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Mon. 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Tue-Wed. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Thu-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Chili's® Grill & Bar is as bold and flavorful as the food it serves. The energetic, fun atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for a... more »
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"FOUR STARS, FOUR STARS, OH MY GOD, FOUR STARS!!" -- Said as Jim Ross, WWE Hall of Famer
So this Hard Times used to suck. I mean, really suck. It was small, it offered little in the way of Sports Bar feel or truly memorable food. Everything was pretty mediocre and the placed lived off its critical location just off the Clarendon 'tro. But that was before.
Hard Times food has never been anything spectacular. It's unique in a way for the area, importing a lot of Skyline Chili staples to the DC area and pawning them as their own. Wings were decent, kind of overpriced. Chili Dogs are good but why do I want to pay $6 for one? Nachos are a sloppy mess. Most other food was fried. You know how it goes. But that was --
BEFORE the upstairs got the best renovation in recent memory. Flat screen TVs line every angle. Pub tables are spread out, but evenly to avoid too much congestion. A bar lines the entire far wall, offering plenty of space for service and/or seating if you've got a smaller crew. It's the best sports viewing venue in North Arlington, without a doubt. And with Crystal City Sports Pub being the next closest option -- one whose drunk driving perils any North Arlingtoner has battled with before -- that's all it needs to be for me.
And somehow, surrounded by 25 50-inch LCDs, the $6 Chili Dogs tastes a lot better. The $9 for 10 wings seems like a bargain. The $5 draft beer goes down smooth. And everything, I mean everything, glows with that indiglo-like blue light of a sports bar besieged by 1080p DirecTV.
And now it's AFTER, and Hard Times becomes FOUR STARS, FOUR STARS, FOUR STARS. OH THE HUMANITY, OH MY GOD, HARD TIMES IS FOUR STARS!?
This place was pretty great when they had 1.50 High Lifes all the time, but apparently they don't have anything remotely resembling this deal anymore.
All of the varieties of chili are bland and uninspired, except for the vegetarian, which is just positively disgusting.
Chili cheese fries and nachos are alright, but there's no way you can eat enough of them to be full and not get immediate heartburn and other, less immediate, digestive issues later.
The only thing they have going for them now is pretty damn good wings, but they're really overpriced if it's not Wednesday ("cheap wing night"). For all I know, they got rid of that deal as well.
No point in going to Hard Times if you don't like chili! If you do, then you're in for a treat. I've been eating at Hard Times since before their renovation. Now that they have a spacious second floor area, the place seems even more crowded than usual! There is usually a short wait for tables on the first floor if you go around the peak hours.
I'm not a big fan of chili, HOWEVER I am a big fan of Hard Times Terlingua chili because it doesn't contain any beans. It's pure meat heaven. They do offer a vegetarian chili but who the heck would eat that. In my opinion, the vegetarian chili is too salty anyway. The Texas chili is too oily if you don't order it "dry". If you have never been there before, the waitress will usually offer you a sampler plate of the different kinds of chili, they have 4 total.
Highly recommend the Terlingua chili, it's the most delicious chili that I've ever tasted. And for healthier options, you can always order a chili salad, with your choice of chili. Their Texas chicken salad and grilled chicken salad are amazing as well. Portions are satisfying.
Their grilled hot wings are also a crowd favorite, and they're truly damn delicious. Don't forget they offer late night food I think until 2am.
I sat at the bar which is really more of a kitchen. It's nice to see your food being made but all those pots of boiling water can make it a little warm in the summer.
I had excellent service; the server brought me samples of all four red chilis and she was very attentive. All the chilis were well made but a New Mexico green chile really would round out the menu. The chili mac is definitely a comfort food for me. I was glad to find out they had chopped jalapenos as a topping even if they're not on the menu.
I will definitely come back, especially on game day.
Hard times has officially become my favorite bar in the Clarendon area. Their food has always been delicious. As has their beer. But what's made it even better is the recent renovations that opened up a 2nd floor with tons of tv to watch sports games on. There are also pool tables up there and a lot of tables to sit at.
The food is still so good. Whether just for a greasy dinner or happy hour bites or an amazing late night meal (aka drunk meal). They're still open late and right next to the metro. Really, you can't go wrong :)
chili cheese nachos! chili mac with cheese! beer!
Oh so good! Oh so greasy. Oh so filling. Oh did…
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I've only eaten here once, but you won't have to pull my leg to get me to come back. How can you complain about a place that lets you try out their signature dishes before you actually order?
I, of course, went with the 3-way Texas Chili Mac with sour cream. The chili was remarkable and having it on top of spaghetti? Amazing! I finished my dish leaving very little behind. The cornbread was also delicious. I don't think there was anything that made me leave disappointed.
The new renovations look great!
The upstairs has more than doubled the size of the space.
They have installed TVs everywhere and added new beers on tap, including Dogfish.
I think I know where I'm going to be spending most of hockey / football / basketball season!
I have a love/hate relationship with Hard Times. I love eating there, but I hate waking up with… Read more »
A chili-themed restaurant. What a great idea! They do them all quite well. Definitely make sure to sample all of the chilis when you get there if you have not been before. All of the meat chilis are quite good, and, of course (as is so often the case), the vegetarian chili has the best flavor of all of them, and, if it had meat, would be perfect. I do not understand why this is but I can say that this has been the case every time I have been to a chili cookoff: the vegetarian chilis are always delicious, and yet no one ever makes a meat chili with the same base. Order the texas chili (which by itself pretty much tastes like runny taco meat...that's a good thing, to clarify) and the veggie and mix them together and you will have a perfect recipe.
The chili Bubba is my favorite dish by far. Cornbread with chili, cheese, tomatoes, onions, and sour cream. A big bucket of slop. Great taste now and lots of entertainment later, if you get what I'm saying.
Location is excellent and you can get full here quite cheaply. Bar is quite well done and happy hour specials are good as well. A good place to come watch a game, as I think I would prefer it over most of the sports bars in the area.
I frequent Hard Times because I work nearby, and I have to say Wednesday's Wings All Day is a great deal for what you're getting. I prefer their Chili Lime sauce with bleu cheese on the side, but the Texas sauce is respectable as well. They're very cheap wings/thighs and bigger in size than I've seen at other restaurants that tout wing specials.
Service quality depends on who you get serving you--it ranges from so-so to great. Service is awesome from the ladies who've been waitressing there for a long time. Otherwise be sure to ask for the cornbread and wet naps that come with your meals there.
Also, the happy hour specials for beer every day ($2 domestic drafts!) are spectacular, and their martini list is $4 on Wednesdays as well. On Fridays you can get their near $10 HUGE Chili Nacho plate for $5 until 4pm, and they let you try samples of the chili first. We had 4 hungry people going to town on that dish and still couldn't finish it off. Regardless, any day of the week you're getting a great deal for some really good food.
Finally, they recently opened up the upstairs section which has more of a sports bar feel with TVs everywhere and pool tables; it's sort of disjointed from the theme downstairs, but still very cool.
I wanted to eat at Hard Times because I heard they had TEXAS CHILI. The Chili here passes the test because like all true chili, it contains no beans at all. In Texas, we do usually make chili with a tomato base, unlike the Texas chilis at Hard Times, but they were still pretty good. I didn't have the chili mac, as I don't think the favor of chili is enhanced by spaghetti.
I had the Terlingua Red and the Vegetarian and I think that the Vegetarian was better, but I will definitely be back for some of that Cincinnati chili. Maybe the pest part of the meal was the cornbread - it was delicious! The onion rings were good too, hand battered, and all that, but they were very greasy. The service was good, our waitress was prompt and friendly. It was very loud due to the UFC Fight being shown in the upstairs bar area, and that is one of the few things that would keep me from coming back.
Re opened with 2nd floor sports bar,
25 seat bar with back to the metro, cozy 4-6 person bar on other side with pool tables, great for parties, many large tables.
Over $5.00 for a Fresh 60 min Dog shit-head at happy hr.
Played a new bartop computer game 2 plays for 1.00
Great for people watching, Has a large tabletop poker game 4-6 people can sit at HUGE screen the size of the 3x6 table.
Free sample of all 4 chilis
Rum & coke on the house
Offer to sample all the beers on tap
You bastards, you know me. We just met and yet you know me.
I came here with my local barista to become acquainted like good chums. This friend-forging process requires many drinks at our age. Though rail drinks they were; what we got were pretty strong.
The food here was so-so. I ended up ordering chicken tenders because they are my weakness. Hard Times call for huge chicken tenders. The 4 piece order could have been considered 8 with some creative division. Densely breaded and served with honey mustard, ranch, and BBQ sauce, these fingers were good enough to make a drunk man happy. The chicken itself was tender and moist, though I would have liked a lighter breading.
We spent around an hour and a half here. Though there were 3 waitresses, we often got overlooked even when my hand was waiving around. Yeah, I'm that kind of guy. However, I wouldn't say the service was bad. They were quite attentive when you had their attention, and when they forgot to tell you they were out of a certain rum, the manager bought us some nice substitutes. Overall, this place made a great atmosphere for catching up and a good plan B for chicken tenders.
Cheap and tasty!
I took a couple out-of-town friends here before hitting the bars in Clarendon. It was late for dinner (9:30pm), we were starving and just wanted something fast that wouldn't break the bank... Hard Times was perfect. I had the Hard Times chili dog with Cincinnati chili (the waitress said it was the mildest of the four chili varieties). The hot dog was rich and flavorful on a plain white bun. I didn't love the chili- I missed having beans in it, I think- but it was good and filling. It also came with a side of fries, which were fine but nothing special. At just $6.99, it was a great deal for a plenty big plate of food.
My friends enjoyed their chili dog and BBQ chicken sandwich... both of them were still talking about it the next day, so I guess I picked the right place. Or maybe after they'd been on the road for three weeks, they were just happy to get a full meal that wasn't from a convenience store or camp food. Who knows. Anyway, I probably won't make a special trip to return here, but it is great to know about when you're in the area and just want some inexpensive food that definitely fills you up.
Decent upstairs bar from the restaurant. Didn't have any of the food but it looked good. The bartenders were attractive except for the fattest of the 3 that carded us when we asked for some extra glasses...we all had beers in hand already. The crowd was predominately male but there were a couple really good looking and very friendly girls. Overall I'd say it's a good place to get some beers and watch a game.
I was hungry and hunting for an interesting lunch, and this place hit the spot just perfectly. After learning that it was my first time, my waitress brought me a dish with a taste of each of their four chilis. After tasting the Texas chili I knew I had to have it. (They offer it "dry" with much of the fat drained off, which gives you a chance of being able to eat it without getting sick.) I had mine without beans and with only chopped onions, a healthy amount of hot sauce, and some oyster crackers, but there are so many possibilities that you can keep trying combinations and never get bored.
I gather that they have other stuff on the menu, but I don't know why you'd come here to get that. It's a chili restaurant. The draft root beer was decent too, but I wouldn't get it again.
I'm really a big fan of Hard Times Cafe, but I've found that it really does matter which location you go. While the menus are generally the same (with some variation in offerings and nightly specials) and some have pool halls attached, I've found that the service and vibe can vary greatly.
This review is really more about the shortcomings of this location when compared to the Old Town location, as the menus are basically the same. The Clarendon location does get some credit for having appetizers that the Old Town location doesn't like fried mac and cheese triangles and combo platters at a good price.
The staff and service at this location on the other hand is just not as good across the board. We've had horrible service, the music can include Meatloaf or AC/DC (as opposed to the Patsy Cline, Kenny Rogers, or Gene Autry at the Old Town location, which gives it its charm), and I've witnessed management be downright nasty to their staff and customers. The worst was sitting at the bar for lunch once listening to the bartender talking to a coworker about how his roommates had been busted for drugs, etc. Not what you want to hear from the people serving you food.
The Clarendon Hard Times is more like a "Hard Times themed" sports bar (TVs hang throughout to watch games) with a slightly better menu, but a younger staff who doesn't always have their act together and management that isn't as friendly. If you just want to eat some chili and don't care about service or atmosphere, then this location may be good for you, otherwise go to Old Town.
Not a bad place at all, especially if you're looking for some grub after a Nationals game.
Came here with my coworker after attending a baseball game - I've heard great things about their chili, but ended up getting sliders instead. They were really good! Unfortunately, our server forgot to bring out our extra order of fries, and when we got the bill, she forgot to take them off... but she immediately realized that she forgot, and took it off after. Service isn't incredibly slow, but there could be improvements here and there. But, that won't deter me from coming back - I really liked it here.
I haven't been here for years, so I was thrilled to try their Terlingua Red Chili. Totally great!! I had half vegetarian and half Terlingua Red with cheese and onions. Amazing. The pitcher of beer goes great with chili. Try their wings and jalapeno poppers. Great fast food at reasonable prices.
Our server was a little grumpy, but we did get our food and drinks. If you bypass the server's mood swings, this is a fun place to hang out.
Another thing to consider is that there is current construction around this location, so beware of the unisex bathrooms. I had to explain to my daughter why there is an urinal in the bathroom. Other than, fun place for the family.
I was here earlier this year before the reopening. It was pretty packed the Friday night I went. For what it is Hard Times serves up four different styles of good chili and cornbread. They had some pretty interesting combinations on the menu.
I am originally from Cincinnati, so I know a thing or two about Cincinnati style chili (among other verities that I enjoy). Cincinnati chili, admittedly, is not for everyone. I grew up on the stuff and miss it dearly. So, when I learned that it was on the menu at Hard Times, I jumped at the chance to taste something from the heartland.
For good measure, I started with the sampler. I actually enjoyed all of the styles, save for the vegetarian. It looked good, but just didn't do it for me. The Texas style chili was not like anything that I've seen labeled as such before. The beef was finely ground --almost pulverized-- and had a strange texture but good flavor. Across the board, all styles were quite mild (even the so-called "hot" one). That is good for most people since mild chili can always be ramped up at the table with hot sauce.
As for the Cincinnati style, I must say that it is the closest analog to the real thing that I have had in my travels (though I vow to keep looking). I'll be back for more the next time my Skyline craving flairs up.
The service was also attentive and friendly.
I was teetering between 4 and 5 stars and then I started to think about the JALAPENO PEPPER POPPERS and FRIED MACARONI AND CHEESE TRIANGLES. Then I began salivating and I knew I had to give this place a 5 - particularly for the mac and cheese tris. I'm biased. I can't help it.
I have always loved Hard Times because you get a lot of filling (and greasy!) food for a very good price. I've been a couple of times to eat and can't complain about the service because - dare I admit this - I mainly just call in an order of the poppers and mac and cheese and pick it up at the bar for home.
If I were rating this place on the chili, I probably would have given it 4 stars because I've had a couple of different varieties and while they're good, I can't say they really stand-out. But if you ever go and have the mac and cheese, then you will understand why I gave this place a 5. It's the most erotic tongue experience you will achieve with a greasy triangle.
PS - I don't think the mac triangles are on the menu. I think they usually come with an appetizer mix. However, if you ask for an order of them, they will make you a plate of about 6 and it's something like $5.
I don't know what is holding me back from giving Hard Times 5-stars ... it is really a great place. You get an amazing bang for your buck with anything you order (stop by during happy hour for some great beer specials). But honestly the food is really good, not out of this world - but definitely high quality. My two favorite things are the half-smoke, and the chili mac (which is spaghetti with chili on top).
Some people seem to have a problem with the fact that Hard Times chili has no beans -- but that is more of an attraction to me. Beans take away from a chili as far as I am concerned.
The staff is usually fairly friendly and the food comes out quickly. You also get so much that you can usually make two meals out of whatever you get.
It is also convenient to get to - right at the top of the Clarendon metro!
i like hanging out with people i wouldn't normally hang out with. that's how i ended up here.
i never go to arlington. i might have to start now.
their vegetarian chili is awesome. it's sooo much better than ben's and i love ben's. probably because it's ben's and on u street and i go there when i'm unable to taste good v. bad. buuuuut, i ordered the vegetarian chili nachos. amazing. you can get their chili on ANYWAY, fritos, tater tots, etc. it's so good i would eat it off of the floor, a bar of soap, a dirty shoe, someone's knee pit....
solid.
vegetarian chili == very good
chili cheese fries = 1) delicious 2) hurt (i haven't had chili cheese fries for over 7 years....they are definitely not good for you and my stomach told me so)
I love them for their chili
they also have decent happy hour specials
Probably my favorite Hard Times location. Usually you can get a sidewalk table. And in the winter, there's no better place to get warm. Food is typical "heart attack waiting to happen" fare.....the chili is great. But they have something called Southwest egg rolls, which are excellent. If you don't mind a "sheen" coating your skin, for being so close to the grill, sitting at the bar is great. Jukebox is loaded with classics. The place is open very very late on the weekends (3 AM, I think), apparently to attract folks who are getting off work at other Clarendon spots. And the price--you couldn't ask for a better price. It's Hard Times, after all!
Who in the hell serves chili without beans?!?! Hard Times Cafe, that's who.
The famed chili is ATROCIOUS; greasy, grade F ground beef with meat the size of sand grains, and NO BEANS. Honestly.
Other food is standard chain/bar fare, and not bad, but truly nothing special. Forget the chili. ick.
The Cincinatti chili here is excellent. All chili should have a hint of cinnamon like the Hard Times Cincinatti. I'm partial to the Chili Bubba served on top of a nice, sweet piece of corn bread. Hard Times is a darker, narrow space that often fills with smoke, but I think you'd expect this from a chili parlor that offers discounted cans of Miller High Life. It can be difficult to get a table on weekends or evening, but their take out service is generally very fast.
It's open late which is great for a post-drinking meal.
I especially love that the food at Hard Times serves as a spectacular laxative the next morning to really clean out my system.
The chili is good and had it over a bowl of pasta which added to it. Cheap and taste good, not the best chili but a good meal to enjoy if you are looking for something simple.
The trip I'm reviewing for this place, I didn't actually eat, I went in to grab a drink with a new acquaintance. So, if you're looking for a food rating, this is not the place.
At first we were given a table near the front entrance, which since weather was nice, I didn't mind, and I used to hostess and wait tables, so I rarely complain about where I sit. HOWEVER, this table was really smokey, and I mean REALLY. I'm not usually that sensitive to smoke, but the person I was with started to think I was sick or something... (which is not always the best thing when you're hoping for a kiss at the end of the night).
Our waitress was really cool , so we felt bad about switching, but when we explained the situation, she obligingly put us in another booth even though that section was closed (server had been cut) and still took care of us. So I commend her for that.
All in all, smokey, but service is great, and the beer selection was better than what I had expected it to be!!
I love this place and often get a craving for their Frito Pie (aka Walking Taco). The face that it stays open late is really awesome - there have been plenty of times that my boyfriend I have have woken up hungry - only to go to Hard Times.
I gave Hard Times 4 stars because this place just totally blows my budget, one Frito Pie and a Lemonade to go is a healthy $12 and some change.
A great example of what the DC area doesn't have enough of - a relaxed beer and burger joint with veggie options on the menu. Four types of chili? Beans optional? Frito pie!?! Hard Times, you've stolen my heart!
The menu, while certainly chili-centered, offers lots of options like wings, sandwiches, and salads. The servers at this location (I've also been to Bethesda) seem really sweet and knowledgable. I'm kinda surprised they have a smoking section, but hey that's cool. It's cold out and smokers should have some options.
What do I want for Christmas? For Hard Times to add a veggie dog to the menu!!
Awesome new upstairs - If you have not been recently, you need to check it out. What a sports bar should be.
People who dislike the chili are lucky enough to live in an area where good chili is abundant, but in Northern Virginia we make do, and I think we do rather well with Hard Times.
The beer list is great, the service is friendly, the cornbread is a bit dry but tasty, the wings are fantastic, and a chili cheddar burger is about heavenly. The fries are thick cut and edible, though nothing to write home about.
A great place to start a night out in Clarendon.
First off, let me say that the food is only about a three, but I have to knock the place up one star for the service. I was in the DC/Arlington area on business for several weeks and was not really sure where to go. Someone recommended this place to me and since it was not all that far from where I was staying, I figured it was worth trying.
The server immediately asked me whether I had been there before and when I said "no" she brought me a sample of all four types of chili, which was actually great because I was SURE I was going to order the Terlingua Red, but actually ended up liking the Texas Chili more. She also let me sample so local brews before making my choice.
What was so great about the servers was how friendly and attentive they were. When they found out that I was not a local (the out of state license gave it away) a couple of them came over to give me suggestions about places to go -- off the beaten path places that I wouldn't have necessarily discovered from a guidebook. I really have to give credit to the great staff for making me feel at home when I was away from home. So much so that I came back three more times during my stay.
A solid 3 stars from me. I really wanted a good chili con carne, with lots of beans. And that's one that isn't on the menu.
I ended up getting half Terlingua chili and half veggie chili. Not horrible, but not what I was craving. And a little on the greasy side.
The sampler before ordering, the and the price were redeeming factors. It's a place I'll go back for solid inexpensive protein.
Hard Times is where you can finally get that three-way you've always dreamed about. That's spaghetti with chili and cheese on top. Actually, my usual is a Five Way Chili Mac, which is spaghetti topped with chili, cheese, onions and beans--substituting tomatos for the onions. Add one beer and YUM!!!!!!! You'll definitely have a happy ending.
The corn bread is not quite moist or tasty enough to be worth the calories in my opinion, but the iced tea is good and the fries are amazing.
A MUST: ask for a little taster platter of the four chilis that Hard Times offers. It's fun. If you're like me though, you'll go for the Terlingua Red every time. Of the other three, one is too greasy, one is too cinnamony and one is too --- vegetarian. (not that there's anything wrong with that--except for soybeans substituted where taste is supposed to be).
And a little-known fact: The burgers at Hard Times are among the best around! Nice and big and juicy with a fresh toasted bun.
I am NOT a fan of chains, but Hard Times only has a couple of links, and the cozy wooden booths and old timey feel have won me over. *Gripe: They've tacked on a little room at the back with tables to expand the place and the atmosphere back there sucks. So I'd wait for a booth out front in the main dining room.
One nice thing is that a manager almost always stops by our booth and asks if everything's ok. You just don't see that these days at casual restaurants.
And finally, that weird-looking baby in the tub on Hard Time's menu never fails to crack me up.
Yeah. Hard Times is a happy place.
Didn't have enough to drink at happy hour? In search of dinner before your late night Clarendon adventures begin? Had your fill and are stumbling down Clarendon Blvd looking to find something to help sober you up? Hard Times is your answer! They have a full menu of chili and non-chili options to fill your stomach and a bar to go along with it. This place is typically busy but I've never really had to wait for a table at any time I've gone there. The food is greasy but tasty and will fill you up for sure. Service can be a little spotty when the place is jumping but typically food orders come out quickly. I enjoy making late night stops here even though I know my stomach will hate me for it in the morning!
I'm a huge chili fan, and while the chili at Hard Times isn't the best chili out there, it is pretty darn good and more than adequately satisfies any sudden-onset chili cravings I may have.
I really enjoy the wings as well. And if you don't think your bowl of chili will be enough for you, the chili nachos are ginormous and very tasty. Plus they've got $1.50 Miller Highlife cans just about all the time.
I word of warning... Do not go to Hard Times if you're in any sort of rush. And if you have an aversion to pissy waitresses you might want to avoid as well. I've been to Hard Times many times and more times than not there has been something lacking from the service. Sometimes the service is just slow. At other times we've had waitress that have been rude and snappy. And one time we even had a waitress that we really thought was going to break down and cry at any moment for no apparent reason. The last time we were the we had excellent service however.
i really like this place
such a laid back atmosphere
the free sampler.
the chicken fingers.
the texas 3-way.
so good
so damn good
Great vegetarian chili on top of pasta with extra onions, sour cream and cheese! YUM! Lunch service is get in and get out but the prices are right...I may need to go back soon. I am feeling a chili craving coming on. :)
Alexandria, VA
Category: American (Traditional)
Arlington, VA
Category: Bars
Arlington, VA
Category: Pizza
Arlington, VA
Category: Restaurants
Arlington, VA
Category: Bars
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