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Hours
Sun
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Mon
6:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tue
6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wed
6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thu
6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Fri
6:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Sat
6:00 AM - 8:30 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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CUISINES
American
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
FEATURES
Takeout, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Table Service
Does this restaurant accept reservations?
Details
CUISINES
American
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
FEATURES
Takeout, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
27 reviews
Excellent
17
Very good
9
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
MelissaWP
Shorewood523 contributions
Jun 2024 • couples
We came here twice for breakfast in June 2024 when we were in town for a niece's softball games on Sat 6/1 and for that same niece's graduation party on Sat 6/29. Each time was a Saturday around 10:30 am when it wasn't too crowded and we got seated right away. The servers were friendly. The food was fast and delicious, especially their bacon and sausage. We will definitely come back when in the area again.
Written July 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maggie P
23 contributions
Aug 2024 • couples
A beautiful surprise! A quirky little restaurant with top notch family style food. Be sure to bring a hearty appetite. Excellent service. No waiting. Our young serving waitress was all smiles and bubbly. She checked on us often. Food was served quickly. If we are ever back in this area, we will be sure to stop.
Written August 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dennis B
Michigan254 contributions
Nov 2019 • none
If you have ever been to Decatur Michigan , you have to have been to Hard Times. It is a marvelous place with hometown atmosphere , good food , and good service. I was there at a extremely busy time and had my food in an acceptable time and food was very well prepared. The Edgar Bergan display is enough to make the visit special along with historic photos of the town. Antiques and what are now collectables line the rafters. I am old and many of the things there , I have had through the years.
Written November 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kariejeanne
201 contributions
Jan 2019 • solo
Ordered fried chicken w mashed potatoes and gravy. Not feeling great and this was delicious and perfect. A ton of food. She said it comes w salad bar so I was able to tell her all the things I wanted on my salad too!
Written January 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mikesalter
North Yorkshire631 contributions
Aug 2018 • family
If you are in the area give it a whirl. Breakfast here is excellent, usual 3x as much as you need but all genuine quality stuff. Blueberry pancakes,are particularly good.
Not much else to say really, you have to experience it in your own way.
Written August 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Megan5880
186 contributions
Apr 2018 • family
Everything on the buffet is really fresh. Especially loved the cheesy hash browns and eggs. The cinnamon rolls are amazing. You can get breakfast and lunch food. Don’t miss the soup around the corner. The wait staff is amazing. Lori took great care of us!!
Written April 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Veronnica T
Dowagiac85 contributions
Jul 2017 • family
This place could not be cuter. Nostalgic decor, local history, easy location, comfortable dining.One of the best tings about this place is that they have a wonderful salad bar=lots of fresh items, even fried chicken! The buffet, especially breakfast, is not to be missed.If your a big eater, the buffet is the way to go. Instant hang over cure with loads of bacon and sausage, yummy sticky buns, eggs, breads, biscuits and gravy-OMG! You wont leave hungry, and if you do, its your fault. Great friendly staff, great value. General american fair on the menu. You cant go wrong with this place, great for your family and interesting.
Written October 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annette S
Decatur3 contributions
Aug 2017 • family
It is a quaint little place. They have antiques on the beams . They have many things from the time that Edgar Bergen lived in Decatur and after.
Written October 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
walnutridgechef
Dowagiac485 contributions
Sep 2017 • friends
Whether you are just passing thru, in the area on vacation, or visiting friends, you will enjoy a visit to The Hard Times, both for the bygone memories and the really reliably tasty and generous home-style cooking. The restrooms are clean. The tableware is clean. The staff is very warm and friendly - makes you feel like a 'regular'. The soups are excellent, as is the chili. The ham is delicious. The fried chicken is memorable. All in all, this is a favorite with so many in the greater area that it is a good thing there always seams to be a table - no matter the size of the party. Nothing fancy, just very good food (so many choices) at very reasonable prices (maybe that's the 'hard times' legacy). Worth a trip if you are anywhere in the area.
Written September 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christian L
29 contributions
Jan 2017 • friends
If heaven has a buffet, I bet it would look like this. I opened a chafing dish and Have never seen more bacon, delicious too. The restaurant itself, staff, and food were all great. Highly recommended.
Written January 28, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
carol b
22 contributions
Sep 2016 • couples
Great breakfast. Great daily buffets. Great chicken. Soups. Great staff. Fast food served great great great. Cheap cheap cheap. Lori great waitress's. Knows everyone's name friendly atmosphere. Lots of out of towners go there
Written September 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amelia
Chicago62 contributions
Aug 2016 • family
I go to Decatur a few times a year and always stop in the Hard Times Family Diner. They have fast and friendly service and pretty much every breakfast/lunch item you can think of. My absolute favorite breakfast food is cornmeal mush, and they are one of the only diners I've been to in the northern US that actually has mush (so good!). I would certainly recommend this place to anyone passing through.
Written August 24, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
samuel755
200 contributions
Aug 2016 • family
Decorated with relics from yesterday, this diner is clean and neat. It has a soup and salad bar. Very good burgers. Nice wrap with grilled fresh vegetables and chicken and bacon can be added.
Written August 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manuel B
50 contributions
Aug 2016 • family
Portions were big and food was tasty for the most part. The buffet looked good and family I was with confirmed that.
Unfortunately for me I ordered the prime rib special. The waitress switched my order with another customer thus I did not get it cooked the way I wanted. The waitress went on to advise that, "It is always overcooked anyway". The waitress also gave me the wrong drink as a refill. Still, the staff was friendly but hard for me to rate the food.
Atmosphere is very family friendly and the restaurant was clean.
Written August 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Moldog81
Decatur346 contributions
Aug 2016 • couples
Large portions. Friendly service. Consistently good. Never had to wait for a table. Relaxed, hometown atmosphere. My favorite place for breakfast.
Written August 7, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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