Good things come in threes at the new Matchbox on 14th street—three levels of seating, mini burgers in multiples of three—chances are you’ve been to one of their other locations before, so you get the idea. The newest addition to the matchboxfoodgroup’s restaurants is their location over on 14th and T streets, NW.
Housed in a building that was once a bowling alley and pool hall in 1907, an automobile showroom, the former Club Bali jazz club and rehearsal space for Arena Stage Theatre Company, the restaurant is giving the space new life while paying homage to some of its previous iterations. For example, you’ll notice the counter top at the bar is designed to look like a bowling lane, as it stretches out and morphs into a semi-open kitchen. Look up and you’ll notice the restaurant group kept the original ceiling and steel girders; look to the side and you’ll see the building’s original, exposed brick bring a warmth to the atmosphere.
While the 14th NW location isn’t the largest outpost from the group, the space is enormous. There are three levels that can hold more than 250 people as well as an outdoor patio for 60 (plus eight of you lucky few that get the table with a firepit). In other words, if you’re in need of a place for dinner that can accommodate larger parties of say six or eight, Matchbox has you covered. If you’re not dining in, they’ve got a separate entrance for online and phone-in to-go orders. The restaurant’s chef’s table (photo below) for eight next to the kitchen isn’t offering a different menu for now, though a publicist for the restaurant group says that could change based on the public’s demand.
As for the food, you’ll still be able to order tried and true favorites from their other locations, such as the 3.6.9 mini burgers and thin-crust pizzas. The 14th street location also has some unique entrees from chef Jeffrey Richardson such as braised beef short ribs with turmeric vegetables and fingerling potatoes in a coconut curry sauce, as well as seared sea scallops with spinach and a pork belly risotto.
The 14th street spot will also start serving weekend brunch on December 8th from 10 AM to 3 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, according to their website. Brunch will pretty much be the same menu that’s available at the Chinatown location, with dishes such as cast iron-baked cinnamon rolls, the bloody mary burger and brunch pizza with onion, sausage, smoked gouda, scrambled eggs and pico de gallo with chipotle sour cream. One noticeable difference is the New Orleans french toast available at the 14th street location which has strawberries, candied pecans and a caramel rum syrup.
Matchbox is located at 1901 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20009. For reservations or to place to-go orders, call 202-328-0369. Follow the restaurant group on twitter @matchboxdc.
