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    Hard Times Cafe

    2.8 (255 reviews)
    Fri 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Sat 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

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    HARD TIMES CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Juke Box
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Hard Times Cafe

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    For some reason, I am in the mood for chili, with Fritos and corn bread   ‍
    Carl C.

    In the mood for chili, cornbread and Fritos for Sunday brunch. Surprisingly, good DMV weather today. Hard Times is a great local staple for these items. The food is always solid and the service is attentive and authentic, especially today. Not geared to be that Michelin experience, but it is good amd reliable diner food that brings me here! Chili portions are big, too!

    Corn bread
    Nancy R.

    We've all heard that old adage, "you can't go home again.".  Well, as it applies to a once family favorite, it unfortunately rings true.  I don't know what happened to Hard Times.  Maybe we just hit it on a bad day but the dishes we ordered we really not good when they used to be hearty and delicious.  The onion rings were so greasy that I don't even think they were drained between oil and bowl.  At least the dipping sauce was still tasty, but, I don't understand why they didn't at least try and rest them on a paper towel or something before serving them up.  We had the Texan, Terlingua and Cincinnati chilis and were disappointed in all three.  When did the meat get so tiny that it is more like grain?   It used to be so comforting and now it was so runny.  Unfortunately, I think the chili of our memory will have to just remain there and we won't chance going back again only to be let down.

    Corn Dog Nuggets & Fried Pickles
    LanChi N.

    Apparently Hard time a has fallen on hard times...Today's visit was lackluster. Our server was great but the kitchen was having difficulties. What I mean is normally fried food is very simple throw it in the fryer wait for it to cook. Everything was cooked and a bit dark versus the normal golden brown(hard to tell cause I took it on and iPhone 13 with enhanced dark mode) . So it looks very golden brown. Why are their old grease like stains on my plate? That means the fryer oil is old and hasn't been changed. The table ordered wings naked no sauce and the Texas bbq. I didn't get a chance to try one but we had a mix of partially cooked and under seasoned wings. The loaded fries were loaded but lacked salt.my coworker had to add salt and even that she said was inedible. My other coworker tried to eat her loaded fries and pile was so glued together and congealed she couldn't even lift it on her fork. Overall...I think there is a reason I have avoided hard times for food...I don't know if it's this location or if it's pandemic effects but dirty grease on plates after frying food is no go for me. Lou's if the food has been sitting there because they can't find the tickets shows a lack of organization in the kitchen. This was shared by food runners who drop food at the table. But the steak tips looked pretty good and another coworker enjoyed it. So perhaps if your looking for lack of flavor and dirty bar food it's your place. At least the pool tables are nice.

    Sirloin tips with sides of onion rings and cilantro rice
    Jane M.

    My husband and I have popped by this Hard Times location a few times over the years for chili mac, wings, and their weekend breakfast buffet, and went there this evening to try their dinner entrees for the first time because they have daily specials, and customers can get $3 each entree on Saturdays. My husband got their sirloin tips (+ sides of onion rings and cilantro rice), and I got their fish and chips (+ cilantro rice), and we were both pleasantly surprised by how large, delicious, and fresh their entrees are. The sirloin tips are so tender and have a delicious char. The cod and French fries were very fresh (definitely not from frozen)! Overall, great prices for much better than expected food! Their service has always been great - the waitstaff has always been so friendly and hospitable. Their breakfast buffet is delicious and hard to beat for $14.99!

    The bar area here is nowhere near the level of College Park's bar.
    Deborah B.

    Chili cheese fries with Cincinnati chili was great, but the service is what lowered the rating. Sitting in the front bar took five minutes before anybody was willing to take our order. When asking if the repair on tap was alcoholic, the bartender did not know. Ordering it anyway it came to our place is very flat. When you get something on draft do you expect it to have a wonderful foamy head this did not, it hardly had any bubbles at all. We also ordered a cider on tap and the bar we were at was "tapped out", so the bartender went into the back bar and poured and glass from there. The front of the restaurant was not busy at all and looking into the back bar it wasn't too busy there either. This was on a Sunday at 2 PM. The hard times and College park has better food is much better service and is laid out in a more friendly way.

    Beer, 4 way - Texas style, corn bread.  YUM!

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    4 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Really yummy chili, great on the chili salad. Tasty chix wings and on tap root beer. Attentive service.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Chix Alamo, all day long! I've been coming here for years, that damn spaghetti hits the spot every time.

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Been a while. I forgot how dang good the chili is. I had the chili bubba and I'm happily stuffed.

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    We called for carryout Our order was correct and on time. Always great service and yummy chili.

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    7 years ago

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    Page 1 of 7

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    Mike's American

    Mike's American

    4.4
    (3.2k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    My s/o and I are big fans of Mike's American for their consistency in their food and service. We…read moreprobably come here at least once a month. The actual restaurant feels massive but decorated in a rustic way. I want to give a huge shout out to Alicia. She is such a knowledgeable, approachable, and receptive server. She was on top of refilling drinks, making sure we weren't left alone for too long when we were waiting for our food to come, and just had an overall amazing energy. While we really enjoy all of the servers we've had at Mikes, Alicia takes the cake. If there's any way to provide her with recognition, I would highly vouch for it. She could sell me anything on that menu with that kind of personality! Thank you, Alicia! I'm going to make sure we try to get seated at your table again.

    Upon entering, the restaurant has a striking appearance with plenty of seating. We had a short wait…read moreand were seated upstairs. Since the reservation form asked if we were celebrating anything, I hoped we would be placed in a special area or at least somewhere more intimate. Unfortunately, that was not the case. We were led up a staircase, which offered a cool view of the environment, but ended up at a small table in a small high traffic area. Initially, we thought it was a unique experience because of the restaurant's interior design, but we soon realized it was going to be uncomfortable...because heat rises and we were stuck upstairs with so many other people who seemed just as warm as us. It was excessively hot, and I found myself fanning myself with one of the menus at the table. While our server was probably trying his best, the service left much to be desired. We were eager to leave as soon as we arrived. After ordering and enjoying what we could of our meals, which were quite good, we just wanted to leave. However, our server was absent for a long time, leaving us stuck at the table. Instead of being a cute little anniversary dinner, it just turned out to be a disappointing experience at a new restaurant

    Photos
    Wood Grilled CAB® Hanger Steak at Mike's American
    Wood Grilled CAB® Hanger Steak at Mike's American
    Pecan Crusted Trout at Mike's American
    Pecan Crusted Trout at Mike's American
    Mike's American

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    Yard House

    Yard House

    3.7
    (1.5k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    The bar area was really packed when I came last night for a late dinner, but service was…read moresurprisingly very fast! Aimee was a fantastic bartender! She was very attentive to everyone at the bar while also slinging drinks. My skinny margaritas were really delicious. I ordered a chicken bowl, and it was surprisingly way better than I thought it would be given that it's in their under 700 cal menu. I would absolutely order it again!

    I had to try out Yard House's happy hour because I heard they had 1/2 off appetizers! Appetizers…read morestart out at $7. Everything came out in big portions, so you can definitely share everything at the table. The nachos were really good. Huge portion and perfect for sharing. I would suggest that you ask for extra sour cream. The buffalo boneless wings were good and I loved that they came with a skewer so you don't get messy. Very date friendly appetizer. The tenders were cool, just nothing special. Fries were good but the honey mustard was watery. The burgers were mid. Just a regular burger with no seasoning. The spinach dip was edible but not seasoned. I've had better spinach dip from the grocery store. The ambiance is the same as your typical bar, loud, fast paced, with many tvs. Overall I regret ordering the burgers and spinach dip but I loved everything else and I'll definitely be back! 8 appetizers and 2 drinks only came up to $80!

    Photos
    Lobster Garlic Noodles - Maine lobster, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, spinach and parmesan.
    Lobster Garlic Noodles - Maine lobster, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, spinach and parmesan.
    Enjoy a variety of appetizers, like our Chicken Nachos, while watching your favorite sports games.
    Enjoy a variety of appetizers, like our Chicken Nachos, while watching your favorite sports games.
    Mac + Cheese]² - With white truffle, bacon, chicken, crimini, shiitake & oyster mushrooms, parmesan and panko cheddar crust.

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    Mac + Cheese]² - With white truffle, bacon, chicken, crimini, shiitake & oyster mushrooms, parmesan and panko cheddar crust.
    Maggie McFly's | Springfield

    Maggie McFly's | Springfield

    3.4
    (674 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Came in last night for dinner for my bday. Wanted a place with good consistent food for just me and…read morebae to enjoy. We had Peyton as our server and she was great! Make sure to ask for her! I got half mild and half sriracha honey wings. I got a hibiscus margarita and a Caesar salad with blackened salmon. Bae got a ribeye and some broccolini. Everything was perfect just like when we usually come here . :-)

    On April 26 around 4:30PM, I visited Maggie McFly's and sat at the bar. I ordered a tea and a…read morecupcake and was considering staying for dinner. My experience with the bartender (name he provided: DC) was disappointing. After he finished serving another group, I got his attention, but he looked at me, then turned away and walked off to talk to a colleague. I waited, and he didn't come back, so I had to go out of my way to get his attention again. When I finally got his attention again, I asked about the chocolate cupcakes options and which one he recommended, his response was dismissive. He replied "neither," mentioned he preferred vanilla and walked away without helping further. The interaction felt unwelcoming and lacked basic customer service. It had a hint of prejudice. I spoke with the manager because the experience was uncomfortable and not what I expected. If you're in a customer-facing role, professionalism and respectful interaction should be consistent. Unfortunately, that was not my experience here.

    Photos
    Maggie McFly's | Springfield
    Crispy Potato Skins
    Crispy Potato Skins
    Patio seating

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    Patio seating
    Kilroy's

    Kilroy's

    3.3
    (349 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    We come to Virginia once a year as my family resides in the area. Every time that we would visit…read moreSpringield, we would take our uncle out to eat. He always recommended Kilroys to us as he was a regular at this restaurant. So, it became our annual tradition to have dinner at Kilroys. When you walk into Kilroys, you'll appreciate the amount of details thag went into the interior design of the restaurant. It should be noted that Kilroy's honors its veterans. My uncle was a proud veteran, so he always felt welcomed here. There is a lot of military memorabilia throughout Kilroy's. The walls are filled with so many photos that walk you back through historic events. There's so much love for the USA in here! The menu consists of a lot of traditional American food. Most of the items are heavy, so expect to leave with a full belly. They have your typical meat, fish, poultry, and pasta dishes. However, they also offer flatbread pizzas! There really is something for everyone. I typically order catfish or trout. Both are delicious, but I really like their catfish. I love Cajun spices, so it's always nice to enjoy something that hits close to home. I also appreciate that their servings are large, because it's well worth the money that you spend here. I would have never heard of Kilroy's if it wasn't for my uncle. Kilroy's definitely lived up to the hype. I enjoy coming here because it's like a hidden gem. It's situated in a small shopping center and you'd probably walk past it as it doesn't really stand out. Kilroy's is definitely a great place to enjoy a hearty meal, hang out with friends, or to grab a drink before heading back home.

    Place is apparently under new ownership. Don't waste your time. Overpriced terrible food and new…read moreowner isn't interested in customer service. Out of half the beers on tap and some of the menu wasn't available either. Our server was good but that was the only positive. Spent $170 plus tip on two dinners, an app and a couple beers each. Which is insane. Place isn't actually open until 11. Only the bar area is and even there the owner was pushing people out at 10:30 and reminding everyone they had to be gone by 11. Was putting up chairs around people and turning off TVs. Don't waste your time or money. You can get a better steak at Golden Corral.

    Photos
    Inside dining
    Inside dining
    Calimari
    Calimari
    Inside dining

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    Inside dining
    Dave & Buster's Springfield

    Dave & Buster's Springfield

    2.3
    (659 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    First off, the food was surprisingly good here. I treated my family to dinner and gaming last…read moreSaturday , so we started with dinner. My wife got the chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries, which she loved. I had the Fish and Chips dinner which was great. Our son enjoyed the Chicken Fingers and fries. His wife had a large salad which she said was tasty. And our grandson had the 5 cheese flatbread and fries which he devoured. Service was quick and attentive. After dinner, we played a lot of games for close to two hours. Lots of fun! The only negative comment I have is that the noise level was very high. They could probably turn down the music and games a few hundred decibels! Other than that, a great time was had by all.

    I have a rule about not wasting my time going to a Dave and Busters that doesn't offer bowling…read more This one doesn't offer bowling so I essentially wasted my time and money in this location, but...anything for the kids *shrugs*. I accompanied my friends with their teenage nephew and niece and we decided to make this experience into a whole evening with dinner and [weak] drinks and games. The service at the bar was slow despite it not being too particularly crowded. The slow service actually created the crowd so that was annoying. The bartenders and servers and possibly a manager seemed to be having several heated arguments amongst themselves. The food was not very good. The fries were even more particularly disappointing. Yeah, don't go here.

    Photos
    Arcade area
    Arcade area
    Truffle Fries
    Truffle Fries
    The reason why we were limited to two hours.

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    The reason why we were limited to two hours.
    Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

    Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

    3.9
    (116 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Dear reader,…read more Firebirds was a thoroughly lovely experience and exactly the sort of place one hopes for when the evening calls for a proper cocktail and a comfortable perch at the bar. We sat there for the evening and had such a fun time, due in no small part to the bartender, who was super nice, genuinely funny, and clearly knew their way around a cocktail. A charming and commendable combination. The atmosphere strikes a very pleasing balance. It feels warm and inviting with a slightly upscale air, but never in a way that feels stuffy or overly serious. Everything felt polished, the service was great, and the whole place had that easy, settled-in quality that makes you want to stay for another round rather than rush off to the next engagement. I also especially liked the Seared Ahi Tuna, which was absolutely worth ordering and deserves its moment of recognition. Overall, Firebirds delivered a very enjoyable evening with good drinks, great service, and an atmosphere that made lingering feel like the correct decision. We will absolutely be back soon, and happily so.

    The Happy Hour selections were delicious! Make sure to get there early because the bar fills up…read morequickly, and Happy Hour pricing is only available at the bar. It's was very vibrant for a chilly Friday evening. The cocktails were great and the portions were surprisingly large--perfect for sharing. We ordered the fireside shrimp, beef sliders, prime rib sliders, crispy cauliflower, and truffle fries. Everything was flavorful and came out quickly. The lemon drops and mules were also excellent. Even better, our entire order for a family of four came in under $100, which was a great value. Shoutout to our waitress, Bre, who was fantastic--attentive, friendly, and made the experience even better. We will definitely be returning!

    Photos
    Fireplace
    Fireplace
    Hot Honey Chicken Biscuit
    Hot Honey Chicken Biscuit
    FireBirds Bar

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    FireBirds Bar

    Hard Times Cafe - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

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