Downtown Deli in Ames

A fantastic establishment in Ames with great meats and better service. Highly recommend!

My favorite deli in the world. Ames is my hometown and I don’t get back much, but when I do I’ve been known to go for lunch 3-4 days in a row. I can’t believe anyone rated it less than 5 stars. I miss the old time dude with the huge fro, but what’s amazing is the staff culture, service, and vibe hasn’t changed in 20 years. Solid management and high quality food. I don’t get mayo on sandwiches anywhere else but I swear they have a secret recipe. It’s really good.

Very personable staff. Great small business, great food! I didn't know sandwiches could be so tasty!

Went here today with 3 kiddos at lunch time and it was just the best experience. Bit of a line, but that just tells me it’s going to be worth the wait. The service was top notch — kind, attentive, happy, and not at all rushed. The sandwiches were excellent. We loved the bread (rye sub rolls - yum!) meats and cheeses. I appreciated pan roasted turkey being an option and would highly recommend it. They also had home-made chocolate cake that looked so decadent I wish I had saved room. Go here — you won’t be sorry!

Light on the bread, heavy on the meats and cheeses. Very good local deli!

Downtown Deli is the best sandwich place that I have ever gone to. I grew up eating their sandwiches. Never had a bad sandwich from them. Always fresh. I no longer live in Ames and have visited other sandwich places, but none compare to the greatness of Downtown Deli. My mouth is watering just thinking about their sandwiches.

Amazing food! The staff make the atmosphere incredibly warm and inviting!

Great food great price nice atmosphere! Reuban was wonderful!! Highly recommend a little bit of wait but worth it!!

Downtown deli has friendly staff, good foot, and comforting atmosphere

My favorite sandwich place in town. Corned beef and pastrami on rye is a classic, and they do it justice.

Excellent service from a great sandwich maker! Had a corned beef on swiss with everything! Good portions of meat and cheese! All the toppings were fresh and crisp!The Boston Clam Chowder was thick and hearty. Excellent food, great service. Highly recommend this place!

Always outstanding! A friendly and cheerful smile behind the counter. Meats and cheese are sliced to order.

Absolutely love this place. Local, small business doing it right!

Amazing food, amazing prices! Love small businesses.

Downtown deli has been around for 36 years, but very few people know about it. The employees are friendly and have conversations with you (don't you love the Midwest lifestyle?). The sandwich meat is sliced fresh in front of your eyes. This little deli will win you over; you'll want to come back.

Nice quaint deli with excellent customer service and quality ingredients!

Favorite deli stop, with great staff, quality food, and AMAZING prices.

Great staff, great sandwiches. Good variety of chips. Not a ton of soda choices but still love it.

Taste good ... looks a fancy subway 😊

Great local place, good sandwiches, good dark atmosphere. Nice place to eat if you're a local looking for a business that will remember you if you eat there frequently. It's still just a basic sandwich shop with nothing too uniquely exciting for out of towners. Most sandwich shops you could just buy a lb. of deli meat from a local grocery deli and get more value. Better than the big chains on atmosphere and quality though.

Very bad owner. doesn't like when you ask for free sandwhiches. owner is a short white haired guy I guess. where's Fred?

Food was excellent and everyone was very friendly even though they were swamped with customers. I will definitely be coming back to visit again.

Only true deli in Ames and the food is premo! Staff always fun and great!

Love the staff here- they love to make their food, and provide great service each and ever time. The food is delicious, and very reasonably priced. This is one of my favorite places to go in Ames!

They make a fresh delicious sandwich. The bread is baked fresh daily and the meat and cheese is sliced right when you order. They have a good selection of classic sandwich toppings such as onions, pickles, mustard, mayo, etc. Unfortunately their prices are definitely on the high-end for a sandwich shop.

The best place for a lunch sandwich in Ames. Good bread, quality meats and tasty soup. Always 1st class service from friendly and professional staff. It does get busy so arrive early to avoid a wait.

Good food, long line.

Really good sandwiches and extremely friendly staff.

Great Place! Fast friendly service, food is excellent. I had the corned beef on rye, with everything. I like how they let you customize your sandwhich with what you want, unlike some chain deli's. They will even warm it up for you! They offer chips, fountain drinks, and some desserts if you'd like. No wifi, bike racks, or delivery, though they do cater!

That's a good gosh-danged pastrami sandwich.

Best place for a deli sandwich in Ames, great service and great food.

The best! Usually a wait, but well worth it.

Excellent food and service. The soups are always very good as well. Don't bye afraid to ask what the best cuts are on the day you go in.

After a recent ISU game we entered the deli and encountered a sad-eyed soft boy whose eyes told a story that yearned for the happy ending they would never see. But in an attempt to bring a glint of joy into the fluffy boy's stare, we whispered, "Not today. You shall find your happiness, my son." We nodded at the sad-eyed soft boy and left. I hope his eyes gaze upon a good life and many joyous days.

Just ate here and food and service was awesome!

Great sandwich! Great service! Great pie!

A wonderful place any time. Great food and personnel🤗

Good fresh tasting meats, cheese and toppings..French Dip is very good

Sandwiches were on point and the tea is super great! Polite staff and relaxed atmosphere. Planning to go again soon :)

Absolutely best sandwich shop in the Country. Super friendly staff. Great tasting sandwiches, soups and desserts. You have to try to Wisconsin Cheese Soup. Prices are very fair too. Cup of soup is $1.75. Bowl is $3.50. Drink prices are very cheap.

I've eaten here for almost 28 years, worth the wait in line.

I enjoy the customer service. It also has a pleasant atmosphere.

The meat and cheese were sliced fresh right in front of me. It was fast and tasted great. Wonderful selection to choose from.

Been around for decades and it is, simply, the best deli in town.

Best subs in town, no question. Nobody has fresher, higher quality ingredients than Downtown Deli.

Sandwich are service both, excellent. Will be back.

The best sub in the Midwest! Fresh-sliced meats and cheese with a number of options to choose from. Always a line, but worth the wait.

This is a great place to stop for a quick bite. The sandwiches are stacked with your meat or hummus selection, everything is fresh and the staff is always so friendly, even with busy. I'm a big eater and a full sandwich is more than I need to eat.

Always great food, but they are currently closed unlike their hours say.

Fresh cut meats and cheeses in good quantities on the sandwiches. Good service and efficient assembly line.