Tuesday, November 5, 2024

What’s cooking with Matchsticks? A new restaurant very soon

WYDaily file/Courtesy of Matchsticks BBQ)
Matt Sileno, owner of Matchsticks BBQ, shows off a beef brisket. (WYDaily file/Courtesy of Matchsticks BBQ)

WILLIAMSBURG– It’s a new foodie establishment in Williamsburg that has been long overdue. Matchsticks BBQ Co., which started as the wildly popular food truck started founded by Matt Sileno, is set to open its first brick and mortar restaurant.

The big question for fans is when.

According to Sileno, he was originally going to open the restaurant back in August, but after renovation mistakes occurred which set the project back several months, Sileno had to take a step back to adjust.

RELATED STORY: Despite setbacks, Matchsticks plans summer opening of new restaurant

These factors combined with shutdowns due to the pandemic, the opening date for Matchsticks, the restaurant, seemed to travel further down the calendar.

“I keep telling all of my guests, I’m not going to set a date until we have a certificate of occupancy in hand and we can start training,” he said in a phone interview with WYDaily.

Nevertheless, Matchsticks is still chugging along with getting their space ready. The sit-in style restaurant will feature a bar area with six local beers on tap, plus an outdoor patio in the front, and a courtyard in the back.

“It’s going to be a true, southern barbeque joint. Our main meat is going to stay the same, and we’re going to do specials, adding more side options, and we’re going to be adding desserts, too,” Sileno said. 

He added that his goal is to focus on Virginian barbecue.

Just several weeks ago, Sileno officially fired up a custom smoker he both designed and built himself. With some assistance from a friend who works as a professional welder and a whole lot of ingenuity, a 1500 gallon oil tank became a rustic cooker.

Matchstick’s official custom smoker, Large Marge. (Courtesy of Matchstocks BBQ Co.)

And the name of this metal beast? “Large Marge,” a nostalgic reference a to a character from the 1985 film, “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.”

The cooker is still in the seasoning process, but Sileno said that should wrap up sometime this week.

Matchsticks BBQ Co. will have their restaurant open at 1246 Richmond Rd in the Midtown Row shopping center. For more information on Matchsticks BBQ or updates on their opening, visit Matchsticks BBQ online or check out their Facebook page.

Also, make sure to check out WYDaily’s Food Truck Tracker each Friday to find out where this and other great food trucks will be located throughout the weekend.

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