Downtown Deli

Most favorite place to eat ever! Can't wait to come back to Iowa for more!

We love Downtown Deli. The staff has always been friendly and the sandwiches and soup are delicious. No more subway for us again. There is no place in town that even compares to the service and quality you receive from Downtown Deli.

The guys behind the counter were very kind and respectful. The service was super fast. This place is the real deal. The pastrami was great!

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.

Wow! Went there for the first time today and tried their roast beef sandwich and lemon meringue pie - both were amazing! Their staff are really friendly too. Definitely will return!

So when first walking into the place, it seemed as if it was kind of a low end Deli. But as soon as we walked around the corner we were greeted promptly and treated with the utmost respect. They picked out each different bread for my daughter to look at and pick. They gave her a cute little samples to make her feel welcome. Now, in trying the food. It was wonderful. I support local businesses and I would say that this tastes like a yummier version of Jimmy John with a combo of possibly a little bit of subway. So five stars to this local business and thank you for your hospitality! We will be returning

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!

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.

This place is wonderful. Always the first thing I crave when I’m back in town and one of my all time favorite places to eat. Wonderful atmosphere, super friendly and efficient staff that really know what they’re doing. Super high quality, and I definitely recommend going :)

Best sandwich shop in Ames. The ingredients always taste fresh and the food is made right in front of you. It is priced very well and the employees are friendly. I highly recommend!

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.

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!

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

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!

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

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!

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.

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

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"

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

If you are a fan of sandwiches this is your spot in downtown Ames!
I'm Vegan so I can't speak for the meat, but I know it's cut fresh every time you order it, like a true old deli! The cheese too.
Now this may mean the line moves a little slower then a Subway, but heck, your meat is not coming off a little piece of wax paper!
That is really the only negative thing about Downtown Deli is sometime the line moves slow, but for quality, I can have a little patience!
They have great hummus here, and they don't skimp on the veggies, you can get a bag of chips and a pop and