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Matchbox Chinatown
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Nightlife Bars Restaurants American (New) Pizza, Bars, American (New) [Edit]
713 H St NW(between N 7th St & N 8th St)
Washington, DC 20001
Neighborhood: Chinatown
(202) 289-4441
- Nearest Transit:
-
Gallery Place Chinatown Metro Station (Green, Red, Yellow)
Metro Center Metro Station (Blue, Orange, Red)
Mt Vernon Sq/7th ST-CONVENTION Center (Green, Yellow)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 11:30 pm
Fri 11 am - 12:30 am
Sat 10 am - 12:30 am
Sun 10 am - 11:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Tue, Wed
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
1089 reviews for Matchbox Chinatown
Review Highlights
"My husband loves the mini burgers, I love their pizzas."
(in 260 reviews)
"The Fire & Smoke is my favorite, all are excellent."
(in 135 reviews)
"But my, those onion straws were the best onion rings."
(in 127 reviews)
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1089 reviews in English
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Review from Margaret Z.
Clarksburg, MD
1/28/2012
Deeeeelicious! I can't believe it took me this long to try this place, but as the four star rating states--I'm definitely a fan!
I went with one of my friends on a blustery Saturday afternoon with no reservation and it was PACKED. We waited about 30 minutes for our table... whereas those with 3 in their party got seated within 5 minutes. Not sure why there was such a large discrepancy.
The atmosphere is awesome, and I love how the restaurant is an updated, modern take on a historic building. There are about 3.5 floors, and I'm a huge fan of the lofted look. There's also a patio for outdoor seating/drinks on days with nicer weather.
Service was great. I absolutely loved our waiter, who was prompt, polite, and great with the timing of bringing out the water, dishes, and check.
Now onto the important part of the review--the FOOD! They serve brunch until 3 PM on weekends, which was a pleasant surprise since I was dying to try something from that menu. My friend ordered the Fire & Smoke (very spicy) pizza, and I ordered the Crab Cake Benedict from the brunch menu. We also got the 6 mini burgers plate to share as an appetizer. The mini burgers were soooooooo delicious. I'm not a huge burger fan at all, and I'm particular to ONLY Bobby's Burger Palace or BGR Joint in Dupont for my burgers. But these were so juicy, and perfectly cooked to medium rare--just like we had requested. The buns are soft but not too chewy. I also usually hate pickles, but the little piece added just the right crunch and sweet/sour flavor. I could have probably polished off a plate of those on my own! After eating 3, I would say that they're filling but certainly not overwhelming. They also come with lightly fried onion strings which are yummy too and not too greasy--wish they were crispier though.
As for the entrees: my friend's Fire & Smoke pizza was good, but not amazing. I don't think I would personally order one of their pizzas. The kick from the spices was awesome though and he had worked up a sweat by the end. Loved the thin crust and particular crisp from being fresh from the oven. My crab cake was HUGE and wrapped in bacon (R.I.P. diet). There was a poached egg on top cooked just how I like it--slightly runny--and some country-style spiced potatoes as well. It was a very generous portion and I had to box some of it up (before dumping it later since the movie theater wouldn't let me take it in...roar!) The chipotle hollandaise sauce also had a really nice kick but wasn't overpowering. I enjoyed the fact that, as brunch (at 1:40 PM), the meal was flavorful but still light.
All in all, definitely a worthwhile meal and I'll be back to try out a full-sized burger for sure. Also, make a reservation if you have a larger party to save yourself some time! -
Review from Neelam P.
3 1/2*
Had to wait about 30 min to get seated on a Saturday around 5:30pm.
Potato chips on pizza?! I would have never thought to do that. Jaimin S. and I ordered the vegetarian pizza and were a little wary about the potato chips in the description. We asked our waiter and he said they usually throw them on after the pizza's finished cooking. We decided to give it a try...on half the pizza.
Overall I thought the pizza was OK. There were way too many mushrooms on the pie so it felt like I was eating just mushrooms for dinner. When we ordered, we didn't realize the pie came with no tomato sauce. I need sauce on my pizza!! I didn't really like the little potato chips on my pizza...but I did like them when they were eaten alone. -
Review from MacRae O.
1/30/2012
I'm dorky, and I like to make lists: To Do, Honey Do, Grocery, Guest, Bucket. You name it, I'll list it. So that's exactly what I did with Matchbox Chinatown after a recent dinner at this DC staple.
Matchbox Pros & Cons
PRO: Matchbox's draught beer selection is small but good: Flying Dog, Eggenberg, Victory, Chimay (I have a soft spot for joints with Chimay on tap, going back to my green beer days -- I started with a Chimay in a goblet for old time's sake).
CON: Despite showing up at what we thought was an off-time on an off-dining-day, my friend and I waited nearly 40 minutes for a table. I'm fine waiting for great food, but I don't make a habit of frequenting places where lengthy waits are the norm. When I'm hungry, I'm hungry.
PRO: Matchbox offers surprisingly affordable cocktails for Chinatown -- $8 - 9 -- and they make their own infusions. I liked my Ginger Snap with Pineapple-infused Rum, Fresh Ginger Syrup, and Sour.
CON: My $8 cocktail contained barely detectable amounts of alcohol. I'd have paid more for...more.
PRO: Matchbox has beautiful, modern décor; a "townhouse" kind of feel with interlocking storeys and intimate dining spaces.
CON: Matchbox's narrow layout and exposed brick, wood, and metal everything made for an incredibly loud dining experience.
CON: Aside from an absolutely adorable and perky front-of-house staffer, service was just kind of *there*. Not bad, but not engaged, either.
CON: Food is completely average. My salad wasn't any more inspired or nuanced than one I'd make at home. My pizza -- Fire & Smoke -- was fine but no better than any number of places closer to home. Before the Chipotle Pepper Tomato Sauce blew out my palate, the Garlic Purée was the predominant flavor.
So yes, Virginia, Matchbox Chinatown *is* architecturally exciting and inviting. And yes, it's a vital DC social scene and new-DC institution. But the food? The food is just OK. According to my Pros & Cons list, I shouldn't go out of my way to make it back soon.Listed in: Feel the Burn, I Think I'm Alone Now..., Cutie Pies
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Review from Tiger C.
Arlington, VA
1/28/2012
Got the pepperoni and sausage pizza here, and it was decent overall. Not the greatest tasting pizza, but the breading was not wet and the crust was crispy. Did not try the mini burgers but was told that they are known for that as well.
Nothing spectacular about this place, although the design is somewhat unique. A modern bar area when you walk in from H street and the room to the right is the main dining area, and you have your choice of booth or high chair. Definitely the high chairs look legit and trendy. Best part of the dining experience was the folks next to us that were name dropping like crazy, and did not know this but Matchbox is also great for photo shoots because they started doing that as well. Always fun when you get to sit next to interesting folks. -
Review from Carey A.
1/21/2012 3 Check-ins Here
This place gets super crowded when the Wizards/Caps are in town, and it is pretty easy to tell why because it is just that convenient to the Verizon Center! The set up of this Matchbox is really narrow & long...it doesn't possess that open feeling that most restaurants do, but it definitely works!
I love the ambiance that this place gives off from the dark woods & exposed brick to the wood-fire masonry ovens & dim lighting! The warm feeling is just so welcoming and comfortable...makes me feel right at home!
I can't wait to try the pizzas here, since this place is pretty much know for that...maybe they will need to be upgraded to 5 stars after that! I wasn't feeling pizza the night we came here unfortunately...I think we had just eaten it the night before. I went with the crab cake sandwich and fries, which hit the spot! The onion rings are huge & amazing...they have a Parmesan coating which makes them sooooooo good!
Oh yeah, and our server was excellent! My hubby ordered a side of BBQ sauce for his burger & onion rings and the server told him that they don't carry BBQ sauce. My hubby was right away let down and gave the response "who doesn't carry BBQ sauce", haha. Our server was really cool about it and said he gets the request so often that he will make BBQ sauce for anyone that asks, which was really nice of him. It was actually really good too! You just earned yourself a 20% tip bud!!!!
I am already excited to go back again!!!!!! -
Review from Lynn R.
Washington, DC
1/5/2012
The pizza is good here. I had one with sausage and pepperoni. It has a thin crust from the wood oven. The sauces are very fresh.
I did not like how the restaurant was half empty, but they seated all the patrons close together in the same section, rather than using more space and giving us privacy.
But, other than that, the ambiance is nice. -
Review from Marivic L.
Alexandria, VA
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
I like it here. I like the space, the casual vibe, and the service.
I tried the slider app with onion straws. Wow, those burgers were as tasty as they are cute. The onion straws, well, are addictive. Oddly, I kept eating and eating them, but the pile seemed to stay the same. HAHA.
Since I was with 2 other peeps, I got to try a slice o' pizza as well. If you like pepperoni, woah, then that pizza is for you. I like pepperoni, but DANG, this thing had pepperoni on like every centimeter. My friend who ordered it LOVES pep, so he was in heaven. Even though I'm not that into it, the pep was good, the sauce, cheese, and the crust were fantastic together, so I wouldn't hesitate to try other pizzas here - or anything else for that matter.
Yes! This has made my list of DC 'work' lunch places and it's closeby to boot. -
Review from Aaron H.
Arlington, VA
1/23/2012
went on a thursday night and after a 15 minute wait we got a table upstairs. It was a huge booth for only two of us which was nice.
We ordered sliders with onion straws and the tuna tartare to start out. Both were excellent. The other posters were right about the sliders. The portion of onion straws they were served with was also generous. The tuna tartare was also outstanding. Served with chips it had a good punch and the right amount of spice. If tartare is something you normally get, get the tuna here.
Dinner was a shared pizza. We ordered the Fire and Smoke and added pepperoni. It was added as very spicy but we both like hot and spicy. The kick was good but i would not say it was very spicy, at least for my standards. Was excellent though and would recommend it.
Desert was a gelato cookie sandwich. We had originally ordered a chocolate desert but the kitchen had run out so they gave us the gelato on the house. It was good and having it comped was a nice touch.
We drank a bottle of the featured pinot noir which was $24 and also good. With tip dinner was $97. We were both full and everything was very good. I would certainly recommend matchbox and will be back. -
Review from Jason L.
Conshohocken, PA
2/3/2012
Good pizza with very good service and beer I highly recommend this place for a fun simple night out!
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Review from Yoav M.
Washington, DC
1/5/2012
The food is alright, but the wait is ridiculous. We went on a Thursday night, and after telling us the wait was 40 minutes, they made us wait for over an hour and a half. That's more than twice as long. And they weren't nice about it either.
The least they could have done was give us a complimentary drink. Whatever you do, MAKE A RESERVATION before going here! -
Review from Ellen A.
Washington, DC
1/1/2012
I've lived in DC for a year and a half now and I've always wanted to try this place but the wait was always too long on weekends (I think that actually added to the appeal). We finally tried it last weekend for a late lunch and I must say that I really don't know what all the hype is about. The pizza was very average (at best). We ordered half smoke and fire and half veg. The sliders with crispy onions was quite good and lived up to other yelp reviews.
Next time I want a pizza I will head to Two Amy's or il Canale ...even paradiso. -
Review from Yelly A.
Washington, DC
1/3/2012
I'm giving the place 4 stars because I'm still a fan, but if I had to rate my recent brunch there, I would give it 2 stars.
DO NOT GET THE BANANA BREAD FRENCH TOAST. It's literally just 4 toasted pieces of mediocre banana bread drizzled lightly with syrup. There was nothing "french toast" about it. What a disappointment. FOR SHAME, MATCHBOX! -
Review from Yizhou D.
Blacksburg, VA
1/14/2012
LOVE the mini burgers!!!
In fact, I can't even remember the pizza here because I had too many mini burgers to notice. And don't even get me started on the onion string thingys that they serve with the burgers......(drools)
They don't take reservations, so either go at 3pm on a week night or be prepared to fight a crowd and wait 2 hours. They once had a flash sale where their burgers went for $3 each - the wait was over 3 hours. You have been warned! -
Review from Tiffany C.
Alexandria, VA
2/1/2012
Recently ate here with a friend and enjoyed it very much! The atmosphere was really nice and relaxing, plus the place looks really nice. Seems like a nice place to take a date. My friend and I split a large pizza which cost about $20 and was so yummy! Definitely wouldn't mind coming back again.
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Review from victoria h.
Brooklyn, NY
1/9/2012
Came here for brunch because i was getting addicted to benedicts for a while. And the crabcake benedict was just calling and screaming my name! Truthfully i ordered it just because of the eggs. But when the plate landed in front of me, i was in looove. The crabcake was just huge! it was about 3 inches and almost an inch thick. That was so worth it for $15 i think. Other places will charge you an arm and a leg for a teeny piece of crabcake. To top that off...it was wrapped in bacon!! I almost didn't want to share it with my bf. And we already ordered the sliders with the onion straws and a small pizza. it was so yum. I'm always trying to find reasons to go back to DC just for the crabcake haha...maybe when the cherry blossom festival starts.....
oh yeah...the burgers were good....but not as good as the onion straws =] -
Review from Melissa C.
New York, NY
1/29/2012
My friend and I shared the 6 mini burgers, which were delicious. The onion straws didn't live up to the hype but were strangely addictive. We also split a small pizza that was half oven-dried tomato and buffalo mozzarella and half fire & smoke. The fire & smoke really wasn't that spicy (and I am not a person with a high spice tolerance) but was delicious and had some sort of spicy filling under the cheese. The oven-dried tomato and mozzarella was good but paled in comparison to the fire & smoke. Very cool ambiance, we got seated very quickly at 1 pm on a Sunday but it quickly got very crowded. Quick service and cordial waitress. Overall, I would come back! A little steep at $17 for each of us but the fire & smoke pizza was really good.
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Review from Prakit D.
1/1/2012
We decided to check out Matchbox in Chinatown based on pizza recommendation. There were 4 of us so we ordered 4 different type of pizzas just so we got to try each one (Fire & Smoke, Sweet Sopresatta & Wild mushroom, Spicy Meatball, and Matchbox Meat) So this review pertains to pizza only as they have lots more to offer from burgers, sandwiches to steak. Maybe an updated review for another time.
Some interesting and mouth watering combination of toppings. Love the smell of pizzas coming out of wood-fired masonry oven as well as the thin, crisp slices NY style pizza. Nice modern decor and atmosphere and while the staff was friendly, the service left something to be desired. The waiting line can be long as it's located in busy district but the pizza was certainly worth the wait. -
Review from Amber F.
Lakewood, CA
12/19/2011
Ate here while on vacation because our hotel was in the area. I didn't dislike it, but I wasn't wowed either, unfortunately. The person who sat us was very friendly, but our waitress was very aloof and seemed kind of inconvenienced by having to wait a table that didn't want to order very much from the bar. (With a 12 year old at the table, mind you. Clearly, not here for happy hour.)
We split a pizza with sausage and pepperoni, which was decent but not super memorable except for the really great char on the crust from the woodfire. Seriously, my favorite bite was the last few ones of a slice that were all crunchy crust goodness.
Followed it up with the molten lava cake. It was cake, but I missed the "molten" or "lava" part. Tasty, but mislabeled.
I liked the set up and the ambiance of the place, but it just felt like it was trying too hard. -
Review from Alexis K.
Hyattsville, MD
1/16/2012
Pizza so-so, beware the overpriced (& over sweet, & incorrectly prepared) drinks, waitstaff extremely inattentive if friendly, nice atmosphere.
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Review from cassie r.
12/16/2011
Oh, the chips. I can't get them off my mind...crispy, seasoned, parmesan-loaded heaven. A worthwhile try if you happen into this spot in Chinatown.
A few of my colleagues and I decided to stop here for lunch the other day -- a sleekly modern, cozy joint, with a bevy of choices to feed whatever you're jonesin'.
I opted for the turkey and brie sandwich with the aforementioned crack chips...the sandwich was done well (lots of creamy brie smoothed between a toasty bun), and I've already gone on about those amazing chips, so I'll refrain from obsessing about them here.
My tablemates were also wowed by the mini burgers, pizza and salads too -- there wasn't an unsatisfied face at the table.
Our server was helpful and flexible (especially when we asked for separate checks at a table of 6). Prices were on the high side, but not outrageous. I've heard this place gets crazy in the evenings, so if you want to try it out without the crowd, opt for an early weekday lunch. Needless to say, make sure to try the chips! -
Review from Chitty S.
Arlington, VA
12/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Tuna tartar is amazing. Followed with the apple pear salad. Fire and smoke pizza with the herb dressing on the side absolute yum!
If you want some spice, the Fire and Smoke is really spicy but I like spicy food so it was good.
I am also a big fan of their Pear Tree drink a few of those will leave you with a buzz! -
Review from Mary S.
11/21/2011
I came here with 5 of my girl friends while visiting DC. This place was recommended for brunch by a mutual friend, so I decided it's worth the try.
I ordered the crabcakes benedict-cold, but otherwise alright.
The service was super unorganized and I felt like we were always looking for our server to return. We ordered 4 hot beverages, but the server only came with two spoons-who does that? So, we shared.
Out of the 6 of us, only 2 of us had warm food. One of our plates (huevos rancheros) was actually really cold, so it was sent back and it wasn't even compt at the end.
We had to ask repeatedly for the smallest things-a plate, or a spoon, etc. I would not recommend coming here. Maybe for a quick pizza, but that's about it. -
Review from Laurel S.
Arlington, VA
2/3/2012
We walked in at 945 to not be greeted by the 2 male hosts. I have a "count" that I do - if I make it to 5 with no acknowledgement I'm out. I made it to 5. But my boyfriend wanted to eat here so we stayed. Let me tell you as someone who came here when it first opened- it has changed! The clientele is MUCH different. It's not as trendy nor as "hip " as it once was. The beers took forever and there were 4 empty tables on our floor. The only saving grace were the sliders which are still wonderful. Super disappointed.
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Review from Jennifer K.
Baltimore, MD
1/5/2012
Apparently known for their pizza & mini burger sliders, this place was a hit among my friends and I. Most of the table ordered pizzas ( thin crust from woodfire oven) and I had a buffalo mozarella sandwich. Fries are awesome. Most lunch items were in the $10-15 range. Cool ambiance. Clean. In the heart of Chinatown.
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Review from syrus f.
Arcadia, CA
11/22/2011
One of the most memorable restaurants in D.C during our trip. It's their onion strings that did it. It was crazy lot. I think we ordered their sweet sopresatta & wild mushroom pizza as well? But don't really remember because all I could remember was their mountain high onion strings with parmesan cheese.. yum..
Service was also really excellent -
Review from audra m.
Hayward, CA
11/6/2011
This place is very trendy and beautiful inside. The lighting is nice and the service is great.
I ordered a small Pear & Walnut salad ($8). The thing was sooo small, I felt jipped but then I tasted it. The salad was so delicious I regretted ordering a small. My hubby ordered the slider appetizer, he got 3 sliders and a huge pile of onion straws. He really enjoyed them.
The place is a bit expensive but the food is really good. -
Review from Simon B.
11/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best pizza in the city? I ordered the fire & smoke pizza, supposedly NY style. Sure it was thin and from the brick oven, but it was drenched in oil so much that I had to use paper napkins on the pizza. The crust ended up being so mushy I couldn't hold it. Then, there's also that the pizza was advertised as "very spicy", and I couldn't even feel it a little.
Best mini-burgers / sliders? For $14, 6 of these still probably isn't even 1/4lb of meat. Each little patty has 1.5in in diameter, and about 3/4in thick. The little bun has nothing in it other than a pickle, and you're given ketchup on the side. Nothing amazing taste-wise, you'd imagine. The best part of this dish was the onion strings, which were surprisingly addictive.
They have a nice draft selection but our waitress knew nothing about it. My girlfriend asked for a light summer beer, and the waitress suggested an oatmeal stout (?!). -
Review from E k.
Washington, DC
12/4/2011
I stopped in with an out-of-town friend for a Sunday brunch. We got there around noon and I was concerned that we'd have to wait forever for a table...But, to my happy surprise, we were seated in less than 10 minutes! The service was amazing. Our waitress was super nice and organized. My friend and I split an AMAZING woodfire pizza (the veggie, I think) and some of Matchbox's famous sliders + onion straws. Holy Yum!! You cannot go wrong with a MOUNTAIN of onion straws and little burgers.
While it seems strange to get such awesome American fare (literally) in the shadows of the Chinatown arch, I cannot wait to come back! -
Review from Erin S.
Mount Pleasant, Washington, DC
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pizza was great but the service was absolutely horrible. Forgot our drink order, filthy beer glass, very slow. Haven't had this bad an experience at a restaurant in a long time.
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Review from Meg R.
Updated - 11/8/2011
I'm still a big fan of this place despite the long wait at peak hours. My recommendation is to put your name in, get a time estimate, and wonder around Chinatown to pass the time. You can grab coffee at Starbucks, a Guinness at Fado, or browse the books at Urban Outfitters.
I've now sampled quite a few of the pizzas and I have to say my favorites are the Spicy Meatball and simple pepperoni with tons of added veggies. I actually didn't like the Fire & Smoke that seems to be so popular - I found the sauce to be a bit on the bland side.
Just FYI, you can do 1/2 and 1/2 on the specialty pizzas if you order the large size.
All of the salads have impressed me and the mixed drinks are done well.
Overall, one of my all-time favorites in D.C. and I'm so excited to be getting a location in my neighborhood soon.Listed in: The Spots for Out-of-Town…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/17/2009
Delicious mini-burgers, like many people have said. A small Apple/Pear salad was enough to split… Read more »
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Review from J.P. S.
Washington, DC
12/17/2011
The bottom line about Matchbox is that the food is generally great and waiter service is generally good, but the host stand is almost always horrible since the hosts are typically rude and arrogent and act like they are doing you a favor by allowing you to eat there - something I have found at other Matchbox affiliates, such as Ted's Bullitan in Eastern Market. Also, the host rarely gives you an accurate time to be seated - they should err on telling you the wait is an hour and then surprising you with a table in 30 minutes - I have found that the exact opposite usually happens. I have been waiting for over an hour on a weekend night and been seated next to empty tables waiting to be cleaned - there is never an excuse for that.
I have been here 20 times because my friends like it, but every time I leave telling myself that the torture you go thought to get your food is just not worth it. -
Review from Jewel W.
Washington, DC
10/29/2011
One Monday afternoon in October, I joined a fabulous, fellow Yelper for an early dinner at Matchbox Chinatown. I've lived just a stone's throw away from the hotspot for years, but never made it in; partially because I'm not a universal lover of pizza (All pie ain't good pie!) and partially because I have the patience of a Saint Bernard and refuse to yield to 25 minute waits when I'm in the mood for tasty eats. (*Kanye Shrug*) Although things got off to an icky start when I accidentally cut in front of two tourists waiting to be seated (Hanging Head in Shame....), my dining experience here was a great one.
We were led up a small set of stairs to the second level of the restaurant -- there you'll find rows of tables lining the walls, booths (Those are reserved for parties of two or more, by the way...), a bar, and a kick-ass atrium ceiling. (Nothing like watching a pigeon poop while digesting a slice of pepperoni pizza!)
The house staff -- everyone from the greeters to the hostess -- welcomed us with a "How Do You Do?" and a smile. A fact which made me feel a whole lot better about dropping $14 bucks for a crab cake sandwich and $24 bucks on a pair of Cosmos. (During Happy Hour, no less! Can a Sista get a discount?) Our server, Ryan: "Like a Boy" (Her words, not mine...), was knowledgeable about the expansive selection of red and white wines, thoughtful about answering questions and making recommendations, and sweet as she informed me that cocktail sauce is as extinct as the dinosaurs here at Matchbox Chinatown. (Insert Sad Face Here...)
Though I was forced to inhale my sandwich without the tangy topping of cocktail sauce, it was still one of the better crab cake sandwiches I've devoured in all my years as a Washingtonian. (Heaven knows this city wouldn't know good seafood if it were bit on the ass by a lobster.) It was plump, lumpy, and full o' meat - just the way I like my crab cake. (That's the way some people like their women, but that's a topic for another day...)
Of course, I couldn't call myself a fair and balanced Yelper if I didn't find at least one thing to rant about. So here goes: I found the menu to be a bit skimpy, if pizza isn't exactly your forte. Management makes up for this with a vast assortment of drinks, prepared by a bartender with quite the heavy hand. (Thank you very much, Sir or Madam!) There are all kinds of Mimosas and an entire selection of Bloody Marys.
I'd suggest swinging by weekday evenings to avoid the crush of pregaming Chinatown partiers that frequent these parts on weekends.
Final Verdict: I'm sure I'll eventually find something to hate about this restaurant (Don't I always?), but for now...(*Thinking....Thinking....Thinking*) Nope, I've got nothing. An all around great place for a drink, a first date, or swapping sex stories with your girlfriends. (Hey -- If you're going to take away cocktail sauce, you have to give me my fix of zing somehow!) -
Review from Joy H.
Oakland, CA
12/14/2011
Nothing really special, but pretty good. Split a pizza and salad, which were both decent. I am very picky with my pizzas, and hate when the bottom of the center gets soggy. I found that to be the case with these pizzas. They were slightly above CPK level in my mind.
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Review from Jando S.
9/19/2011 4 photos
Is it bad that the only reason I ever venture to DC Chinatown anymore is to hang out here at Matchbox? Believe it.
The place is remarkably trendy and intimate, boasting an interior that almost seems more appropriate for an after work drink than for food. But dig a little deeper into the menu and one is sure to find a few little gems.
Some of those gems include a mean array of sliders - small yet tasty, the perfect group appetizer while knocking back a drink or two. The 9 combo sliders get the best bang for your buck at $2.00, any other lesser combo is almost highway robbery. Even though it's pricey, I'm a fan of their scallops gratin, which is usually cooked just perfectly while laying on a bed of goat cheese and goat cheese. It is as good as it sounds.
Pizzas are apparently what they do best, but sadly most of the ones I've sampled were on the mediocre side. The buffalo mozzarella and sun dried tomatoes sounded promising but was bland. Ditto goes for the spicy meatball pizza and the prosciutto wine. I am being told that the Matchbox Meat and the chicken pesto are worth a shot.
Service here has always been a bit lackluster for me. It might be my fault for only coming here when it's insanely busy and during the late night when there are one too many drunkards around. I'll give them another shot during a much more civilized hour: a hungover brunch. -
Review from Alexandra S.
Los Angeles, CA
10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really good food. Great service. I felt that Christy was so so helpful in making sure that the two of us were seated promptly. She was very thoughtful in a hectic busy environment. She didn't make us wait too long. So nice and accommodating. Thank you Christy!
I had the sliders with the gorgonzola cheese. This is an amazing flavorful combination. I suggest these as a must have item. I had "something fruity" cocktail and it was very fresh hence the name. Overall delightful experience. I will suggest to friends and will be coming back! Next time for the pizza -
Review from Lindsay R.
Ashburn, VA
10/16/2011
I have been to Matchbox twice now and really enjoyed both experiences. Generally, I go right for their pizzas and salads which are delicious. I don't have much experience with the other dishes, but they seem popular. I have also had excellent experiences with the front of house and wait staff. Definitely a spot to bring friends for a casual and classy evening that's convenient to the metro and the rest of Chinatown.
The first time, my boyfriend and I came in from a rainy afternoon and wanted to try a bunch of different pizzas. Our favorites were the fire and smoke and the pesto pizza with ham and arugula. You can try a lot with just a few people because they let you do different types on halves of the same pizza. I was really cold from being a bit damp, and the waiter brought me tea on the house. It was much appreciated!
I just went again with a large group and had an equally good time. Even with six people, they found us a great spot on the patio on a Friday night. The waiter was fairly knowledgeable, but stumbled a bit on draft beer descriptions and the price of the specials. But he was great on checking that anything we ordered didn't have nuts because someone in our party had a severe allergy. Looking forward to our next visit! -
Review from Krystal D.
Washington, DC
9/18/2011 2 Check-ins Here
What is there to say about Matchbox that hasn't already been said?
Matchbox is another one of those places that has been on my "Must Try" list since I moved here. Not only did all of the great Yelp reviews draw me in, but one of my coworkers absolutely raves about this place.
To be honest, I was skeptical. I grew up in Connecticut and spent two years living in New York City, so I'm a bit of a pizza snob. Nine times out of ten, I'm disappointed with pizza places outside of CT/NY. That being said, Matchbox made the cut.
The BF and I went in on a random Friday afternoon, expecting to be seated fairly quickly at 2:00, assuming that the prime lunch hours had passed. Wrong. We were given a 45 minute wait. They give you the option to have a nice glass of vino while you wait, so no harm done.
Once seated, we ordered the sliders that everyone raves about. They were as delicious as everyone says they are, but they are definitely not the star of the show. The pizza takes the cake.
We ordered a small pizza to share. One one half we has the Four Cheese White and added prosciutto. The other half was the Matchbox Meat. Both were outstanding in very different ways. The flavors in the Four Cheese White were subtle, and complimented each other wonderfully. The Matchbox Meat was a literal flavor explosion. It's impossible to say which I liked more, because they were so different from each other. I was impressed by the chef's ability to make two very different pizzas taste equally as delicious.
(Side note: The small pizza is definitely a personal-size pizza. If you're even a little hungry, it's not big enough to share!).
The only disappointment was dessert. We ordered the gelato cookie sandwich, with vanilla gelato. The cookies were too crispy to allow the dessert to be eaten as an actual sandwich. Softer cookies would have worked much better...and warm cookies would have made the dish much more impressive. Also, the gelato was a bit too icy and not quite creamy enough. While a good idea in theory, I felt that the execution of the dish was rather disappointing.
Still, a disappointing dessert definitely won't keep me away. I can't wait to come back and try more pizzas!Listed in: Restaurant Rotations- DC
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Review from Cara A.
Atlanta, GA
12/29/2011
Menu is good, not great - only a few veggie options and only one vegan option. What I did order (roasted tomato linguine) was wonderful. My dining partner had a pizza which she "built" on her own - it did look good and she said the pizzas were the highlight of the menu. Service was good but not great as well, our waiter left us alone but maybe a little too long. Still would recommend.
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Review from King D.
Alexandria, VA
1/26/2012 2 Check-ins Here
well this place is awesome I love it great pizza awesome mini burgers in the heart of china town and they close at 12 nice bar as well
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Review from C V.
Washington, DC
12/8/2011
It used to be my to-go pizza place but not anymore. Last time for brunch, my husband and I order a pizza each. To our surprise both came really greasy and tasteless. It seems that in the rush of brunch time on a Sunday, cooks did not place any effort on making a good pizza. It was absolutely soggy and gross. On top of this, I ordered my pizza with feta however there were two pea sized traces of feta. After complaining to the waiter, I received a separate dish with feta to put on the pizza. But seriously, how can you serve pizzas like that? Not worth the price or effort
