Matchbox — Restaurant in Arlington

Just steps from the Wiehle-Reston East metro stop, tucked inside the architectural beauty of the Google building, sits a restaurant that knows how to turn an ordinary lunch, brunch, or happy hour into something memorable. Matchbox Reston Station blends industrial-chic style with wood-fired flavors, a menu packed with comfort food favorites, and a calendar full of events to keep things interesting all week long. The Scene: Modern, High-Energy & Metro-Convenient Whether you're dropping in after work, rallying the crew for weekend brunch, or bringing the kids for a Tuesday treat, Matchbox delivers a laid-back yet lively energy. The vibe is upbeat, with plenty of natural light, an open layout, and live music on Saturdays to keep the good times rolling. Expect to see families, date nights, coworkers unwinding, and the occasional acoustic guitarist filling the space with smooth sounds.

Weekly Specials That Hit Different Social Hour (Mon–Fri, 3–6PM) – Great for grabbing a drink and a bite without breaking the bank. Salsa Night Mondays (6–9PM) – Grab a mojito and hit the floor! Kids Eat Free Tuesdays – A win for families. Weekend Brunch (Open–3PM) – Boozy brunch bundles with bottomless mimosas and brunch classics. Live Music Saturdays – Local artists bring the vibe while you enjoy your meal.

Guests love Matchbox for its reliable food, buzzing energy, and the occasional standout service that makes your day.

Here’s what’s getting the most attention: Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich – Spicy, flavorful, and made unforgettable with a creamy egg salad spread. One brunch guest raved it was so good, they'd come back just for that.

Wood-Fired Pizzas – Always a crowd-pleaser. Fresh, crispy, and the perfect bar-side meal for a casual date night.

Chicken Sandwich – Not a typical order for one diner, but it hit the spot enough to disappear completely from the plate.

Brunch Experience – Self-serve bubbly? Yes, please. Order your juice, get a bottle of champagne at your table, and pour away.

While most reviews mention good service, there have been occasional missteps. One group had to hunt down their mimosas due to a server slip-up—but they still rated the experience highly because the food and vibe made up for it.

On the flip side, regulars have their favorite servers (shoutout to David, who earned a 10/10 for unforgettable service that made one guest’s entire day). The Verdict: Worth It—Especially for the Vibe Matchbox is the kind of place you keep on rotation. It’s not your everyday eatery, but when you're looking for a spot that mixes quality food, craft drinks, and lively energy, it checks all the boxes. Pro tip: If you’re in the area for good food and better vibes, check out PullUpDC for curated cannabis experiences that pair perfectly with weekends at Matchbox. Grab your crew, hit brunch, then unwind with something elevated. Plan your visit around happy hour, brunch, or live music to really soak in the experience—and don't forget to keep an eye out for the servers who go above and beyond. You just might leave with a new favorite spot (and a new...

I don't think I've ever had such a horrible experience at a restaurant in my life.

From the moment that my friend and I were seated on Saturday morning, our waiter did a terrible job at explaining the mandatory $62 brunch cost and what it entailed. The waiter himself was barely attentive, and he never seemed to understand the most basic requests of our order. My friend's food came without the garlic bread it was supposed to have. It took forever for her to receive some hot sauce when she requested it. Mind you, the restaurant was incredibly empty.

Our "unlimited" food came with a lot of restrictions, and it took forever between dishes, despite it being billed as an a 2-hour "all you can eat" experience. We ordered the seafood spinach dip, which was supposed to come with crab and shrimp in it, but I didn't taste any crab and it only came with ONE (1) shrimp. Pathetic.

We also noted the portion of the menu that specifically stated "buttermilk biscuits (on us!)" yet they never arrived; if a menu says, "on us," then the item should be provided, no questions asked.

My seafood scramble arrived, runny and bland. I also ordered the blueberry lemon pancakes. The pancakes tasted weird and almost soapy—very gross. The syrup also had a weird aftertaste.

My friend ordered the steak and eggs, and she noted the smallness of her portion size. My portions were also abnormally small. We found out on the bill/check that they were "half-sized."

I ended up wasting upwards of $81 due to not only the brunch fee but the "large party" fee added onto our bill when—in reality—it was only two of us dining that day! I asked the waiter if he could remove the fee for that reason, but he went in circles saying that either way we'd be hit with a service charge.

I don't ask for much when I eat in a restaurant. I'm not demanding. I just like good food and good service. This restaurant provided neither of those things. I'd probably complain less if restaurant-goers could opt into the "unlimited seafood brunch" (which, again, was limited and barely had any of the seafood promised). If I could order my food a la carte (like a normal restaurant), perhaps I'd ease up on my review. However, this was billed as being a "2-hour multi-course experience."

An experience it was—an awful one. Save your money. Eat at Ted's Bulletin, Silver Diner, or somewhere else with an excellent all-day breakfast/brunch menu and reliable service. Matchbox has...

Went there on a not so busy Saturday. We were seated by the hostess at a high-top by the bar. Waited over 10mins, before I note another party of 2 behind us, who also had been waiting BEFORE us.. and no one has come to even take a Drink order!

I get up to go to the bar and ask how it works/who takes our order, at which time he pointed to a server rushing around the corner with 2 drinks in her hand for a table in the back.

I’ll speed up this story….

She comes over, takes the other party’s order, comes to my table. We place our order quickly… I choose their house sangria and the spicy pizza with peppers (can’t recall name at the moment )with cauliflower crust($3 upcharge for the Gf option.. wow!)…

Drinks come out relatively quickly… At least… however.. I had to send my back, the fruit or something tasted spoiled.. total buzz kill…

Food.. takes FOREVER…… At least another 25 mins, because my buddy had time to finish his drink, order another, Receive the other, and get about a 1/3rd before our pizzas came out..

Apologies on the photos being half eaten… I was hungry.. doesnt indicate it was good.

Quite the opposite! Both our pizzas were Dry! My tasted extremely try and the cheese was far from moist… his pizza looked more appealing because his cheese wasn’t dry but he also said he had no sauce on his…

Bottom line, we were craving pizza, and were in the area! He normally comes for their chicken wings and fries and a margarita! Soo, he suggested this place, and we saw they had pizza.. so why not! … Nope… never again… for pizza!

And to think.. I was going to give Wise Guys Pizza a try for the first time as I passed them going to Matchbox… and decided to pop in and SEE, at least what they offered… and though they were not a bar, the pizzas looked appealing and it’s by the slice, but they too offer a cauliflower crust, but that’s a personal pan size… for the Same price as the Regular pie at Matchbox… NOT UPCHARGE!! Go figure… it can be done!

I’ll be checking...