matchbox

Reviews 5

MO

Morgan Abbou

Matchbox est une chaine de restaurants à Washington D.C. dont la particularité est de sétablir dans des endroits assez exceptionnels et de leur redonner tout leur éclat avant douvrir le restaurant. Celui de la 14ème rue sest monté sur les ruines dun ancien bowling. Lendroit est simplement fantastique. Gigantesque avec un étage, une ambiance moderne, tamisée. Idéal pour prendre un verre ou pour dîner. Le service est digne de la réputation américaine : accueilli avec le sourire, on est vite placé à la table de son choix. Nous avons choisi la terrasse par ce beau temps dété et pour échapper à lair conditionné assez fort. Les plats sont très créatifs et tous aussi délicieux les uns que les autres. En entrée, le mozzi carrozzi est délicieux (pain italien, mozzarella, tomates romaines, basilic, légèrement frit, sauce tomate piqante). Idéal à partager comme des tapas. En plat, la célèbre perche de Washington D.C. poêlée avec risotto aux champignons, choux de Bruxelles croustillants et sauce à lorange sanguine. Le poisson est parfaitement cuit, les choux de Bruxelles sont vraiment excellents et la sauce saccorde bien avec le plat. On se régale. On est passé à côté des pizzas qui sont leur spécialité. A tester une prochaine fois. On arrose le tout dun bon prossecco est on est aux anges. Une belle adresse avec un bon rapport qualité prix, à tester si vous passez par Washington D.C.

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BR

Branden Elmore

My colleagues and I met up in DC for a mutual friends birthday celebration. We were a party of 7 and 3 individuals had never been before and the majority of us had never visited at this location as well. We went in and were instantly sat as we made a reservation and due to traffic and parking happened to be a few moments late. However, upon sitting down we were not greeted with the same enthusiasm. Our server was extremely short and non-suggestive. We were all excited and dressed for the event as we were celebrating our good friend for his birthday and attempted to enjoy ourselves for the remainder of dinner. During dinner we had several instances where we could either not find our server, he neglected to come back to the table, or we had to find someone else to refill or reorder drinks. Towards the end of dinner, and after receiving the obligatory brownie dessert for our friend, we awaited another 30 mins before having to ask to speak to a manager to grab our checks. At this point we were beginning to become flustered as we were parked in two-hour parking a few blocks away and had not planned for such a long experience. The server (after 45 mins or so) comes back to the table with separate checks. I had already informed him that I would be taking care of the check for our friend who was celebrating their birthday. We give him payment and he leaves after about 20 minutes we request for a manager yet again. Trying to not be difficult we just ask for him to grab our checks, within 5 mins the server was back with the checks and it was then that I had reached a personal breaking point when my card was slid twice for my check and the one I was taking care of. I had been in the service industry before and I believe to be etiquette to combine the checks and take one payment when I had customers paying for separate checks. Needless to say the manager took care of 1 drink off the check and we will not be visiting this location again. For this to had been a Monday evening we were surprised at how disappointing the service and experience was overall. Very sloppy customer service from the server and there was no excuse as literally each individual in my party had experienced a personal moment of frustration that ended up changing the mood for the evening.

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KA

Kate Bigam

I really like Matchbox. Everyone really likes Matchbox, right? Its an upscale pizza place with famous sliders - casual & familiar enough to take your Midwestern family there for dinner when they visit during tourist season, but classy enough for a first date or drinks with friends before going dancing at Saint Ex next door. If youre going to Matchbox, you should be getting the pizza, period. Its borderline perfection - thin-crust, crispy, not too heavy or too greasy, with fresh toppings & interesting combinations. My favorite is the Prosciutto & Black Mission Fig, which also includes roasted garlic, mozzarella, Gorgonzola, & black pepper - divine, almost dessert-like, very fresh. Im also a big fan of the Fire & Smoke pizza: a spicy combo of fire-roasted red peppers, Spanish onions, chipotle pepper, tomato sauce, garlic puree, smoked gouda, fresh basil. If youre NOT getting pizza - or even if you are but want a hearty appetizer - the next most acceptable thing on the menu is their mini burgers. You can order three, six, or nine, & they come with a pile of onion straws that I cant help but inhale every time. Dont expect me to share mine. The one thing I do NOT like at Matchbox is the Fire & Smoke drink, not to be confused with the delicious pizza of the same name. This drink tastes like someone ground out cigarette butts in a glass - not smoky in a good way, smoky in a cancerous way. Avoid at all costs - but every other drink Ive ever had there has been delicious. The ambiance is cozy - spacious building with high ceilings & an open format, but its dark & glowing, so it feels intimate. If youre there for a special occasion with a five or six, ask if you can sit at one of their "floating" tables, two booths that seem to hang over the rest of the restaurant & offer a great aerial view of the kitchen & bar from through their glass walls.

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BL

Blake Ourso

Not sure how to rate the service because it was our friend waiting on us and it was his first day. To cut him some slack, he was busier than he should have been lol. The food was pretty good here but the prices are not justified whatsoever. Places in DC seriously get away with murder when they sell beer/food. This place baffles me with its prices but what can you do? Not go, I suppose. So we ended up getting some burger-slider-thingies. Why are they even called sliders? Please explain... The good part about their sliders were that they can be cooked to order! We got medium. Compromised from my med-rare to another persons med-well. Some people just dont know how to eat beef... The "sliders" came with a pile of onion shreds, fried. They were great to snack on! The sliders were surprisingly good as well. Afterwards we got a pesto chicken pizza. It was simply amazing, but again not worth its ridiculous price. Beer was also overpriced, obviously. Mixed drinks were medium strength and pretty much acceptable, but not for the price... Noticing a trend, yet? Decor was cool, though. lots of wood. Everywhere! I didnt quite understand these two special tables that were more or less elevated and separated from the rest of the 2nd floor where they wasted enough, if they made it, floor space for about 8 more tables. Gimmick much? Probably would have helped with our 15 minute wait for a table. Just saying, management... All in all it was a decent time, but overpriced. Food was good, beer was plentiful with choice and the girls enjoyed their random selection of prissy drinks :)

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CA

Carol Chan

While stuffing my face with a burger and checking my phone, I received an email from a contest I entered earlier in the week - a free happy hour tasting for two. I was the lucky winner. Already just had lunch, I wasnt particularly hungry coming to the event. But the happy hour menu was too good to turn down. Lobster roll - scrumptious! Id been ordering lobster rolls whenever I see it on the menu for the past weeks - hands down, Matchboxs wins. No mayo, pure butter, fresh lobster meat. Probably the best deal/secret in town - $12! Pork Belly - Perfect fat and meat ratio. Dissolved right in my mouth yet didnt taste overly fatty. I loved the pairing with creamy purée and a hint of sriracha glaze. Mozzarella with sliced peach - freshly made mozzarella, what is not to love? Paired with perfectly ripen in season peach - delish! We also sampled meatballs with marinara sauce + toasts, cheesy garlic bread, and small white potatoes - all of which we enjoyed (if only I planned my meals out better, way too full to have seconds!) Although it was a free tasting event, the service was warm and beyond attentive. Drinks were constantly refilled and brought out. The managers stopped by our table and asked for inputs. They even allowed us to make special requests for items we wanted to sample once (twice) more. Of course I had to ask for another round of lobster rolls and pork belly! Overall - Definitely come for their happy hours feast - the best deal in town!

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