A great local neighborhood bar tucked-away in a small shopping center - Wednesdays are wings nights where you can get a dozen for $6.89. Bring a bunch of friends and get several orders (each with a different sauce so that you can try them all - my favorites were the Original Texas and Sweet Chili). The chili is pretty decent too, especially the Terlingua. Appetizers tend to come in very large portions (an order of chili cheese fries was almost an entree unto itself - make sure to share). Minus one star for our server being a little unresponsive, but this may have been due to a very busy night. Note that this location is very family friendly, so might not be the best choice to roll in with a group of guys.
(4)
Jason M.
Hard Times has the best wings hands-down. They fry their wings just like most restaurants, but after, the Texas wings are dipped in the the sauce (which tends to make them soggy) and then they throw them on the grill. This makes them crisp as well as get nice and charr which adds a ton of flavor. They also add a dry rub as they're on the grill to make them really pop! Hard times is also known for their chili, but I've never been able to diverse from the wings and appetizers because they are so fantastic. When I lived in Virginia, I used to go to the Springfield location. It did have a lot more to offer because it was huge, they had billiards, games, darts, and other activities, where this location is simply a restaurant. The service in Rockville has always been great. So far all of the employees have been super nice, attentive, and get you whatever you need quickly. Check out Hard Times for some of the most unique and best wings you've ever tried!
(4)
Elizabeth F.
Love this place!! Chili lime wings are definitely my favorite. The service is awesome and it is definitely a family oriented restaurant. Very friendly staff with tasty and not too pricy food. Wings and the nachos are definitely my favorite and the little chili powder boxes that you can buy at the bar are very awesome if you want to have a similar taste with your own twist!
(5)
Shira S.
I have been going to Hard Times for as long as I can remember which means that I have actually had almost all of their chilis even though I no longer eat red meat (they came out with Terlingua Red after I changed my eating). As a kid, the Cincinnati was my favorite, although I also liked the Texas...all the way wet. Now, I tend to stick with the Vegetarian, which I think goes best on their nachos. All of that said, I stopped in last night to pick up wings for my sister-in-law and myself. The wings were yummy, but I was disappointed in how much the prices have gone up (which knocked down the stars). Hard Times used to be a super cheap eats and with $11 wings, it isn't so much anymore. I will probably stick to their "special nights" from here on out when I am looking for my cheap eats.
(3)
Margy C.
Too spicy, too loud, too uncomfortable, too unhealthy. We were here on a Thursday night and it got packed pretty quickly. At 6:30 p.m. we could still hear ourselves with a slightly raised voice. By 7:00 p.m. we were practically yelling at each other just to be heard. I got the bbq ribs and was disappointed that it was too spicy to finish and the menu did not mention it. The menu also did not have very many healthy options other than the six salads with one that included deep fried chicken. The booths were also very uncomfortable with no padding or lower back support. This doesn't encourage a desire to stay any longer. I might come back and try other things only because it is a local joint and the free chili dog was nice. But I'm coming when it's probably quieter in the afternoon.
(1)
Allison W.
Ordered takeout tonight and was rather disappointed. Originally thought it was generous of the bartender to "throw in some extra corn bread for ya," but the corn bread we received was only partially wrapped in foil - open enough to begin to dry out, and was burnt to the point we could not eat it. Why would you throw that in with my meal?? Yuck. Also had a couple issues with the order itself, since we made some adjustments to a couple dishes (no tomatoes, etc.) that were not followed. Three stars only because I have been to a couple of other Hard Times locations (including this one) and had great experiences, but tonight's order is giving me second thoughts about this location.
(3)
Brian D.
Wings, wings, wings. Great place for the kids or a night out with the guys. Always good food (wings, chili, burgers, etc...) nice staff and the fact it's next to Carmens doesn't hurt.
(5)
Julito C. S.
The food here is amazing! I deff. Recommend their fries, veg chilli and especially their wings/ in house Texas sauce which is similar to buffalo sauce but better!
(5)
KE C.
Excellent customer service! Also, the best bone in chicken wings I've ever had. They are right off of 270 in historic Rockville. They don't take reservations. Worth the wait, though I had no wait.
(4)
Eddie K.
Love their grilled wings and chili mac. These are probably one of my favorite places to eat wings. Come here on Wednesdays as they are discounted after 4 PM (dozen wings any style for $5.89). Usually order the 4 way chili mac with Texas chili. Make sure you work out after this meal, as the Texas chili will weigh you down. It is heavy and rich.
(4)
Mike B.
Mmmmm chili. Mmmmmm wings. Mmmmm tots. Hard times is the local Maryland chain that has been bringing the aforementioned to the DMV since 1980. Serving chili up to the music of David Bowie, Michael Jackson, and Wham must have done something special for them. Hard times now operates 17 locations in the DC area, including one in the Verizon Center. I know what you're asking. What about the food!? 4 types of chili: Texas, Terlingua Red, Cincinnati, and Veggie. I prefer the Cincinnati myself, but a lot of my friends are die-hard Texas fans. The wings are really the true reason I go to Hard Times. Search and search and search- I haven't been able to find wings in the burbs with that much meat on the bone or flavor on the meat outside of Hard Times. I love the Old Bay wings ( true MD suburbanite). I love the Texas wings too! I love the chili lime wings, oh they're good. But I also LOVE the honey mustard wings! I know! I know! This sounds crazy, but just trust me! Try their grilled honey mustard wings. This isn't the "honey mustard" you're thinking of, nor the "droids your looking for." But trust me, you won't regret it. You can also order them by asking for the "Cadillac" wings, that's an insider secret. The honey mustard wings are sweet, tangy, savory, with a great balance of flavor. My local Hard Times, the Rockville location, has become quite the institution. I ate there weekly as a highschooler. I ate there on vacations as a college student. Now, I eat there whenever my friends want something solid, enjoyable, and hearty- which turns out to be quite often.
(5)
Elizabeth M.
I live right around the corner and am at Hard Times quite frequently, the last time was less than a week ago. This review is a general review more than based on one event. This is a great little restaurant - families from the neighborhood, teams after games from the park across the street and the regulars at the bar - it is a good mix of people. The atmosphere is friendly and works on a variety of levels. The food is good and has remained constant over the years, even as they updated the menu (maybe about a year ago). The variety in chilies, burgers, sandwiches, salads, etc has something for everyone including the kids. I will say that I have been to several different Hard Times locations in MD and VA and have never seen desert on the menu, not sure why. Parking is good, there is a big lot and the location is right off of a main street near 270 with easy access. The quality of service has gone down hill in the past couple of years. Every time we go at least one order at our table is wrong and has to go back at least once, the wait staff seems rushed and irritated when we ask for additional silverware, refills on drinks, etc. I hated to do it but I knocked a star off because of the decline in service. We miss the menus that the kids (and adults) could color on. And appreciate the crackers at the table. Also note that Hard Times sells several menu items prepackaged including chilies and vinegar! I have purchased some and tried to duplicate the chili at home but it was not the same. Hard Times has to be experienced in person.
(3)
Abegail A.
*****3.5 stars***** After seeing their sign from the 270 so many times, I finally made my way over here this past Saturday. Upon entering, we were prompted greeted by the hostess. On a Saturday evening, the restaurant portion had a few diners and the bar area was pretty full. We managed to snag the last two seater in the bar area. Sweet! Usually when I come to a restaurant for the first time I get really eye hungry. This time around I knew I had to resist the temptation since I was going next door afterwards for some dessert. Decided on 16 boneless wings original Texas style ($15.99) and the loaded tater tots. Found out that they ran out of tater tots for the evening. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Decided on the loaded fries instead ($8.99), which came with your choice of chili. Since we haven't dined here before, the waitress recommended sampling their chili. Out of the four, my favorite was the Texas chili. The ground beef was coarse, nicely cooked, and I really enjoyed the spices. Next on the list was the Cincinnati (sweeter than the Texas), followed by the Terlingua (not as spicy as I thought it would be) and the vegetarian (eh). Up first was the boneless wings. The 16 pieces ranged from tiny to large. It would have been nice if they were all consistent in size, or at least get rid of the tiny ones! Tasted liked your average buffalo wings. When our waitress came by to check on us, she asked if they were spicy enough for us. Since they definitely were not, she brought us a small container of their Fiery sauce (not on menu). According to her, this sauce was supposed to be super hot, which was why I decided not to order it in the first place. Super hot? Definitely not. Spicy? Yes. She offered to take our wings back and have them coated in the fiery sauce. Definitely wasn't necessary since we could dip it in there ourselves, but it was a nice gesture. Five minutes after our wings arrived, the loaded fries came out. It had loads of chili on it! So much that you had to dig around for the fries. Loved it! I do wish that this dish had more cheese on it though. Service was great. Our waitress was on point and checked on us occasionally. Our glasses were never empty, which was a big plus. I'm looking forward to coming back to try their chili mac and those darn loaded tater tots!
(4)
Deborah A.
1st time at the Hard Times Cafe and the Teralingua chili and the onion wings were the best! And don't let me leave out the sweet tea. Great eating today!
(5)
Gerry B.
Sometimes you just need to eat at Hard Times. So good, though they could make the chili a bit spicier IMO.
(4)
Beth L.
Hands down best Cheeseburger in the area. Love the 1/2 priced burgers on Mondays. The sweet chili lime wings are delicious too. The service is fast and friendly.
(5)
Duane S.
Great food, atmosphere! Terrible service(Daniel), hopefully they will fix that, easy fix. You can see the cooks in action and its easy to see they know their stuff.
(3)
Jessica L.
This is my go to place when the weather gets cold and I'm in the mood for chili. They have four flavors and will give you a sampling of each so you can decide which one to order. I always go with the Cincinnati which is thick and has a hint of sweetness to it. I love the cinnamon hint too. I ordered the Cincinnati 4 ways but the amount of onions they put on was almost a joke. I had to scrape off over half before I could even see the good stuff. I also added sour cream and jalapeños which were served in tiny little condiment cups at .99 each. The spaghetti was nicely cooked not mushy at all. The dish was very good minus half the onions. Ice tea was stale as was the complimentary corn bread. Maybe they think complimentary things don't need to be fresh but in my opinion, if you're gonna serve it, it should be fresh and the tea is a no brainier. I got a diet coke replacement. Service was excellent. Lots of parking. Looks like a fun place to go for happy hour. The atmosphere was nice. A decent sized crowd, music not too overbearing and a big screen tv with sports on. Next time I go I'm going to try the wings. A fun time was had by all.
(4)
Jeanette R.
Went in yesterday and ordered food and drinks; however, we sat next to the grill and can say without a doubt -- that we will NEVER go back. If we had sat anywhere else in the restaurant - probably would have stayed - but luckily we didn't and was beyond disgusted as we watched the grill cook - repeatedly wipe his eyes, nose, and hair and then place our burgers on the grill. It was disgusting enough to watch the entire evenu but even worse when he DIDNT wash his hands or even attempt to put on gloves. And when I asked the waitress to please cancel our order (we never said why) -- she walked over the grill cook and he started to laugh and then the manager had to be called out to cancel on the register - and he never asked why the order was cancelled. There are too many other places in the area to eat - so, not going back.
(1)
Steve T.
Get the wings - seriously, just get the wings. Best around.
(5)
Katie W.
I love the wings. They are fried and grilled, making them some of the best wings in Rockville. The only problem is the setting. It feels dark and it is often with a sticky bar and tables.
(4)
Mark P.
Vegetarian chili was delicious. Order it with no cheese for the health- conscious. Husband's tater tots with 5 - way chili was great also. #noms
(4)
Liz S.
Vegetarian friendly!!
(4)
J A.
the food is a guilty pleasure. greasy, yes, but very tasty. if you go, be prepared to be deaf after you leave. it's exceptionally loud. if a freight train ran right down the aisle, you'd never hear it. you and your dining partners might as well forget about talking to each other. i've lived around the corner from here for 15 years but i only eat here maybe once or twice a year. the noise is that bad.
(3)
Melissa S.
Went here for a quick bite. Had wings- they were on special on Wednesday night. Got the original Texas flavor and they were great- crispy and smokey.
(4)
Jennifer A.
I would describe this place as mediocre bar food in a family environment, at best. We had the Southwest egg rolls which were okay. He has a buffalo chicken wrap which he liked and I had the chicken quesadila which was sub par. The service was decent as the waitress was nice, but there were lulls of lack of service. The environment itself was stuffy. I wish they had outdoor seating. It felt overly warm and crowded and loud. You could hear a lot of kids screaming. The bench seats seem to accommodate people who are 300 lbs overweight, which really isn't that case with me so I had to scoot up to the edge of the seat to get close to the table. I'd say this place is ok. I probably wouldn't come back as I was less than impressed with the food quality and the environment. Also, I wouldn't bring a group larger than four.
(2)
Michael K.
This place is a hole in the wall themed bar/ restaurant... Chili, wings, burgers, and dogs is what this place does best! I recommend their chili lime wings, and vegetarian chili! Both dishes go well with an ice cold beer!
(4)
Perry K.
If you come here, you need to get their GRILLED chicken wings preferably old bay flavor. The wings are so flavorful that you don't need the dressing with it. The root beer in a draft is a must have when you are chowing down on some good ol' chili. I ordered the 4 way chili mac with the vegetarian chili and teringula (sp?) red. Portion is moderate but the plate was packed with flavor. My bf ordered the texan burger and all I can say is that texan sauce is the boss. Fries are nice and crispy. Cornbread is okay, it goes well with any chili. Tip: if you don't know which chili flavor to pick, just asked your server if you could get a sample.
(5)
April M.
Uh oh! Maybe I caught them on a bad day. The bartender was nice when i stopped in for a quick order but boy did I hear drama from the servers about xy&z. Although I love their chili I got a chicken dish...I don't think it was cooked properly. Did not feel well afterwards.
(2)
April S.
This go round I ordered the Frito pie. Simple yet delish. Chili fries were good too. Crispy fries just like I like them.
(5)
Dan M.
We weren't impressed with Hard Times. I got the Terlingua red burger - the bun was very dry and so was the burger (despite asking for medium). It had very little flavor, so the bites without chilli were very unappetizing. The chilli was good, though, slightly spicy, just the way I like it. But it wasn't enough to save the burger. Plus, we went during happy hour. We were glad to get half price nachos, which were good and came in a large portion for the price, but when the nachos are the highlight of the meal, you're in trouble. We did get drinks, but the happy hour only included the bland stuff - yuengling, bud light, etc, and not any really good beers. Getting a pint of one of those for $3 isn't a deal in my book.
(2)
Eric J.
The wings were good, but the onion rings needed more dough.
(4)
Eric E.
We'd been here a few times and each time the food was mediocre at best. For some reason we keep coming back, hoping it would be better next time. I actually like chili quite a bit, and I live near this place, so I keep on trying it, wanting it to work. My final visit was in a group of three, and not one of us enjoyed our food. One person in the group was pregnant and ready to eat anything, and she barely touched her chili with tater tots. The service was good, but the food was greasy and each of the chili dishes actually contained very little chili. It seemed like the chili fries were plated without being drained first, and probably sat in the window for a while as well. A minimal amount of chili was put on top, and then a large amount of firm cheese sat like an umbrella on top of the dish. We were not thrilled with the onion rings either, and left most on the plate. Again they seemed like they had not been drained of their grease, and the batter was chalky and bland.
(1)
Jessica G.
Not my cup of tea. This is the second time my husband has taken me here and the second time I've been disappointed. He adores the wings, I thought they were okay. We ordered chili but the texture and oiliness put me off. Now the deep fried mini corn dog appetizer was pretty delish. Otherwise, I guess it just isn't a place for me, I wanted some healthy options, it's a pretty carby, salty, oily. On the other hand, it's good for kids. Our 2 year old had a ball and I didn't worry at all about her messing stuff up because there were old fries on the seats and floor when we first sat down :)
(2)
Terinee B.
We ordered the Frito Chili Pie w/Texas chili and it was pretty good. As a kid we used to eat Frito Pie all the time, but the only difference is that the frito pie we at as kids had melted cheese (like nacho or velveeta cheese) and this Frito Pie had shredded cheese. The Frito Pie was good, but it wasn't quite as good as I remembered, and I think it was because of the cheese. We also ordred the Original Texas (flavor) Grilled Wings. OMG!!!! Those wings were P-H-E-N-O-M-E-N-A-L!!! I cannot stress to you enough. OMG!!! OMG!!! OMG!!! I think these must have been the BEST wings that I have ever tasted IN MY LIFE!!! If you come here, you've gotta try them and YOU MUST get them GRILLED. That is what makes all the difference! (FYI: I'm giving this place 5 STARS based on these WINGS!! They were THAT GOOD!) The corn bread was just average, but that was ok, b/c the wings were hittin' so hard! The jukebox was playing Shania Twain "the woman in me" which I sang along with and serenaded my husband. (Made me go to iTunes & pick up a couple of Shania hits that I had forgot about!) Overall, I liked this place. Next time we come I think we're gonna opt to get a HUGE HEAP of WINGS!
I really wish Yelp had a half star rating system. 3.5 stars. I had a random craving for chili one day and remembered reading about this place on Yelp so the roommate and I decided to check it out. I ordered their homemade rootbeer while perusing through Yelp reviews to help me decide on which chili to get. I am a huge fan of their rootbeer. It was super awesome and super carbonated (To the point where my straw wouldn't stop floating! I took a picture but it didn't come out so I'll post a new one the next time I go). After reading through reviews, I decided on the terlingua red since I love some spice in my food and decided to go with it 4-way chili mac style (spaghetti, chili, cheese, and onions). I didn't expect such a huge portion (see my posted picture) and it was really good! The chili wasn't as spicy as I had hoped but maybe I can augment that next time with some jalapenos. It definitely wasn't OMGBESTCHILI ever but it was good, thus the 3.5 stars and not 4. The waiter we had was really friendly. This place looks like a small dive-y place that I could come to enjoy cheap beer and some chili during their happy hour and catch a game since there are several flatscreens spread across the bar and restaurant. They have different happy hour specials every day of the week. I'll definitely update this review as I come back and try their other chili!
(3)
Anna L.
As much as we love Hard Times Cafe chili and wings, the Rockville experience has gone significantly downhill in the past years. The bathrooms in particular need renovating, the smell is gastly and has now reached the back seating go the restaurant!!!! I had to ask for our large party to be moved from a back table due to the smell. The manager couldn't seem to smell it???? Right..... Then after our meal upon leaving, an employee was hanging out outside right by the front door smoking!!! take it outback!!!!
(2)
Fenny L.
I'd forgotten all about Hard Times. Back in the day, my husband and I used to frequent this place. Not sure why we stopped. Probably because you can only eat so much chili before it just gets gross. But on this day, we were in the area, and driving past this place made us crave chili...even though it was 130 degrees out. I never said that we made sense. My Terlinga Red chili was just as I remembered it. A plain and sturdy chili that stood up well to all the toppings I put on it. But the standout from that meal was the bowl of tater tots topped with chili that my husband ordered. Oh, I didn't like the tater tots drowning in chili...but the tots that were chili free, were hot, crisp, crunchy and one of the most delectable order of tater tots I've stolen from my husband in years! This is what I'm definitely ordering next time...only with the chili on the side. Standard, basic bowls of chili. Decent wings. Fast but unspectactular service, and a nice dive-y atmosphere to relax in. Not the most amazing place I've ever been, but it definitely serves its purpose.
(3)
Kirsten H.
I love Hard Times - but NOT this one. I have frequented this place with my husband before we got married, and now with my whole family (two pre-teen boys) as well. I bought the Hard Times chili mix and even the Hard Times vinegar, so we could enjoy it at home between visits. I'm even on the Hard Times mailing list. Which is why I will NEVER go back to THIS Hard Times. For my birthday, I got $5 'to spend any way you want!' at Hard Times. I was so excited, because I love their vinegar - have tried to make my own to no avail - and we were out of it at home. So I drove several miles out of my way (we live near Olney) to pick up my $5 worth of vinegar. After several people questioned the coupon, the owner came out. He was livid. He said, 'This is exactly why we need to STOP doing these types of promotions!' I didn't understand. He said, 'You have to dine in.' I said, 'I could sit here with the bottle, if you want - but it says 'to spend any way you want.' The owner nearly screamed at me: 'This is SUPPOSED to be an incentive to SPEND MONEY, not a way for you to get a free bottle of chili vinegar!' He gave me my vinegar - since I had a valid coupon and all - and I walked out. I will never, ever go back. There's a perfectly good Hard Times in Germantown and another one in Bethesda. This man totally ruined the Rockville location for me - and he won't see another cent of my money.
(1)
Laurie W.
I go here all the time and I really don't know why. I inevitably eat too much and get incredibly ill, the food isn't good for you by any stretch of the imagination, and after I eat the last thing I want to do is go back to work when lying down on the sidewalk seems to be all I'm physically capable of. Also, the music is way too poundingly loud. Here, have a little Toby Keith on TEN with your chili. But still, still I go. The chili is good, yes. I second the dry Texas. The Cincinnati is good and fairly close to the traditional (I used to live near the city, in Dayton) but I'm not one for sweeter meat dishes. The veggie is pretty good, I hear. Get the sampler if you need help, as indicated below. I always get the Texas chicken salad. The meat is too hot, because there's too much sauce on it. I use way too much Mexi-ranch dressing, because as I said, I walk in here and go berserk with the fat grams. I have a colleague who always gets the burger (1/2 price on Monday, I think) but it doesn't look so great to me. I've had the chicken sandwich - good. The fries are serious - overcooked and skin-on. Fries for meat-lovers, I guess. This is also the home of the Chili Bubba, and a Frito Chili Pie, if you're really into indigestion. My ex-boyfriend liked to eat signature menu items (I know - whatever. At least he was adventurous) and got the Chili Bubba once - which is essentially chili over cornbread. You can also order several different toppings, like cheese, sour cream, etc...or do the Cincinnati thang and go for the different "ways" - three, four, five - determined by whether you get it with spaghetti, beans, and what have you. Cincinnati - home of Oktoberfest and chili rituals. You can get a side of chili - the sweetly named "Tenderfoot" for a bit cheaper, and if you're trying to stay relatively nutritionally sane, this and a side salad could work. I considered this the other day but the Texas chicken salad crawled into my head and refused to leave. The draft root beer is one of my favorite totally inappropriate drinks for mid-day (they bring it without ice so ask for a side and spoon it in), and Hard TImes Lager (which is no doubt some lesser known local brew with a special label on it) is a-ok. There's a bar that sometimes fills up at night, and regular drink specials. Stick to beer and sodas here. You can see the guys cooking right behind it. There are several televisions, all news and sports. The Germantown location is a better bet if you're into pretty spaces where the booths don't feel like they're going to fall apart. The prices have also gone up a bit which doesn't thrill me for the location or the condition of the place in Rockville, but that's when I tell myself to lighten up - it's Hard Times. The managers also come by your table during your meal to say hi and ask how you're doing. Nice touch. Kelly is my favorite daytime waitress. She's all business, baby, but she's always got your back. Wow, I know a lot about Hard Times. That's kind of pathetic. I need to get out more. And I also bumped it up a star, because it can't be too bad if I'm paying this much attention.
(4)
Shane S.
What can I say? Hard Times Cafe is simply amazing. Its an embarrassment if any born and raised Marylander does not know about this place. The Cincinnati chili is my personal favorite with the right amount of sweetness and grease. The nachos are my probably my favorite thing on the menu. They are to DIE FOR! but be warned unless you like spicy food order them without the jalapenos. Also, the prices are very reasonable, every Wednesday you can order 12 wings for 5 bucks and receive them grilled or fried. Enjoy!
(5)
Ryan N.
This small location seems like quite the family establishment. On weekends the tables are packed with soccer teams and families of 4. The service here is very good and they like to offer you a chili sampler so you can try all 4 varieties before you chose. I rank them this way: 1. Red 2. Veggie 3. Texas 4. Cincinnati I have lived in Cincinnati and this stuff doesn't even taste similar, it is just sweet. The name is bogus. I enjoy the wings and the nachos here, and even just chili in a bowl. I do not care much for the chili dogs, they were not very well prepared the time I ordered them and were very mushy and had soggy buns. What really irks me about this place is their rules on the fly. The sign above the door says discount with college ID. The first time we got the discount with no ID. The second time, we produced Id's and got the discount. The third time, they told me it was only for Montgomery College Id's? WTF? Then they proceeded to tell me it had always been that way. Well, someone was lying at some point then. Nevertheless, it is still quality food in a hidden little area, so I am not going to stop going.
(3)
Megan A.
This was perfect on the cold, rainy night I went. Personally, I appreciate that the chili isn't so hot as to cause sweating and a red face...I've never understood making food so hot that it's practically inedible. My favorites are the Terlingua Red and Cincinnati (which is sweeter more than spicy). Terlingua Red has just enough spice and a tomato base, excellent in the Frito Pie...ask for extra Fritos, they're a bit skimpy. It tends to be crowded and loud, but it's also inexpensive and friendly.
(4)
Jonathan A.
Experienced blatant size discrimination. Several groups seated ahead of us, server only smirked when confronted. Avoid.
(1)
Emilee O.
Thanks to Yelp, I discovered this little gem in a hidden strip mall in suburban Rockville soon after I moved to MD. Let me just say, I love this place. This is just a little hole-in-the-wall, dirty, greasy bar and it's not for the snottiest of "fine diners." If you're expecting a 5-star experience, you've got another thing coming. But that's the beauty of it: your average joe who can appreciate huge dry-rubbed and grilled wings, a heaping plate of chili and a cold beer comes HERE. Being from Cincinnati, I was QUITE skeptical of the "Cincinnati Chili." But, I'm impressed. The "chili mac" (or the 3-4-or-5-way as we call it in the 'Nati) is legit. My visiting Cincinnati friend even confirmed my approval. My husband I just love coming here for a casual dinner. Sweet tea, chili, cornbread, ugh, who could ask for more!? Wednesday night is half-price grilled wings, they are amazing!! Not battered and fried, but dry-rubbed and grilled... My only advice: do NOT plan on doing anything after eating here... You will feel disgustingly full and sluggish, but it's just part of the Hard Times Cafe experience :) I love this place.
(5)
A A.
If your in the mood for Chili, this place is the best. I would def recommend the Cincinati or Texas chili, as the other two lack flavor. The texas chili has a very hearty and beefy flavor, however they could hold back on some of the oil. The cincinati chili is a bit sweeter and not as greasy. Both are good. The rest of the menu is average. I can see myself comming here 1x a month. I would have rated them 3 stars, but the service I recieved last time was phenomenal. Refilling the glasses at first notice and asking if everything was okay every 10 min, we def felt appreciated and welcome.
(4)
Tommy K.
Greasy chili and beer - what more could a man ask for? I love this place and have been to a handful of the other Hard Times Cafe locations in the area and have never disappointed. In case you've never been, they will bring you a sampler of their different kinds of chilis. I prefer to go with their greasy, arterie clogging Texas chili which should come as no surprise to anyone. I ordered the Frito Pie (a godly combination of chili, fritos, sour cream, and cheese), as I normally do, which was of course very good. I chose to wash down the greasiness with a talllll, cooollll Hard Times Cafe lager. Lets be clear - this is delicious chili with no frills. The atmosphere is laid back and the interior is well aligned with the name. In my opinion, Hard Times Cafe has some of the best chili in the area. Way better than Ben's Chili Bowl but not up to par with that of Vienna Inn...then again, thats just my opinion. Go to Hard Times to become a real man and put some hair on your chest with a combination of Texas chili and a few beers.
(4)
Meghan G.
Hard Times is definitely one of those places you have to check your diet at the door. On your first visit, ask your server for their chili sampler, they will bring you a small shot glass sized serving of each variety of chili so you can decide which one floats your boat. Once you pick your poison, you get to decide how you want it served...in a bowl, on cornbread, over fritos, on spaghetti...pile high with shredded cheese, sour cream, jalapenos and youre cooking with gasoline. A few times I have ventured away from chili, but I always come back around to their signature dish. Just a little suggestion, their chili nacho appetizers is MASSIVE, so dont order it thinking you'll have room for dinner unless you have more than two mouths to feed (also makes a great entree)
(4)
Adam B.
I can't believe noone has reviewed this location yet! Maybe because it's in an out of the way area in a small shopping center but it's a great branch of this divey chain with all sorts of chili including the hard to find Cincinnati style of Chili. And while it's no Skyline, it's really good. You can even have a free sampler of all four chilis. Also the wings are great and you can get them grilled! Good beer selection with even a lager producer by Old Dominion that's OK but not spectacular. Didn't have dessert but was too full from all the wings and chili. Will definitely return for the Chill for sure.
(5)
Natatia L.
ooooooook so apparently this place is not that popular within the yelping community (since there are so few reviews??) but it is fantastic for various reasons. i met the bf there tonight to catch the yankees game and apparently it was paaaaaaacked before i got there but luckily had thinned out a bit by the time of my arrival such that we were able to obtain a small 2-seater booth with tv's in front of both of us. :) it helps that there are many tv's scattered throughout the restaurant for our distracted-while-eating viewing pleasure. wednesday is 'cheap grilled wings' night...cheap as in, basically half off. this must have been the reason it was so freakin' busy. we are still trying to figure out the wing pricing...instead of it getting cheaper as you order more, it gets more expensive. huh??? in any case, we wanted to try a couple flavors, so we got one order (12 wings) of the original texas, and an order of the chili lime. an order is normally $8.59 but they were $4 off each so a great deal. both flavors were really good...imagine the deliciousness of a well-seasoned and well-cooked wing with the added bonusness of chargrilled fire-y flavor. what is there not to love? nothing, i tell you, nothing. in fact, these might be my favoritest wings in the world. do take note, i love anything grilled, mostly because i love love love the taste of fire on food. they were served with nice lookin' celery sticks and yummy blue cheese dressing. next we tried the chili bubba, which was our choice of two chilis (we got the terlingua red and the cinci) over cornbread and topped with cheese, onions, tomatoes and sour cream. the cornbread was a little dry and could have used a little time in the nuker/oven but otherwise it was very tasty and filling. our server was great, brought over a chili sampler as soon as he found out it was our first time there. he also brought over a couple pieces of the dry-ish cold cornbread which was appreciated, but, well, not really 'cause it was dry-ish and cold. our only complaint of the night really. we shared a pitcher of yuengling for $10 and enjoyed watching the yankees win so overall it was a great night, only to be topped off with some carmen's gelati (conveniently located right next door and ooooh-so-good). we did see that they have half-price burgers on mondays (we're going), $5 chili macs from oct. 18-25 (we're going) and for a limited time to celebrate oktoberfest, bratwurst (beer-steamed and chargrilled, served in a bavarian pretzel bun with sauerkraut, brown mustard and fries for $5.99, with another brat for only $2.99)...uh, yes, we're going. this friday, in fact, for the next yankees game...and bratwurst. we might have to move closer to this random strip mall in rockville ('cause the 1.5 miles is just a little too far).
(4)
Judy L.
I AM IN LOVE WITH THEIR WINGS! SO AMAZING! i would definitely recommend trying Hard Times for their wings. I first started going here for their wings on Wednesdays nights, but they have since changed the deal, but still just as good. Their other food that I have tried has been just as good. If you like grilled wings, this is one of the better places in MoCo to go! Highly recommended!
(4)
Elizabeth D.
My husband and I stopped by for lunch over the holidays. It's got a great dive feel and a huge bar. I'd recommend the fried pickles (though in spear form, they were perfectly crunchy) and the Chili Tots. I went with the Texas Red. I'm usually not a huge chili fan, but this was terrific. Great flavor and finely ground beef. With the tots it was a huge lunch, but really hit the spot. My husband prefers the spicy Terilingua chili. Great spot for a casual lunch!
(4)
Rom C.
Best burgers on Tuesday! you know why?! because they're half off! Come between 3-7pm and then the appetizers are half off too! On a hot day, you'll be wearing half of your clothing too because it's extremely warm!! I recommend you get your burger one level below how you normally get it because they grill them much faster and tend to over cook them! The Whiskey River BBQ Bacon burger is a dream! and the bread they used is not heavy at all. The fries are fillers and i recommend you enjooy them last or not at all!
(5)
Ava A.
This is my favorite place for wings, always get the original Texas grilled wings. They have half price wings Wednesdays, pretty good deal.
(5)
SmugVegan J.
Food wasn't bad. In fact it was good, but the chili wasn't any better than the stuff you find in a can. The portion size of the pasta with chili was far too small for the price. Going the store and grabbing a can of chili is quicker, cheaper, and just as tasty. The place could also use a good dusting/de-cobwebbing.
(2)
Steph L.
Got a gift card to this place. Not a good dining experience at all, unfortunately. The interior of the restaurant is charming enough, with wooden booths and a small but creative space. The food, unfortunately, was another matter. We ordered onion rings as an appetizer, and I honestly can say these were the absolute WORST onion rings I have ever been served. Ever. The batter was tasteless and flaky, the onions not much better. The honey mustard sauce that came with it didn't help much (and was pretty bland itself). I don't know if it was just a bad batch or if this is standard fare here, but yuck. The main courses were okay (I had the mini Elvis burgers), but not what I would go out of my way to have again. The prices are high for burgers ($9-10 for one regular sized or three mini sliders). Our server was somewhat short with us and somewhat disinterested, but I can't really ever blame wait staff (unless they go out of their way to be unnecessarily rude) since I know how tough the job is. I did have to flag down a different server to finally pay the bill though. Unless I get another free gift card I won't be by again.
(2)
Dana Z.
Been to a few HTC's but this is the first time I actually ever ate food at one. I love the chili... especially the one I know I can't spell. I also love that they have recipes online. I recently made their chili recipe at home and it was easy to make and tasted (somewhat) like the real thing This location is smaller than many of the others. No pool tables or anything. Not a lot of tables. I don't know if I'm allowed to say this but if you are coming from 270 be careful - I'm told there is one of those pesky speed cameras on the road leading up to the shopping center.
(3)
Christine E.
Hard Times is one of the reasons why I continue to run 10Ks and Half Marathons. The truth is I run to eat! I admit it -- the chili here beats the chili from Ben's Chili Bowl. Gasp! It truly is a chili parlor that focuses on the quality of its chili. You have the option to choose from 4 types of chili that you can eat alone or top on a burger, spaghetti noodles, nachos or other entrees- The Terlingua chili is the spiciest. The Vegan chili doesn't taste bad for chili that has no meat. The Texas chili has that dry, ground beef texture and taste. And, last but not least -- my favorite, the Cincinnati chili, which is a good mix of savory and juicy beef with a hint of cinnamon-y sweetness. I've been here a handful of times and I discovered my favorite -- the Chili Cheeseburger Sliders! With it comes 3 decently-sized mini-burgers (they're each a bit more substantial than say a White Castle slider because each slider comes with chili of your choice on top of the mini-burger patty) and a small side of french fries. If you're conscious about portion control and eating something sinful in moderation (like me), the Chili Cheeseburger Sliders are your best bet. I honestly believe that because Hard Times Chili is power packed with punch and flavor, you don't need a huge burger to have it on. If you're more of the simplistic type, I'd recommend the standard bowl of chili. The cornbread here is just okay -- I've had better cornbread from Safeway. If you're with a big group or you can eat a LOT, I recommend the Nachos! HUGE serving for $9-$10. You definitely get your money's worth with that appetizer! Sign up for the Hard Times mailing list and you'll receive a few coupons and learn about specials each month! You get a free chili mac just by signing up! Hard Times has become a favorite of mine and I will probably continue to come here at least a few times each month for some carnivorous goodness!
(5)
Mike M.
Good burgers, chili dogs, friendly staff, good service. This is a small location, it get's very loud and crowded at lunch so be prepared for that.
(4)
Guillermo C.
I live real close to the Rockville Hardtimes so I've gone there a few times. The food is so so and the bar is fun to go to. They have a colorful staff and ask for Daniel at the bar. Funny bartender and keeps the drinks flowing. The best think on the menu is the bacon cheeseburger with blue cheese. I'm a big blue cheese fan and the blue cheese they use there is amazing. Did not give more stars because I have sat at a table before and the wait staff is so so.
(3)
Chris A.
Hard Times is a DC institution and since moving to Silver Spring, my wife and I have been at this one a number of times. The chili and wings are as good as any other location. Good service, great place to watch sports.
(4)
Heidi W.
Came here on a Wednesday, and their wings (with bones) were the happy hour special that day. That was perfect since we were craving for wings and came here because of the good reviews on Yelp. It took forever for us to get our food (25 wings and a serving of loaded fries). I liked the chili lime sauce on the wings, but the meat itself was wayyy too dry. The chili fries were also too greasy...even for chili fries. Price is pretty good in general, but its even better if you come for the specials. Service is slow and not very attentive. There was a lot of waiting involved.
(3)
Trevor M.
When I'm not on my diet and when I don't care that my blood will run even more red with the Terlinga chili flowing through it and especially when I don't want to come to my senses...I come here for the chili. My Rockville location right off of I-270. It's dark and looks like the last remnants of a biker bar. As if there would be bad dealings here, but it's ok...the place is usually filled with cops. The wood benches makes for unpleasant, hard seatings, but when i'm going to abuse my body on the inside, I guess a mere pain in my butt won't kill me. I get three standards here (not all at the same time): Terlinga Red on spaghetti with cheese and onions, the ChiliCheddarBurger and the Authentic Coney Dog (w/terlinga chili). This is my trifecta of pain and joy. Don't get me wrong the Texas and the Cincinnati are good. Both have their merits and place on the wall. But, if i'm going to do chili here, it's going to be the Terlinga with its spicy kick and redder than blood. I always get a side of jalapeno. The spices ranging from a mix of chili powder, cayenne, paprika, cumin and other spices that i'm sure that they will kill me if I shared it. Actually, i'm kidding...the recipe is on the website. I know that the chili is cooked in its fats giving it a great flavor, but you're doing no good for my arteries, but when you come here don't worry about your health. The cheddar burger is a great cut of beef that is chargrilled giving it that smokiness and flavor that a standard flattop grill can't get, then with the chili and cheese. Get ready for joy. The coney island dog will need to be eaten with a knife and fork. Warning: If you do attempt to eat this by hand, you will look like you are giving fellatio in the worst way possible and you will be looked at as a hero, madman, or simply Adam Richman, but you will most likely get a date afterwards. It's a great place to hang out, have a beer and some chili. Now, excuse me, I have to get my antacid tablets before my date. Wink, Wink!
(4)
Andrew C.
We told them it was our first time here and the waitress told us to wait a moment and quickly brought a sample of all their chili to our table with cornbread! It was just the beginning of a magical evening! Texas wings all the way!!
(5)
Ch B.
I like the atmosphere and the fried pickles. The chili isn't really my bag. Service is great. Good atmosphere.
(3)
Susie B.
Great food, great service. Love their burgers and chili.
(4)
Ryan C.
Doesn't look like much but it's great place! everything I ate there surprised me. it was much better than i thought it would be. i really enjoyed my ribs and my sisters vegetarian chili.
(4)
Taice M.
Staff was super friendly. Food was awesome! I would recommend this place to everyone.
(5)
Christian M.
Boy does this place have a ton of chili! Fries and chili = heaven on Earth I've never tried their wings but if it's anything like the chili you should definitely try it. If you don't know which chili to try ask for their sample tray. This particular location looks a little sketchy but the best places always do. Don't come here if you're on a diet everything was pretty deliciously greasy.
(4)
Suzanne A.
Hard Times is one of the only restaurants I'd miss if I moved out of the DMV. Best wings I've ever had, and they run deals on half-priced wings pretty often. I prefer the Texas chili, usually with tater tots, but apparently it has double the fat and calories as the Terlingua, which isn't exactly a healthy option itself. Everything in moderation, right? I usually eat about a third of the portion (okay, maybe half), then eat the leftovers over another meal or two the next day. Hard Times has a warm, divey atmosphere with basic wooden booths and a couple of TVs (on my last visit, they were showing college wrestling... February is truly a dark time for sports). There are usually a couple of families and groups of local high school kids, a nice place to spend a Saturday or Sunday evening. We like this location because it's a minute off of 270. My only complaint... and Hard Times, I hope that you hear me loud and clear... we'd love a franchise in Silver Spring. Till then, only four stars.
(4)
Ryan H.
This is a no-kidding Chili Parlor. You think you know chili? We'll just see about that. With Mac? All-the-way wet? And don't forget to have some of their root beer (made with honey) to wash it all down. This place is a D.C. icon.
(5)
Shannon O.
Really not that great of a place. The whole little local chain has managed to make a small name for themselves and keep people coming back but I really don't know how other than there is no real competition in the area. The food is mediocre at best and over priced for what it is. The staff try to be friendly but that doesn't make up for the weird and simple bland menu or the funky layout and decor of their restaurants. This place is good if you have nowhere else to go or are just looking for a quick drink and don't mind the ambiance.
(2)
Michael H.
Hard times cafe is a great place to get great chili, have a beer or nurse a hangover. The star of the joint is obviously the chili, which they have four different varieties. The spiciest happens to be the vegetarian, but (in my opinion) the most flavorful are the terlingua red and the Cincinnati style. I usually get a 5 way with half terlingua and half Cincinnati. However, I've tried them all and you can't go wrong if you live good chili. The wings are good (especially grilled!) and the draught root beer is a great touch. BUT the real prize at hard times is the onion rings. Crispy and hot, the rings are thinly coated and taste out if this world. If you like rings, make sure you try them here. Pure gold.
(4)
Monkee C.
Found this place via yelp while on the way to Rockville to do some shopping. If you like chili, stopping here is a no brainer. Things that are awesome: -having a sampler of their four types of chili (enough for two spoonfuls of each, also just enough to get you hooked, conveniently) -boneless wings, with choice of sauce -most items on the menu $10 or less Things that are even awesomer: -a bowl of crispy tater tots smothered with chili and cheese, as soon as I saw this on the menu I knew what I was ordering A bit loud inside, and definitely shabby rustic (think wood benches, wood paneling, wood you-name-it) but next time I want some chili, HTC is where it's at.
(4)
Jason L.
Holy Mother of Chili! Finding this place was out of complete luck and being in the right place at the right time. We had originally planned to eat in Gaithersburg but changed our mind at the last minute after deciding to head to Rockville for some furniture shopping. I hadn't even looked at the menu before going here so I didn't know that their specialty was chili. Otherwise I would have prepared beforehand with about half bottle of Zantac and some fat pants. The special on Thursday night is on Boneless Wings and we decided to give them a try since they were reduced price. We got the honey BBQ ones and boy was this a good choice. The wings were tender, flavorful, hot and just the right size for 2 people. I could have eaten about a dozen more for a meal. The waitress offered to bring a sample of their chili out and we decided to give it a go. They have four standard chilis: Texas, Cincinnati, Terlingua Red, and Vegetarian. They were all delicious. Each is so different that you are sure to find one that you like. I preferred the Texas one and had this nice concoction of heartburn inducing goodness slapped on a Chili Cheddarburger. There was nothing remotely healthy about what I ate but I didn't care one bit. The fries were good too. The sig-o ordered the Chili Tators with Texas Chili and he can tell you all about that one, I can't wait to head back here and I will be prepared with an empty stomach and some antacids. Can't miss if you love a menu where chili can be applied liberally to everything. Service was also great.
(4)
Ja'Bette L.
Don't know what all the excitement is for when it comes to this place. The chilli is mediocre and bland, with my favorite being the vegetarian. That's really saying something when I can knock down a rare steak and rare burger like no other. The burgers are decent and have a slight edge on the chilli. They do run great specials, and great discounts for employees of some local businesses which keeps me coming back. As long as they keep that up, I'm all in.
(3)
Paul S.
Hard times cafe has solid food. Pretty good price too. I have only gotten the burger here because I've only been here once or twice. But I would love to come back and try the wings and chili. Burgers are tasty. So the next couple times I come I will try the chili, wings, and burgers again.
(4)
Teddi P.
Rockville location doesn't answer the phone!!!!!!! Tried to place a carry out order for over a half hour. No one has this much time to waste. Their food is okay, but not worth this incredible hassle!
(1)
K m.
Medicore. For a cheap dinner it's was okay. I am picky, but not because I don't appeciate a good hole in the wall great burger joint, it just seemed a little blah and grungy. The burgers were pretty good, but I like my chili chunky. Theirs wasn't at all. I would try other places before this again, but definitely prefer it over fastfood anytime.
(3)
max S.
Their veggie chili is pretty good. It has peanuts and TVP in it. Not a low calorie place. Try their mac and cheese triangles.
(4)
Richard T.
A stalwart staple of local cuisine, standing strong against the malevolent tide of recession-sizing and rising prices. Means cheap, big portions. A classic, laid-back atmosphere surrounds this personal favorite of mine. Wooden booths comprise the seating, ceiling mounted TVs are scattered throughout, and music from the juke box fills the air while a bar sits in the back. Pitchers of beer are the perfect accompaniment to the four speciality chilis that are more or less the restaurant's calling card (ask for the free sampler). A brief look at the menu shows nothing is above $10 (that I can remember) and portion sizes are generous. Rounding out the experience is an incredibly friendly staff that will happily stand around to chat if you're so inclined. The emphasis on the chili at Hard Times becomes apparent when you look at the menu. Chili can be ordered alone or topped on just about anything else they serve: burgers, spaghetti noodles, cornbread, and a bed of Fritos. And boy is it good. Many store-bought or even homemade recipes featured in cook-offs don't carry a fully-fleshed flavor and are often dried out or bear a dull/muted color. A good chili should have a powerful impact when first tasted and depart with a lingering yet pointed impression when swallowed. Aesthetically, it should also look fresh and pull you in with rich tones. This place nailed it, particularly with their Texas chili that has a strong, meaty flavor and is kept moist stewing in its slightly greasy sauce. A real man's meal. Overall, Hard Times is a great solution for bouts of gastonomic indeciveness. Particularly in the warm spring and summer months, it proves itself as a sturdy resource to simply relax with some good food, friends, and a beer or three. Hard Times has multiple locations throughout the Maryland region (Rockville, Bethesda, College Park).
(5)
Kjell M.
It's hard to go wrong with a genuine neighborhood hangout like Hard Times. The place has a rustic feel, which i like. The service is prompt and friendly, and the food is down to earth, simple but good. They are known for their burgers and chill, but my favorite is their huge salads. Great place to hang out.
(4)
Phil C.
Love Hard Times for their huge meaty wings, real (bean-less) chilli, and tasty burgers! They run specials most days with $5 burgers on Mondays and 1/2 price wings on Wednesdays. The chilli cheddar burger loaded with Texas chilli is amazing, and their fries are thick and substantial - the kind with the skin left on. Good options for vegetarians too - veggie burgers and vegetarian chilli. Also, I'll second Dana's warning about the speed camera van on Nelson street, watch out for that.
(5)
JP V.
What can I say, this place never disappoints! Try the chili lime wings grilled.
(5)
Jessica A.
I have been coming here since I was about 16. Every single time I think about Hard Times, I salivate. And I am not exaggerating. Yes, their wings are THAT good. Wing night (on Wednesdays) get pretty packed, so get there early. The service is always awesome, the food is always awesome and they have delicious sweet tea.
(4)
Food Mongol M.
Best wings, fried pickles, and chili dogs I've had in a long time. The cincinnati 5-way- the bomb.
(5)
Mark S.
The two stars is for this particular Hard Times, which I like a lot less than the others I've been to. Hard Times has a great selection of bar food, focusing on southwestern flavors, and their staple is the four kinds of chili they serve -- Texas (regular), Terlingua Red (supposedly hotter, doesn't taste all that hot to me), Cincinnati (flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg and other spices, not really all that chili like in flavor) and Vegetarian. All four kinds are great. Their go - to for me is their chili burger. Tasty tasty tasty. So why two stars? The first, and this is a major thing for me, is that the chili isn't usually hot enough (I mean temperature) when they bring it to you, which for me sets off alarm bells. I'd imagine people do get sick from eating at this one occasionally, they just don't seem to be keeping the chili hot enough. The second is that the service at this location varies widely, from good to atrocious, and I've gotten poorly prepared food, which is why I don't go there anymore.
(2)
Puja L.
I really liked the laid-back atmosphere of this place. Really chill place with good happy hour specials! Got a pitcher of Yuengling, a sweet tea w/vodka, two plates of wings, and a GIANT plate of nachos for $30. Not bad at all! The wings were pretty good - we ordered the chili lime & inferno based on my uncle's suggestions (he's a regular here). Both were pretty yummy - a bit more vinegary than I generally like, but good. The nachos portion was enormous, but they weren't all that great (I think the onions had a bit of an off-putting smell to them, otherwise the rest of the toppings were good). So, we only got through half the plate of nachos. I'd definitely come back here to chill out after work!
(3)
Mark E.
Great chili, good atmosphere. What's not to like?
(4)
Tonya K.
Blizzard 2009: My family and I were headed back to NY from Kentucky and got stuck in Maryland. It turned out to be a pleasant experience though. We were starving after hours on the road, and in an area full of shopping centers, restaurants, and hotels, this was the only place open to get food. We walked in and were in awe over the menu. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger and chili cheese fries to go. They have a selection of 4 chilis, and the girl at the counter set me up with a sampler so I could choose which one I wanted on my fries (how nice!). You don't even have to choose one, you can choose all! I chose two chilis on my cheese fries..one of them had cinnamon in it, and it was absolutely delicous. So, while we were waiting we had some beers. Nice, BIG, fresh beers. (Blue moon was my choice) We brought the food back to our hotel room and ate. It was good, and filling, but the burger I ordered was way overcooked although I ordered it Meduim rare. Unfortunately, everyones meat was overcooked. It wasn't terribly crowded in there, but I'm sure the cooks were eager to get home, and out of the snow. I'm sure it would have been 5 stars if the meat had been cooked as ordered. But hey, the portions are very large, and the chili cheese fries were really good.
(3)
Lesley F.
Food = 5 stars Price = 3 stars (I don't know how this pops up for "cheap eats") Kids Menu = 2 stars I have been going here for ages and it seems as if their prices have been hiked up over the last year or so. The past couple times I have been here with my husband and two daughters we have spent close to $80 for an appetizer, a couple beers, two entrees and two kids meals. Too much for a family dinner out at a self-proclaimed "hole in the wall" like Hard Times. That said, I will keep going back just not as often as I would like. Hands-down Hard Times has the best wings in the area (Texas Grilled) and very good chili. My go-to meal is usually the Santa Fe Grilled Chicken Salad which is very good. The portions at Hard Times are rather large so you definitely get enough to eat. The food deserves five stars. The only food complaint I have is the children's menu. Chili is fine, but the Mac and Cheese is definitely Easy Mac and the nuggets are the Dino Nuggets you find in the frozen food section of the grocery store. The meals come with milk and a Motts snack-pack applesauce. I just have a hard time paying $6.95 for a kids meal when each item on the menu is something I currently have sitting in my pantry or freezer at home and would cost me $1.10 to recreate. That said, definitely go here, just expect to pay more than a "cheap" price for dinner.
(4)
Rashida M.
I know they specialize in chili, but this review is based soley on the wings. I was a bit hesitant to order grilled wings, let alone chili-lime grilled wings which my server suggested. They were delicious! They give you a generous portion and nice sized wings along with good flavor unlike other places that supposedly specialize in wings. This was my first visit to Hard Times Cafe which reminded me of your typical dive/sports bar except this one has more of a family type feel along with the occasional senior citizen table. For those who are always looking for a deal, Wednesdays are wing night!
(4)
E.R. F.
No beans in the chili? Meat looked like it was from Taco Bell. This is not chili. Corn bread, a total joke. Two bowls of this for $16.82? Never again.
(1)
Abbey B.
I love, love, love Hard Times. I don't live in Maryland anymore, but when I'm visiting home, I almost always come for the wings and/or chili. I LOVE wings. And grilled wings are elevated. The grilled Texas wings are my favorite thing. And I'm not crazy about blue cheese dressing in general, but I could eat theirs on its own. The Cincinnati chili is my favorite, hands down. With mac and shredded cheese--such great comfort food. Now that they sell the mix in boxes, I can make it at home in Massachusetts. It tastes exactly the same as the restaurant. I've heard the burger is good, but really, chili is the way to go. I've always wanted to try the frito pie, but the wings always call.
(4)
Ed L.
i love this place. great chili macs, sizable wings, and burgers that are surprisingly good. add the chili mac special on tuesdays, and i'm a fan. the one item on the menu that was shockingly bad was the onion rings. the breading was flavorless and gritty. in this case, quantity could not overcome the poor quality. just go with the nachos for the appetizer.
(4)
Wendy J.
I walked into this dark and dreary joint with high expectations for a great bowl of chili that would make me forget about my depressing surroundings. Having not been there before, I wasn't sure which chili to try, so went with what they seemed to tout as their specialty, the Texas, in a Frito pie. What appeared before me ten minutes later looked like a mound of sloppy joe. It sat in a deep puddle of bright orange grease and was covered with a huge pile of shredded cheese straight out of a bag. The poor Fritos were glistening and soggy, having absorbed so much of the grease (which now, an hour later, still coats the inside of my mouth). Upon first bite I was had an immediate flashback to my elementary school cafeteria -- the chili looked and tasted exactly the same. The only real flavor I could detect was that of salt. Tons of it. Maybe a little bit of chili powder, but that's it. I can't remember ever leaving a restaurant without making a serious dent in my food. I'm a big eater, a serious carnivore, and I hate wasting food. I love a chunky, flavorful, hearty chili. This is so far from what I just had -- I just couldn't get it down. My sister couldn't eat hers either, but my two nephews and brother-in-law thought it was fine. I hope I made a mistake by ordering the Texas, that the other recipes are more worthy of praise.
(1)
Jonathan C.
Great food, great portion sizes, and very responsive service. An excellent trip out with the family!
(4)
Karen N.
I came on a sunday and they had $5 wings and nachos. The cili nachos were ok. The chili was really dry and sort of bland. The wings were really crispy and yummy.
(4)
Katherine K.
As mentioned by the previous reviewer, Hard Times is the closest I've seen to Cincinnati-style chili. Again, a nice restaurant located in a strip mall (in Rockville? You're kidding!) It tends to get a little loud inside but the incredible chili makes up for it. Vegetarians, there's even a meat-free chili but watch out as it has a lot of kick. I've never had a disappointing meal here. If you're health-conscious skip Hard Times, as almost everything is smothered in cheese or chili (or both) Also a word to the wise: the texas chili is the best but is also incredibly greasy. Be sure to order it "dry" and you'll get the excellent taste without an inch of fat on the bottom of your plate.
(4)
Jason M.
Good food and good service! Really enjoyed visiting. We tried both their Hard Times Cafe beer and an order of the chili nachos. The nachos were fantastic -- highly, highly recommend. The beer, less so. Not terrible, but not perfect either (not sure what we were expecting). Would definitely recommend stopping by, though!
(4)
Steve K.
Good food. Cheap beer. Nightly specials. Casual atmosphere. The bartenders are very attentive despite being very busy. You're probably not going to have the time of your life here but for a neighborhood joint it's a solid performer.
(4)
Collin K.
If you are looking for a great bowl of chili, look no further! Good service, great prices. Another one of my top five favorite locals spots. Don't go as much as I used to but plan on making it back very soon!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Music : Juke Box Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Tue, Wed, Thu Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Naeem M.
A great local neighborhood bar tucked-away in a small shopping center - Wednesdays are wings nights where you can get a dozen for $6.89. Bring a bunch of friends and get several orders (each with a different sauce so that you can try them all - my favorites were the Original Texas and Sweet Chili). The chili is pretty decent too, especially the Terlingua. Appetizers tend to come in very large portions (an order of chili cheese fries was almost an entree unto itself - make sure to share). Minus one star for our server being a little unresponsive, but this may have been due to a very busy night. Note that this location is very family friendly, so might not be the best choice to roll in with a group of guys.
(4)Jason M.
Hard Times has the best wings hands-down. They fry their wings just like most restaurants, but after, the Texas wings are dipped in the the sauce (which tends to make them soggy) and then they throw them on the grill. This makes them crisp as well as get nice and charr which adds a ton of flavor. They also add a dry rub as they're on the grill to make them really pop! Hard times is also known for their chili, but I've never been able to diverse from the wings and appetizers because they are so fantastic. When I lived in Virginia, I used to go to the Springfield location. It did have a lot more to offer because it was huge, they had billiards, games, darts, and other activities, where this location is simply a restaurant. The service in Rockville has always been great. So far all of the employees have been super nice, attentive, and get you whatever you need quickly. Check out Hard Times for some of the most unique and best wings you've ever tried!
(4)Elizabeth F.
Love this place!! Chili lime wings are definitely my favorite. The service is awesome and it is definitely a family oriented restaurant. Very friendly staff with tasty and not too pricy food. Wings and the nachos are definitely my favorite and the little chili powder boxes that you can buy at the bar are very awesome if you want to have a similar taste with your own twist!
(5)Shira S.
I have been going to Hard Times for as long as I can remember which means that I have actually had almost all of their chilis even though I no longer eat red meat (they came out with Terlingua Red after I changed my eating). As a kid, the Cincinnati was my favorite, although I also liked the Texas...all the way wet. Now, I tend to stick with the Vegetarian, which I think goes best on their nachos. All of that said, I stopped in last night to pick up wings for my sister-in-law and myself. The wings were yummy, but I was disappointed in how much the prices have gone up (which knocked down the stars). Hard Times used to be a super cheap eats and with $11 wings, it isn't so much anymore. I will probably stick to their "special nights" from here on out when I am looking for my cheap eats.
(3)Margy C.
Too spicy, too loud, too uncomfortable, too unhealthy. We were here on a Thursday night and it got packed pretty quickly. At 6:30 p.m. we could still hear ourselves with a slightly raised voice. By 7:00 p.m. we were practically yelling at each other just to be heard. I got the bbq ribs and was disappointed that it was too spicy to finish and the menu did not mention it. The menu also did not have very many healthy options other than the six salads with one that included deep fried chicken. The booths were also very uncomfortable with no padding or lower back support. This doesn't encourage a desire to stay any longer. I might come back and try other things only because it is a local joint and the free chili dog was nice. But I'm coming when it's probably quieter in the afternoon.
(1)Allison W.
Ordered takeout tonight and was rather disappointed. Originally thought it was generous of the bartender to "throw in some extra corn bread for ya," but the corn bread we received was only partially wrapped in foil - open enough to begin to dry out, and was burnt to the point we could not eat it. Why would you throw that in with my meal?? Yuck. Also had a couple issues with the order itself, since we made some adjustments to a couple dishes (no tomatoes, etc.) that were not followed. Three stars only because I have been to a couple of other Hard Times locations (including this one) and had great experiences, but tonight's order is giving me second thoughts about this location.
(3)Brian D.
Wings, wings, wings. Great place for the kids or a night out with the guys. Always good food (wings, chili, burgers, etc...) nice staff and the fact it's next to Carmens doesn't hurt.
(5)Julito C. S.
The food here is amazing! I deff. Recommend their fries, veg chilli and especially their wings/ in house Texas sauce which is similar to buffalo sauce but better!
(5)KE C.
Excellent customer service! Also, the best bone in chicken wings I've ever had. They are right off of 270 in historic Rockville. They don't take reservations. Worth the wait, though I had no wait.
(4)Eddie K.
Love their grilled wings and chili mac. These are probably one of my favorite places to eat wings. Come here on Wednesdays as they are discounted after 4 PM (dozen wings any style for $5.89). Usually order the 4 way chili mac with Texas chili. Make sure you work out after this meal, as the Texas chili will weigh you down. It is heavy and rich.
(4)Mike B.
Mmmmm chili. Mmmmmm wings. Mmmmm tots. Hard times is the local Maryland chain that has been bringing the aforementioned to the DMV since 1980. Serving chili up to the music of David Bowie, Michael Jackson, and Wham must have done something special for them. Hard times now operates 17 locations in the DC area, including one in the Verizon Center. I know what you're asking. What about the food!? 4 types of chili: Texas, Terlingua Red, Cincinnati, and Veggie. I prefer the Cincinnati myself, but a lot of my friends are die-hard Texas fans. The wings are really the true reason I go to Hard Times. Search and search and search- I haven't been able to find wings in the burbs with that much meat on the bone or flavor on the meat outside of Hard Times. I love the Old Bay wings ( true MD suburbanite). I love the Texas wings too! I love the chili lime wings, oh they're good. But I also LOVE the honey mustard wings! I know! I know! This sounds crazy, but just trust me! Try their grilled honey mustard wings. This isn't the "honey mustard" you're thinking of, nor the "droids your looking for." But trust me, you won't regret it. You can also order them by asking for the "Cadillac" wings, that's an insider secret. The honey mustard wings are sweet, tangy, savory, with a great balance of flavor. My local Hard Times, the Rockville location, has become quite the institution. I ate there weekly as a highschooler. I ate there on vacations as a college student. Now, I eat there whenever my friends want something solid, enjoyable, and hearty- which turns out to be quite often.
(5)Elizabeth M.
I live right around the corner and am at Hard Times quite frequently, the last time was less than a week ago. This review is a general review more than based on one event. This is a great little restaurant - families from the neighborhood, teams after games from the park across the street and the regulars at the bar - it is a good mix of people. The atmosphere is friendly and works on a variety of levels. The food is good and has remained constant over the years, even as they updated the menu (maybe about a year ago). The variety in chilies, burgers, sandwiches, salads, etc has something for everyone including the kids. I will say that I have been to several different Hard Times locations in MD and VA and have never seen desert on the menu, not sure why. Parking is good, there is a big lot and the location is right off of a main street near 270 with easy access. The quality of service has gone down hill in the past couple of years. Every time we go at least one order at our table is wrong and has to go back at least once, the wait staff seems rushed and irritated when we ask for additional silverware, refills on drinks, etc. I hated to do it but I knocked a star off because of the decline in service. We miss the menus that the kids (and adults) could color on. And appreciate the crackers at the table. Also note that Hard Times sells several menu items prepackaged including chilies and vinegar! I have purchased some and tried to duplicate the chili at home but it was not the same. Hard Times has to be experienced in person.
(3)Abegail A.
*****3.5 stars***** After seeing their sign from the 270 so many times, I finally made my way over here this past Saturday. Upon entering, we were prompted greeted by the hostess. On a Saturday evening, the restaurant portion had a few diners and the bar area was pretty full. We managed to snag the last two seater in the bar area. Sweet! Usually when I come to a restaurant for the first time I get really eye hungry. This time around I knew I had to resist the temptation since I was going next door afterwards for some dessert. Decided on 16 boneless wings original Texas style ($15.99) and the loaded tater tots. Found out that they ran out of tater tots for the evening. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Decided on the loaded fries instead ($8.99), which came with your choice of chili. Since we haven't dined here before, the waitress recommended sampling their chili. Out of the four, my favorite was the Texas chili. The ground beef was coarse, nicely cooked, and I really enjoyed the spices. Next on the list was the Cincinnati (sweeter than the Texas), followed by the Terlingua (not as spicy as I thought it would be) and the vegetarian (eh). Up first was the boneless wings. The 16 pieces ranged from tiny to large. It would have been nice if they were all consistent in size, or at least get rid of the tiny ones! Tasted liked your average buffalo wings. When our waitress came by to check on us, she asked if they were spicy enough for us. Since they definitely were not, she brought us a small container of their Fiery sauce (not on menu). According to her, this sauce was supposed to be super hot, which was why I decided not to order it in the first place. Super hot? Definitely not. Spicy? Yes. She offered to take our wings back and have them coated in the fiery sauce. Definitely wasn't necessary since we could dip it in there ourselves, but it was a nice gesture. Five minutes after our wings arrived, the loaded fries came out. It had loads of chili on it! So much that you had to dig around for the fries. Loved it! I do wish that this dish had more cheese on it though. Service was great. Our waitress was on point and checked on us occasionally. Our glasses were never empty, which was a big plus. I'm looking forward to coming back to try their chili mac and those darn loaded tater tots!
(4)Deborah A.
1st time at the Hard Times Cafe and the Teralingua chili and the onion wings were the best! And don't let me leave out the sweet tea. Great eating today!
(5)Gerry B.
Sometimes you just need to eat at Hard Times. So good, though they could make the chili a bit spicier IMO.
(4)Beth L.
Hands down best Cheeseburger in the area. Love the 1/2 priced burgers on Mondays. The sweet chili lime wings are delicious too. The service is fast and friendly.
(5)Duane S.
Great food, atmosphere! Terrible service(Daniel), hopefully they will fix that, easy fix. You can see the cooks in action and its easy to see they know their stuff.
(3)Jessica L.
This is my go to place when the weather gets cold and I'm in the mood for chili. They have four flavors and will give you a sampling of each so you can decide which one to order. I always go with the Cincinnati which is thick and has a hint of sweetness to it. I love the cinnamon hint too. I ordered the Cincinnati 4 ways but the amount of onions they put on was almost a joke. I had to scrape off over half before I could even see the good stuff. I also added sour cream and jalapeños which were served in tiny little condiment cups at .99 each. The spaghetti was nicely cooked not mushy at all. The dish was very good minus half the onions. Ice tea was stale as was the complimentary corn bread. Maybe they think complimentary things don't need to be fresh but in my opinion, if you're gonna serve it, it should be fresh and the tea is a no brainier. I got a diet coke replacement. Service was excellent. Lots of parking. Looks like a fun place to go for happy hour. The atmosphere was nice. A decent sized crowd, music not too overbearing and a big screen tv with sports on. Next time I go I'm going to try the wings. A fun time was had by all.
(4)Jeanette R.
Went in yesterday and ordered food and drinks; however, we sat next to the grill and can say without a doubt -- that we will NEVER go back. If we had sat anywhere else in the restaurant - probably would have stayed - but luckily we didn't and was beyond disgusted as we watched the grill cook - repeatedly wipe his eyes, nose, and hair and then place our burgers on the grill. It was disgusting enough to watch the entire evenu but even worse when he DIDNT wash his hands or even attempt to put on gloves. And when I asked the waitress to please cancel our order (we never said why) -- she walked over the grill cook and he started to laugh and then the manager had to be called out to cancel on the register - and he never asked why the order was cancelled. There are too many other places in the area to eat - so, not going back.
(1)Steve T.
Get the wings - seriously, just get the wings. Best around.
(5)Katie W.
I love the wings. They are fried and grilled, making them some of the best wings in Rockville. The only problem is the setting. It feels dark and it is often with a sticky bar and tables.
(4)Mark P.
Vegetarian chili was delicious. Order it with no cheese for the health- conscious. Husband's tater tots with 5 - way chili was great also. #noms
(4)Liz S.
Vegetarian friendly!!
(4)J A.
the food is a guilty pleasure. greasy, yes, but very tasty. if you go, be prepared to be deaf after you leave. it's exceptionally loud. if a freight train ran right down the aisle, you'd never hear it. you and your dining partners might as well forget about talking to each other. i've lived around the corner from here for 15 years but i only eat here maybe once or twice a year. the noise is that bad.
(3)Melissa S.
Went here for a quick bite. Had wings- they were on special on Wednesday night. Got the original Texas flavor and they were great- crispy and smokey.
(4)Jennifer A.
I would describe this place as mediocre bar food in a family environment, at best. We had the Southwest egg rolls which were okay. He has a buffalo chicken wrap which he liked and I had the chicken quesadila which was sub par. The service was decent as the waitress was nice, but there were lulls of lack of service. The environment itself was stuffy. I wish they had outdoor seating. It felt overly warm and crowded and loud. You could hear a lot of kids screaming. The bench seats seem to accommodate people who are 300 lbs overweight, which really isn't that case with me so I had to scoot up to the edge of the seat to get close to the table. I'd say this place is ok. I probably wouldn't come back as I was less than impressed with the food quality and the environment. Also, I wouldn't bring a group larger than four.
(2)Michael K.
This place is a hole in the wall themed bar/ restaurant... Chili, wings, burgers, and dogs is what this place does best! I recommend their chili lime wings, and vegetarian chili! Both dishes go well with an ice cold beer!
(4)Perry K.
If you come here, you need to get their GRILLED chicken wings preferably old bay flavor. The wings are so flavorful that you don't need the dressing with it. The root beer in a draft is a must have when you are chowing down on some good ol' chili. I ordered the 4 way chili mac with the vegetarian chili and teringula (sp?) red. Portion is moderate but the plate was packed with flavor. My bf ordered the texan burger and all I can say is that texan sauce is the boss. Fries are nice and crispy. Cornbread is okay, it goes well with any chili. Tip: if you don't know which chili flavor to pick, just asked your server if you could get a sample.
(5)April M.
Uh oh! Maybe I caught them on a bad day. The bartender was nice when i stopped in for a quick order but boy did I hear drama from the servers about xy&z. Although I love their chili I got a chicken dish...I don't think it was cooked properly. Did not feel well afterwards.
(2)April S.
This go round I ordered the Frito pie. Simple yet delish. Chili fries were good too. Crispy fries just like I like them.
(5)Dan M.
We weren't impressed with Hard Times. I got the Terlingua red burger - the bun was very dry and so was the burger (despite asking for medium). It had very little flavor, so the bites without chilli were very unappetizing. The chilli was good, though, slightly spicy, just the way I like it. But it wasn't enough to save the burger. Plus, we went during happy hour. We were glad to get half price nachos, which were good and came in a large portion for the price, but when the nachos are the highlight of the meal, you're in trouble. We did get drinks, but the happy hour only included the bland stuff - yuengling, bud light, etc, and not any really good beers. Getting a pint of one of those for $3 isn't a deal in my book.
(2)Eric J.
The wings were good, but the onion rings needed more dough.
(4)Eric E.
We'd been here a few times and each time the food was mediocre at best. For some reason we keep coming back, hoping it would be better next time. I actually like chili quite a bit, and I live near this place, so I keep on trying it, wanting it to work. My final visit was in a group of three, and not one of us enjoyed our food. One person in the group was pregnant and ready to eat anything, and she barely touched her chili with tater tots. The service was good, but the food was greasy and each of the chili dishes actually contained very little chili. It seemed like the chili fries were plated without being drained first, and probably sat in the window for a while as well. A minimal amount of chili was put on top, and then a large amount of firm cheese sat like an umbrella on top of the dish. We were not thrilled with the onion rings either, and left most on the plate. Again they seemed like they had not been drained of their grease, and the batter was chalky and bland.
(1)Jessica G.
Not my cup of tea. This is the second time my husband has taken me here and the second time I've been disappointed. He adores the wings, I thought they were okay. We ordered chili but the texture and oiliness put me off. Now the deep fried mini corn dog appetizer was pretty delish. Otherwise, I guess it just isn't a place for me, I wanted some healthy options, it's a pretty carby, salty, oily. On the other hand, it's good for kids. Our 2 year old had a ball and I didn't worry at all about her messing stuff up because there were old fries on the seats and floor when we first sat down :)
(2)Terinee B.
We ordered the Frito Chili Pie w/Texas chili and it was pretty good. As a kid we used to eat Frito Pie all the time, but the only difference is that the frito pie we at as kids had melted cheese (like nacho or velveeta cheese) and this Frito Pie had shredded cheese. The Frito Pie was good, but it wasn't quite as good as I remembered, and I think it was because of the cheese. We also ordred the Original Texas (flavor) Grilled Wings. OMG!!!! Those wings were P-H-E-N-O-M-E-N-A-L!!! I cannot stress to you enough. OMG!!! OMG!!! OMG!!! I think these must have been the BEST wings that I have ever tasted IN MY LIFE!!! If you come here, you've gotta try them and YOU MUST get them GRILLED. That is what makes all the difference! (FYI: I'm giving this place 5 STARS based on these WINGS!! They were THAT GOOD!) The corn bread was just average, but that was ok, b/c the wings were hittin' so hard! The jukebox was playing Shania Twain "the woman in me" which I sang along with and serenaded my husband. (Made me go to iTunes & pick up a couple of Shania hits that I had forgot about!) Overall, I liked this place. Next time we come I think we're gonna opt to get a HUGE HEAP of WINGS!
(5)Chris C.
Hard Times Café is a good place to go to after a long night at Clarendon Ballroom or Spider Kelly's in Clarendon. It's got great chili, spaghetti chili, and okay burgers as well. The food is above average but tastes a lot better have a night of drinking. Service has always been good and same with the food. However, I would probably prefer to eat at other areas in Clarendon for dinner, but this is a solid after party place to chow down. Cliff notes: Come here after a night of drinking
(3)David N.
I really wish Yelp had a half star rating system. 3.5 stars. I had a random craving for chili one day and remembered reading about this place on Yelp so the roommate and I decided to check it out. I ordered their homemade rootbeer while perusing through Yelp reviews to help me decide on which chili to get. I am a huge fan of their rootbeer. It was super awesome and super carbonated (To the point where my straw wouldn't stop floating! I took a picture but it didn't come out so I'll post a new one the next time I go). After reading through reviews, I decided on the terlingua red since I love some spice in my food and decided to go with it 4-way chili mac style (spaghetti, chili, cheese, and onions). I didn't expect such a huge portion (see my posted picture) and it was really good! The chili wasn't as spicy as I had hoped but maybe I can augment that next time with some jalapenos. It definitely wasn't OMGBESTCHILI ever but it was good, thus the 3.5 stars and not 4. The waiter we had was really friendly. This place looks like a small dive-y place that I could come to enjoy cheap beer and some chili during their happy hour and catch a game since there are several flatscreens spread across the bar and restaurant. They have different happy hour specials every day of the week. I'll definitely update this review as I come back and try their other chili!
(3)Anna L.
As much as we love Hard Times Cafe chili and wings, the Rockville experience has gone significantly downhill in the past years. The bathrooms in particular need renovating, the smell is gastly and has now reached the back seating go the restaurant!!!! I had to ask for our large party to be moved from a back table due to the smell. The manager couldn't seem to smell it???? Right..... Then after our meal upon leaving, an employee was hanging out outside right by the front door smoking!!! take it outback!!!!
(2)Fenny L.
I'd forgotten all about Hard Times. Back in the day, my husband and I used to frequent this place. Not sure why we stopped. Probably because you can only eat so much chili before it just gets gross. But on this day, we were in the area, and driving past this place made us crave chili...even though it was 130 degrees out. I never said that we made sense. My Terlinga Red chili was just as I remembered it. A plain and sturdy chili that stood up well to all the toppings I put on it. But the standout from that meal was the bowl of tater tots topped with chili that my husband ordered. Oh, I didn't like the tater tots drowning in chili...but the tots that were chili free, were hot, crisp, crunchy and one of the most delectable order of tater tots I've stolen from my husband in years! This is what I'm definitely ordering next time...only with the chili on the side. Standard, basic bowls of chili. Decent wings. Fast but unspectactular service, and a nice dive-y atmosphere to relax in. Not the most amazing place I've ever been, but it definitely serves its purpose.
(3)Kirsten H.
I love Hard Times - but NOT this one. I have frequented this place with my husband before we got married, and now with my whole family (two pre-teen boys) as well. I bought the Hard Times chili mix and even the Hard Times vinegar, so we could enjoy it at home between visits. I'm even on the Hard Times mailing list. Which is why I will NEVER go back to THIS Hard Times. For my birthday, I got $5 'to spend any way you want!' at Hard Times. I was so excited, because I love their vinegar - have tried to make my own to no avail - and we were out of it at home. So I drove several miles out of my way (we live near Olney) to pick up my $5 worth of vinegar. After several people questioned the coupon, the owner came out. He was livid. He said, 'This is exactly why we need to STOP doing these types of promotions!' I didn't understand. He said, 'You have to dine in.' I said, 'I could sit here with the bottle, if you want - but it says 'to spend any way you want.' The owner nearly screamed at me: 'This is SUPPOSED to be an incentive to SPEND MONEY, not a way for you to get a free bottle of chili vinegar!' He gave me my vinegar - since I had a valid coupon and all - and I walked out. I will never, ever go back. There's a perfectly good Hard Times in Germantown and another one in Bethesda. This man totally ruined the Rockville location for me - and he won't see another cent of my money.
(1)Laurie W.
I go here all the time and I really don't know why. I inevitably eat too much and get incredibly ill, the food isn't good for you by any stretch of the imagination, and after I eat the last thing I want to do is go back to work when lying down on the sidewalk seems to be all I'm physically capable of. Also, the music is way too poundingly loud. Here, have a little Toby Keith on TEN with your chili. But still, still I go. The chili is good, yes. I second the dry Texas. The Cincinnati is good and fairly close to the traditional (I used to live near the city, in Dayton) but I'm not one for sweeter meat dishes. The veggie is pretty good, I hear. Get the sampler if you need help, as indicated below. I always get the Texas chicken salad. The meat is too hot, because there's too much sauce on it. I use way too much Mexi-ranch dressing, because as I said, I walk in here and go berserk with the fat grams. I have a colleague who always gets the burger (1/2 price on Monday, I think) but it doesn't look so great to me. I've had the chicken sandwich - good. The fries are serious - overcooked and skin-on. Fries for meat-lovers, I guess. This is also the home of the Chili Bubba, and a Frito Chili Pie, if you're really into indigestion. My ex-boyfriend liked to eat signature menu items (I know - whatever. At least he was adventurous) and got the Chili Bubba once - which is essentially chili over cornbread. You can also order several different toppings, like cheese, sour cream, etc...or do the Cincinnati thang and go for the different "ways" - three, four, five - determined by whether you get it with spaghetti, beans, and what have you. Cincinnati - home of Oktoberfest and chili rituals. You can get a side of chili - the sweetly named "Tenderfoot" for a bit cheaper, and if you're trying to stay relatively nutritionally sane, this and a side salad could work. I considered this the other day but the Texas chicken salad crawled into my head and refused to leave. The draft root beer is one of my favorite totally inappropriate drinks for mid-day (they bring it without ice so ask for a side and spoon it in), and Hard TImes Lager (which is no doubt some lesser known local brew with a special label on it) is a-ok. There's a bar that sometimes fills up at night, and regular drink specials. Stick to beer and sodas here. You can see the guys cooking right behind it. There are several televisions, all news and sports. The Germantown location is a better bet if you're into pretty spaces where the booths don't feel like they're going to fall apart. The prices have also gone up a bit which doesn't thrill me for the location or the condition of the place in Rockville, but that's when I tell myself to lighten up - it's Hard Times. The managers also come by your table during your meal to say hi and ask how you're doing. Nice touch. Kelly is my favorite daytime waitress. She's all business, baby, but she's always got your back. Wow, I know a lot about Hard Times. That's kind of pathetic. I need to get out more. And I also bumped it up a star, because it can't be too bad if I'm paying this much attention.
(4)Shane S.
What can I say? Hard Times Cafe is simply amazing. Its an embarrassment if any born and raised Marylander does not know about this place. The Cincinnati chili is my personal favorite with the right amount of sweetness and grease. The nachos are my probably my favorite thing on the menu. They are to DIE FOR! but be warned unless you like spicy food order them without the jalapenos. Also, the prices are very reasonable, every Wednesday you can order 12 wings for 5 bucks and receive them grilled or fried. Enjoy!
(5)Ryan N.
This small location seems like quite the family establishment. On weekends the tables are packed with soccer teams and families of 4. The service here is very good and they like to offer you a chili sampler so you can try all 4 varieties before you chose. I rank them this way: 1. Red 2. Veggie 3. Texas 4. Cincinnati I have lived in Cincinnati and this stuff doesn't even taste similar, it is just sweet. The name is bogus. I enjoy the wings and the nachos here, and even just chili in a bowl. I do not care much for the chili dogs, they were not very well prepared the time I ordered them and were very mushy and had soggy buns. What really irks me about this place is their rules on the fly. The sign above the door says discount with college ID. The first time we got the discount with no ID. The second time, we produced Id's and got the discount. The third time, they told me it was only for Montgomery College Id's? WTF? Then they proceeded to tell me it had always been that way. Well, someone was lying at some point then. Nevertheless, it is still quality food in a hidden little area, so I am not going to stop going.
(3)Megan A.
This was perfect on the cold, rainy night I went. Personally, I appreciate that the chili isn't so hot as to cause sweating and a red face...I've never understood making food so hot that it's practically inedible. My favorites are the Terlingua Red and Cincinnati (which is sweeter more than spicy). Terlingua Red has just enough spice and a tomato base, excellent in the Frito Pie...ask for extra Fritos, they're a bit skimpy. It tends to be crowded and loud, but it's also inexpensive and friendly.
(4)Jonathan A.
Experienced blatant size discrimination. Several groups seated ahead of us, server only smirked when confronted. Avoid.
(1)Emilee O.
Thanks to Yelp, I discovered this little gem in a hidden strip mall in suburban Rockville soon after I moved to MD. Let me just say, I love this place. This is just a little hole-in-the-wall, dirty, greasy bar and it's not for the snottiest of "fine diners." If you're expecting a 5-star experience, you've got another thing coming. But that's the beauty of it: your average joe who can appreciate huge dry-rubbed and grilled wings, a heaping plate of chili and a cold beer comes HERE. Being from Cincinnati, I was QUITE skeptical of the "Cincinnati Chili." But, I'm impressed. The "chili mac" (or the 3-4-or-5-way as we call it in the 'Nati) is legit. My visiting Cincinnati friend even confirmed my approval. My husband I just love coming here for a casual dinner. Sweet tea, chili, cornbread, ugh, who could ask for more!? Wednesday night is half-price grilled wings, they are amazing!! Not battered and fried, but dry-rubbed and grilled... My only advice: do NOT plan on doing anything after eating here... You will feel disgustingly full and sluggish, but it's just part of the Hard Times Cafe experience :) I love this place.
(5)A A.
If your in the mood for Chili, this place is the best. I would def recommend the Cincinati or Texas chili, as the other two lack flavor. The texas chili has a very hearty and beefy flavor, however they could hold back on some of the oil. The cincinati chili is a bit sweeter and not as greasy. Both are good. The rest of the menu is average. I can see myself comming here 1x a month. I would have rated them 3 stars, but the service I recieved last time was phenomenal. Refilling the glasses at first notice and asking if everything was okay every 10 min, we def felt appreciated and welcome.
(4)Tommy K.
Greasy chili and beer - what more could a man ask for? I love this place and have been to a handful of the other Hard Times Cafe locations in the area and have never disappointed. In case you've never been, they will bring you a sampler of their different kinds of chilis. I prefer to go with their greasy, arterie clogging Texas chili which should come as no surprise to anyone. I ordered the Frito Pie (a godly combination of chili, fritos, sour cream, and cheese), as I normally do, which was of course very good. I chose to wash down the greasiness with a talllll, cooollll Hard Times Cafe lager. Lets be clear - this is delicious chili with no frills. The atmosphere is laid back and the interior is well aligned with the name. In my opinion, Hard Times Cafe has some of the best chili in the area. Way better than Ben's Chili Bowl but not up to par with that of Vienna Inn...then again, thats just my opinion. Go to Hard Times to become a real man and put some hair on your chest with a combination of Texas chili and a few beers.
(4)Meghan G.
Hard Times is definitely one of those places you have to check your diet at the door. On your first visit, ask your server for their chili sampler, they will bring you a small shot glass sized serving of each variety of chili so you can decide which one floats your boat. Once you pick your poison, you get to decide how you want it served...in a bowl, on cornbread, over fritos, on spaghetti...pile high with shredded cheese, sour cream, jalapenos and youre cooking with gasoline. A few times I have ventured away from chili, but I always come back around to their signature dish. Just a little suggestion, their chili nacho appetizers is MASSIVE, so dont order it thinking you'll have room for dinner unless you have more than two mouths to feed (also makes a great entree)
(4)Adam B.
I can't believe noone has reviewed this location yet! Maybe because it's in an out of the way area in a small shopping center but it's a great branch of this divey chain with all sorts of chili including the hard to find Cincinnati style of Chili. And while it's no Skyline, it's really good. You can even have a free sampler of all four chilis. Also the wings are great and you can get them grilled! Good beer selection with even a lager producer by Old Dominion that's OK but not spectacular. Didn't have dessert but was too full from all the wings and chili. Will definitely return for the Chill for sure.
(5)Natatia L.
ooooooook so apparently this place is not that popular within the yelping community (since there are so few reviews??) but it is fantastic for various reasons. i met the bf there tonight to catch the yankees game and apparently it was paaaaaaacked before i got there but luckily had thinned out a bit by the time of my arrival such that we were able to obtain a small 2-seater booth with tv's in front of both of us. :) it helps that there are many tv's scattered throughout the restaurant for our distracted-while-eating viewing pleasure. wednesday is 'cheap grilled wings' night...cheap as in, basically half off. this must have been the reason it was so freakin' busy. we are still trying to figure out the wing pricing...instead of it getting cheaper as you order more, it gets more expensive. huh??? in any case, we wanted to try a couple flavors, so we got one order (12 wings) of the original texas, and an order of the chili lime. an order is normally $8.59 but they were $4 off each so a great deal. both flavors were really good...imagine the deliciousness of a well-seasoned and well-cooked wing with the added bonusness of chargrilled fire-y flavor. what is there not to love? nothing, i tell you, nothing. in fact, these might be my favoritest wings in the world. do take note, i love anything grilled, mostly because i love love love the taste of fire on food. they were served with nice lookin' celery sticks and yummy blue cheese dressing. next we tried the chili bubba, which was our choice of two chilis (we got the terlingua red and the cinci) over cornbread and topped with cheese, onions, tomatoes and sour cream. the cornbread was a little dry and could have used a little time in the nuker/oven but otherwise it was very tasty and filling. our server was great, brought over a chili sampler as soon as he found out it was our first time there. he also brought over a couple pieces of the dry-ish cold cornbread which was appreciated, but, well, not really 'cause it was dry-ish and cold. our only complaint of the night really. we shared a pitcher of yuengling for $10 and enjoyed watching the yankees win so overall it was a great night, only to be topped off with some carmen's gelati (conveniently located right next door and ooooh-so-good). we did see that they have half-price burgers on mondays (we're going), $5 chili macs from oct. 18-25 (we're going) and for a limited time to celebrate oktoberfest, bratwurst (beer-steamed and chargrilled, served in a bavarian pretzel bun with sauerkraut, brown mustard and fries for $5.99, with another brat for only $2.99)...uh, yes, we're going. this friday, in fact, for the next yankees game...and bratwurst. we might have to move closer to this random strip mall in rockville ('cause the 1.5 miles is just a little too far).
(4)Judy L.
I AM IN LOVE WITH THEIR WINGS! SO AMAZING! i would definitely recommend trying Hard Times for their wings. I first started going here for their wings on Wednesdays nights, but they have since changed the deal, but still just as good. Their other food that I have tried has been just as good. If you like grilled wings, this is one of the better places in MoCo to go! Highly recommended!
(4)Elizabeth D.
My husband and I stopped by for lunch over the holidays. It's got a great dive feel and a huge bar. I'd recommend the fried pickles (though in spear form, they were perfectly crunchy) and the Chili Tots. I went with the Texas Red. I'm usually not a huge chili fan, but this was terrific. Great flavor and finely ground beef. With the tots it was a huge lunch, but really hit the spot. My husband prefers the spicy Terilingua chili. Great spot for a casual lunch!
(4)Rom C.
Best burgers on Tuesday! you know why?! because they're half off! Come between 3-7pm and then the appetizers are half off too! On a hot day, you'll be wearing half of your clothing too because it's extremely warm!! I recommend you get your burger one level below how you normally get it because they grill them much faster and tend to over cook them! The Whiskey River BBQ Bacon burger is a dream! and the bread they used is not heavy at all. The fries are fillers and i recommend you enjooy them last or not at all!
(5)Ava A.
This is my favorite place for wings, always get the original Texas grilled wings. They have half price wings Wednesdays, pretty good deal.
(5)SmugVegan J.
Food wasn't bad. In fact it was good, but the chili wasn't any better than the stuff you find in a can. The portion size of the pasta with chili was far too small for the price. Going the store and grabbing a can of chili is quicker, cheaper, and just as tasty. The place could also use a good dusting/de-cobwebbing.
(2)Steph L.
Got a gift card to this place. Not a good dining experience at all, unfortunately. The interior of the restaurant is charming enough, with wooden booths and a small but creative space. The food, unfortunately, was another matter. We ordered onion rings as an appetizer, and I honestly can say these were the absolute WORST onion rings I have ever been served. Ever. The batter was tasteless and flaky, the onions not much better. The honey mustard sauce that came with it didn't help much (and was pretty bland itself). I don't know if it was just a bad batch or if this is standard fare here, but yuck. The main courses were okay (I had the mini Elvis burgers), but not what I would go out of my way to have again. The prices are high for burgers ($9-10 for one regular sized or three mini sliders). Our server was somewhat short with us and somewhat disinterested, but I can't really ever blame wait staff (unless they go out of their way to be unnecessarily rude) since I know how tough the job is. I did have to flag down a different server to finally pay the bill though. Unless I get another free gift card I won't be by again.
(2)Dana Z.
Been to a few HTC's but this is the first time I actually ever ate food at one. I love the chili... especially the one I know I can't spell. I also love that they have recipes online. I recently made their chili recipe at home and it was easy to make and tasted (somewhat) like the real thing This location is smaller than many of the others. No pool tables or anything. Not a lot of tables. I don't know if I'm allowed to say this but if you are coming from 270 be careful - I'm told there is one of those pesky speed cameras on the road leading up to the shopping center.
(3)Christine E.
Hard Times is one of the reasons why I continue to run 10Ks and Half Marathons. The truth is I run to eat! I admit it -- the chili here beats the chili from Ben's Chili Bowl. Gasp! It truly is a chili parlor that focuses on the quality of its chili. You have the option to choose from 4 types of chili that you can eat alone or top on a burger, spaghetti noodles, nachos or other entrees- The Terlingua chili is the spiciest. The Vegan chili doesn't taste bad for chili that has no meat. The Texas chili has that dry, ground beef texture and taste. And, last but not least -- my favorite, the Cincinnati chili, which is a good mix of savory and juicy beef with a hint of cinnamon-y sweetness. I've been here a handful of times and I discovered my favorite -- the Chili Cheeseburger Sliders! With it comes 3 decently-sized mini-burgers (they're each a bit more substantial than say a White Castle slider because each slider comes with chili of your choice on top of the mini-burger patty) and a small side of french fries. If you're conscious about portion control and eating something sinful in moderation (like me), the Chili Cheeseburger Sliders are your best bet. I honestly believe that because Hard Times Chili is power packed with punch and flavor, you don't need a huge burger to have it on. If you're more of the simplistic type, I'd recommend the standard bowl of chili. The cornbread here is just okay -- I've had better cornbread from Safeway. If you're with a big group or you can eat a LOT, I recommend the Nachos! HUGE serving for $9-$10. You definitely get your money's worth with that appetizer! Sign up for the Hard Times mailing list and you'll receive a few coupons and learn about specials each month! You get a free chili mac just by signing up! Hard Times has become a favorite of mine and I will probably continue to come here at least a few times each month for some carnivorous goodness!
(5)Mike M.
Good burgers, chili dogs, friendly staff, good service. This is a small location, it get's very loud and crowded at lunch so be prepared for that.
(4)Guillermo C.
I live real close to the Rockville Hardtimes so I've gone there a few times. The food is so so and the bar is fun to go to. They have a colorful staff and ask for Daniel at the bar. Funny bartender and keeps the drinks flowing. The best think on the menu is the bacon cheeseburger with blue cheese. I'm a big blue cheese fan and the blue cheese they use there is amazing. Did not give more stars because I have sat at a table before and the wait staff is so so.
(3)Chris A.
Hard Times is a DC institution and since moving to Silver Spring, my wife and I have been at this one a number of times. The chili and wings are as good as any other location. Good service, great place to watch sports.
(4)Heidi W.
Came here on a Wednesday, and their wings (with bones) were the happy hour special that day. That was perfect since we were craving for wings and came here because of the good reviews on Yelp. It took forever for us to get our food (25 wings and a serving of loaded fries). I liked the chili lime sauce on the wings, but the meat itself was wayyy too dry. The chili fries were also too greasy...even for chili fries. Price is pretty good in general, but its even better if you come for the specials. Service is slow and not very attentive. There was a lot of waiting involved.
(3)Trevor M.
When I'm not on my diet and when I don't care that my blood will run even more red with the Terlinga chili flowing through it and especially when I don't want to come to my senses...I come here for the chili. My Rockville location right off of I-270. It's dark and looks like the last remnants of a biker bar. As if there would be bad dealings here, but it's ok...the place is usually filled with cops. The wood benches makes for unpleasant, hard seatings, but when i'm going to abuse my body on the inside, I guess a mere pain in my butt won't kill me. I get three standards here (not all at the same time): Terlinga Red on spaghetti with cheese and onions, the ChiliCheddarBurger and the Authentic Coney Dog (w/terlinga chili). This is my trifecta of pain and joy. Don't get me wrong the Texas and the Cincinnati are good. Both have their merits and place on the wall. But, if i'm going to do chili here, it's going to be the Terlinga with its spicy kick and redder than blood. I always get a side of jalapeno. The spices ranging from a mix of chili powder, cayenne, paprika, cumin and other spices that i'm sure that they will kill me if I shared it. Actually, i'm kidding...the recipe is on the website. I know that the chili is cooked in its fats giving it a great flavor, but you're doing no good for my arteries, but when you come here don't worry about your health. The cheddar burger is a great cut of beef that is chargrilled giving it that smokiness and flavor that a standard flattop grill can't get, then with the chili and cheese. Get ready for joy. The coney island dog will need to be eaten with a knife and fork. Warning: If you do attempt to eat this by hand, you will look like you are giving fellatio in the worst way possible and you will be looked at as a hero, madman, or simply Adam Richman, but you will most likely get a date afterwards. It's a great place to hang out, have a beer and some chili. Now, excuse me, I have to get my antacid tablets before my date. Wink, Wink!
(4)Andrew C.
We told them it was our first time here and the waitress told us to wait a moment and quickly brought a sample of all their chili to our table with cornbread! It was just the beginning of a magical evening! Texas wings all the way!!
(5)Ch B.
I like the atmosphere and the fried pickles. The chili isn't really my bag. Service is great. Good atmosphere.
(3)Susie B.
Great food, great service. Love their burgers and chili.
(4)Ryan C.
Doesn't look like much but it's great place! everything I ate there surprised me. it was much better than i thought it would be. i really enjoyed my ribs and my sisters vegetarian chili.
(4)Taice M.
Staff was super friendly. Food was awesome! I would recommend this place to everyone.
(5)Christian M.
Boy does this place have a ton of chili! Fries and chili = heaven on Earth I've never tried their wings but if it's anything like the chili you should definitely try it. If you don't know which chili to try ask for their sample tray. This particular location looks a little sketchy but the best places always do. Don't come here if you're on a diet everything was pretty deliciously greasy.
(4)Suzanne A.
Hard Times is one of the only restaurants I'd miss if I moved out of the DMV. Best wings I've ever had, and they run deals on half-priced wings pretty often. I prefer the Texas chili, usually with tater tots, but apparently it has double the fat and calories as the Terlingua, which isn't exactly a healthy option itself. Everything in moderation, right? I usually eat about a third of the portion (okay, maybe half), then eat the leftovers over another meal or two the next day. Hard Times has a warm, divey atmosphere with basic wooden booths and a couple of TVs (on my last visit, they were showing college wrestling... February is truly a dark time for sports). There are usually a couple of families and groups of local high school kids, a nice place to spend a Saturday or Sunday evening. We like this location because it's a minute off of 270. My only complaint... and Hard Times, I hope that you hear me loud and clear... we'd love a franchise in Silver Spring. Till then, only four stars.
(4)Ryan H.
This is a no-kidding Chili Parlor. You think you know chili? We'll just see about that. With Mac? All-the-way wet? And don't forget to have some of their root beer (made with honey) to wash it all down. This place is a D.C. icon.
(5)Shannon O.
Really not that great of a place. The whole little local chain has managed to make a small name for themselves and keep people coming back but I really don't know how other than there is no real competition in the area. The food is mediocre at best and over priced for what it is. The staff try to be friendly but that doesn't make up for the weird and simple bland menu or the funky layout and decor of their restaurants. This place is good if you have nowhere else to go or are just looking for a quick drink and don't mind the ambiance.
(2)Michael H.
Hard times cafe is a great place to get great chili, have a beer or nurse a hangover. The star of the joint is obviously the chili, which they have four different varieties. The spiciest happens to be the vegetarian, but (in my opinion) the most flavorful are the terlingua red and the Cincinnati style. I usually get a 5 way with half terlingua and half Cincinnati. However, I've tried them all and you can't go wrong if you live good chili. The wings are good (especially grilled!) and the draught root beer is a great touch. BUT the real prize at hard times is the onion rings. Crispy and hot, the rings are thinly coated and taste out if this world. If you like rings, make sure you try them here. Pure gold.
(4)Monkee C.
Found this place via yelp while on the way to Rockville to do some shopping. If you like chili, stopping here is a no brainer. Things that are awesome: -having a sampler of their four types of chili (enough for two spoonfuls of each, also just enough to get you hooked, conveniently) -boneless wings, with choice of sauce -most items on the menu $10 or less Things that are even awesomer: -a bowl of crispy tater tots smothered with chili and cheese, as soon as I saw this on the menu I knew what I was ordering A bit loud inside, and definitely shabby rustic (think wood benches, wood paneling, wood you-name-it) but next time I want some chili, HTC is where it's at.
(4)Jason L.
Holy Mother of Chili! Finding this place was out of complete luck and being in the right place at the right time. We had originally planned to eat in Gaithersburg but changed our mind at the last minute after deciding to head to Rockville for some furniture shopping. I hadn't even looked at the menu before going here so I didn't know that their specialty was chili. Otherwise I would have prepared beforehand with about half bottle of Zantac and some fat pants. The special on Thursday night is on Boneless Wings and we decided to give them a try since they were reduced price. We got the honey BBQ ones and boy was this a good choice. The wings were tender, flavorful, hot and just the right size for 2 people. I could have eaten about a dozen more for a meal. The waitress offered to bring a sample of their chili out and we decided to give it a go. They have four standard chilis: Texas, Cincinnati, Terlingua Red, and Vegetarian. They were all delicious. Each is so different that you are sure to find one that you like. I preferred the Texas one and had this nice concoction of heartburn inducing goodness slapped on a Chili Cheddarburger. There was nothing remotely healthy about what I ate but I didn't care one bit. The fries were good too. The sig-o ordered the Chili Tators with Texas Chili and he can tell you all about that one, I can't wait to head back here and I will be prepared with an empty stomach and some antacids. Can't miss if you love a menu where chili can be applied liberally to everything. Service was also great.
(4)Ja'Bette L.
Don't know what all the excitement is for when it comes to this place. The chilli is mediocre and bland, with my favorite being the vegetarian. That's really saying something when I can knock down a rare steak and rare burger like no other. The burgers are decent and have a slight edge on the chilli. They do run great specials, and great discounts for employees of some local businesses which keeps me coming back. As long as they keep that up, I'm all in.
(3)Paul S.
Hard times cafe has solid food. Pretty good price too. I have only gotten the burger here because I've only been here once or twice. But I would love to come back and try the wings and chili. Burgers are tasty. So the next couple times I come I will try the chili, wings, and burgers again.
(4)Teddi P.
Rockville location doesn't answer the phone!!!!!!! Tried to place a carry out order for over a half hour. No one has this much time to waste. Their food is okay, but not worth this incredible hassle!
(1)K m.
Medicore. For a cheap dinner it's was okay. I am picky, but not because I don't appeciate a good hole in the wall great burger joint, it just seemed a little blah and grungy. The burgers were pretty good, but I like my chili chunky. Theirs wasn't at all. I would try other places before this again, but definitely prefer it over fastfood anytime.
(3)max S.
Their veggie chili is pretty good. It has peanuts and TVP in it. Not a low calorie place. Try their mac and cheese triangles.
(4)Richard T.
A stalwart staple of local cuisine, standing strong against the malevolent tide of recession-sizing and rising prices. Means cheap, big portions. A classic, laid-back atmosphere surrounds this personal favorite of mine. Wooden booths comprise the seating, ceiling mounted TVs are scattered throughout, and music from the juke box fills the air while a bar sits in the back. Pitchers of beer are the perfect accompaniment to the four speciality chilis that are more or less the restaurant's calling card (ask for the free sampler). A brief look at the menu shows nothing is above $10 (that I can remember) and portion sizes are generous. Rounding out the experience is an incredibly friendly staff that will happily stand around to chat if you're so inclined. The emphasis on the chili at Hard Times becomes apparent when you look at the menu. Chili can be ordered alone or topped on just about anything else they serve: burgers, spaghetti noodles, cornbread, and a bed of Fritos. And boy is it good. Many store-bought or even homemade recipes featured in cook-offs don't carry a fully-fleshed flavor and are often dried out or bear a dull/muted color. A good chili should have a powerful impact when first tasted and depart with a lingering yet pointed impression when swallowed. Aesthetically, it should also look fresh and pull you in with rich tones. This place nailed it, particularly with their Texas chili that has a strong, meaty flavor and is kept moist stewing in its slightly greasy sauce. A real man's meal. Overall, Hard Times is a great solution for bouts of gastonomic indeciveness. Particularly in the warm spring and summer months, it proves itself as a sturdy resource to simply relax with some good food, friends, and a beer or three. Hard Times has multiple locations throughout the Maryland region (Rockville, Bethesda, College Park).
(5)Kjell M.
It's hard to go wrong with a genuine neighborhood hangout like Hard Times. The place has a rustic feel, which i like. The service is prompt and friendly, and the food is down to earth, simple but good. They are known for their burgers and chill, but my favorite is their huge salads. Great place to hang out.
(4)Phil C.
Love Hard Times for their huge meaty wings, real (bean-less) chilli, and tasty burgers! They run specials most days with $5 burgers on Mondays and 1/2 price wings on Wednesdays. The chilli cheddar burger loaded with Texas chilli is amazing, and their fries are thick and substantial - the kind with the skin left on. Good options for vegetarians too - veggie burgers and vegetarian chilli. Also, I'll second Dana's warning about the speed camera van on Nelson street, watch out for that.
(5)JP V.
What can I say, this place never disappoints! Try the chili lime wings grilled.
(5)Jessica A.
I have been coming here since I was about 16. Every single time I think about Hard Times, I salivate. And I am not exaggerating. Yes, their wings are THAT good. Wing night (on Wednesdays) get pretty packed, so get there early. The service is always awesome, the food is always awesome and they have delicious sweet tea.
(4)Food Mongol M.
Best wings, fried pickles, and chili dogs I've had in a long time. The cincinnati 5-way- the bomb.
(5)Mark S.
The two stars is for this particular Hard Times, which I like a lot less than the others I've been to. Hard Times has a great selection of bar food, focusing on southwestern flavors, and their staple is the four kinds of chili they serve -- Texas (regular), Terlingua Red (supposedly hotter, doesn't taste all that hot to me), Cincinnati (flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg and other spices, not really all that chili like in flavor) and Vegetarian. All four kinds are great. Their go - to for me is their chili burger. Tasty tasty tasty. So why two stars? The first, and this is a major thing for me, is that the chili isn't usually hot enough (I mean temperature) when they bring it to you, which for me sets off alarm bells. I'd imagine people do get sick from eating at this one occasionally, they just don't seem to be keeping the chili hot enough. The second is that the service at this location varies widely, from good to atrocious, and I've gotten poorly prepared food, which is why I don't go there anymore.
(2)Puja L.
I really liked the laid-back atmosphere of this place. Really chill place with good happy hour specials! Got a pitcher of Yuengling, a sweet tea w/vodka, two plates of wings, and a GIANT plate of nachos for $30. Not bad at all! The wings were pretty good - we ordered the chili lime & inferno based on my uncle's suggestions (he's a regular here). Both were pretty yummy - a bit more vinegary than I generally like, but good. The nachos portion was enormous, but they weren't all that great (I think the onions had a bit of an off-putting smell to them, otherwise the rest of the toppings were good). So, we only got through half the plate of nachos. I'd definitely come back here to chill out after work!
(3)Mark E.
Great chili, good atmosphere. What's not to like?
(4)Tonya K.
Blizzard 2009: My family and I were headed back to NY from Kentucky and got stuck in Maryland. It turned out to be a pleasant experience though. We were starving after hours on the road, and in an area full of shopping centers, restaurants, and hotels, this was the only place open to get food. We walked in and were in awe over the menu. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger and chili cheese fries to go. They have a selection of 4 chilis, and the girl at the counter set me up with a sampler so I could choose which one I wanted on my fries (how nice!). You don't even have to choose one, you can choose all! I chose two chilis on my cheese fries..one of them had cinnamon in it, and it was absolutely delicous. So, while we were waiting we had some beers. Nice, BIG, fresh beers. (Blue moon was my choice) We brought the food back to our hotel room and ate. It was good, and filling, but the burger I ordered was way overcooked although I ordered it Meduim rare. Unfortunately, everyones meat was overcooked. It wasn't terribly crowded in there, but I'm sure the cooks were eager to get home, and out of the snow. I'm sure it would have been 5 stars if the meat had been cooked as ordered. But hey, the portions are very large, and the chili cheese fries were really good.
(3)Lesley F.
Food = 5 stars Price = 3 stars (I don't know how this pops up for "cheap eats") Kids Menu = 2 stars I have been going here for ages and it seems as if their prices have been hiked up over the last year or so. The past couple times I have been here with my husband and two daughters we have spent close to $80 for an appetizer, a couple beers, two entrees and two kids meals. Too much for a family dinner out at a self-proclaimed "hole in the wall" like Hard Times. That said, I will keep going back just not as often as I would like. Hands-down Hard Times has the best wings in the area (Texas Grilled) and very good chili. My go-to meal is usually the Santa Fe Grilled Chicken Salad which is very good. The portions at Hard Times are rather large so you definitely get enough to eat. The food deserves five stars. The only food complaint I have is the children's menu. Chili is fine, but the Mac and Cheese is definitely Easy Mac and the nuggets are the Dino Nuggets you find in the frozen food section of the grocery store. The meals come with milk and a Motts snack-pack applesauce. I just have a hard time paying $6.95 for a kids meal when each item on the menu is something I currently have sitting in my pantry or freezer at home and would cost me $1.10 to recreate. That said, definitely go here, just expect to pay more than a "cheap" price for dinner.
(4)Rashida M.
I know they specialize in chili, but this review is based soley on the wings. I was a bit hesitant to order grilled wings, let alone chili-lime grilled wings which my server suggested. They were delicious! They give you a generous portion and nice sized wings along with good flavor unlike other places that supposedly specialize in wings. This was my first visit to Hard Times Cafe which reminded me of your typical dive/sports bar except this one has more of a family type feel along with the occasional senior citizen table. For those who are always looking for a deal, Wednesdays are wing night!
(4)E.R. F.
No beans in the chili? Meat looked like it was from Taco Bell. This is not chili. Corn bread, a total joke. Two bowls of this for $16.82? Never again.
(1)Abbey B.
I love, love, love Hard Times. I don't live in Maryland anymore, but when I'm visiting home, I almost always come for the wings and/or chili. I LOVE wings. And grilled wings are elevated. The grilled Texas wings are my favorite thing. And I'm not crazy about blue cheese dressing in general, but I could eat theirs on its own. The Cincinnati chili is my favorite, hands down. With mac and shredded cheese--such great comfort food. Now that they sell the mix in boxes, I can make it at home in Massachusetts. It tastes exactly the same as the restaurant. I've heard the burger is good, but really, chili is the way to go. I've always wanted to try the frito pie, but the wings always call.
(4)Ed L.
i love this place. great chili macs, sizable wings, and burgers that are surprisingly good. add the chili mac special on tuesdays, and i'm a fan. the one item on the menu that was shockingly bad was the onion rings. the breading was flavorless and gritty. in this case, quantity could not overcome the poor quality. just go with the nachos for the appetizer.
(4)Wendy J.
I walked into this dark and dreary joint with high expectations for a great bowl of chili that would make me forget about my depressing surroundings. Having not been there before, I wasn't sure which chili to try, so went with what they seemed to tout as their specialty, the Texas, in a Frito pie. What appeared before me ten minutes later looked like a mound of sloppy joe. It sat in a deep puddle of bright orange grease and was covered with a huge pile of shredded cheese straight out of a bag. The poor Fritos were glistening and soggy, having absorbed so much of the grease (which now, an hour later, still coats the inside of my mouth). Upon first bite I was had an immediate flashback to my elementary school cafeteria -- the chili looked and tasted exactly the same. The only real flavor I could detect was that of salt. Tons of it. Maybe a little bit of chili powder, but that's it. I can't remember ever leaving a restaurant without making a serious dent in my food. I'm a big eater, a serious carnivore, and I hate wasting food. I love a chunky, flavorful, hearty chili. This is so far from what I just had -- I just couldn't get it down. My sister couldn't eat hers either, but my two nephews and brother-in-law thought it was fine. I hope I made a mistake by ordering the Texas, that the other recipes are more worthy of praise.
(1)Jonathan C.
Great food, great portion sizes, and very responsive service. An excellent trip out with the family!
(4)Karen N.
I came on a sunday and they had $5 wings and nachos. The cili nachos were ok. The chili was really dry and sort of bland. The wings were really crispy and yummy.
(4)Katherine K.
As mentioned by the previous reviewer, Hard Times is the closest I've seen to Cincinnati-style chili. Again, a nice restaurant located in a strip mall (in Rockville? You're kidding!) It tends to get a little loud inside but the incredible chili makes up for it. Vegetarians, there's even a meat-free chili but watch out as it has a lot of kick. I've never had a disappointing meal here. If you're health-conscious skip Hard Times, as almost everything is smothered in cheese or chili (or both) Also a word to the wise: the texas chili is the best but is also incredibly greasy. Be sure to order it "dry" and you'll get the excellent taste without an inch of fat on the bottom of your plate.
(4)Jason M.
Good food and good service! Really enjoyed visiting. We tried both their Hard Times Cafe beer and an order of the chili nachos. The nachos were fantastic -- highly, highly recommend. The beer, less so. Not terrible, but not perfect either (not sure what we were expecting). Would definitely recommend stopping by, though!
(4)Steve K.
Good food. Cheap beer. Nightly specials. Casual atmosphere. The bartenders are very attentive despite being very busy. You're probably not going to have the time of your life here but for a neighborhood joint it's a solid performer.
(4)Collin K.
If you are looking for a great bowl of chili, look no further! Good service, great prices. Another one of my top five favorite locals spots. Don't go as much as I used to but plan on making it back very soon!
(5)