McAlister's Deli — Restaurant in Portland

They should change the name to McAlister's Sandwich Shop. It is not a deli anymore. Every deli I have ever been to makes custom sandwiches to order. I went in to get a hot pastrami with swiss and hot mustard on rye. The very polite and sweet young lady helping me wasn't quite sure how to ring that up, but tried. Then I noticed on their menu board that they had something pretty close. The New Yorker, so I told her to just do that. I didn't particularly want the corned beef, but that would do. I kinda wish I had stuck to what I wanted because I didn't like so much corned beef and so little pastrami. Apparently, not many people come in and order custom sandwiches made to order at this place. And unlike Jason's Deli, they don't list the available meats, breads, cheeses, etc on their menu board. So, this is not really a deli. Not sure when McAlister's switched to just be a fixed sandwich type shop, but it is disappointing. I would say it is an average sandwich also. Nothing great. My son and grandson really liked their 12 inch French Dip sandwiches and had plenty left over. My grandson got all grossed out when he found a pickle next to his sandwich. Most delis ask if you want the pickle or not. My grandson is autistic and I didn't realize a pickle was included, so that set off a chain of jumping around even though the pickle was wrapped in plastic wrap. He kind of freaked over the sight and smell of a pickle. I was super hungry and ate my sandwich, but probably won't come back...

For the past two Sundays, I have placed a to go order. Each time the employee told me 10 or 15 minutes which I believe is the standard time.. each Sunday it has taken much much longer up to 45 minutes the first time and approximately the same this time. Where is management, where is enough staff to handle this Rush of people. Understandably so it is going to be busy on particular days but management should know when that is and should prepare in advance. Many many customers are waiting and again they are not prepared to the least. The numbers are easy to follow see what you did on Sundays and make sure you have enough staff and then some to handle it nobody needs to wait that long for it to go order that was placed in advance terrible. Service today. The order for today was just one sandwich that's all. I checked my order to make sure everything was in there and they had forgot to put the two extra slices of pickles and dressings I had asked for. When I check the order they had forgot to put the additional two slices of...

So disappointed today! I ordered before I left work and picked up at drive through. Drove 22 miles home looked at food and shaking my head in disbelief. I ordered the king club for my husband and it looks nothing like what is dipicted on the menu. It's just a regular sandwich you would make at home. The side of potato salad is maybe a tablespoon full.. my order of the king Ruben was smashed in a tiny box with NO PICKLE anywhere in sight with the same tablespoon of potato salad. This order was over $20!!! Which could have been made easily for a lousy $5.00. but when you're working and trying to pick up a meal to take home and you get home to this it's very frustrating to think you spent your hard earned money on this. I'm having to make extra stuff at home to make this meal complete for my husband. He works outside in the sun all day and I work 10 hour shifts. When we order food we expect to get what we see on the menu. I'm actually embarrassed to tell my husband what I spent for this...