McAlister's Deli — Restaurant in Joplin

Even though our family has eaten at McAlister's (the one in Republic MO the most with a time or two the location in Springfield MO), this was the first time ever to the Joplin MO McAlister's Deli. Arrived about 2:30ish p.m. on April 10th. We were greeted, kinda, by a high school aged girl (maybe 1st year college) that resembles Allison Reynolds (the "Basket Case") off the 1985 movie "BREAKFAST CLUB." This greeter at McAlister's was emotionless. She's a 1🌟 all day at this position. Kinda sad if your point person is your face of a business and one gets to see and experience this immediately. She very well could be a great worker. But to be put in the position to greet customers and give a half involved effort (if that) to take orders and sorta repeat them back, already had me wondering what the rest of the dining experience was going to be like.

Our food was brought to us not by the aforementioned girl, by an older lady with a great personality and seemed invested in her work. All our food orders, 4 separate orders including beverages were correct, hot and very tasty. We also had a young African American girl who was very friendly and made sure our beverages were filled as needed. I'd say the service from these two was 5🌟. Unfortunately I did not get the names of these ladies but props to them. The food was 4🌟 overall. My Ultimate Nachos, as good as they were, had a lot of broken chips and or pieces. Because of that majority of the toppings didn't cover what was there. Like the last of the chip bag was dumped on my plate. The other three orders met expectations. The restaurant was very clean and presented itself well. Including the bathrooms, the table and chairs were clean. Because of ALL the dynamics I gave this particular McAlister's just the 3🌟 rating. Me and my family will go back to this location when that...

This was the ‘second chance’ at this place for me. It has been a few months, so I thought I would try it again. The last time I got a four cheese melt, tomatoes on the side, (I order it this way because if the tomato is put on the sandwich, the bread is soggy by the time I get home) and a piece of strawberry cake. I get home and there are no tomatoes at all and no strawberries on the cake. I really like the sandwich and I love the cake, so I decided to give it another shot. I go in and order a four cheese melt with tomato ON THE SIDE. She even repeated the ‘on the side’ to me, so I know it was known to staff. Also wanted the strawberry cake, but they don’t have it anymore. There were multiple people come and go before I got my food. I literally had to mention my name to the staff before it finally came out. All I ordered was a four cheese melt with tomatoes on the side and I was in there waiting on my food for a good 25 minutes. I get all the way home, and guess what? NO TOMATOES AT ALL. They obviously have no idea when you order something ‘on the side’ they are still supposed to put it in the bag, just not ON the sandwich. I do not understand what is so complicated with that order but apparently it is above their abilities to follow instructions. I cannot figure out what I’d so difficult about this sandwich, but apparently I am unable to get my sandwich as ordered. It is so frustrating because I really like the sandwich, but I don’t know if I will ever give them another chance. Each time it has been a long wait and the food was not...

I’ve always loved the food at McAlister’s in other cities and had good service. Unfortunately that was not my experience at the Joplin location. I ordered curbside to go and it took 48 minutes for me to receive my food. I had called immediately after parking and was advised I would receive my food “as soon as possible.” I watched 3 groups of people sitting outside receive their food that went inside to order after I had already arrived. Additionally both the person that arrived before and after me for curbside pick up received their food before me. I tried to call 3 additional times...the first time my call wasn’t answered and the next two times their phone glitched. I walked inside and checked the to go area and my food was not there. I waited again and none of the employees paid any attention to me aside from one off the clock getting tea with her son. She approached me and asked if I had a to go order and I said yes. Then she asked if I called and I said yes about 3 times. She then responded by stating that their phones were messing up. So I waited for my food for nearly an hour, but didn’t even receive a simple “sorry for your wait.” Just an excuse. I usually don’t write reviews, but honestly it was hurtful how little the employees valued my time. To make matters worse, my food was cold and was sitting my the register for who knows how long. I will never be returning to McAlister’s and am immensely disappointed by...