McAlister's Deli surprised me. I was in a grumpy mood when I first got here. I wasn't really sure where the place was and when I pulled in it seemed like there was a miniscule amount of parking. If you go around the corner from Eddie V's there is access to a parking garage with plenty of parking. Then when I got down to the entrance I was greeted with a line that extended out the door. I wanted to turn around and leave at that point, but I'm glad I didn't. The employees taking orders were efficient and the wait wasn't that bad. I was worried that we wouldn't get a table with all of the people in line, but the dining area is larger than I thought that it would be. After I ordered I was given a buzzer with a number on it. The buzzer actually never went off. Someone brought my food to the table, which I thought was nice. The menu pretty much had the choices I expected for a deli. I ended up getting a chicken breast sandwich on a warm croissant. It was around seven dollars and I actually really liked it. I would definitely come back here again.
(4)
Kendra Y.
Worst. Italian Sandwich. Ever. Soggy bread, one measly onion slice and clumped together meet glued with mayo. Slide outta my bread. Gross. Overpriced. The BLT wasn't bad tho.
(1)
Charles I.
I tried McAlister's Deli today,the place is roomy, modern, and immaculately clean. The service was fast and friendly. The menu has plenty of choices, I went with the club sandwich which was good and big enough for my construction worker appetite. The prices are reasonable. And when I got a free cookie I was sold on this place. I hope they build one in Orlando by my house.
(4)
Bonita B.
Convenient, courteous staff, and yummy food including salads and vegetarian chill. It's near the airport, International Mall, and other upscale restaurants. The deli is nestled within the bottom of a office building. There's limited parking (not reserved) in the back and in front of the building.
(4)
Dave S.
I used to go to McAlister's in Michigan about 3 times a week for lunch, so I was overly excited to hear they were building one about 5 minutes from where I work off Boy Scout Blvd. They have an excellent menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and spuds! I've never had a bad item from McAlisters. The chicken tortilla soup is delicious and you can get it in a bread bowl!! Yummy!!! All their salads are good, but the chicken cobb is my favorite. Great spot for a quick, tasty lunch under $10. McAlister's is known for it's tea, which is very tasty, comes in very large cups and has free refills! The service is excellent, you order from the counter and get a number. Someone will bring your food to you and they check on you throughout the meal. Will definitely be visiting this lunch spot quite often.
(5)
Da Vman V.
We were greeted better by an off duty employee vs the working ones behind the counter! They said their mashed potatoes were excellent but they are nothing more than instant potatoes. Pot roast sandwich was ok & orange cranberry club was fine. Nothing really blew me away that I had to come back right away.
(2)
Francesca L.
Once again, my husband gave this joint rave reviews and dragged me along for lunch on a weekday. I am trying not to gag while I write this: DO NOT ORDER THE TUNA. EVER. *gags* It was so, so bad. It was like tuna chunks in milk or soapy water...horrible. My husband said "you shouldn't have ordered tuna!" Ummm? That is not an excuse. If you have tuna on the menu, it should be fresh and delicious, or don't offer it! I also had the broccoli cheddar soup, which was the only redeeming part of my lunch (but couldn't hold a candle to Panera Bread!). I also think it's strange that they have giant baked potatoes as a side option with a 1/2 sandwich... Steer clear of this place!
(1)
Christina S.
I can't properly speak on behalf of the food served here because I am sitting outside and the doors are still locked. The hours posted online and on the door both say that this location opens at 10:30, but it is now 10:48 and the doors are still locked. I have called twice now, and no one has answered. I see one young employee mulling around in there. Hungry, mad, and very irritated!
(1)
Todd W.
As a resident of the rapidly growing International Mall district, I love that McAlister's Deli is literally a five minute walk from home. The two men who have always run this location are super guys and were even front and center when I walked into the store this afternoon to pick up my online order. They also remember repeat customers immediately are greatful for the business. Speaking of ordering online, their website is one of the best in placing advance orders because of the ease of using it and customizing sandwiches and salads. And they do pay attention to when you ask for extra this or remove that. Today was Free Tea Day, so they were even busier than their usual steady lunch rush. The employees are really helpful and I really appreciated how one particular employee made sure that I had a second option as a salad dresssing just in case I didn't like the first one. Salads are really jam packed and, like the spuds, are enough for two people to split or just two meals...so you really get a lot for your money. Sandwiches include your choice of side item and their potato salad and mashed potatoes and gravy are excellent. Oh, and I give them credit for featuring the Hot Brown on the specialty menu the last few months. Anyone from Louisville or who has visited there knows the history of the Hot Brown and it is neat that McAlister's offers such a unique and tasty item.
(4)
Paul M.
This is a place I frequent for lunch. The food is pretty good. The stuffed potatoes are great! The staff is always extremely helpful and pleasant. They have an awesome drink bar!
(5)
Sarah D.
In Tampa for business and noticed this place on the way to my next appointment. I ordered a veggie sandwich and a lemonade. The veggie sandwich was supposed to come with ranch, which it did not; just a dry, bland pita with veggies on it. I called the manager and he told me I could come back another time and get something free, but Tampa is not convenient to me so I won't be back. I doubt that I would give it another try anyway because I couldn't choke down more than one bite of sandwich and the lemonade didn't wow me. I feel sad that I wasted $9 and had no lunch. I wish I had read the other review where the same thing happened to someone else. Two stars because the employees were nice.
(2)
Amy B.
Man I love this place! I can't believe I haven't wrote a review yet! The staff here is awesome, I want to stay the owner is usually there and he is always pleasant and makes sure everyone is taken care of. They also have a huge gluten free menu too. I highly recommend the nacho basket I get one every time I come here! The soup so amazing and so are the spuds! In fact I'm pretty sure everything is awesome here, Brandon has tried a different sandwich every time we've come and he's never had a complaint he also loves the Mac n cheese and of course the sweet tea.
(5)
Katie T.
This place is such a hidden gem (location wise). Oblivious that my work was only a mile away, I discovered them a few months ago and it has soon become one of my favorite lunch spots. I am obsessed with their Spuds, a baked potato smothered in heavenly goodness. I recommend the pot roast spud or the grilled chicken spud. They are known for their tea but I am more of a lemonade girl myself. They do get a huge rush around noon. Check them out for lunch but if you are in a hurry, make sure you call your order in and there will be no wait!
(4)
Michelle M.
Meh... I'm just not a fan of McAlister's. I have been here four times now, simply because the location is close to my apartment, but I am never happy with the food I order. I've ordered the Italian Chopped Salad, Chef Salad, Savannah Chopped Salad and the Southwest Cobb Salad. All of the salads have been very disappointing. The ingredients don't taste fresh and they skimp on the protein. The Southwest Cobb Salad was probably the worst. The guacamole tasted premade and I had four meager slices of rubbery chicken that were cold and bland. Something on the salad had an odd chemical flavor. I suspect that it was the "fire roasted" corn. The only item I have liked on the menu was the baked potato loaded with cheese, sour cream and jalapenos. There are about half a dozen baked potatoes or "Spuds" on McAlister's menu. The only bad Spud we have had is the Black Angus Roast Beef Spud. Stick with chili; roast beef does not belong on a baked potato!
(2)
Cori W.
I don't get all the bad reviews....maybe they weren't ordering the rights things but I LOVE McAlister's. Their strawberry lemonade rocks and I've had several of their salads and their french dip and it's great. Definitely a try.....I love, plus it's like right around the corner from my office so great for a quick lunch.
(4)
Robbie C.
Came here for a work event. They have a small private room off to the side that fits about 25 people. We were treated to anything on the menu and I chose the veggie club with the dressing on the side. Also swapped out the wheat bread for ciabatta. Unfortunately it came without the guac that is on the menu. Guacamole, cucumbers, roasted red peppers, red onions, lettuce, tomatoes, sharp cheddar, Swiss and ranch dressing on sliced wheat bread is what the menu said. Got a side of potato salad. It was a-ok. I don't get too excited over sandwich shops but it was clean although with one person taking orders and the other employee delivering food, it took a bit longer to place order. And the location is very weird to me. Across from the international mall and a tiny parking lot with a parking garage around the corner. Just strange location to put a deli. But I'm guessing they do a good lunch biz with all the nearby workers.
(3)
Joel H.
After escaping the confines of a creepy office building, my team and I discussed grabbing lunch. One person suggested a "fabulous little deli located opposite of International Plaza Mall." Cool, I thought. I dig delis. When they followed that line with an "it's called McAlister's Deli" my face fell hard and fast. I thought I would be experiencing a nice, little independent place with an angry New Yorker slinging out orders as fast as they came. Instead I was visiting the giant, sanitized world of the franchised deli. Honestly, after I got over my disappointment and experienced McAlister's Deli for what it is, I was fine with it. McAlister's menu includes salads, soups, wraps, deli sandwiches and about a dozen different types of loaded baked potatoes. While there wasn't much on the menu in the way of vegan food, McAlister's had a number of vegetarian options that could easily be made dairy free. Ultimately I decided I wasn't that hungry so I went with a baked potato topped with veggie chili and pickles. I was none too happy to see that the baked potato cost about three times what it does at Wendy's. Basically I could buy an entire bag for that price. But my anger faded when the potato was delivered to my table. This wasn't your grandfather's baked potato. This was a baked potato of epic proportions, a plate filler. When McAlister's Deli says baked potato, what they really mean is grab-the-two-biggest-potatoes-they-can-find-and-sell-them-as-one potato. The entire double potato was topped beautifully with veggie chili. The pickles were served on the side, about four giant rounds that, when placed end to end, could cover nearly the entire double potato. The potatoes and veggie chili tasted good. They were fine. But they weren't greased up with some special seasonings that made me sit back and take notice. They weren't great. I added some of the various condiments that McAlister's had sitting around just to give them a bit more pizazz. The others in my group seemed to feel the same way about their food. I didn't hear anyone exclaim how amazing their food was. It was all memorable in size, not so much in taste. The restaurant itself was super clean. They had a large number of employees working when we arrived so, even though it was the lunch rush, we didn't wait more than a few moments to order. While the parking lot of McAlister's is extremely small (although there is a parking garage behind it) don't let that fool you. The inside of McAlister's is pretty big. We had no problem finding a place to sit. While I won't go out of my way to visit McAlister's in the future, if someone suggests a return visit my face won't fall nearly as far as it did before my first time.
(3)
Chris F.
We grabbed some sandwiches here to take back to our hotel for later. This meant that it wasn't until a couple of hours later that we discovered they had completely forgotten to include any ranch and that the sandwiches were extremely bland without it. We had checked and double checked with them when ordering. The Mac and cheese side was not worth more than one mouthful either. It was all so very disappointing. Shame as they were quite friendly while we were waiting for our food to be ready. Oh and why is a fruit pot with just 8 pieces of fruit side a supplementary 75p more on top of your meal compared to the more unhealthy options such us say....a portion of chips. I know the answer is probably 'because America', but it shouldn't be that way.
(1)
Ian S.
I've eaten here twice in the past few weeks and was happy I did, both times. On my first visit I had the french dip sandwich, roast beef and cheddar on a baguette, served with aus jus - delicious. Next time in I had the pot roast sandwich, with provolone and roasted peppers on ciabatta, and a side of gravy - delicious! The first time in the girl who took my order looked and sounded like her cat just died, who knows, maybe kitty did pass that morning. The second time in a different girl took my order and she seemed happy to be there. One last point worth mentioning, the two sandwiches I got were a tad on the small side, but they were still worth it.
(4)
Dorette P.
McAlister's Deli is within walking distance to where I live, so if I don't feel like cooking I come here. I've had the roast beef sandwich and a bacon and cheese spud which were very tasty. The lemonade is good and the chocolate chips cookies are large and delicious.
(3)
Bill T.
Soup served ice cold. Breeding ground for bacteria. Calling the board of health. Manager was an asshole.
(1)
Andrea B.
I've been to McAlister's so many times, I was surprised to find I hadn't reviewed them yet. Well, no time like the present! This is a great place for lunch or a light dinner and they offer mix and match combos of soup, half sammie and half salad as we've grown accustomed to at other (much less delicious) places. But what really hooked me is that McAlister's offers small topped potatoes or a side of nachos as options as well. I've tried a number of their options and have probably had every turkey sandwich on their menu. They sometimes offer Chicken and Dumplings as a soup option and their version is excellent - thick, but tender noodles and a rich, chicken broth. I've also tried their Spud Ole (a potato topped with chili and cheese) and was shocked at how HUGE the potato was. At least, I was shocked until a later visit when I order the full size Spud Ole and wondered where on earth they found these massive taters. The potato filled the whole plate and must have been nearly a pound. In both cases, the potato was well-baked and fluffy (so often underbaked at other restaurants) and the chili is lovely. McAlister's other claim to fame is their fresh brewed Iced Tea (with as many refills as you like). As a huge tea fan, I can testify that their brew is excellent. The service is always prompt and friendly and staff have often brought me tea refills while I'm noshing. My only disappointment was the day I got a slice of their signature Carrot Cake to go. The spicing and flavor was very good, but the cake seemed too dry to me and not as amazing as I was expecting for the considerable price.
(4)
Anna V.
McAlister's is a wonderful place. The owner is so warm and friendly and the food is good. They deserve a 5 star rating.
(5)
Mallory F.
What an abysmal experience. After a trip to the nearby Cigar City Brewing Company, we weren't hungry, but knew we would be later. We drove by McAlisters and I had remembered good things, so we stopped in for some food. We both went for the Veggie sandwich and the fruit as our side. We added a side of mac and cheese to share. We got two sweet teas to drink. As it was 4:52pm when we were in, no one else there. We waited for a few minutes and then the kitchen staff put the order on the counter. Another young woman who was working at the time opened the boxes to check the orders, so I felt safe that they were correct. It did take her an awfully long time to get a bag and put the items in it, but oh well. The man I assume was the manager came out, and we had a nice chat with him. Flash forward a few hours, we took our orders out of the fridge, and sat down to eat. Alas, we found that they had skipped the ranch on BOTH of our sandwiches, which meant that because I had left off the green peppers and roasted red peppers, was a pita with tomato, cucumber, one piece of lettuce and a piece of Swiss cheese. Bo-ring. The fruit cup was decent but incredibly small for the $0.75 upgrade charge. The mac and cheese wasn't worth eating. We spent nearly $20.00, and it was incredibly disappointing. I'm still hungry and pissed about the mishap. We only have so long in the US and I'm irritated that we wasted our time with this.
(1)
michelle l.
You don't go to McAlister's for great food, but if you want solid food with a known calorie count and lots of iced tea, this is your place. McAlister's is close to my workplace, and I know I can get in and out within an hour. There is parking behind it, and it's reasonably easy to get into a spot. I usually do the Pick 2 deal, and I generally get one of the combos that is under 500 calories. Nothing on the menu will change your culinary world, but I haven't had anything that is bad. The best thing is the lemonade and ice tea bar with free refills. I like getting an Arnold Palmer with unsweetened tea.
(3)
Daniel L.
Just had a Reuben and some water, but was impressed with how clean and nice the place was. Extensive menu and they're proud of their teas. Will probably go back if I'm in the area again. Don't like TVs in my restaurants, no matter what they're showing.
(3)
Kristie C.
Decided to take a walk across the street to see what I could find to eat for dinner. Glad I did because they have a nice variety of offerings. Nothing fancy but just good basic sandwiches, salads and soups. I was looking for something light, so I opted for "pick 2" which was a choice of soup/salad, sandwich/salad, or sandwich/soup. I got tortilla soup and a half grilled chicken salad with balsamic vinegar/olive oil dressing on the side. It was perfect! While I was waiting for my order, I had a nice conversation with the manager and the young college student at the front register. Very friendly staff! I hope they consider opening for breakfast soon.
This is a tough place to find! It is so close to Eddie V's, it is easy to miss. Not a novel concept: soup, sandwiches & spuds. It is a chain that I understand many locals are glad to see in Tampa. I has the roast beef club sandwich, without the center piece of bread. The sandwich had all the right notes and was was well seasoned and prepared. The problem I had was that with the bread, the sandwich was not even an inch & 1/2 high. Show me the beef & cheese was wafer thin I put it all on 1/2 of the bread & that made it closer to being a deli sandwich and not a pauper, lost ingredients bread sandwich. It was a good sandwich, but there were way too few toppings. I also tried the broccoli chedar soup and a bowl was a usual cup size. It was hot and tasty, but I don't think there is any way it could be homade. It had the same flavor, as most chains have when they buy frozen soup from their vendor. What's a girl to do? Go to an independent deli and get all the fixings piled too high, instead of meager portions.
(3)
Josh W.
I have passed by this place several times, so last Sunday evening at around 6:30ish we finally stopped in for carry out. I was immediately impressed with how big their menu is. There are soups, salads, sandwiches, stuffed baked potatoes, sides, and more. I hate being the guy standing in front of the cashier holding up the line slowly ordering as I try to determine what I want, but I was definitely him on this day. I'm glad there were only a couple of people behind me. I eventually ordered a chicken Caesar salad(good), 2 cups of tomato bisque(awesome), 1 cup of chicken tortilla soup(also awesome), a New Yorker sandwich(pastrami, corned beef, dressing, & cheese on wheat. Really good), a roast beef sandwich with cheese, caramelized onions, and horseradish(awesome), and 2 baked potatoes. They were much bigger than I had thought they would be. One of the potatoes had lots of bacon and cheese, and the other had roast beef, onions, and cheese. Both were really good and were enough for a meal alone. The sandwiches had plenty of meat on them, and were quite tasty. This was a lot of food, which the 3 of us could not finish in one sitting, so it was enjoyed again for another meal(with still a bit left over). They also have a variety of sides to choose from, and I believe one comes with a sandwich. We opted for coleslaw, which we still haven't eaten yet. The sandwiches and soups were our favorites, and we intend to come back and try some others. We also had sweet tea, which was sweet, but not too sweet. They have a military discount, which is always appreciated, and this brought our total to around $45 or $50. They have a pretty big dining room with a few TVs if you choose to eat there. There is a little parking in front of the place, but more either around the back or in the structure. The two young ladies working that evening were helpful and friendly, so no complaints about the service. We will definitely be back here to try more of their menu!
(4)
Joseph W.
Always great food but the parking garage is the most miserable thing I have encountered. Very small spots + terrible parking jobs = shitty time
(3)
Tam D.
This location is proof that not all McAlister's are created equal. I tend to avoid chain restaurants completely, but when you're on the road and in the mood for a quick sandwich, McAlister's is usually adequate. Their prices are quite a bit higher, but the ingredients seem high-quality, and the portions generous. Not this place. I ordered my usual, a sandwich I've gotten countless times at the USF location (as well as in Macon and Chapel Hill). The amount of food between the bread slices was shockingly skimpy. It was almost as if I'd ordered a bread sandwich, for the same high price. If I had known that was what I was getting, I wouldn't have paid $5, much less $9. I will not be returning to this location.
(2)
Julie K.
On Weekends, this place is delightfully dead. It's hard to find... you need a friend to help you find the parking garage... after that, nirvana. Great place to study, free refills. The food is healthy and reasonable. No, it's not cheap. But for $10is I got a wonderful fresh salad (and they asked about each item... so if you have allergies/dislikes, the salad will be just the way you want it..) Tampa Tardis met there in February... We had a wonderful time. And.. this would be great for studying (free wi-fi, I think..) After they closed, we sat at the tables outside, and enjoyed the beautiful evening. Sooner or later, others will find this place. I hear they are very busy Monday through Friday. But I enjoy the friendly staff and Sweet Tea.
(5)
Tia L.
We don't have one of these in Orlando yet, but the manager at this location said there was someone who is looking in to start developing them in our area soon which I can't wait for since this place was one of my favorite places in Texas that we had. My mom flew in from Texas to Tampa so of course when I found there was one of these right out on the edge of the air port so we were definitely going when I went to pick her up! We went and ate there for lunch after mom arrived and I was so happy to still see they had my favorite sandwich the California Turkey Reuben which in my opinion is the best sandwich here along with a side of the macaroni and cheese! The sweet tea here is true southern tea and the best, they even added fruit lemonades to the menu since I was last in Texas and yesterday I combined the sweet tea with a strawberry lemonade and made a strawberry Arnold Palmer. My mom had a Caesar wrap which was great to, then my friend who tagged along with me to ride with me since my husband wouldn't allow me to drive alone that far being pregnant, so she tagged along and what she had for lunch looked really good, she had the pot roast spud which smelled amazing as well. So glad that we got to stop at this place because not only did we get to eat lunch but also got a jug of the famous sweet tea to go! the service here is nice the associates in the deli are full of smiles and very helpful, one guy at the counter who was helping us the entire time with anything we needed named John was amazing! Great location only bad side is the parking is kind of funky, but so worth the food it wouldn't matter!!
(5)
Laura G.
This place is always delicious. Their tea is amazing and pretty much anything on the menu is guaranteed to taste great. We arrived around 8 pm. 30 minutes before they closed and the employees were still helpful and patient with serving us. We both ordered chicken salad sandwiches and could have ordered seconds. Delicious! But we didn't. We were full from the first sandwich. The parking lot for this location is weird. You have to go up a parking garage and the walk down a bunch of stairs, go around a corner towards the street before finding the front doors but once you are in, it is great!
(4)
William W.
Good sandwiches, as well as good sides. If they didn't get a little slow at times I would have given them 5 stars.
(4)
Alex O.
Not too bad at all, I had the king club, it was ginormous. Nice comfortable booths to sit at and the service was great. I would come back :-)
(4)
Amber M.
The parking is awkward, and the lines can be long, but this is a nice place to stop for lunch. It's a quick service chain restaurant similar to a Panera. They have soups, salads, hot and cold sandwiches, and baked potatoes. I have tried 2 different sandwiches - a grilled chicken club and the Memphian. Both times I have been really pleased with the portion size. You definitely get your moneys worth with a sandwich and side. They have quite a few sides to choose from, like pasta salad, applesauce, fruit, chips, and coleslaw. They have a special area where they will prepare your iced tea. The drinks are one size fits all for $1.99 and they are HUGE! Also, a chocolate chip cookie is definitely worth the splurge!
Friendly staff. The service decently quick. I really enjoyed my Italian sub. The chocolate cake is not worth ordering. It was a thawed cake and tasted like cardboard.
This is a tough place to find! It is so close to Eddie V's, it is easy to miss. Not a novel concept: soup, sandwiches & spuds. It is a chain that I understand many locals are glad to see in Tampa. I has the roast beef club sandwich, without the center piece of bread. The sandwich had all the right notes and was was well seasoned and prepared. The problem I had was that with the bread, the sandwich was not even an inch & 1/2 high. Show me the beef & cheese was wafer thin I put it all on 1/2 of the bread & that made it closer to being a deli sandwich and not a pauper, lost ingredients bread sandwich. It was a good sandwich, but there were way too few toppings. I also tried the broccoli chedar soup and a bowl was a usual cup size. It was hot and tasty, but I don't think there is any way it could be homade. It had the same flavor, as most chains have when they buy frozen soup from their vendor. What's a girl to do? Go to an independent deli and get all the fixings piled too high, instead of meager portions.
(3)
Francesca L.
Once again, my husband gave this joint rave reviews and dragged me along for lunch on a weekday. I am trying not to gag while I write this: DO NOT ORDER THE TUNA. EVER. *gags* It was so, so bad. It was like tuna chunks in milk or soapy water...horrible. My husband said "you shouldn't have ordered tuna!" Ummm? That is not an excuse. If you have tuna on the menu, it should be fresh and delicious, or don't offer it! I also had the broccoli cheddar soup, which was the only redeeming part of my lunch (but couldn't hold a candle to Panera Bread!). I also think it's strange that they have giant baked potatoes as a side option with a 1/2 sandwich... Steer clear of this place!
(1)
Todd W.
As a resident of the rapidly growing International Mall district, I love that McAlister's Deli is literally a five minute walk from home. The two men who have always run this location are super guys and were even front and center when I walked into the store this afternoon to pick up my online order. They also remember repeat customers immediately are greatful for the business. Speaking of ordering online, their website is one of the best in placing advance orders because of the ease of using it and customizing sandwiches and salads. And they do pay attention to when you ask for extra this or remove that. Today was Free Tea Day, so they were even busier than their usual steady lunch rush. The employees are really helpful and I really appreciated how one particular employee made sure that I had a second option as a salad dresssing just in case I didn't like the first one. Salads are really jam packed and, like the spuds, are enough for two people to split or just two meals...so you really get a lot for your money. Sandwiches include your choice of side item and their potato salad and mashed potatoes and gravy are excellent. Oh, and I give them credit for featuring the Hot Brown on the specialty menu the last few months. Anyone from Louisville or who has visited there knows the history of the Hot Brown and it is neat that McAlister's offers such a unique and tasty item.
(4)
Paul M.
This is a place I frequent for lunch. The food is pretty good. The stuffed potatoes are great! The staff is always extremely helpful and pleasant. They have an awesome drink bar!
(5)
Sarah D.
In Tampa for business and noticed this place on the way to my next appointment. I ordered a veggie sandwich and a lemonade. The veggie sandwich was supposed to come with ranch, which it did not; just a dry, bland pita with veggies on it. I called the manager and he told me I could come back another time and get something free, but Tampa is not convenient to me so I won't be back. I doubt that I would give it another try anyway because I couldn't choke down more than one bite of sandwich and the lemonade didn't wow me. I feel sad that I wasted $9 and had no lunch. I wish I had read the other review where the same thing happened to someone else. Two stars because the employees were nice.
(2)
Amy B.
Man I love this place! I can't believe I haven't wrote a review yet! The staff here is awesome, I want to stay the owner is usually there and he is always pleasant and makes sure everyone is taken care of. They also have a huge gluten free menu too. I highly recommend the nacho basket I get one every time I come here! The soup so amazing and so are the spuds! In fact I'm pretty sure everything is awesome here, Brandon has tried a different sandwich every time we've come and he's never had a complaint he also loves the Mac n cheese and of course the sweet tea.
(5)
Katie T.
This place is such a hidden gem (location wise). Oblivious that my work was only a mile away, I discovered them a few months ago and it has soon become one of my favorite lunch spots. I am obsessed with their Spuds, a baked potato smothered in heavenly goodness. I recommend the pot roast spud or the grilled chicken spud. They are known for their tea but I am more of a lemonade girl myself. They do get a huge rush around noon. Check them out for lunch but if you are in a hurry, make sure you call your order in and there will be no wait!
(4)
Joel H.
After escaping the confines of a creepy office building, my team and I discussed grabbing lunch. One person suggested a "fabulous little deli located opposite of International Plaza Mall." Cool, I thought. I dig delis. When they followed that line with an "it's called McAlister's Deli" my face fell hard and fast. I thought I would be experiencing a nice, little independent place with an angry New Yorker slinging out orders as fast as they came. Instead I was visiting the giant, sanitized world of the franchised deli. Honestly, after I got over my disappointment and experienced McAlister's Deli for what it is, I was fine with it. McAlister's menu includes salads, soups, wraps, deli sandwiches and about a dozen different types of loaded baked potatoes. While there wasn't much on the menu in the way of vegan food, McAlister's had a number of vegetarian options that could easily be made dairy free. Ultimately I decided I wasn't that hungry so I went with a baked potato topped with veggie chili and pickles. I was none too happy to see that the baked potato cost about three times what it does at Wendy's. Basically I could buy an entire bag for that price. But my anger faded when the potato was delivered to my table. This wasn't your grandfather's baked potato. This was a baked potato of epic proportions, a plate filler. When McAlister's Deli says baked potato, what they really mean is grab-the-two-biggest-potatoes-they-can-find-and-sell-them-as-one potato. The entire double potato was topped beautifully with veggie chili. The pickles were served on the side, about four giant rounds that, when placed end to end, could cover nearly the entire double potato. The potatoes and veggie chili tasted good. They were fine. But they weren't greased up with some special seasonings that made me sit back and take notice. They weren't great. I added some of the various condiments that McAlister's had sitting around just to give them a bit more pizazz. The others in my group seemed to feel the same way about their food. I didn't hear anyone exclaim how amazing their food was. It was all memorable in size, not so much in taste. The restaurant itself was super clean. They had a large number of employees working when we arrived so, even though it was the lunch rush, we didn't wait more than a few moments to order. While the parking lot of McAlister's is extremely small (although there is a parking garage behind it) don't let that fool you. The inside of McAlister's is pretty big. We had no problem finding a place to sit. While I won't go out of my way to visit McAlister's in the future, if someone suggests a return visit my face won't fall nearly as far as it did before my first time.
(3)
Chris F.
We grabbed some sandwiches here to take back to our hotel for later. This meant that it wasn't until a couple of hours later that we discovered they had completely forgotten to include any ranch and that the sandwiches were extremely bland without it. We had checked and double checked with them when ordering. The Mac and cheese side was not worth more than one mouthful either. It was all so very disappointing. Shame as they were quite friendly while we were waiting for our food to be ready. Oh and why is a fruit pot with just 8 pieces of fruit side a supplementary 75p more on top of your meal compared to the more unhealthy options such us say....a portion of chips. I know the answer is probably 'because America', but it shouldn't be that way.
(1)
Michelle M.
Meh... I'm just not a fan of McAlister's. I have been here four times now, simply because the location is close to my apartment, but I am never happy with the food I order. I've ordered the Italian Chopped Salad, Chef Salad, Savannah Chopped Salad and the Southwest Cobb Salad. All of the salads have been very disappointing. The ingredients don't taste fresh and they skimp on the protein. The Southwest Cobb Salad was probably the worst. The guacamole tasted premade and I had four meager slices of rubbery chicken that were cold and bland. Something on the salad had an odd chemical flavor. I suspect that it was the "fire roasted" corn. The only item I have liked on the menu was the baked potato loaded with cheese, sour cream and jalapenos. There are about half a dozen baked potatoes or "Spuds" on McAlister's menu. The only bad Spud we have had is the Black Angus Roast Beef Spud. Stick with chili; roast beef does not belong on a baked potato!
(2)
Cori W.
I don't get all the bad reviews....maybe they weren't ordering the rights things but I LOVE McAlister's. Their strawberry lemonade rocks and I've had several of their salads and their french dip and it's great. Definitely a try.....I love, plus it's like right around the corner from my office so great for a quick lunch.
(4)
Robbie C.
Came here for a work event. They have a small private room off to the side that fits about 25 people. We were treated to anything on the menu and I chose the veggie club with the dressing on the side. Also swapped out the wheat bread for ciabatta. Unfortunately it came without the guac that is on the menu. Guacamole, cucumbers, roasted red peppers, red onions, lettuce, tomatoes, sharp cheddar, Swiss and ranch dressing on sliced wheat bread is what the menu said. Got a side of potato salad. It was a-ok. I don't get too excited over sandwich shops but it was clean although with one person taking orders and the other employee delivering food, it took a bit longer to place order. And the location is very weird to me. Across from the international mall and a tiny parking lot with a parking garage around the corner. Just strange location to put a deli. But I'm guessing they do a good lunch biz with all the nearby workers.
(3)
Ian S.
I've eaten here twice in the past few weeks and was happy I did, both times. On my first visit I had the french dip sandwich, roast beef and cheddar on a baguette, served with aus jus - delicious. Next time in I had the pot roast sandwich, with provolone and roasted peppers on ciabatta, and a side of gravy - delicious! The first time in the girl who took my order looked and sounded like her cat just died, who knows, maybe kitty did pass that morning. The second time in a different girl took my order and she seemed happy to be there. One last point worth mentioning, the two sandwiches I got were a tad on the small side, but they were still worth it.
(4)
Dorette P.
McAlister's Deli is within walking distance to where I live, so if I don't feel like cooking I come here. I've had the roast beef sandwich and a bacon and cheese spud which were very tasty. The lemonade is good and the chocolate chips cookies are large and delicious.
(3)
Bill T.
Soup served ice cold. Breeding ground for bacteria. Calling the board of health. Manager was an asshole.
(1)
Andrea B.
I've been to McAlister's so many times, I was surprised to find I hadn't reviewed them yet. Well, no time like the present! This is a great place for lunch or a light dinner and they offer mix and match combos of soup, half sammie and half salad as we've grown accustomed to at other (much less delicious) places. But what really hooked me is that McAlister's offers small topped potatoes or a side of nachos as options as well. I've tried a number of their options and have probably had every turkey sandwich on their menu. They sometimes offer Chicken and Dumplings as a soup option and their version is excellent - thick, but tender noodles and a rich, chicken broth. I've also tried their Spud Ole (a potato topped with chili and cheese) and was shocked at how HUGE the potato was. At least, I was shocked until a later visit when I order the full size Spud Ole and wondered where on earth they found these massive taters. The potato filled the whole plate and must have been nearly a pound. In both cases, the potato was well-baked and fluffy (so often underbaked at other restaurants) and the chili is lovely. McAlister's other claim to fame is their fresh brewed Iced Tea (with as many refills as you like). As a huge tea fan, I can testify that their brew is excellent. The service is always prompt and friendly and staff have often brought me tea refills while I'm noshing. My only disappointment was the day I got a slice of their signature Carrot Cake to go. The spicing and flavor was very good, but the cake seemed too dry to me and not as amazing as I was expecting for the considerable price.
(4)
Mallory F.
What an abysmal experience. After a trip to the nearby Cigar City Brewing Company, we weren't hungry, but knew we would be later. We drove by McAlisters and I had remembered good things, so we stopped in for some food. We both went for the Veggie sandwich and the fruit as our side. We added a side of mac and cheese to share. We got two sweet teas to drink. As it was 4:52pm when we were in, no one else there. We waited for a few minutes and then the kitchen staff put the order on the counter. Another young woman who was working at the time opened the boxes to check the orders, so I felt safe that they were correct. It did take her an awfully long time to get a bag and put the items in it, but oh well. The man I assume was the manager came out, and we had a nice chat with him. Flash forward a few hours, we took our orders out of the fridge, and sat down to eat. Alas, we found that they had skipped the ranch on BOTH of our sandwiches, which meant that because I had left off the green peppers and roasted red peppers, was a pita with tomato, cucumber, one piece of lettuce and a piece of Swiss cheese. Bo-ring. The fruit cup was decent but incredibly small for the $0.75 upgrade charge. The mac and cheese wasn't worth eating. We spent nearly $20.00, and it was incredibly disappointing. I'm still hungry and pissed about the mishap. We only have so long in the US and I'm irritated that we wasted our time with this.
(1)
michelle l.
You don't go to McAlister's for great food, but if you want solid food with a known calorie count and lots of iced tea, this is your place. McAlister's is close to my workplace, and I know I can get in and out within an hour. There is parking behind it, and it's reasonably easy to get into a spot. I usually do the Pick 2 deal, and I generally get one of the combos that is under 500 calories. Nothing on the menu will change your culinary world, but I haven't had anything that is bad. The best thing is the lemonade and ice tea bar with free refills. I like getting an Arnold Palmer with unsweetened tea.
(3)
Christina S.
I can't properly speak on behalf of the food served here because I am sitting outside and the doors are still locked. The hours posted online and on the door both say that this location opens at 10:30, but it is now 10:48 and the doors are still locked. I have called twice now, and no one has answered. I see one young employee mulling around in there. Hungry, mad, and very irritated!
(1)
Daniel L.
Just had a Reuben and some water, but was impressed with how clean and nice the place was. Extensive menu and they're proud of their teas. Will probably go back if I'm in the area again. Don't like TVs in my restaurants, no matter what they're showing.
(3)
Kristie C.
Decided to take a walk across the street to see what I could find to eat for dinner. Glad I did because they have a nice variety of offerings. Nothing fancy but just good basic sandwiches, salads and soups. I was looking for something light, so I opted for "pick 2" which was a choice of soup/salad, sandwich/salad, or sandwich/soup. I got tortilla soup and a half grilled chicken salad with balsamic vinegar/olive oil dressing on the side. It was perfect! While I was waiting for my order, I had a nice conversation with the manager and the young college student at the front register. Very friendly staff! I hope they consider opening for breakfast soon.
(4)
Josh W.
I have passed by this place several times, so last Sunday evening at around 6:30ish we finally stopped in for carry out. I was immediately impressed with how big their menu is. There are soups, salads, sandwiches, stuffed baked potatoes, sides, and more. I hate being the guy standing in front of the cashier holding up the line slowly ordering as I try to determine what I want, but I was definitely him on this day. I'm glad there were only a couple of people behind me. I eventually ordered a chicken Caesar salad(good), 2 cups of tomato bisque(awesome), 1 cup of chicken tortilla soup(also awesome), a New Yorker sandwich(pastrami, corned beef, dressing, & cheese on wheat. Really good), a roast beef sandwich with cheese, caramelized onions, and horseradish(awesome), and 2 baked potatoes. They were much bigger than I had thought they would be. One of the potatoes had lots of bacon and cheese, and the other had roast beef, onions, and cheese. Both were really good and were enough for a meal alone. The sandwiches had plenty of meat on them, and were quite tasty. This was a lot of food, which the 3 of us could not finish in one sitting, so it was enjoyed again for another meal(with still a bit left over). They also have a variety of sides to choose from, and I believe one comes with a sandwich. We opted for coleslaw, which we still haven't eaten yet. The sandwiches and soups were our favorites, and we intend to come back and try some others. We also had sweet tea, which was sweet, but not too sweet. They have a military discount, which is always appreciated, and this brought our total to around $45 or $50. They have a pretty big dining room with a few TVs if you choose to eat there. There is a little parking in front of the place, but more either around the back or in the structure. The two young ladies working that evening were helpful and friendly, so no complaints about the service. We will definitely be back here to try more of their menu!
(4)
Joseph W.
Always great food but the parking garage is the most miserable thing I have encountered. Very small spots + terrible parking jobs = shitty time
(3)
Chris W.
McAlister's Deli surprised me. I was in a grumpy mood when I first got here. I wasn't really sure where the place was and when I pulled in it seemed like there was a miniscule amount of parking. If you go around the corner from Eddie V's there is access to a parking garage with plenty of parking. Then when I got down to the entrance I was greeted with a line that extended out the door. I wanted to turn around and leave at that point, but I'm glad I didn't. The employees taking orders were efficient and the wait wasn't that bad. I was worried that we wouldn't get a table with all of the people in line, but the dining area is larger than I thought that it would be. After I ordered I was given a buzzer with a number on it. The buzzer actually never went off. Someone brought my food to the table, which I thought was nice. The menu pretty much had the choices I expected for a deli. I ended up getting a chicken breast sandwich on a warm croissant. It was around seven dollars and I actually really liked it. I would definitely come back here again.
(4)
Kendra Y.
Worst. Italian Sandwich. Ever. Soggy bread, one measly onion slice and clumped together meet glued with mayo. Slide outta my bread. Gross. Overpriced. The BLT wasn't bad tho.
(1)
Charles I.
I tried McAlister's Deli today,the place is roomy, modern, and immaculately clean. The service was fast and friendly. The menu has plenty of choices, I went with the club sandwich which was good and big enough for my construction worker appetite. The prices are reasonable. And when I got a free cookie I was sold on this place. I hope they build one in Orlando by my house.
(4)
Bonita B.
Convenient, courteous staff, and yummy food including salads and vegetarian chill. It's near the airport, International Mall, and other upscale restaurants. The deli is nestled within the bottom of a office building. There's limited parking (not reserved) in the back and in front of the building.
(4)
Dave S.
I used to go to McAlister's in Michigan about 3 times a week for lunch, so I was overly excited to hear they were building one about 5 minutes from where I work off Boy Scout Blvd. They have an excellent menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and spuds! I've never had a bad item from McAlisters. The chicken tortilla soup is delicious and you can get it in a bread bowl!! Yummy!!! All their salads are good, but the chicken cobb is my favorite. Great spot for a quick, tasty lunch under $10. McAlister's is known for it's tea, which is very tasty, comes in very large cups and has free refills! The service is excellent, you order from the counter and get a number. Someone will bring your food to you and they check on you throughout the meal. Will definitely be visiting this lunch spot quite often.
(5)
Da Vman V.
We were greeted better by an off duty employee vs the working ones behind the counter! They said their mashed potatoes were excellent but they are nothing more than instant potatoes. Pot roast sandwich was ok & orange cranberry club was fine. Nothing really blew me away that I had to come back right away.
(2)
Tam D.
This location is proof that not all McAlister's are created equal. I tend to avoid chain restaurants completely, but when you're on the road and in the mood for a quick sandwich, McAlister's is usually adequate. Their prices are quite a bit higher, but the ingredients seem high-quality, and the portions generous. Not this place. I ordered my usual, a sandwich I've gotten countless times at the USF location (as well as in Macon and Chapel Hill). The amount of food between the bread slices was shockingly skimpy. It was almost as if I'd ordered a bread sandwich, for the same high price. If I had known that was what I was getting, I wouldn't have paid $5, much less $9. I will not be returning to this location.
(2)
Julie K.
On Weekends, this place is delightfully dead. It's hard to find... you need a friend to help you find the parking garage... after that, nirvana. Great place to study, free refills. The food is healthy and reasonable. No, it's not cheap. But for $10is I got a wonderful fresh salad (and they asked about each item... so if you have allergies/dislikes, the salad will be just the way you want it..) Tampa Tardis met there in February... We had a wonderful time. And.. this would be great for studying (free wi-fi, I think..) After they closed, we sat at the tables outside, and enjoyed the beautiful evening. Sooner or later, others will find this place. I hear they are very busy Monday through Friday. But I enjoy the friendly staff and Sweet Tea.
(5)
Anna V.
McAlister's is a wonderful place. The owner is so warm and friendly and the food is good. They deserve a 5 star rating.
(5)
Tia L.
We don't have one of these in Orlando yet, but the manager at this location said there was someone who is looking in to start developing them in our area soon which I can't wait for since this place was one of my favorite places in Texas that we had. My mom flew in from Texas to Tampa so of course when I found there was one of these right out on the edge of the air port so we were definitely going when I went to pick her up! We went and ate there for lunch after mom arrived and I was so happy to still see they had my favorite sandwich the California Turkey Reuben which in my opinion is the best sandwich here along with a side of the macaroni and cheese! The sweet tea here is true southern tea and the best, they even added fruit lemonades to the menu since I was last in Texas and yesterday I combined the sweet tea with a strawberry lemonade and made a strawberry Arnold Palmer. My mom had a Caesar wrap which was great to, then my friend who tagged along with me to ride with me since my husband wouldn't allow me to drive alone that far being pregnant, so she tagged along and what she had for lunch looked really good, she had the pot roast spud which smelled amazing as well. So glad that we got to stop at this place because not only did we get to eat lunch but also got a jug of the famous sweet tea to go! the service here is nice the associates in the deli are full of smiles and very helpful, one guy at the counter who was helping us the entire time with anything we needed named John was amazing! Great location only bad side is the parking is kind of funky, but so worth the food it wouldn't matter!!
(5)
Laura G.
This place is always delicious. Their tea is amazing and pretty much anything on the menu is guaranteed to taste great. We arrived around 8 pm. 30 minutes before they closed and the employees were still helpful and patient with serving us. We both ordered chicken salad sandwiches and could have ordered seconds. Delicious! But we didn't. We were full from the first sandwich. The parking lot for this location is weird. You have to go up a parking garage and the walk down a bunch of stairs, go around a corner towards the street before finding the front doors but once you are in, it is great!
(4)
William W.
Good sandwiches, as well as good sides. If they didn't get a little slow at times I would have given them 5 stars.
(4)
Alex O.
Not too bad at all, I had the king club, it was ginormous. Nice comfortable booths to sit at and the service was great. I would come back :-)
(4)
Amber M.
The parking is awkward, and the lines can be long, but this is a nice place to stop for lunch. It's a quick service chain restaurant similar to a Panera. They have soups, salads, hot and cold sandwiches, and baked potatoes. I have tried 2 different sandwiches - a grilled chicken club and the Memphian. Both times I have been really pleased with the portion size. You definitely get your moneys worth with a sandwich and side. They have quite a few sides to choose from, like pasta salad, applesauce, fruit, chips, and coleslaw. They have a special area where they will prepare your iced tea. The drinks are one size fits all for $1.99 and they are HUGE! Also, a chocolate chip cookie is definitely worth the splurge!
Friendly staff. The service decently quick. I really enjoyed my Italian sub. The chocolate cake is not worth ordering. It was a thawed cake and tasted like cardboard.
(3)
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Address :4410 Boy Scout Blvd, Suite 150
Tampa, FL, 33607
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Chris W.
McAlister's Deli surprised me. I was in a grumpy mood when I first got here. I wasn't really sure where the place was and when I pulled in it seemed like there was a miniscule amount of parking. If you go around the corner from Eddie V's there is access to a parking garage with plenty of parking. Then when I got down to the entrance I was greeted with a line that extended out the door. I wanted to turn around and leave at that point, but I'm glad I didn't. The employees taking orders were efficient and the wait wasn't that bad. I was worried that we wouldn't get a table with all of the people in line, but the dining area is larger than I thought that it would be. After I ordered I was given a buzzer with a number on it. The buzzer actually never went off. Someone brought my food to the table, which I thought was nice. The menu pretty much had the choices I expected for a deli. I ended up getting a chicken breast sandwich on a warm croissant. It was around seven dollars and I actually really liked it. I would definitely come back here again.
(4)Kendra Y.
Worst. Italian Sandwich. Ever. Soggy bread, one measly onion slice and clumped together meet glued with mayo. Slide outta my bread. Gross. Overpriced. The BLT wasn't bad tho.
(1)Charles I.
I tried McAlister's Deli today,the place is roomy, modern, and immaculately clean. The service was fast and friendly. The menu has plenty of choices, I went with the club sandwich which was good and big enough for my construction worker appetite. The prices are reasonable. And when I got a free cookie I was sold on this place. I hope they build one in Orlando by my house.
(4)Bonita B.
Convenient, courteous staff, and yummy food including salads and vegetarian chill. It's near the airport, International Mall, and other upscale restaurants. The deli is nestled within the bottom of a office building. There's limited parking (not reserved) in the back and in front of the building.
(4)Dave S.
I used to go to McAlister's in Michigan about 3 times a week for lunch, so I was overly excited to hear they were building one about 5 minutes from where I work off Boy Scout Blvd. They have an excellent menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and spuds! I've never had a bad item from McAlisters. The chicken tortilla soup is delicious and you can get it in a bread bowl!! Yummy!!! All their salads are good, but the chicken cobb is my favorite. Great spot for a quick, tasty lunch under $10. McAlister's is known for it's tea, which is very tasty, comes in very large cups and has free refills! The service is excellent, you order from the counter and get a number. Someone will bring your food to you and they check on you throughout the meal. Will definitely be visiting this lunch spot quite often.
(5)Da Vman V.
We were greeted better by an off duty employee vs the working ones behind the counter! They said their mashed potatoes were excellent but they are nothing more than instant potatoes. Pot roast sandwich was ok & orange cranberry club was fine. Nothing really blew me away that I had to come back right away.
(2)Francesca L.
Once again, my husband gave this joint rave reviews and dragged me along for lunch on a weekday. I am trying not to gag while I write this: DO NOT ORDER THE TUNA. EVER. *gags* It was so, so bad. It was like tuna chunks in milk or soapy water...horrible. My husband said "you shouldn't have ordered tuna!" Ummm? That is not an excuse. If you have tuna on the menu, it should be fresh and delicious, or don't offer it! I also had the broccoli cheddar soup, which was the only redeeming part of my lunch (but couldn't hold a candle to Panera Bread!). I also think it's strange that they have giant baked potatoes as a side option with a 1/2 sandwich... Steer clear of this place!
(1)Christina S.
I can't properly speak on behalf of the food served here because I am sitting outside and the doors are still locked. The hours posted online and on the door both say that this location opens at 10:30, but it is now 10:48 and the doors are still locked. I have called twice now, and no one has answered. I see one young employee mulling around in there. Hungry, mad, and very irritated!
(1)Todd W.
As a resident of the rapidly growing International Mall district, I love that McAlister's Deli is literally a five minute walk from home. The two men who have always run this location are super guys and were even front and center when I walked into the store this afternoon to pick up my online order. They also remember repeat customers immediately are greatful for the business. Speaking of ordering online, their website is one of the best in placing advance orders because of the ease of using it and customizing sandwiches and salads. And they do pay attention to when you ask for extra this or remove that. Today was Free Tea Day, so they were even busier than their usual steady lunch rush. The employees are really helpful and I really appreciated how one particular employee made sure that I had a second option as a salad dresssing just in case I didn't like the first one. Salads are really jam packed and, like the spuds, are enough for two people to split or just two meals...so you really get a lot for your money. Sandwiches include your choice of side item and their potato salad and mashed potatoes and gravy are excellent. Oh, and I give them credit for featuring the Hot Brown on the specialty menu the last few months. Anyone from Louisville or who has visited there knows the history of the Hot Brown and it is neat that McAlister's offers such a unique and tasty item.
(4)Paul M.
This is a place I frequent for lunch. The food is pretty good. The stuffed potatoes are great! The staff is always extremely helpful and pleasant. They have an awesome drink bar!
(5)Sarah D.
In Tampa for business and noticed this place on the way to my next appointment. I ordered a veggie sandwich and a lemonade. The veggie sandwich was supposed to come with ranch, which it did not; just a dry, bland pita with veggies on it. I called the manager and he told me I could come back another time and get something free, but Tampa is not convenient to me so I won't be back. I doubt that I would give it another try anyway because I couldn't choke down more than one bite of sandwich and the lemonade didn't wow me. I feel sad that I wasted $9 and had no lunch. I wish I had read the other review where the same thing happened to someone else. Two stars because the employees were nice.
(2)Amy B.
Man I love this place! I can't believe I haven't wrote a review yet! The staff here is awesome, I want to stay the owner is usually there and he is always pleasant and makes sure everyone is taken care of. They also have a huge gluten free menu too. I highly recommend the nacho basket I get one every time I come here! The soup so amazing and so are the spuds! In fact I'm pretty sure everything is awesome here, Brandon has tried a different sandwich every time we've come and he's never had a complaint he also loves the Mac n cheese and of course the sweet tea.
(5)Katie T.
This place is such a hidden gem (location wise). Oblivious that my work was only a mile away, I discovered them a few months ago and it has soon become one of my favorite lunch spots. I am obsessed with their Spuds, a baked potato smothered in heavenly goodness. I recommend the pot roast spud or the grilled chicken spud. They are known for their tea but I am more of a lemonade girl myself. They do get a huge rush around noon. Check them out for lunch but if you are in a hurry, make sure you call your order in and there will be no wait!
(4)Michelle M.
Meh... I'm just not a fan of McAlister's. I have been here four times now, simply because the location is close to my apartment, but I am never happy with the food I order. I've ordered the Italian Chopped Salad, Chef Salad, Savannah Chopped Salad and the Southwest Cobb Salad. All of the salads have been very disappointing. The ingredients don't taste fresh and they skimp on the protein. The Southwest Cobb Salad was probably the worst. The guacamole tasted premade and I had four meager slices of rubbery chicken that were cold and bland. Something on the salad had an odd chemical flavor. I suspect that it was the "fire roasted" corn. The only item I have liked on the menu was the baked potato loaded with cheese, sour cream and jalapenos. There are about half a dozen baked potatoes or "Spuds" on McAlister's menu. The only bad Spud we have had is the Black Angus Roast Beef Spud. Stick with chili; roast beef does not belong on a baked potato!
(2)Cori W.
I don't get all the bad reviews....maybe they weren't ordering the rights things but I LOVE McAlister's. Their strawberry lemonade rocks and I've had several of their salads and their french dip and it's great. Definitely a try.....I love, plus it's like right around the corner from my office so great for a quick lunch.
(4)Robbie C.
Came here for a work event. They have a small private room off to the side that fits about 25 people. We were treated to anything on the menu and I chose the veggie club with the dressing on the side. Also swapped out the wheat bread for ciabatta. Unfortunately it came without the guac that is on the menu. Guacamole, cucumbers, roasted red peppers, red onions, lettuce, tomatoes, sharp cheddar, Swiss and ranch dressing on sliced wheat bread is what the menu said. Got a side of potato salad. It was a-ok. I don't get too excited over sandwich shops but it was clean although with one person taking orders and the other employee delivering food, it took a bit longer to place order. And the location is very weird to me. Across from the international mall and a tiny parking lot with a parking garage around the corner. Just strange location to put a deli. But I'm guessing they do a good lunch biz with all the nearby workers.
(3)Joel H.
After escaping the confines of a creepy office building, my team and I discussed grabbing lunch. One person suggested a "fabulous little deli located opposite of International Plaza Mall." Cool, I thought. I dig delis. When they followed that line with an "it's called McAlister's Deli" my face fell hard and fast. I thought I would be experiencing a nice, little independent place with an angry New Yorker slinging out orders as fast as they came. Instead I was visiting the giant, sanitized world of the franchised deli. Honestly, after I got over my disappointment and experienced McAlister's Deli for what it is, I was fine with it. McAlister's menu includes salads, soups, wraps, deli sandwiches and about a dozen different types of loaded baked potatoes. While there wasn't much on the menu in the way of vegan food, McAlister's had a number of vegetarian options that could easily be made dairy free. Ultimately I decided I wasn't that hungry so I went with a baked potato topped with veggie chili and pickles. I was none too happy to see that the baked potato cost about three times what it does at Wendy's. Basically I could buy an entire bag for that price. But my anger faded when the potato was delivered to my table. This wasn't your grandfather's baked potato. This was a baked potato of epic proportions, a plate filler. When McAlister's Deli says baked potato, what they really mean is grab-the-two-biggest-potatoes-they-can-find-and-sell-them-as-one potato. The entire double potato was topped beautifully with veggie chili. The pickles were served on the side, about four giant rounds that, when placed end to end, could cover nearly the entire double potato. The potatoes and veggie chili tasted good. They were fine. But they weren't greased up with some special seasonings that made me sit back and take notice. They weren't great. I added some of the various condiments that McAlister's had sitting around just to give them a bit more pizazz. The others in my group seemed to feel the same way about their food. I didn't hear anyone exclaim how amazing their food was. It was all memorable in size, not so much in taste. The restaurant itself was super clean. They had a large number of employees working when we arrived so, even though it was the lunch rush, we didn't wait more than a few moments to order. While the parking lot of McAlister's is extremely small (although there is a parking garage behind it) don't let that fool you. The inside of McAlister's is pretty big. We had no problem finding a place to sit. While I won't go out of my way to visit McAlister's in the future, if someone suggests a return visit my face won't fall nearly as far as it did before my first time.
(3)Chris F.
We grabbed some sandwiches here to take back to our hotel for later. This meant that it wasn't until a couple of hours later that we discovered they had completely forgotten to include any ranch and that the sandwiches were extremely bland without it. We had checked and double checked with them when ordering. The Mac and cheese side was not worth more than one mouthful either. It was all so very disappointing. Shame as they were quite friendly while we were waiting for our food to be ready. Oh and why is a fruit pot with just 8 pieces of fruit side a supplementary 75p more on top of your meal compared to the more unhealthy options such us say....a portion of chips. I know the answer is probably 'because America', but it shouldn't be that way.
(1)Ian S.
I've eaten here twice in the past few weeks and was happy I did, both times. On my first visit I had the french dip sandwich, roast beef and cheddar on a baguette, served with aus jus - delicious. Next time in I had the pot roast sandwich, with provolone and roasted peppers on ciabatta, and a side of gravy - delicious! The first time in the girl who took my order looked and sounded like her cat just died, who knows, maybe kitty did pass that morning. The second time in a different girl took my order and she seemed happy to be there. One last point worth mentioning, the two sandwiches I got were a tad on the small side, but they were still worth it.
(4)Dorette P.
McAlister's Deli is within walking distance to where I live, so if I don't feel like cooking I come here. I've had the roast beef sandwich and a bacon and cheese spud which were very tasty. The lemonade is good and the chocolate chips cookies are large and delicious.
(3)Bill T.
Soup served ice cold. Breeding ground for bacteria. Calling the board of health. Manager was an asshole.
(1)Andrea B.
I've been to McAlister's so many times, I was surprised to find I hadn't reviewed them yet. Well, no time like the present! This is a great place for lunch or a light dinner and they offer mix and match combos of soup, half sammie and half salad as we've grown accustomed to at other (much less delicious) places. But what really hooked me is that McAlister's offers small topped potatoes or a side of nachos as options as well. I've tried a number of their options and have probably had every turkey sandwich on their menu. They sometimes offer Chicken and Dumplings as a soup option and their version is excellent - thick, but tender noodles and a rich, chicken broth. I've also tried their Spud Ole (a potato topped with chili and cheese) and was shocked at how HUGE the potato was. At least, I was shocked until a later visit when I order the full size Spud Ole and wondered where on earth they found these massive taters. The potato filled the whole plate and must have been nearly a pound. In both cases, the potato was well-baked and fluffy (so often underbaked at other restaurants) and the chili is lovely. McAlister's other claim to fame is their fresh brewed Iced Tea (with as many refills as you like). As a huge tea fan, I can testify that their brew is excellent. The service is always prompt and friendly and staff have often brought me tea refills while I'm noshing. My only disappointment was the day I got a slice of their signature Carrot Cake to go. The spicing and flavor was very good, but the cake seemed too dry to me and not as amazing as I was expecting for the considerable price.
(4)Anna V.
McAlister's is a wonderful place. The owner is so warm and friendly and the food is good. They deserve a 5 star rating.
(5)Mallory F.
What an abysmal experience. After a trip to the nearby Cigar City Brewing Company, we weren't hungry, but knew we would be later. We drove by McAlisters and I had remembered good things, so we stopped in for some food. We both went for the Veggie sandwich and the fruit as our side. We added a side of mac and cheese to share. We got two sweet teas to drink. As it was 4:52pm when we were in, no one else there. We waited for a few minutes and then the kitchen staff put the order on the counter. Another young woman who was working at the time opened the boxes to check the orders, so I felt safe that they were correct. It did take her an awfully long time to get a bag and put the items in it, but oh well. The man I assume was the manager came out, and we had a nice chat with him. Flash forward a few hours, we took our orders out of the fridge, and sat down to eat. Alas, we found that they had skipped the ranch on BOTH of our sandwiches, which meant that because I had left off the green peppers and roasted red peppers, was a pita with tomato, cucumber, one piece of lettuce and a piece of Swiss cheese. Bo-ring. The fruit cup was decent but incredibly small for the $0.75 upgrade charge. The mac and cheese wasn't worth eating. We spent nearly $20.00, and it was incredibly disappointing. I'm still hungry and pissed about the mishap. We only have so long in the US and I'm irritated that we wasted our time with this.
(1)michelle l.
You don't go to McAlister's for great food, but if you want solid food with a known calorie count and lots of iced tea, this is your place. McAlister's is close to my workplace, and I know I can get in and out within an hour. There is parking behind it, and it's reasonably easy to get into a spot. I usually do the Pick 2 deal, and I generally get one of the combos that is under 500 calories. Nothing on the menu will change your culinary world, but I haven't had anything that is bad. The best thing is the lemonade and ice tea bar with free refills. I like getting an Arnold Palmer with unsweetened tea.
(3)Daniel L.
Just had a Reuben and some water, but was impressed with how clean and nice the place was. Extensive menu and they're proud of their teas. Will probably go back if I'm in the area again. Don't like TVs in my restaurants, no matter what they're showing.
(3)Kristie C.
Decided to take a walk across the street to see what I could find to eat for dinner. Glad I did because they have a nice variety of offerings. Nothing fancy but just good basic sandwiches, salads and soups. I was looking for something light, so I opted for "pick 2" which was a choice of soup/salad, sandwich/salad, or sandwich/soup. I got tortilla soup and a half grilled chicken salad with balsamic vinegar/olive oil dressing on the side. It was perfect! While I was waiting for my order, I had a nice conversation with the manager and the young college student at the front register. Very friendly staff! I hope they consider opening for breakfast soon.
(4)Steve E.
McAlister's is a nice little deli franchise located next door to Eddie V's restaurant along Boy Scout Road and directly opposite International Plaza Mall. You can park in the free garage behind the deli, and then walk down the stairs to their front door The original McAlister's opened in Oxford, Mississippi in the late 80s, and the franchise has grown throughout the southern US since that time. The menu is soups, salads, wraps, loaded baked potatoes and a wide variety of deli sandwiches. They had about half a dozen different types of soup (and chili) which could be served as stand-alone cups or bowls, or even as a side with your salad or sandwich. There were quite a few different entrée salads with a number of different salad dressings, and about 10 different types of loaded baked potatoes. As for the sandwiches, McAlister's has several classic deli and vegetarian sandwiches, club sandwiches, hot sandwiches like melts, French Dips, Reuben's, and The Big Nasty. They also have grilled panini sandwiches including a four-cheese griller, a smoky pepper jack turkey, and the spicy southwest chicken griller served on a ciabatta roll. For lunch I had the horseradish roast beef & cheddar grilled sammie which was Black Angus roast beef with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and a horseradish Dijon sauce on a ciabatta roll. My choice of sides included chips, potato salad, fruit cup, coleslaw, applesauce, pasta salad, steamed veggies, mashed potatoes & gravy, mac & cheese, or a cup of soup or a side salad for a slight upcharge. I added a cup of broccoli cheddar soup which was a great decision as the soup was delicious. The sandwich was good, though the melted horseradish Dijon sauce turned into a drippy mess without a lot of horseradish bite. If I order this sandwich again I would ask that they go light on the sauce, and then serve some extra on the side. They are known for their sweet tea and lemonade, but I went straight for the Diet Coke instead. I thought that the restaurant was surprisingly large, including a private meeting room, and that they kept the place very clean and organized. The cashier and servers were very friendly, and they walked around offering free refills on the drinks which was nice. Prices are certainly in line with other delis in the area. I gave McAlister's an extra star for the diversity of foods on their menu, the cleanliness of the restaurant, and the friendliness of their staff. If you have an office nearby they will also assemble some nice looking deli trays. They're open 7 days a week from 10:30 am - 8:30 pm.
(4)Kathy D.
This is a tough place to find! It is so close to Eddie V's, it is easy to miss. Not a novel concept: soup, sandwiches & spuds. It is a chain that I understand many locals are glad to see in Tampa. I has the roast beef club sandwich, without the center piece of bread. The sandwich had all the right notes and was was well seasoned and prepared. The problem I had was that with the bread, the sandwich was not even an inch & 1/2 high. Show me the beef & cheese was wafer thin I put it all on 1/2 of the bread & that made it closer to being a deli sandwich and not a pauper, lost ingredients bread sandwich. It was a good sandwich, but there were way too few toppings. I also tried the broccoli chedar soup and a bowl was a usual cup size. It was hot and tasty, but I don't think there is any way it could be homade. It had the same flavor, as most chains have when they buy frozen soup from their vendor. What's a girl to do? Go to an independent deli and get all the fixings piled too high, instead of meager portions.
(3)Josh W.
I have passed by this place several times, so last Sunday evening at around 6:30ish we finally stopped in for carry out. I was immediately impressed with how big their menu is. There are soups, salads, sandwiches, stuffed baked potatoes, sides, and more. I hate being the guy standing in front of the cashier holding up the line slowly ordering as I try to determine what I want, but I was definitely him on this day. I'm glad there were only a couple of people behind me. I eventually ordered a chicken Caesar salad(good), 2 cups of tomato bisque(awesome), 1 cup of chicken tortilla soup(also awesome), a New Yorker sandwich(pastrami, corned beef, dressing, & cheese on wheat. Really good), a roast beef sandwich with cheese, caramelized onions, and horseradish(awesome), and 2 baked potatoes. They were much bigger than I had thought they would be. One of the potatoes had lots of bacon and cheese, and the other had roast beef, onions, and cheese. Both were really good and were enough for a meal alone. The sandwiches had plenty of meat on them, and were quite tasty. This was a lot of food, which the 3 of us could not finish in one sitting, so it was enjoyed again for another meal(with still a bit left over). They also have a variety of sides to choose from, and I believe one comes with a sandwich. We opted for coleslaw, which we still haven't eaten yet. The sandwiches and soups were our favorites, and we intend to come back and try some others. We also had sweet tea, which was sweet, but not too sweet. They have a military discount, which is always appreciated, and this brought our total to around $45 or $50. They have a pretty big dining room with a few TVs if you choose to eat there. There is a little parking in front of the place, but more either around the back or in the structure. The two young ladies working that evening were helpful and friendly, so no complaints about the service. We will definitely be back here to try more of their menu!
(4)Joseph W.
Always great food but the parking garage is the most miserable thing I have encountered. Very small spots + terrible parking jobs = shitty time
(3)Tam D.
This location is proof that not all McAlister's are created equal. I tend to avoid chain restaurants completely, but when you're on the road and in the mood for a quick sandwich, McAlister's is usually adequate. Their prices are quite a bit higher, but the ingredients seem high-quality, and the portions generous. Not this place. I ordered my usual, a sandwich I've gotten countless times at the USF location (as well as in Macon and Chapel Hill). The amount of food between the bread slices was shockingly skimpy. It was almost as if I'd ordered a bread sandwich, for the same high price. If I had known that was what I was getting, I wouldn't have paid $5, much less $9. I will not be returning to this location.
(2)Julie K.
On Weekends, this place is delightfully dead. It's hard to find... you need a friend to help you find the parking garage... after that, nirvana. Great place to study, free refills. The food is healthy and reasonable. No, it's not cheap. But for $10is I got a wonderful fresh salad (and they asked about each item... so if you have allergies/dislikes, the salad will be just the way you want it..) Tampa Tardis met there in February... We had a wonderful time. And.. this would be great for studying (free wi-fi, I think..) After they closed, we sat at the tables outside, and enjoyed the beautiful evening. Sooner or later, others will find this place. I hear they are very busy Monday through Friday. But I enjoy the friendly staff and Sweet Tea.
(5)Tia L.
We don't have one of these in Orlando yet, but the manager at this location said there was someone who is looking in to start developing them in our area soon which I can't wait for since this place was one of my favorite places in Texas that we had. My mom flew in from Texas to Tampa so of course when I found there was one of these right out on the edge of the air port so we were definitely going when I went to pick her up! We went and ate there for lunch after mom arrived and I was so happy to still see they had my favorite sandwich the California Turkey Reuben which in my opinion is the best sandwich here along with a side of the macaroni and cheese! The sweet tea here is true southern tea and the best, they even added fruit lemonades to the menu since I was last in Texas and yesterday I combined the sweet tea with a strawberry lemonade and made a strawberry Arnold Palmer. My mom had a Caesar wrap which was great to, then my friend who tagged along with me to ride with me since my husband wouldn't allow me to drive alone that far being pregnant, so she tagged along and what she had for lunch looked really good, she had the pot roast spud which smelled amazing as well. So glad that we got to stop at this place because not only did we get to eat lunch but also got a jug of the famous sweet tea to go! the service here is nice the associates in the deli are full of smiles and very helpful, one guy at the counter who was helping us the entire time with anything we needed named John was amazing! Great location only bad side is the parking is kind of funky, but so worth the food it wouldn't matter!!
(5)Laura G.
This place is always delicious. Their tea is amazing and pretty much anything on the menu is guaranteed to taste great. We arrived around 8 pm. 30 minutes before they closed and the employees were still helpful and patient with serving us. We both ordered chicken salad sandwiches and could have ordered seconds. Delicious! But we didn't. We were full from the first sandwich. The parking lot for this location is weird. You have to go up a parking garage and the walk down a bunch of stairs, go around a corner towards the street before finding the front doors but once you are in, it is great!
(4)William W.
Good sandwiches, as well as good sides. If they didn't get a little slow at times I would have given them 5 stars.
(4)Alex O.
Not too bad at all, I had the king club, it was ginormous. Nice comfortable booths to sit at and the service was great. I would come back :-)
(4)Amber M.
The parking is awkward, and the lines can be long, but this is a nice place to stop for lunch. It's a quick service chain restaurant similar to a Panera. They have soups, salads, hot and cold sandwiches, and baked potatoes. I have tried 2 different sandwiches - a grilled chicken club and the Memphian. Both times I have been really pleased with the portion size. You definitely get your moneys worth with a sandwich and side. They have quite a few sides to choose from, like pasta salad, applesauce, fruit, chips, and coleslaw. They have a special area where they will prepare your iced tea. The drinks are one size fits all for $1.99 and they are HUGE! Also, a chocolate chip cookie is definitely worth the splurge!
(3)Thuy N.
This place is not even worth a try.... My boyfriend and I went here twice already, the first time we just checked it out and ordered their ultimate nachos... And yes if you like stale chips and cold toppings than this would be great for you. However I did liked their lemonade. The second time we went back, I had a pick 2, chicken tortilla and Italian. The chicken tortilla soup taste and smells like bean chili but looks like squash purée. The Italian was gross, bread was super stale and chewy, and had an overwhelming mustard taste. My boyfriends club was stale as well and his Mac and. Cheese was bland. Although they brought out the food quick the young female staffs are extremely rude and unfriendly. They stare people down and are unwelcoming even though they have to recite the "welcome to mcalisters line". If you're hungry for some good subs and friendly service than go to firehouse or even subway.
(1)Joana C.
Friendly staff. The service decently quick. I really enjoyed my Italian sub. The chocolate cake is not worth ordering. It was a thawed cake and tasted like cardboard.
(3)Steve E.
McAlister's is a nice little deli franchise located next door to Eddie V's restaurant along Boy Scout Road and directly opposite International Plaza Mall. You can park in the free garage behind the deli, and then walk down the stairs to their front door The original McAlister's opened in Oxford, Mississippi in the late 80s, and the franchise has grown throughout the southern US since that time. The menu is soups, salads, wraps, loaded baked potatoes and a wide variety of deli sandwiches. They had about half a dozen different types of soup (and chili) which could be served as stand-alone cups or bowls, or even as a side with your salad or sandwich. There were quite a few different entrée salads with a number of different salad dressings, and about 10 different types of loaded baked potatoes. As for the sandwiches, McAlister's has several classic deli and vegetarian sandwiches, club sandwiches, hot sandwiches like melts, French Dips, Reuben's, and The Big Nasty. They also have grilled panini sandwiches including a four-cheese griller, a smoky pepper jack turkey, and the spicy southwest chicken griller served on a ciabatta roll. For lunch I had the horseradish roast beef & cheddar grilled sammie which was Black Angus roast beef with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and a horseradish Dijon sauce on a ciabatta roll. My choice of sides included chips, potato salad, fruit cup, coleslaw, applesauce, pasta salad, steamed veggies, mashed potatoes & gravy, mac & cheese, or a cup of soup or a side salad for a slight upcharge. I added a cup of broccoli cheddar soup which was a great decision as the soup was delicious. The sandwich was good, though the melted horseradish Dijon sauce turned into a drippy mess without a lot of horseradish bite. If I order this sandwich again I would ask that they go light on the sauce, and then serve some extra on the side. They are known for their sweet tea and lemonade, but I went straight for the Diet Coke instead. I thought that the restaurant was surprisingly large, including a private meeting room, and that they kept the place very clean and organized. The cashier and servers were very friendly, and they walked around offering free refills on the drinks which was nice. Prices are certainly in line with other delis in the area. I gave McAlister's an extra star for the diversity of foods on their menu, the cleanliness of the restaurant, and the friendliness of their staff. If you have an office nearby they will also assemble some nice looking deli trays. They're open 7 days a week from 10:30 am - 8:30 pm.
(4)Kathy D.
This is a tough place to find! It is so close to Eddie V's, it is easy to miss. Not a novel concept: soup, sandwiches & spuds. It is a chain that I understand many locals are glad to see in Tampa. I has the roast beef club sandwich, without the center piece of bread. The sandwich had all the right notes and was was well seasoned and prepared. The problem I had was that with the bread, the sandwich was not even an inch & 1/2 high. Show me the beef & cheese was wafer thin I put it all on 1/2 of the bread & that made it closer to being a deli sandwich and not a pauper, lost ingredients bread sandwich. It was a good sandwich, but there were way too few toppings. I also tried the broccoli chedar soup and a bowl was a usual cup size. It was hot and tasty, but I don't think there is any way it could be homade. It had the same flavor, as most chains have when they buy frozen soup from their vendor. What's a girl to do? Go to an independent deli and get all the fixings piled too high, instead of meager portions.
(3)Francesca L.
Once again, my husband gave this joint rave reviews and dragged me along for lunch on a weekday. I am trying not to gag while I write this: DO NOT ORDER THE TUNA. EVER. *gags* It was so, so bad. It was like tuna chunks in milk or soapy water...horrible. My husband said "you shouldn't have ordered tuna!" Ummm? That is not an excuse. If you have tuna on the menu, it should be fresh and delicious, or don't offer it! I also had the broccoli cheddar soup, which was the only redeeming part of my lunch (but couldn't hold a candle to Panera Bread!). I also think it's strange that they have giant baked potatoes as a side option with a 1/2 sandwich... Steer clear of this place!
(1)Todd W.
As a resident of the rapidly growing International Mall district, I love that McAlister's Deli is literally a five minute walk from home. The two men who have always run this location are super guys and were even front and center when I walked into the store this afternoon to pick up my online order. They also remember repeat customers immediately are greatful for the business. Speaking of ordering online, their website is one of the best in placing advance orders because of the ease of using it and customizing sandwiches and salads. And they do pay attention to when you ask for extra this or remove that. Today was Free Tea Day, so they were even busier than their usual steady lunch rush. The employees are really helpful and I really appreciated how one particular employee made sure that I had a second option as a salad dresssing just in case I didn't like the first one. Salads are really jam packed and, like the spuds, are enough for two people to split or just two meals...so you really get a lot for your money. Sandwiches include your choice of side item and their potato salad and mashed potatoes and gravy are excellent. Oh, and I give them credit for featuring the Hot Brown on the specialty menu the last few months. Anyone from Louisville or who has visited there knows the history of the Hot Brown and it is neat that McAlister's offers such a unique and tasty item.
(4)Paul M.
This is a place I frequent for lunch. The food is pretty good. The stuffed potatoes are great! The staff is always extremely helpful and pleasant. They have an awesome drink bar!
(5)Sarah D.
In Tampa for business and noticed this place on the way to my next appointment. I ordered a veggie sandwich and a lemonade. The veggie sandwich was supposed to come with ranch, which it did not; just a dry, bland pita with veggies on it. I called the manager and he told me I could come back another time and get something free, but Tampa is not convenient to me so I won't be back. I doubt that I would give it another try anyway because I couldn't choke down more than one bite of sandwich and the lemonade didn't wow me. I feel sad that I wasted $9 and had no lunch. I wish I had read the other review where the same thing happened to someone else. Two stars because the employees were nice.
(2)Amy B.
Man I love this place! I can't believe I haven't wrote a review yet! The staff here is awesome, I want to stay the owner is usually there and he is always pleasant and makes sure everyone is taken care of. They also have a huge gluten free menu too. I highly recommend the nacho basket I get one every time I come here! The soup so amazing and so are the spuds! In fact I'm pretty sure everything is awesome here, Brandon has tried a different sandwich every time we've come and he's never had a complaint he also loves the Mac n cheese and of course the sweet tea.
(5)Katie T.
This place is such a hidden gem (location wise). Oblivious that my work was only a mile away, I discovered them a few months ago and it has soon become one of my favorite lunch spots. I am obsessed with their Spuds, a baked potato smothered in heavenly goodness. I recommend the pot roast spud or the grilled chicken spud. They are known for their tea but I am more of a lemonade girl myself. They do get a huge rush around noon. Check them out for lunch but if you are in a hurry, make sure you call your order in and there will be no wait!
(4)Joel H.
After escaping the confines of a creepy office building, my team and I discussed grabbing lunch. One person suggested a "fabulous little deli located opposite of International Plaza Mall." Cool, I thought. I dig delis. When they followed that line with an "it's called McAlister's Deli" my face fell hard and fast. I thought I would be experiencing a nice, little independent place with an angry New Yorker slinging out orders as fast as they came. Instead I was visiting the giant, sanitized world of the franchised deli. Honestly, after I got over my disappointment and experienced McAlister's Deli for what it is, I was fine with it. McAlister's menu includes salads, soups, wraps, deli sandwiches and about a dozen different types of loaded baked potatoes. While there wasn't much on the menu in the way of vegan food, McAlister's had a number of vegetarian options that could easily be made dairy free. Ultimately I decided I wasn't that hungry so I went with a baked potato topped with veggie chili and pickles. I was none too happy to see that the baked potato cost about three times what it does at Wendy's. Basically I could buy an entire bag for that price. But my anger faded when the potato was delivered to my table. This wasn't your grandfather's baked potato. This was a baked potato of epic proportions, a plate filler. When McAlister's Deli says baked potato, what they really mean is grab-the-two-biggest-potatoes-they-can-find-and-sell-them-as-one potato. The entire double potato was topped beautifully with veggie chili. The pickles were served on the side, about four giant rounds that, when placed end to end, could cover nearly the entire double potato. The potatoes and veggie chili tasted good. They were fine. But they weren't greased up with some special seasonings that made me sit back and take notice. They weren't great. I added some of the various condiments that McAlister's had sitting around just to give them a bit more pizazz. The others in my group seemed to feel the same way about their food. I didn't hear anyone exclaim how amazing their food was. It was all memorable in size, not so much in taste. The restaurant itself was super clean. They had a large number of employees working when we arrived so, even though it was the lunch rush, we didn't wait more than a few moments to order. While the parking lot of McAlister's is extremely small (although there is a parking garage behind it) don't let that fool you. The inside of McAlister's is pretty big. We had no problem finding a place to sit. While I won't go out of my way to visit McAlister's in the future, if someone suggests a return visit my face won't fall nearly as far as it did before my first time.
(3)Chris F.
We grabbed some sandwiches here to take back to our hotel for later. This meant that it wasn't until a couple of hours later that we discovered they had completely forgotten to include any ranch and that the sandwiches were extremely bland without it. We had checked and double checked with them when ordering. The Mac and cheese side was not worth more than one mouthful either. It was all so very disappointing. Shame as they were quite friendly while we were waiting for our food to be ready. Oh and why is a fruit pot with just 8 pieces of fruit side a supplementary 75p more on top of your meal compared to the more unhealthy options such us say....a portion of chips. I know the answer is probably 'because America', but it shouldn't be that way.
(1)Michelle M.
Meh... I'm just not a fan of McAlister's. I have been here four times now, simply because the location is close to my apartment, but I am never happy with the food I order. I've ordered the Italian Chopped Salad, Chef Salad, Savannah Chopped Salad and the Southwest Cobb Salad. All of the salads have been very disappointing. The ingredients don't taste fresh and they skimp on the protein. The Southwest Cobb Salad was probably the worst. The guacamole tasted premade and I had four meager slices of rubbery chicken that were cold and bland. Something on the salad had an odd chemical flavor. I suspect that it was the "fire roasted" corn. The only item I have liked on the menu was the baked potato loaded with cheese, sour cream and jalapenos. There are about half a dozen baked potatoes or "Spuds" on McAlister's menu. The only bad Spud we have had is the Black Angus Roast Beef Spud. Stick with chili; roast beef does not belong on a baked potato!
(2)Cori W.
I don't get all the bad reviews....maybe they weren't ordering the rights things but I LOVE McAlister's. Their strawberry lemonade rocks and I've had several of their salads and their french dip and it's great. Definitely a try.....I love, plus it's like right around the corner from my office so great for a quick lunch.
(4)Robbie C.
Came here for a work event. They have a small private room off to the side that fits about 25 people. We were treated to anything on the menu and I chose the veggie club with the dressing on the side. Also swapped out the wheat bread for ciabatta. Unfortunately it came without the guac that is on the menu. Guacamole, cucumbers, roasted red peppers, red onions, lettuce, tomatoes, sharp cheddar, Swiss and ranch dressing on sliced wheat bread is what the menu said. Got a side of potato salad. It was a-ok. I don't get too excited over sandwich shops but it was clean although with one person taking orders and the other employee delivering food, it took a bit longer to place order. And the location is very weird to me. Across from the international mall and a tiny parking lot with a parking garage around the corner. Just strange location to put a deli. But I'm guessing they do a good lunch biz with all the nearby workers.
(3)Ian S.
I've eaten here twice in the past few weeks and was happy I did, both times. On my first visit I had the french dip sandwich, roast beef and cheddar on a baguette, served with aus jus - delicious. Next time in I had the pot roast sandwich, with provolone and roasted peppers on ciabatta, and a side of gravy - delicious! The first time in the girl who took my order looked and sounded like her cat just died, who knows, maybe kitty did pass that morning. The second time in a different girl took my order and she seemed happy to be there. One last point worth mentioning, the two sandwiches I got were a tad on the small side, but they were still worth it.
(4)Dorette P.
McAlister's Deli is within walking distance to where I live, so if I don't feel like cooking I come here. I've had the roast beef sandwich and a bacon and cheese spud which were very tasty. The lemonade is good and the chocolate chips cookies are large and delicious.
(3)Bill T.
Soup served ice cold. Breeding ground for bacteria. Calling the board of health. Manager was an asshole.
(1)Andrea B.
I've been to McAlister's so many times, I was surprised to find I hadn't reviewed them yet. Well, no time like the present! This is a great place for lunch or a light dinner and they offer mix and match combos of soup, half sammie and half salad as we've grown accustomed to at other (much less delicious) places. But what really hooked me is that McAlister's offers small topped potatoes or a side of nachos as options as well. I've tried a number of their options and have probably had every turkey sandwich on their menu. They sometimes offer Chicken and Dumplings as a soup option and their version is excellent - thick, but tender noodles and a rich, chicken broth. I've also tried their Spud Ole (a potato topped with chili and cheese) and was shocked at how HUGE the potato was. At least, I was shocked until a later visit when I order the full size Spud Ole and wondered where on earth they found these massive taters. The potato filled the whole plate and must have been nearly a pound. In both cases, the potato was well-baked and fluffy (so often underbaked at other restaurants) and the chili is lovely. McAlister's other claim to fame is their fresh brewed Iced Tea (with as many refills as you like). As a huge tea fan, I can testify that their brew is excellent. The service is always prompt and friendly and staff have often brought me tea refills while I'm noshing. My only disappointment was the day I got a slice of their signature Carrot Cake to go. The spicing and flavor was very good, but the cake seemed too dry to me and not as amazing as I was expecting for the considerable price.
(4)Mallory F.
What an abysmal experience. After a trip to the nearby Cigar City Brewing Company, we weren't hungry, but knew we would be later. We drove by McAlisters and I had remembered good things, so we stopped in for some food. We both went for the Veggie sandwich and the fruit as our side. We added a side of mac and cheese to share. We got two sweet teas to drink. As it was 4:52pm when we were in, no one else there. We waited for a few minutes and then the kitchen staff put the order on the counter. Another young woman who was working at the time opened the boxes to check the orders, so I felt safe that they were correct. It did take her an awfully long time to get a bag and put the items in it, but oh well. The man I assume was the manager came out, and we had a nice chat with him. Flash forward a few hours, we took our orders out of the fridge, and sat down to eat. Alas, we found that they had skipped the ranch on BOTH of our sandwiches, which meant that because I had left off the green peppers and roasted red peppers, was a pita with tomato, cucumber, one piece of lettuce and a piece of Swiss cheese. Bo-ring. The fruit cup was decent but incredibly small for the $0.75 upgrade charge. The mac and cheese wasn't worth eating. We spent nearly $20.00, and it was incredibly disappointing. I'm still hungry and pissed about the mishap. We only have so long in the US and I'm irritated that we wasted our time with this.
(1)michelle l.
You don't go to McAlister's for great food, but if you want solid food with a known calorie count and lots of iced tea, this is your place. McAlister's is close to my workplace, and I know I can get in and out within an hour. There is parking behind it, and it's reasonably easy to get into a spot. I usually do the Pick 2 deal, and I generally get one of the combos that is under 500 calories. Nothing on the menu will change your culinary world, but I haven't had anything that is bad. The best thing is the lemonade and ice tea bar with free refills. I like getting an Arnold Palmer with unsweetened tea.
(3)Christina S.
I can't properly speak on behalf of the food served here because I am sitting outside and the doors are still locked. The hours posted online and on the door both say that this location opens at 10:30, but it is now 10:48 and the doors are still locked. I have called twice now, and no one has answered. I see one young employee mulling around in there. Hungry, mad, and very irritated!
(1)Daniel L.
Just had a Reuben and some water, but was impressed with how clean and nice the place was. Extensive menu and they're proud of their teas. Will probably go back if I'm in the area again. Don't like TVs in my restaurants, no matter what they're showing.
(3)Kristie C.
Decided to take a walk across the street to see what I could find to eat for dinner. Glad I did because they have a nice variety of offerings. Nothing fancy but just good basic sandwiches, salads and soups. I was looking for something light, so I opted for "pick 2" which was a choice of soup/salad, sandwich/salad, or sandwich/soup. I got tortilla soup and a half grilled chicken salad with balsamic vinegar/olive oil dressing on the side. It was perfect! While I was waiting for my order, I had a nice conversation with the manager and the young college student at the front register. Very friendly staff! I hope they consider opening for breakfast soon.
(4)Josh W.
I have passed by this place several times, so last Sunday evening at around 6:30ish we finally stopped in for carry out. I was immediately impressed with how big their menu is. There are soups, salads, sandwiches, stuffed baked potatoes, sides, and more. I hate being the guy standing in front of the cashier holding up the line slowly ordering as I try to determine what I want, but I was definitely him on this day. I'm glad there were only a couple of people behind me. I eventually ordered a chicken Caesar salad(good), 2 cups of tomato bisque(awesome), 1 cup of chicken tortilla soup(also awesome), a New Yorker sandwich(pastrami, corned beef, dressing, & cheese on wheat. Really good), a roast beef sandwich with cheese, caramelized onions, and horseradish(awesome), and 2 baked potatoes. They were much bigger than I had thought they would be. One of the potatoes had lots of bacon and cheese, and the other had roast beef, onions, and cheese. Both were really good and were enough for a meal alone. The sandwiches had plenty of meat on them, and were quite tasty. This was a lot of food, which the 3 of us could not finish in one sitting, so it was enjoyed again for another meal(with still a bit left over). They also have a variety of sides to choose from, and I believe one comes with a sandwich. We opted for coleslaw, which we still haven't eaten yet. The sandwiches and soups were our favorites, and we intend to come back and try some others. We also had sweet tea, which was sweet, but not too sweet. They have a military discount, which is always appreciated, and this brought our total to around $45 or $50. They have a pretty big dining room with a few TVs if you choose to eat there. There is a little parking in front of the place, but more either around the back or in the structure. The two young ladies working that evening were helpful and friendly, so no complaints about the service. We will definitely be back here to try more of their menu!
(4)Joseph W.
Always great food but the parking garage is the most miserable thing I have encountered. Very small spots + terrible parking jobs = shitty time
(3)Chris W.
McAlister's Deli surprised me. I was in a grumpy mood when I first got here. I wasn't really sure where the place was and when I pulled in it seemed like there was a miniscule amount of parking. If you go around the corner from Eddie V's there is access to a parking garage with plenty of parking. Then when I got down to the entrance I was greeted with a line that extended out the door. I wanted to turn around and leave at that point, but I'm glad I didn't. The employees taking orders were efficient and the wait wasn't that bad. I was worried that we wouldn't get a table with all of the people in line, but the dining area is larger than I thought that it would be. After I ordered I was given a buzzer with a number on it. The buzzer actually never went off. Someone brought my food to the table, which I thought was nice. The menu pretty much had the choices I expected for a deli. I ended up getting a chicken breast sandwich on a warm croissant. It was around seven dollars and I actually really liked it. I would definitely come back here again.
(4)Kendra Y.
Worst. Italian Sandwich. Ever. Soggy bread, one measly onion slice and clumped together meet glued with mayo. Slide outta my bread. Gross. Overpriced. The BLT wasn't bad tho.
(1)Charles I.
I tried McAlister's Deli today,the place is roomy, modern, and immaculately clean. The service was fast and friendly. The menu has plenty of choices, I went with the club sandwich which was good and big enough for my construction worker appetite. The prices are reasonable. And when I got a free cookie I was sold on this place. I hope they build one in Orlando by my house.
(4)Bonita B.
Convenient, courteous staff, and yummy food including salads and vegetarian chill. It's near the airport, International Mall, and other upscale restaurants. The deli is nestled within the bottom of a office building. There's limited parking (not reserved) in the back and in front of the building.
(4)Dave S.
I used to go to McAlister's in Michigan about 3 times a week for lunch, so I was overly excited to hear they were building one about 5 minutes from where I work off Boy Scout Blvd. They have an excellent menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and spuds! I've never had a bad item from McAlisters. The chicken tortilla soup is delicious and you can get it in a bread bowl!! Yummy!!! All their salads are good, but the chicken cobb is my favorite. Great spot for a quick, tasty lunch under $10. McAlister's is known for it's tea, which is very tasty, comes in very large cups and has free refills! The service is excellent, you order from the counter and get a number. Someone will bring your food to you and they check on you throughout the meal. Will definitely be visiting this lunch spot quite often.
(5)Da Vman V.
We were greeted better by an off duty employee vs the working ones behind the counter! They said their mashed potatoes were excellent but they are nothing more than instant potatoes. Pot roast sandwich was ok & orange cranberry club was fine. Nothing really blew me away that I had to come back right away.
(2)Tam D.
This location is proof that not all McAlister's are created equal. I tend to avoid chain restaurants completely, but when you're on the road and in the mood for a quick sandwich, McAlister's is usually adequate. Their prices are quite a bit higher, but the ingredients seem high-quality, and the portions generous. Not this place. I ordered my usual, a sandwich I've gotten countless times at the USF location (as well as in Macon and Chapel Hill). The amount of food between the bread slices was shockingly skimpy. It was almost as if I'd ordered a bread sandwich, for the same high price. If I had known that was what I was getting, I wouldn't have paid $5, much less $9. I will not be returning to this location.
(2)Julie K.
On Weekends, this place is delightfully dead. It's hard to find... you need a friend to help you find the parking garage... after that, nirvana. Great place to study, free refills. The food is healthy and reasonable. No, it's not cheap. But for $10is I got a wonderful fresh salad (and they asked about each item... so if you have allergies/dislikes, the salad will be just the way you want it..) Tampa Tardis met there in February... We had a wonderful time. And.. this would be great for studying (free wi-fi, I think..) After they closed, we sat at the tables outside, and enjoyed the beautiful evening. Sooner or later, others will find this place. I hear they are very busy Monday through Friday. But I enjoy the friendly staff and Sweet Tea.
(5)Anna V.
McAlister's is a wonderful place. The owner is so warm and friendly and the food is good. They deserve a 5 star rating.
(5)Tia L.
We don't have one of these in Orlando yet, but the manager at this location said there was someone who is looking in to start developing them in our area soon which I can't wait for since this place was one of my favorite places in Texas that we had. My mom flew in from Texas to Tampa so of course when I found there was one of these right out on the edge of the air port so we were definitely going when I went to pick her up! We went and ate there for lunch after mom arrived and I was so happy to still see they had my favorite sandwich the California Turkey Reuben which in my opinion is the best sandwich here along with a side of the macaroni and cheese! The sweet tea here is true southern tea and the best, they even added fruit lemonades to the menu since I was last in Texas and yesterday I combined the sweet tea with a strawberry lemonade and made a strawberry Arnold Palmer. My mom had a Caesar wrap which was great to, then my friend who tagged along with me to ride with me since my husband wouldn't allow me to drive alone that far being pregnant, so she tagged along and what she had for lunch looked really good, she had the pot roast spud which smelled amazing as well. So glad that we got to stop at this place because not only did we get to eat lunch but also got a jug of the famous sweet tea to go! the service here is nice the associates in the deli are full of smiles and very helpful, one guy at the counter who was helping us the entire time with anything we needed named John was amazing! Great location only bad side is the parking is kind of funky, but so worth the food it wouldn't matter!!
(5)Laura G.
This place is always delicious. Their tea is amazing and pretty much anything on the menu is guaranteed to taste great. We arrived around 8 pm. 30 minutes before they closed and the employees were still helpful and patient with serving us. We both ordered chicken salad sandwiches and could have ordered seconds. Delicious! But we didn't. We were full from the first sandwich. The parking lot for this location is weird. You have to go up a parking garage and the walk down a bunch of stairs, go around a corner towards the street before finding the front doors but once you are in, it is great!
(4)William W.
Good sandwiches, as well as good sides. If they didn't get a little slow at times I would have given them 5 stars.
(4)Alex O.
Not too bad at all, I had the king club, it was ginormous. Nice comfortable booths to sit at and the service was great. I would come back :-)
(4)Amber M.
The parking is awkward, and the lines can be long, but this is a nice place to stop for lunch. It's a quick service chain restaurant similar to a Panera. They have soups, salads, hot and cold sandwiches, and baked potatoes. I have tried 2 different sandwiches - a grilled chicken club and the Memphian. Both times I have been really pleased with the portion size. You definitely get your moneys worth with a sandwich and side. They have quite a few sides to choose from, like pasta salad, applesauce, fruit, chips, and coleslaw. They have a special area where they will prepare your iced tea. The drinks are one size fits all for $1.99 and they are HUGE! Also, a chocolate chip cookie is definitely worth the splurge!
(3)Thuy N.
This place is not even worth a try.... My boyfriend and I went here twice already, the first time we just checked it out and ordered their ultimate nachos... And yes if you like stale chips and cold toppings than this would be great for you. However I did liked their lemonade. The second time we went back, I had a pick 2, chicken tortilla and Italian. The chicken tortilla soup taste and smells like bean chili but looks like squash purée. The Italian was gross, bread was super stale and chewy, and had an overwhelming mustard taste. My boyfriends club was stale as well and his Mac and. Cheese was bland. Although they brought out the food quick the young female staffs are extremely rude and unfriendly. They stare people down and are unwelcoming even though they have to recite the "welcome to mcalisters line". If you're hungry for some good subs and friendly service than go to firehouse or even subway.
(1)Joana C.
Friendly staff. The service decently quick. I really enjoyed my Italian sub. The chocolate cake is not worth ordering. It was a thawed cake and tasted like cardboard.
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