Matchbox

Enjoyed a mid-week happy hour at Matchbox. The bartender Charlie was very welcoming and did a great job of checking in throughout my visit to make sure everything was good. I originally had planned to sit outside on the patio when I arrived because it was a beautiful day, but when I walked in I decided to grab a seat at the bar because the interior of the building was gorgeous. There are two floor, and the layout and design are stunning. The food and drinks were just as impressive as the ambiance. To drink I enjoyed the Fire Pit Pounder which was a good balance of tart and sweetness. For food I had the Happy Hour Margherita Pizza, which was made with super fresh ingredients, including crushed tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, and swirls of Olive Oil. I will definitely be making my way back here for a full dinner experience.

Food it was delicious and service was excellent. At first our calamari appetizer's portion was smaller than we thought it would be. We decided not to anything since it wasn't that big of a deal, but the manager happened to come over to us to inquire about everything and ended up giving us another order of calamari for free! If you like pasta and meatballs, I highly recommend the gigantic meatball and pasta entree! It's a grand amount of food and the meatball is HUGE, tender, juicy, and delicious! My boyfriend had the Lobster Pizza which he also enjoyed!

Matchbox is an American restaurant that specializes in wood-fired pizzas, mini burgers, fresh salads, chef-inspired entrées, craft beer, and cocktails. For faster service, my boyfriend and I sat at the bar. Each seating had a place mat, silverware, and newspaper. Our server Mario was attentive and hospitable. We had Patio Pounder Lemonade, which consisted of watermelon infused vodka, lemonade, and fresh muddled watermelon. It was delicious, light, fruity, and refreshing. I wish I could have refills on this HAHA. In addition to the cocktails, I had the Apple + Pear salad, which consisted mesclun greens, chopped apple and pear, and candied pecans lightly tossed in a honey balsamic vinaigrette. I wish that the salad had more apple and pear in it.

Let me tell you about the most incredible experience. I’ve been to matchbox countless times, but this time was different. My sister and I went to dinner last night at the 14th street location. I just finished a gallbladder surgery 3 weeks ago, so my diet is very strict for low fat foods/nothing fried and as little oil as possible. That makes it difficult to eat out but I don’t want this to make me less of a human or prevent me from having a great night. I explained my situation to (honestly the best server I’ve ever had, ever!) our server Dezhane. She was already incredible before I mentioned this, but not only repeated everything back to me but brought out two different chefs, including the Executice Chef to come and speak to me directly on what exactly I want. I saw the pan seared salmon dish came with a risotto, and they customized this dish so it had little oil, no cheese and no bacon for my needs. The dish came out OUT OF THIS WORLD with a pea purée and grilled tomatoes. This reminded me of the way my mom makes it back home. Not all servers would do what Dezhane did, and she went above and beyond. I know my requests and dietary restrictions were specific and difficult for the restaurant, but Matchbox made it happen. Thank you so much to everyone from the bottom of my heart. My first experience post surgery back out on the town was a success! Thank you to Dezhane (we’ll ask for you next time!) the managers and the chefs for your amazing service. I’ve worked in the restaurant industry before, and this blew my mind. Thank you so much. I am enjoying my leftovers for lunch today! - Rachel