Hard Times Cafe

This is a great neighborhood sports bar. Good food. Varying service, but usually pretty good. Best thing on the menu are the original Texas grilled wings. Order them fried extra crispy. Best wings in town.

Not quite sure how this place is ranked below a number of the bars in downtown Fairfax… This place has great burgers and good wings. Would consider before most other at burgers in fairfax.

My go to sports bar. Great happy hour and decent bar food. Love the Washington D.C. sports theme (not enough of that in the area, imo). Sometimes they have fun theme nights like karaōke or a beer pong tournament. Typically have redskins and capitals game with sound. Billiards is too expensive but overall it’s a good spot to grab a few drinks.

3 way Chili Macs are the best item on the menu. I also like their onion rings because they are always crispy.

I’d come here a lot more often if smoking wasn’t allowed. I don’t like going home with my entire outfit smelling like cigarettes. Otherwise, pretty good vibe, food is okay, service is pretty good, and plenty of screens to watch sports. But the smoking. Isn’t is suppose to be illegal in Virginia? Anyway, I’m now lying in bed to sleep and I still smell cigarettes.
EDIT: I’m reading in other reviews that there is a non-​smoking area. Well it would be nice if the host had asked or directed us, or if there were signs. Otherwise, it appears all the main areas are smoking, the large area where you first walk into with the tables and bars and pool tables and everything. I have no idea where the non-​smoking section would have been.

Great comfort food and fast service. Love the Texas chili! Very safe place to eat too– across the street from Fairfax Courthouse– lots of Police Officers seated around us.

Went here for happy hour on a date and decided to sit at the bar. Not a fan of the ability to smoke here but the drinks were good, wide selection of beers. Didn’t have the food but heard great things.

Smoking is allowed and it seeps into the nonsmoking areas, including downstairs.
The Arlington and Alexandria locations are much better.

This is my favorite Hard Times Café location for munching, we always go down to the restaurant portion, there are multiple screens around. What I said in 2012 still holds true, our biggest risk in over consumption. It happened again last night. I blame our polite young waiter (Kevin), he told us about the half plate of nachos, hubby got a twinkle in his eyes and I knew we were in trouble. Hubby went with his classic Texas chili over tater tots (I recommend asking for the Texas chili dry). I tried the pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato fries. The fries were really good, especially when they first arrived and were still nice and warm. My pulled pork sandwich came with a lot of meat, too much for one sandwich really (this is not a complaint — it was good meat). I was disappointed to see it was dry but I loaded it up with a dark BBQ sauce they provided and the slaw and I enjoyed it.
The thing to know about this location is that a good portion of the staff are college students and as a result there is a lot of turn around. Last night may even have been the host’s first Saturday — and a Saturday night after a close win (one point win from a shot with seconds on the clock) by GMU men’s basketball would make it an example of trial by fire. It was full when we arrived and the waiting line was growing after us. He did a good job and the manager was good about updating him and checking in with him several times.
Our waiter was also very attentive. I have to admit with how busy it was I fully expected to receive only an occasional stop by but was impressed with the attendance. While it took a little while for the food to arrive I am confident it was more because of the line of orders and not because we were neglected. Our nachos came first and our meals almost as we finished them.
As an aside, I noticed folks writing about the smoking bar area. I must admit I have not been to that portion of this Hard Times. If you go down to the restaurant is has no smoking only and, unlike the Springfield location, you can access the restrooms without having to walk through the smoking area (which was a deal breaker for me).
Hard Times is not a fancy place (I had to laugh at the Valentine’s Day meal special they were offering). It is old school American grub. We have enjoyed nachos, fries, chili, wings, burgers, and quesadillas. We have always left full, truth be told, I am still full…

Good place to hang out and watch the game.
Food it’s ok. I order to go food and my wings were undercook. We threw then away.
Funnel fries are awesome after adding cheese and bacon… Will recommend!

Definitely not a good choice for the playoffs. Had to move to our third table and call the manager and I still can’t see the football game
Update: now a fourth table move to watch football in a bar with over 10 televisions.

I can’t stand how gross their food is. I know bar food is bar food, but damn, this stuff is awful! The drinks are just as bad!

It’s nothing fancy, it’s a sports bar after all and besides that it’s a chain sports bar. The food is good, for what it is and the location here is good in the sense that there’s always parking and it’s located well for Fairfax.
This location in particular though has a great room downstairs for events and the servers are great — very accommodating. My organization has hosted several events here and we’ve been always impressed with the service.

Although I felt this was closer to a 2 star experience than a 3 star, I am willing to concede the extra star since our service was quick, friendly, and efficient and also I was only able to sample the chili– it sounds like there are better options on the menu even though they are known for their chili above all else. So I’ll have to give them another chance to «properly» earn that third star.
Anyways, Marvin was helpful in explaining the chili varieties to a newbie, such as myself. He brought out a sampler of all four so I would be able to choose one to my liking. My favorite was the Cincinnati chili, which has a sweeter cinnamon flavor to it. I ordered a full bowl with sour cream and cheddar cheese. Neither was apportioned generously, and for the total bowl costing nearly $ 10, I’d say neither was the actual chili portion. And it was luke warm– definitely 2 «meh I’ve had better than this overhyped chili» stars. Boyfriend had a bowl of the Terlingua Red, supposedly their spiciest variety. I typically find medium salsa to be blazin but this… I could have easily eaten a full bowl no extra glass of water needed. It was ok, again, just «meh». As for the Texas chili– way too oily. It was nice our server did mention the option of getting it «dry» to combat the grease. The veggie wasn’t bad but, sticking with the common theme here, just «meh».
We were greeted quickly, brought drinks quickly, and our chili came out within 5 minutes of us ordering it. Our check was brought as soon as we requested it– and taken as soon as the credit card was placed in the presenter. Since I was on my lunch hour, I greatly appreciated the efficient service we had. That’s why I’m going up to three when I was less than impressed with the food. My boyfriend hyped this local chain up A LOT, and I’m kinda happy he doesn’t read my reviews because I think he’d feel bad that the food– at least the chili– was not impressive. I also wish it would not have been my lunch hour since they did have $ 3 corona– not a bad special– and several other decent draughts.
As for food specials, today they had wings, which I wouldn’t mind returning to try at some point. On a side note, I found it funny too that the chili salad was on special today for $ 6.99 and my bowl of chili– without accoutrements — was priced at $ 7.29. With the sour cream and cheese it came to $ 9.50. The salad had everything I wanted in my bowl and I would have gotten some leafy greens to boot. Oh well. I’ll probably return to try another food item– like wings or a wrap– but it’s not worth paying nearly $ 20 for 2 bowls of chili. Particularly when they are so many other dining options here in Old Town Fairfax.

I had been to another Hard Times and was pretty pumped to visit this location, which is much closer to my home. I came with a group of colleagues on a Thursday night – there was plenty of seating in both the smoking and non-​smoking areas.
Sadly, the non-​smoking section, though less smoky, reeked of smoke… I wouldn’t recommend hanging out here if that bothers you. I also wouldn’t suggest coming with children.
There are four pool tables throughout the first floor: 2 in non-​smoking, 2 in smoking. Pool is free before 5, assuming each person spends $ 8, or $ 15/​hour after 5 for 4 players (pretty sure this is accurate).
Thursday is bottle night, beers were $ 1-​$ 1.50 each, which was pretty cool. Thursday also is boneless wing night. For $ 6 you got 8 wings with ranch or blue cheese and celery sticks – I think this is $ 2 cheaper than the regular price.
We also got loaded fries, which were great and nachos (disappointing). The nachos were soggy, the sour cream was lacking, and the cheese bonded the entire top layer together. Chips were either mushy or naked – though the portion was ample, the quality and lack of crunch let me down.

If you like second hand smoke, you’ll love this bar!
Hard Times is one of the good places in Fairfax. It sort of is a chain, but its a local chain, so you still feel like you are at a local bar. The thing that really crushes this location is the fact that they allow smoking. I still go there, but most of my friends after going there once refuse to return.
Hard Times is a fun place. They always have sports on TV and they have some really great food items, specifically the wings and anything with chili. They also have tons of great drink specials, the best their $ 1 bottle on Thursday nights. This is more of a domestic beer and cheap shooters spot than it is a craft beer mecca, and the smoking, pool tables and obsession with jukebox all fit that mold. I like the fact that it is basically a dive bar with non dive bar (good) food.
As for the smoking situation, they have one huge bar section that allows smoking. It is awful. Then they have a «non-​smoking» section, but all the smoke from the main bar travels right over to that section and makes it smell like smoke. I get you are trying to be a dive bar pool hall for smokers, but this is 2015.
I’d love to have fun group outings here but I know for a fact that people won’t come out because of the smoking. I def wouldn’t bring children here either. Maybe the downstairs restaurant section (I don’t even know when that is open or if it still is) isn’t as smoky, but doubtful.
This place has 4 or 5 star potential, but they want to keep it a dirty dark smoke hole, so it is more 2.5−3 stars.

Hard Times is one of the first places I went to when I first arrived in Fairfax and now it has become my hometown spot. The atmosphere of the downstairs restaurant and the patio seating outside is a great way to spend time with friends. The downstairs is a no smoking section of the restaurant/​bar and so my friends and I prefer to eat there or outside.
There are several things on the menu that keep me coming back for more. At first what drew me in was the wings. They have lots of flavors to choose from and both traditional and boneless are fantastic. Thursday nights are wing night where you get 8 wings and fries for 6.99.
I also love the chicken soft tacos because they have so much flavor and it is just the right amount of food. If you are looking for a place with variety where you can’t go wrong, Hard Times is the place!

Good food, especially the Chili Mac and Frito pie. Good burgers, great wings, decent service and a nice small outside area right along chain bridge road. Very little shade outside to be warned. Great beer and drink, good chili, four types, tasty, Cincinnati chili is a little sweeter, but is also my favorite.

Hard Times is what it is. If you want to grab a beer, a bowl of chili or maybe a burger and watch a game it’s your place. I know they have a restaurant downstairs, but I can’t see coming to a place like this for a sit down meal. It’s dark, a little divey, and I wouldn’t advise ordering a mixed drink here, but that being said, it can still be a fun time. The smoking side is the larger of the two upstairs bars and desperately needs a new ventilation system-​yuck. The non-​smoking side is a little less grungy, and a little brighter, but you have to walk through the smoke to get to the bathrooms anyways, so you have the potential to still leave smelling like an ashtray.
I do like that they have pool tables and shuffle board. The bartenders are also always nice. Hard Times definitely has the neighborhood bar feel down, so if you are from the area, or went to Mason, you are likely to bump into someone you know at some point.

I haven’t been to Hard Times Café in approximately 18 – 24 months, service and food quality has definitely declined since then.
My son and I went to watch the Caps game and grab some chili. Our experience was less than stellar. First, they allow smoking in the bar area. I thought that was illegal in VA but apparently Glory Days, through some loophole, qualifies as a pool hall (they have two pool tables) so it is exempt from the legislation. That is certainly not Glory Days’ fault but yuck just the same — a complete turn off for me.
The service was adequate at best. I had to flag our server down at least 3 times during the game to place an order and the restaurant was not crowded. I ordered the Frito Pie without tomatoes and my son ordered the nachos. When they delivered the frito pie with tomatoes and the nachos were cold. I sent the pie back to the kitchen for round two but the son was hungry and pressed on with the nachos which were, we soon learned, served lukewarm. When the server returned with my frito pie it was tomato-​less but it was cold, the heat of the chili did not even melt the cheese, which is very disappointing to me.
Overall, the experience was underwhelming. There are too many sports bars with decent food and service to squander my time at Hard Times.