Matchbook Monday: matchbox, Palm Springs

matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro is located upstairs at the Plaza Mercado on Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, California.

Although it was founded in Washington DC, it has made the adjustment to the slower, more laid back, and definitely warmer environment of the California desert, and is popular with local residents and visitors. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor dining, the latter on a balcony overlooking Palm Canyon Drive, with several casual bar areas to congregate for food, beverages, and conversation.

The menu is really two different menus in one. The first, a pizza menu featuring thin crust, wood-fired pizzas, coming out of the oven smoky, crisp, and loaded with fresh toppings. The second, is a bistro menu, with an assortment of meat, seafood, and pasta.

My recommendation for matchbook, is to try the balcony bar for happy hour, sampling some of the appetizers along with drinking a cold beer. The mini Angus burgers (in orders of 3, 6, 9), along with a salad makes a nice light meal. My favorite salad is the bistro salad, which has sliced pears and warm goat cheese croutons. A Newcastle Brown to go with it, and you’ve got a perfect afternoon in the desert.

matchbox is located at 155 South Palm Canyon Drive (Mezzanine Level of the Mercado Plaza) in Palm Springs, California (map it). It is open daily 4 pm – 1 am. Self parking is free in the restaurant lot, or valet is available for $5. It’s an easy walk from most downtown hotels.

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