I always love to check out places that offer the promise of great bar food and a huge beer selection. And so when we were in the area I knew I had to stop and give Hal's a try. Reading many of the Yelp reviews I knew I'd find some things I'd like. And I did! To be honest, we went there for a late lunch on a Saturday and to have some beer. So my first priority was food. While the menu is limited it does have a few interesting items. I wasn't interested in the dinner entree portion and the sandwich options aren't overly plentiful, we were both able to choose something we liked. The build your own burger was really good and cooked to perfection. The accompanying onion rings were just ok - typical of any frozen rings you'd get in most bars. Not like James Street Gastropub which has outrageous onion rings - just saying. My wife's pulled pork was tasty and is something I'd recommend.
The beer selection is huge (I estimated about 70 different kinds!) but regrettably, the draft selection is limited. I love craft beer but want to drink it on tap not out of a bottle. I can do that at home. Only one IPA on tap (not acceptable) but they did have a few Belgians available. I would love to see more support for some of the local craft brewers here. How about some Helltown or East End or even Penn Brewing? But the Stone IPA is always acceptable.
Atmosphere is typical sports bar motif - about 15 flat screens around the bar all with sports on - it WAS a Saturday after all. We sat at the bar and the first thing that struck us was how DARK it was. We're talking dungeon here folks. I mean dark! Black walls, black ceiling, black bar back....Black. If you're in that familiar physical condition where the very presence of any light causes your head to resume that painful throbbing then this place is just for you. You'll love it here. But me? I wanted to read the menu. And couldn't. Had to use my iPhone light to even make out that there was writing on that menu!
Service was ok - usually I sit at the bar to improve my chances of getting better service and to keep my beer refilled more easily. This wasn't the best but it wasn't anything I could fault them on.
I won't go out of my way to go back here but I will consider a return visit when I'm in the area.