long before we struck our first match
lit our brick oven and welcomed our first guest, stood a vision for a high energy restaurant with delicious food and drinks that would come to be known for bringing people together. In 2002 we found an old vacant building in the heart of Washington DC and outlined a set of core beliefs that would be the first step in bringing our vision to life.
FOOD SHOULD BE FUN AND INCLUSIVE Feature a delicious, fun-to-share menu with crave-worthy options for every type of eater, occasion and diet.
GREAT RESTAURANTS START WITH GREAT PEOPLE Provide every team member with the tools, training and opportunity to rapidly advance within our organization.
LOCAL BUSINESS, LOCAL PARTNERS Support other small local businesses that share our same values and create new opportunities in each community where we do business.
OBSESS OVER THE DETAILS From the warm smiles that greet our guests to the perfect amount of wood-fired char on our pizza crust, every detail plays an equally important role in our guests’ experiences.
IN JULY OF 2003
matchbox opened its first location and quickly became known for wood-fired pizzas, mini burgers, fresh salads and chef-inspired entrées, like pan-seared sea bass and oven-roasted filet mignon. We like to call it elevated American bistro fare, crafted from high quality ingredients with a chef at the helm in every kitchen.
By the end of our founding year, matchbox had become a neighborhood fixture and earned the honor of Washington, DC’s "Best New Restaurant” of 2003 by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW).
Two decades later, matchbox has grown to twelve restaurants in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia and Florida. We’ve been successful over the years because we’ve stayed true to our original beliefs and continue to be inspired by creating friendly, high energy gathering places with delicious food and drinks that bring people together.
