Following the Giants/Nationals game, we found ourselves famished and also quite thirsty! Luckily, we ended up at Matchbox on Capitol Hill. Not only were the drinks and wine excellent and satisfying, the customer service was truly friendly, efficient and helpful! We had a team of people who were obviously interested in making our experience a good one. Add that to very good food and you have a winner. The Crab & Avacado "tower" was delicious and sufficient for our party of three to enjoy several tasty bites of jumbo lump crab meat and perfectly ripe Avocado. We all ordered our own salads and then split the Mission Fig Flatbread. Perfect. Highly recommended. We look forward to our return! read more

Came on a Sunday during brunch hours and was able to grab a seat outside with no wait. To sit inside there was a 1/2 hour. The server was so knowledgable and one of the best waiters I've had in a long time. He really represented the brand well and explained the menu you really well. I was able to try the burger and the pizza. The food took a little long to come out but it was worth the wait for the most part. I was very disappointed in my mushroom burger only having a sprinkle of mushrooms and had to send it back for more. The server said he was sorry and wasn't sure why it was lacking considering it normally has way more. The onion rings it came with BLEW ME AWAY. Thick, tasty and super yummy. The pizza was really good but I didn't love the thin crust. Cool place but I'm not sure it's something I need to try again. read more

We come to this location for Saturday at least once a month. prices are good, cock are generous, food, except for wood-oven pizzas and burgers, is just okay if not awful. their standard menu items are tried and true, but the odd Milk & Honey menu and Brunch menu (does one really need three menus? confusing) are inconsisten. the crab Benedict on cornbread sounded acceptable, but the cornbread was like cake, VERY sweet and big squares 1.5" tall. I scraped off the crabmeat and beautifully poached egg, but the sweet cake was pervasive. The breakfast potatoes had been sitting a while, wrinkled and dry, and heavily seasoned with rosemary--the wrong too and strong flavor for breakfast. Others had pixza, fried calamari, and donuts for dessert, and those are worthy standards. service is irregular but very friendly. stick to the main menu and you'll be happier than I was. read more

So most restaurants don't get 5 stars from me but this place, very impressive. I've eaten at the chinatown location so I went in with less than perfect expectations. Everyone from the hostess to the server were very nice and personable. Maybe it was my energy but they made my day. I ordered the crab cake and oh em gee!! It melted in my mouth. It was probably the best crab cake I've ever had and I'm a connoisseur. Love the ambiance, love the dessert, love the experience. read more

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After going to Matchbox for many years, things have definitely changed. The music is forgettable, the food is standard, and the atmosphere is a bit blah. HOWEVER, the only redeeming quality of this place is the bartenders. I miss Rose and Aaron! Chris and Manny are nice and attentive. Their customer service is top notch. I would give them 5 stars if there was a separate rating for the bartenders. This place no longer feels like a neighborhood bar/ restaurant. read more

This was a last minute find at the end of our first day in Washington. Service was pretty quick despite being busy and the waiter was nice. Food was really good. My mom and I split the chicken pizza. This is why I am reviewing. I have a nut allergy so pesto is out of the question, but they have a nut free pesto which was so good. I want to thank them for this because a lot of restaurants use nuts in everything. Overall great experience. Chicken Pesto Pizza read more

I went a little over a month ago and had a horrible experience.The waiter was very inattentive and the customer service was horrid. The waiter lost my debit card, was "searching" for it (meanwhile) I just saw him cleaning, and the manager brushed it off as if it was no big deal. The manager handled us very poorly and still to this day, I haven't gotten a call or email about the status of my card. Needless to say I'd never give them my business again. Only reason they deserve 2 stars is the food was pretty good. read more

We walked the street scoping out the plentiful brunch options and ended up choosing Matchbox. We were told there would be a 30 minute wait, so we made out way to the bar for drinks. Any place that has a specific menu for brunch drinks already wins my heart. I am not a Bloody Mary drinker, but I was impressed with their assortment of Bloody Mary choices. They had 5-6 different options- one with bacon, one with pickles, one with bleu cheese olives, and one with a sriracha rim. Spicy! They had 4-5 different mimosas as well. I ordered the Palm Springs mimosa which included grapefruit juice and pomegranate liquor. Was great! I wish there were some brunch drink specials though. Come on mimosa doubles! The atmosphere of the restaurant is nice and trendy, but there's not a lot of space to wait with drinks unless you have a seat at the bar. Luckily, our table was ready earlier than expected. We were seated upstairs and received great service from Parker. I ordered the Bloody Mary burger with a black bean patty and ordered the cast iron cinnamon rolls for the table (just couldn't say no!). The black bean burger was handmade and delicious. The Bloody Mary mayonnaise was to die for and was perfect on the burger. It's served with a side of greens and was the perfect breakfast. The cinnamon rolls came with 5 rolls and were a nice treat for the table. They aren't crazy sweet and have a distinct cream cheese taste. Pretty good! Definitely think this is a great option for brunch in the area. Lots of selections for both sweet and savory and again, brunch drink menu! read more

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I was out geocaching with some friends in the area this past Saturday, and we were looking for a quick bite to eat lunch. We tried going to Cava but they had an hour wait so we wound up here. There were 7 of us, and they had us split into two groups at first, but when the table next to ours opened up, they offered to put us all together, which was nice. I ordered the grilled chicken pesto sandwich, which came with fries. It was actually really good, one of the better chicken sandwiches I've had. The fries were decent - nothing spectacular but not bad. Our server was super friendly, and made sure the water glasses stayed full. Others had various salads and burgers and pizza, and everyone enjoyed their meal. They were happy to split the check 7 ways too, which is always nice! In all, it was a good lunch at a decent price (for the area - it's all relative in DC)! There are a lot of good food choices in the Eastern Market area, but I'd definitely consider hitting this one up again. read more

OMG so glad we stopped here. My Pinot Grigio, shrimp and grits & crispy chicken wings :-) fantastic read more

matchbox - Drinks, food and appetizers - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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5 stars -- just to balance out the out of balance 2 star review that preceded this one. The new Capitol Hill Matchbox lives in a soaring space and the pizza remains the same top-notch wood-fired pies youve come to expect from the Chinatown original. Went here Saturday night, and despite the not surprising opening weekend crowds, we waited about half an hour (as promised when we arrived) for a booth to open up for our party of 6. Have to say it wasnt a bad thing to while away some time at the beautiful bar, they have an outstanding beer selection tho the wines by the glass seemed a bit pricey for a (fancy) pizza joint. 8th Street has been waiting for a place like this -- and Matchbox delivers -- the service was outstanding, the food was terrific -- we had the Fire & Smoke pizza which was a clever and tasty bit of, well, fire and smoke. Also ordered the sausage and onion pie, which was good, if not as inventive as some of the other items on the menu (but the blame resides with me on that one, I chickened out on some of the more adventurous offering (a mistake I wont make next time). MatchBox CH delivered exactly what we were hoping for: an unfussy, fun and moderately priced restaurant residing in a grown-up space to spend an evening with friends (the sort of place that for too long has meant heading to another part of town). Kudos to the Matchbox crew for delivering a primetime spot to Capitol Hill. read more

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Came here for a late brunch at 1:45pm on a Sunday and told the wait was going to be 20 to 30 minutes. The wait turned out to be about 40 minutes long. While we were waiting, we saw two 2-top tables open by the door for the entire duration we were waiting, a 4-top that was unbussed, and a 6-top that sat open for a good 10 minutes before getting sat. In fact, there were a few other patrons waiting for tables that sat at the open tables by the door. When we were finally sat, it took the server 5 minutes to get to us. After putting in an initial order, it took 10 minutes to get the first drink and 20 minutes to get the first plates from their Brunchbox. While we were waiting for our meal, 2 food runners went table to table asking each of the patrons whether they ordered a double shot of alcohol and the other kept asking who ordered the scramble without cheese. Most well trained establishments would incorporate the table numbers associated with orders that came through the kitchen. A woman at the table next to us ordered a pizza and it arrived cold and asked to have it reheated. During the meal, we had to flag down servers to refill drinks. We asked for plates that never came and watching servers, they just seemed to saunter without a care as to providing quick service. The food was decent but the service was terrible. read more

I would really like to give Matchbox 4.5 stars....I previously rated Seventh Hill as my favorite take-out pizza in Eastern Market; however, it's really Matchbox...I just tend to be too lazy to walk the extra few blocks from my house. Sometimes the walk is just necessary though, and I also LOVE going to Matchbox as a sit-down restaurant. Matchbox is very well done, just like anything from its owners, who also own Ted's Bulletin and DC-3. The past few times we've just ordered pick-up, but it's well worth it. The fire and smoke pizza is spicy, but tolerable. The spice comes from a variety of sources (fire-roasted red peppers, spanish onions, and chipotle pepper). There is just the right ratio of sauce, cheese, toppings, and bread - nothing is overwhelming on its own. I've also had plain pizza because, let's face it, I'm kind of boring when it comes to pizza....and it was the best I've had on the eastern side of DC. Unfortunately, I like the pizza so much that I haven't tried any of the entrees at Matchbox, but I'm sure they're just as good as everything else because I've never had anything bad. Last weekend, we also got the simple salad (without the dried cherries). We got a pretty big portion for $10 and the salad was made from very fresh ingredients. We were also impressed that they packaged up 4 big containers of dressing for us given that we asked for ranch in addition to the house. The house dressing was great - light, but tasty. I also highly recommend the mozzi carrozzi appetizer - it's like a huge, gourmet mozzarella stick made with high-quality ingredients, including fresh basil! Matchbox would also make a great happy hour location because it has great drinks - they have a variety of red wines to eat with your Italian food, but they also have awesome cocktails! I don't remember exactly what I've had, but I've had a few different cocktails from their menu and have never been disappointed. The bar area is also a nice space for grabbing a drink with a friend or waiting for a table --one of the things I don't like is that they don't take reservations. The ambience at Matchbox completes the whole experience - the owners really know how to make the most of a space, ensuring that it open and roomy inside without being too loud, while also keeping the historic feel (brick walls, dark wood, etc). Outside, there is a nice seating area along Barracks Row that is perfect for a warm fall day. I would also highly recommend the other Matchbox locations (Chinatown and Rockville), which both live up to the brand! read more

matchbox - Steak and eggs! Great presentation - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We love going to matchbox and rely on it as a nice neighborhood dinner joint. However recently it has been awful. All around awful. The service was so slow we actually saw the table next to us get up and take a bottle of champagne from the bar to open it themselves (after waiting over 30 mins for drinks). I understand COVID had a big impact on the restaurant business and I am hoping this is solely due to that. We will continue to go here... probably just wait a bit until they can get things situated. read more

09/25/11. Barracks Row Festival. I finally accepted I don't like street food I don't like being obligated to a whole styrofoam container of food I've never tasted before at $12.00 a pop. I like to go inside a restaurant, sit down, take my time looking at the menu, and look my server in the eye when I place my picky ass order. So that is what I did at BRF. Or at least I tried to. Folks at the bar were hunkered down watching the game, hoarding stools for folk who hadn't even arrived yet, and in general holding up my food/wine acquisition process. Try as I might, I couldn't get the "eyeglass wearing" BT's attention. (I later learned his name was Dylan. He open mouth sneezed twice by the way and the next day I felt fluish.) I was on the verge of walking out when af-am BT came to the rescue! Got me a wine list, took/fulfilled my order, started a tab for me all in record time. Ahhh. Sauvignon blanc! Nectar of this Goddess. Next mission, a seat at the bar. It didnt take too long. Although to this day, I wish I'd sat somewhere else. The stupid, divorced, underemployed, homeless musician guy seated beside me tried to ask me 1.5 million questions. Ugh. What a drag. Can't even enjoy my cream of crab soup in peace. But it was delicious. Warm & thick with a plentiful pile of crabmeat on top. Yum. I also eventually ordered the slider trio. Supposed to have been 2 scallop, 2 crabcake, & 2 burger. I wanted to swap out the burgers for 2 shrimp. But that was going to be a $4 up charge. The slider trio was already $15.99 so to me, $4 would have pushed the dish in the entree price range. So I went for the no-cost substitution: polenta. That tasty carb-loaded pouf was enough to put me straight to sleep! But I stayed awake just long enough for another glass of wine. I do love Matchbox. And I'll go again. Just not to THIS one. The homeless guy seemed to be an accepted regular there. Yuck. read more

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Yes. All systems go at Matchbox. TVs are back up. Had the Veggie Burger. It was amazing. Great customer service by bartender Chris. Always attentive and asking if I need anything. Way to go. I'll be back soon. read more

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I've visited this location this past Monday for DC Cocktail week with a friend. The drinks were good. We had sangrias (which we had two a piece) in addition to pizza. I had my favorite; the 'Matchbox Meat' minus the bacon & Italian sausage, but added arugula. And my friend had a chicken pizza with pesto and added arugula. Our bartenders were quite accommodating to our needs and ensure that we got our drinks during the happy hour times that were posted. Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to take advantage of the DC cocktail week option, and that's perfectly fine because there is always tomorrow ! Matchbox is my favorite restaurant. read more

Well...today we were in The District and at dinner time decided we wanted some mini-sliders and pizza but dreaded the thought of going to the Chinatown location, especially when the Caps were in town. So...it was time to try the one near the Eastern Market Metro station. We got there around 5:30 p.m. on a Saturday night and much to our surprise---were seated immediately! Seating is tight but we figured that was to be expected---sitting so close that you could hear everything being said at the table next to you. Service was prompt. The waiter came with a few minutes to take our drink orders. I decided to try a "girlie martini"---the one with pomegranate in it while my husband went for non-alcoholic beer. The Pomegranate martini was quite good---tart but not so tart that my mouth puckered. I got my husband to take a sip and he liked it so much he ended up sharing it with me LOL. In fact, when we finished it, we ordered a second one to share. Oh...those mini-sliders! --- Medium rare and juicy with a pickle slice---delicious! And those onion strings---thin, crispy and flavorful. Onion strings and sliders---those two alone make a visit to Matchbox well worthwhile. We decided to try a pizza after hearing so much about them. After looking at the pizza selection, we got a small pizza with buffalo mozzarella and dried tomatoes. My husband was a good sport in agreeing to share this because he doesn't like dried tomatoes. He told me he was going to pick them off and give them to me LOL. However, it was a different story when the pizza came---he ended up liking the dried tomatoes. As for the rest of the pizza---the sauce was great---flavored just right. The cheese was good, too, even though the portion was skimpy. Good crust with good flavor and on the crisp side completed the tasty pie. Needless to say, we were quite full and had no room for dessert. All in all, we're glad we tried this location. It's less crowded than the Chinatown location and we found it to be less noisy. Next time we start dreaming of mini-sliders, this is where we'll be heading! read more

I can admit when I'm wrong. Well, maybe not wrong, but when something deserves a second (third) chance. I will happily eat my words, as long as they're as tasty as the meal I finally enjoyed at Matchbox. I finally made it back to Matchbox to give it another shot. I was hot and tired from walking all over DC, pizza sounded really good, and I'd had a couple of warm-up drinks to hold me over for a potential long wait. But this time, there was no need! We were seated promptly at a lovely table near the windows. We started with the apple-pear salad, which was light and refreshing - perfect after a hot day in the sun. We devoured the combination of greens, fruit, candied pecans, gorgonzola and honey-balsamic vinaigrette in a hurry while we waited for the star of the dinner show. The pizza didn't disappoint! We went with a half & half pizza. One half was the prosciutto and black mission fig, which also has roasted garlic and gorgonzola. We unintentionally continued with the honey theme, as this pie features a delicious black pepper honey that really ties the entire thing together nicely with a sweet and savory finish. The other half was simple pepperoni and sausage, but it's all about how the pepperoni is cooked. I'm fussy and like it slightly well done, with a little bit of crisp to it. I was delighted to find it cooked to (my fussy) perfection. Throw in the Allagash White that I paired with the meal, and it was a truly delicious way to wrap up the day's adventures. read more

matchbox - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I don't know what happened to this place. Went here for years pre-pandemic and always enjoyed the quality of food and service. I don't recognize it on either dimension. The food quality has suffered tremendously and the service is just non-existent. Friend ordered the Cobb salad and it took forever to be served. Bartender apologized and offered the explanation the she '"caught'" the chicken was undercooked and rectified it. Friend ate the salad which still didn't taste quite right. Went to the bathroom feeling fine, but vomited as soon as she got there. Something has gone very wrong here. Please consider before patronizing this location. read more

I know, it's so passe to review Matchbox at this point, but I just have to say two things. I still love the pizza more than life itself (at times) - can't decide between the pepperoni (double pepp is standard) or the Matchbox Meat (meaty and a touch of spice). but the thing I really love - they are open later than every other restaurant on 8th Street, and never cranky about stopping in at 11:30 for dinner - and FULL menu! read more

Super satisfying and a great pick for almost everyone! Matchbox is a great choice for almost any occasion- quick lunch, lunch with co-workers, a date, family dinner with kids, meeting for dinner with a large group...anything! Their menu isn't cheap, but it isn't expensive and they offer many ordinary menu items at top-notch quality. Their pizza is very delicious, and probably my favorite in the neighborhood (...but &pizza is opening on 8th street soon!). They have delicious burgers, and I recommend the bloody mary burger. The space and setup is nice, and they have a bit more room than many of the small restaurants nearby...but they do utilize every inch and you may feel like you are dining with the strangers next to you. For those looking to have a drink they have a nice cocktail list and offer a good happy hour deal. Overall, Matchbox is a very solid restaurant and you will not be disappointed leaving! read more

Hello Yelpers! So it was Resurrection Sunday also known as Easter Sunday. After attending a lovely church service in the area my friends and I found ourselves desperately searching for a delicious brunch spot! With no reservations made we found ourselves in a pickle! So I drove and parked in Barracks Row and we decided to walk and be adventurous with our search. It was beautiful day so why not. We noticed Matchbox had Brunch Box (never knew Matchbox did brunch) anyways we decided to inquire about the eats and sure enough they served brunch tapas style with much variety. For short notice they accommodated us very well. It was four of us so we were able to snag the bar table and comfortably be seated and tucked away from the hustle and bustle at the front of the restaurant. Our waiter Chris was superb! He was very courteous, knowledgeable and attentive. He guided us on how to order and what made sense. The food was great, we also had mimosas. The staff was pretty nice over all! We decided that we would come back due to the great service and accommodation! Their brunch special was very reasonable compared to the other locations we stopped at prior! All in all if you're looking for variety of eats in one sitting, mimosas and great service..this is as good as its gonna get! Thank you Chris!! I will be back! read more

Worst restaurant ever. Walked out after sitting for half an hour and being completely ignored. Avoid at all costs. Only giving it 1 star because it won't allow be to give zero. read more

Cyndy's Bottom Line: Love the onion strings!!! I've been to this location twice before and it was great!!! The bloody Mary's were superb! Well crafted with great condiments and awesome service at the bar. We went back and it was kapakahi if you know what I mean. The Bloody Mary had a drooping dried out celery and a sad cucumber. The bloody mix was not mixed well. The positive was the service by Ashley and the onion strings! It is not on the menu so just order it. read more

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Excellent time there today with friends from Staten Island. Shawn and I enjoyed at first DC Brau porter. And then a 3 stars IPA. Good and hoppy. Our server was terrific but I didn't catch her name. read more

Absolutely delicious!! This is one of my staple places to eat when I just want simple good food. I have never had a disappointing meal. Brunch is especially yummy and go on Sundays for free live jazz (Cap Hill location). Consistently great food & service! read more

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I called for a takeout order of the flat iron steak pizza and I was so disappointed to find out that they no longer have my pizza on my menu. OMG, its like I didn't know what else to choose on the menu. I ordered the soppresetta (sp?) and wild mushroom pizza. The pizza tasted a little too porky for me. Yes, I knew ahead of time that I was eating an italian pork product, but I didn't like it too much and the more I think about it, the more upset I am that they don't have my pizza anymore. Come on management! Please put my flat iron steak pizza back on the menu!!! PLEEEASSSEE!! I am begging you!!! On another note, the curbside service was awesome and the nice guy that brough out my pizza was very nice too...but Iam still boycotting Matchbox until I can get another flat iron steak pizza. My fiance and I are both very upset! Umph! read more

If I could give 10 stars, I absolutely would! This was our first stop of the day (we are from out of town) and this experience has set the tone for the rest of our day! We ordered the All-American breakfast and the Crab-Avo omelette along with 2 frozen margaritas. NO CONDIMENTS WERE NEEDED!!! Each dish came made to perfection, needing nothing more, nothing less. William, our server, was so sweet and helpful. I so appreciate all of the staff and the GM of this restaurant... way to set the standard.. even in the midst of a pandemic! read more

It's very easy to overlook this gem in Capitol Hill. I pass this spot every Wednesday, but always dismissed it. Well, my cousin and I decided to go here on Valentine's Day. What a spot!!! The atmosphere is amazing. Our server, WILLIAM is hands down in the top 5 of the best servers I have ever had in life. No exaggeration. He was polite, funny, attentive and truthful. He made some awesome recommendations, was never obtrusive or too familiar. He struck the right balance. We were in the restaurant for probably five hours. No lie. The crab soup was so damned good that I ended up ordering it as an appetizer and as a entree. I cannot wait to return. The pizzas look so good, so I will be trying one when I go back. Oh...the women's bathroom was very clean. I judge a restaurant's kitchen by their bathroom. I was happy to see it was very clean. I'll be back! read more

My visit was horrible. We had to wait a little over 20 minutes before being greeted by a server. We eventually had to walk over to the hostess in order for a server to come over to our table. The wait for our drink took tremendously long. I ordered the cream of crab soup which I wanted to like but didn't. My boyfriend ordered the jumbo lump crab cakes in which he stated were not good. The pizza was pretty average for your typical pepperoni pizza. Before leaving, we asked for a glass of water which took over 10 minutes to be served to us. I will not be visiting this establishment again. read more

Suggestion: please put in charger cables at the bar.... Barrel has them. Ijs ,Thank you read more

matchbox - Doggone ribs #salavating.... - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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the food was very delicious and the staff was very very friendly, the new manager shamikh was very kind and friendly honestly the very best !!! read more

DELICIOUS FOOD!!! Service was standard. Everything was made fresh and portions were generous. I highly recommend this place should you find yourself in D.C. I really appreciated the option to sit indoors. Many restaurants are only offering outdoor seating. I will definitely visit this place again. Note to server, please don't drop a check at the table without offering dessert. We were looking to purchase a dessert, but turned off by the way the check was presented. read more

Today was my first time, and I'll definitely be back. I ordered the Caesar salad with fried chicken and it was heaven. I know it's know for pizza but they have so many other options, I had to try them. I have to go back because I need to try the shrimp w/ grits, cream of crab soup, steak frites, fried chicken sandwich, and of course, the pizza, which is an amazing size! A small can be shared by 2 ppl... Everything looked and smelled delicious! There is also a full bar, so it's an awesome place for drinks! The layout is open and spacious, with an upstairs as well, and they do private events! 4 stars because it wasn't too busy and service was slow! It may have been Walter specific tho because we were seated and given water by the hostess pretty fast! All in all, great experience! read more

I've been here before but this was my first time here for happy hour. The only complaint I have is that their happy hour drink selection is very slim so there aren't very many options. We started with the calamari which didn't really taste like much but the breading was light so it was perfect but I didn't really care to much for the jam that was served it. The jam woulda been better suited for bread. The pizza was pretty good but I crust was a little crispier than I needed it to be. It was left in a little longer than I wanted it to be I think was the problem but I think it's just because they cook it with an open flame so the crust cooks the quickest. I'm not sure if I would come back for happy hour but the bartender with the long hair was really nice. I enjoy their pizza always so I will definitely be back some other time. read more

matchbox - Happy hour create your own pizza- chicken and mushroom. Also my drink, forgot the name but it has watermelon in it. - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Pretty solid food. Unfortunately we made reservations on a night that they were out of pizza but they were great to call and let us know ahead of time, we decided to try anyhow. The Arancini balls are AmAzing! Seriously you could just get them and be satisfied. Overall good atmosphere and great for a family meal. The service was great and everyone was very friendly. read more

George is amazing we had a table of 17 and he was so helpful and funny! the food is good too

We had a wonderful extended family get together at Matchbox. They accommodated us in their upper room. Server did an excellent job with our large group, which arrived at different times. Food was great. read more

We got the takeout meal deal for 2 with pizza, salad and wine for a great price. Everything was delicious and ready on time!