Matchbox’s New Penn Quarter Location Opens This Week - Eater DC

"There’s about to be a new Matchbox in the neighborhood in Penn Quarter. Earlier this spring, the homegrown pizza chain vacated the Chinatown location on H Street where it originally got its start 10 years ago in favor of a new location nearby. Now Matchbox is readying for a Wednesday, July 3 opening at 3 p.m. — just three blocks over at 750 E Street NW in a building that’s on the National Register of Historic Places. This new Penn Quarter space will boast 125 seats inside and a 28-seat sidewalk patio, with a design from Streetsense. Caps fans will find plenty of TVs and seating for game watches at the bar, and there’s a pizza bar too with a prime view of the custom pizza oven. Exposed tin ceilings, a mural, wood tabletops and leather banquettes, and old photos as decor contribute to the space’s cozy, lived-in feel. Like the new Silver Spring location, this outpost will have dedicated lunch and dinner menus, with daytime dishes like jumbo lump crab cake with red pepper remoulade, Old Bay fries, and coleslaw. Expect to find wood-fired pizzas topped with combos like crispy pork belly, sweet chili barbecue sauce, Spanish onions, mozzarella, and cilantro. Weekend brunches will include bottomless Bloody Marys and mimosas and dishes like blueberry muffin French toast or Bloody Mary burgers. Cocktails from Brian McGahey will debut at this location first, like a Honey Pie Punch with Cruzan light rum, lime, orange, pineapple, and pineapple spiced syrup. This isn’t the only opening Matchbox is working on at the moment: a restaurant in Bethesda is still on track for a summer debut, while a Reston location is slated for early 2020. These are part of the chain’s overall plan for smaller, more intimate neighborhood restaurants instead of sprawling flagships. Hours for Matchbox’s 750 E Street NW restaurant will run from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Sunday. Brunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and find a weekday happy hour from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m." - Adele Chapin