"Eating at Hal’s is basically just an excuse to party, but with steak. For a Buckhead steakhouse, the place has some serious dive bar qualities, especially downstairs where it’s basically a piano bar with a pianist belting out everything from Ariana Grande to Fleetwood Mac. People puff on cigars, order vodka sodas (there’s no cocktail menu), and watch TVs above the bar. Upstairs is quieter, but the overwhelming amount of wood paneling still makes us feel like we’re in a tavern. White tablecloths, dim lights, and a dress code are the only hints that it’s a steakhouse. Well, that and the fact that four steak options are on the menu. Bland sides like potato cubes that could have come from a freezer bag sit alongside decent ones like lobster mac and cheese. But we’re here for the steak and the “Rhiannon” cover anyway." - nina reeder, juli horsford
