TLDR: classic sandwich shop Fresh cut meats and cheeses make for excellent sandwiches at a wonderful value. I've been going here for decades and it's like putting on your favorite sweatshirt. If I worked in the area this would definitely be a lunch time staple! read more

Downtown Deli - Delis Near Me - Ames, Iowa

The only time I don't like this place is when it's busy. I visit almost every time I am in Ames. Sandwiches are hand made to order, one by one, by the owner a guy who obviously appreciates the art of a good sandwich. Getting stuck in line behind a guy placing an order for the office is going to put a dent in your day. That said, my roasted turkey sandwich on rye was delish! Sweet and juicy turkey breast, sliced and piled high with my choice of cheese and fixings. Paired with a bag of chips and a "pop" from the soda fountain, it was a perfect lunch. Show up after 1:00 and you might find a shorter line. Just don't get stuck behind "that guy". read more

As long as I have lived here I never knew about this place. I was having a taste for a sandwich and my sister said go to downtown deli in Ames. All fresh ingredients meat sliced in front of you. All I'm gonna say is I've been missing out. Whenever I want a great sandwich with great customer service and food. Here's where I'm headed to. I'll be back soon. read more

Best deli sandwiches in town, made with fresh ingedients. , Great chilli. Good homemade cake - when availble.

It is typical of me to ask either the server or the cook what their favorite dish is on the menu. I asked the nice man wearing a Wolverine shirt, and slicing the deli meats, (my confidence in his choice of X-Men character only made me trust his sandwich choice that much more, silly metric, I know) and he recommended the Italian all dressed up, and the meat heated up. I went for it and it HIT THE SPOT. Well, my permanent boyfriend and I went back again the next day and asked for that same magical sandwich. I didn't order a soda since I don't drink my candy, and asked for a sector of their fabulous almond chocolate cake. It was heavenly. read more

Super great local sandwich shop. Always tastes fresh and delicious. Would reccomend to anyone visiting the historic area!

Went for a quick lunch while working. Sandwiches are basic with very good meats. I had the Rueben which comes on a hoagie instead of rye. The kraut was good and the sandwich did not become soggy. Ambiance is very casual and good for conversation but not a place to go to for privacy. Overall decent sandwiches for decent prices. Step way above the chains and worth going out of your way for a quick lunch. read more

The food portions were substantial and the quality was top notch. We'll be back the next time we come to town.

This classic Deli serves subs better than any chain could fathom. I always purchase a 7" sub and a bag of chips bringing my total to $8. The whole meal is fresh and filling. Great lighting perfect for a quick date or catching up with someone. If you're ever hungry in downtown Ames this stop will leave both your belly and wallet full. They slice the meat and cheese in front of your eyes while maintaining conversation and making the experience more personal than a chain restaurant sub shop. Everyone should check out Downtown Deli! 5/5, my favorite Deli in Ames. read more

Downtown Deli - Chips, 7" sandwich, water, all for $8.44. - Delis Near Me - Ames, Iowa

All time favorite sandwich shop. Been going here since 1980's. Always friendly staff and quick service. Nice to see local friend enjoying a bite. read more

Excellent sandwiches, great prices, friendly staff. It's definitely the place to go for a fantastic sandwich at a great price. Several tables to dine in. Located is the historical downtown district of Ames, full of beautiful art, sculptures and fountains and lots of independent retails stores to keep you occupied. read more

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We appreciate the fresh-sliced ingredients in our sandwiches and Wisconsin Cheese Soup is delicious. I love that they have several different sizes available and the prices are reasonable. The only downside is that there's often a pretty long wait to be served since they can only serve one customer at a time. read more

I was extremely leery of trying this place out because I've yet to be impressed by any Ames eateries the locals love so much. Welp, this one they actually got somewhat right. Indeed, a white woman with dreadlocks was behind the register the evening I went in. Small setup, small menu, fairly good quality. I loved that they offer samples of the meat. I got a 7 inch with capicollo and pastrami, and it was pretty darn good. It was cool seeing the cashier grab the chunk of meat and slice it up right in front of me. I also got a side of potato salad which could've used a touch more seasoning, but for Iowa... It was house made fresh, not store made. I loved the temperature of it. Not room temp, not cold, but sort of chilled. I was impressed that they had upside down pineapple cake. I chose the chocolate instead which was nice, but I might have to go back for pineapple. You can taste the difference from a chain in the meats and breads, and they do a really nice ratio of meat/condiments/toppings. I liked it and will likely return at some point. My wife on the other hand is in love and has totally cancelled Subway. read more

Downtown Deli - Delis Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Simple subs but delicious. There is usually a line out the door if you try to go around the lunch hour so be prepared to wait a little or go early or for a late lunch. read more

Hours shown are until 7 pm. Got to the door and paper sign say 10 AM to 3 PM. Out of town friends wanted to support local. Guess not.

My gf and I recently moved to Ames in March. Downtown Deli easily our favorite place to go. The food, the prices, and the atmosphere make us come back at least once a week. You can tell the owner takes pride in his business and wants each customer to have a great experience! read more

Downtown Deli - a sandwich, chips, and a drink on a table - Delis Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Overall a great experience. Asked for the run down on this place and was told how the sandwiches are all make your own except for two of them. Meat and cheese are freshly sliced in front of your eyes and you can even ask for samples, which I did with capicollo. Ended up choosing the 7 inch roast beef with Colby jack, a cup of chili and chips. The sandwich was packed with meat and all the toppings, very delicious. Large selection of chips to select from and they aren't the cheap bags, then the chili was good but not the best I've had. What I enjoyed the most about this deli was the customer service. I was asked a lot of questions about what I wanted on my sandwich and made sure I wasn't being charged for anything extra at the register. Sandwich was delivered to my table and I was able to enjoy the meal in a moderately quiet environment, suitable for a conversation with a friend. I believe the owner was working the meat/cheese slicer but not entirely sure. I really enjoyed this place and would recommend to any sandwich lover! read more

Downtown Deli - 7" Roast beef with Colby jack - Delis Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Food was great! I'm a vegetarian and was able to get the veggie sub and salad. They clean the slicer and everything before sitting my veggie! Wonderful for a quick lunch read more

My mom used to go here every week when she was in college. When I was in high school, we'd visit all the time together and she'd order the same sandwich she'd been ordering for 10 years. Now, I'm doing the exact same thing. Downtown Deli is the shit - we love this place! Consistently great quality ingredients, super cool/friendly staff, and the sandwiches themselves are huge. I hope this place is around long enough for my great-great-grandkids to carry on the obsessive Downtown Deli-loving tradition. read more

I miss you, come back to me beautiful sammie shop :'( Best sammies in ames by far! They loaded em up with lots of meats and cheeses for a reasonable price. COME BACK :( read more

Food-wise, I can only speak of the lemon meringue pie, as that is the only thing I tried. $2.25 for pie is a great deal! The meringue is nice and fluffy, and the lemon is a decent lemon filling. A nitpick; I would have liked the crust to be flakier, rather than a biscuit (although it could just be personal preference). Again, though, the pie is worth its price. The line during lunch is slow, as to be expected when the meats and cheeses are sliced right in front of you. I love the service and will be back! read more

The oldest and best deli in town. Located on Main St. In downtown Ames, park in back for free. Great meal and unique atmosphere. They have home-made soup and other goodies most days. A favorite of Ames locals and always busy during lunch. Under the same ownership for 32 years. Claude has out lasted all the chain sub shops that popped up downtown only to be run our of business by the Downtown Deli. Come see why. They just remodeled the building's front facade and it really looks nice! Stop by read more

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Why go to chain sub shops and eat processed meat sliced hundreds of miles away with crap preserved colored toppings when places like this exist? Everything is fresh, meat is sliced on the spot. Perfect sub. Delicious. Fair prices too. I'll never give a penny to any chain garbage peddlers in Ames. Downtown Deli is just the way I like it. Support local fresh healthy foods. Start here read more

Downtown Deli - Roast beef and turkey 7" - Delis Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Great food, great location, and super friendly staff! They even had french silk pie when I came in!

This is a wonderful place to get a freshly made sub sandwich custom-made just the way you want it. Sure, there may be short wait as you stand in line for your turn at the counter, but it's definitely worth it. The super-friendly guy at the counter taking your order makes you feel like you're his only customer and he's got all the time in the world for you. And when you ask questions about toppings, he answers you cheerfully, not like some exasperated teenager who wishes you would just hurry up and go already so he can get to the next customer in line. And then he loads up the toppings onto your bread. You think he's going to stop, but he keeps going and going. Now that's the way to make a customer happy. I really don't know how Subway can even compete with that. And their prices are quite reasonable. They also have soup available to go with your sandwich. What more could you ask for? Being from Des Moines, I'm always wishing we had a good soup and sandwich place like this in my neighborhood. I love this place. The decor of this deli isn't fancy and it looks like it's been around for awhile, but it doesn't matter. The food is great, the staff is awesome and you can tell they love their jobs. That's all that matters. I'll come back the next time I'm in Ames. read more

The tuna on wheat I had today was far better than most subs I've had in a long time. The fresh onions, tomato, and lettuce plus cheddar cheese and oil and vinegar made it even better. Service was awesome, and we got several great suggestions. The potato soup was good, not amazing but nice and hot. A 7 inch sub is more than enough unless you have a large appetite! Only 4 stars because the inside of this place made me feel a bit claustrophobic! Several tables close together, and a large part of the interior is used for the sandwich station and line for people to order and pay. read more

Downtown Deli - tuna on wheat - Delis Near Me - Ames, Iowa

This is just good food. Get the tossed salad with meat - pickles on a salad are a life-changing experience!

If you're in downtown Ames pass on Subway and JJ's and give this locally owned an operated deli a try. You won't be disappointed. It's operated like a well oiled machine where they build your sandwich to order, including slicing your meat of choice. One of the few places in Ames you can get a pastrami sandwich. Fresh ingredients and superior meat selection. The help is kind and can really crank out quality sandwiches quickly. The only disappointment is that they don't take credit and/or debit cards. Make sure you have cash (it won't take much) on hand before arriving and avoid the $3 fees of the surrounding banks. $6 got me a fairly large sub style sandwich and a deep "cup" of homemade soup. Superior sandwiches and soups with an eye-brow raising low price. If you're in the mood for a sandwich for lunch on the eastern half of Ames, this should be the first place you try. read more

A great place for a freshly made, custom sub. Cheap, friendly, vegetarian choices. Stand in line, until your turn then watch the magic happen. There is nothing fancy about this place, but the service is worth it. The owner is a gem who cares about his business and the community. If you can't decide what to order, ask for a "Clyde Special", the owner will look you up and down and make the sandwich you need. He is a veritable deli mind-reader! read more

I have been to this Deli twice now and both times I have been extremely impressed. The employees are always super friendly and if it is your first time there, they will walk you through their menu and even give you suggestions on what to order as well as what is popular! I get the turkey and both times I have been more than impressed. I also love getting to see them slice the meat for the sandwiches. On top of quality, it is super affordable, especially if you are looking for a quick bite to eat. A meal is less than 10 dollars and it includes a drink and chips, which is a steal! I will definitely recommend to friends and family who visit the Ames area. read more

It's about time I write a review on this place. My husband is an Ames native and we always come here during our visits. He just gets their cheese sandwich...my husband NEVER has cheese sandwiches. Whatever Downtown Deli puts in theirs, it works. I have bounced around and sampled different things and have never left disappointed. Plus they introduced me to dill pickle chips and I'm in love (and miserable it is a Midwest thing). This place is so good that we can't go to delis here in Colorado...my husband wrinkles his nose and goes "but it isn't Downtown Deli". read more

Pastrami, Corned Beef, and Sausage OH MY! This place is awesome. While the sandwiches look small, they are mighty and full of good product. The coolest thing about this place is that they have really good meats, cheeses, and condiments. They don't spice anything up with chipotle mustard, or stuff that is off the beaten path. This deli is all about basic sandwiches that taste amazing. Another rockin' thing about Downtown deli is the super thin sliced lettuce and the great service. When you walk in, the people working there actually treat you well. They offer suggestions and are willing to take you on a sandwich journey. Staples are the hot corned beef, pastrami, and sausage on wheat. I go for those 90% of the time. The owner is excellent and the prices are ridiculously awesome. Go there! NOW! read more

Great sandwiches and awesome people. I eat here for lunch when I'm in Ames and the food never disappoints. Ask for the special sandwich. read more

Downtown Deli - Italian special sandwich.. so good. Don't even ask them what's in it! - Delis Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Wow! These guys (and gals) can make a sandwich! The meats and cheeses are sliced right in front of your eyes and the whole sandwich is assembled into what I can only call "heaven between bread". I tend to get the 14" two meat combo. I found out that they'll even make 4 separate, two meat mini sandwiches if you REALLY want (and ask nice enough). I tend to just go for the 2 separate two meat sandwiches: corned beef and turkey with provolone cheese, and ham and turkey with cheddar cheese. I find that the full 14 inches is too much, so I wrap up one quarter of the sandwich and save it for dinner. I've always wanted to try their cheese soup or chili. I've heard that it's pretty good. Also, if you're getting pop, it's cheap (essentially, the cost of the cup) and there are free refills. The staff is fantastic and always pleasantly chatty. They seem to love what they're doing, which turns the whole experience into a great one. The seating amount is sufficient. If you go during a rush, you might worry while you're standing in line, however, by the time you've paid, it is never a major issue. Going around noon (and I imagine at dinnertime) may be a bit of a mistake if you're wanting to get in and out quickly. Lines are usually out the door and can last up to a half hour or longer. By 12:30, the line is usually shorter This is my third favorite sandwich shop just behind Primanti Bros. in Pittsburgh and Katz's Deli in NYC. However, it has the distinct advantage of being much closer since I live in Ames. read more

Great sandwich. Meat/Cheese is sliced when you order, all ingredients are fresh, good bread.

Took a chance on a new sandwich place, no regrets!!! Very good food, fresh ingredients & fast service. I got the veggie w everything but olives & the bf got the roast beef, both excellent. read more

This establishment has got be one of the most essential parts of not only Ames's Main Street edible commerce, but also its core values and atmosphere. Downtown Deli provides something that very few other delicatessens in the area do - delicious food with a staff that genuinely ENJOYS being where they are. This may sound ridiculous, and yes, I could give Downtown Deli five-stars based solely on food, but this place has so much more than that - a welcoming, positive culture that continues to retain so many customers daily. Seriously, go check out this little place around the lunch hour. They will have people lined up almost 10+ back. All knowing that this place is well worth the wait. First, let us discuss why everyone goes to Yelp - food. Downtown's main 'claim-to-fame' is their sandwiches. Opposed to most chains like Jimmy John's, Subway, etc., Downtown prides itself on providing fresh, locally-sourced meats. Additionally, their meats and cheese are never pre-prepped. They slice them and layer them on your sandwich right when you order. All their veggies are fresh and well preserved/maintained. :::VEGETARIAN/VEGAN NOTE::: Now - I am not either of these, but have friends who are. It is my understanding that, if you express this information to the counter while you are ordering, they will actually wipe down the counter and slicer real quick just to make sure you are safe and not having that residue on your sandwich. As the weather chills, sun become wind, rain becomes snow...a cold cut sandwich may not be what you crave...Well, fear not! I can say Downtown has some of the most delicious chili! It's not too spicy, has all the necessities. It's, personally, my most-purchased item there. They also commonly have Wisconsin Cheese and a rotating third. :::WARNING:: On cold days, these soups go...fast. Trust me! I have never had them, but according to family, their salads are equally as phenomenal. Same as sandwiches, meats and cheese cut and mixed fresh. Beyond all this though, is the service. I have never walked into a Subway and thought, "Wow, everyone that works here is really loving life right now," or a Jimmy John's and said, "I'm sure not a single one of you are high right now." With Downtown, it's a completely different atmosphere. Although you may see a wonderful young lady with dreadlocks or a 'tatted up' twenty-something behind the counter, you'll also see...a smile and a general attempt to have a conversation with patrons. I know, people who actually want to chat while working with you - weird. This has been just as consistent as their delicious food no matter who is working. I have to commend, to the HIGHEST regard, the work ethic and culture that the owner of Downtown as instilled/maintained for that place. Believe me, there is no exception...I mean the owner STILL works there. You can see him behind the counter from time-to-time being an example for the employees and catching with regulars he's had for years. It's really amazing. There is no question this place deserves 5-stars. I'd, honestly, give it five more considering they provide me consistently amazing food/service 3x a week for lunch! read more

I love this place. It's a wonder to me that the Subway a few blocks down stays in business. This is clearly the best place to get a sandwich on Main Street. The ingredients are great and they don't skimp. You get a good amount of toppings on their delicious bread. The price is also great for what you're getting. I usually get a 7" sub with a medium drink at $4.75. Not a bad deal. What I really love about this place is when you order a veggie sub they offer to wipe down the slicer for you! This is a way to make a vegetarian very happy! When I was there the other day I mentioned that it was nice that they do that and the gentleman working assured me, "I'd offer it even if there was a line out the door." That's service and it also speaks on how nice the staff there is!! read more

My sandwich of choice - capicollo and turkeys This is by far the best place to get a sandwich, especially now that they take cards! Great owner that remembers you out of who knows how many people he saw every day a this shop, great people that works there, and just awesome all around. Keep in mind if you were to go out there for lunch or any other busy meal time, you're going to have to stand in line for a bit. A must try if you're in Ames! read more

This is a pretty good sandwich shop. If like the food & the people. Went there on Monday for a ham on wheat to go. Looking forward to October 1st because that's when they have chili every day. Whats best is also whats worst. The meat cutter remembers and chats with everyone. It's nice but slows down the line at lunch time. read more