When my friend Chris was planning our recent trip to the DC area, the highlights, after the White House and assorted monuments, centered largely around food. Although his favorite go-to home-cooked meal is tater tots and applesauce (sorry for calling you out, Chris!), he *does* know where to GET a good meal, and we are forever grateful because it included an introduction to the Hard Times Cafe. No sooner did we arrive at his apartment, did we throw our bags down and head out to their Alexandria (Old Town) location.
The Old Town section is a very quaint part of Alexandria. Since parking is a bit of a challenge, we parked on the outskirts and walked the few blocks to the restaurant. The Main Street section is filled with boutiques, eateries, gift shops, bars, street musicians, and, of course, the requisite tourist traps. There is a free trolley that runs from one end of the town to the other and, as we left the area the next night, gave the kids their first trolley ride.
The restaurant is two stories tall, with seating on both levels. A hostess stand greets you when you walk in, along with a very amicable hostess. The wait was short, giving us just a few minutes to check out the juke box in the back of the restaurant, by the bar.
We were seated on the second floor which, because it doesn’t have a bar area, was quite a bit quieter, and perfect for the kids. Even better that our table was perfectly situated within close proximity of the restroom. A must when traveling with any three-and-a-half year old. Mystic would have been thrilled too. I have never met any one who makes more pit stops than he does. My mom has since given up her title.
The waitress we had was super. After finding out that the kids and I hadn’t been to a Hard Times Cafe before, she brought out a sampler of their four different chilis. I can’t remember Nick ever expressing interest in chili before, but he all but inhaled two versions of it. Madeline had crayons and was in a “I’m not eating” phase. That and this super large, formerly alive animal head hanging on the wall was way more interesting.
I couldn’t decide what to order. And their menu is one of those that, the more you look, the more you change your mind. I ended up going with the Bleu Cheese Bacon Burger. Truth be told, put a strong cheese on or in anything, and it’s incredibly hard to pass up. When I ordered it, the waitress nodded her approval.
“It’s a good choice?” I asked.
Excellent. One of my favorites. How do you want it cooked?
“Medium rare.”
Perfect.
I spied fried pickles on the list of appetizers, and we ordered that as well. An opportunity to try something new (although I’ve had them once before, I figured they’d be fun for the kids) and decidedly Southern.
Chris went with the Chili Cheese Dog, and does it look amazing or what? If we were close to home, I totally would have tried it. Because there is no way my insides would have been happy after ingesting it. Chris, on the other hand, has a iron stomach and the metabolism to go with it.
The pickles? Warm on the inside, slightly crispy on the outside and not greasy at all. Delicious, especially when dunked in the cool dipping sauce.
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