Wow, what a sandwich! Very cool deli that has been doing things the same way for decades. It's a small family owned deli that treats everyone like they are long time customers. Good, cold beers on tap and a special or two make for a great low key dining experience. Not for the timid appetite. Reasonably priced too. read more

I got the liver wurst and Swiss , ( i can't think of anywhere else you can get one in Richmond) this place has all the classics! Anyway I'm rambling, soooooo good, best place in Richmond for a sandwich, service was great also . read more

The short version: Flavor: 5 Originality: 4 Presentation: N/A Service: 4 Went there a little after lunch and was aware to wait for a while but was pleasantly surprised when my sandwich came out in about 20 min. Granted it is not Jimmy John's quick, the quality of the meat is there. I think a part of the wait is due in part to the oven. It only holds enough room for the top and bottom of two sandwiches. So if there's a lot of people ordering toasted sandwiches, be prepared to wait. I ordered The Beast Feast with Roast Beef, Pastrami, Swiss, Provolone, L,T,O & Italian Dressing. The bread was nicely toasted and the delicate meat and melted cheese made for a wonderful meal. I liked that it included two types of pickles on the side. The standard salty spear and a few sweet chips which made for a nice contrast in flavor. The servers were quite nice and were down to earth in their conversations which made the time go by quicker. I would recommend this place but would avoid the lunchtime or dinnertime rush if you want a nice quality sandwich in a decent time frame. read more

Chiocca's - The Beast Feast to go. - Delis Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

A great hangout. Nice staff. Good sandwiches. If it is busy the food is slow...their kitchen is tiny. Have a beer and relax while waiting ;) read more

What a hidden little gem Chiocca's is. The giant sub sandwiches are good, but the real draw here is just the familial-feeling, underground dive bar atmosphere. If you're not starved, you could definitely share a single sandwich and be happy. If you do split one, they give each of you your own chips and pickle, which is quite nice! Beers are very affordable and they have a solid selection of local drafts and imports. There are daily beer specials (check the board) as well as happy hour pricing. The bar size is fairly cozy, so better to come solo or with a partner in crime over a large group. Grab a seat at the rail if you can, the bartenders are great. read more

The Best Sandwiches in RVA. Always a friendly staff that doesn't make mistakes and puts care into each order. You can feel the history when you walk down the steps and through the door of this Richmond landmark. To cozy up to the counter or slide into one of the worn booths is a warm and comforting feeling that few places in Richmond have. Suggestion: Try the Liverwurst and Swiss, hot, with onions and tomatoes on rye. You'll love it, I promise. read more

Sub sandwiches piled high with freshly sliced meats! Favorites include The son of s Beast (roast beef, cheddar, horseradish), The spice (corned beef, pastrami, Swiss), the lucca (similar to an Italian), the Gulf Stream (albacore tuna, melted cheese and Italian dressing).....so many sandwiches and they are all huge and delicious! Served with sweet pickle chips, a dill pickle spear and a very generous side of chips. Forget your diet - enjoy a sandwich and a beer from their large selection of craft options. The local Nightingale ice cream sandwiches are available if you have room for dessert! It's tiny and no glitz, but we've been coming here for about 30 years and we never leave disappointed- always delicious! read more

Chiocca's - The Spice - Delis Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I went today for lunch and got the ham sub with cheddar, onions, pickles and lettuce with yellow mustard. It was so good! The bread was toasted to perfection and they put so much meat on the sandwich I struggled to eat it. I don't really like that they allow smoking there so one star off for that. Its pretty dive-y but they make great sandwiches. read more

Called ahead for pickup because they do not have indoor service at the moment. Ordered a to-go cocktail and they were out of soda, so talked to the server on the phone about what they had to mix instead and she was very friendly. Had the reuben and it was huge and delicious! I've been back multiple times and it's so good. Great place, can't wait to dine-in when it opens back up for indoor seating! read more

Chiocca's - Delis Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Give me the Sailor Sandwich! Arguably my favorite sandwich shop! Love the dive bar feel in the basement of a house right in the cozy neighborhood of the museum district. read more

71 minutes, no sandwich...had to leave. When the owner is there, it's good! He's friendly, the sandwiches are tasty, and it's a reasonable wait time for made-to-order. When the owner is not there, you wait an hour for food, and a kid named "Dan" at the oven irritably tells you that you have to be patient because there are "a lot of sandwiches." The place was not crowded when we arrived; when we left "Dan" had only *two* orders on his ticket clip (one of which was presumably ours from an hour ago, so all the people who arrived after us had - I suppose - already gotten their food?) and still told us it would be another 15 minutes before we could get our sandwiches. We politely paid for our beverages (which had sat empty for 15 minutes at that point) and left. This is my first-ever one-star review. (member since June 2010) *71 minute wait time verified by checking texts I sent on my phone after arriving. We had eaten here about 10-12 times previously, never had a problem. I think the rudeness of "Dan" was probably the main reason we won't give a second chance, combined with the fact that so many other Richmond restaurants know what they're doing. (Why did they even allow us to pay for the beverages, given the extreme breakdown in service we had just experienced? - bad business.) read more

Food took twice as long as what we were told-- close to an hour for three sandwiches. They don't take Apple Pay. Ordered the panini. Way too salty. The sandwich was 15$ which was 2$ more than the listed price online. Was not stoked read more

Ordered takeout so cant speak to the sanitation, building itself, or service really. But these were the biggest, best deli sandwiches my fiancé and I have ever had. We ordered and shared the Reuben and the Dagwood and thought we would 100% have leftovers. It was so good though, that we were absolutely wrong. Do yourself a favor and try some of these sandwiches. read more

Chiocca's - The Reuben Sandwich and The Dagwood Sandwich - Delis Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

super good food. a little pricey but worth it for the size of your sandwich + meat + fillings. definitely recommend.

This is *the* place to go in Richmond for the most satisfying, LAD blocking (sorry, stupid Anatomy joke) sandwich ever. I wouldn't be surprised if they slipped something in my Downstairs sandwich, it's that crave worthy. Chiocca's is a stereotypical dive with cheap beer on tap, that conveniently also serves some of my favorite sandwiches. The Downstairs is a huge, hot sandwich filled with Salami, Prosciutto, Anchovies, Provolone, Swiss, Onions, Sweet Hot Peppers & Italian Dressing, served with potato chips and a pickle. I usually add whole pepperoncinis as well. The vibe is super relaxed, service is friendly, and the food is more than satisfying. It's also in a very cute neighborhood, so don't be surprised to see me gain a few extra pounds when I move to the Museum District next year. Do be careful to allow a fair amount of time for your food, though as they are slowly baked in an oven. read more

The bad news: I never tried Chiocca's when I lived in the neighborhood. The good news: I never tried Chiocca's when I lived in the neighborhood because I would be 500 pounds and wearing a muumuu. I love places that do one thing great. That is Chiocca's. You're not going to find pizza, hummus, burritos, etc. on their menu. You are going to find sandwiches and subs. Fantastic sandwiches and subs. They have a couple of vegetarian options, but this place is really for the meat lover--the meat lover who likes LOTS of meat. The sandwiches are huge. My husband claims the reuben is the real deal and the best he's ever had in Richmond. I'm not a reuben connoisseur, but I will take his word for it. This is not a huge place. There are a few booths, a few tables and a bar. Frankly, there is no way I could eat sandwiches this big and drink beer, too. You would have to roll me up the stairs onto the sidewalk after eating here. read more

Chiocca's is located on a residential little street, basically in a basement. The chairs and tables are super close together, so you'll have to scoot past all of your neighbors just to get back to your booth. As previous reviews have stated, the service is very, very slow. I ordered a pastrami and swiss, and it came out about half an hour later, and it wasn't crowded at all. My sandwich came on rye and with some store bought chips. The sandwich itself was very, very solid. One of the better pastrami sandwiches I've ever had. So come on by and try one, but make sure you don't have anything scheduled for later. You'll be at Chiocca's for a while. read more

Chiocca's has become a staple in my first 8 months in RVA. I mostly grab it for takeout on the way home after a long day, but sometimes my friends and I will walk there and enjoy a casual dinner. Sandwiches are their game, and they do them well. I always get the tuna salad sandwich on sourdough with swiss cheese, but my friends are huge fans of anything with "beast" in it and any variation on a Reuben. All sandwiches come with chips and two types of pickles, which is refreshingly simple and takes you back to the days when mom packed your lunch. They usually have 4-5 good beers on tap and more in their bottled selection. There are tvs and board games if you need to wait for your food or are dining in, which come in handy as waits can be 20-50 minutes depending on how busy they are. I always think it's well worth it, but call in your order if you're in a rush. Prices are quite reasonable, and I believe they have some special sandwich promotions mid-week. Though it's hard to find and a tad sketch looking, the staff is nice and this place is one of my Museum District faves. read more

This is a cute little deli restaurant. Very small. Decided to grab a quick bite before heading to the museum of fine arts. Came here with my two friends. I ordered the tuna melt which comes with chips and a side of potato salad which was so delicious! One of the best I have tasted! The sandwich however was not very good and I got a turkey sand-which instead. Also was not to my liking so I just ended up having the potato salad. My friends did enjoy there lunch. The service was good and the waitress was very sweet. Everything is homemade. Small menu. Prices are fair. They warn the food with the mayo on it, I suggest you get the mayo on the side.. read more

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I love this place. In fact I celebrated my birthday here I love it so much. But the reality is that when the bartender charges you for 4 more pitchers than you actually had... I can't promote it. Not only did our group pay for all of our drinks, we had the card receipts to prove it. When she told us we had 4 pitchers unpaid for and we contested it she insisted that she wouldn't lie, wouldn't over charge us, and wouldn't "do that". Our receipts speak differently and for that matter I cannot and will not ever support this place again. To make it worse, I spent 2 hours trying to defend the bartender saying she was weeded and had way too many customers to handle by herself. The result of that was my girlfriend flipping out "because that b**** had no right to speak to her that way." Chiocca's... I tried to defend you. But we have proof you f***** up and you insisted you were right. read more

Oh how I adore the sammiches at Chiocca's. Specifically, the tuna sammich on sourdough with lettuce, onion, and cheddar. Pretty close to tuna sammich perfection, if I do say so myself. The tuna is piled high between the slices of bread. So high, in fact, that you might need the potato chips (that come with the sammies) to accompany the massive amount of tuna and add a little crunch to the mix. That's what I needed today, at least. I called in a takeout order around 1:30 thinking I'd be able to pop right over and snag my lunch. No, no, I was told my sammie would be ready in 30 minutes. 30 minutes?? For a tuna sandwich?? Ok fine, I'll wait... but only because Chiocca's is just. that. good. So 30 minutes later I moseyed on over to Chiocca's, starving and ready to eat anything (ok, maybe not anything.... but more than ready for my delicious tuna salad!). Thankfully, my styrofoam takeout box was ready and waiting for me. When I got home and cracked open the box, it seemed as though perhaps it had been ready slightly before the 30 minutes I was told to allot. Parts of the bread were a little soggy; not 100% ideal, but also the risk you run when ordering takeout at any restaurant. The sammich was placed atop pickle slices, and the pickle juice had infiltrated some of the sammich. Luckily, I love pickles and welcomed the additional flavors! And despite the semi-soggy sections of bread, the sammich was still absolutely everything I was craving. To make things even better, the still crisp tater chips were the perfect addition to overshadow any less that perfect sections of sourdough. Chiocca's remains on my must-have sammich list and ties with a few of my other faves as the go-to spots for a fantastically delicious and satisfying sammie. read more

Chiocca's - Tuna Sammie - Delis Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Unfortunately I'm unable to review the food, just the service, or lack of. We were barely greeted with a 'sit anywhere', menus were tossed on the table with a warning that it was a 45 minute wait on food, and drink orders taken. Mine was wrong, diet Coke instead of iced tea, but I drank it anyway. We sat there for over an hour completely ignored except for my wife's drink getting refilled once. We noticed two tables that were seated after we had ordered very some food, and decided that we'd wasted enough time here. My wife told the waitress we were leaving, she barely replied with 'bye'. read more

I don't know how they do it. A Chiocca's sandwich is like a black hole of deliciousness - you don't think they're going to be all that mind-blowing, or all that filling, until you've gorged yourself on only a half, and the infinite mass of their cold cut core is too intense for any hunger to escape. Striations of flavor will mesmerize your senses, and the only response you can make is to just go home and sleep about it. Garnish with sweet pickle slices, a sour spear, a mountain of potato chips, and cheerful, noninvasive service. Save half of the sandwich to enjoy later. Trust me. read more

Great place to max out your daily caloric intake! Order a big sandwich (with chips, of course) and a pitcher of beer and you're set... This is what I consider the 'truest' dive bars in Richmond: below street level, dark, cramped, crappy vinyl seating, cash only (I think it's still cash only) and a locals-only vibe. In other words, it's great. Their sandwiches are reminiscent of true deli-style offerings and they typically have some pretty good beer on tap. Make sure to get some cardio in before you eat there (and definitely the next day)... oh, and the jeans you're wearing there should probably be a size or two large, just in case. read more

*Live review* Saturday around 1pm Sipping my PBR waiting my my Spice sub. I wish they had bigger/more TVs at the bar playing something other than Bones. I feel lame constantly looking at my phone and reading the same specials menu above my head. Sub is taking quite a while but I expected that from other yelper's reviews. Bartender is nice and I dig how their whole establishment is "below ground." I wonder if they purposefully take a while to make sandwiches so that you'll order more beer. Second PBR ordered. Dude seems to be making my sub in some weird 1940s looking furnace. No wonder it's taking 10 years... Sub arrives literally 50 minutes after I order. Just finished half of it and it is hot, moist and goddamned delicious. The 40s furnace sure knows how to slow cook some meat. The sub is served with Ruffles chips which is a cool addition but c'mon. Are homemade chips out of the question? Especially with your 50 minute downtime? Finished my sub and I am pretty full. They sure don't skimp on the meat here. Quite a few people have been coming up and placing their orders to-go. That is definitely the best way to go about this place if you don't have over an hour to kill for lunch. Bill came out to $19.30 with tip for two PBRs and a sub. Definitely worth a try! read more

Something's up with the zoning laws in this town. It's like Chinatown, where you have businesses on the first floor/basement and then people live upstairs. But whatever, RVA, baby. I like the home grown feel of this place. The sandwiches are creative and fulfilling. The one downside is how long it takes to make a sandwich. Yeah, it's a long time. I mean, a really long time. But you have to understand that, the dude makes the sandwiches as if you or your mom was making a sandwich in your house. It's carefully done. There's definitely no commercialization of food here. When there's plenty of time to wait for a sandwich, maybe like during a happy hour, I'll definitely come back if not for the food but to maybe introduce myself to the Bud Lite lady. Apparently, she's always there, just nursing a beer. It's all about the stories, guys. read more

Had a craving for a late night Italian sub. Called ahead to order and it took maybe 15-20 minutes. The sandwich was a good size and came with potato chips but I also ordered a side of potato salad to try which was delicious. Will definitely return! read more

Best sandwiches of all time. I've been coming here on a weekly basis for about 7 years. The sandwiches can take quite some time but it is 100% worth it. Stacy is my favorite server she's so nice. Definition of a dive this place is GREAT! read more

I am really sad to say that Chiocca's is no longer the best sailor sandwich in Richmond. With Boychik and New York Deli as alternatives, I won't need to come back to Chiocca's. read more

This is the greatest sandwich in the Museum District, and possibly the City of Richmond. They use Thumann's meats (equivalent in quality to Boar's Head meats). I order the same thing every time: The Lucca. Salami and Prosciutto melted together with Provolone cheese, and topped with Italian dressing and Italian sweet and hot peppers, grilled/toasted to perfection. Comes on a plate with potato chips, and a few pickles for $8.50. What more can I say? This IS the most delicious sandwich I have had! EVER! Expect to wait for a while though. But that's okay, just sit back and grab some beer(s). read more

Chiocca's - Delis Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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When I want a good sandwich this is where I go! The Pokey is no longer on the menu but it is the best sandwich in the city. The service is almost always slow since they only have 1 little oven but it is worth the wait! read more

This is by far and away the best sub I have ever had. It takes a very long time but it's totally worth it. This place is literally in a basement and is truly one of a kind. You have to get the 'Hot Cut' (cold cut hot) and ask for 'That Hot Sauce' to put on your sub. Neither are on the menu read more

If you don't mind taking some time to sit down, have a few beers (or pitchers), and wait for your sandwich, this place is 5 stars. However, given that service is consistently slow, I am just giving it 4 stars. So, don't go there looking for a quick meal. That being said, I love Chiocca's. It is a hole in the (basement) wall with large, delicious sandwiches and cheap beer. To me it is a Richmond classic, that hasn't changed much over the years, and that's what I love about it. When I want to go out for a filling meal and a few or handful of beers, and I want to be frugal about it, this is where I go. When I want to show someone from out of town an interesting view/taste of Richmond, this is where I go. It is a great neighborhood eatery. The past few times I've been, I've ordered the BEAST FEAST. It is a combination of a few different meats and cheeses (roast beef, pastrami, provolone, swiss) on a sub with italian dressing. The sub is on the larger size, freshly prepared, and served hot. It comes with a side of chips and a pickle, which is nothing fancy, but that's ok. The sandwich does the trick. It's $8.95 I think, so it's not dirt cheap, but you get a lot of food and therefore a lot of value. The beer selection is not vast, but their domestic pitchers are $8.50 and their specialty pitchers are $11. Want a cheap date? Go split a sub and a pitcher of beer and have some great conversation in a museum district basement. Chiocca's is a unique experience and worth a try for anyone looking for a Richmond food experience (again, when you have some time and are not in a hurry). It doesn't have the best food, the best selection of beer, the best service, or the best ambiance, but it has great subs, cheap beer, friendly service, and a unique ambiance that come together and make it great. Random note: It competes with Helen's for most interesting men's restroom. read more

You will NOT find a better sandwich in Richmond. They still use their original toaster oven from when they opened a million years ago, so the sandwiches take longer than usual to make BUT it's worth the wait. Get the Beast Feast!! All of you whiners complaining about the wait time can stay home. read more

After an hour of waiting for two simple sandwiches we left. That's just ridiculously bad read more

My first trip to Chiocca's and all I can say is what an awesome place! I went with the special mesquite chicken breast sandwich and it was solid. Great flavors and perfectly toasted. The $0.50 extra for the special is worth it I assure you. I also ordered a side of egg salad and the server recommended I dip my chips into the egg salad and she was correct. It was great. Service was good although it did take a little while to get the food even though we were one of 2 tables eating at the time. I assume it's because they put extra special care into the preparation of their dishes. It's a cool spot no doubt. They have a strong beer selection and it would be perfect to meet up with some people for happy hour. I plan to return! read more

My husband and I finally decided to check out Chiocca's, and now I'm wondering why we waited so long! We pass the restaurant about 2-3 times a week and finally decided to check it out. We went on a Wednesday night around 9pm. There were about four other tables. We order our drinks (a blackberry pear cider and a beer) and soon after our food. We waited no more than 10 minutes after ordering. Maybe it was good timing? But I would've waited a little while longer because they were so good. I got the PCLT on sourdough. The prosciutto is to DIE for. WOW. It was nice and crispy like bacon and with the slightly melted cheddar and mayo was just yummy. The bread pickles and dill pickle were a nice addition. My husband got the beast feast and the hand sliced roast beef was ridiculously good. The juices from the sandwich were absorbed by the chips -- really really tasty. Wednesday's special is $2 off any beast sandwich so he got the sandwich and beer for the price of a regular sandwich! We'll definitely be back! read more

Been around for a very long time, and hidden on the basement floor of an apartment building, it is literally one of the best kept secrets of Richmond. Draft prices daily, great service, good price, one of the best sandwich places in town, and known mainly to the locals. Cash only, but they do have a ATM machine inside. read more

I read a review below asking why they serve Ruffle's chips and can't make their own homemade chips. It's because they don't have a fryer, and don't have room to add a fryer. read more

Hands down, this place has the best sandwiches you can find in the city. I don't know what they do to them, but they're awesome. That being said, you often have to wait for good food. This place is no exception. Don't come here when you're in a rush. read more