Al's Tavern

Don't judge a book by it's cover is a definite directive for Al's. From the outside it's an unassuming if not possibly sketchy looking building in a commercial neighborhood, but inside is delicious food, friendly staff, and a comfortable place to hang out with friends. The half order of garlic wings hit the spot for lunch and my dining companions enjoyed their burgers and the meatloaf sandwich looked epic.Definitely come hungry, definitely bring friends, and definitely relax.

Stopped in for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. We were greeted when we arrived and the waitress took our drink order soon after. The tavern is decorated with tin advertising signs and very clean. We each ordered speciality subs and they were delicious. We will be dining here again; wish we knew about Al's Tavern years ago.

Great food and great service...fast and delicious! Wings are amazing with the unique breading

We love this place. The food is excellent. Great service too. Tonight we had hot garlic wings and a Philly cheesesteak Stromboli. Ambiance was a typical bar/tavern. Nothing fancy but comfortable.

Everything we ordered was terrific. It seemed like most tables had wings, so we ordered these and we were very happy that we did. We got the hot garlic wings and they were super, as were the sandwiches we got. This was the second time we stopped in Altoona on a ride to Penn State and we will stop on every ride from now on. Friendly staff and a great environment made the place even better.

I've been visiting Altoona at least once a year for over two decades, but it's only been in the last couple of years that "Altoona Style Pizza" popped up on my radar. This is odd, since I've long been a fan of regional pizza styles. Now some may question if "Altoona Style Pizza" actually exists, of if it's just one of those ideas conceived for the Internet thanks to the "Instagramification" of our food culture. If one were to try and troll the pizza snobs of New York, suggesting a thick crusted, rectangular pie, covered with slices of yellow American cheese... well, it seems just a little too on the nose. Not to mention, the one place in town that seems to be the darling of web write ups, only sells this style of pizza in limited rotation. I mean, if you cannot get this style of pizza every day of the week, does it even exist? The short answer is an emphatic yes!At Al's you will not find anything called "Altoona Style Pizza" but it is there on the menu as "Nonna's Pizza". It only comes in one size, but it is available every day. Personally, I think this form gets even more legitimacy from Al's treatment of it, attributing this unusual combination to someone's Italian grandmother. Although I have to imagine this matriarch from the old country must have been crestfallen that the only cheese available for this dish bore such little resemblance to what was available in Italy. But how does it taste? You know, for comfort food it's pretty good. American cheese slices do have a way of overpowering everything with their aggressive creaminess. And this is the case here. If you've ever toasted a slice of American cheese over bread in the oven, you'll be familiar with the flavor profile of the pie. Amazingly the salami and green pepper don't stand out more. Would I get this again? Well, I am curious to taste how other Altoona joints make this pie, but I am eager to return to Al's and try something else. The wings look promising, and based on the strength of the crust, I'd be curious to try more traditional pizza pies. The staff at Al's was great on the phone and during the pickup. The time estimate was right on the money, and street parking was readily available. The building itself felt a little imposing, but once I walked through the doors, the vibe was quite welcoming. Thanks to Al's for being a standard bearer of a regional delight! I hope this pizza stays on the menu for a thousand years and that Al's gets a little more press for its version.

Ample seating. It has a nice vibe to it. I love eating wings, but they need to be mild (the girlscout version). Even the mild here has some heat to it. The staff is always friendly. The food does come out quick. I do recommend trying it if you haven't already.

Awesome local joint. Great food and great service. Best wings in the area. I've gone to Al's 10x with my family and to cater lunch for clients in the area. Everyone loves their wings and salads. Can't go wrong.

Love this place. Great wings and menu choices. Best Miller Lite out of all the places I've ever tried.

One of the best bar-food restaurants in the area. Locally owned. Great wings, subs and other bar menu items. Service is consistently excellent and parking is plentiful.