McAlister's Deli — Restaurant in Oklahoma City

Is there an adult manager (or four) in the house? If yes, then it's time for a regional manager to take over running the place. Orders frequently have to be repeated and reviewed up to four times, even when the order consists solely of one drink. But of course you can't place your order until there is someone at the counter to take it.

The place never seems to have fewer than five staff, but the staff typically walk back and forth behind the counter, without any obvious objective, while playfully chatting among themselves, as the customer stands waiting at the counter. In fact, this customer's experiences with the staff have ranged from overly friendly and overly chatty to curt and surly.

The other evening, the order taker took my order and money, then walked off without ever following up when the kitchen staff put my sandwich in the window. I finally told another staff member to hand me my sandwich and chips. During the same visit, as one employee was leaving the building, he stepped over the mess depicted in the photos, while soon after, another employee entered the building, stepping over the same mess. In all, four employees witnessed the mess on the floor based on the fact they took care to step over/around it, but none did anything about it. This as five tables remained un-bussed.

Any given day, the mini cookies will be cooked to dry and crispy, while the next day they will be an under-cooked lump of cookie dough in a bag.

On another recent occasion, I witnessed the sandwich maker reach into his pocket with his gloved hand, pull out his smart phone, put it back, and then go right back to handling food with the same glove.

Aside from the typical wait in line (even when there is no line), ordering involves too many questions for those staff who are ADD or ADHD challenged. Can I get a name for the order? Is this for here or to go? Will you be paying with cash or card? By the time your order is taken, the attention span of the of staff member has been exceeded, and your order comes out incomplete or wrong.

When the sandwiches are made correctly, as ordered, they are typically good. Same for the cookies. But it's nearly a 50/50 proposition.

This is an incomplete summary of MULTIPLE VISITS spanning the entire time this location has been open. So lay it on me McAlister's! I can't wait to read the follow-up apology and management's assurances about how these were isolated instances of incredibly unacceptable and inexplicably spectacular failures, no doubt fathoms below the five star standards you the ''team'' of self-absorbed staff members strive for, blah blah blah, as they obsess over the beauty of their cornrows, check their text messages, play with each other, and walk around seemingly doing nothing, while ignoring customers and a pile of food in the floor and five dirty tables.

Two...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at McAlister's Deli, and I can't recommend it enough! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm, inviting atmosphere that immediately set the tone for a wonderful meal. The food, as always, was absolutely delicious. Their sandwiches are consistently fresh and packed with . Every item we ordered was served hot and exactly as requested, which made for a truly satisfying meal.

However, what really made this experience stand out was the exceptional service we received from Olivia, our server. She was incredibly attentive, friendly, and professional. She greeted us with a smile as soon as we sat down and made sure to check in regularly without interrupting our meal. It’s clear she genuinely cares about making every guest feel welcome and valued. Olivia offered excellent menu recommendations, answered our questions about the specials, and even went the extra mile to ensure our drinks were always full and our table was cleared promptly.

Her attention to detail and the personal touch she added to our dining experience truly elevated the entire visit. It’s rare to come across service this exceptional, and Olivia’s positive attitude made the meal all the more enjoyable. I also noticed how she seemed to treat every guest with the same level of care, making it clear that she’s genuinely passionate about her job.

Overall, McAlister’s Deli continues to impress with its consistently delicious food, but it’s the amazing service—especially from Olivia—that will keep me coming back. I can confidently say this was one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. If you're looking for great food and even better service, this is the place to go. Five stars...

We went to this McAlister's about 1:30 pm on a Monday. We ordered a New Yorker with fruit salad, nachos and a kid's chicken cheese and broccoli with a fruit salad.

The restaurant was clean and the staff was excellent. The sandwich was perfection.

The nachos, usually, are just like the picture. Not today. There was little to no cheese sauce with a few sprinkles of shredded cheese. The avocado was predominantly gray and dark gray. The tomatoes were very few and only maybe 2 pieces.

The chicken, cheese and broccoli had basically no cheese at all. The broccoli while warm was not cooked at all.

The fresh fruit was not remotely fresh. The strawberries were slimy and molded. The pineapple was either pure core or outer peel.

We spent just under $60 after being prompted for a tip. A tip? For what? While they do bring your food to the table, there is no table service. None of the employees should be earning the $2.10 standard for waitstaff.

I did speak to the manager. She couldn't have been less concerned. However, she did have plenty of sarcasm.

I didn't ask or expect a refund or free food. I was letting them know that this is not the quality I have come to expect from McAlister's. After the lack of concern from the manager; The glaring looks; the pure sarcastic response and the obvious and loud talking about us to other customers and staff, we will not be returning.

Panera is located just a little further down the road. I think I'll find out how they treat their customers.

$60 for lunch for 3. Paid it happily before because the food and treatment made it worthwhile. Today, with inedible spoiled food and treated like dirt, we...