I first went to a McAlister's in Manhattan, Kansas. And my favorite sandwich there was the meatloaf sandwich. It was, unfortunately, no longer on the menu when I went to this Lawrence location. Sad. Instead, I ordered the Club Wrap -- a big portion and flavorful. Also ordered pasta salad, which tasted surprisingly like those of us in my Italian family would make. I ordered it to go, and there was a separate line for doing that, which made my experience fast to order. The waiting time, though, was almost 10 minutes -- quite a long time for a wrap and pasta salad. Food tasted great, though, and I wasn't in a hurry.
(4)
Michael T.
The redeeming quality of this place is the bottomless sweet tea. The food is okay but certainly not newsworthy.
(4)
Katelyn C.
eh, it was okay but not for the price. I have a free lunch coupon to use, but that will probably be the last visit.
(2)
Alicia R.
Lawrence has a dearth of local delis; yes, we have a ton of Jimmy Johns, Subways, and other sandwich places, but since the Cheese Shop shut down, my life has been sadly lacking in delicious fillings between two slices of bread (discounting the excellent grilled cheeses made by my honey). I was skeptical when I first ventured into McAlister's, as I assumed it would be another Jason's (not that there is anything wrong with Jason's, I am just looking for a Cheese Shop replacement). Although I did not find my Cheese Shop successor, I am a fan of the various and flavorful sandwiches and soups that are available. I have tried several different variations, and have been pleased with them all. I think the sandwiches and soups are better tasting (and have better nutritional value) then Jason's, so this is my new go-to for soup and salad on-the-go. Although I have not tried them, the entree salads and potatoes are very large, and have been reported as delicious. You order at the counter and then your food is delivered; the service is very quick, so it is ideal for a quick lunch or dinner. The open space of the dining room, and logistics of food ordering, make this a very casual place. On thing that I really like is that all server tips are donated to a charity that changes monthly; even with this factor, the service on drink refills is very good and you can always get the attention of a server if you need something.
(4)
Aaron O.
My easy choice for lunch or breakfast! Such good food and an amazing assortment of sandwiches, soups, 'taters, and TEA! Can't sway from my usual chicken tortilla soup, but have stolen bites of the broc/cheese, and it's amazing as well! Such a good spot!
(5)
Eddie M.
The prices are reasonable, the menu is diverse, and the food is fantastic. I went in thinking it was going to be another Jason's Deli, but it's quite different, and for me, better. I recommend the salami sandwich and their sweet tea is out of this world!
(4)
Amanda C.
Love the sweet tea & free refills. Very friendly staff and never seem to mind getting you another refill. Great food. Great mashed potatoes & gravy. Relatively quite atmosphere. Free parking lot. Free wi-fi. Have used it often and never been rushed out.
(5)
Laurel C.
I don't know if I'm just tired of McAlister's or if this one is worse than the one I always went to in a different town. I've been to the one in Lawrence on 4 occasions plus one carry out. The food just isn't that great. I've had two baked potatoes and I don't eat the peel because it is very dry and tough. Yesterday I noticed that the floor in the kitchen part that I could see needed to be swept. Their tea however is 5 star.
(3)
Big Baby Jesus C.
Doesn't live up the other ones I've been to. My Mcallister club had meat on one half of the triple decker, and just lettuce, tomato, and copious amounts of sickeningly sweet honey mustard on other half. They still have the retarded 2' long metal rods on the table to hold your order number that I hate though. Have to dodge the stupid thing whole time you're trying to eat. You really can't see the cards laying on the table? My fondness of this chain has officially waned.
(2)
Kelly C.
The Chicken Caesar Wrap was surprisingly good. I recommend adding avocado for a little extra but of deliciousness. The Macaroni and Cheese had that great comfort food quality. It was actually amazing. The staff was super friendly and my order (which I placed online) was prepared fast. It was a little odd that my potato was nearly double the size of my wrap. Don't think these are tiny potatoes! The sweet tea is delicious, but it's sweet tea. It's not anything life changing.
(4)
Jennifer S.
Consistently good. You know you'll always get a good, well prepared meal in a timely manner. Best tea anywhere and a great punch program to earn free tea and lunches!
(5)
Raine C.
Love the menu, so happy to see salad as an option on the kids menu. My family enjoyed the food. Service was quick, accurate & friendly : )
(5)
Mark P.
Always great service and great food. I love their club sandwich, and my wife likes the "Big Nasty". Good sandwich, horrible name.
(4)
Brandi H.
I decided to have lunch here with a friend just to try something new. I was kind of disappointed by the loaded baked potato, but the rest of the food was pretty good. They also have some marvelous tea.
(3)
Taylor A.
Normally I love McAlisters, I come here often with my cousin and we study. But for the first time, I had an awful experience. The person who took our order was rude and looked like she hated her job and everybody in general. We were in McAlisters for over four hours, and only one person came by our table to ask how everything was. We went up to get our own refills when normally they are pleasant and constantly asking to clear your table or refill your drink. The manager was even present and completely ignored it when the rude woman working was disrespectful to an elderly man and looked beyond annoyed when he came back to ask for a number because she never gave him one. This experience makes me not want to return.
(1)
Alexis R.
The 1/2 soup and panini lunch is great. The veggie chili is hearty and the chicken pesto panini is filling. Another favorite sandwich is the french dill. With not overflowing with beef, this sandwich is still hearty enough to make a meal and the au jus is pretty tasty. I like that they now offer healthy combo options with calorie counts. With outdoor seating and quick service, McAllisters is a good choice for a light lunch. Their baked potatoes are also huge. I think they are one of the best deals on the menu. Top it with some chili or broccoli, and you've got a filling meal. I'd stay away from the salads though. I've been disappointed by their meager size.
(3)
Ryan G.
Liking this place more and more. The taco salad is always good. It's better if served in a tortilla bowl. Sometimes they short the chili a bit. Little requests to fix this usually do the trick. My wife loves this place. Usually orders a sandwich of some kind and never walks away disappointed. The sugar cookies are the highlight for me every time. Usually order a few extra to take home and have later.
(3)
Nick C.
More varied than your average sandwich place, they offer chili, soup, baked potatoes, and all kinds of solid food. Completely customizable, they've got a good selected of "pre-built" meals, but they'll make you most anything you want. As others have mentioned, they tend to be a bit healthier on their sides and such, but if you want to pig out on chili nachos and a side of doritos, well, we're not gonna stop you. Evidently, they have excellent tea, but as I'm not much of a tea guy all I can say is it looks sufficiently brown. One minor complaint, I wish they had more booths. I get the whole bar-height tables and chairs thing, yeah that's cool and all, but sometimes I just want to sit in a nice comfy booth. Every time I've gone all 6 booths are taken, while the cool looking bar-height tables are always vacant. Their patio is quite nice though, and is shaded and cooled with ceiling fans. Excellent for a sunny summer day. Not quite a fine dining experience, but good to eat better than fast-food at not much more expensive than fast food prices.
(3)
Bren T.
Their mac n cheese is really good! I loved every bite. The sandwich I got was just okay. It wasn't bad, but I was a little disappointed. I wouldn't mind trying it again, though.
(3)
Kelly S.
I've been three different times and I'm yet to be impressed by anything on their menu. It's all ok but nothing to make me want to keep going back.
(2)
Diana L.
I've only been once, but it was a good experience. The staff was incredibly friendly and helped us pick out something to try since we'd never been to the chain before. I like the variety of side options and had a tasty turkey sandwich.
(3)
Christine P.
A nice change from Schlotzky's, Panera, or Jason's Deli. The sweet tea was definitely sweet, and the reuben was pretty good too (it just could've been a little more toasted). I definitely appreciated the multiple choices of sides instead of just chips or potato salad. Fast-food speed that's a little healthier? i'll take it!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Paul R.
I first went to a McAlister's in Manhattan, Kansas. And my favorite sandwich there was the meatloaf sandwich. It was, unfortunately, no longer on the menu when I went to this Lawrence location. Sad. Instead, I ordered the Club Wrap -- a big portion and flavorful. Also ordered pasta salad, which tasted surprisingly like those of us in my Italian family would make. I ordered it to go, and there was a separate line for doing that, which made my experience fast to order. The waiting time, though, was almost 10 minutes -- quite a long time for a wrap and pasta salad. Food tasted great, though, and I wasn't in a hurry.
(4)Michael T.
The redeeming quality of this place is the bottomless sweet tea. The food is okay but certainly not newsworthy.
(4)Katelyn C.
eh, it was okay but not for the price. I have a free lunch coupon to use, but that will probably be the last visit.
(2)Alicia R.
Lawrence has a dearth of local delis; yes, we have a ton of Jimmy Johns, Subways, and other sandwich places, but since the Cheese Shop shut down, my life has been sadly lacking in delicious fillings between two slices of bread (discounting the excellent grilled cheeses made by my honey). I was skeptical when I first ventured into McAlister's, as I assumed it would be another Jason's (not that there is anything wrong with Jason's, I am just looking for a Cheese Shop replacement). Although I did not find my Cheese Shop successor, I am a fan of the various and flavorful sandwiches and soups that are available. I have tried several different variations, and have been pleased with them all. I think the sandwiches and soups are better tasting (and have better nutritional value) then Jason's, so this is my new go-to for soup and salad on-the-go. Although I have not tried them, the entree salads and potatoes are very large, and have been reported as delicious. You order at the counter and then your food is delivered; the service is very quick, so it is ideal for a quick lunch or dinner. The open space of the dining room, and logistics of food ordering, make this a very casual place. On thing that I really like is that all server tips are donated to a charity that changes monthly; even with this factor, the service on drink refills is very good and you can always get the attention of a server if you need something.
(4)Aaron O.
My easy choice for lunch or breakfast! Such good food and an amazing assortment of sandwiches, soups, 'taters, and TEA! Can't sway from my usual chicken tortilla soup, but have stolen bites of the broc/cheese, and it's amazing as well! Such a good spot!
(5)Eddie M.
The prices are reasonable, the menu is diverse, and the food is fantastic. I went in thinking it was going to be another Jason's Deli, but it's quite different, and for me, better. I recommend the salami sandwich and their sweet tea is out of this world!
(4)Amanda C.
Love the sweet tea & free refills. Very friendly staff and never seem to mind getting you another refill. Great food. Great mashed potatoes & gravy. Relatively quite atmosphere. Free parking lot. Free wi-fi. Have used it often and never been rushed out.
(5)Laurel C.
I don't know if I'm just tired of McAlister's or if this one is worse than the one I always went to in a different town. I've been to the one in Lawrence on 4 occasions plus one carry out. The food just isn't that great. I've had two baked potatoes and I don't eat the peel because it is very dry and tough. Yesterday I noticed that the floor in the kitchen part that I could see needed to be swept. Their tea however is 5 star.
(3)Big Baby Jesus C.
Doesn't live up the other ones I've been to. My Mcallister club had meat on one half of the triple decker, and just lettuce, tomato, and copious amounts of sickeningly sweet honey mustard on other half. They still have the retarded 2' long metal rods on the table to hold your order number that I hate though. Have to dodge the stupid thing whole time you're trying to eat. You really can't see the cards laying on the table? My fondness of this chain has officially waned.
(2)Kelly C.
The Chicken Caesar Wrap was surprisingly good. I recommend adding avocado for a little extra but of deliciousness. The Macaroni and Cheese had that great comfort food quality. It was actually amazing. The staff was super friendly and my order (which I placed online) was prepared fast. It was a little odd that my potato was nearly double the size of my wrap. Don't think these are tiny potatoes! The sweet tea is delicious, but it's sweet tea. It's not anything life changing.
(4)Jennifer S.
Consistently good. You know you'll always get a good, well prepared meal in a timely manner. Best tea anywhere and a great punch program to earn free tea and lunches!
(5)Raine C.
Love the menu, so happy to see salad as an option on the kids menu. My family enjoyed the food. Service was quick, accurate & friendly : )
(5)Mark P.
Always great service and great food. I love their club sandwich, and my wife likes the "Big Nasty". Good sandwich, horrible name.
(4)Brandi H.
I decided to have lunch here with a friend just to try something new. I was kind of disappointed by the loaded baked potato, but the rest of the food was pretty good. They also have some marvelous tea.
(3)Taylor A.
Normally I love McAlisters, I come here often with my cousin and we study. But for the first time, I had an awful experience. The person who took our order was rude and looked like she hated her job and everybody in general. We were in McAlisters for over four hours, and only one person came by our table to ask how everything was. We went up to get our own refills when normally they are pleasant and constantly asking to clear your table or refill your drink. The manager was even present and completely ignored it when the rude woman working was disrespectful to an elderly man and looked beyond annoyed when he came back to ask for a number because she never gave him one. This experience makes me not want to return.
(1)Alexis R.
The 1/2 soup and panini lunch is great. The veggie chili is hearty and the chicken pesto panini is filling. Another favorite sandwich is the french dill. With not overflowing with beef, this sandwich is still hearty enough to make a meal and the au jus is pretty tasty. I like that they now offer healthy combo options with calorie counts. With outdoor seating and quick service, McAllisters is a good choice for a light lunch. Their baked potatoes are also huge. I think they are one of the best deals on the menu. Top it with some chili or broccoli, and you've got a filling meal. I'd stay away from the salads though. I've been disappointed by their meager size.
(3)Ryan G.
Liking this place more and more. The taco salad is always good. It's better if served in a tortilla bowl. Sometimes they short the chili a bit. Little requests to fix this usually do the trick. My wife loves this place. Usually orders a sandwich of some kind and never walks away disappointed. The sugar cookies are the highlight for me every time. Usually order a few extra to take home and have later.
(3)Nick C.
More varied than your average sandwich place, they offer chili, soup, baked potatoes, and all kinds of solid food. Completely customizable, they've got a good selected of "pre-built" meals, but they'll make you most anything you want. As others have mentioned, they tend to be a bit healthier on their sides and such, but if you want to pig out on chili nachos and a side of doritos, well, we're not gonna stop you. Evidently, they have excellent tea, but as I'm not much of a tea guy all I can say is it looks sufficiently brown. One minor complaint, I wish they had more booths. I get the whole bar-height tables and chairs thing, yeah that's cool and all, but sometimes I just want to sit in a nice comfy booth. Every time I've gone all 6 booths are taken, while the cool looking bar-height tables are always vacant. Their patio is quite nice though, and is shaded and cooled with ceiling fans. Excellent for a sunny summer day. Not quite a fine dining experience, but good to eat better than fast-food at not much more expensive than fast food prices.
(3)Bren T.
Their mac n cheese is really good! I loved every bite. The sandwich I got was just okay. It wasn't bad, but I was a little disappointed. I wouldn't mind trying it again, though.
(3)Kelly S.
I've been three different times and I'm yet to be impressed by anything on their menu. It's all ok but nothing to make me want to keep going back.
(2)Diana L.
I've only been once, but it was a good experience. The staff was incredibly friendly and helped us pick out something to try since we'd never been to the chain before. I like the variety of side options and had a tasty turkey sandwich.
(3)Christine P.
A nice change from Schlotzky's, Panera, or Jason's Deli. The sweet tea was definitely sweet, and the reuben was pretty good too (it just could've been a little more toasted). I definitely appreciated the multiple choices of sides instead of just chips or potato salad. Fast-food speed that's a little healthier? i'll take it!
(3)