My family is in town for the Bridgestone Winter Classic and had to go TWICE. I got to enjoy it sans calories from the phone. Three of them got three sandwiches (and yes they know better) and they are STILL eating them! HUGE, quintessential deli that we drool about still and can't go back without ordering up. The employees are brusque, no nonsense move em in and move em out hard core deli employees for sure but it part of the je ne se qua. SMALL, quaint and a two napkin or more meal for sure!
(5)
L P.
These guys make an excellent sandwich. I'm a giant fan of the turkey reuben. Basically, if you crave a completely stacked and meat-filled sandy this place is for you. They serve them up with the classic or garlic pickles, no surprises there. If you really like a dessert with your meal, this is not where they excel. The location has a small eating area for a quick stop and snack but by no means is a full diner.
(4)
Chuck H.
I like Al's and never had a bad sandwich there, but the prices are a tad high, there is very little difference between the mini and large sandwiches other than price, and they give customers a feeling like they should know what to do even if they've never been there before. Stuff like not telling you where to get your drink, or explaining what comes with the different combos even though none of this stuff is really in plain sight on their dizzyingly busy menu. They should simplify things a bit, lower prices a little and they'd have a homerun.
(3)
Alexandra K.
I speak deli fluently. My taste buds are trained in the art of old vs. new dill pickles. This, my fellow YELP-ers, is one of the worst delis I have ever dined at. Even delis in Toronto, whose chefs had never heard of a turkey rueben, merit the title deli. If I ate meat, I would have taste-tested my sister's salad, however, as I do eat fish, I can tell you, their tuna fish is rancid. Additionally, the sandwich construction was totally off. I also ordered a cup of diet cabbage borscht and it, too, was inedible. It was over spiced (with pepper and some sort of spicier spice) without the normal sweetness that most soups of this fashion contain. I was lastly disappointed by the pickles. It is in my deli-educated/influenced opinion that the best sandwiches should always be accompanied by one old and one new dill pickle (if I had it my way they'd all be old dills...), and after tasting the sandwich, I'd hoped the pickle would be a redeeming taste. No--they were soggy and not crunchy, overly drenched in juice and not just appropriately moist. If you're looking for a moderately priced deli, I'd recommend instead venturing to the Stage Deli or Deli Unique. More so, the only thing that makes this a two-star review is that they have Dr. Brown's sodas.
(2)
Robert J.
Not bad. I have generally enjoyed my sandwiches here. I'm a sucker for pastrami and tongue. So, that's usually what I go for here or any deli that has them. I have enjoyed the salami and pastrami here. I agree that the sandwiches are good, but certainly, they're not the best I've had. Let's face it, it's tough to beat a pastrami on rye from Katz's Deli in Manhattan. As excellent as Zingerman's is, even they can't come close to what Katz's delivers. Al's does a good job, but I don't long for it like I long for Katz's. I wouldn't drive 45 minutes for Al's like I would for Zingerman's.
(3)
Kashan A.
Corned beef sandwiches don't get better than this! I've had deli-goers from NY express the same sentiment. Also, great service. Yeah, the place is without frills, but that's alright. Gives you an opportunity to enjoy good people and food.
(5)
Cat K.
Holy mole. I think I fell in love with a sandwich. the corned beef sandwich at Al's is just. Wow. Giant, moist, tasty. very good stuff. If you are going to go to Al's do try it. I haven't had much else but I realize its worth a return trip. Also ordered, the club, which had a monstrous amount of turkey and two soups (beef barley and matzo ball). They seem to run out of kerplach a lot, or I would have got a mish mosh. Regardless. Beef barley was good, matzo ball had too much pepper in my opinion, although I am a stickler for too much pepper. verdict: get the corned beef, you won't be disappointed. very large sandwiches, good selection of soups and dessert + very friendly staff. On another note, I was impressed and elated about how this Deli chooses to support and serve the Metro-Detroit Area. Their "Buy Detroit" slogan was inspiring. Many of us know the tough local problems but not many businesses put themselves on the line to change their ways to support the issue. Thank you and Congrats.
(4)
Ben O.
If you've ever had a bad food experience here I urge you to return. If your pastrami was tough, I assure you it was an off day. I'm a pretty regular and I'd say about 1/7 times the pastrami leaves something to desire. But those other 6 times, man oh man. I always get the same thing. Mini #3 with pastrami so I can really only speak on that. That and the turkey pastrami are tasty as all heck. The pastrami is usually melting off the sandwich, the coleslaw is truely one of the best recepies Ive ever tasted and the cheese stinks of quality. Say what you will. I prefer it to Onion Roll, Bronx, and every other deli I've been to locally. Its a keeper and I'll keep going back.
(5)
Matthew P.
I gotta say, as a big fan of deli's I was really looking forward to trying this place out. Sadly, I found them to be highly unorganized in their process. Not only does the menu not seem to match their carry out menu entirely, but there was an extremely long wait just to order a couple of sandwiches and get them to go (and I've been to WAY busier delis that move a hell of a lot faster!). And to top it all off, when I got home, both of my sanwiches had mayo on them instead of Russian dressing AND they gave us the completely wrong soup. Seriously, not sure how this place operates, but they need to get their shit together!
(2)
Angela F.
We like Al's deli for those hot days when no one wants to get the kitchen warmed up (or stand there at the stove!). Personally, I am a turkey reuben on rye gal, and theirs is extremely good. We also get the #17 with roast beef instead of corned beef and it is also a recommend. HUGE (I mean at least 2 meals) sandwich. I like the regular reuben as well, but it is an awful lot of meat and I just don't like it more than twice in a row BUT for most people that is a good thing. All of the sandwiches have been moist and tasty. Typically, I get my reuben, take half the meat and cheese out and set it aside then use it the next day for another sandwich! Seriously. This thing is GHINORMOUS! We also get the egg salad sandwich occasionally - which I typically shy away from as a take out option in general but theirs is consistently good. We go here usually 1-2 times a month so have become regulars. Service is good - nice, friendly staff. Parking can be an adventure - particularly if you have to deal with rush hour and the ice cream parlor next door is open. But it's manageable.
(4)
Haroun K.
It may just be that this spot is cursed for delis. A few years ago, Stan's came to life, created a lot of buzz, and died. After its reincarnation as Spanky's failed, the newest deli is Al's. After a few visits, it is clear that the quality is very inconsistent. While the service is friendly, it is essentially a takeout restaurant. There is little incentive to eat in: miserable parking situation, plastic utensils, few tables, no ambiance. The thing is, Al's charges the same prices as a sitdown deli, when it clearly does not fit the bill. Think of Star Deli, which is hands down superior, but take out only - the prices reflect this. That being said, this is definitely a better option than the Breadbasket.
(3)
Jared H.
This place is as good as it gets for corned beef... about 70% of the time. I always order a 14 1/2 which is corned beef and swiss on rye - nothing else on it. I usually order grilled (the bread soaked in butter and then grilled) but not always. It's around $10 for this sandwhich. If you ask they'll tell you it's about 10 ounces of meat, but I think it's between 12 and 16 depending on the day. They are very filling sandwiches and there's really no need for fries or any other side item unless you plan to take half of it home. The bread is good but nothing special - just decent rye bread. They do not have caraway seeds in the rye, which makes me happy. I hate caraway seeds but that's another story. The swiss is your run of the mill stuff, nothing remarkable about it at all. The corned beef, however... is great. Usually. Most days at lunch time (and I would assume the busier times in the evening) it is very moist and flavorful, basically melting in your mouth. Other times it's fairly dry and lacking in the flavor department. You can expect the dry stuff later in the day just before they close, but I have no idea why it's dry sometimes during the lunch rush, but it is. I usually go with a few coworkers and they always agree - sometimes it's great, other times it's just ok. I've also had their fries, sweet potato fries, and pound cake. The regular fries are steak fries, which are a bit soft and flavorless - I do not care for them. The sweet potato fries are cut thinner - about a 5/16" or 3/8" square - and are very good. The pound cake was also good. I don't remember why, but I know they gave us the pound cake for free one time - I think they screwed up somebody's sandwich, but I've always gotten exactly what I've ordered. There are only a few seats (around 20 total) about half of which are bar style seating at either the counter or at a window facing Woodward. When you go inside you're at the cash register with the menu up above - typical deli. Overall, it's good enough to be worth the risk, but don't be surprised if you're disappointed from time to time.
(4)
Anna G.
My husband is a Brit and he loves sandwiches - this is one of his favorite sandwich place in town. We usually get corned beef, pastrami, etc. but everything on the menu is in great quality and delicious, using mostly local ingredients. If you are looking for a hearty sandwich and don't mind spending around $10, try Al's. (p.s. pickles are a bit salty to me..boo..)
(4)
David C.
Solid choice for a good sandwich. No complaints.
(4)
Matt C.
Sandwiches stacked with meat. Matzo ball soup. Reuben fries. For me, Al's is conveniently located down the street from my house. While I don't frequent it often, I do enjoy the occasional stacked sandwich; and when I'm not feeling well, the matzo ball soup hits the spot! Recently, I tried the Reuben fries, and while they were a little difficult to eat, I will still order them again!
(4)
doug r.
The reuben was very good. I really like sauerkraut, and would have preferred a bit more. Next time, I will ask.
(4)
Christina G.
It's a huge sandwich!! A little pricey but we don't mind paying an extra dollar or two for a really good sandwich. Will be back!
(5)
Steve N.
I spontaneously walked into to Al's for my first time and had no idea what to expect. I ordered a turkey sandwich with Russian dressing. The value equation is awful. $11 for just a sandwich. No chips, pop, or any other type of side. $11 can go a lot further somewhere else.
(2)
Abigail S.
Hands down the best Ruben I've ever had. I've tried all over the U.S. and nothing compares to this place! I get a Ruben either on Challah or an onion roll, ask for extra Russian on the side, add steak fries and a drink and only New Pickles. Absolutely Delicious. Not low in calories but worth the splurge :)
(5)
Laura Y.
Server: great. You order at the counter and they bring your food to you in a bag. Ambiance: small hole in wall. Seats 18. The food: good. we had #15 Julie's gem (pastrami Swiss) and 1 pounder united meet (corned beef, pastrami, Swiss and Russian dressing) Both sandwiches were good. I think #15 was a few dollars over priced. It was $10 and the meet was not stacked very high. The united meet is priced right at $15. It's big enough to share and half of that sandwich has more on it then the #15 so if you can I would share the pounder.
(4)
Chris M.
I'm shocked I'd never been here before. Its a bit of a hike from Royal Oak. The place I was heading to wasn't open yet and I thought what the heck. The menu is a bit confusing but that could simply be because I was new. Staff were beyond friendly and helpful and just as I started ordering a large sandwich, the guy stopped me and told me the amount of meat on each sandwich. After this, I opted for the small (6 oz). Very nice size. Sandwich was great. Its times like these that even if the sandwich was just O.K., I'd probably go back because the service was that good. On the plus side I didn't wan to stop eating my messy sloppy Reuben.
(4)
Will B.
Good, not great. Huge piles of corned beef. Good sandwich, but it lacked dressing, flavor in the rye bread, and my cheese wasn't melted. All in all, I think I'd rather go to Ernie's and pay 1/2 of what they charge here. For $12 I expect a really good sandwich. What I ended up getting was a mediocre sandwich and crappy customer service.
(3)
Berkeley C.
We stopped getting from this place but decided to give it another try. Big mistake. Dead bug in the salad and it got half eaten.
(1)
Ken S.
At home now. 30 dollars of food. Live in royal oak. Deli sandwich is good. Heavy older blonde Waiting on us was so rude. No customer service. She was so rude and I'm a first time customer.. Soups are horrible also. I asked if the cabbage soup had lots of cabbage in it and she yes. TWO PIECES. hello. Will go out of myway to Troy deli next time. Btw. I live on vinsetta.
(2)
Justin T.
Great deli sandwiches; period. The corned beef doesn't get any better than this in Metro Detroit. The staff is friendly as well. While I was there once, a guy accidentally opened a can of diet soda when he wanted the leaded version. They happily let him open another without charge. Limited parking and seating are all part of the Woodward avenue experience IMHO. The sandwiches are monstrous which helps to justify Al's slightly expensive menu. Stick with a single decker or plan on taking half to go. Al, please stick around. I'm weary of trying to remember the name of this deli. Spanky's, Stan's, Al's... let's get it together. Hopefully, since you have dubbed yourself 'famous' from the onset, we can have some consistency and get the name of this gem on the streets.
(5)
Moyah M.
The best corned beef sandwich in the entire world. The service is amazing and quick. The choices are endless. I would eat there everyday if I could.
(5)
Jacob F.
Awesome Deli! Onion rings, cole slaw, corned beef were all delicious. Their caesar salad was one of the best, value and taste -wise. I had just been to Onion Roll Deli the week before so in my opinion, everything at Al's was better.
(5)
A. M.
Big sandwiches, staff with big personalities.
(4)
Corydon S.
The corned beef on rye is excellent. It is cut thin and is incredibly tender. The sandwich portions are very large, I could only eat one half in a sitting. NYC gets all most of the fame as delis go, but I prefer this deli over the Katz's. Al's is the ultimate comfort food, home cooked flavors without having to cook.
(4)
Claire D.
I grabbed dinner the other night here with my husband and though the place was very clean and the service was friendly I doubt we'll be going back there again. I had a chicken salad sandwich with chicken salad that looked like they had scooped it out of a container (and I feel tasted like it had been sitting around all day). My husband had "Ari's favorite" which we felt was ALL corned beef and little else. The corned beef was good but there wasn't much to hold the sandwich together. We had the onion rings and they were good, but not worth a return visit.
(2)
o o.
Clean, Clean, and Clean!! This deli is delicious. I tasted the Ruben, Turkey sandwich, cabbage soup, and cole slaw - all good. I asked for lean corn beef and that is exactly what I got. No globs of fat in this sandwich. This Ruben was lighter on the Russian than bread basket and I thought better. The Turkey was piled on and everything was fresh. The bread had a nice crunchy crust. Cabbage soup was full bodied and had a good flavor. Slaw was good too. Drink options included Dr. Brown's in a variety of flavors. Small area to dine. Better for take out. Best Deli around!
(4)
Russ H.
This place has declined a bit in my opinion. The other Bread Basket delis are better it seems, and the prices are are fairly high for a so-so to average sandwich (I had corned beef with swiss on toasted rye). Also the staff nearly screwed up my order, but I heard them say mayo (???) And spoke up. They also seemed like it was a burden to take my order. And the place was empty aside from one carry out order while I wad there (mine was also carry out). The high point was the glazed pound cake. It was very good. It's been better here, but also the same as I've described. If it were cheaper I could overlook a few of their shortcomings. I may try again in a few months, but wont be holding my breath.
(3)
Amby M.
My biggest negative with this place is the PRICES...for two sandwiches (corned beef with coleslaw) it was $20, even with a $1/off coupon. BUT, let it not be said you don't get your money's worth! They don't skimp on the meat at ALL, so either split one sandwich with a loved one or plan on having leftovers for lunch the next day. It can get quite busy during lunch and seating is slim, so getting takeout is the best way to go!
(4)
Bob C.
How could you possibly give this place less than 5 stars? I stopped in to Al's this afternoon after nearly a 1 year hiatus from my last visit. What a huge mistake it was this year. I ordered 1/2 a Reuben Sandwich with the Matzo Ball soup and I have to say this is one of the best Reubens I have ever had. I consider this particular food item to be one of my most snobby items to try... and the corned beef was spectacular. The 1/2 sandwich was nearly more than I could eat, and was at least 5" thick. The chopped up corned beef barely held together inside, and it was steaming hot when I got it back to my office. This was the first time I have ever tried Matzo Ball Soup... so I can't judge their recipe, but overall I think I would just order the full reuben next time and save the second half for the next days lunch. HIGHLY recommend you try Al's Famous Deli...
(5)
Blaise B.
Al's is a great carryout lunch place. The prices are a little on the high side, but they stuff their sandwiches with as much meat as they can possibly fit between two pieces of bread! The sandwich was great, but the cole slaw was a little bland. Overall, a good choice, but only if you're in the mood for MEAT.
(3)
Eric T.
This place is filthy! I found a fingernail in my sandwich!!!!!! So grossed out I probably will never eat corned beef again in my life. Go elsewhere!!!!
(1)
Joe B.
I keep seeing this Arby's Reuben commercial on TV and it recently called to me and told me to stop by Al's Deli of all places, for one of their "famous" deli sandwiches. Now I've been a fan of whichever deli is in this particular spot for at least seven years even though it's changed ownership at least three times. The food has always been KILLER. I dropped in Monday, parked in front and with no lines to contend with at 2 pm, I ordered the #17 1/2 (corned beef OR pastrami on rye with slaw, Russian dressing and Swiss) with fries and a soda to go. The combo out the door was $13 and change, and it was ready quicker than some fast food experiences I've had. I bolted home fighting the urge to open the sack the whole way - I was famished. BTW the bag must have weighed at least two pounds, even without the soda. Needless to say, I was excited for this sandwich and maybe even a little too steeped in anticipation. I got home and unwrapped the fries to find thick cut steak fries that were a little soggy from the trip home but no worries, these weren't the headliner and they were still pretty good for deli fries regardless. Then I unwrapped the sandwich. I know David G. reported an average height of 8" for their sandwiches, well mine wasn't quite that tall but it was heaped, like HEEEEAPED, with corned beef. This is not for the faint hearted carnivore!! Anyways, the slaw was delicious, the Russian dressing - good, and the Swiss - it's cheese of course that was tasty, their rye isn't heavy on the caraway seed, so a little more subtle than maybe a typical deli rye bread. But the meat, which as I mentioned was HEAPED, was also really really fatty. It was very tasty and tender but sadly a little too fatty for my tastes. Aside from that though, a little toast on the bun would go a long way. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the side of beef they laid onto the rye bread, I'm just saying I would be dropping five stars for a leaner cut and some butter grilled love next time. Still a solid solid sandwich and maybe the most stacked deli sandwich on Woodward. That said I'll be back to try this place again and I'll also be hitting up the Onion Roll for a current taste of there deli offerings for comparison's sake.
(3)
Mike M.
A place is innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, Al's fails on a few levels. Price - $16 for a Reuben with chips and a pop seems high to me. The corned beef was not even layered but just scrapping of what seemed to look like leftovers. The cleanliness was questionable at best. The tray they served the sandwich on was dirty and the counter was dirty, the place needs a good scrubbing. If you are going to charge NY style prices for your sandwiches then you better give NY quality sandwiches to the likes of a Carnegie Deli. There are tons of better delis in Michigan for half the price.
(2)
Molida K.
I'm so torn between Al's and the Onion Roll but I believe Al's may have won me over. It is CLEAN and they have fountain soda with free refills, both of which the Onion Roll lacks. The sandwiches are huge, messy, and delicious. You just haven't lived until you've had coleslaw and pastrami juice running down your hands.
(5)
rr d.
The food was great! But this place needs a good cleaning; grim and dirt everywhere. And the bathroom smells like a sour diaper.NEEDS A GOOD PROFESIONAL CLEANING!!!
(1)
Amy P.
I really, really, really want to like Al's Deli, I do. So much so that I've gone there on 3 separate occasions to have their corned beef, and EVERY single time I'm dissapointed. I always order the 17 1/2 with is just a 17 but a smaller portion. It's rye bread, corned beef, swiss, cole slaw and thousand island. EVERY time I've gone they charge me for a full and I have to remind them I ordered the half. Kind of annoying. Even the half ends up being $11. I'm sorry $11 for just a sandwich is ridiculous. Now, I worked in a somewhat short lived deli restaurant up the road that served really, really good corned beef. The days I'd worked there I'd have to slice corned beef a couple times a day and it was simply the best corned beef I've ever had. Since then, no corned beef has ever lived up to the corned beef I've had there. The corned beef at Al's just has no flavor. In fact, the whole sandwich lacks flavor. The rye bread is decent in that it has a crunchy crust and soft inside, but there is never enough dressing and the coleslaw is bland. The corned beef is chewy and not at all good. I mean I'd pay the $11 if the sandwich was good, but it's just not, and its been that way the 3 times I've tried it. There's a bar across Woodward that serves awesome corned beef sandwiches, I'll just go there from now on.
(2)
John F.
Excellent corned beef! Highly recommend. A "must try" for sure, if you like corned beef.
(5)
Rebecca G.
Customer service is appalling, they gave me the wrong food I paid for it without checking and they wouldn't fix it! I have never experienced this, they told me I'm wrong! Salad came tossed without any dressing I ordered ranch she said she gave blue cheese, but there was no dressing! Lady was like you can still eat it ? Really? The lady at the front did this May 10th at 7:00, she should be fired.
(1)
Robin S.
Seriously the worst customer service!! You have lost a weekly customer! You will run yourself out of business soon!! Great product with HORRIBLE service!!
(1)
Rebecca B.
Again - this is based on my husband's feedback from the Dream Cruise. This is the only place that he goes to get a deli sandwich because it is good. Think simple deli counter with some tables - no waitresses. The bonus to this place is the consistency. It is $10 for a corned beef with swiss on rye - worth it because it is really 2 meals.
(4)
Suzanne S.
Pastrami - lean, dry, flavorless, lots of it. Coleslaw same crap every restaurant uses - not nearly enough. Russian dressing standard stuff. One thin slice of Swiss. With Dollar off coupon was still $twelve. Bread was good - counter staff nice enough - but once a year is enough.
(3)
Stuart S.
So here's the down and dirty truth. I don't think Al cares anymore. I've been a loyal patron since the place on 12 mile and evergreen and won't eat deli elsewhere. Tonight I picked up a Reuben with pastrami instead of corned beef. This is typically a grilled sandwich that oozes cheese and Russian dressing. It was stone cold like it came out of the cooler and they forgot to nuke it ! I hope it hasn't come to this. I requested bread for the quart of soup and it was nowhere to be seen. So..... I called to let them know the issue. The cashier who has been there since she was a teenager blew me off offering to put me in the. " book" and I could have a free desert next time I order out. Well.... She can have the desert and after. 30+ years I'll have to drive a little further and get me some Star Deli where they care about their patrons and not about running a bunch of sub -par sandwich joints. Too bad.
(1)
Cathy W.
Wow!!! It's been a long time since we've had such a great corned beef sandwich. The 17 1/2 (corned beef, Swiss, cole slaw, and Russian dressing) is spectacular! Excellent bread, great Swiss, crunchy slaw, not too much Russian, and MOUNDS of the best corned beef around. Hard to fathom such a huge sandwich for under $10. Will definately return as many of the offerings on their board sound worth a try. Only change we'll probably make is to split a sandwich since finishing even one half is quite an undertaking. Lol. Should mention that we got these as carryout. Seems some restaurants skimp on those, but certainly not here!!!!
(5)
Chuck C.
The food is OK no big surprises basic bill of fare! This is not a bad thing when it comes to a corn beef deli. The star is the corned beef it was very good and came piled high of the rye, the PASTRAMI { my normal pick) was OK as well. I had only one complaint and that has to do with the place itself, it is a little worn and could be nicer. Live well and eat well, and please no chains!
(3)
Randy G.
Al's comes across as a pretty standard Jewish deli. They have all the right items on the menu and in the showcase. Lets see: corned beef, check; Pastrami, check; chicken noodle soup, check; ah, matzo ball soup, check (now we're talking); beef tongue, check (you have my attention), lox, check (smoked salmon for those who don't know what lox is), and new dill pickles (not noodle pickles, if the person behind the counter says "noodle pickles?" you know you're not in a Jewish deli. So, Al's has all that going for it. It also has Kreplach soup, but when I asked about it, it turns out they don't make it anymore. :( So, how does it stack up to a Jewish deli. I tried their corned beef on rye with coleslaw and russian dressing. Any staple for the deli. I asked for it to be grilled and they said no problem. That's a big plus certainly getting you close to four stars for it. However, the corned beef was more fatty that I usually like it. It had several pieces that were gelatinous, not so pleasant in the sandwich. Even though they did have new dill pickles, they were getting a little old and mushy for my taste. With this, I would have given it three stars, but there is one thing they do that is near and dear to my heart, bumping it up, almost everything is bought and made locally. Starting from the corned beef, to the pickles (topors), to the chips, and then to the breads and cakes. I love supporting local business and it means even more when those business are supporting our local community. You get a star for that Al! Enjoy!
(4)
Robert W.
The #17 with coleslaw, Russian dressing, no cheese is by far my favorite sandwich on the planet. When I have clients come to Detroit from out of town, I take them to Slow's, Buddy's, Lafayette, or Famous Al's. I've been to NY on multiple occasions and this sandwich stacks with anything I've had over there. Yes, you are paying $10 for a sandwich, but come on, it's like comparing a filet from Lelli's to the steak at Denny's. Sure they are both called a "steak", but can you really compare the two? If you are a small eater, I would highly recommend sharing one, they are insanely big.
(5)
Amy H.
I was so excited when I first stumbled upon the menu. There are so many choices, I had a hard time deciding what to try. I went ahead and got a tuna melt with swiss and bacon (picture included), and was blown away. The portion size was massive! I probably could have split this with someone, but I was greedy and saved the other half for later. My boyfriend got a towering corned beef sandwich, and gobbled it up in minutes. He was pleased. We will definitely be coming back, when the funds allow us to.
(4)
Tracey L.
Possibly the worst Greek salad I have ever had. I got chicken added to it not knowing it would be deli meat chicken just chopped into little bits and thrown on. Onions were old and transparent. The people working in there were so incredibly loud with their personal conversations it was uncomfortable. Maybe I should have stuck with a sandwich because obviously I do realize it is a SANDWICH place but how can you screw up a salad that bad? I would hate to see what an actual sandwich looks like/tastes like.
(1)
Dennis L.
I visited Al's Famous Deli to experience something new while visiting family in the Detroit area. We visited this deli with high expectations. I ended up ordering the Scott and Sy's United Meat with matzo ball soup. The sandwich was outstanding! The matzo ball soup was pretty good. Overall, the meal was a success. In my option, the menu is slightly over-priced, but the food does speak for itself. Al's is certainly worth a visit.
(4)
Matt S.
This is going to be a quick one..... Pregnant wife had a craving (go figure) for Corned Beef sandwich. This place knocked it out of the park. It's obvious that it's part of the Bread Basket group, and really the only GOOD Deli sandwich option now since Alban's has been LONG gone, and the Deli Roll is closed. HUGE portions of delicious, warm, tasty corned beef. Seriously. The sandwich was ridiculously huge. I'd get one and split it next time between two people. Only drawback is that it's expensive, but you really do get your money's worth. Great place, and if I'm craving a solid, real deli sandwich I'll cruise on up to Al's....
(4)
Chris G.
If I could give this place less than one star I would. I stopped in today with a coworker for lunch. We saw the Metro Times Best banner and figured it has to be good right? It was horrible . . the corned beef was so bland and most of it was fat or gristle. It was borderline disgusting I pulled half my corned beef off because it was all fat. Yea the sandwich was huge but if it tastes like shit then it doesn't really matter does it. All of you who say this is one of your favorite delis . . . you're out of your mind and clearly have not had a sandwich from a good deli before. It cost each of us 15$ bucks too for a deluxe which was a drink and fries and they even forgot an order of fries but we figured it would be enough food since the sandwich was huge. We should have gone with my first idea of Red Coat Tavern for a burger. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE THE FOOD WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE AND GROSSLY OVERPRICED!!!
(1)
Brandon R.
Love the #2 or go with a classic reuben too. The sandwiches here are ENORMOUS! You can also buy their fresh deli meat by the .lb as well as their cheeses. Nothing like snagging a .lb of lean corn beef and some swiss to take home and watch college football on a fall Saturday afternoon! Only complaint here is the cashiers. They are tough cookies! Very impatient and if you don't know the menu you'll get an ear full. Think Seinfeld soup nazi style and you can get a feel for what I'm trying to convey. But what deli isn't that way, right?
(4)
Sarah B.
Al's has amazing sandwiches! The corned beef is out of this world!! The staff is always very nice and friendly! The owner is really good about getting to know her "regular" customers which is a plus! Great place for a casual lunch or an easy delicious dinner!! You will not be let down!!
(5)
Josh P.
This place is an off shoot of Bread Basket Deli which IMHO is the best deli in Michigan. It's pretty much the same but I felt a little lower in quality. The corned beef is pretty good but they microwave it to make it "hot". The pastrami is rancid. Fatty and tough. It was hard to bite into it. You would end up getting a whole piece in your mouth which could cause you to choke. The staff is however REALLY friendly. That's the only reason it got 3 stars.
(3)
Chip W.
Fact: When you die and go to heaven the first thing they hand you is a corned beef sky high from Big Al's. When you combine a) great ingredients and b) fast service, you end up with a winner. Big Al's has both and that's why it's an excellent place to grab a lunch. And it's not just deli sandwiches. [Though I don't know why you would want to stray.] They have salads, various offal items (liver, tongue, etc.) and deserts. The portions are over the top so either come hungry or prepare for leftovers.
(4)
Viet N.
The only real fault of Al's is being just a few miles north of Onion Roll, meaning that I have no choice but to compare the two directly. Al's is otherwise a solid deli, so let's address a few common threads. Parking: Much has been made of parking at the Onion Roll, and I think it's just marginally better at Al's. There are fewer spots directly in front of the restaurant, but there are more nearby shops (notably Custard & Co) where you park. Ambiance: It's a deli. Hours: Hands down, easier at Al's. Open til 9. Service: Unlike the hilarious Russian guys running the grill at the Onion Roll, Al's was being managed that evening by a helpful, but no-nonsense lady. It definitely has a franchise feel, instead of a grown-from-the-ground-up feel. Food: Here is where the real differences lie. My corned beef sandwich, with coleslaw and Russian dressing, was tasty but definitely inferior. The meat itself was sliced thin and by itself, excellent. No complaints there. The rye bread was weakly flavored, and sadly, not grilled. Not much coleslaw or Russian dressing, but if you prefer your sandwiches to be monuments to meat, this is no problem. On the plus side, there are more options for food here, including soups and salads. On the minus side, their matzo ball soup tasted like dumplings in chicken broth, and came out lukewarm. Prices: Same, although they do take credit cards! Big props. All in all, I liked my experience and food more at Onion Roll. Purely based on food, Al's gets a solid 4/5, would return again, if only for the dessert - Custard & Co next door!
(4)
Laura J.
No one needs a whole sandwich from this place, even the minis were huge. The corned beef was amazing. I expected it to be great and it was. The mushroom barley soup was the suprise find. The soup was crave worthy.
(5)
Richard F.
Nice big sandwiches, but long lines and menu difficult to read.
(3)
D P.
I stopped there last night at 8:35; Al's hours are to 9:00. The lady at the register seemed annoyed that new patrons were there. Since I didn't see any credit signs posted, I asked if the accepted debit/credit. I received an abrupt response, "yes, but I just posted the books". I ordered a 17 1/2 "lean", after she charged me the extra dollar, I was informed that since it was near closing it would not be "totally lean". Well she got that right. Corned beef was fatty. The rye bread was super thin. I will not return for subpar food and cranky/rude service,
(2)
Karl L.
This place could do so much better. The lean corned beef is really good, but the standard is dry, sliced too thin and all fat. They don't put enough dressing on their sandwiches either. I ordered lean the other day and got home to find I was given the standard corned beef. It was not edible and I threw it away after a few bites.
(2)
Deedee B.
Wonderful sandwiches and presentation.
(4)
Brandon R.
Love the #2 or go with a classic reuben too. The sandwiches here are ENORMOUS! You can also buy their fresh deli meat by the .lb as well as their cheeses. Nothing like snagging a .lb of lean corn beef and some swiss to take home and watch college football on a fall Saturday afternoon! Only complaint here is the cashiers. They are tough cookies! Very impatient and if you don't know the menu you'll get an ear full. Think Seinfeld soup nazi style and you can get a feel for what I'm trying to convey. But what deli isn't that way, right?
(4)
Sarah B.
Al's has amazing sandwiches! The corned beef is out of this world!! The staff is always very nice and friendly! The owner is really good about getting to know her "regular" customers which is a plus! Great place for a casual lunch or an easy delicious dinner!! You will not be let down!!
(5)
Josh P.
This place is an off shoot of Bread Basket Deli which IMHO is the best deli in Michigan. It's pretty much the same but I felt a little lower in quality. The corned beef is pretty good but they microwave it to make it "hot". The pastrami is rancid. Fatty and tough. It was hard to bite into it. You would end up getting a whole piece in your mouth which could cause you to choke. The staff is however REALLY friendly. That's the only reason it got 3 stars.
(3)
Amby M.
My biggest negative with this place is the PRICES...for two sandwiches (corned beef with coleslaw) it was $20, even with a $1/off coupon. BUT, let it not be said you don't get your money's worth! They don't skimp on the meat at ALL, so either split one sandwich with a loved one or plan on having leftovers for lunch the next day. It can get quite busy during lunch and seating is slim, so getting takeout is the best way to go!
(4)
Bob C.
How could you possibly give this place less than 5 stars? I stopped in to Al's this afternoon after nearly a 1 year hiatus from my last visit. What a huge mistake it was this year. I ordered 1/2 a Reuben Sandwich with the Matzo Ball soup and I have to say this is one of the best Reubens I have ever had. I consider this particular food item to be one of my most snobby items to try... and the corned beef was spectacular. The 1/2 sandwich was nearly more than I could eat, and was at least 5" thick. The chopped up corned beef barely held together inside, and it was steaming hot when I got it back to my office. This was the first time I have ever tried Matzo Ball Soup... so I can't judge their recipe, but overall I think I would just order the full reuben next time and save the second half for the next days lunch. HIGHLY recommend you try Al's Famous Deli...
(5)
Blaise B.
Al's is a great carryout lunch place. The prices are a little on the high side, but they stuff their sandwiches with as much meat as they can possibly fit between two pieces of bread! The sandwich was great, but the cole slaw was a little bland. Overall, a good choice, but only if you're in the mood for MEAT.
(3)
Eric T.
This place is filthy! I found a fingernail in my sandwich!!!!!! So grossed out I probably will never eat corned beef again in my life. Go elsewhere!!!!
(1)
Chip W.
Fact: When you die and go to heaven the first thing they hand you is a corned beef sky high from Big Al's. When you combine a) great ingredients and b) fast service, you end up with a winner. Big Al's has both and that's why it's an excellent place to grab a lunch. And it's not just deli sandwiches. [Though I don't know why you would want to stray.] They have salads, various offal items (liver, tongue, etc.) and deserts. The portions are over the top so either come hungry or prepare for leftovers.
(4)
Joe B.
I keep seeing this Arby's Reuben commercial on TV and it recently called to me and told me to stop by Al's Deli of all places, for one of their "famous" deli sandwiches. Now I've been a fan of whichever deli is in this particular spot for at least seven years even though it's changed ownership at least three times. The food has always been KILLER. I dropped in Monday, parked in front and with no lines to contend with at 2 pm, I ordered the #17 1/2 (corned beef OR pastrami on rye with slaw, Russian dressing and Swiss) with fries and a soda to go. The combo out the door was $13 and change, and it was ready quicker than some fast food experiences I've had. I bolted home fighting the urge to open the sack the whole way - I was famished. BTW the bag must have weighed at least two pounds, even without the soda. Needless to say, I was excited for this sandwich and maybe even a little too steeped in anticipation. I got home and unwrapped the fries to find thick cut steak fries that were a little soggy from the trip home but no worries, these weren't the headliner and they were still pretty good for deli fries regardless. Then I unwrapped the sandwich. I know David G. reported an average height of 8" for their sandwiches, well mine wasn't quite that tall but it was heaped, like HEEEEAPED, with corned beef. This is not for the faint hearted carnivore!! Anyways, the slaw was delicious, the Russian dressing - good, and the Swiss - it's cheese of course that was tasty, their rye isn't heavy on the caraway seed, so a little more subtle than maybe a typical deli rye bread. But the meat, which as I mentioned was HEAPED, was also really really fatty. It was very tasty and tender but sadly a little too fatty for my tastes. Aside from that though, a little toast on the bun would go a long way. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the side of beef they laid onto the rye bread, I'm just saying I would be dropping five stars for a leaner cut and some butter grilled love next time. Still a solid solid sandwich and maybe the most stacked deli sandwich on Woodward. That said I'll be back to try this place again and I'll also be hitting up the Onion Roll for a current taste of there deli offerings for comparison's sake.
(3)
Chris G.
If I could give this place less than one star I would. I stopped in today with a coworker for lunch. We saw the Metro Times Best banner and figured it has to be good right? It was horrible . . the corned beef was so bland and most of it was fat or gristle. It was borderline disgusting I pulled half my corned beef off because it was all fat. Yea the sandwich was huge but if it tastes like shit then it doesn't really matter does it. All of you who say this is one of your favorite delis . . . you're out of your mind and clearly have not had a sandwich from a good deli before. It cost each of us 15$ bucks too for a deluxe which was a drink and fries and they even forgot an order of fries but we figured it would be enough food since the sandwich was huge. We should have gone with my first idea of Red Coat Tavern for a burger. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE THE FOOD WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE AND GROSSLY OVERPRICED!!!
(1)
Richard F.
Nice big sandwiches, but long lines and menu difficult to read.
(3)
Viet N.
The only real fault of Al's is being just a few miles north of Onion Roll, meaning that I have no choice but to compare the two directly. Al's is otherwise a solid deli, so let's address a few common threads. Parking: Much has been made of parking at the Onion Roll, and I think it's just marginally better at Al's. There are fewer spots directly in front of the restaurant, but there are more nearby shops (notably Custard & Co) where you park. Ambiance: It's a deli. Hours: Hands down, easier at Al's. Open til 9. Service: Unlike the hilarious Russian guys running the grill at the Onion Roll, Al's was being managed that evening by a helpful, but no-nonsense lady. It definitely has a franchise feel, instead of a grown-from-the-ground-up feel. Food: Here is where the real differences lie. My corned beef sandwich, with coleslaw and Russian dressing, was tasty but definitely inferior. The meat itself was sliced thin and by itself, excellent. No complaints there. The rye bread was weakly flavored, and sadly, not grilled. Not much coleslaw or Russian dressing, but if you prefer your sandwiches to be monuments to meat, this is no problem. On the plus side, there are more options for food here, including soups and salads. On the minus side, their matzo ball soup tasted like dumplings in chicken broth, and came out lukewarm. Prices: Same, although they do take credit cards! Big props. All in all, I liked my experience and food more at Onion Roll. Purely based on food, Al's gets a solid 4/5, would return again, if only for the dessert - Custard & Co next door!
(4)
Laura J.
No one needs a whole sandwich from this place, even the minis were huge. The corned beef was amazing. I expected it to be great and it was. The mushroom barley soup was the suprise find. The soup was crave worthy.
(5)
D P.
I stopped there last night at 8:35; Al's hours are to 9:00. The lady at the register seemed annoyed that new patrons were there. Since I didn't see any credit signs posted, I asked if the accepted debit/credit. I received an abrupt response, "yes, but I just posted the books". I ordered a 17 1/2 "lean", after she charged me the extra dollar, I was informed that since it was near closing it would not be "totally lean". Well she got that right. Corned beef was fatty. The rye bread was super thin. I will not return for subpar food and cranky/rude service,
(2)
Karl L.
This place could do so much better. The lean corned beef is really good, but the standard is dry, sliced too thin and all fat. They don't put enough dressing on their sandwiches either. I ordered lean the other day and got home to find I was given the standard corned beef. It was not edible and I threw it away after a few bites.
(2)
Deedee B.
Wonderful sandwiches and presentation.
(4)
Mike M.
A place is innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, Al's fails on a few levels. Price - $16 for a Reuben with chips and a pop seems high to me. The corned beef was not even layered but just scrapping of what seemed to look like leftovers. The cleanliness was questionable at best. The tray they served the sandwich on was dirty and the counter was dirty, the place needs a good scrubbing. If you are going to charge NY style prices for your sandwiches then you better give NY quality sandwiches to the likes of a Carnegie Deli. There are tons of better delis in Michigan for half the price.
(2)
Molida K.
I'm so torn between Al's and the Onion Roll but I believe Al's may have won me over. It is CLEAN and they have fountain soda with free refills, both of which the Onion Roll lacks. The sandwiches are huge, messy, and delicious. You just haven't lived until you've had coleslaw and pastrami juice running down your hands.
(5)
rr d.
The food was great! But this place needs a good cleaning; grim and dirt everywhere. And the bathroom smells like a sour diaper.NEEDS A GOOD PROFESIONAL CLEANING!!!
(1)
David C.
Solid choice for a good sandwich. No complaints.
(4)
Cat K.
Holy mole. I think I fell in love with a sandwich. the corned beef sandwich at Al's is just. Wow. Giant, moist, tasty. very good stuff. If you are going to go to Al's do try it. I haven't had much else but I realize its worth a return trip. Also ordered, the club, which had a monstrous amount of turkey and two soups (beef barley and matzo ball). They seem to run out of kerplach a lot, or I would have got a mish mosh. Regardless. Beef barley was good, matzo ball had too much pepper in my opinion, although I am a stickler for too much pepper. verdict: get the corned beef, you won't be disappointed. very large sandwiches, good selection of soups and dessert + very friendly staff. On another note, I was impressed and elated about how this Deli chooses to support and serve the Metro-Detroit Area. Their "Buy Detroit" slogan was inspiring. Many of us know the tough local problems but not many businesses put themselves on the line to change their ways to support the issue. Thank you and Congrats.
(4)
Ben O.
If you've ever had a bad food experience here I urge you to return. If your pastrami was tough, I assure you it was an off day. I'm a pretty regular and I'd say about 1/7 times the pastrami leaves something to desire. But those other 6 times, man oh man. I always get the same thing. Mini #3 with pastrami so I can really only speak on that. That and the turkey pastrami are tasty as all heck. The pastrami is usually melting off the sandwich, the coleslaw is truely one of the best recepies Ive ever tasted and the cheese stinks of quality. Say what you will. I prefer it to Onion Roll, Bronx, and every other deli I've been to locally. Its a keeper and I'll keep going back.
(5)
Matthew P.
I gotta say, as a big fan of deli's I was really looking forward to trying this place out. Sadly, I found them to be highly unorganized in their process. Not only does the menu not seem to match their carry out menu entirely, but there was an extremely long wait just to order a couple of sandwiches and get them to go (and I've been to WAY busier delis that move a hell of a lot faster!). And to top it all off, when I got home, both of my sanwiches had mayo on them instead of Russian dressing AND they gave us the completely wrong soup. Seriously, not sure how this place operates, but they need to get their shit together!
(2)
Angela F.
We like Al's deli for those hot days when no one wants to get the kitchen warmed up (or stand there at the stove!). Personally, I am a turkey reuben on rye gal, and theirs is extremely good. We also get the #17 with roast beef instead of corned beef and it is also a recommend. HUGE (I mean at least 2 meals) sandwich. I like the regular reuben as well, but it is an awful lot of meat and I just don't like it more than twice in a row BUT for most people that is a good thing. All of the sandwiches have been moist and tasty. Typically, I get my reuben, take half the meat and cheese out and set it aside then use it the next day for another sandwich! Seriously. This thing is GHINORMOUS! We also get the egg salad sandwich occasionally - which I typically shy away from as a take out option in general but theirs is consistently good. We go here usually 1-2 times a month so have become regulars. Service is good - nice, friendly staff. Parking can be an adventure - particularly if you have to deal with rush hour and the ice cream parlor next door is open. But it's manageable.
(4)
Haroun K.
It may just be that this spot is cursed for delis. A few years ago, Stan's came to life, created a lot of buzz, and died. After its reincarnation as Spanky's failed, the newest deli is Al's. After a few visits, it is clear that the quality is very inconsistent. While the service is friendly, it is essentially a takeout restaurant. There is little incentive to eat in: miserable parking situation, plastic utensils, few tables, no ambiance. The thing is, Al's charges the same prices as a sitdown deli, when it clearly does not fit the bill. Think of Star Deli, which is hands down superior, but take out only - the prices reflect this. That being said, this is definitely a better option than the Breadbasket.
(3)
Jared H.
This place is as good as it gets for corned beef... about 70% of the time. I always order a 14 1/2 which is corned beef and swiss on rye - nothing else on it. I usually order grilled (the bread soaked in butter and then grilled) but not always. It's around $10 for this sandwhich. If you ask they'll tell you it's about 10 ounces of meat, but I think it's between 12 and 16 depending on the day. They are very filling sandwiches and there's really no need for fries or any other side item unless you plan to take half of it home. The bread is good but nothing special - just decent rye bread. They do not have caraway seeds in the rye, which makes me happy. I hate caraway seeds but that's another story. The swiss is your run of the mill stuff, nothing remarkable about it at all. The corned beef, however... is great. Usually. Most days at lunch time (and I would assume the busier times in the evening) it is very moist and flavorful, basically melting in your mouth. Other times it's fairly dry and lacking in the flavor department. You can expect the dry stuff later in the day just before they close, but I have no idea why it's dry sometimes during the lunch rush, but it is. I usually go with a few coworkers and they always agree - sometimes it's great, other times it's just ok. I've also had their fries, sweet potato fries, and pound cake. The regular fries are steak fries, which are a bit soft and flavorless - I do not care for them. The sweet potato fries are cut thinner - about a 5/16" or 3/8" square - and are very good. The pound cake was also good. I don't remember why, but I know they gave us the pound cake for free one time - I think they screwed up somebody's sandwich, but I've always gotten exactly what I've ordered. There are only a few seats (around 20 total) about half of which are bar style seating at either the counter or at a window facing Woodward. When you go inside you're at the cash register with the menu up above - typical deli. Overall, it's good enough to be worth the risk, but don't be surprised if you're disappointed from time to time.
(4)
Anna G.
My husband is a Brit and he loves sandwiches - this is one of his favorite sandwich place in town. We usually get corned beef, pastrami, etc. but everything on the menu is in great quality and delicious, using mostly local ingredients. If you are looking for a hearty sandwich and don't mind spending around $10, try Al's. (p.s. pickles are a bit salty to me..boo..)
(4)
Ken S.
At home now. 30 dollars of food. Live in royal oak. Deli sandwich is good. Heavy older blonde Waiting on us was so rude. No customer service. She was so rude and I'm a first time customer.. Soups are horrible also. I asked if the cabbage soup had lots of cabbage in it and she yes. TWO PIECES. hello. Will go out of myway to Troy deli next time. Btw. I live on vinsetta.
(2)
Chuck H.
I like Al's and never had a bad sandwich there, but the prices are a tad high, there is very little difference between the mini and large sandwiches other than price, and they give customers a feeling like they should know what to do even if they've never been there before. Stuff like not telling you where to get your drink, or explaining what comes with the different combos even though none of this stuff is really in plain sight on their dizzyingly busy menu. They should simplify things a bit, lower prices a little and they'd have a homerun.
(3)
L P.
These guys make an excellent sandwich. I'm a giant fan of the turkey reuben. Basically, if you crave a completely stacked and meat-filled sandy this place is for you. They serve them up with the classic or garlic pickles, no surprises there. If you really like a dessert with your meal, this is not where they excel. The location has a small eating area for a quick stop and snack but by no means is a full diner.
(4)
Robert J.
Not bad. I have generally enjoyed my sandwiches here. I'm a sucker for pastrami and tongue. So, that's usually what I go for here or any deli that has them. I have enjoyed the salami and pastrami here. I agree that the sandwiches are good, but certainly, they're not the best I've had. Let's face it, it's tough to beat a pastrami on rye from Katz's Deli in Manhattan. As excellent as Zingerman's is, even they can't come close to what Katz's delivers. Al's does a good job, but I don't long for it like I long for Katz's. I wouldn't drive 45 minutes for Al's like I would for Zingerman's.
(3)
Kashan A.
Corned beef sandwiches don't get better than this! I've had deli-goers from NY express the same sentiment. Also, great service. Yeah, the place is without frills, but that's alright. Gives you an opportunity to enjoy good people and food.
(5)
Alexandra K.
I speak deli fluently. My taste buds are trained in the art of old vs. new dill pickles. This, my fellow YELP-ers, is one of the worst delis I have ever dined at. Even delis in Toronto, whose chefs had never heard of a turkey rueben, merit the title deli. If I ate meat, I would have taste-tested my sister's salad, however, as I do eat fish, I can tell you, their tuna fish is rancid. Additionally, the sandwich construction was totally off. I also ordered a cup of diet cabbage borscht and it, too, was inedible. It was over spiced (with pepper and some sort of spicier spice) without the normal sweetness that most soups of this fashion contain. I was lastly disappointed by the pickles. It is in my deli-educated/influenced opinion that the best sandwiches should always be accompanied by one old and one new dill pickle (if I had it my way they'd all be old dills...), and after tasting the sandwich, I'd hoped the pickle would be a redeeming taste. No--they were soggy and not crunchy, overly drenched in juice and not just appropriately moist. If you're looking for a moderately priced deli, I'd recommend instead venturing to the Stage Deli or Deli Unique. More so, the only thing that makes this a two-star review is that they have Dr. Brown's sodas.
(2)
Justin T.
Great deli sandwiches; period. The corned beef doesn't get any better than this in Metro Detroit. The staff is friendly as well. While I was there once, a guy accidentally opened a can of diet soda when he wanted the leaded version. They happily let him open another without charge. Limited parking and seating are all part of the Woodward avenue experience IMHO. The sandwiches are monstrous which helps to justify Al's slightly expensive menu. Stick with a single decker or plan on taking half to go. Al, please stick around. I'm weary of trying to remember the name of this deli. Spanky's, Stan's, Al's... let's get it together. Hopefully, since you have dubbed yourself 'famous' from the onset, we can have some consistency and get the name of this gem on the streets.
(5)
Moyah M.
The best corned beef sandwich in the entire world. The service is amazing and quick. The choices are endless. I would eat there everyday if I could.
(5)
Jacob F.
Awesome Deli! Onion rings, cole slaw, corned beef were all delicious. Their caesar salad was one of the best, value and taste -wise. I had just been to Onion Roll Deli the week before so in my opinion, everything at Al's was better.
(5)
A. M.
Big sandwiches, staff with big personalities.
(4)
Corydon S.
The corned beef on rye is excellent. It is cut thin and is incredibly tender. The sandwich portions are very large, I could only eat one half in a sitting. NYC gets all most of the fame as delis go, but I prefer this deli over the Katz's. Al's is the ultimate comfort food, home cooked flavors without having to cook.
(4)
Claire D.
I grabbed dinner the other night here with my husband and though the place was very clean and the service was friendly I doubt we'll be going back there again. I had a chicken salad sandwich with chicken salad that looked like they had scooped it out of a container (and I feel tasted like it had been sitting around all day). My husband had "Ari's favorite" which we felt was ALL corned beef and little else. The corned beef was good but there wasn't much to hold the sandwich together. We had the onion rings and they were good, but not worth a return visit.
(2)
o o.
Clean, Clean, and Clean!! This deli is delicious. I tasted the Ruben, Turkey sandwich, cabbage soup, and cole slaw - all good. I asked for lean corn beef and that is exactly what I got. No globs of fat in this sandwich. This Ruben was lighter on the Russian than bread basket and I thought better. The Turkey was piled on and everything was fresh. The bread had a nice crunchy crust. Cabbage soup was full bodied and had a good flavor. Slaw was good too. Drink options included Dr. Brown's in a variety of flavors. Small area to dine. Better for take out. Best Deli around!
(4)
Matt C.
Sandwiches stacked with meat. Matzo ball soup. Reuben fries. For me, Al's is conveniently located down the street from my house. While I don't frequent it often, I do enjoy the occasional stacked sandwich; and when I'm not feeling well, the matzo ball soup hits the spot! Recently, I tried the Reuben fries, and while they were a little difficult to eat, I will still order them again!
(4)
doug r.
The reuben was very good. I really like sauerkraut, and would have preferred a bit more. Next time, I will ask.
(4)
Christina G.
It's a huge sandwich!! A little pricey but we don't mind paying an extra dollar or two for a really good sandwich. Will be back!
(5)
Steve N.
I spontaneously walked into to Al's for my first time and had no idea what to expect. I ordered a turkey sandwich with Russian dressing. The value equation is awful. $11 for just a sandwich. No chips, pop, or any other type of side. $11 can go a lot further somewhere else.
(2)
Abigail S.
Hands down the best Ruben I've ever had. I've tried all over the U.S. and nothing compares to this place! I get a Ruben either on Challah or an onion roll, ask for extra Russian on the side, add steak fries and a drink and only New Pickles. Absolutely Delicious. Not low in calories but worth the splurge :)
(5)
Laura Y.
Server: great. You order at the counter and they bring your food to you in a bag. Ambiance: small hole in wall. Seats 18. The food: good. we had #15 Julie's gem (pastrami Swiss) and 1 pounder united meet (corned beef, pastrami, Swiss and Russian dressing) Both sandwiches were good. I think #15 was a few dollars over priced. It was $10 and the meet was not stacked very high. The united meet is priced right at $15. It's big enough to share and half of that sandwich has more on it then the #15 so if you can I would share the pounder.
(4)
Chris M.
I'm shocked I'd never been here before. Its a bit of a hike from Royal Oak. The place I was heading to wasn't open yet and I thought what the heck. The menu is a bit confusing but that could simply be because I was new. Staff were beyond friendly and helpful and just as I started ordering a large sandwich, the guy stopped me and told me the amount of meat on each sandwich. After this, I opted for the small (6 oz). Very nice size. Sandwich was great. Its times like these that even if the sandwich was just O.K., I'd probably go back because the service was that good. On the plus side I didn't wan to stop eating my messy sloppy Reuben.
(4)
Will B.
Good, not great. Huge piles of corned beef. Good sandwich, but it lacked dressing, flavor in the rye bread, and my cheese wasn't melted. All in all, I think I'd rather go to Ernie's and pay 1/2 of what they charge here. For $12 I expect a really good sandwich. What I ended up getting was a mediocre sandwich and crappy customer service.
(3)
Berkeley C.
We stopped getting from this place but decided to give it another try. Big mistake. Dead bug in the salad and it got half eaten.
(1)
Kal B.
My family is in town for the Bridgestone Winter Classic and had to go TWICE. I got to enjoy it sans calories from the phone. Three of them got three sandwiches (and yes they know better) and they are STILL eating them! HUGE, quintessential deli that we drool about still and can't go back without ordering up. The employees are brusque, no nonsense move em in and move em out hard core deli employees for sure but it part of the je ne se qua. SMALL, quaint and a two napkin or more meal for sure!
(5)
Amy P.
I really, really, really want to like Al's Deli, I do. So much so that I've gone there on 3 separate occasions to have their corned beef, and EVERY single time I'm dissapointed. I always order the 17 1/2 with is just a 17 but a smaller portion. It's rye bread, corned beef, swiss, cole slaw and thousand island. EVERY time I've gone they charge me for a full and I have to remind them I ordered the half. Kind of annoying. Even the half ends up being $11. I'm sorry $11 for just a sandwich is ridiculous. Now, I worked in a somewhat short lived deli restaurant up the road that served really, really good corned beef. The days I'd worked there I'd have to slice corned beef a couple times a day and it was simply the best corned beef I've ever had. Since then, no corned beef has ever lived up to the corned beef I've had there. The corned beef at Al's just has no flavor. In fact, the whole sandwich lacks flavor. The rye bread is decent in that it has a crunchy crust and soft inside, but there is never enough dressing and the coleslaw is bland. The corned beef is chewy and not at all good. I mean I'd pay the $11 if the sandwich was good, but it's just not, and its been that way the 3 times I've tried it. There's a bar across Woodward that serves awesome corned beef sandwiches, I'll just go there from now on.
(2)
John F.
Excellent corned beef! Highly recommend. A "must try" for sure, if you like corned beef.
(5)
Rebecca G.
Customer service is appalling, they gave me the wrong food I paid for it without checking and they wouldn't fix it! I have never experienced this, they told me I'm wrong! Salad came tossed without any dressing I ordered ranch she said she gave blue cheese, but there was no dressing! Lady was like you can still eat it ? Really? The lady at the front did this May 10th at 7:00, she should be fired.
(1)
Robin S.
Seriously the worst customer service!! You have lost a weekly customer! You will run yourself out of business soon!! Great product with HORRIBLE service!!
(1)
Rebecca B.
Again - this is based on my husband's feedback from the Dream Cruise. This is the only place that he goes to get a deli sandwich because it is good. Think simple deli counter with some tables - no waitresses. The bonus to this place is the consistency. It is $10 for a corned beef with swiss on rye - worth it because it is really 2 meals.
(4)
Suzanne S.
Pastrami - lean, dry, flavorless, lots of it. Coleslaw same crap every restaurant uses - not nearly enough. Russian dressing standard stuff. One thin slice of Swiss. With Dollar off coupon was still $twelve. Bread was good - counter staff nice enough - but once a year is enough.
(3)
Stuart S.
So here's the down and dirty truth. I don't think Al cares anymore. I've been a loyal patron since the place on 12 mile and evergreen and won't eat deli elsewhere. Tonight I picked up a Reuben with pastrami instead of corned beef. This is typically a grilled sandwich that oozes cheese and Russian dressing. It was stone cold like it came out of the cooler and they forgot to nuke it ! I hope it hasn't come to this. I requested bread for the quart of soup and it was nowhere to be seen. So..... I called to let them know the issue. The cashier who has been there since she was a teenager blew me off offering to put me in the. " book" and I could have a free desert next time I order out. Well.... She can have the desert and after. 30+ years I'll have to drive a little further and get me some Star Deli where they care about their patrons and not about running a bunch of sub -par sandwich joints. Too bad.
(1)
Randy G.
Al's comes across as a pretty standard Jewish deli. They have all the right items on the menu and in the showcase. Lets see: corned beef, check; Pastrami, check; chicken noodle soup, check; ah, matzo ball soup, check (now we're talking); beef tongue, check (you have my attention), lox, check (smoked salmon for those who don't know what lox is), and new dill pickles (not noodle pickles, if the person behind the counter says "noodle pickles?" you know you're not in a Jewish deli. So, Al's has all that going for it. It also has Kreplach soup, but when I asked about it, it turns out they don't make it anymore. :( So, how does it stack up to a Jewish deli. I tried their corned beef on rye with coleslaw and russian dressing. Any staple for the deli. I asked for it to be grilled and they said no problem. That's a big plus certainly getting you close to four stars for it. However, the corned beef was more fatty that I usually like it. It had several pieces that were gelatinous, not so pleasant in the sandwich. Even though they did have new dill pickles, they were getting a little old and mushy for my taste. With this, I would have given it three stars, but there is one thing they do that is near and dear to my heart, bumping it up, almost everything is bought and made locally. Starting from the corned beef, to the pickles (topors), to the chips, and then to the breads and cakes. I love supporting local business and it means even more when those business are supporting our local community. You get a star for that Al! Enjoy!
(4)
Robert W.
The #17 with coleslaw, Russian dressing, no cheese is by far my favorite sandwich on the planet. When I have clients come to Detroit from out of town, I take them to Slow's, Buddy's, Lafayette, or Famous Al's. I've been to NY on multiple occasions and this sandwich stacks with anything I've had over there. Yes, you are paying $10 for a sandwich, but come on, it's like comparing a filet from Lelli's to the steak at Denny's. Sure they are both called a "steak", but can you really compare the two? If you are a small eater, I would highly recommend sharing one, they are insanely big.
(5)
Amy H.
I was so excited when I first stumbled upon the menu. There are so many choices, I had a hard time deciding what to try. I went ahead and got a tuna melt with swiss and bacon (picture included), and was blown away. The portion size was massive! I probably could have split this with someone, but I was greedy and saved the other half for later. My boyfriend got a towering corned beef sandwich, and gobbled it up in minutes. He was pleased. We will definitely be coming back, when the funds allow us to.
(4)
Tracey L.
Possibly the worst Greek salad I have ever had. I got chicken added to it not knowing it would be deli meat chicken just chopped into little bits and thrown on. Onions were old and transparent. The people working in there were so incredibly loud with their personal conversations it was uncomfortable. Maybe I should have stuck with a sandwich because obviously I do realize it is a SANDWICH place but how can you screw up a salad that bad? I would hate to see what an actual sandwich looks like/tastes like.
(1)
Cathy W.
Wow!!! It's been a long time since we've had such a great corned beef sandwich. The 17 1/2 (corned beef, Swiss, cole slaw, and Russian dressing) is spectacular! Excellent bread, great Swiss, crunchy slaw, not too much Russian, and MOUNDS of the best corned beef around. Hard to fathom such a huge sandwich for under $10. Will definately return as many of the offerings on their board sound worth a try. Only change we'll probably make is to split a sandwich since finishing even one half is quite an undertaking. Lol. Should mention that we got these as carryout. Seems some restaurants skimp on those, but certainly not here!!!!
(5)
Chuck C.
The food is OK no big surprises basic bill of fare! This is not a bad thing when it comes to a corn beef deli. The star is the corned beef it was very good and came piled high of the rye, the PASTRAMI { my normal pick) was OK as well. I had only one complaint and that has to do with the place itself, it is a little worn and could be nicer. Live well and eat well, and please no chains!
(3)
Dennis L.
I visited Al's Famous Deli to experience something new while visiting family in the Detroit area. We visited this deli with high expectations. I ended up ordering the Scott and Sy's United Meat with matzo ball soup. The sandwich was outstanding! The matzo ball soup was pretty good. Overall, the meal was a success. In my option, the menu is slightly over-priced, but the food does speak for itself. Al's is certainly worth a visit.
(4)
Matt S.
This is going to be a quick one..... Pregnant wife had a craving (go figure) for Corned Beef sandwich. This place knocked it out of the park. It's obvious that it's part of the Bread Basket group, and really the only GOOD Deli sandwich option now since Alban's has been LONG gone, and the Deli Roll is closed. HUGE portions of delicious, warm, tasty corned beef. Seriously. The sandwich was ridiculously huge. I'd get one and split it next time between two people. Only drawback is that it's expensive, but you really do get your money's worth. Great place, and if I'm craving a solid, real deli sandwich I'll cruise on up to Al's....
(4)
Russ H.
This place has declined a bit in my opinion. The other Bread Basket delis are better it seems, and the prices are are fairly high for a so-so to average sandwich (I had corned beef with swiss on toasted rye). Also the staff nearly screwed up my order, but I heard them say mayo (???) And spoke up. They also seemed like it was a burden to take my order. And the place was empty aside from one carry out order while I wad there (mine was also carry out). The high point was the glazed pound cake. It was very good. It's been better here, but also the same as I've described. If it were cheaper I could overlook a few of their shortcomings. I may try again in a few months, but wont be holding my breath.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Kal B.
My family is in town for the Bridgestone Winter Classic and had to go TWICE. I got to enjoy it sans calories from the phone. Three of them got three sandwiches (and yes they know better) and they are STILL eating them! HUGE, quintessential deli that we drool about still and can't go back without ordering up. The employees are brusque, no nonsense move em in and move em out hard core deli employees for sure but it part of the je ne se qua. SMALL, quaint and a two napkin or more meal for sure!
(5)L P.
These guys make an excellent sandwich. I'm a giant fan of the turkey reuben. Basically, if you crave a completely stacked and meat-filled sandy this place is for you. They serve them up with the classic or garlic pickles, no surprises there. If you really like a dessert with your meal, this is not where they excel. The location has a small eating area for a quick stop and snack but by no means is a full diner.
(4)Chuck H.
I like Al's and never had a bad sandwich there, but the prices are a tad high, there is very little difference between the mini and large sandwiches other than price, and they give customers a feeling like they should know what to do even if they've never been there before. Stuff like not telling you where to get your drink, or explaining what comes with the different combos even though none of this stuff is really in plain sight on their dizzyingly busy menu. They should simplify things a bit, lower prices a little and they'd have a homerun.
(3)Alexandra K.
I speak deli fluently. My taste buds are trained in the art of old vs. new dill pickles. This, my fellow YELP-ers, is one of the worst delis I have ever dined at. Even delis in Toronto, whose chefs had never heard of a turkey rueben, merit the title deli. If I ate meat, I would have taste-tested my sister's salad, however, as I do eat fish, I can tell you, their tuna fish is rancid. Additionally, the sandwich construction was totally off. I also ordered a cup of diet cabbage borscht and it, too, was inedible. It was over spiced (with pepper and some sort of spicier spice) without the normal sweetness that most soups of this fashion contain. I was lastly disappointed by the pickles. It is in my deli-educated/influenced opinion that the best sandwiches should always be accompanied by one old and one new dill pickle (if I had it my way they'd all be old dills...), and after tasting the sandwich, I'd hoped the pickle would be a redeeming taste. No--they were soggy and not crunchy, overly drenched in juice and not just appropriately moist. If you're looking for a moderately priced deli, I'd recommend instead venturing to the Stage Deli or Deli Unique. More so, the only thing that makes this a two-star review is that they have Dr. Brown's sodas.
(2)Robert J.
Not bad. I have generally enjoyed my sandwiches here. I'm a sucker for pastrami and tongue. So, that's usually what I go for here or any deli that has them. I have enjoyed the salami and pastrami here. I agree that the sandwiches are good, but certainly, they're not the best I've had. Let's face it, it's tough to beat a pastrami on rye from Katz's Deli in Manhattan. As excellent as Zingerman's is, even they can't come close to what Katz's delivers. Al's does a good job, but I don't long for it like I long for Katz's. I wouldn't drive 45 minutes for Al's like I would for Zingerman's.
(3)Kashan A.
Corned beef sandwiches don't get better than this! I've had deli-goers from NY express the same sentiment. Also, great service. Yeah, the place is without frills, but that's alright. Gives you an opportunity to enjoy good people and food.
(5)Cat K.
Holy mole. I think I fell in love with a sandwich. the corned beef sandwich at Al's is just. Wow. Giant, moist, tasty. very good stuff. If you are going to go to Al's do try it. I haven't had much else but I realize its worth a return trip. Also ordered, the club, which had a monstrous amount of turkey and two soups (beef barley and matzo ball). They seem to run out of kerplach a lot, or I would have got a mish mosh. Regardless. Beef barley was good, matzo ball had too much pepper in my opinion, although I am a stickler for too much pepper. verdict: get the corned beef, you won't be disappointed. very large sandwiches, good selection of soups and dessert + very friendly staff. On another note, I was impressed and elated about how this Deli chooses to support and serve the Metro-Detroit Area. Their "Buy Detroit" slogan was inspiring. Many of us know the tough local problems but not many businesses put themselves on the line to change their ways to support the issue. Thank you and Congrats.
(4)Ben O.
If you've ever had a bad food experience here I urge you to return. If your pastrami was tough, I assure you it was an off day. I'm a pretty regular and I'd say about 1/7 times the pastrami leaves something to desire. But those other 6 times, man oh man. I always get the same thing. Mini #3 with pastrami so I can really only speak on that. That and the turkey pastrami are tasty as all heck. The pastrami is usually melting off the sandwich, the coleslaw is truely one of the best recepies Ive ever tasted and the cheese stinks of quality. Say what you will. I prefer it to Onion Roll, Bronx, and every other deli I've been to locally. Its a keeper and I'll keep going back.
(5)Matthew P.
I gotta say, as a big fan of deli's I was really looking forward to trying this place out. Sadly, I found them to be highly unorganized in their process. Not only does the menu not seem to match their carry out menu entirely, but there was an extremely long wait just to order a couple of sandwiches and get them to go (and I've been to WAY busier delis that move a hell of a lot faster!). And to top it all off, when I got home, both of my sanwiches had mayo on them instead of Russian dressing AND they gave us the completely wrong soup. Seriously, not sure how this place operates, but they need to get their shit together!
(2)Angela F.
We like Al's deli for those hot days when no one wants to get the kitchen warmed up (or stand there at the stove!). Personally, I am a turkey reuben on rye gal, and theirs is extremely good. We also get the #17 with roast beef instead of corned beef and it is also a recommend. HUGE (I mean at least 2 meals) sandwich. I like the regular reuben as well, but it is an awful lot of meat and I just don't like it more than twice in a row BUT for most people that is a good thing. All of the sandwiches have been moist and tasty. Typically, I get my reuben, take half the meat and cheese out and set it aside then use it the next day for another sandwich! Seriously. This thing is GHINORMOUS! We also get the egg salad sandwich occasionally - which I typically shy away from as a take out option in general but theirs is consistently good. We go here usually 1-2 times a month so have become regulars. Service is good - nice, friendly staff. Parking can be an adventure - particularly if you have to deal with rush hour and the ice cream parlor next door is open. But it's manageable.
(4)Haroun K.
It may just be that this spot is cursed for delis. A few years ago, Stan's came to life, created a lot of buzz, and died. After its reincarnation as Spanky's failed, the newest deli is Al's. After a few visits, it is clear that the quality is very inconsistent. While the service is friendly, it is essentially a takeout restaurant. There is little incentive to eat in: miserable parking situation, plastic utensils, few tables, no ambiance. The thing is, Al's charges the same prices as a sitdown deli, when it clearly does not fit the bill. Think of Star Deli, which is hands down superior, but take out only - the prices reflect this. That being said, this is definitely a better option than the Breadbasket.
(3)Jared H.
This place is as good as it gets for corned beef... about 70% of the time. I always order a 14 1/2 which is corned beef and swiss on rye - nothing else on it. I usually order grilled (the bread soaked in butter and then grilled) but not always. It's around $10 for this sandwhich. If you ask they'll tell you it's about 10 ounces of meat, but I think it's between 12 and 16 depending on the day. They are very filling sandwiches and there's really no need for fries or any other side item unless you plan to take half of it home. The bread is good but nothing special - just decent rye bread. They do not have caraway seeds in the rye, which makes me happy. I hate caraway seeds but that's another story. The swiss is your run of the mill stuff, nothing remarkable about it at all. The corned beef, however... is great. Usually. Most days at lunch time (and I would assume the busier times in the evening) it is very moist and flavorful, basically melting in your mouth. Other times it's fairly dry and lacking in the flavor department. You can expect the dry stuff later in the day just before they close, but I have no idea why it's dry sometimes during the lunch rush, but it is. I usually go with a few coworkers and they always agree - sometimes it's great, other times it's just ok. I've also had their fries, sweet potato fries, and pound cake. The regular fries are steak fries, which are a bit soft and flavorless - I do not care for them. The sweet potato fries are cut thinner - about a 5/16" or 3/8" square - and are very good. The pound cake was also good. I don't remember why, but I know they gave us the pound cake for free one time - I think they screwed up somebody's sandwich, but I've always gotten exactly what I've ordered. There are only a few seats (around 20 total) about half of which are bar style seating at either the counter or at a window facing Woodward. When you go inside you're at the cash register with the menu up above - typical deli. Overall, it's good enough to be worth the risk, but don't be surprised if you're disappointed from time to time.
(4)Anna G.
My husband is a Brit and he loves sandwiches - this is one of his favorite sandwich place in town. We usually get corned beef, pastrami, etc. but everything on the menu is in great quality and delicious, using mostly local ingredients. If you are looking for a hearty sandwich and don't mind spending around $10, try Al's. (p.s. pickles are a bit salty to me..boo..)
(4)David C.
Solid choice for a good sandwich. No complaints.
(4)Matt C.
Sandwiches stacked with meat. Matzo ball soup. Reuben fries. For me, Al's is conveniently located down the street from my house. While I don't frequent it often, I do enjoy the occasional stacked sandwich; and when I'm not feeling well, the matzo ball soup hits the spot! Recently, I tried the Reuben fries, and while they were a little difficult to eat, I will still order them again!
(4)doug r.
The reuben was very good. I really like sauerkraut, and would have preferred a bit more. Next time, I will ask.
(4)Christina G.
It's a huge sandwich!! A little pricey but we don't mind paying an extra dollar or two for a really good sandwich. Will be back!
(5)Steve N.
I spontaneously walked into to Al's for my first time and had no idea what to expect. I ordered a turkey sandwich with Russian dressing. The value equation is awful. $11 for just a sandwich. No chips, pop, or any other type of side. $11 can go a lot further somewhere else.
(2)Abigail S.
Hands down the best Ruben I've ever had. I've tried all over the U.S. and nothing compares to this place! I get a Ruben either on Challah or an onion roll, ask for extra Russian on the side, add steak fries and a drink and only New Pickles. Absolutely Delicious. Not low in calories but worth the splurge :)
(5)Laura Y.
Server: great. You order at the counter and they bring your food to you in a bag. Ambiance: small hole in wall. Seats 18. The food: good. we had #15 Julie's gem (pastrami Swiss) and 1 pounder united meet (corned beef, pastrami, Swiss and Russian dressing) Both sandwiches were good. I think #15 was a few dollars over priced. It was $10 and the meet was not stacked very high. The united meet is priced right at $15. It's big enough to share and half of that sandwich has more on it then the #15 so if you can I would share the pounder.
(4)Chris M.
I'm shocked I'd never been here before. Its a bit of a hike from Royal Oak. The place I was heading to wasn't open yet and I thought what the heck. The menu is a bit confusing but that could simply be because I was new. Staff were beyond friendly and helpful and just as I started ordering a large sandwich, the guy stopped me and told me the amount of meat on each sandwich. After this, I opted for the small (6 oz). Very nice size. Sandwich was great. Its times like these that even if the sandwich was just O.K., I'd probably go back because the service was that good. On the plus side I didn't wan to stop eating my messy sloppy Reuben.
(4)Will B.
Good, not great. Huge piles of corned beef. Good sandwich, but it lacked dressing, flavor in the rye bread, and my cheese wasn't melted. All in all, I think I'd rather go to Ernie's and pay 1/2 of what they charge here. For $12 I expect a really good sandwich. What I ended up getting was a mediocre sandwich and crappy customer service.
(3)Berkeley C.
We stopped getting from this place but decided to give it another try. Big mistake. Dead bug in the salad and it got half eaten.
(1)Ken S.
At home now. 30 dollars of food. Live in royal oak. Deli sandwich is good. Heavy older blonde Waiting on us was so rude. No customer service. She was so rude and I'm a first time customer.. Soups are horrible also. I asked if the cabbage soup had lots of cabbage in it and she yes. TWO PIECES. hello. Will go out of myway to Troy deli next time. Btw. I live on vinsetta.
(2)Justin T.
Great deli sandwiches; period. The corned beef doesn't get any better than this in Metro Detroit. The staff is friendly as well. While I was there once, a guy accidentally opened a can of diet soda when he wanted the leaded version. They happily let him open another without charge. Limited parking and seating are all part of the Woodward avenue experience IMHO. The sandwiches are monstrous which helps to justify Al's slightly expensive menu. Stick with a single decker or plan on taking half to go. Al, please stick around. I'm weary of trying to remember the name of this deli. Spanky's, Stan's, Al's... let's get it together. Hopefully, since you have dubbed yourself 'famous' from the onset, we can have some consistency and get the name of this gem on the streets.
(5)Moyah M.
The best corned beef sandwich in the entire world. The service is amazing and quick. The choices are endless. I would eat there everyday if I could.
(5)Jacob F.
Awesome Deli! Onion rings, cole slaw, corned beef were all delicious. Their caesar salad was one of the best, value and taste -wise. I had just been to Onion Roll Deli the week before so in my opinion, everything at Al's was better.
(5)A. M.
Big sandwiches, staff with big personalities.
(4)Corydon S.
The corned beef on rye is excellent. It is cut thin and is incredibly tender. The sandwich portions are very large, I could only eat one half in a sitting. NYC gets all most of the fame as delis go, but I prefer this deli over the Katz's. Al's is the ultimate comfort food, home cooked flavors without having to cook.
(4)Claire D.
I grabbed dinner the other night here with my husband and though the place was very clean and the service was friendly I doubt we'll be going back there again. I had a chicken salad sandwich with chicken salad that looked like they had scooped it out of a container (and I feel tasted like it had been sitting around all day). My husband had "Ari's favorite" which we felt was ALL corned beef and little else. The corned beef was good but there wasn't much to hold the sandwich together. We had the onion rings and they were good, but not worth a return visit.
(2)o o.
Clean, Clean, and Clean!! This deli is delicious. I tasted the Ruben, Turkey sandwich, cabbage soup, and cole slaw - all good. I asked for lean corn beef and that is exactly what I got. No globs of fat in this sandwich. This Ruben was lighter on the Russian than bread basket and I thought better. The Turkey was piled on and everything was fresh. The bread had a nice crunchy crust. Cabbage soup was full bodied and had a good flavor. Slaw was good too. Drink options included Dr. Brown's in a variety of flavors. Small area to dine. Better for take out. Best Deli around!
(4)Russ H.
This place has declined a bit in my opinion. The other Bread Basket delis are better it seems, and the prices are are fairly high for a so-so to average sandwich (I had corned beef with swiss on toasted rye). Also the staff nearly screwed up my order, but I heard them say mayo (???) And spoke up. They also seemed like it was a burden to take my order. And the place was empty aside from one carry out order while I wad there (mine was also carry out). The high point was the glazed pound cake. It was very good. It's been better here, but also the same as I've described. If it were cheaper I could overlook a few of their shortcomings. I may try again in a few months, but wont be holding my breath.
(3)Amby M.
My biggest negative with this place is the PRICES...for two sandwiches (corned beef with coleslaw) it was $20, even with a $1/off coupon. BUT, let it not be said you don't get your money's worth! They don't skimp on the meat at ALL, so either split one sandwich with a loved one or plan on having leftovers for lunch the next day. It can get quite busy during lunch and seating is slim, so getting takeout is the best way to go!
(4)Bob C.
How could you possibly give this place less than 5 stars? I stopped in to Al's this afternoon after nearly a 1 year hiatus from my last visit. What a huge mistake it was this year. I ordered 1/2 a Reuben Sandwich with the Matzo Ball soup and I have to say this is one of the best Reubens I have ever had. I consider this particular food item to be one of my most snobby items to try... and the corned beef was spectacular. The 1/2 sandwich was nearly more than I could eat, and was at least 5" thick. The chopped up corned beef barely held together inside, and it was steaming hot when I got it back to my office. This was the first time I have ever tried Matzo Ball Soup... so I can't judge their recipe, but overall I think I would just order the full reuben next time and save the second half for the next days lunch. HIGHLY recommend you try Al's Famous Deli...
(5)Blaise B.
Al's is a great carryout lunch place. The prices are a little on the high side, but they stuff their sandwiches with as much meat as they can possibly fit between two pieces of bread! The sandwich was great, but the cole slaw was a little bland. Overall, a good choice, but only if you're in the mood for MEAT.
(3)Eric T.
This place is filthy! I found a fingernail in my sandwich!!!!!! So grossed out I probably will never eat corned beef again in my life. Go elsewhere!!!!
(1)Joe B.
I keep seeing this Arby's Reuben commercial on TV and it recently called to me and told me to stop by Al's Deli of all places, for one of their "famous" deli sandwiches. Now I've been a fan of whichever deli is in this particular spot for at least seven years even though it's changed ownership at least three times. The food has always been KILLER. I dropped in Monday, parked in front and with no lines to contend with at 2 pm, I ordered the #17 1/2 (corned beef OR pastrami on rye with slaw, Russian dressing and Swiss) with fries and a soda to go. The combo out the door was $13 and change, and it was ready quicker than some fast food experiences I've had. I bolted home fighting the urge to open the sack the whole way - I was famished. BTW the bag must have weighed at least two pounds, even without the soda. Needless to say, I was excited for this sandwich and maybe even a little too steeped in anticipation. I got home and unwrapped the fries to find thick cut steak fries that were a little soggy from the trip home but no worries, these weren't the headliner and they were still pretty good for deli fries regardless. Then I unwrapped the sandwich. I know David G. reported an average height of 8" for their sandwiches, well mine wasn't quite that tall but it was heaped, like HEEEEAPED, with corned beef. This is not for the faint hearted carnivore!! Anyways, the slaw was delicious, the Russian dressing - good, and the Swiss - it's cheese of course that was tasty, their rye isn't heavy on the caraway seed, so a little more subtle than maybe a typical deli rye bread. But the meat, which as I mentioned was HEAPED, was also really really fatty. It was very tasty and tender but sadly a little too fatty for my tastes. Aside from that though, a little toast on the bun would go a long way. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the side of beef they laid onto the rye bread, I'm just saying I would be dropping five stars for a leaner cut and some butter grilled love next time. Still a solid solid sandwich and maybe the most stacked deli sandwich on Woodward. That said I'll be back to try this place again and I'll also be hitting up the Onion Roll for a current taste of there deli offerings for comparison's sake.
(3)Mike M.
A place is innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, Al's fails on a few levels. Price - $16 for a Reuben with chips and a pop seems high to me. The corned beef was not even layered but just scrapping of what seemed to look like leftovers. The cleanliness was questionable at best. The tray they served the sandwich on was dirty and the counter was dirty, the place needs a good scrubbing. If you are going to charge NY style prices for your sandwiches then you better give NY quality sandwiches to the likes of a Carnegie Deli. There are tons of better delis in Michigan for half the price.
(2)Molida K.
I'm so torn between Al's and the Onion Roll but I believe Al's may have won me over. It is CLEAN and they have fountain soda with free refills, both of which the Onion Roll lacks. The sandwiches are huge, messy, and delicious. You just haven't lived until you've had coleslaw and pastrami juice running down your hands.
(5)rr d.
The food was great! But this place needs a good cleaning; grim and dirt everywhere. And the bathroom smells like a sour diaper.NEEDS A GOOD PROFESIONAL CLEANING!!!
(1)Amy P.
I really, really, really want to like Al's Deli, I do. So much so that I've gone there on 3 separate occasions to have their corned beef, and EVERY single time I'm dissapointed. I always order the 17 1/2 with is just a 17 but a smaller portion. It's rye bread, corned beef, swiss, cole slaw and thousand island. EVERY time I've gone they charge me for a full and I have to remind them I ordered the half. Kind of annoying. Even the half ends up being $11. I'm sorry $11 for just a sandwich is ridiculous. Now, I worked in a somewhat short lived deli restaurant up the road that served really, really good corned beef. The days I'd worked there I'd have to slice corned beef a couple times a day and it was simply the best corned beef I've ever had. Since then, no corned beef has ever lived up to the corned beef I've had there. The corned beef at Al's just has no flavor. In fact, the whole sandwich lacks flavor. The rye bread is decent in that it has a crunchy crust and soft inside, but there is never enough dressing and the coleslaw is bland. The corned beef is chewy and not at all good. I mean I'd pay the $11 if the sandwich was good, but it's just not, and its been that way the 3 times I've tried it. There's a bar across Woodward that serves awesome corned beef sandwiches, I'll just go there from now on.
(2)John F.
Excellent corned beef! Highly recommend. A "must try" for sure, if you like corned beef.
(5)Rebecca G.
Customer service is appalling, they gave me the wrong food I paid for it without checking and they wouldn't fix it! I have never experienced this, they told me I'm wrong! Salad came tossed without any dressing I ordered ranch she said she gave blue cheese, but there was no dressing! Lady was like you can still eat it ? Really? The lady at the front did this May 10th at 7:00, she should be fired.
(1)Robin S.
Seriously the worst customer service!! You have lost a weekly customer! You will run yourself out of business soon!! Great product with HORRIBLE service!!
(1)Rebecca B.
Again - this is based on my husband's feedback from the Dream Cruise. This is the only place that he goes to get a deli sandwich because it is good. Think simple deli counter with some tables - no waitresses. The bonus to this place is the consistency. It is $10 for a corned beef with swiss on rye - worth it because it is really 2 meals.
(4)Suzanne S.
Pastrami - lean, dry, flavorless, lots of it. Coleslaw same crap every restaurant uses - not nearly enough. Russian dressing standard stuff. One thin slice of Swiss. With Dollar off coupon was still $twelve. Bread was good - counter staff nice enough - but once a year is enough.
(3)Stuart S.
So here's the down and dirty truth. I don't think Al cares anymore. I've been a loyal patron since the place on 12 mile and evergreen and won't eat deli elsewhere. Tonight I picked up a Reuben with pastrami instead of corned beef. This is typically a grilled sandwich that oozes cheese and Russian dressing. It was stone cold like it came out of the cooler and they forgot to nuke it ! I hope it hasn't come to this. I requested bread for the quart of soup and it was nowhere to be seen. So..... I called to let them know the issue. The cashier who has been there since she was a teenager blew me off offering to put me in the. " book" and I could have a free desert next time I order out. Well.... She can have the desert and after. 30+ years I'll have to drive a little further and get me some Star Deli where they care about their patrons and not about running a bunch of sub -par sandwich joints. Too bad.
(1)Cathy W.
Wow!!! It's been a long time since we've had such a great corned beef sandwich. The 17 1/2 (corned beef, Swiss, cole slaw, and Russian dressing) is spectacular! Excellent bread, great Swiss, crunchy slaw, not too much Russian, and MOUNDS of the best corned beef around. Hard to fathom such a huge sandwich for under $10. Will definately return as many of the offerings on their board sound worth a try. Only change we'll probably make is to split a sandwich since finishing even one half is quite an undertaking. Lol. Should mention that we got these as carryout. Seems some restaurants skimp on those, but certainly not here!!!!
(5)Chuck C.
The food is OK no big surprises basic bill of fare! This is not a bad thing when it comes to a corn beef deli. The star is the corned beef it was very good and came piled high of the rye, the PASTRAMI { my normal pick) was OK as well. I had only one complaint and that has to do with the place itself, it is a little worn and could be nicer. Live well and eat well, and please no chains!
(3)Randy G.
Al's comes across as a pretty standard Jewish deli. They have all the right items on the menu and in the showcase. Lets see: corned beef, check; Pastrami, check; chicken noodle soup, check; ah, matzo ball soup, check (now we're talking); beef tongue, check (you have my attention), lox, check (smoked salmon for those who don't know what lox is), and new dill pickles (not noodle pickles, if the person behind the counter says "noodle pickles?" you know you're not in a Jewish deli. So, Al's has all that going for it. It also has Kreplach soup, but when I asked about it, it turns out they don't make it anymore. :( So, how does it stack up to a Jewish deli. I tried their corned beef on rye with coleslaw and russian dressing. Any staple for the deli. I asked for it to be grilled and they said no problem. That's a big plus certainly getting you close to four stars for it. However, the corned beef was more fatty that I usually like it. It had several pieces that were gelatinous, not so pleasant in the sandwich. Even though they did have new dill pickles, they were getting a little old and mushy for my taste. With this, I would have given it three stars, but there is one thing they do that is near and dear to my heart, bumping it up, almost everything is bought and made locally. Starting from the corned beef, to the pickles (topors), to the chips, and then to the breads and cakes. I love supporting local business and it means even more when those business are supporting our local community. You get a star for that Al! Enjoy!
(4)Robert W.
The #17 with coleslaw, Russian dressing, no cheese is by far my favorite sandwich on the planet. When I have clients come to Detroit from out of town, I take them to Slow's, Buddy's, Lafayette, or Famous Al's. I've been to NY on multiple occasions and this sandwich stacks with anything I've had over there. Yes, you are paying $10 for a sandwich, but come on, it's like comparing a filet from Lelli's to the steak at Denny's. Sure they are both called a "steak", but can you really compare the two? If you are a small eater, I would highly recommend sharing one, they are insanely big.
(5)Amy H.
I was so excited when I first stumbled upon the menu. There are so many choices, I had a hard time deciding what to try. I went ahead and got a tuna melt with swiss and bacon (picture included), and was blown away. The portion size was massive! I probably could have split this with someone, but I was greedy and saved the other half for later. My boyfriend got a towering corned beef sandwich, and gobbled it up in minutes. He was pleased. We will definitely be coming back, when the funds allow us to.
(4)Tracey L.
Possibly the worst Greek salad I have ever had. I got chicken added to it not knowing it would be deli meat chicken just chopped into little bits and thrown on. Onions were old and transparent. The people working in there were so incredibly loud with their personal conversations it was uncomfortable. Maybe I should have stuck with a sandwich because obviously I do realize it is a SANDWICH place but how can you screw up a salad that bad? I would hate to see what an actual sandwich looks like/tastes like.
(1)Dennis L.
I visited Al's Famous Deli to experience something new while visiting family in the Detroit area. We visited this deli with high expectations. I ended up ordering the Scott and Sy's United Meat with matzo ball soup. The sandwich was outstanding! The matzo ball soup was pretty good. Overall, the meal was a success. In my option, the menu is slightly over-priced, but the food does speak for itself. Al's is certainly worth a visit.
(4)Matt S.
This is going to be a quick one..... Pregnant wife had a craving (go figure) for Corned Beef sandwich. This place knocked it out of the park. It's obvious that it's part of the Bread Basket group, and really the only GOOD Deli sandwich option now since Alban's has been LONG gone, and the Deli Roll is closed. HUGE portions of delicious, warm, tasty corned beef. Seriously. The sandwich was ridiculously huge. I'd get one and split it next time between two people. Only drawback is that it's expensive, but you really do get your money's worth. Great place, and if I'm craving a solid, real deli sandwich I'll cruise on up to Al's....
(4)Chris G.
If I could give this place less than one star I would. I stopped in today with a coworker for lunch. We saw the Metro Times Best banner and figured it has to be good right? It was horrible . . the corned beef was so bland and most of it was fat or gristle. It was borderline disgusting I pulled half my corned beef off because it was all fat. Yea the sandwich was huge but if it tastes like shit then it doesn't really matter does it. All of you who say this is one of your favorite delis . . . you're out of your mind and clearly have not had a sandwich from a good deli before. It cost each of us 15$ bucks too for a deluxe which was a drink and fries and they even forgot an order of fries but we figured it would be enough food since the sandwich was huge. We should have gone with my first idea of Red Coat Tavern for a burger. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE THE FOOD WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE AND GROSSLY OVERPRICED!!!
(1)Brandon R.
Love the #2 or go with a classic reuben too. The sandwiches here are ENORMOUS! You can also buy their fresh deli meat by the .lb as well as their cheeses. Nothing like snagging a .lb of lean corn beef and some swiss to take home and watch college football on a fall Saturday afternoon! Only complaint here is the cashiers. They are tough cookies! Very impatient and if you don't know the menu you'll get an ear full. Think Seinfeld soup nazi style and you can get a feel for what I'm trying to convey. But what deli isn't that way, right?
(4)Sarah B.
Al's has amazing sandwiches! The corned beef is out of this world!! The staff is always very nice and friendly! The owner is really good about getting to know her "regular" customers which is a plus! Great place for a casual lunch or an easy delicious dinner!! You will not be let down!!
(5)Josh P.
This place is an off shoot of Bread Basket Deli which IMHO is the best deli in Michigan. It's pretty much the same but I felt a little lower in quality. The corned beef is pretty good but they microwave it to make it "hot". The pastrami is rancid. Fatty and tough. It was hard to bite into it. You would end up getting a whole piece in your mouth which could cause you to choke. The staff is however REALLY friendly. That's the only reason it got 3 stars.
(3)Chip W.
Fact: When you die and go to heaven the first thing they hand you is a corned beef sky high from Big Al's. When you combine a) great ingredients and b) fast service, you end up with a winner. Big Al's has both and that's why it's an excellent place to grab a lunch. And it's not just deli sandwiches. [Though I don't know why you would want to stray.] They have salads, various offal items (liver, tongue, etc.) and deserts. The portions are over the top so either come hungry or prepare for leftovers.
(4)Viet N.
The only real fault of Al's is being just a few miles north of Onion Roll, meaning that I have no choice but to compare the two directly. Al's is otherwise a solid deli, so let's address a few common threads. Parking: Much has been made of parking at the Onion Roll, and I think it's just marginally better at Al's. There are fewer spots directly in front of the restaurant, but there are more nearby shops (notably Custard & Co) where you park. Ambiance: It's a deli. Hours: Hands down, easier at Al's. Open til 9. Service: Unlike the hilarious Russian guys running the grill at the Onion Roll, Al's was being managed that evening by a helpful, but no-nonsense lady. It definitely has a franchise feel, instead of a grown-from-the-ground-up feel. Food: Here is where the real differences lie. My corned beef sandwich, with coleslaw and Russian dressing, was tasty but definitely inferior. The meat itself was sliced thin and by itself, excellent. No complaints there. The rye bread was weakly flavored, and sadly, not grilled. Not much coleslaw or Russian dressing, but if you prefer your sandwiches to be monuments to meat, this is no problem. On the plus side, there are more options for food here, including soups and salads. On the minus side, their matzo ball soup tasted like dumplings in chicken broth, and came out lukewarm. Prices: Same, although they do take credit cards! Big props. All in all, I liked my experience and food more at Onion Roll. Purely based on food, Al's gets a solid 4/5, would return again, if only for the dessert - Custard & Co next door!
(4)Laura J.
No one needs a whole sandwich from this place, even the minis were huge. The corned beef was amazing. I expected it to be great and it was. The mushroom barley soup was the suprise find. The soup was crave worthy.
(5)Richard F.
Nice big sandwiches, but long lines and menu difficult to read.
(3)D P.
I stopped there last night at 8:35; Al's hours are to 9:00. The lady at the register seemed annoyed that new patrons were there. Since I didn't see any credit signs posted, I asked if the accepted debit/credit. I received an abrupt response, "yes, but I just posted the books". I ordered a 17 1/2 "lean", after she charged me the extra dollar, I was informed that since it was near closing it would not be "totally lean". Well she got that right. Corned beef was fatty. The rye bread was super thin. I will not return for subpar food and cranky/rude service,
(2)Karl L.
This place could do so much better. The lean corned beef is really good, but the standard is dry, sliced too thin and all fat. They don't put enough dressing on their sandwiches either. I ordered lean the other day and got home to find I was given the standard corned beef. It was not edible and I threw it away after a few bites.
(2)Deedee B.
Wonderful sandwiches and presentation.
(4)Brandon R.
Love the #2 or go with a classic reuben too. The sandwiches here are ENORMOUS! You can also buy their fresh deli meat by the .lb as well as their cheeses. Nothing like snagging a .lb of lean corn beef and some swiss to take home and watch college football on a fall Saturday afternoon! Only complaint here is the cashiers. They are tough cookies! Very impatient and if you don't know the menu you'll get an ear full. Think Seinfeld soup nazi style and you can get a feel for what I'm trying to convey. But what deli isn't that way, right?
(4)Sarah B.
Al's has amazing sandwiches! The corned beef is out of this world!! The staff is always very nice and friendly! The owner is really good about getting to know her "regular" customers which is a plus! Great place for a casual lunch or an easy delicious dinner!! You will not be let down!!
(5)Josh P.
This place is an off shoot of Bread Basket Deli which IMHO is the best deli in Michigan. It's pretty much the same but I felt a little lower in quality. The corned beef is pretty good but they microwave it to make it "hot". The pastrami is rancid. Fatty and tough. It was hard to bite into it. You would end up getting a whole piece in your mouth which could cause you to choke. The staff is however REALLY friendly. That's the only reason it got 3 stars.
(3)Amby M.
My biggest negative with this place is the PRICES...for two sandwiches (corned beef with coleslaw) it was $20, even with a $1/off coupon. BUT, let it not be said you don't get your money's worth! They don't skimp on the meat at ALL, so either split one sandwich with a loved one or plan on having leftovers for lunch the next day. It can get quite busy during lunch and seating is slim, so getting takeout is the best way to go!
(4)Bob C.
How could you possibly give this place less than 5 stars? I stopped in to Al's this afternoon after nearly a 1 year hiatus from my last visit. What a huge mistake it was this year. I ordered 1/2 a Reuben Sandwich with the Matzo Ball soup and I have to say this is one of the best Reubens I have ever had. I consider this particular food item to be one of my most snobby items to try... and the corned beef was spectacular. The 1/2 sandwich was nearly more than I could eat, and was at least 5" thick. The chopped up corned beef barely held together inside, and it was steaming hot when I got it back to my office. This was the first time I have ever tried Matzo Ball Soup... so I can't judge their recipe, but overall I think I would just order the full reuben next time and save the second half for the next days lunch. HIGHLY recommend you try Al's Famous Deli...
(5)Blaise B.
Al's is a great carryout lunch place. The prices are a little on the high side, but they stuff their sandwiches with as much meat as they can possibly fit between two pieces of bread! The sandwich was great, but the cole slaw was a little bland. Overall, a good choice, but only if you're in the mood for MEAT.
(3)Eric T.
This place is filthy! I found a fingernail in my sandwich!!!!!! So grossed out I probably will never eat corned beef again in my life. Go elsewhere!!!!
(1)Chip W.
Fact: When you die and go to heaven the first thing they hand you is a corned beef sky high from Big Al's. When you combine a) great ingredients and b) fast service, you end up with a winner. Big Al's has both and that's why it's an excellent place to grab a lunch. And it's not just deli sandwiches. [Though I don't know why you would want to stray.] They have salads, various offal items (liver, tongue, etc.) and deserts. The portions are over the top so either come hungry or prepare for leftovers.
(4)Joe B.
I keep seeing this Arby's Reuben commercial on TV and it recently called to me and told me to stop by Al's Deli of all places, for one of their "famous" deli sandwiches. Now I've been a fan of whichever deli is in this particular spot for at least seven years even though it's changed ownership at least three times. The food has always been KILLER. I dropped in Monday, parked in front and with no lines to contend with at 2 pm, I ordered the #17 1/2 (corned beef OR pastrami on rye with slaw, Russian dressing and Swiss) with fries and a soda to go. The combo out the door was $13 and change, and it was ready quicker than some fast food experiences I've had. I bolted home fighting the urge to open the sack the whole way - I was famished. BTW the bag must have weighed at least two pounds, even without the soda. Needless to say, I was excited for this sandwich and maybe even a little too steeped in anticipation. I got home and unwrapped the fries to find thick cut steak fries that were a little soggy from the trip home but no worries, these weren't the headliner and they were still pretty good for deli fries regardless. Then I unwrapped the sandwich. I know David G. reported an average height of 8" for their sandwiches, well mine wasn't quite that tall but it was heaped, like HEEEEAPED, with corned beef. This is not for the faint hearted carnivore!! Anyways, the slaw was delicious, the Russian dressing - good, and the Swiss - it's cheese of course that was tasty, their rye isn't heavy on the caraway seed, so a little more subtle than maybe a typical deli rye bread. But the meat, which as I mentioned was HEAPED, was also really really fatty. It was very tasty and tender but sadly a little too fatty for my tastes. Aside from that though, a little toast on the bun would go a long way. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the side of beef they laid onto the rye bread, I'm just saying I would be dropping five stars for a leaner cut and some butter grilled love next time. Still a solid solid sandwich and maybe the most stacked deli sandwich on Woodward. That said I'll be back to try this place again and I'll also be hitting up the Onion Roll for a current taste of there deli offerings for comparison's sake.
(3)Chris G.
If I could give this place less than one star I would. I stopped in today with a coworker for lunch. We saw the Metro Times Best banner and figured it has to be good right? It was horrible . . the corned beef was so bland and most of it was fat or gristle. It was borderline disgusting I pulled half my corned beef off because it was all fat. Yea the sandwich was huge but if it tastes like shit then it doesn't really matter does it. All of you who say this is one of your favorite delis . . . you're out of your mind and clearly have not had a sandwich from a good deli before. It cost each of us 15$ bucks too for a deluxe which was a drink and fries and they even forgot an order of fries but we figured it would be enough food since the sandwich was huge. We should have gone with my first idea of Red Coat Tavern for a burger. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE THE FOOD WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE AND GROSSLY OVERPRICED!!!
(1)Richard F.
Nice big sandwiches, but long lines and menu difficult to read.
(3)Viet N.
The only real fault of Al's is being just a few miles north of Onion Roll, meaning that I have no choice but to compare the two directly. Al's is otherwise a solid deli, so let's address a few common threads. Parking: Much has been made of parking at the Onion Roll, and I think it's just marginally better at Al's. There are fewer spots directly in front of the restaurant, but there are more nearby shops (notably Custard & Co) where you park. Ambiance: It's a deli. Hours: Hands down, easier at Al's. Open til 9. Service: Unlike the hilarious Russian guys running the grill at the Onion Roll, Al's was being managed that evening by a helpful, but no-nonsense lady. It definitely has a franchise feel, instead of a grown-from-the-ground-up feel. Food: Here is where the real differences lie. My corned beef sandwich, with coleslaw and Russian dressing, was tasty but definitely inferior. The meat itself was sliced thin and by itself, excellent. No complaints there. The rye bread was weakly flavored, and sadly, not grilled. Not much coleslaw or Russian dressing, but if you prefer your sandwiches to be monuments to meat, this is no problem. On the plus side, there are more options for food here, including soups and salads. On the minus side, their matzo ball soup tasted like dumplings in chicken broth, and came out lukewarm. Prices: Same, although they do take credit cards! Big props. All in all, I liked my experience and food more at Onion Roll. Purely based on food, Al's gets a solid 4/5, would return again, if only for the dessert - Custard & Co next door!
(4)Laura J.
No one needs a whole sandwich from this place, even the minis were huge. The corned beef was amazing. I expected it to be great and it was. The mushroom barley soup was the suprise find. The soup was crave worthy.
(5)D P.
I stopped there last night at 8:35; Al's hours are to 9:00. The lady at the register seemed annoyed that new patrons were there. Since I didn't see any credit signs posted, I asked if the accepted debit/credit. I received an abrupt response, "yes, but I just posted the books". I ordered a 17 1/2 "lean", after she charged me the extra dollar, I was informed that since it was near closing it would not be "totally lean". Well she got that right. Corned beef was fatty. The rye bread was super thin. I will not return for subpar food and cranky/rude service,
(2)Karl L.
This place could do so much better. The lean corned beef is really good, but the standard is dry, sliced too thin and all fat. They don't put enough dressing on their sandwiches either. I ordered lean the other day and got home to find I was given the standard corned beef. It was not edible and I threw it away after a few bites.
(2)Deedee B.
Wonderful sandwiches and presentation.
(4)Mike M.
A place is innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, Al's fails on a few levels. Price - $16 for a Reuben with chips and a pop seems high to me. The corned beef was not even layered but just scrapping of what seemed to look like leftovers. The cleanliness was questionable at best. The tray they served the sandwich on was dirty and the counter was dirty, the place needs a good scrubbing. If you are going to charge NY style prices for your sandwiches then you better give NY quality sandwiches to the likes of a Carnegie Deli. There are tons of better delis in Michigan for half the price.
(2)Molida K.
I'm so torn between Al's and the Onion Roll but I believe Al's may have won me over. It is CLEAN and they have fountain soda with free refills, both of which the Onion Roll lacks. The sandwiches are huge, messy, and delicious. You just haven't lived until you've had coleslaw and pastrami juice running down your hands.
(5)rr d.
The food was great! But this place needs a good cleaning; grim and dirt everywhere. And the bathroom smells like a sour diaper.NEEDS A GOOD PROFESIONAL CLEANING!!!
(1)David C.
Solid choice for a good sandwich. No complaints.
(4)Cat K.
Holy mole. I think I fell in love with a sandwich. the corned beef sandwich at Al's is just. Wow. Giant, moist, tasty. very good stuff. If you are going to go to Al's do try it. I haven't had much else but I realize its worth a return trip. Also ordered, the club, which had a monstrous amount of turkey and two soups (beef barley and matzo ball). They seem to run out of kerplach a lot, or I would have got a mish mosh. Regardless. Beef barley was good, matzo ball had too much pepper in my opinion, although I am a stickler for too much pepper. verdict: get the corned beef, you won't be disappointed. very large sandwiches, good selection of soups and dessert + very friendly staff. On another note, I was impressed and elated about how this Deli chooses to support and serve the Metro-Detroit Area. Their "Buy Detroit" slogan was inspiring. Many of us know the tough local problems but not many businesses put themselves on the line to change their ways to support the issue. Thank you and Congrats.
(4)Ben O.
If you've ever had a bad food experience here I urge you to return. If your pastrami was tough, I assure you it was an off day. I'm a pretty regular and I'd say about 1/7 times the pastrami leaves something to desire. But those other 6 times, man oh man. I always get the same thing. Mini #3 with pastrami so I can really only speak on that. That and the turkey pastrami are tasty as all heck. The pastrami is usually melting off the sandwich, the coleslaw is truely one of the best recepies Ive ever tasted and the cheese stinks of quality. Say what you will. I prefer it to Onion Roll, Bronx, and every other deli I've been to locally. Its a keeper and I'll keep going back.
(5)Matthew P.
I gotta say, as a big fan of deli's I was really looking forward to trying this place out. Sadly, I found them to be highly unorganized in their process. Not only does the menu not seem to match their carry out menu entirely, but there was an extremely long wait just to order a couple of sandwiches and get them to go (and I've been to WAY busier delis that move a hell of a lot faster!). And to top it all off, when I got home, both of my sanwiches had mayo on them instead of Russian dressing AND they gave us the completely wrong soup. Seriously, not sure how this place operates, but they need to get their shit together!
(2)Angela F.
We like Al's deli for those hot days when no one wants to get the kitchen warmed up (or stand there at the stove!). Personally, I am a turkey reuben on rye gal, and theirs is extremely good. We also get the #17 with roast beef instead of corned beef and it is also a recommend. HUGE (I mean at least 2 meals) sandwich. I like the regular reuben as well, but it is an awful lot of meat and I just don't like it more than twice in a row BUT for most people that is a good thing. All of the sandwiches have been moist and tasty. Typically, I get my reuben, take half the meat and cheese out and set it aside then use it the next day for another sandwich! Seriously. This thing is GHINORMOUS! We also get the egg salad sandwich occasionally - which I typically shy away from as a take out option in general but theirs is consistently good. We go here usually 1-2 times a month so have become regulars. Service is good - nice, friendly staff. Parking can be an adventure - particularly if you have to deal with rush hour and the ice cream parlor next door is open. But it's manageable.
(4)Haroun K.
It may just be that this spot is cursed for delis. A few years ago, Stan's came to life, created a lot of buzz, and died. After its reincarnation as Spanky's failed, the newest deli is Al's. After a few visits, it is clear that the quality is very inconsistent. While the service is friendly, it is essentially a takeout restaurant. There is little incentive to eat in: miserable parking situation, plastic utensils, few tables, no ambiance. The thing is, Al's charges the same prices as a sitdown deli, when it clearly does not fit the bill. Think of Star Deli, which is hands down superior, but take out only - the prices reflect this. That being said, this is definitely a better option than the Breadbasket.
(3)Jared H.
This place is as good as it gets for corned beef... about 70% of the time. I always order a 14 1/2 which is corned beef and swiss on rye - nothing else on it. I usually order grilled (the bread soaked in butter and then grilled) but not always. It's around $10 for this sandwhich. If you ask they'll tell you it's about 10 ounces of meat, but I think it's between 12 and 16 depending on the day. They are very filling sandwiches and there's really no need for fries or any other side item unless you plan to take half of it home. The bread is good but nothing special - just decent rye bread. They do not have caraway seeds in the rye, which makes me happy. I hate caraway seeds but that's another story. The swiss is your run of the mill stuff, nothing remarkable about it at all. The corned beef, however... is great. Usually. Most days at lunch time (and I would assume the busier times in the evening) it is very moist and flavorful, basically melting in your mouth. Other times it's fairly dry and lacking in the flavor department. You can expect the dry stuff later in the day just before they close, but I have no idea why it's dry sometimes during the lunch rush, but it is. I usually go with a few coworkers and they always agree - sometimes it's great, other times it's just ok. I've also had their fries, sweet potato fries, and pound cake. The regular fries are steak fries, which are a bit soft and flavorless - I do not care for them. The sweet potato fries are cut thinner - about a 5/16" or 3/8" square - and are very good. The pound cake was also good. I don't remember why, but I know they gave us the pound cake for free one time - I think they screwed up somebody's sandwich, but I've always gotten exactly what I've ordered. There are only a few seats (around 20 total) about half of which are bar style seating at either the counter or at a window facing Woodward. When you go inside you're at the cash register with the menu up above - typical deli. Overall, it's good enough to be worth the risk, but don't be surprised if you're disappointed from time to time.
(4)Anna G.
My husband is a Brit and he loves sandwiches - this is one of his favorite sandwich place in town. We usually get corned beef, pastrami, etc. but everything on the menu is in great quality and delicious, using mostly local ingredients. If you are looking for a hearty sandwich and don't mind spending around $10, try Al's. (p.s. pickles are a bit salty to me..boo..)
(4)Ken S.
At home now. 30 dollars of food. Live in royal oak. Deli sandwich is good. Heavy older blonde Waiting on us was so rude. No customer service. She was so rude and I'm a first time customer.. Soups are horrible also. I asked if the cabbage soup had lots of cabbage in it and she yes. TWO PIECES. hello. Will go out of myway to Troy deli next time. Btw. I live on vinsetta.
(2)Chuck H.
I like Al's and never had a bad sandwich there, but the prices are a tad high, there is very little difference between the mini and large sandwiches other than price, and they give customers a feeling like they should know what to do even if they've never been there before. Stuff like not telling you where to get your drink, or explaining what comes with the different combos even though none of this stuff is really in plain sight on their dizzyingly busy menu. They should simplify things a bit, lower prices a little and they'd have a homerun.
(3)L P.
These guys make an excellent sandwich. I'm a giant fan of the turkey reuben. Basically, if you crave a completely stacked and meat-filled sandy this place is for you. They serve them up with the classic or garlic pickles, no surprises there. If you really like a dessert with your meal, this is not where they excel. The location has a small eating area for a quick stop and snack but by no means is a full diner.
(4)Robert J.
Not bad. I have generally enjoyed my sandwiches here. I'm a sucker for pastrami and tongue. So, that's usually what I go for here or any deli that has them. I have enjoyed the salami and pastrami here. I agree that the sandwiches are good, but certainly, they're not the best I've had. Let's face it, it's tough to beat a pastrami on rye from Katz's Deli in Manhattan. As excellent as Zingerman's is, even they can't come close to what Katz's delivers. Al's does a good job, but I don't long for it like I long for Katz's. I wouldn't drive 45 minutes for Al's like I would for Zingerman's.
(3)Kashan A.
Corned beef sandwiches don't get better than this! I've had deli-goers from NY express the same sentiment. Also, great service. Yeah, the place is without frills, but that's alright. Gives you an opportunity to enjoy good people and food.
(5)Alexandra K.
I speak deli fluently. My taste buds are trained in the art of old vs. new dill pickles. This, my fellow YELP-ers, is one of the worst delis I have ever dined at. Even delis in Toronto, whose chefs had never heard of a turkey rueben, merit the title deli. If I ate meat, I would have taste-tested my sister's salad, however, as I do eat fish, I can tell you, their tuna fish is rancid. Additionally, the sandwich construction was totally off. I also ordered a cup of diet cabbage borscht and it, too, was inedible. It was over spiced (with pepper and some sort of spicier spice) without the normal sweetness that most soups of this fashion contain. I was lastly disappointed by the pickles. It is in my deli-educated/influenced opinion that the best sandwiches should always be accompanied by one old and one new dill pickle (if I had it my way they'd all be old dills...), and after tasting the sandwich, I'd hoped the pickle would be a redeeming taste. No--they were soggy and not crunchy, overly drenched in juice and not just appropriately moist. If you're looking for a moderately priced deli, I'd recommend instead venturing to the Stage Deli or Deli Unique. More so, the only thing that makes this a two-star review is that they have Dr. Brown's sodas.
(2)Justin T.
Great deli sandwiches; period. The corned beef doesn't get any better than this in Metro Detroit. The staff is friendly as well. While I was there once, a guy accidentally opened a can of diet soda when he wanted the leaded version. They happily let him open another without charge. Limited parking and seating are all part of the Woodward avenue experience IMHO. The sandwiches are monstrous which helps to justify Al's slightly expensive menu. Stick with a single decker or plan on taking half to go. Al, please stick around. I'm weary of trying to remember the name of this deli. Spanky's, Stan's, Al's... let's get it together. Hopefully, since you have dubbed yourself 'famous' from the onset, we can have some consistency and get the name of this gem on the streets.
(5)Moyah M.
The best corned beef sandwich in the entire world. The service is amazing and quick. The choices are endless. I would eat there everyday if I could.
(5)Jacob F.
Awesome Deli! Onion rings, cole slaw, corned beef were all delicious. Their caesar salad was one of the best, value and taste -wise. I had just been to Onion Roll Deli the week before so in my opinion, everything at Al's was better.
(5)A. M.
Big sandwiches, staff with big personalities.
(4)Corydon S.
The corned beef on rye is excellent. It is cut thin and is incredibly tender. The sandwich portions are very large, I could only eat one half in a sitting. NYC gets all most of the fame as delis go, but I prefer this deli over the Katz's. Al's is the ultimate comfort food, home cooked flavors without having to cook.
(4)Claire D.
I grabbed dinner the other night here with my husband and though the place was very clean and the service was friendly I doubt we'll be going back there again. I had a chicken salad sandwich with chicken salad that looked like they had scooped it out of a container (and I feel tasted like it had been sitting around all day). My husband had "Ari's favorite" which we felt was ALL corned beef and little else. The corned beef was good but there wasn't much to hold the sandwich together. We had the onion rings and they were good, but not worth a return visit.
(2)o o.
Clean, Clean, and Clean!! This deli is delicious. I tasted the Ruben, Turkey sandwich, cabbage soup, and cole slaw - all good. I asked for lean corn beef and that is exactly what I got. No globs of fat in this sandwich. This Ruben was lighter on the Russian than bread basket and I thought better. The Turkey was piled on and everything was fresh. The bread had a nice crunchy crust. Cabbage soup was full bodied and had a good flavor. Slaw was good too. Drink options included Dr. Brown's in a variety of flavors. Small area to dine. Better for take out. Best Deli around!
(4)Matt C.
Sandwiches stacked with meat. Matzo ball soup. Reuben fries. For me, Al's is conveniently located down the street from my house. While I don't frequent it often, I do enjoy the occasional stacked sandwich; and when I'm not feeling well, the matzo ball soup hits the spot! Recently, I tried the Reuben fries, and while they were a little difficult to eat, I will still order them again!
(4)doug r.
The reuben was very good. I really like sauerkraut, and would have preferred a bit more. Next time, I will ask.
(4)Christina G.
It's a huge sandwich!! A little pricey but we don't mind paying an extra dollar or two for a really good sandwich. Will be back!
(5)Steve N.
I spontaneously walked into to Al's for my first time and had no idea what to expect. I ordered a turkey sandwich with Russian dressing. The value equation is awful. $11 for just a sandwich. No chips, pop, or any other type of side. $11 can go a lot further somewhere else.
(2)Abigail S.
Hands down the best Ruben I've ever had. I've tried all over the U.S. and nothing compares to this place! I get a Ruben either on Challah or an onion roll, ask for extra Russian on the side, add steak fries and a drink and only New Pickles. Absolutely Delicious. Not low in calories but worth the splurge :)
(5)Laura Y.
Server: great. You order at the counter and they bring your food to you in a bag. Ambiance: small hole in wall. Seats 18. The food: good. we had #15 Julie's gem (pastrami Swiss) and 1 pounder united meet (corned beef, pastrami, Swiss and Russian dressing) Both sandwiches were good. I think #15 was a few dollars over priced. It was $10 and the meet was not stacked very high. The united meet is priced right at $15. It's big enough to share and half of that sandwich has more on it then the #15 so if you can I would share the pounder.
(4)Chris M.
I'm shocked I'd never been here before. Its a bit of a hike from Royal Oak. The place I was heading to wasn't open yet and I thought what the heck. The menu is a bit confusing but that could simply be because I was new. Staff were beyond friendly and helpful and just as I started ordering a large sandwich, the guy stopped me and told me the amount of meat on each sandwich. After this, I opted for the small (6 oz). Very nice size. Sandwich was great. Its times like these that even if the sandwich was just O.K., I'd probably go back because the service was that good. On the plus side I didn't wan to stop eating my messy sloppy Reuben.
(4)Will B.
Good, not great. Huge piles of corned beef. Good sandwich, but it lacked dressing, flavor in the rye bread, and my cheese wasn't melted. All in all, I think I'd rather go to Ernie's and pay 1/2 of what they charge here. For $12 I expect a really good sandwich. What I ended up getting was a mediocre sandwich and crappy customer service.
(3)Berkeley C.
We stopped getting from this place but decided to give it another try. Big mistake. Dead bug in the salad and it got half eaten.
(1)Kal B.
My family is in town for the Bridgestone Winter Classic and had to go TWICE. I got to enjoy it sans calories from the phone. Three of them got three sandwiches (and yes they know better) and they are STILL eating them! HUGE, quintessential deli that we drool about still and can't go back without ordering up. The employees are brusque, no nonsense move em in and move em out hard core deli employees for sure but it part of the je ne se qua. SMALL, quaint and a two napkin or more meal for sure!
(5)Amy P.
I really, really, really want to like Al's Deli, I do. So much so that I've gone there on 3 separate occasions to have their corned beef, and EVERY single time I'm dissapointed. I always order the 17 1/2 with is just a 17 but a smaller portion. It's rye bread, corned beef, swiss, cole slaw and thousand island. EVERY time I've gone they charge me for a full and I have to remind them I ordered the half. Kind of annoying. Even the half ends up being $11. I'm sorry $11 for just a sandwich is ridiculous. Now, I worked in a somewhat short lived deli restaurant up the road that served really, really good corned beef. The days I'd worked there I'd have to slice corned beef a couple times a day and it was simply the best corned beef I've ever had. Since then, no corned beef has ever lived up to the corned beef I've had there. The corned beef at Al's just has no flavor. In fact, the whole sandwich lacks flavor. The rye bread is decent in that it has a crunchy crust and soft inside, but there is never enough dressing and the coleslaw is bland. The corned beef is chewy and not at all good. I mean I'd pay the $11 if the sandwich was good, but it's just not, and its been that way the 3 times I've tried it. There's a bar across Woodward that serves awesome corned beef sandwiches, I'll just go there from now on.
(2)John F.
Excellent corned beef! Highly recommend. A "must try" for sure, if you like corned beef.
(5)Rebecca G.
Customer service is appalling, they gave me the wrong food I paid for it without checking and they wouldn't fix it! I have never experienced this, they told me I'm wrong! Salad came tossed without any dressing I ordered ranch she said she gave blue cheese, but there was no dressing! Lady was like you can still eat it ? Really? The lady at the front did this May 10th at 7:00, she should be fired.
(1)Robin S.
Seriously the worst customer service!! You have lost a weekly customer! You will run yourself out of business soon!! Great product with HORRIBLE service!!
(1)Rebecca B.
Again - this is based on my husband's feedback from the Dream Cruise. This is the only place that he goes to get a deli sandwich because it is good. Think simple deli counter with some tables - no waitresses. The bonus to this place is the consistency. It is $10 for a corned beef with swiss on rye - worth it because it is really 2 meals.
(4)Suzanne S.
Pastrami - lean, dry, flavorless, lots of it. Coleslaw same crap every restaurant uses - not nearly enough. Russian dressing standard stuff. One thin slice of Swiss. With Dollar off coupon was still $twelve. Bread was good - counter staff nice enough - but once a year is enough.
(3)Stuart S.
So here's the down and dirty truth. I don't think Al cares anymore. I've been a loyal patron since the place on 12 mile and evergreen and won't eat deli elsewhere. Tonight I picked up a Reuben with pastrami instead of corned beef. This is typically a grilled sandwich that oozes cheese and Russian dressing. It was stone cold like it came out of the cooler and they forgot to nuke it ! I hope it hasn't come to this. I requested bread for the quart of soup and it was nowhere to be seen. So..... I called to let them know the issue. The cashier who has been there since she was a teenager blew me off offering to put me in the. " book" and I could have a free desert next time I order out. Well.... She can have the desert and after. 30+ years I'll have to drive a little further and get me some Star Deli where they care about their patrons and not about running a bunch of sub -par sandwich joints. Too bad.
(1)Randy G.
Al's comes across as a pretty standard Jewish deli. They have all the right items on the menu and in the showcase. Lets see: corned beef, check; Pastrami, check; chicken noodle soup, check; ah, matzo ball soup, check (now we're talking); beef tongue, check (you have my attention), lox, check (smoked salmon for those who don't know what lox is), and new dill pickles (not noodle pickles, if the person behind the counter says "noodle pickles?" you know you're not in a Jewish deli. So, Al's has all that going for it. It also has Kreplach soup, but when I asked about it, it turns out they don't make it anymore. :( So, how does it stack up to a Jewish deli. I tried their corned beef on rye with coleslaw and russian dressing. Any staple for the deli. I asked for it to be grilled and they said no problem. That's a big plus certainly getting you close to four stars for it. However, the corned beef was more fatty that I usually like it. It had several pieces that were gelatinous, not so pleasant in the sandwich. Even though they did have new dill pickles, they were getting a little old and mushy for my taste. With this, I would have given it three stars, but there is one thing they do that is near and dear to my heart, bumping it up, almost everything is bought and made locally. Starting from the corned beef, to the pickles (topors), to the chips, and then to the breads and cakes. I love supporting local business and it means even more when those business are supporting our local community. You get a star for that Al! Enjoy!
(4)Robert W.
The #17 with coleslaw, Russian dressing, no cheese is by far my favorite sandwich on the planet. When I have clients come to Detroit from out of town, I take them to Slow's, Buddy's, Lafayette, or Famous Al's. I've been to NY on multiple occasions and this sandwich stacks with anything I've had over there. Yes, you are paying $10 for a sandwich, but come on, it's like comparing a filet from Lelli's to the steak at Denny's. Sure they are both called a "steak", but can you really compare the two? If you are a small eater, I would highly recommend sharing one, they are insanely big.
(5)Amy H.
I was so excited when I first stumbled upon the menu. There are so many choices, I had a hard time deciding what to try. I went ahead and got a tuna melt with swiss and bacon (picture included), and was blown away. The portion size was massive! I probably could have split this with someone, but I was greedy and saved the other half for later. My boyfriend got a towering corned beef sandwich, and gobbled it up in minutes. He was pleased. We will definitely be coming back, when the funds allow us to.
(4)Tracey L.
Possibly the worst Greek salad I have ever had. I got chicken added to it not knowing it would be deli meat chicken just chopped into little bits and thrown on. Onions were old and transparent. The people working in there were so incredibly loud with their personal conversations it was uncomfortable. Maybe I should have stuck with a sandwich because obviously I do realize it is a SANDWICH place but how can you screw up a salad that bad? I would hate to see what an actual sandwich looks like/tastes like.
(1)Cathy W.
Wow!!! It's been a long time since we've had such a great corned beef sandwich. The 17 1/2 (corned beef, Swiss, cole slaw, and Russian dressing) is spectacular! Excellent bread, great Swiss, crunchy slaw, not too much Russian, and MOUNDS of the best corned beef around. Hard to fathom such a huge sandwich for under $10. Will definately return as many of the offerings on their board sound worth a try. Only change we'll probably make is to split a sandwich since finishing even one half is quite an undertaking. Lol. Should mention that we got these as carryout. Seems some restaurants skimp on those, but certainly not here!!!!
(5)Chuck C.
The food is OK no big surprises basic bill of fare! This is not a bad thing when it comes to a corn beef deli. The star is the corned beef it was very good and came piled high of the rye, the PASTRAMI { my normal pick) was OK as well. I had only one complaint and that has to do with the place itself, it is a little worn and could be nicer. Live well and eat well, and please no chains!
(3)Dennis L.
I visited Al's Famous Deli to experience something new while visiting family in the Detroit area. We visited this deli with high expectations. I ended up ordering the Scott and Sy's United Meat with matzo ball soup. The sandwich was outstanding! The matzo ball soup was pretty good. Overall, the meal was a success. In my option, the menu is slightly over-priced, but the food does speak for itself. Al's is certainly worth a visit.
(4)Matt S.
This is going to be a quick one..... Pregnant wife had a craving (go figure) for Corned Beef sandwich. This place knocked it out of the park. It's obvious that it's part of the Bread Basket group, and really the only GOOD Deli sandwich option now since Alban's has been LONG gone, and the Deli Roll is closed. HUGE portions of delicious, warm, tasty corned beef. Seriously. The sandwich was ridiculously huge. I'd get one and split it next time between two people. Only drawback is that it's expensive, but you really do get your money's worth. Great place, and if I'm craving a solid, real deli sandwich I'll cruise on up to Al's....
(4)Russ H.
This place has declined a bit in my opinion. The other Bread Basket delis are better it seems, and the prices are are fairly high for a so-so to average sandwich (I had corned beef with swiss on toasted rye). Also the staff nearly screwed up my order, but I heard them say mayo (???) And spoke up. They also seemed like it was a burden to take my order. And the place was empty aside from one carry out order while I wad there (mine was also carry out). The high point was the glazed pound cake. It was very good. It's been better here, but also the same as I've described. If it were cheaper I could overlook a few of their shortcomings. I may try again in a few months, but wont be holding my breath.
(3)