West Street Deli in Ames

tl:dr - locally owned business with the best sandwiches I've ever had. I first discovered West St. Deli when I lived a block away in 2004. Since then I've lived in Iowa City, Marshalltown, Minneapolis, and Des Moines and I've literally taken the longer route into or out of Iowa to loop through Ames and scheduled the trip to make sure I have a chance to eat at West St. Deli. I've made the trip from Des Moines or Marshalltown just to eat the sandwich and then head home. They do close for holidays and university breaks as they're pretty heavily student staffed, but always worth the trip.

Great sandwiches, wraps and soups. Not a lot of seating or parking.

Mediocre food. Chicken salad wrap was bland and dry. Sides are in single serve plastic containers that they pull from a fridge and microwave. Restaurant was very poorly laid out. Dining area was Soo cramped that only one person can get through at a time. Soda fountain was located in the far back of the dining making it extremely difficult to access. Overall a bad experience and I won't go back.

Ordered the Italian specialty sandwich and the bowl of chili. The meat and toppings on the sandwich were well proportioned and had great flavor. The focaccia however was not that great. It was way too dense and given its density was way to thick to make this easy consumable. I threw out the bread and just ate the meat and veggiesThe chili while really good was a surprise to find out it was a white chili.Note: I ordered this through Yelp and as such trusted that their menu items and descriptions were accurate.

The sandwiches are all fresh and extremely tasty. They are great for on the go but you can also dine in if you'd prefer!

Excellent food and really friendly people. A very nice local option for those near campus.

A variety of sandwiches, quickly made to order. Just west of state gym. Also has seating. Worth a drop by if in the are and a sandwich is on your mind

I've eaten here dozens of times and love their sandwiches and sides. The sandwiches are massive, piled high with extras and sauce, and a delight (though often a mess) to eat.

I've never had a bad sandwich here! My personal favorite is the Reuben. Their sandwiches have generous toppings and always taste fresh. The service is consistently friendly and laid back. Very convenient being close to campus and many apartments!

Great value and great food

Good food with a great variety, decent prices.But from personal experience, the cross contamination of food items is real. As ordering for a meat free sandwich, and watching an employee use tuna covered gloves to execute the sandwich I had ordered left me put off.They also use a single panini press.As a person of herbivore diet, this eatery is not great with keeping kosher.Other than that, enjoy if this type of thing does not turn you off.

One if two really great sandwich shops in Ames. This one delivers really huge versions of kind of unusual sandwiches, where as the other (downtown deli) offers more traditional subs. Depends what you're in the mood for, but I'm usually down to try out the special here, which changes weekly.

One of the best places to eat in town. Awesome vegetarian selection. Get the Italian; you won't be disappointed.

Food was fresh and plentiful. Staff was friendly and attentive. I would recommend to anyone.

Generous portions. Delightful atmosphere. Great to go alone or with friends.I got the steak and egg sandwich, and it's actually roast beef and egg salad and a bunch of other tasties thrown on top. I wasn't expecting to, but I really enjoyed it! They have deals on hooked, so look out for those.

Really good food, in and served within 10 minutes when I've ever gone, little pricey but well worth it, get the cowboy chicken.

Their sandwiches are freshly made, which makes them distinguished than any other fast food sandwiches shops like Subway, Potbelly (so over-priced) or Burger King, etc. And the prices are cheaper than fast food shops. My favorite is their Cajun Tofu. Now they even offer a Wifi, that's wonderful! I just wish their soup will also use unprocessed ingredients.

The Tofu Reuben sandwich is reason enough to visit Ames! Great prices

Great portions and selection. Very tough accessibility issues getting in.

Delicious food and friendly service. I will be back! :)

You will not find more finely crafted, hand made, delicious sandwiches anywhere around Ames. West Street Deli has a wide selection of incredible food, with frequent specials so that even a regular has something new to look forward to. The polite and helpful staff can walk you through any questions, and it's in an excellent location near campus, but a little off the beaten path so you don't feel like you're in the thick of it all.If you're looking for lunch or dinner in Ames, you have to check out West Street Deli.

Excellent service and great food. Sandwiches are huge! Definitely will be heading back.

Great food and they always nail the "limited run" sandwiches. Best sandwich shop in Ames.

Great Club Sandwich and Reuben. Great service.

Amazing sandwiches from fresh ingredients. Had the pesto chicken and it was phenomenal. The large version was good for 2 people.

Large burgers for very attractive price.

So, apparently by "chili" they mean random vaguely chili like things, use dry bread now, and get GrubHub orders wrong and nobody fixes it. Hugely disappointed. Have gone here for years; don't know what happened, but this isn't at all what I remember.

Just chill and have a fast food

Great sandwiches, reasonably priced. Good staff. Quick service. Good location for walkers but parking is non-existent.

Cajun tuna melt is my favorite, go find out why

Extravagant! Every sandwich served at this blessed deli is crafted with perfectly proportionate ingredients which work to create a scrumptious symphony of flavours that you'll want to listen to over and over. The service was snappy and the staff were beyond accommodating, kind and intelligent. This establishment's presence in Ames makes me ecstatic to be moving to this city in the Fall. I wholeheartedly intend on returning to this wonderful shop.

Tried West Street deli for the first time, went with the Club sandwich, its delicious and its HUGE! With a bottle if soda pop, it was $12 even, nice quiet enviroment on a summer sat. afternoon, reminds me of Great Plains Sauce and Dough company inside seating, also has outside on sidewalk seating. Streetside parking, also in back...😀

West Street Deli is my go to restaurant whenever I'm craving for quick bites. The staff is friendly, cozy atmosphere, and great food varieties. I would highly recommend their steak and egg.

Really good sandwiches for lunch. Great portion size and decent variety. Only way you'll have a bad time is if you go in expecting something fancy or not a sandwich.

Love West St Deli! A staple when in Ames