Matchbox is My New Favorite Restaurant

Prosciutto and Black Mission Fig Pizza

Whenever someone asks me for a local restaurant recommendation, I have a few stand-by's that I always turn to. Best sushi? Sushi Yoshi. Date night? Nostos or Harth. Dinner with the kids? Pazzo Pamodoro or Plaka Grill. And now, after dining at Matchbox in Merrifield's new Mosaic Center, I am thrilled to add a new favorite to the list. Matchbox doesn't just fit one bucket, though, it fits many - date night, dinner with the kids, weekend lunch, parents visiting from out of town, happy hour with coworkers, girls night out, you name it.

This is the first suburban outlet for the DC based chain, and it truly does feel like an oasis of DC cool for us suburbanites. Opened for just a few weeks now, they don't do everything right (the website is a bit frustrating and the call-ahead estimates need some work), but they do the most important things so very, very well - food, service and ambiance.

The decor is very modern with cozy booths and tons of reclaimed wood from their original DC location. The bar area is nicely sized with plenty of seating. If the cheerful bartenders don't improve your mood, the awesome drink list will. Cocktails are hard to resist as they're listed in two categories: "Girlie Drinks" and "Manly Drinks". Wine is served in three sizes too which equate to a glass, 1/2 bottle and bottle due to the wine kegs they use rather than actual bottles. I found myself wishing for a higher tolerance so I could try something from both, but alas, another great reason to come back.

The server that took care of our table claimed it was his first night on the floor, but we never would have guessed it. He seemed very well-versed in the menu and drink selections, was super friendly and just the right level of attentive. He didn't even seem to mind us hanging out after we finished eating to wait for a friend to stop by for another drink.

Now for the food. I will start by saying that though the menu isn't incredibly long, it is really, really hard to order because everything sounds so good. Between us, we had the tomato basil soup, tuna tartar, pizza with prosciutto and black mission figs, and a fried calamari salad. Though the soup and salad were excellent, I will be dreaming of that pizza and tuna tartar for months to come. The pizza crust was so thin and crispy and topped with a mouthwatering combination of juicy black mission figs, Gorgonzola, black pepper, and what I would swear was either honey or maybe a syrup the figs were soaking in. Whatever it was, it was spectacular. The tuna tartar was beautifully presented and served with crispy yucca chips. It had a nice kick to it and the two sauces it came with were bright and perfect complements. I've eaten a lot of raw tuna in my life and this one was in the top.

Matchbox doesn't take reservations, rather they do call-ahead seating, so planning an evening around it will be tough, but definitely worth your time. Don't get discouraged when they tell you an hour wait, though, we were sat within 15 minutes.

So go with your friends, your family, your coworkers, or by yourself. Even better, invite me along! We'll have a few manly drinks and split a pizza and some sliders - I'm dying to try the "fire and smoke" with roasted red peppers, chipotle pepper, smoked Gouda and pureed garlic. Yum.