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Marathon Grill – Restaurants in Philadelphia

February 16, 2012 By

Marathon Grill - Restaurants in Philadelphia

Marathon Grill – Restaurants in Philadelphia

‘Serving Your Neighborhood’

It would take a marathon of visits to try all the menu items at Marathon Grill, a family-owned Center City Philadelphia chain since 1984. And every visit would please your palate.

My all-time favorite is the control-freak salad, which describes tastes, not personalities. For a reasonable $9, I can choose 1 of 4 kinds of greens, 3 of 20 veggies or “toppings,” 1 of 4 cheeses, 1 of 7 dressings and up to 6 freebies (such as pumpkin seeds and crisp wontons). And I usually do. (Would I like fries with that? Sometimes.)

One Marathon strength is its willingness to cater to any customer’s reasonable wishes. I was enjoying the summer sun at an outdoor table at 16th Street one summer day, and I ordered the beet salad without the beets. My lunch companion and the waiter both roared, and the waiter and I bonded. His name is Harris. (Insider tip: Harris works most weekdays from 10:30 to 5, staying for dinner on Wednesdays.) The other ingredients tasted great.

Not everyone lives for lettuce, though. Burgers are big, soups are hearty and special and sandwiches vary from veggie to burgers. Ethnic options often grace the menus, with matzo always an option during Passover. Be sure to check out the daily specials.

You like sweets? Try the all-natural smoothies, made with probiotics, active-culture nonfat frozen yogurt and free-range shredded coconut.

Marathon chefs make food from scratch. They support local agriculture, especially urban farming, and promote the local food system and the local economy.

Choose Marathon if people in your group or family have divergent tastes, because this menu fits (almost) all. It’s also a great setting if you dine alone and like a buzz around you. I’ve been a satisfied, recurrent customer since at least 1995, and no one I have taken there has ever complained about the food. Noise, sometimes, but never food.

Marathon Grill is busiest at lunch. Two Marathons are quiet enough for business breakfast meetings. The third, on Spruce, doesn’t open until 11. The addition of a full bar a few years ago increased the evening customer base and appeals to many at midday, too.

Location(s)

1839 Spruce
121 South 16th
1818 Market

Hours

  • 1839 Spruce
    Monday – Tuesday: 11 am to 9 pm
    Wednesday – Friday: 11 am – 10 pm
    Saturday: 8 am – 10 pm
    Sunday: 8 am – 9 pm
  • 121 South 16th
    Monday – Thursday: 7 am – 10 pm
    Friday: 7 am – 11 pm
    Saturday: 8 am – 11 pm
    Sunday: 8 am – 9 pm
  • 1818 Market
    Monday – Friday: 7 am – 6 pm
    Saturday: 8 am – 11 pm
    Sunday: 8 am – 9 pm

Phone

  • 121 South 16th Street (215-569-3278)
  • 1818 Market Street (215-561-1818)
  • 1839 Spruce Street (215-731-0800)

Web Site

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About Susan Perloff

Susan Perloff, a Philadelphia native, lives in and loves Philadelphia. Her parents were born in the city, and their lore passes down through generations. Her favorite spot in the city is the Whispering Wall, an architectural oddity in West Fairmount Park. She also adores the Mummers Parade, City Hall and affordable restaurants known for the food, not the chef. Suburban picks include the Bryn Athyn Cathedral, Zern’s Market and the Beth Shalom Synagogue (architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s only religious building).

For a year, she served as a “municipal guide” for the Philadelphia government, assigned to “meet and greet visiting dignitaries” and third graders.

Raised in West Mt. Airy, Susan has lived in Wynnefield, Overbrook and Center City. She added to and edited the fifth, sixth and eighth editions of Off the Beaten Track: Pennsylvania, published by Globe Pequot Press.

In her spare time, Susan is an award-winning freelance writer, editor and writing coach. She can help you and your business write better newsletters, annual reports, training manuals, profiles, corporate histories or personal stuff. Her byline has appeared more than 150 times in the Philadelphia Inquirer and in more than 100 other periodicals. Primarily she writes for businesses, nonprofits, professional services and service businesses. She blogs about writing at WriterPhiladelphia.com.