Queen City Deli

I liked this place the second I stepped in. Immediately greeted by a cooler case full of prosciutto; shelves stocked with oils, vinegars, and giardiniera. A meat slicer in sight behind the counter. Cold cuts, vegetables dressed just enough to coat, but not dripping, piled onto a chewy sub roll. Just a no-frills deli, what’s not to like? I’ll definitely be back to try an Italian beef.

Unassuming place on Sunshine St. It was clear that the clientele were regulars. The menu is split between delicious sandwiches and yummy pasta. I had the muffaleta sandwich. Delicious piquant tapenade,provolone and 3 meats on a special muffaleta bread. I intended to take half home, but it was just too good, so I finished it.

Fantastic Italian food, I just can't get enough of the Italian beef sandwich. Double meat! And their peppers make is amazing. Fun place, call it in if you want it to go.

Jay serves up quality food each and every time we stop by Queen City Deli. You can tell he truly cares about the customer and their dining experience as he always has fresh and quality ingredients that come out looking too good to eat. My go to is the #5 - South Side Sicilian Po-Boy: Genoa salami, capicola, pepperoni and provel dressed with lettuce, tomato, onion, pepperoncini, and topped with our house dressing and my husbands is his 9. Italian Beef Combo Same as above with salsiccia. We have been coming here for years and always enjoyed our meals. Definitely a quality stop in Springfield, MO! Also, we love their tiramisu!! It’s a must! Thanks for all the great food and experiences, Jay!

I recommend this establishment to anyone. The food was amazing! The owner was very friendly! Great atmosphere! Definitely add this to your list of places to eat! I had the Nana's Meatball Po-Boy that is pictured.

Overall a good deli with some delicious choices. I enjoy the muffaletta and it's always consistent. The inside is not impressive but it's always clean.

We really enjoyed our time at Queen City Deli. The salads, garlic cheese bread, pastas, and sandwiches we had were all uniquely done and tasted great. Our service was great and the setting was nice, quaint, and laid back. We’ll definitely consider Queen City Deli when in Springfield again!

Would I return? Yes I had been recommended to visit this Italian joint for some time. Passing through on business, I stopped in. The establishment is VERY unassuming and low key. As I approached the counter for my order, I announced that I was a new customer recommended here. As such, I requested (to whom I assume was the owner - an older gentlemen) a recommended dish or two that were unique and sort of signature dishes and not necessarily the most common. The gentlemen seemed mildly annoyed or impatient with the quick request. Perhaps, he was busy and pressured; i do not know. I will say this nearly turned me away on the spot. Moving on - my meal was the Chicken Portabella Mushroom. It was served pleasant hot ( not merely warm like some places serve "hot" meals). The flavor was robust & savory! I was frankly surprised because when the meal was served, i was under-impressed with the portion size and general presentation. However...HOWEVER, do not judge a book by its cover. I was pleased with the meal and its flavor, for it was authentic in its flavor compared to the "branded" restaurants. Additionally, the price point is VERY reasonable. So - to sum it up, the flavor and price more than made up for the initial greeting.

J. Parrino's Queen City Deli -- "More Than What Meats the Eye" It's no wonder why J. Parrino's Queen City Deli is more than what meats the eye. The name behind it, Joe Parrino, is a renowned St. Louis restaurateur known for blending Italian tradition with classic St. Louis-style soups, sandwiches, and pastas -- and that mix absolutely shines here in Springfield. From the outside, you might not think much of it. But as they say, IYKYK. This is definitely not a book to judge by its cover. Tucked on the east side of Sunshine, it's the kind of local gem you'll want to keep in your lunch rotation. I started with the Milo Salad, and wow -- thick cuts of salami and pepperoni, fresh cheese, crisp lettuce, crunchy homemade croutons, and a perfectly sliced hard-boiled egg. The dressing took it to another level -- creamy like Caesar but with a tangy vinaigrette twist. Honestly, I almost forgot to take a photo because I couldn't stop eating. And that garlic breadstick? Fresh, soft, and buttery perfection. Next up was the Parrino Special, their house sandwich -- prosciutto, salami, and incredibly tender roast beef stacked between garlic bread buns and topped with a house salad. Every bite was a dream: the crunch of the bread and salad with the tenderness of the meats created layers of flavor and texture that just worked. Pure happiness between garlic bread. The team here is friendly, fast, and full of good recommendations -- you can tell they care about what they're serving. If you're looking for a local spot that nails the trifecta of soups, salads, sandwiches, and pasta, Queen City Deli might just become your new favorite lunch stop.

The food was very high quality and came fairly quickly even though they were busy. I ordered the Byrnes sandwich and it was great but for the price I was expecting a bigger sandwich. The ambiance was good it felt like a neighborhood deli. I would definitely go again but next time I would order a different sandwich with a dessert maybe.

Ol' Jay does a great job with his little Italian place in Spfd. Homemade everything at this place. His house dressing is great. His sandwiches are on point. His pasta dishes always hit the spot. And all reasonably priced.

First time here and stopped solely based on reviews. Absolute five star Mom & Pop shop! We ordered two sandwiches - The Burnes and Pastrami. WOW! The steak was cooked perfect and soooooooo moist! The pastrami was delicious! Also, corn chowder soup and pasta salad - amazing home cookin! Didn't take a picture as we inhaled it. Highly recommend !!!!

Being from NY and have eaten many Ruben's - this one here did not make the grade. I visited last weekend. Yes the corned beef was "piled high" and it ends there. A small schmeer of cheese. Not one drop of the Ruben dressing. The sandwich was cold. It came with a container of a tablespoonful of mustard. Honestly my first bite was do dry I choked and needed water to wash it down. My suggestion is follow McAllister deli's recipe.

I was ready to love the mushroom soup at this deli, but it tasted like powdered gravy mix with some fresh mushrooms thrown in. Gross! The side salad was full of iceberg - if that's your thing, go for it.

Best Lasagna in town! Great hidden gem that I can't believe I forget about. Queen City Deli is a must have. Breadsticks are amazing too, and the tiramisu.

Food was great! Will be back for sure! Italian beef was on point. Staff was friendly. Can't wait to try some deserts.

They have amazing sandwiches!!! Homecooked Italian food. Can't beat that!! I also loveeeeee their cheesy lasagna. Their homemade pasta sauce is to die for. I highly recommend their south side Sicilian sandwich and their wet beef giardinera subs. Rwlly messy and wet, but melts in your mouth like an addiction. I haven't try the other sub yet, but already knew that it will taste bomb as well! And as for the dessert, u ain't italian if your tiramisu doesn't have mascapone cheese and lady finger soak in espresso and some rum!! Super duper amazing tiramisu!! I'm so in love. I can eat like 100 of it if I can and also try the cheesecake! The cheese dissolve slowly in your mouth. Might have to hit the gym after eating every meals here.

The food is exceptional, fresh, tasty, and made to order. The service was fast and friendly, can't say enough nice things about these folks. The atmosphere is laid back and welcoming. Done in or carry out, you can't go wrong!

I actually really love Queen City Deli. Their tiramisu is delightful. I actually came here just for the tiramisu and ended up ordering dinner to go with it. The cafe is super cute with good seating (socially distanced at the moment), authentic ingredients for purchase so you can take home and make your own delicious Italian food. I decided to order the chicken mushroom ravioli meal with a salad and tiramisu to go. The guy took my order promptly and within a few minutes I was on my way. Everything was packaged well to-go. Unfortunately they did not provide plastic forks. Luckily I had an unused plastic spoon stashed away in my car. Breadsticks. Buttery. Garlicky. Warm. Melt in your mouth. Need I say more? 5/5 The salad was pretty good! And that's coming from someone who doesn't like salad. 4/5 The chicken mushroom raviolis were so good. Absolutely amazing. The sauce was creamy and garlicky, mushrooms floating in the sauce and inside the ravioli as well. 5/5 The tiramisu was amazing. The best I've ever had. Creamy on the top, spoungey and saucy on the bottom. Coffee and cocoa flavorings on point. Everything you would want in a tiramisu. If you haven't been to Queen City Deli, GO!

I was looking for Italian beef sandwich and this place popped up. I'm originally from Chicago area so I know what they should be like. Ordered 2 Italian beefs. The sandwich tasted good. Ordered it wet could have been wetter, it was just barely warm, very little meat but for $7 I guess I shouldn't expect much more meat on it.

Great food, wonderful service. We wish we had tried it years ago. Italian Beef Sandwich

We found this place last year while in town for the dog shows. Have looked forward to coming back all year, and, (don't judge us) we've been there 3 times in the last week... yes it's good. Everything we've tried is excellent. Love the antipasto salad, vinaigrette to die for, superb sandwiches and pasta, and the tiramisu is honestly what dreams are made of. Mmmmmmm best eats, best value in Springfield.

First time there ordered the Italian sausage sandwich Not sure what kind of sausage but definitely not Italian. Sausage was pale and pink in the middle. Not a fan !

I had the pleasant surprise at The Queen City Deli having the BEST SOUP IN SPRINGFIELD.new soups daily.

Oh my goodness.... My husband and I just had dinner here. He got the Italian Beef Sandwich. He said the beef was sooooo tender. It must have been great because he didn't offer me a taste! I had the cheese ravioli with salad! Loved the salad!! And really loved the ravioli!!! The sauce had black olives in it.. who knew? Absolutely delicious. The owner is just so friendly...told us a bit about growing up on The Hill on St Louis! We'll be back!!!

I stopped in looking for a place to grab a quick bite before going to grove spa. This place was location for that. I ordered one of the Italian sandwiches. It was pretty good. Came with chips. It's much like many other cold Italian sandwiches I've had. I thought it was cool that you can purchase Italian grocery items to take with you. The menu had hot and cold items, sandwiches and pasta. It's worth checking out, but it's nothing out of this world spectacular from my experience. The guy at the counter was super friendly though!

Finally a place with a fantastic Italian beef! Impressive menu for such a small location. Even the house salad was superb. We will be coming back every time we are in Springfield and will probably make the 1.5 hour trip at some point just to eat here again, yum

Seriously used to pass this daily thinking it's gonna be a tiny, meh kinda place. I was right about it being small. But that adds to this place's quaint, family atmosphere. The food on this menu is a great, delicious variety. Make sure you ask for the deal of the day as it's always changing. Please stop in. You won't be disappointed!

First time we ever went there yesterday. I ordered a beef ravioli special that came with a salad. That portion wasn't big enough to feed a kid. I was literally still hungry. Then I opened the so called salad. Wow is all I can say. How are you gonna serve wilted lettuce? It was absolutely gross. I can't believe someone actually served this crap to the public. I could have gone to a fast food spot and gotten a much better selection of food quality. DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!!!

One of the best sandwich places in Springfield. I have never ordered anything that has let me down.

Absolutely the best Italian deli I've ever been to. Food quality is always spot on. Owner and team treat you like family. 10 out of 10 every visit.

I ended up eating here on a whim with my girlfriend a few weeks back. Some of you Springtowner's may recognize this building as the one where a different restaurant occupies it every six months. If any of you were fans of the (now-defunct) Parrino's deli downtown, this is your next best bet. The food we had was absolutely delicious, and I recommend anyone reading this review at least try a sandwich from there once, I don't know if you will find a better deli in Springfield at the moment. I do fear that not enough people will venture out to try this place, and it may end up closing shop before it is even realized. We will be back! P.S. I think you should consider (if business allows for it) being open on Sundays (at least for lunch) seeing how there are quite a few Springfieldians whose favorite pastime is going out to eat after church.

Queen City deli is tucked away on sunshine but it needs to be in a spot light. By far the best Italian beef I've had in a while. I've been coming here for the past few months and each time it gets better. I highly recommend going if you are a sandwich enthusiast like myself.

This little hidden gem is awesome! We ordered the antipasto salad, muffuletta, and the salsiccia po-boy, and all three were so delicious! Highly recommend, we will be back.

Before I dive in, let me just say that one of my first dining experiences ever was at J. Parrino's in Kimberling City, Missouri when I was a wee one, but I've set sweet, sweet nostalgia aside for this review. Just thought I'd give ol' J. Parrino's a shout-out - RIP. I came here for the first time in quite a while last week and ordered the broccoli pasta special with a side salad. The salad was not unlike Olive Garden's in that the lettuce was bulky and the dressing strangely addictive, but there were no fun add-ons; some sprucing up could be in order. That dressin', though - yum. It came with a tasty, simple breadstick too, so no complaints there. Me likey breadsticks. My main dish came with ANOTHER breadstick - bonus! - which was a good vehicle for transporting some of my dish's pasta sauce to my face. The sauce was a supremely light version of alfredo and was a great pairing with the shell pasta, broccoli and fresh mushrooms. Tasty, albeit simple, but in my mind there's nothing wrong with simple at the right time. Honestly, I like the portion sizes at QCD, especially compared to the prices. Their dishes aren't the exorbitant, painful amount of food we're used to, but are a normal size that normal people normally eat. And guess what? I still took home leftovers. Kudos to them for being somewhat portion-conscious. While I can't help but side with Bambino's on my vote for "Best causal Italian in town," QCD is a close runner up. Besides, there's room in town for two. TL;DR: This tasty, casual Italian in the middle of town makes for a good lunch spot.

A hidden gem. The outside is simple, but delicious Italian food is waiting inside! I absolutely love the toasted cheese ravioli!!!

The setting was homey, the staff was friendly and helpful. I had the House Salad, Pizza Bread, and South Side Sicilian Sandwich. The salad tasted fresh and the dressing was good. The sandwich and pizza bread wasn't anything special or worth trying again but I think this place deserves another shot.

This was my first visit to this restaurant and I was amazed! The chicken parmesan special was served with the salad, pasta and bread. The pastrami sandwich was the best we have seen in Springfield. We will definitely be back to this one as soon as possible.

The food is delicious. Try the #3 or #5 sandwiches. Best little Italian deli in town!

Great little Italian deli with an active owner that keeps an eye on the business. The Burnes sandwich is one of my favorites. Its a melt-in-your-mouth filet mignon served on fresh bread with melted cheese. Fantastic. Other items are great as well.

I've never been here before and decided one night to order a sandwich for me and my girlfriend. I ordered a pasta dish (Mostaccioli) and a Italian beef sandwich. The pasta was 2 tubes of Mostaccioli which surprisingly was smaller than expected since it costed somewhere around $8. The other thing was that it wasn't that great, almost like someone took frozen Mostaccioli, microwaved it and poured sauce on it. The Italian beef was worse. Granted the order we placed was likely an hour before closing but really that shouldn't be a reason for poor food. The beef was so tough and the bread absolutely dripping with whatever oil/butter mix they had. So much I simply took one bite, realized that the gristly meat wasn't chewable and threw it all away.

The décor is very simple and it doesn't look like much from the outside; but don't pass up on this hidden SGF gem! The staff is very friendly and helpful, but the best part, as it should be, is the food! Fantastic menu has sandwiches, subs, pastas, and drinks include wine, beer, and soda from the fountain, bottle or can. Everything I've had here has been very good and everyone I've brought here is impressed by this "blink and you miss it" spot at Sunshine and Glenstone. There is also a tiny Italian grocery in the front of restaurant and a deli case for meats and deserts, and I've noticed that they have a lot of take-out customers when I've come to dine. A very unique and welcome addition to the area!

This is a very good deli on Sunshine. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone that wants a good, cheap italian meal. I have been here twice now and I have enjoyed both sandwiches I ate. The first was an italian beef with italian sausage - it is a combo. That is the best sandwich I have had in Springfield since moving here in 2006. The beef is very juicy and the sausage on top adds a delicious punch to the tastebuds. The bread could be improved though. It was a white bread that was a little tough for my liking, but the flavor was subtle enough that it did not get in the way of the beef and sausage. The second visit, I ordered a meatball sub. It came on the same bread with a red, meat sauce. The sub was of good quality and the meatballs themselves were very tasty. I hoped for a more spicy meatball, even so, the flavor was good. So if you do not like a spicy meatball, this meatball sandwich is worth the trip. Overall, I am impressed with the two sandwiches I devoured and I will be back!

Jay is the man! Delicious, authentic, as if we were on the hill in St. Louis. Thank you for doing what you do sir.

The quality of the food was good and very classic Italian. Every sandwich has a lot of meat on it (almost to the point of too much bc it's acidity). The side salad has oil dressing so it's highly coated. Restaurant area was clean and staff was attentive and friendly. Pretty quiet. Good place for lunch or early dinner.

Simple the best steak sandwich in Springfield or anywhere near here. Just order the #10 Burnes, medium rare and enjoy. Just come early to get a table or order to go as seating fills up fast. Can't comment on other items because we order the #10 every time.

The beat Italian deli in the US! We drove and hour and a half for these sandwiches! They are currently delivering curb side amidst the recent corona virus guide lines!

Great deli sandwich's plus Italian pasta, soup excellent bread they have limited beer and wines friendly staff

Love their pasta dishes. My favorite soup we've had there is cream of cauliflower. A different soup Avery day. Toasted ravioli cheese or beef are so good.

Went here with my son and daughter, and everything was very good. Seems to be more of a take-out place. There were absolutely zero vehicles anywhere around the building when we pulled up, but while we were there eating, several people came, picked up food, and left. We got toasted beef raviollis, which were tasty. I got a meatball sandwich, my son got the Italian beef (dry, but with the au jus on the side) and my daughter got the Parrino's special. We passed them around, and all three were excellent. I would have been happy ordering any of them. There were some good looking specials on the chalkboard at the entrance, and I will definitely be back to try more.

Love this place. Best damn sandwich in town is the #3 Perrino's Special. A friend turned me onto this place when we shared a house a few years ago after it opened. I have a landscape crew of about 15 guys and of the 15 at least 10 of them, as well as myself, make it a point to eat lunch here every time we are working on a project in Mid Springfield. The other 5 guys just got hired... give them a few weeks and I'm sure they will agree. Go check it out, order the sandwich I told you to order, and experience a legitimate italian masterpiece.

Going to Queen City Deli is always a treat. Very few lunch places in Springfield can compare with the deliciousness of their Italian deli style sandwiches.

Not impressed. Very Small portions and very over priced!! This place is going to go out of business. They are at a cursed location. There have been 5 or 6 businesses in that location in the last couple years. Every time I drive by I don't even see one car there.

excellent , j.parrino has had several very good resteraunts over the years and this one seems to be the best yet.....Great Sicilian food your not going to find very many places in this area

This is one of my favorite places to grab lunch in Springfield. The food is always amazing, never a disappointment. The staff is friendly and the environment is comfortable and casual. The chicken Portobello ravioli is a must.

I will never go back. J Parrino's used to be a respectable Italian restaurant, but I'm totally disappointed in the deli. I had a craving for a New York style sandwich, and it is in my neighborhood, so I tried it. Right now I am eating a pastrami sandwich and cup of soup that cost me $15. The portions are moderate, bread soggy, mayo on the sandwich and NOTHING else besides pastrami, mustard on the side (huh?) The reason I am here though is that "Minestrone" soup that raised the bill by several dollars is just reconstituted boullion with some over-cooked carrots and celery...no sausage, no beans, no italian spice. I cannot finish it. Think twice before spending you money here.

Maybe I choose poorly but my beef parm over pasta with red sauce was just watery. Didn't really have a good flavor. My two friends that went with me that day also didn't feel all that great about their dishes. One had the same dish as myself and agreed it was pretty rough. The people a table over had subs and those looked much better than the pasta. If I go back I'll probably try one of those.