Photograph courtesy of Hal’s
When we walked into Hal’s, I thought, Wowza, what a throwback. The walls are lined floor-to-ceiling with dark-wood paneling, and the atmosphere is loud and lively, with a piano player tapping out Phil Collins and Eric Clapton ballads. Meanwhile, the crowd squeezes into tightly packed tables to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. Hal’s has occupied a stretch of Old Ivy Road for almost 40 years, and its waiters still bustle around in white button-down shirts, ties, and half aprons, efficiently serving classics to a broad spectrum of steak lovers, from a glammed-up girls-night group to a family celebration. We ordered the Hal’s rib eye, and its crispy, buttery exterior was packed with flavor; the meat was so tender, my knife glided through. My eight-year-old dining companion exclaimed it was the best steak he has ever had. The brussels sprouts are peppered with bits of bacon, and the potatoes are cubed, perfectly fried morsels. Warning: Hal’s cigar-friendly bar means you get your steak with a side of cigar smoke on some nights. But if you spend enough time with the regulars saddled up to said bar, you might earn honorary wise-guy status. And if you can’t get enough of all things weird and wonderful about Hal’s, be on the lookout for a new location opening in a historic funeral home in Midtown in Spring 2027.
Photograph courtesy of Hal’s
Photograph courtesy of Hal’s
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This article appears in our October 2026 issue.
