For starters, the food is phenomenal! When we got our sandwiches, we were definitely not underwhelmed. They were huge! We did get the large version, but we weren't expecting them to be so big lol. All of the ingredients were really fresh and full of flavor. The bread was perfect, too! Even the sandwich we got for our daughter was delicious; it was simple, but sue "inhaled" it lol. We also got the BbQ chicken chili which had great flavor, but it was more like a chili flavored soup. I dipped my leftover bread in it, so it worked out lol. When we ordered, we tried to do so online, but that was a pain. So, we called in and the customer service was excellent! The guy that took our order was very nice, patient, and informative, which was very appreciated since we had just had issues with the website lol. We ordered for pickup and our food was placed nicely in the bags and nothing was spilling or overflowing onto anything else. Overall, the inside of the restaurant was great, even though we didn't dine in. It looked quite clean and was pretty relaxing. Staff were really nice in person as well. 3*17*25 read more

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It was a dark and stormy afternoon.... I was wandering around Ames mid-day last week with a lot of time on my hands. At Lunch time, I didn't feel like a sit down waiter restaurant, nor did I want to go into HyVee and choose a pre-wrapped Sammy. So after a little Yelp searching, the West Street Deli came up. West Street Deli is just down the street from my Ames Barber (Troy) and just as close to Mother's Pub. The street is its own little business District, and feels far away from Lincoln Way. I ordered a Cajun Tuna Melt which was unlike any sandwich of this type that I had experienced. It was well prepared and was flavorful in many ways, including a little kick at the end. A beer would have gone well with this, but I stayed with water, while comfortably seated by a window within their dining room. A very pleasant experience and a for sure future visit. read more

West Street Deli - Vegetarian Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Tasty food, creative menu, good portions, exceptional staff, reasonable prices. What more could you ask for? Plus, not another faceless chain... read more

This place always hits the spot!! Chicken chilli today, delicious They are always friendly, fast and fabulous Sammies! The vintage signs are my favorite. read more

I came here several times in college, but came back for a quick stop before going to an ISU game. I got a sourdough sandwich with turkey and vegetables. Pretty good, the sourdough just wasn't my favorite so I'll probably go back to my regular wheat. Quick, friendly service as usual. Plenty of seating with booths or chair. This place has a vibe that makes it seem like it's been an Ames staple forever and has lots of cool artwork. Street parking is available with meters, or park in the back for free (off the side street). read more

West Street Deli - Basic Combo Meal - Vegetarian Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Pretty decent sandwiches. Not sure why you would be closed on Sundays, you'd think they would want more business but maybe they're ultra religious or something read more

Quality has dropped immensely since I had last been. Dry bread, the meat tasted like it had been sitting out refrigerated, and the brownie I got was like eating a thick cookie. A real shame I used to enjoy this place back in college :( read more

Been here so many times. An Ames landmark. Food is unique, fresh and large portions. Always have a good daily special. I never leave here hungry. read more

Delicious and affordable. Their menu has fantastic sandwich items that you can have on bread, or as a wrap, or even as a salad. My favorite on the menu is their Sweet and Spicy Pork Melt Sandwich on wheat bread. It's a good blend of flavors w some spice. You can choose between a regular or a large. But I always choose regular because their sandwiches are already huge and incredibly filling! I feel like I get more filling than any regular sandwich, it is all definitely worth the price. The place doesn't look like much being on the west side of campus, but it is an underrated gem. I encourage stopping by if you're craving a hot sandwich. Side note: Orders can be done online, over the phone, or in person. Which is great during Covid time. All the employees are super friendly and wore masks when I stopped by. read more

Absolutely fantastic place and a must for those living in Ames and those visiting. Fresh, quality sandwiches made to order that offers pickup. The generous helping of chicken is so juicy and flavorful, the bread deliciously freshly baked, and the toppings fresh and crisp. They offer a wide variety of options to cover everyone's preferences including vegetarian and gluten-free. read more

West Street Deli - I ordered the Large Chicken Bacon Ranch on onion bread and it was amazing. The large sandwich was so huge I split it into two meals. - Vegetarian Near Me - Ames, Iowa

No question...the BEST deli in Ames, full stop. Matt, the owner, knows how to keep the menu options fresh, creative and the food high quality and consistent. We've been eating here for 5 years.....and HIGHLY recommend to everyone. You will not go wrong trying them. read more

Best sandwich I've ever had. Nobody puts down pressure like west street. The fellas in there are always great and the food is better. I've had nearly every specialty sandwich and the sweet and spicy has to be my favorite so far along with the potato salad. Great service! Not a fan of tipping prior to receiving service though! read more

Ordering was a little awkward but 10/10 for food. Cowboy chicken sandwich was really good. Slaw was nice and creamy. The sweet and spicy tofu as a salad was filling but I wish I ordered extra jalapeño. We also liked how the tables were a little more secluded perfect for a casual lunch date. read more

This is a major local favorite. It's certainly within the realm of what Iowans love. I thought the sandwich could've used more seasoning and flavor, but it did taste fresh and the customer service was nice. Too bland for my palate, but will please most Midwesterners. read more

The staff is some of the coolest staff I've met. The choice of sandwiches are all around good, but they taste pretty average in my experience. I'd still submit for a person to try it at least one if you are sandwich tan. read more

Woohoo! What a great little spot! V tasty! Excellent sandwiches. The special is always something interesting, but the regular menu is also great. read more

This unique deli is my favorite spot for a sandwich in Ames. You can either get a sandwich with combos they have come up with or you can create your own for a little less. I like to explore their combo sandwiches because they usually end up pretty tasty. Sides do not come with the sandwich, however, the sandwich itself will fill you up. I've tried the chili and Mac & cheese before, both are great additions to your meal. Be careful with the chili because when they say spicy they mean it. Customer service is great, you can add anything onto a combo sandwich at no extra charge and they will add a good amount of whatever you want. I have not had a bad experience here and neither have my friends. This is the place you come back to after you graduate and find yourself back in Ames. read more

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West Street Deli has some fantastic sandwiches! You get a lot of food with tons of options, the price is very reasonable, and the staff have always been friendly! Awesome place to go for a sandwich in Ames, highly recommended! read more

Still 5/5 but I had to give some love to my favorite Ames locals especially during COVID. Went here today and experienced the patio!!! Never sat outside before but today was beautiful! LOVE the patio, it was a perfect way to enjoy my delicious Reuben sandwich. read more

West Street Deli - Reuben on the patio - Vegetarian Near Me - Ames, Iowa

This is a pretty good sandwich spot. The sandwiches are huge and the sides are really good. I wish the cookies were a little less crunchy though. This is a really cool place that is neat on the inside. I would go again. read more

West Street Deli - Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and Mac and Cheese - Vegetarian Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Best place for soup and sandwich! You can taste the love of the sandwich! Never had a regret still trying to order everything! read more

Have been here a few times with friends and every time it hits the spot. Nice location close to downtown without being in the middle of everything. Can't wait to continue working through the menu! read more

Bleh, this sandwich place is meh. Old veggies that aren't fresh and has been exposed too long that oxidation has occurred and coloration is lost and turns brown. Cuts of meat are also tough and bland. The steak and egg sandwich did not taste like steak and eggs. The steak or beef cuts were too and had that color when it's been left around too long. I felt like in general the ingredients here were not fresh. The cheese feels like it has been stored for too long and it breaks apart as if it has been frozen and then taken out to thaw. The cheddar cheese kind of just crumbled or broke apart Friend got the Cajun tuna melt, and she didn't finish her sandwich either. It had way too many jalapeños and the bread was a bit hard and stale. Sandwich had too much sauce and dressing. I would not return back to this place. Lettuce was brown, steak cuts were tough and chewy, cheese had a strange texture. It was all dry and, it had too much pickles Potato salad and chili was just ok. I would say go next door to 1+1 and grab food from there read more

All right, West Street Deli... you're up. Well, what can I really say? I mean, it's a deli. I'm a vegetarian. Those two things go together about as well as oil and water... possibly not even that well. I actually looked up "deli" in the dictionary for fun. It's an establishment that serves various meats, cheeses, and salads. Salads topped with various meats and cheeses. That's fine. They avoid me, and I avoid them. Mostly. On my last day staying in Ames it was decided that lunch would be had here. They told me it was a sandwich place, and I knew then and there I was going to have some trouble. Was I deterred? Not at all. In fact, I was excited. This meant adventure, and nothing else. Crafting together something I can eat from a menu built from things I can not is something I have become quite adept at. This was just a chance to use and improve upon my survival skills. And oh, how I did. The Greek sandwich became my play ground. Olives, tomato, cucumber, lettuce, and some kind of... cucumber dressing? Basically it was the Greek sandwich sans cheese. Which meant no spinach, because apparently the spinach was premixed with feta. I opted for the wheat bread to complete my masterpiece of vegetarian ingenuity, and was rewarded with the discovery of a new favorite sandwich (see photo). They lose a star because I think I was very polite when ordering, but still managed to get a rather annoyed look out of the guy making the food. It's not easy ordering at places like this, and being stared at like an alien is less fun than it sounds. Other than that, hooray! read more

West Street Deli - Greek sandwich with no cheese. Victory! - Vegetarian Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Wonderful specialty sandwiches. My brother, a student at ISU, brought me to this little joint for lunch. A small cafe-like sandwich shop that serves a wide variety of specialty sandwiches. I tried the simple French dip with my choice of focaccia bread. The sandwich was served panini style with a thick layer of roast beef and provolone cheese and a side of au jus. Loved the panini style, and the au jus had great flavor. A "regular sandwich" was huge so I cannot imagine what a "large" looks like. The one thing I feel this business could improve is the cleanliness, some of the tables did not appear cleaned off and it was a little cluttery in the dining area. read more

West St Deli was a staple for me when I went to Iowa State. Came back here recently and the quality has gone down since my last trip there, or was just here on a bad day for them. They have expanded on the inside, and now have more options for sandwiches and bread. We got a Chicken bacon ranch sandwich on focaccia, the potential for a great sandwich was there, chicken had no flavor and couldn't taste the bacon. We also got a chicken salad sandwich too, it was lacking of what it used to taste like, more like plain chicken with not much mayo mixed in. The sides were the highlight of the meal. The mac and cheese was a tasty option and we got a side of potato salad, very good too. The people here were friendly and got to sit outside on a nice day. read more

West Street Deli - Chicken Bacon Ranch on Focaccia with Mac and Cheese - Vegetarian Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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When I die, I want to be buried with a Cajun Tofu sandwich from West Street Deli in my hands. This place is the best. Ever. The worst (but maybe the best??) decision I made in college was moving to a house that required me to walk past West Street on my way to class. I'll never regret spending 70% of my paycheck here. read more

Love West Street Deli. The sandwiches are large and delicious and the prices are low. The variety of breads and buns offered makes for a unique experience. The sandwiches are carefully hand-crafted and made to order. I'd go back in a heart beat! read more

Hands-down, the best sandwich in Ames. Have tried other places since moving here and regardless, my comparisons keep bringing me back. The sandwiches are evil-genius creations, packed with flavors that shouldn't work together but do. All of their meats and toppings are fresh and hearty - for the adventurous lover, try their spinach and artichoke dip on your sandwich. Dynamite! My personal favorite is the Chicken Pesto..never seem to get sick of it. Also, upgrade to the large portions as they are much more filling and a good value for small amount more. The only two cons for the eatery is the physical structure (which leaves a lot to be desired and seating is very limited) and the staff (same very unfriendly girl making your meals daily). If you want a great meal without any smalltalk or pleasantries, this is your place. read more

I took my mom there about a month ago, they have incredible food. But the fact of how helpful they were with my mom is so heartwarming! My mom is 78 she started getting weak as we were heading for a table. I was carrying food, the guy that works there helped to the table and out the door later when I went to get the car! If you haven't tried this place, get going. read more

West Street Deli is an underrated gem in Ames full of organic tasty sandwiches. I can't believe I discovered this place so late in my Iowa State University career. It's a popular joint that serves a variety of unique sandwiches and sides. You can either choose the options with preselected ingredients or build your own sandwich! I personally build my own. This place caters a GREAT vegetarian menu. The cajun tofu is tasty! They don't only serve one vegetarian item like most places do, but they have a whole menu! Everytime I go here, I get the egg salad with cheese, vegetables, and extra mayo. The egg salad here is yummy! I swear, they put crack in it. I also like to get a side of macaroni and cheese with it since it's only a whopping 1.99 or so. They have an extensive amount of side and dessert options too. What's greater is that the food gets from organic farmers. The employees make your food to order and you can watch them cook it in front of you. The setting is spacious, although it could be a little bigger sometimes. Personally, I like having the deli here as opposed to campustown because it feels more peaceful. read more

After two visits, I've decided that I like West Street Deli. I always like to support locally first, so finding a good sandwich shop was a priority. My first visit I got the California with shredded chicken. I would advise against any sandwich with the chicken. It was overly dry, and there was far too much of it on the sandwich. My second visit was much better, however. They have quite a few options for bread and toppings, so I'd give it a shot if you're on the fence. read more

Fantastic little sandwich shop. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but the sandwiches speak for themselves. You have the choice of any number of specialty sandwiches. Things like a Reuben, a chicken pesto sandwich, and a variety of vegetarian options including the Veggie Burger Italian. These are all carefully thought out and work very well, but you also have the option to build your own - Pick a bread, pick the toppings, add the fixins. The bread is delicious, freshly baked, and the toppings are fresh. I haven't tried the desserts, but I've heard great things about their cookies and they seem to sell out very fast each day. The sandwiches come in either a regular size or a large size. I'm a big guy with a big appetite, and yet the large is often too much for me. They do not skimp on the portions at all (If, as the previous reviewer says, the portion sizes were smaller than back in the day, they must have been absolutely enormous.). My sandwich of choice is a regular Veggie Greek on wheat bread, which comes with this delicious dill cucumber sauce, and is a total of $5 after tax! Great deal. All in all, definitely the premiere sandwich shop in Ames. read more

West Street Deli - Regular Veggie Greek on Wheat bread - $5 after tax! - Vegetarian Near Me - Ames, Iowa

We got the Reuben and the Sweet and Spicy Pork Melt. Sides were Cole Slaw and Macaroni And Cheese. It was all very delicious and tasted homemade. Customer Service was friendly, welcoming and fantastic! There is customer parking behind the deli. Will definitely be coming back again. Thank you!!!!!! read more

i love their food, the have great options to choose from, and always have really good chilli

Flavorful! Filling! Affordable! Great owner who personally made our sandwiches. Give this great business your support. Cannot wait to come back to Ames and try another one ofc their menu. read more

Great sandwich shop with a variety of top choice deli meats & chicken breast. The sour dough bread is a great choice for the French Dip. The Chicken Cordon Bleu was amazing & piled high with all white meat chicken breast, ham & veggies on a sour dough bun. A must try! They have amazing mac n cheese, potato salad, soups & chili for a side to make your sandwich a combo. read more

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These sandwiches are massive! They have a limited menu, but their items are flavorful and filling. The pricing is very reasonable and I enjoyed my sandwich. I only could eat about half of it, because I was so full. read more

Best sandwich place ever! It gets pretty busy around 11:45-1:00 but it's worth the wait. I love the ham and colby jack cheese. My husband loves the turkey with sprouts. After they make your sandwich they put it on the grill so they come out warm and toasty. This place is heaven in a sandwich. I always make a stop when I'm back in Ames visiting. read more

I love West Street Deli. Their sandwiches are made to order, fresh, HUGE and delicious. Their sides are also very good. I love that they offer tofu sandwiches. Vegetarian options are almost always an afterthought at lunch places, especially delis, but West Street Deli delivers. The Cajun Fu sandwich is delicious! Although I like vegetarian options, I am not a vegetarian. So, my favorite sandwich is the sweet & spicy pork melt. I always get it on an onion bun and while messy, it's heaven. West Street Deli offers two sandwich sizes but I've never needed more than a regular size sandwich. The serving is very large as is. If you're extra hungry I recommend trying on of their sides. The mac & cheese is a safe bet. The coleslaw is average. read more