McAlister's Deli — Restaurant in San Marcos

I've been dining at McAllister's for the past four years since residing in San Marcos. Anytime I have a salad and sandwich craving I make a beeline to McAllister's. No complaints with the quality of food although I've only had just a few items.

Yesterday, I decided to switch things up from my usual -- Savannah Salad and the massive club sandwich always with cucumber tomato salad. Instead, I went with Southwest Chicken salad and Spicy Turkey melt with potato salad.

I don't know if there was something in the air that afternoon, but I swear I was in salad and sandwich bliss!!! I could not get over all the wonderful flavours my palate was experiencing. The salad was incredible with the dressing that is recommended. And something about the bread the sandwich was made with had this incredible sweet aftertaste. As a massive potato person, I especially love potato salad. Kartoffelsalat being among my top favourite. I just finished off the McAllister potato salad and felt so inclined to write about it; it is that damn good!!! I am tempted to see if they can prepare a special order for me personally so that I can have it at home for a minute. I can no longer consume HEB potato salad.

Anyhow, I am sitting here still happily gnoshing away at the salad and sandwich. How can something so simple make me so happy? I highly recommend these items.

I hope there is a McAllister's in Houston as I am moving in a few weeks....

We have eaten at this place a few times and have always had a good experience. On this visit, the service has gone way downhill. I had ordered a salad and a kids meal pretzel bites. The pretzel bites was supposed to come with dipping sauce, which they never asked what kind I wanted. I asked for a Diet Lemonade with blackberries. They gave me a Diet Tea. When I inquired if the Lemonade was just mislabeled the girl who was working the register had the gall to tell me "yes". It still was wrong. She then asked if I wanted it remade. I ordered a Diet Lemonade. If I wanted a Diet Tea, I would have said Tea. We go sit down. The store had at least 3 other tables already seated. It took over 30 minutes for a salad and a kids meal. I am really not sure what the hold up was.

The Pretzel bites were ice cold. I did not dare go back up and let them know for fear it would take another 30 minutes just to correct it and after the Lemonade fiasco, you can tell customer service was not their top priority. We ate our meal and did not see a table being bussed at all. They left dirty dishes on the tables and never made an effort to come around to pick things up.

Sorry McAlister's Deli, You used to be really good. I am not sure if the folks you have on staff just do not want to work, or it is just the quality of employees you...

I placed a pick-up order this evening and when I arrived at the restaurant there were a couple of tables with patrons eating and a young man was waiting at the counter to be helped. One of the staff employees was sweeping the floor in the small area to the left of the ordering bar. She saw me come in, there was no one else at the ordering bar. I asked the young man if he was waiting and he nodded "yes". We both stood there for about 5 minutes until the girl sweeping the floor came to help us. He was also waiting to pick up his order as I was.

First, there was no greeting from the employee whom we had to wait for until she felt like coming over to help. Second, as soon as your customer walks through the door, they should be greeted and asked how can I help you or what can I get for you? Third, patrons are eating, wait and do your sweeping after your patrons are gone or when you have no one in the restaurant. That causes dirt and dust to fly through the air and can be uncomfortable to those who have issues breathing. If you want people to come continue to come back and eat or order out, put the broom down and tend to...