Hal & Al's

Hal and Al's is my favorite place in the world. Simple as that.

I should preface this by saying that I'm a vegan. Naturally, an all-vegan restaurant/bar is going to appeal to me. But even if I wasn't vegan or vegetarian, I'd love the hell out of this place.

Food:
The food is fantastic "pub food" and cruelty-free, and every non-vegan I've ever had tag along has said the food was great, and if I didn't tell them it wasn't vegan they might not have known. From the corn dogs to the chili mac to the luna burgers...I'm drooling right now just thinking about it. I have trouble deciding what to get every single time. One time, I ordered $42 dollars in food. Just for me. Because I couldn't decide and I wanted everything. Considering the entrees are about $5-7, that's a lot of food. It took two days BUT I ATE IT ALL. NO REGRETS. Also, their fries are my favorite in the world.

Drink:
Moving right along, remember Hal and Al's is also a bar, and a damn good one. They have a great selection of your "go-to" stock beers in bottles and cans, along with a constantly changing draft selection of craft beers from all over, including many local brews. They have a decent liquor selection, though, admittedly, I've not drank a lot of liquor there. The beer fridge is well stocked with a lot of things you may have never seen before, and I like to occasionally have the bartender surprise me with one from it.

Staff:
Super friendly people. I have yet to meet someone who worked there who didn't seem stoked to be there. The bar manager is a great guy who seems to never stop working, and he's very courteous and prompt. Every bartender who has ever served me has done fantastically. (Though I was sad to find out my favorite one is no longer employed there!) I've also had the chance to meet 3 new bartenders who were being trained and they really do train people to mind the customer there. Refills are prompt, they always ask how things are, and if you aren't satisfied, it's resolved quickly. I had a chance to talk to the owner, too. Really great guy who genuinely cares about not only the restaurant, but about the businesses in the area.

The biggest downside to Hal and Al's is the location, for me. It's not in a great part of town and some people I know are scared to be around that part of Parsons. I've never experienced anything negative at all down there. Whether you're a vegan or a hardcore meat-eater, check this place out. You will not be disappointed.

So I had been here a few times in the past but had not had the opportunity to try the food. After going and giving it a try though I'm quite disappointed in myself for not giving it a go earlier. Their vegan menu is both unique and has a number of items that sound rather delicious. At the end of my decision making process I decided to go for the chili mac as suggested by some friends. It would seem like making a vegan chili mac would be quite difficult considering that lengths one would have to go to substitute the offending ingredients and still capture the comfort food deliciousness that is intended. Difficulty aside Hal and Al's chili mac is amazing, it has the right texture and leaves you feeling both full and content. The spice level is great and the flavor robust.

Their beer selection is also rather decent. I spent the night going back and forth between a couple of Porter's and Stouts and was very pleased. The bar staff is attentive and able to pour properly.

I love hal and als. When I say love, i mean LOVE.

they offer an amazing selection and wide variety of great beers from all over the place. I love a place where I can enjoy a really great craft beer or a schlitz in the same sitting. Their menu is all vegan friendly and delicious. I recommend the corn dogs and fries! They have great bands on fridays and the crowd is pretty diversified, not too many bros, hoes, or weirdos. The bar staff are some of the best in the city hands down. The patio is great! and the bathroom is always clean with a chalk board for secret messages! Oh and.. free popcorn. BEST! Hal and als, you're perfect.