Gelateria Del Leone

The Gelateria proved to be a bit of a pleasant surprise to me when I moved to the neighborhood. Read the other reviews for talk about ambiance or coffee or pastries or whatever. I'm here to talk sandwiches. I'm an insufferable sandwich snob and was pretty taken aback when someone in the industry told me that this place right down the road from me had the best breakfast sandwich in STL. Then someone else told me their lunch sandwiches were just as good. Sidebar: Can I can make a plea to this local treasure? Tell people you sell sandwiches! Yes, I know you post them on your Instagram sometimes, but your website says literally *nothing* about sandwiches. Let the entire internet know! Anyway, it's true, the breakfast sandwich is legitimately very good. I'm not sure I'd go literal best in the city, but worth your time and money for sure. Add bacon and spinach. The lunch sandwiches I actually like even more -- they're served on an excellent crusty focaccia and manage to be interesting while also being simple and elegant. For example, the roast beef combines medium-rare roast beef, two sauces (salsas rossa and verde), and arugala -- that's it. Really, really good without needing gimmicks. The menu seems to shift periodically and, again, you can't check their sandwich menu online, so you'll just need to read the board when you walk in. Lots of non-meat options. Some sandwich caveats: They come out a bit slow, which is fine, but makes dropping in for a quick takeaway sandwich a 10-20 minute errand depending on the line. (No online ordering, unfortunately.) They're also not budget sammies -- the lunch offerings are $13+tax, plus a couple bucks if you want chips. I think they're worth it, but if you're hunting for a utilitarian and cost-efficient sandwich, you are barking up the wrong tree. Overall, a worthy addition to my list of my very favorite sandwich places in town. Worth a trip, especially if you have the time to sit inside with your meal and enjoy the slow-paced coffee shop vibes.

Not as creamy as traditional gelato, but still pretty tasty. I got the PB Crunch (which was good) and the stratiatella. I think the stratiatella was made with oat milk which I didn’t realize until after I ordered which it why it wasn’t as creamy as gelato I’ve had in Italy and elsewhere. It was fine but tasted like ice cream, not gelato. A medium was about $7.

I just finished my last bite of the salad here, consisting of farro, beet, apple, tricolore lettuce, fennel, gorgonzola vinaigrette and hazelnuts. I think this was the best salad I've ever had. The ingredients are fresh and delicious and it was premixed perfectly before getting piled into my bowl. So delicious!!

First time trying this place out after scoping it for a while, and I was not disappointed! Got an iced lavender latte which was nothing short of AMAZING, as well as a pistachio roll equally as tasty. The fresh baked, fluffy texture of the roll was perfect. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, with an upstairs study area, lower level commons, and a beautiful botanical patio out back. I was helped by Ian who was also very friendly and pleasant to chat with! Will definitely be back here

Hot, dirty chai was a real treat on the rare not-so-hot August morning. It was full-bodied and spicy. Not sweet, which was perfect to jump start the day and not feel sluggish (so ask for/add some honey if you’re into a sweet drink). Great atmosphere where neighbors, business-folk and even brand-new babies gather and enjoy.