Chili and beer in a comfortable place.
Hard Times is one of a chain of restaurants best know for their chili. They serve 4 kinds of chili (Texas, Cincinnati, Vegetarian and the recently added Terlingua Red). Chili can be ordered over spaghetti (chili mac) or in various other forms (over Fritos, on a hot dog or hamburger, etc). Your waitperson will bring a sample of the chili if you ask and you can mix and match as well. Aside from the chili Hard Times has basic bar fare with hamburgers, chicken wings and the like.

Beer is the perfect accompanyment to chili and Hard Times has a extensive and ever changing collection. Their own Hard Times Lager (brewed by Old Dominion) is a staple and they usually feature 3 or 4 other micro brews (many local) on tap. Hard Times also hosts a quarterly beer tasting evening.

The atmosphere at Hard Times is very relaxed. The staff wears t-shirts with the various store logos and mottos and country music is always playing from the jukebox. The service is friendly and pretty fast so it's a good lunch option.    [10 May 2000 17:40:59]

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Recommended Dishes: 3-Way 1/2 Veggie 1/2 Red, Frito pie, Chicken Alamo

     ­John Nestoriak   

One of bethesda's bargain restaurants
Pleasant atmosphere, decent service, low prices, this is a great place. I like the vegetarian chili, but they're all good (if you order the texas chili, you have to ask them to drain the grease though, otherwise you'll have a month's worth of fat at one sitting). The grilled chicken wing appetizer is great too, as are the jalapeno poppers, and the beer battered onion rings. Speaking of beer, there's a nice selection at Hard Times, too.    [09 Jun 2000 17:19:37]

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Recommended Dishes: Vegetarian Chili over Spaghetti with Cheddar, grilled wings

     ­hawknoah