McAlister's Deli — Restaurant in Hampton

I finally decided to give this place a shot today. While out & about with my gf, we stopped in for lunch, around 12:45 on a Friday.

Atmosphere: There is none. There is no energy, no buzz, no real decor of any kind. There wasn't even the warmth of heat. 50° outside and maybe a little above 60° inside. The few customers that were seated, all kept their jackets on.

Service: The person at the register seemed very uncomfortable. It is obvious that he was not properly trained, so he was getting overwhelmed when putting in orders, even simple ones. Not his fault though, that goes back to management.

It being my first experience, we went simple with one of their signature "Spuds", the "Spuds Max" to be exact. When I asked for their signature sweet tea -"Out". No biggie, s*$t happens, Coca-Cola it was. On to food, the whole reason a food service establishment exists.

Food: Very underwhelming, to say the least. No freshness, or flavor for that matter. The "Spuds Max" is a baked potato topped with Ham, Turkey, Bacon, cheese, sour cream (on the side), and black olives. When they were delivered to our table, they looked like they had been sitting for some time. The once melted cheese had the crust of age and the temp of the potato would barely melt the frozen butter that came with it. The ham & turkey was warm, but even tasting them alone was meh.

Bottom Line: There seems to some serious management issues here. Be it lack of training, oversight, or quality controls, this location needs help. It certainly has potential with its location, menu selection, and pricing but I don't think it will survive on the path its currently following.

Side-note: You can get a hot & moist baked potato, loaded, just down the road for about $5...

Food is good. Problem is if you are unfamiliar with the menu, it can be overwhelming. You can customize, so good for picky eaters and food allergies. But watch out for hidden costs. It should not cost nearly $40 for 2 sandwiches, 2 sides (one was a salad with a $5 up charge they do not tell you about), and 2 drinks. Kids menu items are $5 but meant for kids that don't eat much. Not good for big eaters.

Portion size is good if you are on a diet or reducing intake. The dining area was not super clean either.

The staff speaks in a foreign language between themselves cracking jokes, etc. They just stare at you to make your order. They don't offer to help explain things or suggest combos or the pick two. Ask if it's someone's first time and guide them. It'll create a better dining experience and generate a return customer. You don't have to hold their hand the entire time. Just ask, is this your first time? Ok, might I suggest the pick 2 so you can try out more items for your first time. Something like that. And let people know, just so you are aware, there is an up charge for that item. Stop hiding that and causing sticker shock in an already tight economy.

Watched over 20 people come in, look at the menu, and then leave. A good variety is there, but the menu is difficult to navigate for a first time seeing it, needs larger font, and should probably go digital on the complete board. It's all text. Many people look for pictures now. Like a basic bake potato and a basic salad so it draws people's attention to that portion...

I had high hopes for this place but was disappointed when I visited. I intended to order the Pick 2, Roast beef Spud, and cup of soup, but was informed that they were out of both roast beef and potatoes (a good 4 hrs BEFORE closing). I instead ordered a cup of broccoli cheese soup and a large tea (to-go) It took about 5-8 minutes for the young man at the register to find cups for the beverages. He tried asking, but management was nonexistent, and the other employees were just standing around pretty much useless. The cups were finally located, and my tea was served, but I had to sit and wait another 15 minutes for my soup. While waiting, I observed at least 2 customers come back in with order issues with no word or appearance from management and several people waiting in the restaurant due to very slow service. The team that was working during my visit seemed disorganized and inexperienced, and there was a definite lack of leadership and accountability. With the exception of the young man and young lady at each register who were nice and extremely helpful, the rest of the employees were very much the opposite. If management doesn't step up and get their employees together, this place won't last very long. I'm undecided if I want to...