Hard Times Cafe (sometimes Hard Times Cafe & Cue) is a restaurant chain serving chili and other foods, primarily in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. area. Hard Times has been recognized in several publications, including USA Today, AOL's City's Best, Zagat's "Top 20 Area Restaurants" from 2003 to 2008, and several others.
History The first Hard Times Cafe was opened in Old Town Alexandria in 1980 by Jim and Fred Parker.
On September 21, 2011, Hard Times Cafe opened at Washington DC's Verizon Center sports (now Capital One) arena, home of the Washington Capitals, Wizards, Mystics, Georgetown Hoyas, concerts and events. Hard Times Cafe operated two locations on the Verizon Center's lower level concourse—a permanent stand at section 112 and a portable stand at section 119—offering fans a chance to enjoy chili macs, nachos, veggie nachos, chili tots, wings, and chili dogs. Until closing after the 2015 season, Hard Times also had a location at Nationals Park.
Menu Hard Times serves appetizers, burgers, and salads, but they are generally known for their chili. There are four types of chili available: Texas Chili Cincinnati Chili Terlingua Red Vegetarian Chili
Locations The original location is still in business today, in Alexandria, Virginia. There are a total of 4 locations:
City State Type Alexandria Virginia Hard Times Cafe Fredericksburg (5099 Jefferson Davis Highway) Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue Rockville Maryland Hard Times Cafe Springfield Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue
Additionally, Hard Times has had former locations that have subsequently been closed at the following sites: City State Type Year closed Bel Air Maryland Hard Times Cafe 1993 (fire) Bethesda Maryland Hard Times Cafe 2016-ish Clarendon Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue 2016 College Park Maryland Hard Times Cafe 2022 Fairfax Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue 2019 Frederick Maryland Hard Times Cafe & Cue 2017 Fredericksburg (314 Jefferson Davis Highway) Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue 2020 Germantown Maryland Hard Times Cafe & Cue 2014 Hagerstown Maryland Hard Times Cafe & Cue 2017 Herndon Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue 2010 Manassas Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue 2017 Nationals Park Washington, D.C. Left Field Concourse 2015 Verizon Center Washington, D.C. Lower Level Concourse 2015 Waldorf Maryland Hard Times Cafe & Cue 2018 or 2019 Woodbridge Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue 2016
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