Jason’s Deli

Update: Jan 2016 something changed, manager? Not sure, but the salad bar looks great again, staff was nice, and no food poisoning. Yes! Literally the best salad in Norman, or the okc area. Plus it’s the only vegetarian French onion soup in town.

I’ve always had a good experience when I’ve come to this Jason’s Deli. The staff could be slightly more friendly, but the food is always good. The salad bar is fantastic. I usually pair it with a cup of soup and it hits the spot. The salad bar is always well kept and completely filled.

Amazing salad bar ! They need to clean the restroom, sanitize after some guy drops an abomination in there and stinks up half the dining area.

Restaurant was not very clean. I definitely do not feel I got my money’s worth out of the food, which didn’t taste very fresh.

When I crave a big salad with all the fixings and a cup of soup, this is it. My mecca.
When I get soup, I love the chicken tortilla, broccoli cheddar, potato, tomato, or vegetable. Did I leave any out? I usually get a drink because they always have interesting unsweetened iced teas made with something other than your standard black tea.
The bar is always clean and well stocked. There are usually other side pasta or potato salads, etc. or fruit and yogurt. There is even a soft serve ice cream station. Basically, it’s a lot like Souper Salad, but will probably have more appeal for those that were not Souper fans.
Make sure to leave a couple bucks for the bussers. I think they either double as or share tips with the salad bar… what would you call them? Salad bar guards? Anyway, the people who make sure everything at the salad bar is full and tidy.
There is usually plenty of seating. The lunch rush can be crazy but if you come a little before or after it, you can have a nice quiet, reasonably healthy (I know how much we all love cheese and ranch), lunch.

Went for lunch;
Pastrami on Rye with mustard.
French Onion soup.
Outstanding meal.
Great service.
Fantastic staff.

I go here for the salad bar, since it’s the only salad bar I can find in Norman. It’s only about $ 8 per person, and you can eat as much as you want. Great deal!
It’s not the most extensive salad bar, but it’s got what you need to build a big, tasty salad.
The sandwiches and soups I’ve had at Jason’s Deli (I’ve been to a few locations) have never impressed me. I go here strictly for salad.

For lunch sandwiches that are fresh and light, I think Jason’s deli is a great place. The serving size is good for the price and they have really good combinations. Its clean and has a bright atmosphere.

I would love to keep coming to this deli; however, every time I do, I’m disappointed, frustrated, or late. The «waitress”/cashier is never friendly — never smiles, doesn’t suggest sides to customers but says only «do you want anything else?», is told that the order is to go (while I am wearing my work badge) and takes her sweet time to get the order put into the bag so I can leave.
On top of this, I am already paying a pretty penny for the food, but they charge additionally for a small swipe of hummus and gave a single tiny slice of avocado which came on the sandwich. Come on!

Clean and easy to access. Sometimes you just need a salad.

Jason’s deli is quick, smokey jack paining and tuna melt are two of my favorites. The chili is also very tasty when the weather cools, tomato basil is a good stand in when its hot out.

Jason’s Deli is a great fast and healthy dining option in Norman. The menu has a large variety to pick from. My husband ordered the Turkey Reuben and said it was one of the best he’s ever had. I ordered the Turkey Wrap and it was good (it had sprouts!). Both of us had a side of fresh fruit and had some free ice cream on the way out. Free ice cream! Yay!

Okay — this is more of a confession than a review, but here goes…
Good spuds and soups, not great sandwiches. You know the yogurt’s free, right?
After having eaten at Jason’s Deli in Edmond a few times during my teens, I was well aware that they carried some good spuds and, more importantly, free frozen yogurt on tap. Being an ice cream lover while on a long kick to lose 100 pounds is a tough ordeal to manage. It’s even harder to manage when you’re in college and are totally broke. Fortunately for me, I recalled quite distinctly that the Jason’s Deli yogurt machine had signs posted that noted not only that the yogurt contains only 2 grams of fat per serving, but also that it was complimentary. Being the good, frugal citizen that I am, I decided to partake in some yogurty goodness.
After a trip or two of ordering like a cookie and then binging on free frozen yogurt, I began to realize the potential of this plentiful resource. Soon, I regularly was frequenting Jason’s Deli in Norman, dining solely on free frozen yogurt and not making any purchase at all.
I know what you’re thinking, «It’s only free for PAYING customers.» That’s where the water becomes quite murky in fact. I took very good care to read every sign that I could regarding the free ice cream, and I found that there was a note in the menu that said «Free frozen yogurt for all guests.» To me, this was the definitive clause that allowed me to continue partaking in the free goodness that is Jason’s Deli’s frozen yogurt; if it was free for all guests, then it must be free for those who accompany friends to the restaurant though they themselves are not dining. Let’s say you already had lunch and went to Jason’s Deli with some friends/​family who had not yet done so. You certainly would not order food, but perhaps after seeing the «Complimentary Yogurt» signs, you thought that you would give this a try. I highly doubt that any restaurant employees would attempt to throw you out for this action, as the yogurt is free for all guests, and you are a guest. Granted, you are not a paying guest — at least on that particular occasion. This was my argument of justification.
After nearly one year of frequenting Jason’s Deli for its yogurt alone, often 2 – 4 times per week, I had become a regular face to most of their employees. Several of them joked with me and thought it amusing what I was doing, but none of them seemed to care. One epic day, however, that all changed. While the local «Sports Animal» radio station was coincidentally broadcasting from this Jason’s location, the manager of said restaurant just happened to be on hand. Seeing how I bypassed the line and went straight to the yogurt machine, his suspicions as to who I was were confirmed. I was indeed that person that he had heard of through his employees, and he was not going to let my actions continue.
He approached me, asking if I needed any help with anything. Of course, I did not, and I thanked him and continued on. He then more directly asked me if I was going to order something. I replied that I was not, and that I was merely enjoying some free ice cream. He quickly became irate, saying, «So you’re the guy who just comes in here and steals my ice cream!» I replied that I had not in fact stolen anything, as the yogurt was clearly indicated as being complimentary. He then proceeded to become more confrontational. He claimed that the ice cream was not in fact free. After I pointed out the sign on the machine, he quickly retorted that said ice cream was for paying customers only. This was when I executed my plan of action for just such an event.
I quickly located a menu and showed him the verbiage. I said «There is no mention of ‘paying’ in here. All it says is ‘all guests’.» Now even more frustrated, the manager yelled (loud enough to grab the attention of the Sports Animal radio personalities) that I was «no longer welcome [there]» and that I was therefore not a guest. I replied that the restaurant served the public and had no right to refuse service unless an illegal action had taken place. He responded that it was in fact a privately owned establishment, and that they had to right to refuse service to anyone, as they pleased. Though I was not certain of the legitimacy of his legal claim, as he began to threaten to call the police, I felt it best to continue on my way.
Since that fateful day, I have only returned to «steal» free frozen yogurt a total of perhaps 2 – 3 times in year that followed, always weary of an irate manager. After that, I have not taken advantage of this complimentary item in roughly the last six years. To this day, however, I maintain that I had a right to the free ice cream — that manager be damned!
As for the rest of Jason’s Deli, in terms of a Unilocal review, it’s okay ;)