Mott & Hester Deli Co

This is your choice if you're seeking a privately-owned locals' place that has been around for decades and still packs 'em in at lunchtime. All sandwiches and soups are fresh/homemade and made-to-order. Custom orders and catering are also regular services. It's hard to pick out a fav reco here, but here goes: the gumbo's da BEST! more

Great place for a sandwich, but everytime youre in there, there is always a game of name dropping going on. It's usually about a Buccaneer or pro athelete sighting, a local newscaster who is a nice person or somebody's kid who goes to Jesuit, etc. Typical S Tampa crap. Again, the staff is great and the food is great, but can we pull the reigns on this local ""I know, XYZ, etc"" - gets old... Pros: Food Cons: Conversation & UF clones more

CAUTION: R A C I S T TAMPA BAY RESTAURANT REVIEW #233 Pros: BOYCOTT Cons: THERE ARE NONE more

This is the best place near South Tampa to get a sandwich, you will hear a lot about Wright's but M&H takes the cake. ANY sandwich you want, cold or hot pressed on the grill, and homemade pasta specialties daily, some of the best tortellini I have ever had. more

I've been a long time customer of Wrights and Mott & Hester. Yes Wrights has great desserts, but if you truly want an awesome sandwich or pasta dinner, then M&H is the way to go!!! I read a couple of reviews before deciding to write my own and was appalled by ""gracielooh's"" accusations. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the person writing that review worked at Wright's. I've known the owner of M&H for several years as well as the very courteous staff. He has never yelled at anyone in all the years I've been coming to his restaurant and has always been extremely helpful and nice. If this person knew anything about the business, she would know that people are encouraged to come behind the counter and refill their own beverages to get a feeling of belonging, NOT laziness! I consider M&H to be a modern day Cheers where the staff knows your name and treats you like family. The only thing I agree with is that the place needs to be remodeled, other than that it is great! As a 3rd generation Tampa native, my family knows where to go for good food and M&H is the place!!! Pros: Great food and awesome service...thanks Eddy and Eric for years of service! Cons: Can be packed at lunch with limited seating more

After eating at M&H's earlier in the day I went to Blockbuster, their neighborring business, to rent some movies. I witnessed the owner barell into Blockbuster and begin to yell at the top of his lungs until he was red in the face and then a little more. He yelled very insulting rude and in no way whatsoever excusable expletives at the manager in blockbuster. He thretened the man and his employees and frankly scared myself and the other customers. It wasn't until a small crowd gathered around and began to call the police that he left. It was very unprofessional and I would never willingly put myself in the same room near a man like that. I wasn't at all impressed with the food. It was sloppily prepared and served and the service was anything but friendly. They were so lazy they don't get the refills for you they let the customers get them themselves. I pondered how many people had stuck their unwashed hands into that ice machine and sat their purses down on the same counter they prepared my food on, gross. The only thing I was slightly impressed with was their hamemade pasta but it was packaged and displayed so carelessly. As I was leaving I noticed the sign ""celebrating 25 years"". If they've been around for 25 years where is their pride, branded packaging, painted walls maybe? Nothing, The place is filled withh crookedly hung, sun faded gator memrobillia, it looks like a cheap, country gas station with mismatched appliances and old machines and not the aww thats cute and cozy antiquated old, either. This place is in no way comparable to Wrights... waiting in line at wrights is worth your time especially if that guy is there. After what I saw at blockbuster I can't imagine what he'd do if I had to send my food back for any reason... wouldn't want to cross this nut. Pros: The place is never busy Cons: unprofessional and immature service, not worth eating out food, just don't waste your time, money, or even safety more

MY VOTE STILL GOES TO WRIGHTS OVERALL. DETERMINING FACTOR? NOBODY CAN TOUCH WRIGHTS DESERTS, EVEN FOR THE PRICE. M&H'S SANDWICHES WERE VERY COMPAREABLE AND SEVERAL $$ CHEAPER, BUT THEY HAD NO DESERTS. MAC AND CHEESE WAS OUTSTANDING. MY ADVICE, IF YOU GO TO WRIGHTS AND THEY ARE SLAMMED, GO ACROSS THE STREET AND CHECK OUT M&H'S. I WENT THERE WITH THE INTENT TO DEBUNK THOSE WHO SAID THEY WERE SOOOO MUCH BETTER AND I'M HAVING A HARD TIME DOING THAT. STILL LIKE WRIGHTS, BUT M&H IS DEFENITELY WORTH THE VISIT. (IF YOU AREN'T A DESERT PERSON) Pros: EVERYTHING WE HAD WAS EXCELLENT Cons: NO DESERT / TO MUCH GATOR MEMORABILIA (GO NOLES) more

Awesome homemade pastas and great sandwiches! The two main guys (Eddie and Erick) make the place worth visiting alone!! A must try, better than Wrights any day! Pros: Fresh Pasta, Great Food Cons: Needs to be remodeled more

Mott and Hester has a great family style feel about it, with amazing home made pastas and out of this world hot sandwiches! Pros: Great food, Family Feel, Inexpensive more