McAlister's Deli — Restaurant in Fayetteville

I love McAlister's Deli. I worked at one as a teen, and I have been eating there for years. We have probably eaten at atleast 15 different locations. This location in Fayetteville is the ONLY ONE that nickels and dimes you for every little thing, unfortunately. Literally, everything you ask for is a fee even if it used to or should come with the item like sour cream for a potato, 2nd dressing for a large salad (75 cents+ for each). And half the time they forget the condiments or toppings anyway, so you always have to go up there and ask. They also have made their cup sizes much smaller than they used to be for dressings/sauces (1-2oz) yet they still only include 1 whether you have a side dish or a full size. Also this may have been a 1 time thing, but I ordered a sandwich to go before, and it wasn't even in a box. Just wrapped in paper and placed right in the bag so it leaked all over and got crushed. I asked the employee if they always serve togo orders like that, and she said yes, which I had never seen here. Another corner cut? Their prices are also higher than other locations we have been to in nearby Missouri. I still go once or twice a month, though b/c I love the food, and it's the only one in the area (next closest is Bentonville and it is the same owner). Here are my favorite menu items : giant stuffed spuds are all good but Spud Max is my fave, Reuben and Rachael sandwiches, signature Club sandwich, Chicken Tortilla Soup, Jalapeno Turkey Crunch, Savannah Chopped Salad. Also the Sweet Tea is my fave always and you can buy a refillable tumbler for 99 cent refills (not sold here that I have seen but bought in Missouri). Best deal is the Choose 2 option. They also have kids eat free on Monday nights. The staff is mostly nice and helpful although I have never been asked for a refill of my drink when I am eating my meal like other locations do. There is a female manager that always looks angry but everyone else smiles and greets people for the most part. Also get the app. It saves you money and you...

I was introduced to Mcalister's a good few years ago now by my father. Must have been 6, maybe even 7 years ago in Midland Texas. I go there every chance I can get now. He recommended the Smokey Pepperjack Turkey Sandwich, and it has been my go to ever since.

But every Mcalister's is different, and July of last year my father passed away, which started a chain of events that would lead to my family moving back home, here to Arkansas, all the way from the middle of nowhere in Van Horn Texas.

Now, I live near a Mcalister's again, and I was excited to see what this location of my father's favorite Restaurant had to offer. I got my go to sandwich, and a bowl of Country Potato Soup.

The food, despite being picked up about 10 minutes late and having to drive 10 minutes home after that, was hot and fresh. The sandwich was piled high with a lot more meat than you'd get back in Midland, and the whole Sandwich just tasted great. The soup was put into a to-go bowl, but unlike what I often experienced in Midland, here the bowls were actually about the size of what you would most likely get in a dine-in bowl of soup.

Based on this experience alone, I can't recommend this place enough, and if I had the money, I would be eating there every single day.

My only complaint is that I wish they wouldn't put a pickle underneath your sandwich in the to-go boxes. I get that's part of their thing, a pickle with every sandwich, but the paper separating the sandwich and the pickle is very thin, and so the pickle's juices sort of seep through the paper and get on the sandwich.

Worse yet, is the fairly intense heat from the freshly cooked sandwich makes the pickle rather hot, and gives it a nasty soured taste. I'd wrap the pickles separately...

I love McAlister’s food and always have. But the employees at this location have been terrible for a couple of years now.

My advice is to never order pickup or curbside pickup. They will not deliver it to your car, and they will not acknowledge you when you walk in to ask what’s going on.

I had an especially bad experience last night. There was a sign that said pickup orders were stored behind the counter, so talk to an employee. I waited off to the side of the counter by the pickup area and made consistent eye contact with four different employees. None of them acknowledged me or asked if I’d been helped.

I ended up hopping in line, and one of them said I had ordered for the Rogers location, and another said they’d just put my order at the pickup spot (why have a sign saying pickup food is behind the counter, but then set one out there?)

I went and looked and that wasn’t my order, so I got back in line. The next person I talked to said the same thing - that my order was at the pickup station. I told them it wasn’t mine. Finally (20. MINUTES. after my order was supposed to be ready) they found my food.

I had another pickup order for a smoothie down the road, and it was completely melted.

This encounter was incredibly frustrating. I am very kind to service workers because I know what it’s like. But if you have no desire to be kind to others, you shouldn’t be at the front counter.

I also wanted to mention that the lack of customer service is just the front counter. I’ve always had a good experience with the employees who come to the tables and refill...