Three New Restaurants Announced For Downtown Columbia

COLUMBIA, MD —The Merriweather District in Columbia will welcome three new restaurants to its area: Matchbox, Dok Khao Thai Eatery and Clove and Cardamom. The wildly popular Busboys and Poets recently broke ground in this area, too.

“For nearly a decade, we have been dedicated to enhancing our vibrant Downtown Columbia community. By building the infrastructure to complete what James Rouse started, we are delivering on his original vision of a ‘city in a garden,’ connecting the two major metropolitan areas of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. This announcement is another significant milestone as we continue to transform the Merriweather District into a dynamic regional destination,” said Greg Fitchitt, president of The Howard Hughes Corporation.

Clove and Cardamom - Dove Sail Lane and Merriweather Drive
Satish Gunisetty, owner of the Indian restaurant Rangoli in Hanover, Md., will introduce his second restaurant concept, Clove and Cardamom, to the Merriweather District. The 2,680-square-foot cafe/restaurant will be warm and inviting, and feature fresh and flavorful global fusion fare infused with subtle Indian spices. The menu will include light options for the health conscious, vegan dishes and traditional Indian favorites. Clove and Cardamom is slated to open in summer of 2020.

Dok Khao Thai Eatery - Mango Tree Road on Color Burst Park
Sense of Thai St., originally based in Ashburn, Va., has selected the Merriweather District for its newest dining concept Dok Khao Thai Eatery. The Northern Virginia favorite is also known for its menu that is inspired by some of Bangkok's best offerings and summer tiki pop-up. The new location will boast 3,400 square feet located off Merriweather Drive and Valencia Lane, facing the neighborhood’s newest highly-activated pedestrian space, Color Burst Park. The Merriweather District’s Dok Khai will have more than 100 seats including outdoor seating.

Matchbox - Mango Tree Road on Color Burst Park
DC-based Matchbox will be opening a 5,000-square-foot, 150-seat location within the Merriweather District. Since opening in 2003, the dining concept known for its wood-fired pizzas and its brunch menu has expanded throughout the metro region, as well as opened locations in Florida and Texas. The new Merriweather District location will be the brand’s fourth announced Maryland location and will feature multiple operable glass doors creating indoor/outdoor seating and a lively sidewalk scene. The menu will include a wide-ranging selection of wood-fired pizzas, simple, yet refined mains, and signature appetizers like mini burgers and shrimp and grits that have made the restaurant a long-standing local dining staple. Weekends will feature the Brunchbox menu, a selection of unlimited small plates served during brunch alongside specially priced Bloody Marys, peach bellinis, and mimosas. The full beverage list will include a number of new cocktails that debuted on the menu at Matchbox Penn Quarter and are rolling out across all locations, with such signature sips as Light the Fire with vodka, bubbles, habanero-ginger syrup, and citrus, and Honey Pie Punch with Cruzan light rum, lime, orange, pineapple, and pineapple spiced syrup. Founded on the concept that food should be fun, inclusive and serve as a method for group gatherings, Matchbox will serve as a central and convivial destination within the core of Downtown Columbia’s new Merriweather District neighborhood. The Merriweather District Matchbox is set to open summer of 2020.