McAlister's Deli — Restaurant in Arlington

Terrible service. Terrible food. Ordered French dip meal online and paid ahead for pick up in the drive thru on a Friday evening. Got there and waited in line behind several cars for 10min w/ no movement. Tried calling inside to verify if the line was even open and see if anyone was working the drive thru— no answer. Had to REVERSE OUT OF THE LINE and go inside to utter chaos. 5 cars in line and 6 customers waiting for pick up inside. All said they’ve been there for over 25min before I got there. Workers walking back and forth not acknowledging anyone and pretty much walking in circles looking overwhelmed. I see the manager in the kitchen cooking, NO ONE WORKING THE WINDOW, and at least 9 completed, paid for orders stacked up on a small table in front of the vacant window.

Flagged down a worker and asked if she could grab my food as I could physically see what appeared to be my small order sitting on the table and she went back and grabbed a few random orders and brought them out and just started calling a few names (most were not inside) as mine was not ready. Two customers (Dashers) had orders that were just sitting on the table next to the window completed that no one would tend to. Waited another 10 min past my order time. And flagged down the worker again to check if my food was ready. Only to find out out, my food has been ready the entire time and was now rock hard and cold, and under cooked. All the while the same car has been at the window for the entire 20 min I had been there and no one has gone to window AT ALL. The workers all seemed bothered when asked a question and simply do NOT want to help customers. Literally avoiding us. Sad sight to see. Chaotic for no reason at all as there were plenty of staff to operate the window, counter and dining room.

Store lacks leadership. And workers have no clue what they are doing & lack customer service. Complete waste of...

Last night… the city was chaos.

Crime ran rampant. The Joker replaced all of Gotham’s WiFi with dial-up. The Riddler hacked my DoorDash account. I fought Penguin in the rain over a parking spot. I punched Bane in the face so hard, I needed a chiropractor. The night was long. Dark. Gritty. Spandex-chafing.

And when the sun rose… I was STARVING.

With my BatStomach growling like a Gotham alley cat, I swooped down into McAlister’s Deli, cape flapping, hunger peaking, sanity… dangling by a thread. And then—I saw her.

Gage.

She didn’t flinch. Didn’t tremble at the sight of a tired, cape-clad vigilante in dire need of a sandwich. No. She stood there, cool as a cucumber (which, coincidentally, came on my sandwich), ready to bring justice to my appetite.

Like a deli-side Oracle, she guided me through the sandwich menu. Turkey? Ham? Avocado? She knew it all. Gage didn’t just take my order—she rescued my soul. She delivered me from the villainy of indecision with the grace of a sandwich-slinging superhero.

By the time I finished eating, I felt reborn. Fueled. Full. Like I could fight five more Bane-level villains and still have room for a cookie (which Gage also recommended, and yes, it was amazing).

In conclusion:

🦇 Service: Legendary. 🥪 Sandwich: Divine. 🍪 Cookie: Life-altering. 👩‍🍳 Gage: A deli deity in human form.

If Gage ever decides to fight crime, I’m hiring her for the BatTeam. But until then, she’s doing a greater service—one sandwich at a time.

Stay strong, Gage. Gotham—and my...

If Saraih isn’t running this McAlister’s location, she should at least be running for public office. This woman is a legend.

From the moment we walked in, Saraih greeted us like long-lost family members who also happened to be VIPs. She had the kind of energy that makes you wonder if she’s powered by sweet tea instead of caffeine. I told her I needed a minute to decide, and she nodded knowingly like a sage server who’s seen it all: “Take your time, no rush. Unless it’s the spud you’re ordering, then there’s always a rush!”

The food? Delicious, of course. But it’s the Saraih experience that makes it unforgettable. She managed to check on us just as my friend was telling a bad joke, saying, “Sounds like someone might need dessert after that one.” Perfect comedic timing.

At one point, I spilled my drink (classic me), and before I could even feel embarrassed, Saraih appeared like a customer service fairy godmother. “No worries, it happens to the best of us... and also to you!” she said, handing me napkins with a grin. I’ve never felt so comforted and roasted at the same time.

Oh, and let’s not forget her plate-delivering skills. She could join Cirque du Soleil with the way she navigated those trays through a sea of hungry diners. Truly a sight to behold.

Saraih doesn’t just serv food; she servs joy, laughter, and a subtle reminder that life is better with a smile and a loaded baked potato. If you’re not asking for Saraih when you go to McAlister’s, are you even living?

Signed, A...