Al's Deli & Grill — Restaurant in Birmingham

If you’re reading Google reviews after frequenting this restaurant for nearly twenty years like us, then you’ve probably had a negative service experience here. I’m sorry it happened to you too—here’s our story:

We knew something was off with the service when the cashier told us not leave tips on our card because the owner takes them…a bit unprofessional, but we let it go and I actually felt sorry for the workers.

After noticing our table didn’t have napkins, I grabbed a container of napkins from an empty table nearby—something completely reasonable in a casual, dive-style setting. A staff member abruptly told me, in a rude tone, to put it back and said they would bring napkins to our table. I was surprised but complied, taking a few in case it took a while.

She then scolded me again for taking any napkins at all and told me to put them back. When I explained I had already touched them, she responded with, “You must not understand English.” That comment was inappropriate, offensive, and carried unmistakable racist and xenophobic undertones.

At that point, we no longer felt comfortable dining there. My husband and I firmly asked for a refund, which was refused. When I asked for the employee’s name, she and the other staff refused to provide it and ended the conversation with a curt “Have a nice day.”

This kind of behavior is unacceptable and her attitude was unreasonably disproportionate. There’s a way to maintain order in a restaurant without hostility—and certainly without degrading language. I hope the management/owner takes...

I hated moving from Birmingham because I'd miss this place. A friend attending UAB while I was at BSC showed me this place and by god is it amazing. The prices look scary but their bakers are three overloaded baked potatoes for $10 and they feed me for at least two meals if not three. They're super great for poor college kids sick of ramen and pack more nutrients and flavor too.

The store owner is Muslim (I think) so if you have a service dog, take a companion with you to order your food for the both of you to avoid any issues. Dogs are unclean in the Muslim faith and while they won't give you a hard time, I find it best to just be respectful so nobody is in a bad situation. I ran into this issue with said UAB friend with his service dog. They were polite but we felt bad they had to go out of their way to clean the floor once we left the ordering line.

The food here is good but because this place is popular, it's always packed so good luck with parking. There is outside seating which is nice though the benches closest to the store are on a slope so I recommend one of the other tables with chairs or just staying inside.

I took my parents here and they absolutely loved it! Which is saying something because my dad has a "simple" palate and shies away from things like sushi or ramen. I am honestly so sad I can't go here nearly as often now that I'm in...

I went there this past Monday night after making a phone order.I usually look at food before I leave but that night I didn’t because they usually get my order right and they are very pleasant people but, that night the young man that took my order over the phone was so rude when I returned to the restaurant. I ordered two bakers one chicken only meat cheese sauce, steak baker only meat cheese sauce.They had everything on them green onions, sour cream. So once I got home and saw that they were wrong so I called. Once in the store the young man was rude while talking to talking bout he didn’t remember me ordering my bakers that way.i wished I had looked again because mine was still not right he gave me a combination with chicken and steak I only wanted steak, I didn’t feel like going back again, but trust I will not return simply because you are supposed to treat people with respect, and yes I aware that losing one customer may not make a differeybur still I’m not a person of confusion just a very dissatisfied customer. Don’t see the steak baker which what I ordered. My ticket was $37.01 Thank you...