McAlister's Deli — Restaurant in Stafford

What is going on with this location?? It was good for a minute back when it first opened, but it has gone down hill significantly. I usually like the food and my office is only 2 minutes from here so it's disappointing that the wait times and gotten so bad. It takes no less than 40 mins to get the food and I have tried every way to order/pick up. I opt for this on days I need to get my food fast because I need to eat lunch while I work...so the wait is not ideal.

This week I ordered ahead for car pick up (I had my kids at work with me so I didn't want to unload them to run inside), I left my office when it said the food was ready, pulled in to the spot and clicked the button in the email to say "I'm here" (mind you this is now 2 minutes after my "ready time") then sat there for 30 minutes... When no one came out to check with us or bring food, I unloaded the kids and we went inside... Only to be ignored for 5 minutes then wait another 5 minutes for them to finish our order. This whole ordeal from ordering to leaving with our to-go order took an HOUR. Then when I got back to the office my meal didn't look very appetizing... The avocado on my sandwich was almost all black. I wish I would have taken a picture first, but I was so irritated (and hungry) at that point I cleaned it off and ate the rest of the stale sandwich.

I wish I could say this was the first time, but it's not. It's almost every time I go...I've received a few (unprompted ) "we're sorry, next meal's on us" cards from a manager walking around. (I've never used them because I understand the service industry and things happen) I'm very patient and won't say anything to the team members... but spending my entire lunch break waiting for food at a "fast food" place is getting frustrating.

I say it's almost every time because 1 time I ordered ahead for pick up at the restaurant and there was a team of managers there (I'm guessing district and or regional managers) and the dog and pony show was on point. As soon as I walked in I was greeted and my food was ready to go. I went in expecting the usual and walked out laughing because I used to work in the retail and service industry as a store manager and district manager and I recognized what was going on immediately.

All that being said, I will still probably order lunch from here on occasion to see if things change, but there is another great deli spot right down the street that lets me order ahead and I never...

For the love that is holy STAY AWAY FROM THIS LOCATION. We love the food at Mcalisters and visit locations everywhere. This is by FAR the WORST location we have ever been to, all over the houston area. Our cashier, Natalie had the most crusty, bad attitude when taking our orders. My husband changed his mind (while we were still in the process of ordering) about his drink and she had the audacity to say “Well next time tell me you want a drink.” Are you kidding me? You didn’t even ask him if he WANTED one. My husband also requested for the bacon on his sandwich to be subbed out. And as the order went through, the cook clarified the order with said Natalie, asking if we wanted the sandwich hot or cold. And she rudely gave him attitude and sarcastically stated “Well how does it come?” Then, while paying, cashier's screen froze and instead of the manager (Lisa) coming over to fix it, the manager was more concerned about her family members that walked into the restaurant.

On top of that, my husband's order came out completely WRONG anyway and when he told the manager (Lisa), instead of apologizing or rectifying the situation, Lisa asked, "Well did she ring it up right?" Ma'am, isn't that your responsibility as a manager to oversee your staff and handle wrong orders? But no, we then noticed the manager, sitting down with members of her family and eating with them instead. We honestly should've just asked for a refund and walked out. Ridiculous. If you don't want to work there, guess what? Then don't work there.

Just stay away from this location. It's trash. Trash service, trash manager Lisa, and the location is dirty itself. Gnats every where, by the register and beverage area. Gnats followed us to our tables because we had food.

Update*, the new general manager Michael contacted me via phone to sincerely apologize and rectify our experience. An amazingly FAST (within a hour of posting this review and filing a complaint) response to my review. Thank you. My husband and I are glad to have you turn this location around. We hope McAlisters is paying you more than enough for contacting us on your day off. Your dedication to the McAlisters name is top notch and very much noticed and...

Horrendous Service. 10/4/2024. 11am. Eaten at plenty of McAlister's and met a friend at the Stafford location for lunch. Not 1 but 3 Frontline staffers at the registers all so busy on their phones we got NO Greeting. As we watched in amazement and looked at each other for minutes and all 3 refused to get off the texting on their phones, greet us and take our order. No other customers at the counter. I've seen plenty of staff at places where staffers hide in corners to text or watch tik tok crap but never so blatantly at the counter in front of guests they refuse to acknowledge. Finally, my friend, in a raised tone, said "How are you all doing today". They clearly knew we were standing there right at the counter and none of the 3 cared. If you are the Manager, Owner or corporate employee I encourage you to look at the video cameras. Disgraceful. I understand fully what being short staffed is. This wasn't the case and it was not busy at all. Your team is just pitiful. By the other reviews it seems the trend of this type of experience is redundant at this location. Think how many people experience the same thing and never bother to write a review. They just never come back. Then you go out of business. Maybe start by terminating your management. A well-managed and well-trained staff would never think of this level of customer neglect even in the managers absence. Looks like this location has no accountability and the nightmare continues month after month. It wasn't just one slow or incompetent employee, but 3 that showed total neglect as we stood there and then finally treated us like we were a bother. I won't be returning. Many other options within a walk or short drive and I was embarrassed for your brand & to suggest this place to a friend. I can handle the fact that you had no Pastrami to offer guests, but the customer neglect is totally...