Back in 1932, Pat Oliveri was a vendor selling hot dogs in Philadelphia. Growing tired of peddling the same old wieners, Pat had an idea. Carefully grilling a tender beefsteak, surrounding it with select ingredients, and wrapping it in a special Italian roll, Pat had invented an instant classic. The Philly Cheese Steak was born.

Originally opened in 1956 by Al Martino, Al's Steak House has been a landmark in Alexandria, Virginia ever since. When John Severson took over in 1965, their loyal customer base had grown dramatically, and to this day, Al's is known to have the best Philly cheese steak in the area.