around 12 and it was a line but it went fast. I made a suggestion that they should get St Louis style chips, they had vending machine chips. As far as ambiance, busy lol family friendly.

Don R.

Great group of folks working the deli. My meatball sandwich was good but man, it was messy and the sauce is a little sweeter than I like, but still solid. The OG Steve was just an ok deli sandwich. Good flavor but my bread was a little janky somehow. Like it was a little stale maybe. Bowl of chili was awesome and I'll be back to try some of the special sandwiches and a French dip. Worth a visit if you've never been for sure.

Kiana F.

My first experience at Vivola Express was enjoyable! I went during lunch with coworkers, and it was packed, which clearly speaks to its popularity. We ended up waiting almost 45 minutes in line to order, and took our food to go. The menu offers a wide variety of sandwiches, plus the option to customize your own. I also tried the lobster bisque, which was light and had a perfectly seasoned flavor. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful as I navigated the extensive menu. I'll definitely return!