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This restaurant is vegetarian and vegan with gluten free options. They have classic diner cups of coffee with $1 refills. The cafe has a grunge dive feel- many tables that allow for one to sit awhile and read or play games. Cash only for payment! They have metered street parking for $1.00 an hour or a parking lot that is $3 for 2 hours when you cannot find metered parking. The service is fast. I wish they had gluten free bakery options though. They offer tofu if you do not want eggs and corn tortillas to replace bread for a GF option.
I love that they always have a lil variety of vegan baked goods. I enjoy their vegan biscuits & gravy and meil drink most times lol they have additional food as well but haven't tried yet. Grunge vibe & cash only. Service has always been good and quick!
**Avoid This Place - Not Worth the Visit** If you're on Yelp looking for a good place to eat, do yourself a favor and skip this spot. Trust me, you're better off choosing the other option. Here's why this place gets a thumbs down: **1. Food Quality - A Letdown** The food here is disappointing at best. They offer a lot of vegan options, but none of them hit the mark. My vegan Philly cheesesteak was dry and bland--no seasoning whatsoever, and it was practically crying out for some salt. Someone else in our group got the non-vegan breakfast plate, and it was the same story--bland, no flavor, and not a hint of seasoning. My girlfriend ordered the vegan Reuben and they actually served it with REAL cheese! How do you mess that up on a vegan sandwich? To his credit, the cook admitted his mistake, but that doesn't fix the fact that the food was mediocre at best. **2. Atmosphere - Unpleasant** The vibe here is off. It's grungy in a way that just feels gross, not the cool kind of grunge. The music was terrible--literally sounded like nails on a chalkboard. It was so obnoxious we couldn't even focus on eating. The place is dirty, the bathroom door doesn't lock, and you'll probably trip over the entrance if you're not careful. **3. Weird, Annoying Rules** They make you write your order on a piece of paper and hand it to them, which is fine I guess, but they only accept cash. And then there's this weird thing where they want you to scrape your plate when you're done eating? Why? The whole experience just felt like a series of unnecessary, frustrating rules. This was hands down one of the worst dining experiences I've had. It's no surprise the staff always seem miserable--working in a place like this would probably suck too. Do yourself a favor and go anywhere else.
Super hipster spot located in cedar riverside aims to serves those who are vegan or tempted to try with their cool menu items. They do a great job making regular meals and vegan ones to match. My friend and I stopped in for breakfast and we both ordered the Vegan Heuveus rancheros. The dish was tasty but didn't mesh well together. I felt like their were certain seasonings that could've been included to elevate the dish. I have tasted Heuveus rancheros before so I know it isn't hard to recreate. I felt like the prices were a little high as well which I'm not a fan of when it comes to vegan dishes. They shouldn't be priced with regular items because the ingredients are different. The service was subpar for sure. Get you in and out. One thing I did like were the pastries and food items you could grab to go. I would return to try those.
Absolutely wonderful!! When overwhelmed I can only do pros and cons Pros: great service, plenty of vegan delicious options, great service ( it matters so very much). They have community publications, they play punk music , they have vegan pastries, extensive menu, a clothing box. I'm visiting Minnesota and I will return back here while I'm visiting. Cons: they only take cash
I've been a vegetarian for going on 17 years and was one of my best vegan meals I've ever had, especially for the price point. I had the Seitan Gyro and I simply cannot recommend it highly enough. Everything was seasoned perfectly, the cut of the Seitan was superb and looked just like a lamb or beef gyro. The pita itself was soft and chewy and the sauce was perfect. I got a side of hummus and pita that was also amazing. My friend got the Reuben and really liked that as well. Atmosphere was very punk, fitting with the name. Service was pretty quick (very appreciated since we paid to park in one of the street parking spaces out front). Staff were friendly but not overly chatty (totally fine by me) SOME THINGS TO NOTE: When I went, it was cash only so be prepared for that. My meal ran around $15. You don't order at the counter. There is a stand with order slips near the menus on the wall. You fill out one slip per person and turn that in to the counter. I've read down and seen comments that this was confusing or unclear, but it seemed pretty intuitive to me. There are some steps leading into the building, but there's a button outside for folks who may have trouble with those.
I just didn't love it. Hash browns were great. Scrambled tofu was good after I added salt, pepper, and hot sauce. The biscuit was soft and yummy. The gravy was thin and was a dinner gravy. Biscuits and gravy should come with a thick country or breakfast gravy. I really disliked their gravy. Sausage patty was decent; not bad, not outstanding or memorable in any way. The most disappointing was that pancake. Mine was overcooked so hard that I couldn't even cut it. Along with that $3 syrup *insert hard eye roll* this was a waste of my money. The Cherry Chocolate Chip muffins was excellent. I'm convinced they have mastered the vegan baked good, but not much else. But it could've just been an off day for the kitchen. Not saying I won't be back, but I won't go out of my way either.
I LOVED this place. The food was delicious and the ambiance was impeccable. I loved that there was the same meal in both vegan/non vegan options! I would 100% recommend this place to anyone
I appreciate their low prices and their worker who do their best. The premise is you only pay in cash, write your order on a slip of paper, and they will make it immediately. Inside the Hard time cafe, I noticed that they have accommodating food choices. The pastries are vegan. The pankcakes I got one time was whole wheat. Personally that's not my favorite, so I didn't love the food or drinks I have gotten so far. But everything else about it is great. Places like this are for the people! Thank you for being open.
You aren't going to hard times for diner service, they make some delicious coffee, they have lots of tea and lots of food options and they are cheap. It's cash only. These days they have an atm in house and wifi. It's where you go for cheap but healthy and filling eats and strong ass coffee!
2 months ago
tasty food and coffee! i will say, it was quite warm inside but overall super cute and had lots of seating. i myself am not vegetarian, but a friend i went with is, and she really enjoyed the amount of vegan/vegetarian options on the menu! the food was ready quite quickly, and everyone there was quite nice. read more
Hard Times is a very expensive vegan/vegetarian restaurant in the Cedar Riverside portion of Minneapolis. They make some delicious vegan food (both super healthy dishes like hummus and veggies & rice, as well as some more indulgent dishes like biscuits and gravy). Their vegan pastries and deserts are TO DIE FOR, especially the peanut butter cups. The inside is very "80's coffee house" vibes. They have board games to play and there are even events from time to time. My one issue is that the bathrooms need a little bit of TLC. Otherwise, this place is great. read more
1 year ago
Service was quick and they were attentive to my stated allergies which is so important They have a nice selection of vegan desserts. I purchased the chocolate chip cookie and a lemon scone. Breakfast treats for my 3 day stay. Please note cash only They have a combination of self service to the meal process. And you pick up your plates once done with your meal. My fajitas wonderful , the flavor profile had just the right balance of spice but the spicy crème made all the difference and I ordered a sandwich for my breakfast it looks amazing. I ordered the Vegan Bahn Mi it is so freaking good, I wish I had time to stop in again. read more
2 years ago
This restaurant is vegetarian and vegan with gluten free options. They have classic diner cups of coffee with $1 refills. The cafe has a grunge dive feel- many tables that allow for one to sit awhile and read or play games. Cash only for payment! They have metered street parking for $1.00 an hour or a parking lot that is $3 for 2 hours when you cannot find metered parking. The service is fast. I wish they had gluten free bakery options though. They offer tofu if you do not want eggs and corn tortillas to replace bread for a GF option. read more
4 months ago
I love that they always have a lil variety of vegan baked goods. I enjoy their vegan biscuits & gravy and meil drink most times lol they have additional food as well but haven't tried yet. Grunge vibe & cash only. Service has always been good and quick! read more
6 months ago
2 years ago
**Avoid This Place - Not Worth the Visit** If you're on Yelp looking for a good place to eat, do yourself a favor and skip this spot. Trust me, you're better off choosing the other option. Here's why this place gets a thumbs down: **1. Food Quality - A Letdown** The food here is disappointing at best. They offer a lot of vegan options, but none of them hit the mark. My vegan Philly cheesesteak was dry and bland--no seasoning whatsoever, and it was practically crying out for some salt. Someone else in our group got the non-vegan breakfast plate, and it was the same story--bland, no flavor, and not a hint of seasoning. My girlfriend ordered the vegan Reuben and they actually served it with REAL cheese! How do you mess that up on a vegan sandwich? To his credit, the cook admitted his mistake, but that doesn't fix the fact that the food was mediocre at best. **2. Atmosphere - Unpleasant** The vibe here is off. It's grungy in a way that just feels gross, not the cool kind of grunge. The music was terrible--literally sounded like nails on a chalkboard. It was so obnoxious we couldn't even focus on eating. The place is dirty, the bathroom door doesn't lock, and you'll probably trip over the entrance if you're not careful. **3. Weird, Annoying Rules** They make you write your order on a piece of paper and hand it to them, which is fine I guess, but they only accept cash. And then there's this weird thing where they want you to scrape your plate when you're done eating? Why? The whole experience just felt like a series of unnecessary, frustrating rules. This was hands down one of the worst dining experiences I've had. It's no surprise the staff always seem miserable--working in a place like this would probably suck too. Do yourself a favor and go anywhere else. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Super hipster spot located in cedar riverside aims to serves those who are vegan or tempted to try with their cool menu items. They do a great job making regular meals and vegan ones to match. My friend and I stopped in for breakfast and we both ordered the Vegan Heuveus rancheros. The dish was tasty but didn't mesh well together. I felt like their were certain seasonings that could've been included to elevate the dish. I have tasted Heuveus rancheros before so I know it isn't hard to recreate. I felt like the prices were a little high as well which I'm not a fan of when it comes to vegan dishes. They shouldn't be priced with regular items because the ingredients are different. The service was subpar for sure. Get you in and out. One thing I did like were the pastries and food items you could grab to go. I would return to try those. read more
Absolutely wonderful!! When overwhelmed I can only do pros and cons Pros: great service, plenty of vegan delicious options, great service ( it matters so very much). They have community publications, they play punk music , they have vegan pastries, extensive menu, a clothing box. I'm visiting Minnesota and I will return back here while I'm visiting. Cons: they only take cash read more
8 months ago
1 year ago
4 years ago
I've been a vegetarian for going on 17 years and was one of my best vegan meals I've ever had, especially for the price point. I had the Seitan Gyro and I simply cannot recommend it highly enough. Everything was seasoned perfectly, the cut of the Seitan was superb and looked just like a lamb or beef gyro. The pita itself was soft and chewy and the sauce was perfect. I got a side of hummus and pita that was also amazing. My friend got the Reuben and really liked that as well. Atmosphere was very punk, fitting with the name. Service was pretty quick (very appreciated since we paid to park in one of the street parking spaces out front). Staff were friendly but not overly chatty (totally fine by me) SOME THINGS TO NOTE: When I went, it was cash only so be prepared for that. My meal ran around $15. You don't order at the counter. There is a stand with order slips near the menus on the wall. You fill out one slip per person and turn that in to the counter. I've read down and seen comments that this was confusing or unclear, but it seemed pretty intuitive to me. There are some steps leading into the building, but there's a button outside for folks who may have trouble with those. read more
1 year ago
I just didn't love it. Hash browns were great. Scrambled tofu was good after I added salt, pepper, and hot sauce. The biscuit was soft and yummy. The gravy was thin and was a dinner gravy. Biscuits and gravy should come with a thick country or breakfast gravy. I really disliked their gravy. Sausage patty was decent; not bad, not outstanding or memorable in any way. The most disappointing was that pancake. Mine was overcooked so hard that I couldn't even cut it. Along with that $3 syrup *insert hard eye roll* this was a waste of my money. The Cherry Chocolate Chip muffins was excellent. I'm convinced they have mastered the vegan baked good, but not much else. But it could've just been an off day for the kitchen. Not saying I won't be back, but I won't go out of my way either. read more
3 years ago
I LOVED this place. The food was delicious and the ambiance was impeccable. I loved that there was the same meal in both vegan/non vegan options! I would 100% recommend this place to anyone read more
I appreciate their low prices and their worker who do their best. The premise is you only pay in cash, write your order on a slip of paper, and they will make it immediately. Inside the Hard time cafe, I noticed that they have accommodating food choices. The pastries are vegan. The pankcakes I got one time was whole wheat. Personally that's not my favorite, so I didn't love the food or drinks I have gotten so far. But everything else about it is great. Places like this are for the people! Thank you for being open. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
You aren't going to hard times for diner service, they make some delicious coffee, they have lots of tea and lots of food options and they are cheap. It's cash only. These days they have an atm in house and wifi. It's where you go for cheap but healthy and filling eats and strong ass coffee! read more
2 years ago
This place is exactly what it needs to be. A solid spot for honest food in an honest place. We came in for brunch on a Friday afternoon. I appreciate the low key ordering system - write it down on a slip and submit! Cash only BTW!! They do have an ATM on site. We got a big vegan pancake to share, classic breakfast, vegan Helter skelter and coffees. The food is fair in price. It's so nice to not have to figure out what I can get that's dairy-free, really pretty much have everything in normal form and then in vegan option. The dining space is so chill and a bit crunchy grungey, very much a college student vibe-- UMN is across the street. I love the free pile box and the fact that they compost too!! read more
2 years ago
Vegan/Vegetarian restaurant that will appeal to meat eaters like myself. I had the Huevos Rancheros which was fantastic. The salsa is homemade and is the cherry on the sundae. Eggs had to be farm fresh as they were rich and flavorful. The pancakes were not to my liking. Probably because they were healthy instead of processed flour. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
This place is pretty cool I wish there was a little bit more images reflecting the meals but I ordered the brown rice and Korean barbecue veggies and it was just that but with the sauce on the side, Nothing really flashy or special about my meal I honestly could've made this at home but hey it was worth a try the service however was amazing and very delightful so for that reason they deserve a four-star next time I'll just have to do a little bit more investigation when it comes to ordering read more
Barbie prefers to get with me during those Hard Times than during Flaccid Times. Can you blame her. I never really love the food here but it's pretty tasty considering that it's vegan and hipster at the same time (often a depressing combination, but combining any type of food with the word hipster is usually disastrous). The clientele is really interesting and fun and exactly what you would expect from a very cool trendy hippie place with vegan food. You can meet some really interesting and outside-the-box people here. The reason why I give it a solid four stars instead of the three which the food probably warrants - and the prices warrant - is that it's open until 4 a.m. and there's not a huge amount of options at that time of night around here, so I'm very appreciative of that, and we'll probably come here many more times for that fact alone. read more
We absolutely LOVE Hard Times Café! Something for everyone in our family, especially the vegan, which is important, but also the picky eater and the keto eater too!! Their drink and baked goods are fantastic, their portions are HUGE, and the food is locally sourced where possible. Their hours are very accommodating, the local rotating art is cool, the prices are super reasonable. Bring cash, but if you forget (like we did today) there is an ATM. read more
2 years ago
A home away from home! I have spent so much time here over the years with friends. It's definitely a unique experience and not for everyone, but I love it. read more
3 years ago
A vegetarian cafe serving up tasty and affordable eats. Semi-self serve but cooked to order. Mark down your menu choices and hand the slip to the cashier, pick up your food at the counter once cooked, eat, and bus your dishes. I had the vegetarian biscuits and gravy, which was stick-to-your-ribs diner food done well. The gravy had a good consistency, plenty of mushrooms, and wasn't too salty. The biscuits were giant and both fluffy and hefty. The biscuits and gravy were topped with fresh tomatoes and green onions, providing a nice counterpoint to the richness of the meal. I left a satisfied customer - full belly and not too big a dent in my wallet. I really enjoyed the vibe here. Not a sparkly clean cafe, but a lived in space with subcultural appeal. It was great seeing all the high school age punk rock and indie kids file in to get their grub and hang out in a welcoming, all ages place. I would have loved a place like this in my neighborhood growing up. Come support this awesome local business serving up interesting and cheap eats for all types of folks! read more
Absolutely delicious vegan and vegetarian food. It's a eclectic hole in the wall that offers one of the largest vegan and vegetarian options I've seen! As you walk in there is the counter with juices, coffees, and pastries. Even some gluten free options. I got the gluten free peanut butter cookie was was super delicious. Once you walk up to the counter, you can grab a menu and chose where you would like to sit. They give you a cute sheet where you write your name, and what yuh want to eat. They are cash only but have an ATM if you do not have cash. You walk back up to the counter to drop off your order and the chef will clearly and enthusiastically yell your name when it is ready. I ordered the soy chai latte, gluten free peanut butter, and vegan helter skelter. The chai latte was delicious. The helter skelter was everything! Such a large portion with really delicious vegetables and pieces of fried tofu and hash browns. Will be back again! read more
2 years ago
9 years ago
Agh--still trying to make up my mind about this place! I guess the fact that I'm still thinking about it means it deserves a 4 instead of 3, right? I work nearby on West Bank U of M so this place seemed like a good stop for a later breakfast before heading into work. My experience was an interesting one: I walked in and see the menu posted on the wall opposite the counter. You're supposed to apparently take a sheet of paper, write down what you want and the price (kinda wasteful of paper) --there are no pens so you better have your own--and then give it to the barista. I brought up my order and joked that I hoped I did it right, and the barista did not find that amusing. These guys looked intense--Hard Times is rightfully named, I guess? I didn't realize they're cash only (rather inconvenient these days), so had to go over to the bank a few buildings down and get cash to pay. Barista also did not find THIS funny. Service probably deserves a 2/5, but everything else kinda makes up for it. They had tons of vegan and vegetarian and gluten free options which I LOVED. Instead of bread, I was able to get corn tortillas as a side! Really impressive inclusive menu. I ordered a half order of the loaded hash browns dish (can't remember the fun name for it), and that was like $6. Iced Chai was around $2.50. Both didn't take long. Half order of my breakfast dish was HUGE--I took more than half home! I don't think they have to go boxes (heads up), but I had my own to use. The dish was delicious--was not expecting to see so many veggie colors and fresh food in a quirky cafe! It was hash browns topped with cheese and scrambled egg and tons of veggies: tomatoes, fresh broccoli, cauliflower, etc. So yummy! Needed a bit of seasoning, but that's what hot sauce is for, right? Chef was a bit crabby with people that didn't come pick up their food order right away. Again, service is kind of lacking here, but they kinda get away with it because it creates a certain kind of atmosphere. Like the Dicks Last Resort restaurants where the waiters are purposefully mean to you! Chai was on point. Delicious. I loved both my items, and would definitely come back again. They're open all the time, and breakfast is served all day. read more
2 years ago
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More info about Hard Times Café
1821 Riverside Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55454
West Bank, Cedar-Riverside
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