Diplomat Deli

The menu looked good online, tried the rueben, it was good for being made in the south. I wouldn't say the rye bread was great, a great RYE makes the difference. Sandwich was pretty good. Place was packed on Tuesday at noon, beer and wine available.

Happened across this spot while running errands, now I go out of my way to eat here because it is phenomenal! Potato salads, soups, hot and cold sandwiches, a huge beer selection with take home options, wine, and a whole lot more... I've never been disappointed. The service is always on point and the food is always perfect with generous portions. If you are looking for a new spot or just in the mood for a well made sandwich, you should definitely check out Diplomat Deli!!

The best Reuben ever. Hands down. "The Dip" is our favorite lunch go to. The Reuben is my fave, however, especially with a side of thousand island dressing. It's a generous portion, and grilled to perfection. Everything off the generous menu has been equally tasty!

Heard a lot about this place mentioned a fair amount as a local favorite, and finally got around to trying it out. Was certainly busy on a Saturday around noon, though still some open tables inside and most of the patio free. We ordered take out, and had to ask specifically for a menu; there is no menu displayed anywhere. Sandwiches were ready in about 10 minutes, and while a mistake was made on one of them, the staff was very helpful and friendly in fixing it. Ordered a Californian with roast beef, an Embassy, and deviled eggs. The sandwiches also came with complimentary bags of Lays. The eggs were bland, and if there was anything in the filling other than yolk, we couldn't taste it. The sandwiches were okay, but nothing we couldn't have easily made at home ourselves.

Their turkey rueben is one of my favorite sandwiches of all time.😍This past weekend my sister in law got the muffuletta and it looked so good I almost wished I had ordered it. Turkey rueben still has my allegiance! Seriously though, Diplomat is a Vestavia classic. Great atmosphere, family friendly, no frills.

The service was good, the food was delicious but, the cashiers attitude was horrible. We were in town for an event and had lunch here and until we cashed out, it was great. Please tell your staff, attitude matters the whole visit, even at the register.

Hands Down the best Ruben Sandwich if had!!! Be sure to try the chicken noodle soup on Wednesdays!!!

The grilled Braunschweiger was delicious. I know it's not for everyone, but every time I visit, I try something new. I haven't been disappointed yet!! Previously I had the seafood gumbo, Hot Manhattan, and Embassy. All were delicious, hot and fresh!

Fast. Delicious. Huge sandwich! Cheap draft beer I got the 1/4 muffaletta and could only eat half! It was delicious, all the melted cheese and yummy olive salad and stacked with meat. He got the senator and commented it was a good combo of flavors. There's plenty of seating inside and out. Staff is friendly. We love this place! They're open for dinner now!

I seem to forget that this gem exists. If you like sandwiches, then you definitely need to check this place out. This is a very casual place. The staff is very friendly. I came here with a bunch of ladies, and we all enjoyed our sandwiches and sides. It's off 31 going towards vestavia in a mini mall. There is outside seating as well.

One of the best delis in Birmingham and certainly one of the oldest. This place has been churning out top notch sandwiches forever! Super casual with plenty of seating indoors and plenty of seating in the patio, it stays busy. But don't worry because the service is super fast. If you're eating indoors, just walk in a grab a table. A server will take your order, bring your food and leave you the check. Pay at the register. I always order the Reuben. It's delicious, with warm pastrami, super melty Swiss cheese, zesty sour kraut, and instead of the regular thousand island dressing they cover it in red Russian- which is super tasty! I also really love their Philly cheese steak!

ARE YOU READY TO PATE? For Jasmines birthday I wanted to take her to a new spot that I had heard of before, but hadn't had the chance to experience myself. When I first moved here I had seen some of the girls I follow post about this spot, and their food looked incredible. So I said why not. The inside looks like a convenience store with a deli/diner vibe. The menu has a little bit of everything both hot and cold sandwiches, potato salad, and of course some various types of ice box cakes and pies. When you think of classic southern foods, they had a variety of that and then some. They even had a large variety of beers in the cooler from local breweries like Good People and Trim Tab. Our waiter was so blah. He did not smile nor did he seem to be super happy with his job. This is what I would like to call red flag number one. We noticed how unhappy he seemed. This alone, quickly had us reconsidering our lunch spot choice. But we were already seated with drinks at this time. The outdoor seating area was super nice especially on a hot summer day. The chairs do get hot so if you are wearing a dress you might need to reconsider sitting inside. Because both my legs and jasmines legs were stuck to the chairs. I ordered a cold sandwich the Old Favorite. This sandwich consisted of peanut butter, banana, and honey. I ordered it on cinnamon raisin bread instead of the normal boring white bread. This sandwich was delectable. A twist on an old favorite. I can see why they call it the "old favorite": Jasmine ordered the sausage sandwich and she was in heaven. Both of our sandwiches came with chips as a side, but if you want to order something else you are able to for an extra charge. We enjoyed our time here overall, but I'm not sure I'll be coming back.

I had never heard of this place until today when my coworkers suggested it for lunch. When we walked in, the first thing I noticed was how crowded it was (good sign!) but also, it looked like a converted gas station on the inside! Strange, but cool. Service was good and fast. My coworkers asked for recommendations from the server, who suggested the Reuben and The Ambassador. Both were ordered in my group, but I went with The Senator, minus the Thousand Island. The sandwiches automatically come with plain ruffled chips. It was pretty good! It had plenty of meat and bacon and didn't miss the Thousand Island at all, because the mayo was plenty. The coworker who ordered the Reuben was disappointed because the sauce was similar to ketchup, but I think everyone else was pleased with their order for the most part. It was good - if you're in the mood for a sandwich, stop by.

In town and went here for lunch. There is both patio and indoor seating. You can sit on the patio and the server will come to you. They offer several very tasty sandwiches and soups. They also offer a wide variety of beers and other spirits. We sat outside and our server was excellent. I had the Ambassador and my wife had the grilled chicken club. We both had the vegetable soup. The sandwich comes with chips. The soup was very good especially on a cloudy and cool day. The sandwiches were delicious! I definitely recommend the Diplomat Deli for a great lunch.

Super Local sandwich shop - all people love this place - a lot of police officers love it to. This is a great little deli. We have been here a-lot over the years. I love the hot sandwiches- The Embassy is so yummy and the muffuletta is awesome. They also have a great selection of beer and non alcoholic drinks in coolers. Come support local !!!!

We came here after church to grab a quick bite. Dine in service was extremely busy , so we opted for take out. My younger niece had the Reuben (it's her fav). My oldest niece did the build your own. I had chili / grilled cheese and added a slice of lemon ice box pie. We all enjoyed our food. I didn't LOVE the pie but that's ok. I like coming to DD&S. Unfortunately, when it's busy, you can't really look around at their wine selection. The inside is tight and makes it difficult to do much. Thank goodness they have a patio. I do plan to branch out and switch my order up my next visit.

I love going to the Diplomat! Especially in the warmer months when you want a cold beverage, a well made sandwich and an escape from the Alabama heat. Staff is friendly, the variety of sandwiches is amazing and they are fresh and quite tasty. If you have never been, you are missing some great grub! Very casual and a great place to take friends and family.

This is a nice locally owned deli that offers a variety of sandwiches, soups and salads. There is an outdoor patio with wait service. My friend and I had lunch outside on a sunny Thursday. It was perfect place to enjoy lunch where the skies are so blue. For lunch I ordered the Italian sub. It comes with a side of ruffle chips and pickle spear. I ordered my sandwich "hot" and was a little disappointed. I assumed "hot" was toasted, but instead the sandwich is steamed. So the bread wasn't crunchy like I would have preferred. I should have been more specific. Other than that, the sandwich was on point. My friend Robin ordered a Reuben with Meg-Ryan-like (in Harry Met Sally) specifications. They accommodated and she enjoyed her customized Ruben.

You gotta try the double deli sandwich. If you are a Reuben Sandwich lover, you have to try this one. Always great sandwiches. Great selection of international and domestic beers.

I ordered the Californian. The description stated that it included "pepper jelly." I was not entirely sure what that was, I just kind of skimmed it. I was expecting the kind of California sandwich you get anywhere. Savory, creamy, salty, and earthy with the sprouts. I expected some additional pepper substance; maybe an AOLI? Fast forward, I got back to the hotel with my order and the first think I noticed was that the bread was wet. EWWWWWWWW. I just CANNNOT with wet bread. Additionally, the jelly was literal, sweet jelly. There is absolutely no reason to put jelly in this sandwich. It was also clear. There was no spice, no sign of pepper, so I'm really confused. I ate half of it since I was hungry, but left the other half. It was not good, and the flavor they were trying to achieve would have been better executed with sweet peppers or candied jalapeño. Additionally, one would expect fresh sliced deli meat when "DELI" is in the name. Not the case. This tasted like subpar, pre sliced Oscar Meyer. The bread was regular, store bought wheat bread that tasted old. The chips were good because they were packaged. Lol. Reading the other reviews, I may have just made the wrong decision. Perhaps a hot sandwich would have been best?

This deli is perfect as a lunch spot and also surprised me as it was basically a liquor store too. I was not expecting that. Cool. They have both indoor and outdoor dining. My friend Joy and I opted to sit indoors with how hot it's been in the Alabama summer. We both ordered the Californian with turkey after seeing some inspiration on Instagram. My sandwich was good, but it was a little sweet with the jam they added just a forewarning. I got an extra pickle with my sandwich so that was neat too. The sandwich also came with chips galore. Service was good, the gentleman that waited on us was very friendly. The one part of my visit that leaves my review just shy of 5 stars would be the restroom. There is no way the restroom was up to code. You could barely close the door once you got inside of it. It was very crammed for me to be inside there. But it would be almost impossible for a larger person to be in this restroom comfortably.

Diplomat Deli is a fantastic little spot to pop in if you're craving some good soups or sandwiches. A restaurant that doubles as an ABC store, it might seem odd to eat while surrounded by wines and beers, but the friendly staff and pleasant atmosphere quickly set aside any concerns. I tried the Italian sub for my first visit and it was fantastic! Their menu is very diverse, with almost two dozen sandwiches, plenty of soups and sides, and you can even design your own sandwich if you'd like. I will certainly be coming here again soon.

We've been coming here for years, this place hasn't changed a bit. The food is as good as it's always been. The sausage sub is great.

Okay, this place was slammed when I got there for lunch BUT they just totally rocked it! Amazing waitress, and my sandwich which was a hot grilled Diplomat was so delicious that I know I will be going back soon. Really good prices for a stacked deli sandwich too! Mine was just at $10, and included a whole pile of ruffles chips (crunchy/yummy), and a dill pickle spear. I asked for more spears, and they brought me some more too! Great beverage selection both on tap, and soft drinks. Tea, and you name it, and they had it! I will definitely be going back soon!!!

This place is great! Super busy but they don't seem to mind. Food is really good. We had a Long Island and a turkey Ruben. The best part was the service! Major and Molly are so sweet, attentive and knowledgeable! Eat here! Eat here!! Eat here!!!

Stopped by Diplomat Deli with a friend for lunch, and I still dream about their sandwiches. The deli has all kinds of different sandwiches, hot or cold, paired with chips and a pickle slice. Plus, they have a huge variety of local beers and wines around the world, if you need a little pick-me-up. The Reuben I had was amazing, toasted perfectly with the right bread to filling ratio. For only $8.50, you can grab a nice filling lunch in the best friendly neighborhood atmosphere. I highly recommend!

Great Beer Selection, Great Service, love the food. Can be very busy at lunchtime. Suggest go early or later in the 11 am to 2 pm time frame.

A couple of Dips for the Diplomat. Based solely on the food the deli would borderline be a 5 but sometime it's not always about the food. The good part first. I ordered the Italian and it didn't take long to figure out that this was the real deal. Not very often does the actual food look better than the pictures but it looked like a good looking sub. The looks didn't disappoint and was more than a fair price. Two thumbs up on the sandwich. A thumbs down on the side of pasta salad. It was a soggy, watery mess void of any taste. The other three sides the table ordered failed on every level. At $2.75 for a small dish, I would most certainly pass on the sides. The waiter was truly a nice guy and you could see he was trying his best but came up short. However, I will most certainly overlook his incompetence because he was busting his backside to help. The outside seating was a nice touch but they really could do to put a sunscreen up. There were several tables that had all the seats sitting on one side to avoid the sun. Now the middle finger. We went inside to pay and that's when it turned South. The bearded guy at the register was not happy and looked like he wanted to be anywhere but working. I get it...you have a bad day sometimes but man, if you don't like your job, get another one.

My son has always raved about this place and I'm mystified by that cause they don't even use real deli meat in their sandwiches, my Reuben was filled with pressed corn beef which tastes like plastic, otherwise it was well constructed... still scratching my head about those tomato slices though. Nice people, great beer and wine selection, large patio for dining next to Hwy 31. LOL There have to be better delis in this town, this place sure ain't it.

My wife and I ate at the Diplomat a couple of days ago. We split a Reuben and the Muffaletta. The Reuben: warm, tart, excellent nuanced flavors. There was not an accompanying dip for the sandwich like you find in many restaurants, but it wasn't needed. This sandwich stands on its own. The Muffaletta: lots of meat, not enough of the olive salad. Here is the kicker: the wrong type of bread. Most of the epic muffalettas that I have consumed have a firm bread in order to contain and properly deliver the tapenade mixture. This bread was way too soft and the olive oil leaked everywhere: my hands, the tray, etc. Atmosphere is lacking but few seem to mind. It was a cool day when I visited, so we had to eat inside. Server was friendly and knowledable; value was average. We paid $28 for the sandwiches without drinks. Reuben: 4.5/5 Muffaletta: 2.5/5 Atmosphere: 1/5 Value: 3/5 Total: 10/20, and I am rounding up to 3 stars.

Great local spot with great soups and a wide ranges of beverages! Mix of older crowd but popular for a reason! Super nice people and tv screens to watch football.

The sandwiches here are so unique and unlike any I've had from anywhere else and I mean that in the best way possible. The staff are always friendly and the atmosphere is so comfortable and makes you feel like you can just relax and enjoy your meal without a worry in the world.

Great deli with excellent soups and sandwiches. The inside is a little old and needs updating but the service is great. It also has a nice outdoor dining area.

Always delicious. Service is quick even though it's always busy. Laid back vibe, consistently amazing sandwiches!

So, what do you get when you cross a liquor store with a delicatessen? No, this isn't a joke whispered between schoolchildren as they rush from one class to the next. The answer is the Diplomat Deli, a Birmingham, Alabama institution since 1982. It is definitely a weird vibe to walk into a liquor store and see tables scattered about, but weird isn't always bad. I chose a table just before the lunch time rush and soon enough a server approached me and I gave her my drink order (no, it wasn't booze, which somehow felt sacrilegious in a liquor store. I could almost feel the spirits of distilled spirits staring at me in disapproval). My lunch order was a simple choice, the Double Deli (corned beef and pastrami heaped high). Instead of rye, I had it on pumpernickel bread. I also ordered a side of German potato salad. The sandwich, which was nine dollars, was a good size and came with potato chips. I found it pretty good. The German potato salad was OK, but nothing special. But overall I found this to be a good lunch and I will say that I will return here.

I was looking for a place to grab a sandwich and just sit on the patio to relax. Found this place on Yelp and decided to try it. When you walk in it reminds you of a convenience store because they have all sorts of wine and beer to purchase. You place your order at the counter and then find somewhere to sit. I chose to sit on the patio which was very spacious. My waiter was very knowledgeable and kind. I decide to try a cup Of gumbo and the club. I got it as a wrap instead of on regular bread and a sweet tea. The sweet tea was amazing!! The gumbo was ok, it could've used just a tad more heat and the sandwich was very filling.

The wife & I have eaten at Diplomat Deli a number of times over the years & always had good food. However, last week my wife & some of her girl friends had a late lunch there & she ordered me a sandwich to go. When she got home & I opened the sandwich I was greatly disappointed. The toasted white bread was more like BLACKENED bread. Who ever made it must have figured since it was TO GO that it didn't matter. I would have sent it back if I was eating there. This is not the norm for DD & hopefully it won't happen again to anyone. If we get any more TO GO orders we will check it before leaving.

Cute place hidden away that most of the locals know about. I orders an egg salad sandwich and it the service was quick. Definitely a must try. Next time I am going to go for a chicken Philly and a drink

Finally figured out where this place is located! I have probably driven past here hundreds of times without realizing it. It doesn't have the best parking, as it shares its parking lot with the rest of the strip mall area, but at least there is a stop light to help get out of the lot. There is plenty of seating, as long as you are a small group. More than four is pushing it. They do have a nice outside patio area for when the weather is nice. Menu is fairly strait forward, but they do let you customize your order, which I appreciate. We had the seafood gumbo, which was decent. I got the buffalo chicken sandwich and added avocados to it. It was very tasty, and I think I made a good choice here. Give this place a shot if you like sandwiches - as long as you aren't in a big group!

It's our "go to" place. Always good, great beer/wine selection. Excellent food and service. Have ordered almost everything. Best deal is the whole mufalatta, feeds a family of six. Soups are fresh and wonderful, vegetable beef tastes like grandma's! Deviled eggs are fabulous! Corned beef or pastrami sandwiches are perfect! Great for families with live music on the patio on Friday nights

Great sandwiches--huge portions--at reasonable prices. Really friendly staff; great spot for dine in or takeout. Great beer and wine selection as well. Really glad this place exists in the Birmingham community.

Great local place! Good food, good service, great beer selection. Ownership is fantastic.

Delicious food but terrible atmosphere. However we have been there many times. Especially recommend the chicken salad.

According to their menu, Diplomat Deli has been opened since 1982 and offer over 500 fine wines. Located right off Montgomery Hwy in Vestavia, they are convenient to I-65 with plentiful parking as they are at the corner of nice shopping strip. They have a huge outdoor seating area which is larger than inside. The far wall is just a big refrigerator with glass doors similar to what you find at a grocery store where all their different chilled drinks are stored. The rest of the interior dining room is covered with beer or wine paraphernalia and the walls are lined with wine and beer bottles kept at room temperature. Sitting there eating you will feel like you were eating in a middle of a winery. Their menu is simple. They are at heart a soup and sandwich shop. With an extensive list of hot and cold sandwiches as well as soups and salads, there is plenty to choose from. Today's soup of the day was Beer Cheese. They also serve a seafood gumbo but it's only on the weekends. The owner also said they make a mean muffuletta. Another reason to return! Our server was very friendly. She took our drink orders and then our food orders. Soon after our sandwiches and salad arrived. Tammy tried their Italian salad. Fresh lettuce covered with plentiful onions, tomatoes and pepperoni. Rachel tried their chicken salad sandwich and I tried the egg salad sandwich. Both were served in a little basket with ruffles chips and a slice of pickle. I had my bread toasted. Together with the fresh tomoatoes and lettuce, my egg salad hit the spot! Rachel polished off her sandwich as well. Diplomat Deli also caters and dining among all that alcohol is certainly different. Good food, casual atmosphere and unique dining room. Give them a try.

I enjoyed a Reuben sandwich here that had a very interesting flavor Russian dressing. It was very sweet like ketchup even had a bit of red color to it. The waitress told me they make it in house. I enjoyed it, the only complaint I have is that I would have liked to look around at the selections of beer they had along the walls. However, the way the tables were spaced out in the main room I would have had to interrupted and stand very close to other people eating lunch.

My wife had the Philly Cheese Steak and I had a pastrami sandwich. Both wer better than good. Yes, I recommend this place.

The sandwiches are generally good but the service is usually bad. Expect the management to be rude and the server to be unattentive. Be fully aware that if you mention anything about service, you'll be scolded for your lack of patience and told how busy they are whether there are 5 or 25 tables. It seems like the entire place is run by people with zero restaurant experience and no desire to learn or do better.

Locally owned and operated and is the best place in town to grab a great sandwich and a cold beer.

First stop in today! This does not appear as a traditional sandwich shop/deli. It could easily be a spirit shop if the tables were removed. They have a super wine and beer selection that you enjoy there, in-house, or take to-go. Cheers! So, they have a seemingly endless list of sandwich options (not really, but there are a lot! Lol!). And if nothing fancies you there.. They have a create your own list and that's what I went for. Turkey on pumpernickel and my kiddo did the Ruben. Both were super fresh and tasty! I'd definitely go back to try something else. Our server was Melanie. She was an absolute gem! Very knowledgeable, friendly and patient.

I have been to Diplomat on a few occasions in the past. I usually get some form of sandwich. But with promising my wife that I would take a few weeks of eating 100% healthier, I had to go with a different option. My wife advised against getting the grilled chicken salad and the chicken salad plate was recommended by her mom. So I went with that and substituted the slaw for the pasta salad. The chicken salad was in fact delicious. And all of the fresh fruit and tomatoes that came with it were really good too. I was a little disappointed to find that mine came without the deviled egg. I had honestly forgotten about it until I saw someone else eating theirs. I was going to ask, but it was already late in the meal and I didn't see a server for a bit after. My kids split the turkey plate and ham plate. It was a good portion for two year olds of the meat, cheese, and a pickle. It also comes with a cup of grapes that we had to hold out until the end... because my kids love grapes! This is a staple of Vestavia and has been a family favorite for years. They have a great beer selection too. A lot are chilled and on draft to enjoy there. Or they have a wide selection of multi-packs you can take home. Next visit will require one of their tasty sandwiches!

Perfect lunch spot with a great variety of hot & cold sandwiches, salads, soups, bagels, etc. My fave sandwiches are the Double Deli and the Californian. I always ask for roast beef and to have it grilled (not toasted) and that seriously elevated the Californian to perfection!

Really cool atmosphere, nothing fancy, but welcoming and utilitarian. Lots of food items, beers, wines on display and my muffuletta was delicious as was the seafood gumbo. Highly recommend!

Stopped by here late evening and was pleasantly surprised. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available. Live music on the patio area that had almost every table/seat taken. When you walk into the restaurant menus can be found immediately to your left at the counter. Good selection of specialty sandwiches. Hard for me to opt for anything other than an Italian sandwich. Makes it easy to compare to other deli locations. Really impressed! Generous portions of Italian meats (genoa salami, pepperoni, provolone, peppers, onions, italian dressing, and mustard - hold the mustard for me). Meal comes with a bag of plain lays potato chips as well as a pickle. Price out the door was right at $10. Also, they have a really good selection of beer (purchase to take with you) as well as a ton that are in coolers to drink while there. They also fill growlers. Friendly staff and a cool environment. Sorry it took so long to try this place out. Will for sure be coming back here.

Good deli! Stop by on Thursday and give the beer cheese soup a go, it's excellent!! The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is inviting and casual.

I have been eating and enjoying the Dip since the 80's but is has really gone down hill. The owners are crass and rude, if you ask a simple question you will be scolded. I was scolded by the Dead Head behind the cash register on two separate occasions for asking for change to tip my server. Really?!? If you want a cold beer forget it. We ordered 2 Mich Ulta and they were room temperature, we asked the server for some colder ones next round and just received an eye roll. The food has gone downhill too. Their corned beef is bad, just bad the Ruben was once a great sandwich at the Dip but no longer. Their chips are just greasy crumbs. I long for the better days of the Dip when the owners valued their customers, food quality, beer quality and had friendly servers. What a shame.

I feel so bad for saying this but I feel like I could have made this at home. If you want a homemade sandwich, made with store bought bread and store bought chips come here. My soup was good but it could have been found at any deli fresh market, sprouts and Publix. I don't know if their bread is store made or not. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy my sandwich and chips. It just reminded me of a sack lunch I got at my ALIM summer camp. Delightful but too simple to go out for. However, seating outside is very pleasant in the fall. Lots of residents of Vestavia are very proud of this place. The interior is something to see. The staff is beyond helpful and kind. I will come back for that but I wish had some wow things on their menu. Maybe some in house salads and dressings or savory pastries? I think people come here for the outdoor seating, cool interior and customer service.

One of my favorite spots for lunch after church. Always quick and well made. Good price for the quality of the sandwiches.

The worst deli food I have ever had anywhere. I had a Reuben here for lunch today. The sandwich was soggy and not good at all. The German potato salad, horrible! Service wasn't good at all. The girl that served us was more worried about what all of the kids were doing that were standing around in the kitchen than she was about her customers. First time here, last time here!!!