Hard Times Cafe
4738 Cherry Hill Rd, College Park, MD, 20740
Hard Times Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in College Park for healthy meals suggestion.
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Visit below restaurant in College Park for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
4738 Cherry Hill Rd
College Park, MD, 20740 - Phone (301) 474-8880
- Website https://www.hardtimes.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : Juke Box
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Ben C.
Awesome food at a great price! Hard Times Cafe is without a doubt one of the best values in College Park. Their portions are plentiful and their food is very good. It is nothing fancy or out of this world, nut everything they do is done very well. My go to is the chili cheeseburger. For $10 you get a large burger topped with a generous amount of the chili of your choosing as well as a side. Their menu is far more expansive than this, but it is so good I find myself having trouble ordering something else. They also have some of the best jalapeño poppers I have ever had. They are made with fresh jalapeños and cooked to order. The service there is also very solid. It is nothing remarkable, but certainly worth mentioning. Also of note, they have a very nice selection of draught beer. It is also important to note that despite having a bar and being in College Park, the restaurant maintains a family friendly type atmosphere and is truly a restaurant first and a bar second. All and all this is great place to go for a nice change of pace, and it has a value that is nearly impossible to beat.
(4)Brian S.
ive been going here for a long time with my father and it seems like every time I go here I'm more and more disappointed...the portions seem to get smaller...not terrible food but Its just a little lacking. The sandwiches are on the smaller side, the chili is alright...
(2)De T.
Had a small surprise dinner for my fiancé here a couple of Sundays ago. It's my fiancé's favorite place to eat. The service when we DINE there is usually good but this time was somewhat different. They allowed me to drop off the cake early so my fiancé would not find out and kept in the the fridge. That all went smoothly. Unfortunately when we got there that evening, all of the long tables were filled even though I made a reservation at 6 pm. I called a day in advance to make sure it all could run smoothly. I spoke to Lisa. I also came in that morning and spoke to the manager when I dropped off the cake. Our groups sat in two separate booths back to back. The manager set up everything the morning of but was not there and neither was Lisa (the manger told me Lisa was off that night but I was hoping for the best because it was for my fiancé birthday) when we came the evening so the servers seems a little bit confused. They ruined the surprise for my fiancé that some family was coming to join us. I was going to tell him when we sat down. I clearly said it was a surprise dinner when I came in that morning and that he did not know family was coming. But I guess there was a shift change and some miscommunication. Of course when you plan a get-together, not everyone shows up on time but when I say 5 or more people who have RSVP'd and a server asks, "Is this all the guests?". . .well, it was only my fiancé, 1 guest and I. We just sat down and we felt rushed already. Ugh! It was all a little upsetting to say the least. The server seemed nicer as time went on and more guests came. My mother was more upset about the seating that I was though. They offered one of the long tables after she complained but I did not want the server at that station getting our money since she was the one who sat us in the booths, acted confused about our reservation and told me those long tables were the only highchair accessible tables. (The booths we were put in instead had room for a small table thus they had room for highchairs). Just gave off a vibe that she did not want to serve us thus we did not want to be served by her either. My fiancé and I have been coming here for several years but I should have known that since Lisa was not working that night, then it will be kind of a disaster. Lisa always remembers us and gives us great service start to finish. The server we had that night did try to make up for all the miscommunication but she would not make up for the first server who sat us in the first place. She even got us a small table so we all could actually sit together. I am giving 4 stars because the food was food, as always, for them keeping the cake saved for us in the fridge and because the manager and Lisa were helpful in setting it all up. My fiancé and some of the other guests had a good time (after some food and beers). My mother and I are still think it could have gone a lot smoother than it did. The server did try and was nice to us. My fiancé did get a free scoop of ice cream with caramel on it to go with his cake though. Would I plan a get-together again there? Not unless Lisa or the manager I spoke there are there. Would I go back for just my fiancé and I? Yes.
(4)Natalie M.
We were heading to Ikea and needed to stop for lunch, but since we don't know the area very well we decided to just pull in anywhere. This restaurant is located next to an Italian place so it was either that or a tavern style place- we chose the latter. Our waitress was very friendly and sat us down right away. Since I don't eat fried food often and I don't eat red meat I wasn't left with a ton of options, but I was very happy to see a veggie burger on the menu. Also, since it was a rainy day chili sounded pretty good and they have a veggie chili on their menu so I added that to my burger and I substituted the fries for salad. The veggie burger was huge and the chili on top made it even bigger, it tasted good, but please note: this is really not something you want to order on a first date because there's no way you can eat this and still look elegant- seriously, not even Audrey Hepburn could have eaten this gracefully. Our waitress brought over a chicken wing sauce for us to try because she said it was better than anything on the table and she was so right! I put some of the sauce on my burger and it made it extra spicy. This is a good place to go if you're in the mood for something warm and cozy, such as a bowl of chili.
(3)Shawn J.
Went to get some chilies with my wife. If you are big fan of chilies you probably like this place. Chili fries = two thumbs up, grilled wings and nachos = thumb up.
(4)Art T.
It's hard for me to review a place to near and dear to my heart. My wife-to-be and I would head out there while we were dating, the original location in Old Town Alexandria. Then, we started frequenting the location in Woodbridge and other sites, until we found that this one in College Park was the closest to our current residence. It being so close to U of MD, that was just a win-win. The chili is the reason to go. Whether you're from Texas or Cincy, or anywhere else really, they've got you covered. In fact, that's how we first found out about it. Apparently, some members of Congress (and their staff) from the Lone Star State would visit HTC because it was the only place to find chili that was close to home for them. Whether that's true or not, I can't confirm, but I can say that the chili is spot on authentic. The Cincinnati chili is also right on the money for the region; it also happens to be my favorite. The fries are hand-cut, double-fried, and boardwalk style because of it. Always delicious, always perfectly done! Try the house blend chile vinegar with them, too... I'm not a fan of super-spicy stuff, and it's a must-have addition for me. Speaking of, the chilis are never really super-spicy, either. The Texas can have a bit of a kick, as can the Terlingua Red, but the Cincinnati is mild and sweet with a rich meaty flavor and a smooth texture. The vegetarian is actually really good, too, so long as you don't have any peanut or soy allergies. A vegetarian friend of ours swears by the stuff, honestly. The prices are still pretty much all under $10 for entrees, though we do remember the fond days of I wanna say less than $7. Times do change, though, but HTC still delivers high quality Old West/Southwest grub at very affordable prices. I still wonder how they do it. Overall, this place never disappoints. I don't think we've ever had a bad experience there, and we find ourselves going back for many occasions. Call it our comfort food stop, if you want. Speaking of which... Frito Chili Pie! That's all I have to say. ;)
(5)James C.
Awesome food, great folks... Go College Park location!
(4)Diesel L.
Not exactly my choice of cuisine, however Kristen my server was able to recommend great alternatives for what I wanted to order. My beer arrived cold and my food arrived piping hot! Overall good food and a great service experience!
(5)Jon O.
I order steak soft taco for 9.99. It Is worth to eat. It is damn good with jalapeños ranch dressing. And also I oder jalapeño pepper poppers for 8.99. It also good and it is spicy with sweet sauce.
(5)Lena W.
It was National Chili Day. So we had to check it out - who turns down a free bowl of chili? I love that they bring out a sample dish of their chilis. They have four kinds, so without tasting them first you'll probably have a rough time choosing. They're all pretty tasty, but have very distinct flavors. I'm partial to the Terlingua Red. In case you're vegetarian, they've got you covered. All of the chilis come with the option of cornbread. I thought it was nice they didn't try to nickel and dime you there. I love that some of the menu options offer a combination of toppings included, while others have toppings extra. They have sour cream, cheese, tomatoes, and onions; there might be more, but those are the only ones I remembered. Either way, there's great variety. The atmosphere is great! You can tell right away it's the kind of place where they know the regulars. It's very casual and no-frills. I just hope you don't get a table by the door on a cold night, because you'll get the draft he whole time. The servers are friendly and the prices are good. This is absolutely worth checking out.
(5)Yvette W.
I dont get it. It must be the wings & beer because EVERYTHING else was hella nasty. Fries cold, onion rings greasy, burger tasteless & dry----and the chili!!! Omg! Griss. . They use cheap bread or it was just plain stale. I ordered a nathans hotdog. The bun crumbled in my hand and tasted like old refridgerator. So I asked for another one. Same. We'll never go back.
(1)Karen S.
Good chilis, burgers, wings, salads--oh, and beer! Friendly staff. Quick service, especially when seated at the bar. Comfortable when I'm alone, with the spouse, or with friends. Consistently good food, just like other Hard Times locations. I'm a regular. Every now and then, I just gotta get my Chili Mac on.
(4)Melissa P.
First time there and we loved it. They have the best cornbread and some really good chili. Customer Service was amazing. They even let you try all 4 of their chilis before you ordered. Definitely would recommend to people.
(4)Robert C.
The chilli over here isn't bad. If you've never been to one before, you can ask them to give you a little sampler of each chilli before you order. Chilli By The Bowl ($6) - Choice of chilli with or without beans. You can pick from the following: 1. Vegetarian Chili - It's actually pretty good. The only bad thing is that its texture's more of a salsa. 2. Terlingua Red - Spiciest one outta the 4. However, it tastes just like straight up pepper. 3. Cincinnati Chili - Sweeter spices such as cinnamon. 4. Texas Chilli - My favorite one. This one has the most flavor in my opinion.
(3)Jeffrey C.
Every time I come here I am sad that I dont remember that the food just isnt that good. The prices are cheap. NY Strip for $15 with 2 sides is a great deal (as of Feb 2014). The steak is bland, the red skin mash potatoes are flavorless and the Onion Rings had no seasoning. To be fair, my wife really likes the Vegetarian Chili.
(2)Laurah J.
So I'll start off by saying the food here is always almost spot -on. The service though, 2 time out of 3, has left much to be desired. The first time, I watched my food (Fritos chili pie) sit up in the window for ages waiting for hubby's food (a bowl of Terlingua red).... and his still wasn't right. Same story second time. Third time, great service to go with the great food. Just....be prepared for bad service!
(3)Wills M.
I love this place. Service is always wonderful. Sometimes noisy but not a killer. Food is great. Chilli to fit every taste. Clean and nice. Plates just need to be bigger. The portions are so big. The price is so small. Great for a quick meal
(5)Brook H.
I've eaten at several Hard Times and never had a problem with any of them. The food has always been good and the service A-OK. For those that don't know, Hard Times is a chili place. Don't come here looking for healthy, unless you want salad. As even one of their own servers said (in response to me suggesting a healthier option), "Healthy? You're in the wrong place". You can get burgers, sandwiches, salads, steak, etc... but the whole point of going to Hard Times is for their excellent chili. They have four different kinds (including a vegetarian) and you can get them straight, in a chili mac, on salad, on burgers, on hot dogs, and so on. This particular Hard Times seems to usually be staffed by local college kids, most of whom will bend over backwards to earn a buck. Yeah, there might be a lack of experience, but at least the customer service is good. If it's nice out, they have a good outdoor area to eat as well. So, if you're in the College Park/Beltsville area and in the mood for some good chili, ain't no better place!
(4)Billy B.
Great place to meet up prior to a Terp's Basketball Game. Great wings. Chili is good in moderation. Good beer.
(3)Samantha G.
It's no secret by now that I'm a huge fan of Hard Times. It's relatively cheap and it's super delicious. This particular location is really not much different from the rest. It seems to be a tad smaller than the Arlington and Alexandria location, but the food and service are pretty much the same. If you've never been to HTC before, be sure to ask for a chili sampler (if they don't already just offer it to you). And I definitely recommend the wings and chili mac. However, you really can't go wrong with any of their chili offerings - chili over nachos, Fritos, corn bread, hot dogs, burgers, fries, etc. The chili is the star of the show here. Note that this location is in a strip mall. So for newbies searching it out, it may not be all that easy to spot right away.
(4)Alex N.
I love this place and I eat here often. Four stars because it is more than what I would expect for the price. Good food, friendly bartenders and a decent happy hour menu makes it my favorite neighborhood standby. It's just good ol' fashioned, unhealthy Americana; complete with country music and cowboy boots on the walls. You will not be surprised by any fancy vegan options or gourmet dishes. I don't usually get the chili because I like their sandwiches, burgers and wings better (whiskey river burger is my fav), but the chili is good too . Although they have a modest beer list, the price is good, and they always have a few microbrews on tap. If you're in the area and looking for some decent food for a good price in a friendly setting, this is it!
(4)Jerry S.
Curiously, my least favorite dish here is the chili! They do great burgers and onion rings, and while I haven't tried the wings I saw a lot of them being enjoyed. My pick is the steak salad. Nice assortment of crisp greens, crunchy croutons, blue cheese crumbles, peppers, red onion. The steak is 5-star: lovely char, literally fork tender, very tasty. Paired those assertive flavors with a Loose Cannon, one of 8 craft brews on draft. Staff is always amiable and efficient. Go at Happy hour for half-price beer ($2.50/pint) and check for the daily special (Steak Salad is Thursday's).
(4)Rajat A.
My life would have been incomplete without a visit to this place. The place that introduced me to how chili should be. My inspiration for trying to cook chili and bakre cornbread like them (only because I moved away to te West coast :( , otherwise I wouldn't even dare try). Every time I fly back to College Park, this place is a must-do pilgrimage for me. On the last trip, they offered me samples of all four types of chili, which quite frankly filled-me up too much. I went again two days later, and this time the server and bartender let me try at least 5-6 samples of beer without getting annoyed. I finally settled for a brew that's hard to find in the West coast and loved it.
(5)Ken M.
I haven't been here in a long time so it was time to come back for another shot of chili. I had been going to the same old eating places for awhile and I needed a little change. Not too expensive...casual...quick. We hit this place on a Friday night and it was already packed when we got there about 6:30. Luckily, not so packed that we had to wait in line. Still, it was way noisy and the three of us had to use our outdoor voices to be heard across the table from one another. The waitress was fine. Quick, efficient and friendly enough. The food was OK. I remember Hard Times actually built their reputation on their chili. Now, it's so-so. I don't really expect much since it really caters to the University and sports bar crowd. The cornbread was hard and almost on the stale side and the chili itself was OK. Just OK. If you want to toss back some beers (lots of different kinds) and have some chili while having a rousing good time with your sports loving friends than this is the place. If it's a quiet meal with state-of-the-art chili than not so much.
(3)Opie M.
Devils backbone on tap. Drink a "Devils Cannon" They have been keeping Devils Backbone on tap for over a month, First the 8 point IPA now the Vienna Lager, They have had the Loose cannon on Tap every time I've been for years. The loose cannon is not the best summer beer for me, on the syrupy side, so I dilute it with The Devils backbone to make a "Devils cannon". Note to self, Tuesday is the Chilli Mac Day, my favorite. Still have not tried the Tater tots and chilli.
(4)Patrick B.
Consistently Delicious grub and cold COORS LIGHT! I live in Baltimore but my best friend lives in College Park. We typically hit this joint when I go to visit. Yesterday there was no deviation. The waitress's know him by name and the food is always spot on. I even got my chili cheese burger rare without too much hassle. Did I mention how cold the Coor's Lights were!
(4)Sharon O.
BEST chili dog you will find anywhere. Get the texas style chili dog and you will not be sorry.
(4)Scott S.
Not too shabby I must say... never thought a chili place would be a success. They have a rather medium size list of chili types for all customers. Hot, flavorful, mild, Texas style, etc. They even allow you a taste of each chili to make sure your taste buds are willing and able! You can order just about any chili capable meal on the menu with any of the chili's... this can make a real man happy. Give this place a try, and you won't be disappointed if you are a chili fan.
(4)Jon R.
Still a great place. We enjoy the wings. And our waitress Megan was super nice. We ate and ate and ate and ate. Loved it as always.
(4)Patrice M.
I have to give this place at least 2 stars because the food could have been good had it been hot. Our server blatantly forgot about us and showed so all over her face. When she did remember, she grabbed our food which had clearly been sitting there for a while and brought it to the table. I have served before in quite a few restaurants and I know the drill... I would have been better if she had just said "I'm so sorry guys. I'm backed up and we need to re-cook your food so it will be hot." She was clearly running all the tables and her coworkers were not much help. After we told her the food was cold, which she knew, she told us she would "put it under the warmer" that's not even as good as microwaving the damn plate. I mean, really?! If I wasn't so extremely hungry by that point she would have had to take back my entire plate untouched and I would have sat there looking miserable. After bringing out a side plate of what was supposed to be chili and I told her that I did not want it (it looked absolutely disgusting) she still charged me for it. Needless to say she was not tipped for the mere fact that she could care less about our table and more about her party that had been there for hours. She even apologized to the table next to us and looked at us like she was over us.
(2)Nicole R.
I've been here half a dozen times for lunch. The chili is delicious, the service is fast and the staff is always very friendly. I've also tried the salmon which I highly recommend. Hard Times Cafe is such a bargain and it's the perfect place to grab lunch; you've gotta check it out! PS. The Veggie chili is pretty awesome.
(4)Paul B.
The food's good and the service is generally (95% of the time) friendly and efficient. I do like the Cincinnati Chili Mac, but you can find something good. Even if you don't like Chili - their grilled chicken salad is always so fresh and delicious. Bonus: outside seating in good weather. The bar area always seems well patronized with happy folks too.
(4)Diane D.
Best chili in MD. Its difficult to find a good vegetarian chilli that still has some substance and flavor, but this place does it. They put peanuts in their vegetarian chili, but offer 3 other kinds of chili as well. You can get a sample of all of them when you sit down. One of my favorite dishes is their Chili Bubba with two kinds of chili, on top of some sweet cornbread, along with a generous portion of cheese and onions, and its a meal. I got it last week and split it with my fiance. It was plenty. My fiance also loves their wings as they are grilled with a great smoky flavor. I always come here in the fall. The service is good as is the laid back atmosphere.
(4)kathy d.
We stopped in for a beer and decided maybe to have a bite while we were there. We're vegans and our only option was french fries and onion rings. The beer was great and we ordered the onion rings...so so.
(2)Abdulrahman H.
Worst nachos I've ever paid for. Taco bell would have been a step up. Eleven dollars for a small box of old soggy nachos.
(1)Jen F.
Good grilled food, they have a Mexican flair. Yummy margaritas too! Service can be really slow when it's busy, but it's worth it... most of the time. They offer two different types of chili, so if you are a chili lover, you will be pleasantly surprised. I am not a huge fan of chili but it is delicious from here! Hard Times also has a good bar for watching games and happy hour / wing deals. The nachos here are always a crowd-pleaser, but my entrée experience has been mixed. The chicken sandwich I got once was delicious! But another time when I came, I decided to be healthy and get the Santa Fe Chicken Salad which was very disappointing. My friend and I who ordered it both agreed, nothing about that salad was satisfying. Is it worth the 30 minute congested ride to get down Route 1? If you are craving Mexican food and want a real restaurant dining feel, then yes.
(3)Tamara W.
We used to frequent HTC in College Park all the time, but not so much over the past year. With the exception of the booze, the food is truly a hit or miss! The first time I dined there I had their SW chopped salad and a cup of chili. The chili was so-so (Terlingua), but the salad was horrible because it was just a heap of ice berg with miniscule amounts of the main tasty portion of the meal. I never ordered another salad again. My hubby had the onion rings and they were excellent and his chili which was another flavor (Texas) was to his liking. Subsequently we have ordered the fish sandwich, chicken strip dinner, fish and chips, (none have been good) along. with different chili's and the fare is fast food quality on a porcelain plate nothing to talk about . Also, watch your hands as I have encountered chipped plates twice!! Unsettling was the fact that the waitresses never took the plates away to alert someone of the damage that could be done. The chili also is so hit and miss-- it depends on when you go--even the Cincinnati which over the years has been steady in taste has been reduced to a salty tasting something. The fries are terrible, hollow, and not tasty. The onion rings over the last 8 months are not good. The best thing so far is their fish sandwich. Their prices are too high for the amount and quality of food you get. They nickel and dime you for ridiculous things like a TEASPOON of chopped onions or jalapenos on your chili or sour cream. I would think that if a patron is paying $7 for a bowl of chili you should not ask them to pay extra for onions or cheese. Geez! If you like beans in your chili you will also be mad because they use poor quality beans which are hard to the bite. Their saving grace is that the waitresses are awesome and very nice and super attentive. So if you tend to drink more than you eat and do not care for the quality of food--then delight will flourish on your tongue, but if quality, and a fresh tasting meal is on your agenda, then I would skip this spot. We have been expecting some type of change for the positive giving HTC numerous chances, but we just keep getting disappointed. Sigh.
(2)Tony N.
3 1/2 stars. Try the chili sliders. Very responsive customer service. One of my favorite places to grab a burger, sit at a bar, and watch a game.
(3)Olivia D.
For a chili place, Hard Times sure was chilly. badum ching! We sat by the shuttered windows which were letting in a very noticeable cold draft. It was stinking freezing and my bench-style chair kept lifting up and banging down when I moved. Annoying. But since we had hot chili coming our way, we put up with the cold. I got a chili cheddarburger and for an extra buck upgraded my fries to onion rings. I really like Hard Times onion rings. They're thick slices of fresh onions that are just barely battered and deep fried to greasy, served with a spicy mayo. I loves them. My burger was a patty of ground beef topped off with a chili of ground beef. Cheese, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce... it was all there and it was all pretty good. I wouldn't say Hard Times knocks my socks off or that it's SUCH a great deal (although it's relatively affordable). But sometimes a girl just wants some chili and greasy onion rings. It works.
(3)Dave G.
It does NOT get any better than this. Let's start with the FOOD - With a variety of menu items, including steak, salads, chicken fingers, and of course... CHILI, my wife and I frequently visit this location while we are in the mood for a nice greasy meal, a casual dinner, or on a diet. Of course if we are in the mood for a greasy meal, the chili is AWESOME. Not only do we love going there, but we also have our fantasy football parties catered and it is always a HUGE hit. The prices are great too. They might have increased them slightly in the last six months but who hasn't? It's still VERY affordable. Next, SERVICE - The waiters and waitresses are always top notch. They really care about your dining experience, which is more than I can say about anything in the immediate area (Laurel/College Park) - they are always a pleasure. I had a minor issue once and brought it up with the manager and not only did he make it better, but he went ABOVE AND BEYOND. You can tell that it is very RARE they have complaints from their customers and then they do, they take them very seriously. I actually felt bad about complaining and gave our waitress the value of what we were compensated as a tip because she went above and beyond to make sure we had a good experience this time. ATMOSPHERE - Great for all types. I like watching the many TV's when sports are on. Sometimes we just want to chat and it's quiet enough to do that. Sometimes I can tell an appropriate joke and it's loud enough to cover it up. It's a college-atmosphere. Even though I am older than that, I can appreciate the fun crowds there. To sum it up, if you live in the DC area and have not been to Hard Times yet, you are missing something special. If you live around College Park and have not visited this location, give it a try. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Laura P.
I am probably the most loyal customer of their happy hour, tell me, how can you beat $5.00 nachos and $2.00 beers? This place is reasonable, has good food, and their customer service is also good,
(5)Andrea H.
This is a go-to place if you want simple, inexpensive eats. Burgers, chili dogs, chili macs, sandwiches are the essence of the menu. You can't beat their prices because they have daily specials Monday - Friday on a certain item like nachos, chili macs, etc. And a lot of people take advantage of it. My recommendations - the chili mac and my husband really likes their burgers. Plus, the fries are seasoned well.
(4)Vinod S.
So many businesses have come and gone in College Park since the school's last basketball championship (many of which were probably destroyed in the riot after that victory). But one business that has remained, and the one reason to go back to Route 1, isn't near campus at all - it's in a shopping center 3 miles north of it. Inspired by the Depression-era chili wagons, Hard Times Cafe......sorry, I don't know how to finish this lofty-sounding sentence. All the chili styles are great, but my favorite is the Texas Chili - dry ('wet' means they keep all the meat juices in it). The Frito Chili Pie is a midwestern bourgeois classic, as is the chili mac. The wings are grilled and excellent. Even the desserts are good. Look, we all know UMCP could stand some improvements. They should probably start by rejecting all the retards who want to attend. But don't take your vitriol out on this fine establishment. Eat and enjoy!
(5)Su K.
I haven't been back to this Hard Times in a long time. The last time was several years ago for the Wednesday wings happy hour. At that point, wings were $0.25/wing, instead of the $0.10/wing I was used to in 2001/2002. So ordering 50-120 wings ($5-$12), as my friends and I did per person every single Wednesday was no longer an option ($12.50-$30). To make matters worse, the wings were shriveled and mostly bone. Like super skinny models who are still cardholding members of the IBTC (if you don't know what that is, we may need to be friends off), some dudes may be into that sort of thing, but me, I like some meat on them bones b/c real women--and chicken wings--have curves. So I had to unfriend AND unfan Hard Times Cafe. For some odd reason, I was in the mood for wings yesterday, so I decided to visit Hard Times. Are we friends again? Read on to find out. Food - First of all, the wings are $0.45 now. A 10 piece order is regularly $8.59, so that saves you a "whopping" $0.40/wing, so don't go spending that all in one place, young man. Thankfully, out of the 20 wings we ordered 17 of them were Lindsay Lohan circa 2004, while 3 of them were Ms. Lohan circa 2008 - without the crack obviously, b/c that would've made them more delicious ( yelp.com/biz_photos/xNJs… ). We got 10 with the Honey BBQ sauce (not too shabby) and 10 with the Texas sauce (modified Franks Red Hot). The Texas wings were DRY! So ask for extra sauce on the side. The wings are served with a good amount of celery and your choice of blue cheese or ranch dressing. Not the best wings in the world, but while it's certainly hard to complain about 20 wings for $9, that price doesn't exactly deserve praise either. As usual, I'll do the wing math and you can copy off my answers: # of wings Price Unit Price (rounded) 10 $8.59 $0.86 25 $22.99 $0.92 36 $29.99 $0.83 50 $39.99 $0.80 Astute readers will note that 25 wings are cheaper per unit than 10. This pricing makes no sense for me. Is this some sort of Fat Tax?! So if cheap wings are your thing, I'd say stick with Wing Zone and Wings To Go, which are all within a few miles of this place. One benefit of Hard Times though is $2 drafts during Happy Hour (3-7pm). Or you can do the tried and true, College Park special: 100 wings at Wing Zone and a 30 pack of Natty Lights from Town Hall. As far as the chili goes, they still provide the sampler ( yelp.com/biz_photos/xNJs… ), so make sure you try them out before you buy them. Blasphemous as it may sound, I actually like veggies in my chili, but 3 of the 4 chilis are essentially ground beef with spices and seasoning. The Texas chili is probably my favorite of the 3, but my favorite--you may need to sit down for this--is the vegetarian. Yes, there is no meat in there, but I find the other 3 chilis WAY too salty and frankly, not that good. With the vegetarian, I always end up saying it would taste pretty good w/ some meat in it. But try out the sampler and see for yourself. The chili-mac 4-way is decent - the onions are uncooked though. As far as the other food, the burgers and sandwiches are all decent. I highly recommend the chili-cheese fries ($6.99) but make sure to add bacon. It's fantastic w/ the veggie chili. Location - in the shopping center next to Home Depot. Booths will make you sit up straight and aren't plush at all - but what would you expect at a place called Hard Times? It's not as crowded as it used to be, but there's always a decent crowd at HH. And of you parents, they provide a coloring thing and crayons. Service - they provide serviceable service. Most of them are pretty friendly and you'll usually get checked up on every 10 minutes or so. So with the wings now being $0.45, I'm definitely not ready to friend and certainly not ready to fan Hard Times again, but I will be stalking them b/c the food is greasily decent.
(3)John K.
I decided to return to Hard Times (see my previous review) after a poor experience. Yes, the fruit flies are still there. The wings are still dry and overcooked, and the bones will sometimes fracture in your mouth. The chili is decent enough, Cincinnati on Fritos is unusual and my favorite. Since this is a franchise formula, however, you'll get the same good chili at any location. What you won't get at another location, for instance Alexandria, is dirty glasses with grimy floors and sticky tables. They don't have gnats, either. After emailing the owner, Bill, I now have an even worse opinion of the College Park Hard Times: Bill clearly doesn't care about customer opinion. While he answered my email he never responded to my complaints, and in fact told me to go to another location. So: take Bill's advice and try another Hard Times-- I'm a longtime fan of the Alexandria joint, so I highly recommend trying that one instead!
(2)Cindy V.
Very good. Had some wings that were tasty and some chili sliders. Went with my parents. Don't remember what they had but no one complained and my dad has been known to complain. Inexpensive. Good drink deals. Good old fashioned chili with a sampler to try their styles. Wish the chili was a bit spicier but they have hot sauce on the table including their own which was awesome.
(4)Jason L.
Great wings. Chili Lime and Honey BBQ together. Also, very decent nachos, and they have tater tots here! Can't complain. Good atmosphere, and gotta love the 5.99 wing Wednesdays. My buddy and I come here all the time.
(4)Shannon G.
Been here twice and so disappointed both times. The chili sampler only confirmed to me and my boyfriend that we would not be getting chili...just like dog food. Over priced for what they are serving. Service was fine. Wouldn't go back.
(1)Martin B.
I got the Texas chili mac here. Service is nice and fairly quick, although I surmise it can be a bit slower on busy nights. The chili mac was basically spaghetti with chili and cheese, and boy is it a good combination! The chili was pretty good, although in retrospect I should have gotten the spicier version. They offer the chili mac multiple 'ways,' the largest being "5-way" which comes with cheese, onions and other good fixin's. However it was pretty pricey for what it was, ran about $33 for three people.
(3)Corinne L.
I haven't been here in over 4 years and I was jonesing for their chili. The Cincinnati chili is a little too salty for my liking but it had good kick that wasn't overpowering. I also had the Hard Times Lager which was good - and the happy hour price of $2.50 wasn't too shabby either. When I am back in town next month I'll be getting the veggie chili as that's usually the best by far. Service was very attentive and fast - I like that. Bathroom Check: Bathroom is clean, good size. Not crazy about the foam soap as it damn near flew out of the dispenser and all over me.
(4)Katie R.
I went to Hard Times because a repitable source told me that I HAD to try their wings because of my love/obsession for wings. So naturally the very next day I dragged a buddy out to give it a try. Its in College Park so its not super close, but for good wings, I will drive :) We ordered some beers and nachos to start us off and then went for the wings. Unfortunately, we were so full on beer and nachos we barely ate but maybe wings. But let me tell you what me thinks :) HOT (as in temperature): YUM! We got BBQ, Terriyaki and Chesapeake- All good. No complaints. I like that they grill thier wings, its kinda unique in this area (or i just havent hit the right wing joints) and it gives the wings a nice taste (star earned). The blue cheese was good (not quite the best, but defidently not the worst). COLD (Once again, temp): AMAZING! Here is what you need to do: 1.Go buy Terriyaki wings. 2.Put them in your fridge. 3.Take out of fridge. 4.Eat. OMG OMG OMG. SO goooood! Who would have quessed??? I have yet to try this new found tastiness on my other fave wing hots spots but dont worry, I will!! Until then Hard Times Wings gets a double-star for being even better when they are served up cold!!! The last star is earned because you get to watch your food being made, which always makes me happy :) I like seeing the handlers of my food handle my food
(4)Sweet S.
Hard Times makes great hamburgers and cheeseburgers. Their french fries are obviously handcut, and quite tasty. They get props for using ground beef instead of frozen patties for their burgers. It's a good alternative to a fast food burger. Still full of fat and cholesterol, but not full of artificial flavors and downer meat, and only a couple dollars more. My biggest complaint is that their menu is so limited - so focused on chili, which is something I'd rather make than order at a restaurant. The only time I go there is when I want a burger. They do serve steak, but they don't offer good side dishes aside from french fries. They seem to have a hoppin' sports bar scene, especially when there's a popular event on the telly. Usually a mix of dudes and chicks at the bar, heavier on the dudes of course.
(4)Hope L.
So not worth it to me. The food was mediocre and the service was ok. I must point out that the waiter was new but I'm sure after seeing us sit there for about 30 min she should have been pro-active about checking on our food. I know the person I was with requested that the wings (ok, but not the best wings in the world - they are grilled and they use some kind of dry rub) be put in first but it took forever for our food to come out. I am usually a patient person but I must admit this experience really tested my patience. It seemed as though she put the order for the wings in first, gave it some time and than put in the order for the food. It may have been a more pleasant experience if she would have put the order in for the wings and the food at the same time but inform the kitchen that we want wings first...I dont know what happen all I know is it took too long for my food to come out and than once I got it (3 way chili mac with Texas Chili) I was really disappointed with the taste. I haven't been to Hard Times in years but if my memory serves me correct they are famous for there good ol chili and today it was just some plain ol chili! I dont know if they got another cook or what but I was disappointed with the quality of my meal. The cornbread was cold but good. Overall....proceed with caution
(2)Joellen S.
So I hit up the HTC to CAP-ture my favorite team on a Friday night (it's the Caps in case you didn't get that lol) Walked in around 6:30 and were seated promptly in a booth right in front of the TV's. Sweet! Ordered a drink and a burger and the guy I was with ordered the salmon salad. We decided to not do appetizers as we weren't that hungry. Waitress was very quick, personable, and we had no issues. Food took a little while but arrived nice and hot from the grill. My burger was excellent - the bun was not so hot. Fries were just fine. My date said the salad was great. The game started - only a couple more fans there -- so not a high energy game night crowd or anything. About 1/2 way through the game we had a hankering for sweets so ordered the apple dumpling thing with ice cream which was very good. The ice cream was delish. We hung out for the game (yes I left a nice big tip for taking up the table for 2+ hours!) and had no issues with serving and getting what we needed. Food was very good. The only thing that prevented the last star for me was first the booths are not comfortable nor are the bar stools and that, for a place that advertises itself as a Caps bar, there weren't a lot of fans for a game night -- not HTC's fault per se but it does affect enjoyment. I watched a Caps game at a bar in Rosslyn this last spring and it was awesome - and not even a "Caps" bar! Great fun, they had the volume up on the TV so you could hear it, and lots of excitement for the goals and scoring. The food was great, price was REALLY good, server was outstanding -- but ambiance and comfort were not quite what I would have liked.
(4)Jesus J.
Best chili in College Park. They have four different kinds - Cincinnati, Terlingua Red, Texas, or Vegetarian. Ask them for a sampler and they'll let you try all four. My favorite out of the bunch is the Cincinnati and my least favorite is the Texas (too greasy and is the least flavorful out of the bunch). Everything is good here - haven't been dissatisfied yet (actually the corn bread isn't great - it's dry, crumbly, and doesn't have any flavor...but hey, it's a side dish). The bowl of chili is a good start, the chili hot dogs are good, and their wings are excellent. Speaking of best things in College Park, their wings are in that category as well. I recommend getting the Texas wings (it's different than the Texas chili flavor), which is their default flavor. Wednesday is wing night where you can get wings for a discounted price. Arrive early on that night as a lot of people are going to show up. The service here is excellent, with the servers being quick and on the ball. They have a decent beer selection and have unique flavors. I recommend trying a flavor you've never had - that's how I discovered the best beers here. Also, don't be afraid to ask for recommendations.
(5)Mikhail K.
Awesome place , here 4 times a week, great wings chilli and evrything else .... Prices are good happy hour is awesome cheap wings Wednesday , location is next to beltway, I love it here
(5)Jeffrey S.
First visit ever on 02/27/2012 and it was awesome! Had the Fritio Chili pie and it was very good. Be sure to ask for the chili sampler if you're new to the experience.
(4)N S.
3.5 stars. What do you do when a 16 year-old foreign exchange student comes to live with you for a year in America in a part of the country (here) that is largely un-American and teeming with immigrants? Amidst the pho, and pupuserias, and Korean BBQ, and chicken tikki, and panaderias, where do you take a kid who comes to such a diverse area in this country that the teacher didn't even know he was an exchange student until Back to School Night when his host mom showed up? Enter Hard Times Cafe. Good ole chili. That, my friend, is ours. Well, you know, as much as anything is really ours... work with me. And that's where I took him. Even being vegetarian he was able to enjoy a vegetarian version of that dish associated with tailgating and cowboys. The wood decor adding to the feel even if it was a bit contrived, I'm sure he couldn't tell. This particular location being close to the University of Maryland was packed as a basketball game was on. Could it get any better than that? Chili, beer for me, basketball, wood, and unpretentiousness. Welcome to America, my friend.
(4)Jack F.
Unpretentious, leisurely, and laid back. Hard Times Cafe ("HTC") is the type of restaurant where I don't really care about the food. If the food's not quite up to my usual standards, that's fine because we're just here to have fun, enjoy good company, and relax. It's one of those college area spots with a lot of local Terrapin pride (the College Park location is one of 14 franchises around the Maryland/Virgina area). HTC serves excellent chicken wings in four different flavors (original Texas, chili lime, honey BBQ, and honey mustard). Wings are typically fried but HTC can grill them upon request. I recommend getting your wings grilled instead. It's healthier and the flavor isn't muddled with extra fat. Sliders make an excellent appetizer for four or an entree for one. They're actually mini-burgers in squares instead of traditional sliders (e.g. White Castle, Krystal's). The difference, of course, is that slider burgers are steamed whereas HTC grills its burgers. So as far as burgers go, HTC is okay. These mini-burgers were inconsistent with some being overcooked and others being just right. The traditional chili is HTC's pride and joy. HTC offers four "authentic and historically correct versions of chili created on the turn-of-the-century cattle drive of the South West and in the Cincinnati chili parlors of the Midwest." Very bold statements. I prefer the Chili Mac (chili over spaghetti) option. I wouldn't recommend the Terlingua Red as it was thin (almost runny) and tasted like nothing but tomato paste. Not quite the championship chili I expected. Next time, I'm sticking with the Texas Chili or a good old fashion Cincinnati Chili. Here's what's cool. Check out the HTC website and download their recipes so you can try them out at home. On second thought, most of these recipes require purchasing HTC spice mixes. Well, at least you get some good tips for making chili. 3 Stars - A good place to chill at a reasonable price. I'll come by if I'm ever heading over to IKEA.
(3)Francesca R.
Inattentive service, stale crackers, and the chili just plain isn't that good.
(2)Valeriya S.
chili tasted like what i imagine dog food tastes like. fried pickles were so over-spiced we could not finish them despite being very hungry. probably the worst place to eat in cp area.
(1)Mary M.
Great Take Out Experience! Read the reviews and we were a little apprehensive. We were pleasantly surprised with a nice greeting and attentive service from the bartender. He even provided a soda for free, while waiting for my order to be prepared. Before leaving with my order, he refilled my soda. Now about the food. My partner had the original Texas wings. Cooked just right and the rub was excellent. Came with a generous side of blue cheese, but only 3 sticks of celery. My burger was great w/blue cheese and bacon. The fries were an welcome surprise. Some of the best fries I have had in awhile. Overall a great experience!
(5)kelvin w.
Love hard times chili and wings. Miss living in the area, but when I'm back in the area from NYC, this is my place.
(5)Kevin D.
Their chili selection is delicious. If it's your first time here, ask for a sampler. They will give you a complimentary dish of their four chili selections of decent portions. Chili sampler 5/5 - my personal favorite was the cincinatti. The hint of cinnamon adds a nice twist. Whiskey BBQ burger 4/5 - crispy bacon, sweet sauce, tender chicken, ends in deliciousness. Only complaint was not enough onion ring. Chili dog 3/5 - ordered by my friend who thought it was too salty Service was decent. Our waitress was friendly, but our food took longer to come out than expected.
(4)Pear Y.
Love love love their burgers! Food is always great here. Service is good but can be better. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in the area.
(4)Christopher W.
Whiskey river burger is A+. Chili frito pie also delicious and the wings are outstanding.
(4)J B.
This place is dishonest. It's tax time, so I was going back through some receipts and credit card statements and lo and behold, either our server, Shauna, or someone else at Hard Times decided to falsify the amount I left for a tip. As I recall, the service was not stellar, the food was brought out cold (I had fish tacos, my friend had chili), and there was no refilling of the water glasses. But I tipped 15%. But I guess that wasn't enough so the staff made a decision to add a dollar. Quite a racket if that's done multiple times/day or week. DISHONEST. Check your statement if you've used a credit card here.
(1)Katelyn K.
Came in on a weekday at lunch, the place was crowded and the wait staff incredibly busy. As a result of the busyness, a number of people after us sat themselves at the nearest "clean-looking" tables. They had only been bused of their dishes but not yet wiped down. We appreciated the chili sampler so we could decide what was a good chili for us (we are a bit picky). The food was good, but the wait was crazy and I felt bad for the one waitress who looked like she had all 10 tables with folks at them, while everyone else was standing around.
(3)Alexander Z.
This location was a bit disappointing compared to the Alexandria location. The service was much slower even though it was far less busy. They also messed up our order; we ordered boneless wings and they brought us regular wings, which was a bit aggravating. The happy hour specials are better here, though. Overall, I'd go to a different location if one is available.
(3)Michele S.
Ugh....it's a hard time to find a good beer in this place. Perhaps the food is fantastic ..although I doubt it since according to the menu it seemed to be mostly fried....but the almost nonexistent liquor selection is a disappointment. Watered down scotch is not my idea of hard liquor.
(1)Kelly G.
I loved that the seater was willing to check to see if they had any foods that my son couldn't have due to severe food allergies. The chili sampler was a treat too! We have been to Hard Times 10 times since spring and are in love. The service is always quick and great. The drinks are strong and the chili is the best. I will keep coming back because we love it!
(5)Jennifer R.
Got the burger and a Long Island ice tea. Drink was straight up bad. The burger made me sick. I wasn't even out of the restaurant when I began to feel ill. You couldn't pay me to go back.
(1)Neha A.
Went to this place with office folks. Thought of having a good time but got pissed. In simple words: slow service and stale food. A great place to hang out with a big group but not eat. My CEO wanted to break his fast after RAMADAN, so he ordered for a bowl full of salad. The order arrived after 25 minutes surprisingly because only 2 tables of the restaurant were occupied including ours! About the salad, it was smelly and weird. When asked them to replace it they reduced the portions which is strange!! The rest of us decided to just buy drinks and not eat anything. The waitress always got confused about our order making us repeat the order 7 times! The drinks were fine. We wouldn't go back! #Annoyed
(1)Timothy C.
This is my new favorite spot for sports and grub. For a few reasons: First, the great Sunday football food deals - lots of $5 appetizers with their chili, or wings, and under $2 Yuenglings. There are about 10-12 TVs to follow all the Sunday games, and the staff will try as best they can to put your game on a TV for you. And the atmosphere is neighborhood friendly even if you aren't rooting for the Skins or Ravens - I've seen fans from many, many teams be able to root for their team in peace here. I'll do a TOP 5 list: 5) Sweet Tea - I just love a good sweet tea to sip on, and I know it's pretty random, but that's what's happening when I go. 4) Burgers - Sliders or burgers, cooked to order on a grill; reminds you more of your uncle's BBQ than a restaurant, which is good in this Yelper's book. You can order a few different kinds and I've been happy every time. 3) Prices - everything is pretty cheap, and sometimes the food suffers a bit (I don't recommend the fried pickles (so much breading that it crunches and shatters in your mouth, at least when I ordered them), or anything with salad that seems right out of a bag), but the stuff they do well is the right price, ESPECIALLY on football Sundays 2) Wings - I've had classic Buffalo spicy sauce and Honey BBQ, and both were awesome - better than Buffalo Wild Wings for sure. I think they cook them the perfect way: thawed wings into the deep fryer to crisp them up, then a dunk in the sauce, and finish them up on the grill. 1) Chili - Star of the show! If it's your first time, they'll give you a sampler. 4 kinds - Texas chili (beefy and greasy), Terilingua Red (a bit leaner and spicier), Cincinnati (mellower spices like cinnamon), and vegetarian (not my grind, but ppl seem to like it) My favorite is the Terlingua Red, but sometimes I'll get the Texas to mix things up. How should you order it? In a bowl? Check. Over nachos? Yup. As chili mac with some cheese, spaghetti noodles, chopped tomatoes and onions? Yes-sir. Over some cornbread? Delicious. On some tater tots with cheese and sour cream? Uhuh! On fries? DROOL! You can't go wrong with the chili, and sometimes you can even mix them. The staff is nice and attentive, the bartenders chatty on Sundays, and it's sure to be a fun time if you want it to be.
(5)Nilsu G.
Took me years to discover their gourmet chili selection! Definitely get the free sampler first. My fave is the red chili. It is the same cafe with the horse in a truck on King St, Alexandria.
(4)Dr Michael J L.
Ok atmosphere, and friendly staff. This is not a "go to" place for us by any stretch of the imagination. Since it is close by, we have been there several times and I've had a few meals there. Although they claim their hamburgers are their "claim to fame," I would not agree. They are okay at best, as is most of the other food they serve. The staff is very nice, and people seem to have a good time there, however it is just not a place that excites you to keep going back. They probably need a remodel of the inside, to make it a little more modern and up the energy level.
(2)Jae R.
Not a fan of their chili, although the rave reviews about it was what brought me here the very first time. Their wings & onions rings are heaven on a plate....large portions, kid friendly and reasonably priced, I don't ask for much more than that.
(5)Cindi C.
They have amazing chili, with or without beans. And a nice variety of chili too. Plus, they've got sausages along with hot dogs. The food is fast, fresh & cheap. They've been doing a good business here for over 10 years. And the severs are well trained.
(5)Pacha P.
Well, have to admit I'm not a big fan of their chili, I love to cook my own. However, that's probably just personal taste, as others I've dined with at this location love the chili. Too, as noted in my other review, they DO have a nice selection of food for people who don't want chili. Fish and chips is nice, and the grilled salmon is very good. Service is still very attentive and friendly. Worth a visit.
(4)Karen H.
Good: Superb service. We sat at the bar and the evening bartender was wonderful! Very nice and prompt service. The restaurant was clean, too. Bad: I love chili, so I ordered Texas chili. I will never order it again at Hard Times Cafe. The spice was good, but there was a half-inch of grease in the bottom of my bowl -- and I am not exaggerating! I have been paying for eating such greasy food last night and today with GERD and intestinal issues. I ordered chili because I was told that it was the cafe's specialty, so I hesitate to try the other food based on the poor quality of the chili. I may go back to the cafe for drinks, but not food.
(2)