Hard Times Cafe (chain restaurant)

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,^[1] AOL's City's Best,^[2] Zagat's "Top 20 Area Restaurants" from 2003 to 2008,^[3] and several others.^[4]

History

The first Hard Times Cafe was opened in Old Town Alexandria in 1980 by Jim and Fred Parker.^[5] They were also the first sports bar in the DC Area to "grill" their wings. After they've been sauced they throw them on the grill for a minute or two. Locking the flavor in and at the same time making it a bit cleaner to eat.

On September 21, 2011, Hard Times Cafe opened at Washington DC's Verizon Center sports arena, home of the Washington Capitals, Wizards, Mystics, Georgetown Hoyas, concerts and events. Hard Times Cafe now operates 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:^[6]

• 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 16 locations:^[7]

References