McAlister's Deli Opens Monday In Orland Park

ORLAND PARK, IL -- A casual fast dining restaurant known for its sandwiches, spuds, soups, salads and sweets will open April 9 in the new Gateway Plaza development in Orland Park. McAlister’s Deli located at 14309 S. LaGrange Road, across the street from the University of Chicago Medicine Center. The first 50 people in line when the restaurant throws open its doors at 10:30 a.m. will receive free sweet tea for a year.

This is the second McAlister’s location to be opened by brothers Ravi and Raj Patel. The Patels opened a franchise in Naperville in 2015. Ravi Patel says he fell in love with McAlister’s menu while attending Purdue University in West LaFayette, IN.

“I ate there a lot and loved the food,” Patel said. “I was impressed by their hospitality. The restaurant really appealed to me. I thought ‘we need to bring it to Chicago.”

McAlister’s menu offers handcrafted 13-layer clubs, assorted light and fluffy spuds, fresh salads, hot and simmering soups and sweets. McAlister’s famous sweet tea is always brewing.

“We want to make sure we go over and beyond is serving our guests,” Patel said. We’re very excited to be opening in Orland Park. We’ve been meeting folks around the area. Everyone is so welcoming and excited.”

The southern-styled deli opened in an abandoned movie set in Mississippi. The building had been decked out as a roadside diner, according to the company’s website. After being vacant a couple of years, a dentist purchased the building and opened the first McAlister’s Deli. There are 400 McAlister’s locations in 28 states, with the company’s headquarters based in Atlanta, GA.

McAlister’s in Orland Park is open 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily at 14309 S. LaGrange Road (LaGrange and 143rd Street). The restaurant also offers catering for business meetings, events and parties. Delivery is available through Snapfinger, Seamless or Grubhub.