The definitive characteristics of Altoona-style pizza are a Sicilian-style pizza dough, tomato sauce, sliced green bell pepper, salami, topped with American cheese and pizzas cut into squares instead of wedges.

Instead of the larger pie-like wedges typical of many pizza styles, Altoona Hotel pizza is typically cut into squares.

The yellow squares of American cheese are a staple of this dish, used instead of the mozzarella or provolone common to other styles of pizza.

[1][3][5][4] The traditional toppings included on a slice of Altoona-style pizza are a sliced green bell pepper and cooked deli style salami with peppercorns, notable for being underneath the pizza's cheese topping.

[6] Following the destruction of the hotel in 2013 by fire, other local restaurants began serving Altoona-style pizza.