When I moved back to the area, the only thing I was excited about in town was certain eateries and Al's was at the top of the list. I have fond memories of eating the Sicilian-style pizza as a child and then as an adult, out on my own before I moved away. Coming back at almost 50, I was just hoping the food would kind of be the same, but it was like a taste of childhood. The pizza is the best I've found in Gloversville and Al's is still Al's. Either you're a local and know the spot, have been told about the spot, or did a search online because they pizza shop itself has no sign to lead the way. Their bread is also phenomenal and exactly like my youth as well. Thank you for the trip down memory lane. Your pizza is still in my top three ever eaten! We'll be back! read more

Al's Pizzeria should be renamed "Under Construction Pizzeria & Deli." This Gloversville institution definitely as a lot of character. The interior of this cozy old pizza shop looks as though it's been under renovations for quite a while. The menu boards, fixtures, small grocery shelves are covered in plastic, brown paper/cardboard taped to the floor, and cardboard shaped cutouts hang on the walls and labeled with black marker with what's supposed to be hanging including clock, pictures, and several G'ville sports plaques. There are current NFL schedules taped on the glass counter for the Giants, Jets, and Bills. However, there are outdated The X-Factor/Pepsi promos in the store and depicts two ex-judges (Paula & Nicole) from the first season. Al's Pizzeria sells round and sheet pizzas, pizza slices, subs, cold salads, dinners, and homemade bread loaves at fair prices. In the cooler, bottled Pepsi products, cold beers, and milk are offered too. I ordered a 12 cut Sausage Sheet Pizza, which was ready in about 30 minutes as promised. I used an Entertainment coupon and the pizza was just under $8 with tax. The rectangular thin crust pizza had a light airy, but firm crust with thick crisp edges, ideal for breaking off into breadsticks. The pizza had a good amount of thick tomato sauce, sprinkled with not too much mozzarella cheese and chunks of spicy ground Italian sausage. I enjoyed this good family style sausage pizza over several days for snacks and lunches. I would probably return here again if I wanted inexpensive slices of pizza, but I'm crossing my fingers with a small glimmer of hope that the pizza shop may be fully renovated on a future visit. As a previous reviewer noted several years ago, the shop was under construction then and it's still under construction today. I wouldn't hold my breath though. read more

I've been visiting Johnstown and Gloversville for more than 30 years and have family that have lived in both towns for more than 100 years. Meanwhile, this was my first time at Al's. Honestly, due to it's appearance we didn't know it was in business. A makeover would do this place wonders and probably make it the most popular pizza/sandwich shop in the region. Al's struggles through appearance issues, but has great food. Unfortunately, poor signage and an uninviting atmosphere keeps it from becoming a star. For example, the inside of the shop makes it look out of business or a run down store. The outside couldn't be worse. On the other hand, if you're a local, you know about this place. After we came for the first time all of my family members mentioned they'd been coming here for decades, but stop coming more than a decade ago because they though it was out of business, as the appearance hints at. There's no place to sit and eat inside. There's no chairs or tables. In fact, you'll have to stand near the register or meat/cheese counter because there's no where else. Fortunately, the food is way better than you'd expect. They offer $1 pizza slices (the square cut ones) and excellent pizza. While you're waiting you can peek in the back and see the owner mixing dough and building everything from scratch. It's like they did 50 years ago. Another positive, the prize doesn't seem to have changed in a few decades either. Where else can you get homemade meatballs on homemade bread with homemade sauce for $5? And, this isn't crappy Subway quality. Many come for the above, but others arrive for fresh baked bread (with no preservatives), pepperoni bread and rolls. They also have cold cuts and cheeses and that atmosphere where the owner knows the local's names still. A meal here is remembrance you're in a small town, with friendly people, homemade food and experiences that are tough to find in today's chain-filled restaurant world. read more

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I might be biased because well, i was a fat little kid that used to walk by Al's everyday on the way home from Estee Middle School and buy a garlic stick for the trudge home in the snow. See, you might be thinking, "Oh Mick, you silly asshole...EVERYDAY huh? (eyes roll)" To which i would deadpan back to you in my best deadpan Donald Sutherland..... "Yes Linda....every goddamn day." It was something about the smell of the FRESH baked rolls or bread they were making....and i went there so often, that my dad would have me pick up a loaf of bread there on my home from school. ("Well shit Mick, i just assumed your chubby ass was going anyway, heres $2...grab a loaf of bread....get a soda or juice for your trouble.") That said $2 was then added into my lunch allowance. It was now my fucking DUTY to provide bread for my family. Whenever i come back, i feel this small anxiety rush about homework or laugh about a boner i got in 7th grade staring at Mrs Gessinger's legs. Only the smell of the homemade marinara and homemade meatballs combined with that awesome fresh break bread can bust me out of THOSE thoughts. read more

Don't let the constant under construction look fool ya. This place has meatball subs that could rival any other sandwich shop. Their cheap slices of pizza make for a great snack while you wait for the sub to bake. The warm nature of the employees make you want to come back for more. Six months later, I'm back and I know what I want. read more

It's Al's pizzeria, I've been getting pepperoni bread from them for almost 30 years. My grandmother and grandfather always used to call Saturday night to order out two loaves for sunday. Get them both home and the first loaf was gone in about 5 minutes. It is a memory that I still think about to this day anytime I see or smell pepperoni. In 2014 I got to work upstate and stay with my oma that whole year. I had never had anything else from Al's l. One night my oma asked if I could pick up a pizza on the way home from work. I figured I could finally try a pizza from Al's, it was great. Keeping that memory alive, that everything here is good. Next up was the meatballs and red sauce. Al's meatballs are quite possibly the best meatballs I have ever had. The flavor and texture are perfect. Red sauce is on point also, no need to do anything to it other than heat it up and drop a few meatballs in. As a few others have said I remember Al's looking just the way it did when I was 8 as it does now lol. But that's fine by me, he's a good cook and his food proves it. I wish more places focused on the taste and flavor of their cooking rather than the decor. Any time I'm back in gloversville I'll always stop into Al's for something delicious. read more

When I was a kid, our Sunday would not be complete without getting Al's cold cuts and freshly made Italian bread. We always asked for "hot bread" when we were kids and sure enough, we got a fresh loaf. On top of that, they participate in community fundraisers with their spaghetti dinners, accompanied with a meatball bigger than your fist. We have gotten a big lasagna from there as well, and it was absolutely delicious. I'm convinced there's not a bad item of food this place sells, and the staff that works there are very nice. read more

Consistent quality for over 40 years. More than a pizza shop, this quaint Italian deli has provided quality food and fond family memories for generations. read more

Having just moved to New York, we bought a coupon book to try a variety of places and to get to know some different areas. I called Al's Pizzeria to make sure they were open since we would be driving about an hour to get there. When we arrived, we were promptly and curtly told that they don't honor the coupon any longer. We were pretty hungry, so we asked what kind of bread-sticks he had. I thought he would make them fresh, but I was dismayed as the owner used his bare hands to touch everything in the display case while inventorying what he still had available. I refused to buy anything, but my spouse still purchased one and never finished it because it tasted like it had been made a couple of days ago. We looked in the coupon book and went to a very welcoming and delicious place in Northville. We will not be returning here! read more

Born in Gloversville in 1952. My dad is from Sicily and he knew what good pizza was and sent me to Al's to pick up 2 large pies for the family every Friday. Nuff said! read more

I've been going to Al's since I was a kid and it's just good food. Good pizza, great bread, great garlic bread, super service. I only wish they would deliver. It would be a gold mine for them. It could use a little sprucing up and perhaps finish that construction, but wow, those meatballs. Best I've ever had, including my own! And to the guy with the whole deal on boners and after school blah blah blah, who cares? Stick to the facts. Your life was boring and the subject is Al's. read more

Growing up in my hometown this was a favorite of mine. Everything from the homemade Garlic bread, Garlic Knots, Eggplant sub and of course the Pizza. A++++ Service and food never seizes to amaze me. :) read more

I really had a craving for some new York style pizza this pizza awesome craving gone n know where to send the honeybun when it comes back