McAlister's Deli — Restaurant in Temple

Ordered online for window pickup. Last time we did that, drove all the way back home and we had someone else's order. Called to let them know, they said I could drive back and pick up the right order, ummm, no thanks! So we gave them another chance tonight knowing I was going to check the order before I pulled away from the window. The order didn't look right, I asked to confirm what was in the order, the person at the window did so. I said it doesn't look like that is what is in this order? She offered to open the bag and check. She said yes and handed the order back to me. I pulled up a bit so the next vehicle could come to the window. Knowing this didn't look like what we had ordered, I opened the bag and pulled the order out. It in fact was NOT what we ordered and what she said it was at the window. I went back to the window showing her the item that was not what we ordered and she said it was, she had to go check things out and brings back what was ordered originally and correct. One signature item with McAlister's that we love is the pickle spear, they too were left out of the order. The mac and cheese was old, runny, very little noodles, mainly sauce. Sadly this will be our last visit to McAlister's in Temple, the quality of their food has deteriorated and the service is such a disappointment. This WAS one of my favorite places to go but these last 2 orders have shown me it is no longer what it used to be so we won't be going back. Had I not had her look to confirm the order was correct and her to tell me it was and then for me to pull up and see that it in fact was nothing near what we ordered, there may have been another chance but not after being assured it was and had I headed home with what she said was correct, I would've ended up with someone's greasy, smashed sandwich instead of what we ordered. I give fair and honest reviews, always give another chance but tonight...

Sunday 7/13/25 Best advice is to get rid of the 2 young boys (none wearing name tags) “working” the registers they were useless! Being paid to be chatting with their friend a “girl” to the side of the registers and then after she left talking to each other for the entire time and leaving the counters when there was a line of people waiting to order. Overheard them talking about how they didn’t want to be at the registers, maybe why they kept disappearing to the back. Give the bearded older guy a raise ! He was busting his tail picking up their slack behind the registers. The roof or something in the ceiling was an issue today so half the room was blocked off during a busy Sunday afternoon church rush which is understandable. I understand that this was uncontrollable with all this rain we've had in Texas lately. So yes crowded and a little chaotic but was ok. My wife’s salad was lost and after asking a young guy “had braids,dreads” working the lobby several times “he forgot a few times on other things that we had asked for” but it was chaos today so understandable . I finally asked a young Hispanic girl (don’t know her name wasn’t wearing a name tag, & wearing a black hat) who was able to get the manager Annabelle and finally was fixed up with her salad. Everyone else in our party was already finished eating however we waited for her to eat. We were there for a good 1 1/2 hours in which we watched an Annabelle, Robert(Roger) I believe they are managers didn’t quite catch his name and also a worker named Allison bust their butts today during this lunch chaotic time. 100% will come back because of these 3, AND WHY my family gave y’all 3 stars instead of ZERO because I would of just given ZERO due to the fact of the 2(3) lazy young kids that don’t work but still want to...

I go to McAllisters in Temple quite often to get the ice tea, & have been a regular customer for over six years. Since they moved to the new location with the drive thru, it was so convenient, and I'd go all the time. My order was usually a gallon of unsweetened tea and a glass of sweet tea with extra ice. I have never had any issues up until today. It was somewhat crowded, and I went ahead to get my tea. When I got to the window, I ordered my usual. Well, I was told that I could probably get my glass of tea, but i would have to pull around to parking lot where I'd have to wait for someone to bring out my gallon in a few minutes when thay had a chance. She had verbalized they were busy, that there were workers assigned to whatever areas. I was like, seriously?? This is so unacceptable and so poorly planned by whomever was in charge today. Normally, on a busy day when I have gone through the drive thru in the past, gallons were usually made up to accommodate the drive thru customers ordering the same. I told the girl @ window nevermind on my drink order. I called to speak with the manager or whomever was in charge about my experience. I was so frustrated bc I couldn't believe what just happened. I proceeded to tell manager of my experience, it was poor planning on their part, that I will not be returning to McAllisters,...