Decent for chili in a restaurant I fundamentally don't think chili can have a recipe. But they have 4 of them. 2 of them work. 3rd is ok, which is the Cincinnati style that I don't like (talking about you Skyline) and the 4th is vegan. Vegan isn't chili. Stop please. The teralinga and Texas are the 2 to try. Mix them actually. On top of spaghetti. Oh, beans go in chili. read more

Simply terrible. Reeks of smoke in the bar area and can still smell it in the restaurant area. We went for lunch on a Saturday and it was DEAD which should have been a sign. The chili was a dry bowl of ground beef which I've never experienced ANYWHERE. Service was fine but not going back. read more

Hard Times, you were not what I expected at all. Mostly good things to say, apart from that smell of smoke flowing in from next door. FOOD: The chili sampler was awesome. I've never been to an HTC before but I'd heard good things about their chili's. The Cincinnati was delicious! And the veggie chili had a nice kick to it (spice level). I ordered the veggie burger with a side of the veggie chili and was pleasantly surprised. It's not aesthetically impressive, but you're not paying for a Michelin star meal either so lower your expectations. The burger had some good flavor, the tomato was fresh, the chopped lettuce added a nice crunch and I added the chili as a top layer on the burger. Absolutely delicious. The fries were also cooked to my liking, and seasoned well; a little salty, but still edible. SERVICE: It wasn't very busy when we arrived so we were looked after immediately. Fast on taking our orders but a little slow on the check backs. Regardless, our server was very pleasant and kept our drinks topped up. ENVIRONMENT: Plenty of seating inside the restaurant (door on the left). The door on the right I believe is a night club/bar. The parking lot was super busy. My only complaint is the smell of smoke from the room next door seeping in. You don't have to be an HVAC expert to know how airflow works between the shared walls and sadly, I came out smelling like an ashtray. Regardless, I'd still come back (I'll more likely get take out) because the chili here was pretty good and most menu items are very reasonably priced. read more

I showed up here in the evening around 7. I noticed there was a door to the left and one to the right. Apparently the the right side is a "night club" thing on Friday night, cover charge included. So I went to the left. When I sat down I was greeted promptly and shortly after a sampler of chili. I thought they were all tasty. I ended up sticking with the less sweet one, it may have been the "Texas" chili. I ended up ordering a bowl of it and some hot wings. The hot wings were grilled and very tasty. The only thing I could have asked for was hotter wing sauce, but l like mine extremely hot so I may be a little weird. I definitely recommend coming here because the people were very friendly and it was great service. read more

Pretty nondescript on the outside and not in the greatest of area but that said I came back and brought my husband. First visit I stopped in for a quick coke during the week of Christmas and tried their 4-flavor chili sampler. Was really impressed by the size of the place, beer selection and friendly services. Fart forward to New Years hubby wanted to watch football with a beer and I instantly knew where I was taking him - Hard Times! See my husband has a Chili Dog addiction, no really he would eat them every day if given the choice. Hard times ticks all the boxes - chili dogs, beer and ample screens to watch the games on. I don't like the cigarette smoke at all but they do their best to filter the air. I just know if we come here to the bar side I need to wear clothes that will be washed immediately and plan to have a shower as soon as I get home. The restaurant side is non-smoking. read more

See all

great atmosphere! Good food Live entertainment certain weekends from California but one of the few spots I been to here in Fredericksburg where there playing Hip-hop and top 100 great for watching sports games definitely will be back read more

Great atmosphere, cool ppl etc.... It says pound of wings for 13.99 or whatever, but I got 6 wings that supposedly a pound of wings. Am I tripping or how big should wings be to equal a whole pound? Said they put them in bag and weigh them. 6 wings is a pound for 13.99?? I'm here now completely flabbergasted me frfr.... I should have took a pic I might order again to take pics of it... but crazy to me.... read more

Fun times with 2 DJs and great people! The waitress was extremely nice and the drinks were fantastic! The only con is that it's smoky but after a few drinks, you never notice it. read more

Second time visiting this location and also one of my worst experiences anywhere ever! The early evening started off quite with ok bar food and good staff. As the night progressed a fight broke out in the bar. Summed up with my tap being closed and combined with an unknown customers while I was in the restroom. Talked to staff that night was told it would be taken care of. Called the next day to speak to management and was told the $220. bill is my problem not theirs. Yeah so if you go pay cash. It's also not mentioned anywhere but they do allow smoking it the bar. So that can be a plus and minus for some. Hope your experience is better than mine. read more

As seems to be a corporate ethos, the service here is top tier. I was seated immediately, and didn't have to wait long at all for my server to appear. I wanted something mildly custom, and she didn't even bat an eye. My food came out almost immediately, maybe 60 seconds after ordering. My chili pie was up to Hard Times' standards, and was perfect. The food came out so fast that the server forgot my drink, until I asked again. She was mortified and apologetic, but brought my drink right out. Great service and the best chili in the area make this a fantastic dinner stop. Thanks, Hard Times!! read more

Hard Times Cafe - Sampler. Clockwise From bottom left: Texas, Cincinnati, Vegetarian, Terlingua Red. - Sports Bars Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

See all

Had to pay to sit in the bar area...weird lol but ok. It was like 7 o'clock on a Saturday. Was hungry but probably should have eaten prior meeting friends here. I got the fish and chips. After browsing over the menu and seeing pics of the food, I would probably opt to not eat here again. They have slots and pool tables but you have to "join" to enter that area ‍ the servers were friendly, "bouncers" not so much being as how we went to the restroom and momentarily stopped to communicate something to the other and were told to not stand there...like ok, the place was half empty and we literally there for seconds. It my cup of tea, this place. read more

Hard Times Cafe - Fish and Chips - Sports Bars Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

What a great place that the current GM, Rob, has trashed. If they don't get rid of him it will be closed in 2 years, max. He shut down steamers because of his horrible promoting. He wants a club instead of a bar and it's horrible. I have sat at the bar and listened to him tell people that he's the owner, I have listened to him complain about the staff to customers, bad mouth staff and other managers. He hovers over the machines to see who's winning so he can make money off of them, and gets mad (and complains to customers) that they didn't "tip" him. And yet, somehow he has manipulated the old owner and now the new owner to allow him to be in charge. If they don't get him out of that building, Hardtimes will no longer be a staple to the Spotsylvania area. There's a reason all the good staff is now gone. I wouldn't want to work with an "general manager" that tells all my customers a bunch of lies and gossips like an 15 year old girl, and sits on the machines and gambles. All they have now is horrible servers and bartenders. They stand around at a table in the front area and don't worry about their customers. Let browning or Connie run that place if you want to keep it alive. They are the hardest working managers you have. But mark my words, Hardtimes will be shut down in 2 years under Rob. read more

The service was awesomeness. Thank you Celeste. The food was iffy and expensive, I've had better. Won't be back. Loud with unruly patrons, the longer we sat, the louder they got. read more

The wrong place to book a Metal Band. The venue/owner was perfectly fine getting a cash grab for a well known band that more than two generations know of just to put a rule of no moshing. Completely zapped the energy of the show. If you're too cheap to accept risk and buy plastic cups, push tables back, and otherwise understand that a metal rock show is going to be rowdy just so you can take peoples money than you're seriously twisted. Additionally they posted the wrong time for music. They said doors at 6 and music at 730. When I showed up one band had already played. Fully supportive of the bands but not this venue.. BANDS SEEKING TO PLAY IN FREDERICKSBURG SHOULD GO TO ANOTHER VENUE!! read more

Food is consistently great! We love the day specials. My husband's go to meal is Cincinnati Chili!

Waste of time, worst server ever. Didn't greet us, was talking on the phone with her AirPod. Stopped by, asked for our drinks, disappeared for 20 minutes. She was very rude from the start. Our patience ran out and went to the front to pay our two drinks. They were so careless about the situation. It wasn't busy and we were practically invisible. read more

Amazing service, even better food. Everything I could ask for in a cafe/restaurant was met and surpassed. They even got the music perfect for the atmosphere! read more

The best bar in the Fredericksburg area. They have amazing specials every day, great tvs to watch sports and the bartenders/servers are all top notch! read more

I really like this place. They have tons of TVs to watch the games, great customer service, cheap drinks, and really good food. The Texas chili is great. I like it on the chili cheese fries. The deviled eggs are good. They have a lot of drink specials during the week and for the games. They have a few pool tables if you're into that. I went once and they had a DJ who played a lot of old school hip hop and r&b which was cool. Overall a good experience the few times I've been. read more

Came and paid $10 cover charge to get in to listen to two DJs for an hour and never once be asked if I wanted a drink if I wanted food. Everyone else around me got served an I just got lots of stairs from the waitress that was in that section. I guess because I came in as a single guy and I didn't come in with a group of people or any of my friends or a female with me I guess that means I don't get served. read more

Dined here a month ago with my dad. To start, the amuse bouche was a 4-sampler of house-made chili and it was superb. Our waitress, Shelley, was fantastic and explained their differences. The food was what you would expect from a classic American dining establishment. The Sriracha Honey wings were delicious (AMAZING blue cheese - tasted house made even if it was not.) Nachos were enormous and the burger was fantastic. Pretty basic fair but cooked well and the service was quick and attentive. We came back to the area a week later (car shopping) and decided to eat here again because it was so pleasing. Shelley was our waitress both times and she was very pleasant and helpful both visits! read more

Just be aware that in the evening this is not your traditional Hard Times. It is a smoke-filled, cover-charging bar. If this is your thing, you'll probably have a great time. read more

Came here to celebrate my friends birthday and celebrating his passing of his Paramedic exam. The bartenders were great but servers were not and called security on us dancing near the bar. She could have just said excuse me or let us know it was not permitted although there was no signage, , and instead bumped us and tried to get us kicked out At the dance floor we were the only people of color and police were called when one of our friends was dancing with his girlfriend on his birthday. Meanwhile, there after there was older men who were borderline sexually harassing some of our friends with no problem. 5 police cars were called with at least 10 officers of a group of Marines, Firefighters, Loan Officers, and business owners trying to leave because we were kicked out for no reason just having fun. The security there then harassed our friend as we were already on the way out. Would not recommend this place to anyone I know! read more

Friends and I went to hard times on a Saturday night. We all got food and drinks, when we got are bill it was $224.00 for just the two of us. The other couples bill was $117.00. The next day we looked at are bank statement they charged us 224.00 and 204.00. I then went to Hard Times and spoke with the manager. The manager said that was normal. It would come off in a couple days they charged our bank account twice. so now we're having to fight to get it taken off. I would not recommend coming to this Hard Times and using a debit card. read more

Love the chili Mac w Cincinnati and terlingua red. They have all kinds of specials still to this day through the week. Found that surprising. Tried this location last week - been a loyal patron of the franchise since my days in university 2008. They deserve to stay in business through this economy. read more

First time coming here and let me tell you it was AMAZING. We ordered onion rings as an appetizer and it was the crunchiest, juiciest onion rings I've ever had. Our meal came out quickly, hot, and ready to eat I will definitely be coming back:) read more

We should have turned around when we went inside and saw barely anybody in there at dinner time and smelled the stale smoke hanging in the air as we waited to get seated. We have enjoyed our food at other locations in Maryland so we stayed to give it a chance. The food was not as good as it was at the other locations in Maryland the numerous times we have eaten there. Our waitress disappeared for awhile and we waited a long time to pay our bill. It was like someplace from Restaurant Impossible. read more

Food is always half ass. Burgers are too done. Chicken wings gummy. Fish overcooked. Music....nothing worse than a balding white guy playing shitty rap music. There is good rap music out there but I've never heard it in here. It's always the same over processed garbage. The wait staff is always friendly and cool though. Don't ever come on a Friday night though. You'll pay a cover charge for standing room only and just have to fight to get a drink. read more

I have officially given up on this place. Before, I gave them a 3 star rating based on my years of eating at the other Hard Times locations. But, over the years, I have noticed a dramatic decrease both in the quality of the food and the portions they give. In particular, this applied to the Fredericksburg locations. Yet, I kept coming back, hoping that one day it would revert back to the time when eating here was a good and fun experience. I have been a Hard Times Customer since 1989. Well, after today, I am no longer coming back. I would overlook the many problems with this place, such as the awful location (the parking lot is always full of broken glass), and the many unsavory people that would be in this place. Two weeks ago, right in back of us was a table of thirty-something guys throwing out the f-bomb as frequently as they breathe the air. Very charming which adds to the ambiance of this God-forsaken dump. Definitely not a place for small children. At any rate, today, I know how slow the service can be, so I told them what I want before they even handed out the menu. You would think that would speed up the service. Try again. We kept waiting and waiting. What was so galling is I would see people pick up their take out order and leave and I knew they placed their order after us. I let them know I had to go back to work-I had already waited 30 minutes at this point. Seriously, does it take over 30 minutes to make a bowl of chili? And I looked at the cook, and he seemed to relish the fact that we were getting frustrated. And the owner/manager was useless. In fact, two weeks ago, when it was National Chili Day, the server didn't even tell me that customers were entitled to a free bowl of chili. I only overheard it, and when I asked for a free bowl of chili just as I was leaving, the owner/manager or whatever the hell he is, said that it is not available for takeout. For God's sake, don't you think I would have ordered it earlier, if I had known about it? That's another thing-the way they nickel and dime you. I couldn't believe they were treating us like such garbage. I had been a good customer and left good tips, although with Jesus and the 12 apostles as my witness, they never earned it. Don't waste your time on this place. The Hard Times brand is dead in my eyes. The best thing that could happen to this location is if they went out of business (which I fervently pray will happen) and they tear the ugly structure down, extend the parking lot, and let it be covered with broken glass. An appropriate ending for such a low-life establishment. read more

If I could give this place negative review I would, what a filthy establishment. Charges for cover charges and doesn't give you what promises. Then you leave to wait for your Uber and ask to go back in to use restroom and they say you aren't allowed back in yet you paid to get in. Then a general manager puts his hands on you around your throat and threatens you. Not to mention it's full of smoke, slimey food, and they also charge your card more than you had for a tab. This place is just awful. If you want more proof, read their recent health inspections LMAO, their violations will make you never step foot in there. No wonder it's always dead in here.. read more

Waitress was excellent, the apps were tasty but my steak tip salad was terrible.... Meat was as tough as shoe leather.... I left it relatively untouched..... read more

Asked for a Buffalo chicken salad with an extra side of Buffalo sauce - no Buffalo on the chicken - no sauce on the side. They "couldn't give a refund because their system doesn't work that way - but you can come in & we can give you a side of Buffalo sauce." I'm sorry but that is the lamest excuse (probably a lie) that I have ever heard of. So what do you do when you mess up orders? Make the customer come back in to fix the mistake? Horrible customer service. read more

So we went to Hard Times to watch the Super Bowl because we needed a new spot to check out. My first impression every time I go to this place is a dirty bar with low lit lighting so you can't tell how bad it is in there. The music from their jukebox was blaringly loud. So loud in fact we were shouting to each other just to have a conversation. The staff was friendly but not really on top of the orders or noticing that you are looking for them to fill your glass and when you see them they just rush off without even noticing you are calling because of the volume of the music. The smoke... I thought bars banned smoking indoors. Well this place had'nt. My lungs were hurting and I smelt like a cigarette factory after I left. It was overwhelming. The food was mediocre. I had a burger and asked for medium rare which apparently is a mistake here because I only ate the medium rare on the outside and left the pink in the center alone. If I were to reccomend someone to go here I wouldn't. If you want a billiards hall you could go to JJ's right down the street. As a restaurant you could have mucch better. A sports bar you could go to a number of places as well. Not my cup of tea as they say... read more

Let me start with this. I have been going to Hard Times for years. I have been to the (now-closed) Clarendon, Frederick, Waldorf and College Park locations many, many, many times. This location was awful. Woman at the front seemed confused on how to do a to-go order. At the bar, the person behind was rude and it seemed like I was more of an inconvenience to him. I should have known better when I walked in at 6pm on a Saturday and the place was dead. I get my nearly $10 bowl of chili to go. Open it up 20 minutes later and was shocked. First I had to drain more than 1/4 cup of grease from the top. I have gotten chili to go before and have never had this kind of grease. Even after that, the chili was still incredibly greasy. The whole thing tasted old. The meat was not tender, but dry. It was not pleasant at all. This nearly $10 bowl of chili went straight to the trash can. read more

4 kinds of chilli. I'm down with that. The texas was very bold and thick chilli, tons of flavor flave. I also tried the Red hot something or other, it was not as spicy as you'd think and it actually worked out better because i did frito pie style, and let me taste all the other awesome stuff. Loved having frito pie's at the pool when i was a wee one. Atmosphere was good with typical poolhall style, and then a big sports bar section. Get's a bit smokey since they let you smoke in there. Server sucked, so thats why lowering 1-star. I'd go back if it didn't mean i was forced to watch another Redskins game.Bleghh, go eagles. read more

We went on a Friday night and my husband had a mini liquor bottle in his coat pocket so when we got to the door to get checked he emptied his pockets. The fat bouncer immediately refused my husbands entry. We weren't rude or anything and my husband explained that he didn't even realize it was in there and ofFered to throw it out. Yet, the bouncer was very stern and said "no that's against our policy".. I'm sorry but if this is how customers are treated for something so small and could have been easily resolved then we will never be going back. It's not that ser read more

Live Music, Table Seating, Good Pool Tables, Good Prices, Good Bar Food, Good Restaurant, Friendly Staff, Friendly Patrons, Good Ventilation for the Cig Smoke and All Around a Good Time. Will Def Go There Again!!!! read more

In celebration of our wedding anniversary today we drove from our home in Solomons Island to Fredericksburg to The Hard Times Cafe. It had been many years since our last visit to one of the Cafe locations and we can say it was definitely worth the drive. Our waitress was helpful, courteous and provided excellent service throughout the meal. The 5 way Cincinnati chili was excellent and meant all our expectations. Management came by during our meal to find out how we were doing and offered his congratulations on our special day. He went out of his way to make us feel like valued patrons. Because of this positive experience we will return many times and recommend it to others. read more

When I just want to get fucked up and smoke a pack of cigarettes and listen to good music, this is where I come (besides my house of course). Chicken tenders are good...not a fan of the Cincinnati style chili but I'd still eat it. read more

I have been to this location twice. They have good sweet tea (it's not humming bird nectar), and I like the different chilies. The 2nd time I dined here, the food was really slow to come out. Seeing as they have an open kitchen and I could see the staff not remotely busy, I was annoyed. The food is pretty good when it's warm, but my god, the leftovers are disgusting. I don't understand how the food can taste so different from being cooled and reheated. read more