Tucked neatly along Barracks Row, not unlike a match in the titular Matchbox, sits Matchbox. The perfect spot to sit down with friends at the end of a long week. The menu isn't overly creative, but it doesn't need to be. For me, the crispy chicken cobb salad. For her, the full rack of BBQ baby back ribs. Simple, yet well-executed, American food with smooth service, nestled in the heart of Capitol Hill -- now that would put a wooden smile on old George's face. Matchbox isn't going to change the world, but it might just change your night.
Will A.
This place has sadly gone down hill over the last few years. Service used to be excellent, but the last two times I have been the service has been mediocre at best. My server the last two times has had a limited knowledge of the beer menu, to the point of not understanding the difference in a pale ale and pilsner. The restaurant is constantly out of their tap beers, with no CO2 one time and then being out of a fairly popular local beer the next time. I substituted a "Matchbox Pro Lager" which I am 98% sure was a domestic draft. Service is painfully slow and inconsistent--one of our party recently had to wait 15min longer than the other two for their entree. Food is fine, but not worth the high price. Pizzas are still good, but best to order them to go and avoid in-person dining.
Margaret Kennedy
Unreliable. I placed a delivery order and they canceled for no reason almost 20 minutes into my 45 minute wait for my food. Do now I get to start over somewhere else. Inconsiderate and rude. Will never patronize a matchbox again. Zero stars if I could.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Sandra O'Connor
Very friendly for large groups, we had a great time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Mini Burgers
Felix Gonzalez
I havent eaten yet and I am already disspapointed. My wife ordered a cold brew and the waiter told her they are not serving cold brews because they are too busy. Really? Thats the reason? You shouldnt be open then.... or needs better personnel.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Tammy Winslow
I go to eat the apple pear salad with salmon, the best. So so
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yohannes
I have been in so many different restaurants, and I have had a good experience in Matchbox before at the Pentagon. This is the worst place ever. The food is crazy. It doesn't taste anything. The draft bar is out of order. The server is not even professional. She doesn't even wear gloves when she cuts lemons. The food was terrible, so I didn't finish it. I had two bites, and then left it. What surprised me was that the server didn't even ask me if I liked it or not, so she just grabbed it and dabbed it.I hate to say this, but I will never return to this place.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
RobertP
Came here for brunch. We were seated quickly, but took a while for our food. Servers were decent but not friendly. We ordered pizza, traditional breakfast, salad, a bottle for mimosas (3 juices). The food was less fresh, less delicious this time around. Also missed the “cornflakes French toast” from the previous menu (Nov 2023). All in all, we'd go again just for the mimosas.
My daughter and I had great service from an amazing bartender that took the time to come from around the bar and in to the dinning area to take our orders and serve us. Great attention to detail.
Overall the ambiance was good, bright and clean. Our service was slow and disjointed. Our apps arrived before our drinks, entrees arrived one at a time and people waited to eat. The food was ok with some things, the aricini and the bread were very good, tuna salad, good and the burger and pizza ok.
Bobbi D.
I got a salad from another location a couple years ago and randomly remembered it and REALLY wanted it... and it was just as yummy as I remembered! And this time we also got drinks, the table bread, and sliders and everything was delicious!!! That table bread smells like heaven... super fluffy and garlicky! We just missed happy hour (ends at 6)...but there was zero wait and it was pretty empty on a Tuesday night, so the service was amazing and quick. And I'm glad we still got drinks (not too expensive either even without happy hour)... the cute ass cosmo was DELICIOUS! Highly recommend if you like sweet/strong drinks, haha. And the food was amazing - sliders were tasty and the crispy chicken salad is amazing. Highly recommend. Will definitely be back!
Jason Foppe
Really great spot. Awesome service. The food was mint!
Just AWFUL. Shrimp and grits was VERY salty. Pizza crust was burned beyond recognition. Service was terrible. Entrees arrived at different times. Waitress literally disappeared after last entree was brought to the table. No silverware setup-had to ask while entrees got cold. No offer to refill drinks. Dirty dishes were not cleared. No offer for dessert and coffee. NEVER AGAIN!
GenomeM
The ribeye was soooo thin for $38 It was not crowded so I guess our waitress just let us be, but we always had to get someone to get her. She didn't even close us out. I would recommend with precautions.
Tucked neatly along Barracks Row, not unlike a match in the titular Matchbox, sits Matchbox. The perfect spot to sit down with friends at the end of a long week. The menu isn't overly creative, but it doesn't need to be. For me, the crispy chicken cobb salad. For her, the full rack of BBQ baby back ribs. Simple, yet well-executed, American food with smooth service, nestled in the heart of Capitol Hill -- now that would put a wooden smile on old George's face. Matchbox isn't going to change the world, but it might just change your night.
This place has sadly gone down hill over the last few years. Service used to be excellent, but the last two times I have been the service has been mediocre at best. My server the last two times has had a limited knowledge of the beer menu, to the point of not understanding the difference in a pale ale and pilsner. The restaurant is constantly out of their tap beers, with no CO2 one time and then being out of a fairly popular local beer the next time. I substituted a "Matchbox Pro Lager" which I am 98% sure was a domestic draft. Service is painfully slow and inconsistent--one of our party recently had to wait 15min longer than the other two for their entree. Food is fine, but not worth the high price. Pizzas are still good, but best to order them to go and avoid in-person dining.
Unreliable. I placed a delivery order and they canceled for no reason almost 20 minutes into my 45 minute wait for my food. Do now I get to start over somewhere else. Inconsiderate and rude. Will never patronize a matchbox again. Zero stars if I could.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Very friendly for large groups, we had a great time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Mini Burgers
I havent eaten yet and I am already disspapointed. My wife ordered a cold brew and the waiter told her they are not serving cold brews because they are too busy. Really? Thats the reason? You shouldnt be open then.... or needs better personnel.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
I go to eat the apple pear salad with salmon, the best. So so
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have been in so many different restaurants, and I have had a good experience in Matchbox before at the Pentagon. This is the worst place ever. The food is crazy. It doesn't taste anything. The draft bar is out of order. The server is not even professional. She doesn't even wear gloves when she cuts lemons. The food was terrible, so I didn't finish it. I had two bites, and then left it. What surprised me was that the server didn't even ask me if I liked it or not, so she just grabbed it and dabbed it.I hate to say this, but I will never return to this place.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Came here for brunch. We were seated quickly, but took a while for our food. Servers were decent but not friendly. We ordered pizza, traditional breakfast, salad, a bottle for mimosas (3 juices). The food was less fresh, less delicious this time around. Also missed the “cornflakes French toast” from the previous menu (Nov 2023). All in all, we'd go again just for the mimosas.
My daughter and I had great service from an amazing bartender that took the time to come from around the bar and in to the dinning area to take our orders and serve us. Great attention to detail.
Great food. My cobb salad was
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Salad
Restaurantji Recommends
Overall the ambiance was good, bright and clean. Our service was slow and disjointed. Our apps arrived before our drinks, entrees arrived one at a time and people waited to eat. The food was ok with some things, the aricini and the bread were very good, tuna salad, good and the burger and pizza ok.
I got a salad from another location a couple years ago and randomly remembered it and REALLY wanted it... and it was just as yummy as I remembered! And this time we also got drinks, the table bread, and sliders and everything was delicious!!! That table bread smells like heaven... super fluffy and garlicky! We just missed happy hour (ends at 6)...but there was zero wait and it was pretty empty on a Tuesday night, so the service was amazing and quick. And I'm glad we still got drinks (not too expensive either even without happy hour)... the cute ass cosmo was DELICIOUS! Highly recommend if you like sweet/strong drinks, haha. And the food was amazing - sliders were tasty and the crispy chicken salad is amazing. Highly recommend. Will definitely be back!
Really great spot. Awesome service. The food was mint!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes, Cheese Pizza, Salad
Just AWFUL. Shrimp and grits was VERY salty. Pizza crust was burned beyond recognition. Service was terrible. Entrees arrived at different times. Waitress literally disappeared after last entree was brought to the table. No silverware setup-had to ask while entrees got cold. No offer to refill drinks. Dirty dishes were not cleared. No offer for dessert and coffee. NEVER AGAIN!
The ribeye was soooo thin for $38 It was not crowded so I guess our waitress just let us be, but we always had to get someone to get her. She didn't even close us out. I would recommend with precautions.