Hardywood Park Craft Brewery - West Creek — Restaurant in Short Pump

Prefacing this by saying that we used to come here all the time before covid and today is the first time we've been back in a couple years. Safe to say, the old Hardywood is dead, and pretentiousness has taken over.

Hardywood West Creek used to be laid back, had generous beer pours, and had a great selection on tap. The apple has fallen far from the tree, and below is why.

1. At some point in the past two years they went from 16oz to 12oz pours. Take a look at the pic of their new size cup, and I wear a smallish shoe for a guy.
2. "grass everywhere and not a patch to sit" See attached pics. Grass everywhere. Seems like there should be all kinds of space to sit and relax. No. Signs everywhere saying to "keep off grass." I literally don't get it..... The location is a sliver of concrete and all grass otherwise...
3. They recently added tents, gazebos, and large red lounge chairs, but offer them by paid reservation only.
4. They added logs and swings to the right side but have the area roped off with a sign that says 21+ only. I'm glad this was being disregarded and the kids were playing there anyway.
5. While they do have a good amount of parking, if you show up during peak hours you won't find a spot and will have to park in the overflow lot about a quarter mile away. Bring your walking shoes.

So we can't sit on the grass, we're not allowed to stand under the gazebo or sit in their chairs unless we pay, we have to tell our kids they can't play on the swings and logs because they're not 21, and the pours are 75% of what they used to be? All assuming we're actually able to find a spot and don't have to walk a quarter mile uphill to get to the brewery. Good to know, never coming back.

If you're new to Richmond or want to check out the brewery scene, Hardywood West Creek is decidedly not it. No townie would be caught dead here, don't trust the reviews. Go to Lickinghole Creek or Courthouse Creek Cider instead. Just trust me on this one. Hardywood is resting on its laurels and has turned into a cash grab. The experience is not representative of what the Richmond craft...

Please make the snack bar prices somewhat reasonable! I've learned first hand that the food truck(s) don't always show up as scheduled, so then the only food option is their rip-off snack bar. The snack bar food is embarrassingly overpriced for the quality ($7 for a roller hot dog!?) Everything else here is great: the atmosphere, the brews, the staff. I don't know why or who decided to lower these standards with this terrible excuse for food.

Been going here for years and love the staff and their beers. They recently opened a snack bar which is beyond overpriced and a bit exploitive (literally $7 for a hot dog 'cooked' on rollers). That's their prerogative to overprice cheap food. The problem is when the food trucks they have planned aren't there (I understand that the food trucks are 3rd party), but when you plan to have lunch there with your kids and there's no food truck, you're stuck with this embarrassing snack bar, paying for the most expensive gas station food in Central Virginia.

I'm honestly shocked that the reputable Richmond staple, Hardywood, would even think that selling $7 roller hot dogs was a good idea. If you're going to sell food, do it honestly with quality, like every other brewery in Richmond. Disappointed, however I've started just going to a great brewery (with honest food prices) right down the street called...

Was denied a 9 year old baseball gathering here because we didn't want to use league funds to pay them 150$ for a gazebo we told them we didn't need for 9 kids!...they tried to force us to book a reservation...there is so much space and we don't bother anybody...funny, because how many times have groups of friends, met groups of friends there and were not forced to pay for a rental! Literally every night this occurs!...I have been to 30 person parties here and conversed with management...the manager told me it would not be fair to the other guests who paid for gazebos if we just minded our own business on the grass...while eating and drinking their overpriced beer and food!...so 150$ or we would have came with 20 people and spent 500-1000$? Doesn't make sense financialy or morally..especially since the party was for 12pm on a Saturday when that place is pretty dead...our whole team will be leaving negative reviews because there is no way you don't make groups of people pay...but pick on poor 9 year old baseball teams because you can, and I did the right thing and called first...so sad what these places will do for local little league teams...do better! We are going up the street to Mainline Brewery...3acres...no fees...free gazebos! Lol don't let hardywood rip you off! DO BETTER...WE ARE...