We were visiting from out of town and stopped by to see what all the Matchbox buzz was about. As much as I wanted to love this place, our experience was mixed: Trouble getting seated: We expected a wait -- it was Friday night after all -- but the hostess either recorded our phone number incorrectly or didn't know how to dial long distance. In other words, we were never called when our table was ready. We checked in about 15 minutes after we were supposed to have been seated and were shown to our table soon after. I felt like they could have dealt with the situation better: no one ever apologized to us or offered us drinks/appetizers to make up for the oversight. Great Waitress: Our waitress was very informed and helpful. I was unfamiliar with some of the beers on the menu and she offered to let me taste them. She also suggested modifying the Smoke and Fire pizza because we were slightly worried about the spice level. Unfortunately, our requested modification never made it to the kitchen... Inedible fare: We're from Texas, we like spice. The smoke and fire pizza falls squarely in the category of "too hot to eat". The pizza had so much chipotle paste that it burned our lips. Neither of us was able to eat enough for dinner, the pizza was so unbelievably hot. Great salad: The pear salad is great. Unfortunately, the pizza burned my mouth so badly I wasn't able to enjoy much of it, but the combination of the fruit, nuts and cheese was perfect. I think our poor experience here had more to do with what we ordered than anything else -- everyone else had great looking sliders and pizza. read more

Sat at the bar. Loud, but good vibe. The bartender Dillon was quick and made a great recommendation on a Kentucky bourbon (when he heard I'm a whisky drinker). He was great! I ordered the tuna tartar and 3 mini burgers. Tuna was very fresh, lots of sesame seeds, and remoulade sauce and wasabi sauce on side added lots of spice (that u can control). Mini burgers were good! Bun is toasted and fluffy, great flavor, and cooked to preference (medium) even though they're small. Sorry, didnt taste more food due to small stomach and not having my foodie clan with me. Only con- No happy hour read more

Pros: good service, nice location (close to Eastern Market metro), tasty appetizers. Cons: pizza not as good as 7th Hill (at Eastern Market), steak and seafood entrées not as good as Carlyle Grand (in Shirlington)--these are similarly priced restaurants. Can take a while to get seated on the weekend. read more

Good pizza and sliders burger was so good. If you want a bite to eat while you in the city and you off the casual. Not bad on Sundays, they had a live band the last time I went there. -Cochise read more

Great food, not cheap and not fast but generally worth it. I don't even eat meat, but I decided to try their sliders appetizer and can literally not stop thinking about them. They're delicious and will blow being a vegetarian just to eat them again. They're pizza was also great. I've learned that the staff generally has great recommendations so if you're torn between something ask a server or bartender. The atmosphere is small and crowded, so not the perfect place if you're looking for a quiet intimate dinner. But it's delicious and definitely a great place to take a group or meet up with friends after work. It's on the pricey side so I'd generally save it for special occasions. However, I hope a lot more special occasions start popping up so I can go back! read more

Food is fresh and good (although expensive) . On Friday night May 31, however, service was slow (although we start dining past 8 pm) Our server was slow in fact other people had to bring us our entrees and appetizers. The trio was good - filet (special) perfectly cooked, dessert was 1/2 good amd1/2 chewy (small doughnuts) Food: fresh good - dessert so - so - service slow Very loud especially if you table is near the kitchen over priced It's a chain (small but a chain) for the same money I prefer a small authentic restaurant read more

3.5 stars. By Dc standards, a solid pizza pie! They have a few specialized pizzas so it is never tough to choose when the menu comes 'round and they do them all well. They put a generous amount of toppings on and it is thin crust pizza done right. I have tried the burgers and they are some of the best in the city, top 5 I would say, of the ones I have tried. Deserts are decent but sometimes they get a little too experimental. Somewhat decent prices, pretty reasonable and average service. Nice ambiance, room is a little dark with cosy, somewhat romantic-esque lighting and brick walls. Overall, I am tempted to come back and see if they can improve, even more, on their pizza. I think this place has a lot of upside. read more

I came to Matchbox with a group last weekend for brunch and I was expecting the typical generic DC brunch, but was surprised at the options. I ended up getting the special that day - Steak Benedict, and my group split an order of the cinnamon rolls - definitely a good item to share! I wasn't the biggest fan of the potatoes, so I just didn't eat them. Overall, though, it was a great meal and we had great service! Our waitress was super friendly and accommodating, even to the point of standing on a chair to take a picture of our group for us :) I'll definitely be back soon to try more of the menu, especially the pizza! read more

This is, hands-down, my favorite restaurant! I come here a lot. It used to be once a week but the costs continue to rise and there is no happy hour so it has dwindled to once a month. BEER: Any beer on draft! The tap lines are always clean and the beer is always well-selected. It changes frequently so there's not one beer that I will recommend. APPETIZER: The MINI TRIO is a delicious combination of the burger, crab cake and scallops the restaurant serves, however, rising prices have caused this to almost double in price in the past three years (started at $13 and is now $21). I would instead get the MINI BURGERS w/GORGONZOLA CHEESE. The cheese is key here, people! If you like crab meat, I would recommend going straight to the CREAM OF CRAB SOUP. I am from Maryland and I know crabs--This soup will not disappoint. SALADS: The WEDDGE SALAD is delicious. The romaine lettuce is grilled similar to a how you would a steak and has a really good flavor. This used to come with steak but now requires you to pay extra to add it or another meat. The steak does go really well with it. SANDWICHES: BISTRO BURGER--Do it! Much like the mini-burgers, the gorgonzola cheese sets it off! Also, the bread used here has a slight buttery flavor that I'm sure is healthy. If you like onion rings, this comes with them but you can also switch them with fries which is always my choice. The CRABCAKE SANDWICH is good but why get this when you can get the Bistro Burger?? Matchbox has also added the BLOODY MARY BURGER which used to only be available on their weekend Brunch Menu. I haven't had it but putting a fried egg on their already delicious burger couldn't be a bad thing. PIZZA: The MATCHBOX MEAT is one of my favorite pizza's. All of them are delicious and I don't think you can go wrong. Really good flavors, thin crust and it comes right from the fire-grill. They cook pretty quick (about 20-25min) and even though Matchbox doesn't deliver, I do order this for take-out from time to time! DESSERTS: I am a big fan of the COFFEE AND DOUGHNUTS. I would also recommend the TRIO DESSERT which contains the brownie, sorbet ice cream and the doughnuts. Both are big enough to share. BRUNCH: Most people don't think to come here for brunch and I'm not sure why--It is AWESOME! If you are familiar with the area, the same company also owns Teds Bulletin just a few doors down so they know breakfast food! The CINNAMON ROLLS are worth getting to share as an appetizer or dessert since it comes with about six. The CRABCAKE BENEDICT is a must try. And hopefully you can convince someone to get the BANANA BREAD FRENCH TOAST because it is also amazing. I think I just talked myself into going there tomorrow. SEATING/AMBIANCE: The seating and ambiance is great. There is a lot of nice wood and exposed brick. The tables have two old matchboxes inlayed in the center which is a cool touch. The only bad seats are the two booths and two tables in the back left of the restaurant. They are right by the kitchen. And while I do enjoy and appreciate that someone else is cooking my food, I don't want to hear the echo of them doing it or calling orders out. All jokes aside, there is no door so to the kitchen so it is quite noisy back there and it does take away from the experience. SERVICE: I have always had really good service from the hostesses, the bartenders and the servers. Everyone has been friendly and been very attentive! It does get crowded so expect to wait or move to a seat at the bar...They have open seating. End of Review. read more

Fresh food, friendly waiters/hosts/hostesses, and pretty good prices... I go here again and again :) My favs: crab cake bloody mary burger read more

Beautiful and chic ambiance is matched with delicious food and wonderful staff. We went for brunch and I got the veggie frittata made with mushrooms, spinach, and goat cheese. My husband got a turkey club (I forget the exact name). Our waitress was perfect! read more

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

Had breakfast and diner here - both very good. Highly recommended. Pizzas are excellent. The Bistro Burger was also a treat. A bit in the pricey side but well worth it. read more

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

The quality and service is not what it used to be at the capital hill location. This is the second time we have a bad experience. The previous time the food was so so. Today we tried to go there after the brunch hour. The restaurant looked pretty empty, but they said the wait was like 30 minutes. Two young ladies standing at the host desk who were too busy talking to deal with customers. After 10 minutes we left. Other people walked away too. We have a toddler so this has been our go to the place on family dining , but probably off our list for a while. read more

I visited Matchbox last week for lunch and it was my first visit to this restaurant. Our server Mr. Smith was friendly and he provided the best customer service. From his selection of drinks and food items (I went with the blood orange Margarita and the crab cake sandwich which were amazing) to keeping our area clean and practicing proper safety protocols. I felt safe and would definitely visit again. I also have to give a big shout out the manager Emmanuel. Even though there was one small concern, Emmanuel was quick to resolve it and made himself available to answer questions even after our dining experience had ended. I definitely recommend. read more

I saw a picture of the chicken pesto pizza on yelp and wanted to try it during my limited time in D.C, and it definitely did not disappoint! The pizza dough is made fresh in house and comes out light, fluffy, and crispy. The pesto sauce was delicious as well. We also ordered the ahi tuna salad which came with a surprising amount of tuna, the dressing was well balanced and refreshing to eat. read more

Every time I order something from here for pickup or delivery the order is wrong. Tonight was the last straw, it is as if they don't even check what they give to people - we ordered a 14" pizza with arugula, bacon, mushrooms, red peppers and herbs and received a pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms, and banana peppers...not even close to what we asked for or what was clearly printed on the receipt. read more

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

The pizza was delicious and the portions were enough for sharing. They also do half-half pizza so you can try different types at once. The waiters were very attentive and polite. Would definitely recommend. Also, make sure to have a reservation. read more

One of my favorite restaurants since 2004 when their first restaurant opened in Chinatown!!! My Matchbox special includes three mini burgers, simple salad or pear salad(depending on my mood) and the chicken pesto pizza. The have THE BEST tasting pesto on a pizza I have ever had. Their cast iron skillet cinnamon rolls for brunch are the BOMB as well. You can't really go wrong in Matchbox, I have had short ribs as well. Tender, fall off the bone delicious. read more

My experience here was great. The service and the food was amazing. I heard that this place is well known for its pizza, but I ordered the Brick Chicken entrée served with asparagus and fingerling potatoes. Everything was cooked perfectly and the Matchbox Punch was pretty good too. I will definitely be visiting again. read more

matchbox - This dish was amazing. - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Matchbox has always been one of our favorite places to eat down near Eastern Market and Barracks Row. Now with covid we're very particular where we go. Matchbox has implemented some excellent new ways to keep us all safe, such as a contact tracing sign in sheet. I really appreciate all their efforts! You should also ask for our favorite waiter, Sweet William, he's always a delight! read more

I really want to like this place, but the last two times I've visited, the service is SO SLOW. We were there Sunday for brunch around 10:30. Our server was lovely and polite, but the restaurant was very empty and it still took a while to get our drinks and food. My meal was tasty but someone else at the table ordered grits and they came out cold. Disappointed. read more

It was almost an 100% satisfaction. The food speaks for its self. The environment is always in the mood. Some of the host/ waiters/sses could have been more approachable. Everybody look like they didn't want to be there. But my waitress was wonderful some of things that we asked for I don't think that she quite understood. read more

The Service was excellent. We split a wedge salad, which was definitely enough for two. The dressing worked well with the Gorgonzola crumbles. The Artisan pizza was really good. The drinks were cold and served in a timely manner. Our waiter was great read more

I like Matchbox because they offer genuinely good food in a casual, fun environment. Plus, my girlfriend is a server there. It's a shame that Matchbox is known primarily for the burgers and pizzas, because while those are good, the rest of the menu is really good too. For example, by focusing on the burgers and pizzas, you might miss out on the excellent crab and avocado salad or the awesome tuna tartare. The burgers really are good, and surprisingly filling for such small burgers. I really like the onion straws that come with them. Of the pizzas, I've had quite a few, but I think that the Matchbox meat is probably my favorite, though it is quite decadent. They also serve a really nice brunch on Sundays (try the French toast). And finally, I think their beer menu is way above par for a place like this. First, they serve Allagash, which is always nice, and they some interesting rotating beers (like the rotating Rogue). I forgot what it was that I had here once that was really good, but it was an IPA with hints of grapefruit. The beer list is always one thing I look forward to when coming here. read more

For the last few years I've wonder why all these people stood outside of this place just to get in. I mean come on is the food really that great? Yes it is! I was here on a Fri. night for a b day dinner for a friend so it was a party of 10. The wait was a little longer than I wanted (hour and a half) but was expected. The only reason i didnt give this place 5 stars was because with a packed house, service wasn't up to par. It take a really long time for our drink orders to be taken, especially since we had 2 waitresses. The drinks we AMAZING! I started with the Watermelon Teaser basically a watermelom Long Beach. This had to be the best resteraurant mixed drink i've ever had and thank goodness the weren't weak. Also i like their flavored vodkas are infused with real fruit... yummy. The next drink i got was "something Fruity" this was delicious as well. On to the food! We started off with the mini burgers which were sooo good. They came with a big pile of onion straws that were also good. So happy I order this because our main course took forever to come. But when it did! yummy. The pizza was absolutely incredible. So Fresh! I got the crab cake sandwhich but i cant remember how it tasted so i guess it wasn't nasty but not that great. i will definitely be coming back on a less crowded day. read more

Price: $$$ Summary: Simple, well executed dishes make this a place worth waiting to pack into It had been a while since we had last ventured to Matchbox and we were hungry for some quality pizza. There are other places around DC to grab a quick slice, but fond memories convinced us that only they had what we craved. Matchbox's DC area locations are in Chinatown and Eastern Market, the great weather making us choose the latter location to enjoy their outdoor seating. Although the restaurant has been around for a few years, the crowds and long waits haven't disappeared. Since the restaurant doesn't take reservations, waits range from immediate seating to 45 minutes. The atmosphere is fun and casual, its beer menu ranges from PBR to Delirium, and space is limited. The question is whether Matchbox's American cuisine focused menu and execution still warrant cooling your heels or if it's just another place that serves burgers and pizza. Although we had the option of six or nine, we decided upon only three Mini Burgers as an appetizer. Certified Angus beef patties are on toasted brioche with pickles and then topped with a large amount of onion straws. Gouda, mozzarella or gorgonzola were available for an extra charge. The burgers were surprisingly well cooked and juicy for being small pieces of meat, the flavor of Angus beef coming right through the toasted brioche. The thin, bountiful onion straws were lightly breaded and maintained their great taste without being heavily greasy. The additional light sprinkle of parmesan cheese was a nice touch and made me seriously consider ordering another round. Mini burgers are nothing new at restaurants, but this is the first time they've been the same quality as their bigger brother. Our second dish was a bowl of the watermelon-infused Gazpacho, a cooled tomato soup with an infused watermelon flavor, finely minced vegetables and a shaving of basil. We've had many forms of Gazpacho before, some better (Jaleo) than others, but this is the first time we've sampled a version featuring another flavor so openly. The watermelon addition was an interesting flavor combination, the fresh taste of the fruit lending itself naturally to the light soup. The sweetness overtook any usual spice that gazpacho has, something that began overloaded our senses the more we tasted it. The watery consistency of the watermelon also made this dish much thinner than usual. It was nice take on the dish, especially with the heavy heat of a DC summer, but this soup would probably be better served as just a shooter instead of in a fullsized bowl. It's worth noting that Matchbox is known for its wood-fired, brick oven pizzas. Unable to decide which one to get for our main course, our waiter bowed to our indecision and suggested splitting one large pizza with two options on the menu. Safe to say, we applauded this compromise. Our first choice was the Spicy Meatball, house-made spicy meatballs combined with crispy bacon, crushed red pepper, garlic puree, tomato sauce and mozzarella. The meatballs were fantastic and the spice was just right, letting you taste the crushed red pepper and spiced sausage without needing to drown your tongue in water afterwards. The bacon added some needed emphasis to the meaty flavor, since the actual amount of meatballs were few, but we enjoyed the chance to have more than just crust and animal parts. While other pizzas on the menu, like the Matchbox Meat, throw so much at you that you can process it, the Spicy Meatball's more balanced approach doesn't make you feel like a heart attack is the next step after your meal. The second half of the pizza was Chicken Pesto, featuring grilled marinated chicken, house-made pesto sauce and mozzarella. The ground basil and garlic sauce works well with the grilled chicken, the light flavors a welcomed addition to the meal. While some pizzas' heavy cheese and toppings can weigh the diner down, this Chicken Pesto allows you to enjoy some great flavors without quickly feeling uncomfortably full. Onions and pine nuts were also added at our request. The only complaint we had was that the chicken itself was rather pedestrian. For a pizza that has such a little cook time, there was an opportunity to showcase more tender, perhaps even rotisserie, pieces. Matchbox is a great place for beers, burgers and pizza for a moderate price without the atmosphere of a low-lit sports bar or feeling trapped by a menu containing only greasy, fried food. Although the wait for a table can often be long since they do not take reservations, it's easy enough to cool your heels with their decent drink selection. The staff is friendly and happy to take on special requests (cue the pine nuts). Although it is not reviewed here, their brunch menu does impress, especially their Eggs Chesapeake that wraps the featured crab cake in bacon. Much of Matchbox's menu is the usual American faire, but the simple items they execute well will likely bring you back for seconds. read more

Bistro Burger with Onion Rings is delicious! This place always has great service and great food! read more

matchbox - Bistro Burger with Onion Rings - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Love it. Been here twice and both times it has been great. The drinks are amazing, especially the ginger snap and the fruit punch (I'm a fruity drink kind of girl). The service is friendly and fast. And the food is great. Got pizza both times and both times it was delicious. Sitting by the bar is fun because you can see the pizzas being made. No negatives. This is a cool spot with great pizza. read more

Great food, great service. We went as part of a group of 12 for a co-worker's farewell luncheon. Everyone was taken care of by the friendly staff, the food was great, and service was fast. read more

I wavered between 4 and 5 stars, and I'll admit my experience was colored by a less-good one the next evening. That said, Matchbox Capitol Hill was the ideal meal at a great time. My friends and I were in DC for the Komen 3-Day walk and decided we weren't game for camp dinner on Saturday night, so we hopped on the Metro and headed to Barracks Row (Eastern Market). We had walked down 8th earlier in the day and knew some good choices were there. We didn't know what a great choice Matchbox would be. We were a bit ahead of the dinner rush and we were able to be seated immediately. We started with a round of cocktails- a beer, a Blackberry Pisco, and a vanilla peach tea. Both of the cocktails were excellent. Next up? Salads. One simple salad, which was excellent and fresh. One apple and pear salad that received equivalent praise. And the seasonal salad, ordered for the pickled okra (which was also tasty). Finally...entrees-ish. The pepperoni and meatball roll was, if you're a fan of those things, very good. The quality of the meatball and pepperoni were both quite high. The turkey and brie sandwich was "just right" in terms of the different components, not too heavy on the brie. And the scallops? Quite simply, out of this world. Although we didn't really intend to have dessert, we opted for a fruit pizza for something light and not too sweet. It met- and exceeded- our expectations. The service throughout was prompt, excellent, and unobtrusive. Our waitress was delightful and made good recommendations throughout. I would go back without hesitation. Enjoy! read more

Steak, Salad and Potatos was all fresh . I like it :-). The only bad thing tables for two are very small,but good service. read more

matchbox - Steak, Salad and Potatos was all fresh . I like it :-). The only bad thing tables for two are very small,but good service. - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've been eating on and around the hill for many years and I love the vibrant feel of 8th St, SE. Matchbox is one of my favorite spots to eat. Not only is the food delicious, the staff are extremely nice and take the time to answer any questions about the menu. I know there are many places to choose from on 8th St, but if you want fresh delicious food over and over, don't pass on Matchbox. Also, the outdoor seating is a plus! read more

Great bottomless brunch with bloodies, screw drivers and mimosas. I expected it would be difficult to get repeat drinks but not so with our charming and attentive Michael. Hope you get him too because he's the best. My husband loves his fluffy French toast and my steak frites were delicious. The salad that accompanied was very fresh and dressed with a flavorful dressing. Wish we had Bottomless Brunch back in Boston! read more

Incredible. Crab cakes were amazing, pizza was perfect, salads were incredible and high quality and the lemon french toast was unreal. I want to go back NOW!!! read more

Don't bother with their bottomless brunch. We had a party of 6 and after 2 hours, half of our food never came. And one member of our party never got her food after many inquiries. Our server offered to send the manager over and that never happened. Server said that one of our orders "got lost" but apparently it was never replaced. Not sure why it was so hard to simply get some egg scramblers and pizzas. It's only bottomless if you have all day to wait on your first meal. read more

We stopped in for brunch and it was fantastic. First off we could get a table immediately and service was prompt when other places were an hour wait on a Sunday at noon. Not gonna lie it made us nervous, wondering why there was so much room here. But I don't get it. Food was amazing. I had their breakfast burrito with chorizo and it was fantastic. Potatos were wonderfully crisp on the outside and perfectly done on the inside. My wife had the lemon pound cafe french toast. That would be one great dessert!! If you're looking for a good place and nothing else is open jump in here! read more

WOW! Went here for lunch today with a friend and everything was fantastic. From the wait staff to the drinks to the food...fantastic. Tried the shrimp with grits and it was fabulous. I don't eat onion so if you order ask for it without. The flavor of the dish was fantastic and appetizer size was enough for 2 to taste a bit, but I ate it all myself, lol. My friend ordered the crab soup and said it was tasty. The sandwich and salad was great. I have never had a salad that I could say was great, but the dressing was fantastic. I ordered a Sangria, okay, I ordered two Sangrias and they were very tasty. We will definitely be heading back to and want to try the happy hour. Waitress was very attentive, suggestions were on point and so happy I tried the items suggested. read more

In for happy hour. Bartender was really great, and the cucumber gin cocktail is pretty delicious. Restaurant was clean, including the restrooms. That is where the good ends. Mini burgers were way overcooked and mini buns way over toasted. Onion straws were neither crispy or warm. Just a dry, limp experience on the food. Price was right at $6 for 3 mini burgers, just not tasty. read more

Just had a dinner at Match Box In bethesda. We seat at the table at 7pm. by the time waiters got to us was pass 7:35. When she came to us I Told her we were waiting for long time we don't want to have late dinner pls take care of us. We then gave her our order of two pizza and hamburger. it took us about an hour to get our food. Once we got our food within few minute the manager named Amad came to our table ask us if everything was ok. I tiold him no, we have been waiting for our food for over an hour. His reply was that he noticed I came and asked for him twice, he then said we need to be patient and not pressure the waiters! My response was instead of apologizing for being late you telling us that we need to be patient. His reply was that I am very rude, we then got in to big arguments in front of other customers. This guy so called himself a manger is more of liability for the company than being a manager. I never experienced such rude and unprofessional experience specially for someone who was trained to deal with unpleasant situation and make it right for everyone specially the customer. Obviously he ruined our night and we could not even finish what we order because everyone were so upset. read more

Live right down the road from this location-at least twice a week we hit up one of the restaurants on barracks and have a drink and get take out. Let me tell you-will NOT be doing so again at this location! When we first walk in, the moment the hostesses realize we are not dining in, we are treated like second class citizens. The tell us to go in the back and find 'the guy with the red shirt' and he would take our order. No menus, no smiles, no directions. We find the man in question (on his phone) and he acted as if we should have grabbed menus from the ladies up front and that we seriously put him out by making him go and get us some. When he finally comes back, I place the order while my friend grabbed a seat at the bar while we waited. I paid for our food and then pointed to the end of the bar, where my friend had grabbed seats. I asked if once the food were ready if he could bring it over to us. He straight scoffed at me and said 'Tell you what, when it's ready, it'll be right here.' and pointed to the spot right in front of him. For someone who seemed to ONLY take to-go orders, you'd think he'd be good at doing so. I was insulted that he would respond with that much attitude and unwillingness to do something as simple as walk the full 10 steps it would have taken. Literally the only person who seemed happy to be there was the bartender-our saving grace. Though she was obviously very busy and couldn't get around to serving us immediately, she made a point to greet us with a smile and say she would be right over. When she was free to assist us, she was hospitable and kind. Maybe I'd come back to sit at the bar, but until they hire people that actually seem like they want to be working there, I'll hard pass on the take out. read more