Have tried this Matchbox multiple times, but went for brunch in my most recent visit. Every time I go, the food is pretty mediocre. The dishes are pretty basic - don't expect to be wowed. The service is somewhat hit or miss. At brunch, we had a table of six. The appetizer came out first, but was a long wait for cinnamon rolls. Our entrees came out in four shifts (2 dishes, another 2 dishes, 1 more dish, and the last dish). So, by the time the last entree came out, the first two entrees were not warm. The staff was apologetic, but eh... :/ Would only recommend if you're dining with picky eaters that like bland food. read more

They stopped Brunchbox and the breakfast pizza which was really the only thing drawing the weekend brunch/lunch crowd. Unfortunately it looks like their business may be dwindled with 2 of their tables with customers out of their 5 outside tables when neighboring patios are packed. Service was friendly! read more

I have to start by saying I am only giving Matchbox two stars just to be generous. It really is a stretch. Having visit this location once already, and I wasn't to pleased with the portion or taste of my shrimp and grits. The manager offered to redo the meal. For some reason I thought twice the charm, but I was wrong. The creamy sauce on the grits tasted like sour half and half milk. I don't think they put cheese in their grits but used some other thickening ingredient instead. That was a big no no. The after taste is nasty. This combination is the worse shrimp and grits I have tasted yet. I don't know if it is the receipt or the cook but either way they need to do better. read more

Just had dinner at the Capitol Matchbox. We did have reservations, but were seated promptly, once we arrived. Staff is very upbeat and accommodating. We were lucky enough to be seated in " the cube". Great vantage point to see all the activity. We had margarita pizza, salads and 3 mini burgers. All excellent! Great Service!! They had great take-out service -- food was whizzing out the door. Will be back! . read more

Here for another trip. This time shrimp and grits, blueberry French toast, meat lovers pizza and chilllaquillas. All the food was again very good shouldn't have ordered this much especially since I have to work all day today. Was worth it but let's see if I make it through my day without failing asleep. Lol service was again very good and will come again to try more food. read more

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Where is the waiter???? We sat down to a table full of empty dirty glasses . When we asked for a waiter she acted as if she did not want to take our order. She had an attitude. The food and drinks came almost an hour later ... we're talking happy hour read more

Visited dc over 4th of July weeekend We ordered the Margherita pizza, spinach artichoke dip and the cheesecake. Everything was phenomenal. The spinach dip is the best I've ever had. The raspberry sauce that comes with the cheesesteak is unmatched. This place was wonderful throughout. Gonna try the breakfast tomorrow but easily the best place I've been in dc. read more

Maurice was timely as we ran out for quick lunch before a meeting, we were served in 45 minutes. Drinks were great and so was the calamari

After several failed attempts, I finally got to dine at a Matchbox establishment this past Saturday for brunch with Yelp DC's Brunch Bunch. Like Zaytinya, I began working as an intern right around the time the Matchbox near China Block was under construction. Over the years, I attempted to dine there on several occasions but was deterred b/c for some reason, I always arrived really hungry and I couldn't stomach (har har) a 45+ minute wait, so I usually ended up at Capital Q, Fuddrucker's, RFD, etc...And besides, $14 for a small pizza went against every frugal Asian bone in my body. Was it worth the wait? Read on to find out. Food - 3.6.9. It's on the floormat, it's on some of the staff's shirts. And it refers to the miniburgers. (3 for $8, 6 for $14, 9 for $18) Add cheese for $1, $2, and $3, respectively. 3 licks to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop; 2, maybe 3 bites to finish a miniburger. Cooked to order, they're topped (or in this case, bottomed) with a pickle, and served with ketchup and a ton of onion straws. Very delicious but $14 for what essentially amounted to a small burger? Not very cost-effective in my book. I had the Fire & Smoke Pizza - roasted red peppers, sweet onions, chipotle pepper tomato sauce, garlic puree, smoked gouda, and fresh basil ($13sm, $19lrg) and the wife ordered the fresh fruit waffles ($11, http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sv8KwaWuCIsceJXJqb_t_w?select=KUkYZW-g3KiNvzLJcFAduw). The menu warned that the pizza was very spicy, which I assumed meant American food spicy, which isn't spicy at all, but this pizza was actually spicy. I like spicy food, but the spiciness overpowered everything...everything but the garlic, b/c nothing, and I mean -nothing-, can overcome the power of garlic. Not toothpaste, not mints, not vampires, and certainly not this tomato sauce. So essentially, it tasted like burning and garlic. Serves me right though for not ordering the Matchbox Meat ($14/$20) - Hot Tip from Kevin L.: ask to replace the pepperoni w/ meatballs. The fresh fruit waffles, however, were delish! Esp. that whipped cream. What I wouldn't give to have a tub of that to bathe in or use as a facial moisturizer. Make sure you ask for some syrup though, which tastes like maple butter...drooooools! Location - while the Matchbox near China Block is tall and skinny, this Matchbox is short and stout, which a vertically challenged and horizontally endowed male like myself can definitely appreciate. I was rather surprised to see the restaurant pretty empty when we arrived at 11am as I was used to the other Matchbox being crowded at all hours of the day. For larger groups, the only place they can seat you is upstairs, so for those with strollers, you'll have to carry that bad boy up there, though the staff is more than willing to help. The bar area is nice for a brunch as they have sections of the newspaper folded neatly at each seat - though if you were stuck w/ the Business section, I imagine that would be one depressing meal. The Dyson Airblade hand dryers in the bathroom are pretty neat. They're the kind that is so powerful it makes all the loose skin and fat on your hands jiggle, but they're designed so that only your hands can fit inside, so no lifting up your shirt and seeing the fat fly. Not that I've done that...I mean, that's so juvenile! The nerve! On this particular day, plenty of street parking was available ($3 for 2 hours). Since the street meters are 2-hour max, you may have to go back out to get a new parking ticket, esp. if you're having a leisurely brunch. Service - was on point. The miniburgers came out within 10 minutes and the food was excellently plated. And the menus are really nice. Matchbox is a bit pricey for a tightwad like me, but I can see why it's such a popular place. An excellent spot for brunch or for catching up w/ friends. I hope to be back to sample the other offerings. Soon. read more

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Another overly Yelped place but I'm putting my 2 cents in anyway. I think I used to hate this place. I remember holding a grudge against it from the first two times I visited but that was years ago. The Fire & Smoke was actually spicy. The crust was crunchy with just a bit of char and the rest of the pizza had nice fresh flavors that complimented one another. I am in love with the spicy almost BBQ flavor of the sauce and the gouda was...wait for it....very gooda (apologies but it was right there). The waiter, host, and bartender were all pleasant. The outdoor seating lets you get that outdoorsy feel without having random strangers stare at you while you eat. The downside is you can't really stare at random strangers while you eat. The other downside is the fire thing they always have burning gives off heat from time to time. That cannot be good during the upcoming spring/summer months. read more

I love Matchbox. So I was excited to hear they were opening a new location (even if it is a little further than the old one for me). And when I heard that Yelp DC's Brunch Bunch had chosen this location as it's next stop? overjoyed! Since my typical go-to at Matchbox is the amazing sliders, I was looking forward to the chance of getting to try their brunch options. But how could I choose, everything sounded so good! Finally went with the stuffed french toast (also came with fresh fruit), a side of bacon, and a Matchbox mimosa. (Don't worry though, we still managed to get some sliders in as well... it wouldn't be a Matchbox experience without them!) When the drinks came out, I couldn't help but to admire mine. So pretty, almost too pretty to drink... well ALMOST. Then came the sliders, I shared in an order of 9 ordered for the table... gorgonzola, onion straws, fantastic! Next came the rest of the food. Oh it was heaven! Luckily I got to see most of the menu's offerings since between everyone in our group I think we about covered it. I was happily pleased with my choice. Very filling but very good, and very hard to stop eating. I was certainly glad to go walking around Eastern Market after brunch was over to burn off some of the mornings indulgence! Overall, more than satisfied with my visit. Though our group was large, we went early and were accommodated. Service was top notch. The space is a lot more open than the Chinatown location, which I though was a big plus. All in all, Matchbox makes a great addition to the neighborhood and hopefully will help me get out here more often to explore the area. read more

We had a rezzie here for four of us--and we wanted to celebrate our friends' engagement. We went inside and were greeted by exactly 0/3 hostesses that were standing in front of us--busily chatting amongst themselves and fidgeting with the menus. When one bothered to look our way, she simply said "The wait for a table is 30 minutes." Okay. Good evening to you, too. Oh, we're doing really well, thanks so much for asking! What's that? Do we have a reservation? Why, yes...yes, we do. How did you even know to ask! Uncanny. You're amazing at your job. Good on you, lady. So, we were finally seated, and ordered a couple of drinks while waiting for our friends. Once we were all together, we ordered food. Apparently, everyone but me was in one the cream of crab soup secret. I had a bit of someone's and it was amazing. It's worth coming to matchbox just for this soup--very well done. I got the bloody mary burger. I don't know why but I've been really into this burger with egg kick lately. I really like the egg messily running down the burger--it looks kinda gross but tastes really amazing. This burger was bomb. Alex got the bistro burger and he must've really liked it because I didn't even get a bite in. Dom and Dana got the seared sea scallops. Now--to give you an idea of how good these were, they actually came to Matchbox specifically to get these scallops. This dish is $26, and I think it came with 3 pieces of scallops (which really isn't that many, for $26) but the creamed corn was fantastically matched to the scallop taste. You should get it, but realize that there isn't very much of it. Besides the weirdness in the beginning, the service was really good. And honestly, this review is testament to the fact that matchbox can do so much more than just pizza, and they can do it really well. read more

I have been to this particular Matchbox a handful of times, but it wasn't until this evening that I felt overwhelmingly compelled to write a review. They are DEFINITELY winning, and I'm going to tell you why. When we arrived we were quoted a wait time of 20 minutes for our party of 5, which actually only ended up being about 10 minutes. That was greatly appreciated because after an extremely daunting day of running around with my clients all over the city, I was about ready to eat the table and chairs. I have to make it known that our server was FAN-FLIPPIN-TASTIC! She offered amazing suggestions (which were taken and thoroughly enjoyed by two people at our table), she ran drinks quickly, and she stopped by often to see how we were doing. I absolutely hate when I get to the point where I'm obnoxiously sucking on nothing but the ice left in my glass, but this did't happen once. Our server came by frequently enough to quench my abnormal thirst, and I loved her for it. Everyone at the table agreed that she was pretty much FTW. I can't remember her name, but she was of shorter stature with blonde straight hair. Way cute. Now on to the food. I couldn't have been more pleased with my selection, and I believe my sentiments mirror those of everyone who was at our table. I'm normally not one to deviate from my usual dishes at restaurants that I frequent, but tonight was an exception... and I'm so thankful for my change of heart. I skipped the wood-fired pizza (although delicious) and went with the Crispy Seared Salmon (see pic provided). It was quite possibly one of the best cuts I've ever had in my entire life. Juicy, tender, and not one bone found. I was rather skeptical of the "tabasco garlic butter" sauce, but believe me when I tell you that it set the entree off perfectly. Mmmmm. I'm still reminiscing. I also love how they make substituting side dishes hassle-free. Pretty much if it's on the menu, you can order it in place of the side(s) your entree is paired with. Buenisimo (kisses fingers)! I helped myself to the loaded mashed potatoes, which were damn near orgasmic, and the grilled asparagus. I love green veggies, and these were HUGE. I honestly have not one complaint to make. This was by far one of my best dining experiences in the entire 8 years that I've lived in DC. Matchbox Capitol Hill, thank you for being the shiznit. You gave me everything I needed tonight and more. read more

matchbox - Crispy Seared Salmon, Loaded Mashed Potatoes, and Grilled Asparagus - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I thought Matchbox was all talk, no action, hyped beyond all recognition, etc etc. I have never been so wrong. I wanted to take some out-of-town friends for pizza, but didn't feel like dealing with the wait at the Chinatown one. Luckily, we wound up at Eastern Market on Valentine's Day, so it was the perfect chance to try the Capitol Hill Matchbox. I was left speechless and rendered helpless by the quality of this pizza. I got the Q Special, with grilled chicken, red peppers, and "zesty" tomato sauce. I did not speak as I devoured the whole thing with it's perfectly thin crust, indescribeable cheese, and a pefect layer darn zesty tomato sauce. My friend made her own pizza of olive oil, mozzerella, and gouda. So good, she had to take a picture of it first. Of course, I wanted to try the much talked about sliders, but I didn't have any room in my tum, sadly. The ambiance and decor of Matchbox is just as unique as the pizza. The rustic wood and windows upstairs reminds me of tattered barns back home, and the lighting is warm and welcoming as the staff. The hype is definitely worth it. This is some darn good pizza. read more

**Matchbox Owners: Hill dwellers are totally psyched to actually have quality pizza within walking distance. The place is beautiful. I've had the pizza at the Chinatown location: easily the 5th best pizza in the city ;) **sing like Foreigner's "Waiting for a Girl Like You"** I've been waiting... for this Matchbox...to come on to the Hill... The next line of that quasi-song should be "... You're sooo good... when I eat your crust it's understood", but no! (I've yet to sample the pizza at this location - this is a review of their brunch). Brunch at Matchbox: Part I I went to the opening brunch back in the first week of Dec. 2008. A nice set up on the bar, with each place setting having it's own section from the WaPo. I wanted waffles; waffles were impossible - they haven't received their waffle iron yet. So, I got the stuffed french toast - fricking delicious folded cuts of diagonal-cut french bread slathered in buttery glory. Really nice side of fresh fruit to help you forget how unhealthy that other stuff probably was. Brunch at Matchbox: Part II (3 weeks later) Brought my in-laws here to show them how we do brunch at the local pizza place. I wanted waffles; still no waffle iron! (**Matchbox Owners: I'm not going to bitch too hard about the waffle iron thing, because you are rightly focusing on your pizza. Respect is due to you - 5th best pizza in DC is nothing to sneeze at) Instead of waffles (someone holla when they get a waffle here), I got some skillet chorizo and egg thing. I do not recommend this overly spicy breakfast dish - but if you're feeling adventurous and want to go for it, I suggest following with a shot of Jagermeister to cool the nether regions. Yes, Jagermeister ... and brunch. Is anyone still reading this? read more

Wanted paste and cornbread they came there. Fast with a fresh taste. Capital Hill Matchbox

I've been to Matchbox 4 times now in the last year, and it's become my "go to" place in Eastern Market. There have been some minor hiccoughs, but I haven't had a bad experience yet. I've done pizza twice, crab & avocado salad once , and most recently, a flank steak salad with grilled romaine which was awesome. Haven't had anything but great food. I always salivate and my eyes get big when a server goes by with the plate of 9 sliders with onion straws. Maybe Jonathon H., aka, "the bottomless pit," could help split it with me sometime. Oh, and did I mention draft Bells Two-Hearted Ale? IPA Perfection! read more

Tonight was the grand opening of the 8th St. Matchbox and given that it was the first night, things could have gone a lot worse, but overall I was not impressed by Matchbox. I've never been to the Chinatown location, so I can't compare the restaurants, but I just didn't really like the feel of this place. It is too big for the neighborhood. Two levels and a long, narrow bar provide ample seating, but I can see this place becoming the Lauriol Plaza of Barracks Row...always packed, but always sub-par food. We had a large party for them to handle on the first night (8 people). We all had a few drinks during happy hour at the bar and put our name in for a table for dinner. The mixed bag beer menu features $6 and $7 brews from Belgium to Maine, and the cocktail menu was extensive and friends seemed to enjoy what they had. The only problem was when the bill came and none of the happy hour prices were honored on my friend's tab after he bought the rounds for all of us. Needless to say, he was a little perturbed. Our party was announced and we were led to our tables. Notice how I said tables...Halfway to our place we are told that they can only sit us at two booths NEAR each other. Not together, not two booths next to each other...but actually 2 booths, with 2 booths in between. I've never heard of this before...Breaking up a large party (of 8) and seating them in different parts of the restaurant!? We would have gladly waited longer for them to move a couple tables together so we could all be together, instead it was 5 people at one booth, and 3 at another...Extremely unorthodox. Service was prompt and the meals at our table arrived quickly. I ordered the Fire & Smoke pizza with a chipotle/tomato sauce, smoked gouda, roasted red peppers, and onions. This pizza sounds good in concept and they have they right idea, they just need to change the cheese. Smoked gouda is fantastic, don't get me wrong, but on crackers. Not melted on a pizza. Sadly, I learned this the hard way. When hot, gouda melts into a molten goo akin to Kraft Singles in a grilled cheese sandwich that just gets stuck in your teeth and coats your mouth in slippery, creamy grease. However, it also quickly cools to a solid mass so that when I bit into my pizza, all of the toppings were ripped off the pizza along with the gob of cooled cheese. I needed a sweet cocktail to wash down the smokey taste in my mouth, so I ordered the Gingersnap. The drink arrived quickly, only to missing a crucial element, the taste of ginger. It was just sugar, pineapple and booze. Overall, the service was good. Maybe too good. Our table got the dessert menu, while I still had half a pizza left on my plate. I will chalk it up to it being the first night and the restaurant wanting to cram as many people into the place as possible, but please! Nothing angers me more than being rushed at a restaurant. It will be interesting to see how this place turns out. I like the menu and the interior, I just fear it is the wrong restaurant for this neighborhood. read more

I really have nothing bad to say about this place. All the food is great. I've tried the Cream of Crab soup, Mini Burgers, French Toast and of course the Pizza. I prefer this one over the China Town location. I just find the interior more inviting and open. I'm happy to see one has opened in Rockville where I live, but I have yet to try it out. While the place is best known for pizza, I found the other menu items more enjoyable. But I should point out that my standards for pizza are very high and I compare everything to the best Pizza I've had in New York. Still... great food, great environment. read more

Here's the thing: I don't usually go to a restaurant more than once. It's not to be a pretentious jerk, but really, because I REALLY like trying out new places. So, umm, CONUNDRUM with this place. I've been here more than four times, not because it's out-of-this-world good, but mostly out of convenience, though I have enjoyed myself each time. + The 3.6.9 mini burgers are very tasty and come with loads of onion straws; they're perfect for sharing. + The fire & smoke pizza is spicy, but not like holy-mother-of-god spicy. Comes with fire-roasted red peppers, onions, chipotle peppers, tomato sauce, garlic puree, smoked gouda and fresh basil. + The Italian salami pizza is super with pepperoni, fennel salami, arugula, mortadella, mozzarella, and tomato sauce They've also got bar seating and great beers (go for the Palm Amber--yum)! read more

With this many reviews, I'm sure almost all has been said...good and bad. But honestly, I felt there wasn't much bad here. Everything was pretty great. The atmosphere is busy and lively. The design of the place is cool. The food that we ordered (bistro burger w/ onion rings and the veggie pizza) was tasty. The only complaint I would have about the food was that the burger had a little too much char for my liking. Might wanna turn down the heat on that grill. What actually *made* the experience, though, were the bartenders. We opted to dine at the bar (my preference always) and Dylan and Kip made it a great experience. Both were attentive, talkative, personable, and funny...all qualities that good bartenders should have. Oh, yeah and they could make a good cocktail. These 2 alone will make me want to return and bring other friends here to dine. They simply elevated a good experience to great! read more

Let me just start out by saying that we never meant to come here. Honestly, we weren't even hungry. But my sister and I were out to see a burlesque show, passed by Matchbox on the way to the car, and I dragged her in for a drink. Don't judge me, only had to drag her cuz shes like a turtle, once shes in the house she barely ever comes out and I just didn't want the night to end. Any who.... Atmosphere: Not at all annoyingly loud and not overly crowded to the point where you gotta squeeze past people Service: Our waiter was very cool, don't remember his name but I did comment on how it seems he appeared out of nowhere at our table. He then told me he was ninja, hence the all black clothes and sneaky black shoes.. Food: Ordered the Mozzi....whatever the dish is of the bread stuffed with cheese, basil, and tomatoes and then fried. Knew beforehand I would probably want to run 5 extra miles the next day but once I tasted it I wanted about 3 more orders. Nuff said. Drinks: Pomegranate martini. Order a few, thank me later. read more

I'll start by saying that the manager came in and saved the day. That is the only reason this review is "4 Star Worthy" instead of a sad 2 stars. Came here for my sister's birthday and after the service that we received from the server, I don't know if I'll be back to this location. The gentleman wasn't very attentive to us at all. We sat for long periods of time throughout our visit without him coming by to check and make sure we didn't need anything. We sat looking around, waiting for him to walk by throughout our entire visit. Our food orders came out incorrect, my beer came to the table room temperature, we didn't have any silverware when our food came and had to wait several minutes to receive them, we learned about the daily special from the server who waited on the table next to us, we finished our drinks before our food came and our glasses sat empty for the duration of us eating without being asked if we'd like anything else. We later learned from the manager, after being told by another server that she'd be helping us going forward, that our server wasn't feeling well and was being sent home. We explained everything to the manager and he sat and spoke with us for a good 5 minutes to apologize for our poor experience and to try and make things right. I appreciate him coming over, but it's incidents like this that affect the guest experience and deter people from returning. Also, I had the fried chicken salad and although the chicken was fried to perfection, is was the blandest fried chicken I've ever had. read more

This is a great addition to the 8th Street, Eastern Market area. Of course the pizza is amazing (like at all their other locations)...but the interior was really cool. The ceiling was cool, it had the look of open rafters, dropped down a few feet below the actual ceiling...giving it an urban loft look. The bar area was nice as well. The restaurant appears small from the street, but once you enter, the seating area unfolds into a much larger space with an upstairs area too. I would describe the style as urban, lofty, San Francisco style. Pretty cozy. There was also live music as this was Sunday brunch...nice touch. I highly recommend it! Don't miss the bathroom hand dryers. They have installed those Dyson 'air blade' dryers that dry your hands in about 2 seconds. I've seen them on TV, but never on person. Cool stuff! read more

I went to the Chinatown location couple years ago this is a much spacious restaurant but has a similar layout and decor. There's a nice bar area lined with TVs and dining area all around and upstairs on the second floor. I had been feeling unwell from watching 'Paranormal Activity' cos of the moving camera it was hurting my head and I felt nauseous. I had a bottle of San Pellegrino and I needed some carbs to help me get over the nausea. The thin crusted pizza with grilled chicken and portobella mushrooms was delicious, last time I had an entree so I really want to try the pizza this time. It was delicious and I felt so much better after that! read more

FYI- this review is only representative of brunch. The BF and I went to brunch at Matchbox this morning. We walked in and asked for a table for 2. They said "15 minute wait" and we agreed to put our name on the list. "Alex," I said and I gave them my cell phone number so they could call me when my table was ready. "917..." and the two hostesses shrieked "You're from NY! So are we! I'm 646 and I'm 212!" We had a warm, joint squeal over our NY heritage. It was very cute. Now, back to the whole taking my cell number so they could call me when our table was ready. Is that normal? I've never had a restaurant call me when my table is ready before! AMAZING! The BF and I walked down the street to that hipster home goods store and my cell phone rang within 10 minutes. A recorded voice told me our table was ready. We began to walk back to the restaurant and my phone rang again. It was the recorded voice again reminding me our table was ready! I was very impressed. When we entered Matchbox, the hostess screeched "Alex! You're table's ready!" It was hilarious. They were all so nice and friendly! Now on to the food. I had the Chorizo & Goat Cheese Roll (with scrambled eggs and potatoes) and it was DELICIOUS! I don't know if it's just that I am the most amazing order-er on the planet or if restaurants always make the dishes I order absolutely tasty, but I feel like every meal I've written about on Yelp (or most of them, at least) have been heavenly! The BF ordered cast iron skillet eggs with applewood bacon. It was yummy but nothing groundbreaking. My chorizo roll thingy was pretty stellar. And the water was delicious. There was a live jazz band. Not the best jazz I've ever heard but c'mon, it's 8th Street SE in DC, not Smalls in NYC. The restaurant itself is handsome and large and the waitstaff and hostesses were all warm and customer-service focused. All in all, lovely and delicious brunch. We'll definitely be back. read more

Having been to the 'flagship' location of matchbox a number of times, I knew that this location would still deliver. After a bit of bocce ball with Ben M, Katie F, Allyson P, Allen H. Cadence R, Celia W. and several significant others, we stopped in for some brunch. After a bit of deliberating, I decided to go with my gut (pun intended) and get the Bloody Beer. Katie F. described very well, so I wont say more than the fact that it's a PBR pounder with Bloody Mary Mix. It was delicious. I was quite skeptical, but I was pleasantly surprised. I decided to keep up my Bloody Mary meal with the Bloody Mary Burger which was topped with bacon, cheese, bloody sauce, diced onions AND an egg -- it was paired with a nice side salad. The egg wasn't really necessary and I could have done without that, but it was still tasterific. This place is just as good as the Chinatown location and will be a new go to place on the hill. read more

This matchbox is better for those that have claustrophobia. The two-tiered layout is much wider and more open, but less seating overall. Shouldn't be a problem though as I'm sure this will get less traffic than the Gallery place location. **Brunch Review** James L and I both encountered watery coffee, it almost looked like tea. To their credit, they rebrewed me a darker cup when I asked. I ordered the prosciutto and gruyere waffle "sandwich" which sounded really great, but didn't deliver at all. (Sorry, Katie F!) The four waffles were nice, but there was a smoky flavor in the maple honey mustard that was really off. The melon wasn't wrapped with the prosciutto, it sat on the side, and the gruyere was melted entirely into two of the waffles. For $13 I'm expecting a better taste combination. It was great meeting the Brunch group there, that was the saving grace of the morning. I think I'll stick to pizza and beer next time I'm here for brunch. I know they do that well. read more

I was so excited to try the new Matchbox. While I like this location much better, I feel that this place still has some kinks to work out before becoming one of the best restaurants on Barracks Row. The wait staff was not very friendly or helpful. The hostess sat us at the butt-end of the restaurant on a Saturday afternoon with an ample view of the open kitchen, complete with employees coming in, people unloading the dishwasher, chit-chatting etc. When I asked for a neighboring, more shielded booth, she curtly said, "Those are for larger parties only." I thus requested a new table. After sitting their helpless for almost five minutes, she brought us to a table close to the door. I guess I'd rather take a romantic spot that is exposed to the cold breeze when patrons enter than listening to the kitchen prepare my food. After taking a seat and finding our waitress, things looked up. Matchbox has an excellent beer selection that includes Delirium Tremens on tap! I settled in with a beer and let all my previous anxieties melt away. We decided to share a small order of mini burgers and a pizza. It was a perfect amount of food for two people. The mini burgers were of course amazing and cooked accurately to our specifications. The onion strings were delicious with a heavy dusting of Parmesan cheese. The pizza was tasty but we could tell it had been waiting to be served to us for a bit. It seems the best way to enjoy this restaurant is to belly up to the bar and settle in for a couple pints. The food is very good, and I'm hoping this location isn't as busy as the one in Chinatown. I may come again, but you can be sure I'll be adamant about where I sit! read more

Waited at the bar before being seated. Sat for awhile even though it was not crazy busy before the bartender finally asks what we want. Order two drinks. The beer glass is washed out in front of me and then the beer is immediately poured into the watery glass. The bartender then serves someone else before getting my girlfriend's wine. So, two drinks, not great service, I tip a dollar. The bartender FREAKS OUT! And audibly starts complaining to the other bartender in front of me about "only a dollar!" He repeats this four times in a row, louder and louder standing right in front of me. For two drinks, the maximum you are going to get is two dollars, so this guy is basically freaking out about not getting an additional dollar. After his performance, I was tempted to ask for the dollar back just to see the look on his face. The food was frankly not that great. For the starter we had the trio; the scallops were average, crabcakes not so good, the sliders were FANTASTIC. I would go back for those sliders. We ordered the pizza, since that is what they are known for, but it was lame. You can get pizza twice as good for the same money from lots of places in DC, Two Amy's, Paradisio, Red Rocks. The pizza took a long time to come out too. Service was okay. The waitress was really nice, but after pushing dessert it took awhile to have her bring the check. Then, even though the credit card was already in our hand, she just put the check down, and it took another 10-15min to have her pick up the check. The entire time she was talking to another waitress, not like she was busy. For three drinks, and appetizer, and a pizza, the total was $65 before tip. That is a lot of money for what you actually get. read more

Matchbox Capitol Hill was my first DC dining experience years ago. Now as a resident, I've come back a few times - most recently to try the brunch. This is one of my friends' favorite brunch spot in DC, so I thought perhaps Matchbox would move up a notch from 3 to 4 stars based on this. Sadly, it remains a 3-star place in my books. The brunch is good, not great, and sadly lacking in really good deals. Drinks are all full priced (why no mimosa and entree combo deal?! that would be such a winner). My husband enjoyed his omelet for the most part, but we both agreed that the hash browns (or potato hash? whatever they call it) was extremely sub-par....think: pile of mushy 'taters. For me, hash browns can make or break a breakfast, and sadly, these did not deliver. For something around $14, this dish was not really worth it (I mean, seriously, an omelet is one of the cheapest things to make for breakfast). If you are looking for lighter fare (not everyone enjoys a pizza topped with bacon and eggs and whatever else my friends had), you can opt for the fruit and yogurt parfait. I loved mine, and for $6, it was worth the money (I think it is the cheapest option on the menu). It includes this honey cream that is really just scrumptious. Our table also shared the cinnamon buns (served 6 in a skillet for $6) which were also pretty good in their own special ooey-gooey way. The one thing that redeems brunch here is the fact that they have a live jazz band playing (this was on a Sunday - not sure about Saturday mornings). It definitely helped the atmosphere. Despite the couple of high points, Matchbox is still just an "ok" place for me. read more

Perfectly located amongst the Barracks Row scene (do they still call it that or is it just Eastern Market) You really can't go wrong with Matchbox, especially with their sliders. They are as perfectly cooked with perfectly toasted brioche buns as they can get. The onion straws were also perfectly seasoned and piled onto a mountain onto your place. Delicious! read more

Went here for a date before going to hirshhorn. The service was extremely fast and friendly. Oddly enough I preferred the burger I ordered instead if the pizza my boyfriend got. The bistro burger it was amazing!! The onion rings that came with it were also fantastic! Highly recommend it! read more

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

Beautiful restaurant. Great place for an early weekend brunch. Go just before noon and sit at the bar. When I was there today, sections of the newspaper were neatly folded at each place setting at the bar. Matchbox doesn't take reservations or "call-aheads," and the wait on a recent Sunday night was 45 minutes! I recommend going at off-peak times. They're known for their 'sliders,' or mini-burgers. The pizzas are also very good. The brunch offerings looked delicious. The portion sizes are large, as are prices, so if you're the frugal type you could consider splitting something. I recommend. This is one of the handful of 'better restaurants' around Capitol Hill Southeast. read more

I'm a fan. Woodfire grills are perfect for pizza but only if you do it right. And Matchbox does it right. Thin and crispy just like a pizza from Naples. And yes, I've had pizza in Rome and Naples. However the toppings are Americanized, yup overloaded. And that ain't a bad thing. Meat cooked perfectly, just burnt slightly. Sauce is pretty good too. I've come here multiple times and pretty much just get the pizza because it's pretty good. read more

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NOTE: Reviewing for tonight's visit only. See very bottom sentence for mention of prior visits. After waiting for several minutes on hold, we ordered a pizza and salad for curb-side pick-up at about 7:25 this evening. Was told it would be 20-25 minutes. Showed up at about 7:55 and called to tell them I was ready for my order. After waiting several minutes out on the street, a restaurant employee came out to ask my name again. He went back in and came out a few minutes later to tell us that they didn't have our order... he didn't think. He said he'd check again using our phone number and if it wasn't there, he'd re-place our order and call us when it was ready. At about 8:15 he called to let us know our order was ready -- almost an hour after we'd placed our original order. Out he came with our order, with a bill charging us full price. No coupon. Nothing. A vague apology was all we got. I believe firmly that restaurants should hold themselves accountable for their mistakes if they want repeat customers. On top of that, our "large" spinach salad, which cost over $10, was pretty paltry -- not really enough to split as an appetizer. And, our create-your-own pepperoni, basil, and olive pizza was overloaded with a horde of salty pepperoni that drowned out the taste of the olives and the basil. Overall pretty disappointing. We have done brunch there and sat at the bar. Service that day was excellent. The food was okay. The brunch cocktails were delicious. The jazz was lovely. I'd rate that day 3.5 stars. read more

I went to this new capital hill location early Monday evening when it had finished snowing and snowing and it was cold (13F) and windy outside. The place was a buzz of activity and atmosphere that enveloped me in its simplistic elegance just like the one in China Town had the first time I visited. We had the Veggie Pizza with some blended cote du Rhone. The pizza here is really amazing. It is not salty, greasy, or sugary like so many cheaper chains. The cheese is of high quality. The crust is thin and crisp. The sauce is perfectly balanced and flavorful. The service was excellent. The hostesses and the waitress were extremely nice and inviting. By the time we left around 7:45 there was only one table left. Especially for a snowed in arctic breeze Monday, this place does some business. We got seated right away, but I wouldn't expect that if you came after seven or so. Parking on 8th street while available has kind of gotten a little ridiculous. The meters go till 9:30 now so remember to check the time and make sure you put some money in the prepay box. I hope this meter till 9:30 business does not become a city wide phenomenon! read more

This branch's fire and smoke pizza is significantly firmer, crunchier, and thus more delicious, than the droopy H Street version. Also recommended: the "simple salad," for its crispy parmesan wafers. Staff attentively kept our water glasses filled on a warm afternoon. Our server was also very well-informed, providing detailed, vivid descriptions of all the specials. The restaurant's got tons of big booths with high walls, good for privacy. I bet it's the site of much political intrigue. read more

Revising from 3 stars to 1 star based on my take out experience this evening. We ordered two salads: 1. The Apple & Pear Salad with added seared ahi tuna. The amount of lettuce mix was embarrassingly small. The cheese was not blue cheese as listed on the menu. The ahi was questionable...I probably should not have eaten it. I'll know in a few hours how big of a mistake I made in eating it. ~$20 2. Roasted Salmon & Spinach Salad. It was okay. ~$20 For what Matchbox charges, the hassle involved with street parking, and now messing up on the only reason I still gave them my $$ (the apple & pear salad) I am done trying with this restaurant. read more

Five stars for the pizza! DAAANG! The fire and smoke is PERFEITO!!!!!!! Spicy heaven. Loved the fact that I, an Indian who grew up on spice overdose, had to drink cups and cups of water to make it through this dish. And I was not complaining, the tears were tears of joy! I did at one point even shove a huge slice in my mouth that sauce dripped everywhere (felt sorry for my dinner companions!). Just couldn't help it. Though everything else was mostly a blur, I do remember the ambiance (warm and soothing) and pretty good service. I still think the shining star of this place was definitely the pizza. Particularly if you're a vegetarian who likes spicy stuff and want a spark to your typical pizza, this place will certainly not disappoint. read more