Hard Times Cafe

Clarendon's Hard Times Cafe is an eat-with-your-hands, down-a-few-beers type of pub. Known for its casual, sports bar atmosphere, raucous crowd, and hearty chili, this dive has no place for pretentiousness or picky eaters. The menu features simple American comfort food such as burgers, wings, sliders and chili dogs. An entire section of the menu is devoted solely to chili and showcases a wide variety of different ways to eat this simple, all-American dish. The chili mac--chili and cheese over spaghetti--is the local favorite along with the Frito Pie; chili over a generous portion of Fritos.…

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Editor's Tips

Where to Sit:: Ask to be seated upstairs. Not only is the area more open and bigger, but there's almost always more of a crowd.
Save Money:: Hard Times has some sort of special or promotion every day. The calendar is updated on its website each month, so plan ahead for good deals. Specials can range from 45-cent wing nights to a free nacho bar in the afternoon.
Fun Fact:: The decor, menu and atmosphere is centered around Great Depression-era chili pubs, which were popular in D.C. during that time.