McAlister's Deli — Restaurant in Summerville

I originally reviewed McAlister's Deli about 20 months ago and gave it a 5-star. I'm updating it to a 2-star. In that timeframe, I don't know if there's new management or some other change, but this particular location does not deserve the 5-stars any longer.

My last four visits over the last four months have been really disappointing. Let me start with the good.

Food quality has held steady. Prices have pretty much held steady. Family of 2 adults,3 kids still costs about $50 after tax/tip for standard lunch menu items, some drinks and two cookies to split. Wait staff is still pretty quick to deliver food as well.

Some of the negatives: Cleanliness. I won't say that the plates were unwashed or anything. No, that was fine. But, while the wait staff might be fast to serve food, they have compromised on the speed at which they clean up afterwards. There were messes on the floor that were left for 20+ minutes. Many customers sitting down after ordering had to move plates, cups, napkins, etc from an empty table in a nearly full restaurant and place it on another table nearby. Multiple customers did this until there was a table with just plates, cups, etc for about 15 people on there.

Some of the service we had grown accustomed to was also changed. It was fairly common for someone on the wait staff to ask if we wanted a refill. It was a nice gesture. Something I'd appreciate. But barring that, a customer could go up to the counter and ask for a refill.

In the last few trips, there was no "revisit" by the wait staff to see if we needed anything. No offers for drink refills. No asking if the order came out properly (it didn't). And when we did go to the counter for a missing utensil or a refill, we were waiting for about 5-7 minutes. I wasn't too pleased that my soup was cold by the time I had to get my own utensil. I'd be fine if they left utensils out cafeteria style (the way they do with straws).

Prior to my last few visits, I had felt that the combination of the wait staff, food quality, and service speed was worth separating myself from $50 for it. I had stayed away for two months hoping that my previous visits was just a fluke. But, my most recent experience has pretty much made me decide that I'd rather spend that...

Pathetic customer service. I called in at 1:42 PM on Saturday Jan 11, 2025 (check your cameras and phone logs McAlister's) I called to ask to purchase a loaf of their gluten free bread. I've gotten it here at least three times over the last two years and the last time was one month ago, beginning of December. My daughter has severe reactions to gluten. They have always sold it to me. They have to charge me by the slice which is expensive, but I never complained as I appreciated the ability to get it here. When I called today, a young man answered the phone and when I put in my request, he laughed at me and said we don't do that. I explained that yes they have in the past. He proceeds to ask another employee laughing at me and telling them he had someone on the phone who wanted to purchase the bread. A female voice in the background said we don't do that. He came back to the phone laughing again and saying this isn't a thing. I asked him did he think I was just making this up? So then I asked to speak to a manager. I heard another male voice in the background say yes we do that but we have to charge by the slice. (which I already knew, so I thought this would solve the problem. Instead he comes on the phone and says nope, we don't do that here. I asked to speak to Mark, another manager who I spoke to last time and knew he would know what to do. Instead they tell me he no longer works there and what I was asking was out of the question. The entire time both males on the phone were laughing at me and making fun of my request. Now if they had said we are under new management and can no longer provide this service would be one thing, but to imply I was crazy and that they have never sold it this way before is not only immature, unprofessional, and very rude, but was very disrespectful and horrible customer service. Do better McAlisters with your training. I will not be revisiting your establishment as well as I am in charge of ordering meals for our corporate lunches, which now you have also lost that business as well. Maybe hitting you in the pocketbook will wake you up to train your employees more...

We love most McAllisters and have eaten at the one where we live and a few others, for years! We were traveling back home from a vacation and went out of our way to get to one for dinner. Many things went wrong, unfortunately. While waiting in line to order I noticed the girl fixing food seemed a bit angry and seemed to be slinging orders. I didn't think much of it, we all have moments. Angelina (I asked her name) took our order and was so kind and accommodating. After ordering we found a table and one at a time my husband and I went to the restroom to wash our hands. Both bathrooms were so nasty. Paper everywhere and unclean. The tables were cleared off, but not clean. I cleaned ours. When the food came, it was not the normal standard. Mine was wrong. I specifically asked for honey mustard on the sandwich because I can't have spicy brown mustard. Angelina made sure it was on the order when we ordered, so I wouldn't have a food reaction. Well, several things happened when I went to fix the sandwich. Needless to say, I ended up having a civil conversation with the so called manager, who had been throwing a fit like a toddler and taking her frustration out on the staff the whole time we were there. Understand, I was calm and kind with her. She was VERY rude. After I walked away, she went in the back cussing and disappeared. Many delivery people waiting a long time for their food and left with their delivery orders very frustrated. I felt badly because that is their business. I will be calling the district manager tomorrow to discuss the things that led me to ask to speak to the manager to begin with. (I want to give him a chance to explain so I didn't put it on this review) Also....NO PICKLES??? Everyone knows people look forward to the tea and pickles! Angelina and Ashlie, you did great....