Lynn and I were out and around Washington, DC this past weekend and as usual we were intrigued to try some new eateries. One of them, Matchbox is part of a local chain in and around DC. We went to the one in Rockville, Maryland where we had the mini-burgers, fried calamari and an exceptional house red wine from the Steele Winery in Lake County, California. The interiors and exteriors were sleek and the outdoor seating was particularly pleasant on an early Summer afternoon. The menu offerings were mostly basic fare (Burgers, Chicken, Filet Mingon(, but nicely prepared and plentiful in their portions. The Wood Fired Pizza is the star performer here, however, with several interesting combinations including pork belly, jumbo lump crab and lobster sauce. A nice atmosphere, helpful wait staff and a relaxed vibe raise Matchbox well above the usual cookie cutter chain restaurant.
