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Categories: Lounges, Dance Clubs, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhoods: University City, Spruce Hill
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What more appropriate place to go to after the Philly marathon than Marathon Grill? We were a large party, 19 people total including two very tired and hungry runners and this place was very accommodating for a post marathon lunch.
The second floor space was great for our large party, the service was pretty good and the menu long enough to have something for everyone. The chocolate chip cookie dough pancakes were especially popular among the group.
Ugh. Marathon Grill.
It would be so nice if this place was actually poppin. I've been to this place probably four times since its been built here. The first time must have been fine because I came the second time. After those visits the food and drink quality goes down, down, down. And down some more.
They need a consistent chef, waiters, and manager. They could rake in so much more money from the thousands of people who pass this place everyday.
When I'm in this area, the Marathon Grill gets ignored. I'm sorry I visited this place, but I only came cause that Mexican place wasn't serving before a certain time. A last resort. Ugh.
Sometimes looks can be deceiving. From the outside, and inside, it looks like a good American-fare restaurant. Menu looks promising with interesting items that riff on standard fare.
Unfortunately, it just comes across as so-so. The short-ribs sandwich was perhaps as bland as it comes with no flavor at all. The cheese was subpar and worst of all, the temp was lukewarm. The fries were surprising the same. When the best thing your fries and sandwich has going for it is that you can put lots of ketchup on it for flavor, there's something wrong.
Service was very spotty too. They did indicate some new menu items were coming next week. Don't think that's enough to save them. The quality that they were putting out just doesn't cut it.
I honestly don't know why this place has such negative reviews.
I have been here several times and have enjoyed it each time. I like the Chipotle Chicken wrap and the burger, and have never had a complaint.
I may have come off-peak times (usually Tuesday or Thursday nights) but my service was always fast and friendly.
I plan on going back more times in the future.
I would say to give it a shot and decide for yourself, because I came here and was surprised to see such negative reviews.
I came to this location of Marathon Grill about a month ago and I never bothered to review it because I wasn't sure if my experience was really "worth" much in the grand scheme of Marathon Grill reviews. I have been inspired to write one though, because the more restaurants I have tried since my visit here have made me more and more irritated that I spent MONEY on my meal here! I ordered a chicken breast burger, and it was totally a turkey burger, which cost more- and the waitress wanted to argue with me about what it was.. hmm. I also asked for honey mustard sauce on the burger and it came in a weird little puddle on the side... huh? My bun was stale.. the list goes on.The meal as a whole was just ok. It looks like they had some better stuff on the menu- maybe they were trying to punish me for not ordering those things.
I like Marathon but in part because it is convenient to my work. I believe their food is good but overpriced. The wait staff is slow at checking in with you on how you are liking your meal, if you need refills, etc. So far, my favorite food item was a one time special, a roasted peach and gorgonzola salad. I wish they'd bring that back as a regular! I also recommend the Spruce Salad (cranberries, mandarin oranges, candied walnuts over lettuce) and the salmon burger. Furthermore, they are an awesome place to stop for take out frozen yogurt... great toppings and fast service.
Overall, I don't think this is the best location of this chain. But, they are a great place in West Philly if you are looking to sit down, have a drink and a good meal, and do some people watching.
Marathon, Marathon, what in the name of heaven and hell is UP with your service? I go to restaurants to eat, and usually that implies some degree of hunger -- but alas, I want to feed my stomach and you give it enough time to eat itself! Now I KNOW it doesn't take an hour to put a salad together. Or make eggs. Or fries. At least if your staff were sweet about it... but noooo. They just disappear.
I've had a few good things at Marathon, but mostly it's very dull and blahhhh... don't bother with the downtown locations, it's the same shit everywhere.
And don't get me started on that "upscale" frat party that is MarBar. Did you learn your lesson after the police raid (to catch underaged drinkers) a few years back? Probably not.
GOD I hate you.
I am sorry but I try and try and I still cannot love this place. I use to like 2002 when I was an intern in college and I was introduce to Marathon Grill. This place has gone downhill. I especially do not like this Marathon Grill here is why
Service: slow and not attentive not even busy
Music: Loud yes we at Penn but seriously I was trying to listen to my friend.
Drinks: expensive and ok
Next time I go to the bar around the corner or Copa for an awesome burger and sweet delicious margaritas.
I ate here on my birthday. I bit into my veggie burger and felt a stabbing pain in the roof of my mouth. A bristle from the metal brush they use to scrape the grill had somehow been cooked into my burger. When I told the waitress, she apologized and gave me a new burger for free.
But damn, folks. Really? That's pretty nasty.
So, apparently they recently changed the menu. I came here with my Mom about a year ago and she loved the selection, so when her and my Dad visited she really wanted to go again. This time, with the new menus there was hardly anything on there that she remembered sounded good from the last time. I thought the same thing; especially because I had been there a lot more times then my mom and always found something new to try. We stuck it out though and found some stuff that sounded okay.
I decided to ask for calamari for the table as an appetizer. They were out of calamari. Then my Dad asked for meatloaf. They were out of meatloaf.
He decided to order a cheeseburger instead.
When the food came out, they only brought out my mom and dads meals. The cheeseburger had no cheese on it.
My Mom ended up ordered a mac and cheese that said it had tomatoes onions and roasted red pepper in it. When she got it, it had green peppers(which she doesnt like) in it and it made the cheese taste disgusting. My roommate actually loves green peppers and when she tried it she thought it was gross too. She told the waiter and he gave her a menu to pick something else. She picked a pulled pork sandwich.
Meanwhile, me and my roommate still have not gotten our food. My Dads hamburger was getting cold because he was waiting for our meals to come.
The pulled pork sandwich came out a little before me and my roommates meals. We had ordered two different salads. Mine was a salmon salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, artichoke, radishes, and onions in a light vinaigrette dressing. It was good but nothing spectacular. My roommate got a chopped salad with a barbeque ranch dressing which I thought looked and tasted great. My mom's pulled pork sandwich was dry and had nothing on it.
My dad asked for a drink refill about halfway through the meal and the waiter didn't remember to grab it until we were being handed our check.
Basically this place is going down the tubes. I know my parents came to Philly to visit me but I feel bad that they had to be subjected to bad service and food while they were here.
This place is death. Ok, it's not the worst restaurant in the world, or even the worst restaurant in West Philly. I think what's most offensive is that it could be a good place if it just followed through on its brand. The menu choices are generally pretty good-- something for everybody. This makes sense because it's the type of place that can accommodate a group, in theory. The space is good, it's a great setup at a good location. The service however, is about the worst in the city. Slow waitstaff and slow cooks compound to make the average Marathon experience turn into a real endurance test, a marathon, if you will. Oh, that was so lame. Also, most of the food has that reheated long enough to get lukewarm taste, or perhaps it just sits under the heat lamps for 20 minutes while your waiter or waitress smokes their 8th pack of cigarettes in the alley.
Bottom line: if you absolutely have to eat here, call for take-out. In fact, order the 3 course price fixe dinner menu for takeout. It's worth a laugh.
Read Alicia F's review - we shared the same experience and she said it better than I could, anyway!
It was just weird to have a server that hardly spoke, then disappeared for the meal and had to be summoned by another server. Maybe she was a ghost.
Seafood chowder? Pass. It really did look and smell like cat food.
On the upside? Ummm, the cheese fries weren't bad. If only we had plates to put them on.
Sorry Marathon. This visit was an epic fail.
I've been to Marathon tons of times for lunch and I think it's decent food at a reasonable price. I don't think it's anything spectacular, per se, but I am rarely disappointed with my sandwich, caesar salad, and iced tea - my habitual order at Marathon.
I generally come by on Fridays during lent because they have great vegetarian sandwiches for lunch - grilled vegetables with fresh mozzarella and extra virgin olive oil. Recently, I had the ham and gruyere sandwich and it was good. If calories are not an issue, I highly recommend the grilled pressed sandwiches. Those are super good.
The service is usually fine - not much good or bad to say about it.
Good places to eat in U City are plentiful so there may be better choices, but if you visit Marathon, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Waitstaff are a bit disinterested, and it takes a while for them to get around to the table despite the fact that not many people were around.
Food quality is okay, nothing special. The ice cream that comes as dessert was huge and dripping, which was rather gross.
My friends and I were looking for a place to eat something decent but quick before a movie at the Bridge. For some reason we chose Marathon, even knowing their level of speed is often a crapshoot. Today we got lucky.
The 4 of us all ordered some Dogfish Heads and entrees (Bolognese Rigatoni, Wasabi Salmon, Mac N' Cheese, and some other pasta dish Mike got that I can't remember what was in it.)
The Wasabi Salmon actually looked awesome and it was gone from the plate in about 5 minutes due to my friends hunger. My Mac N' Cheese was a bonus because I asked if I could add Chicken to it and they did....gratis. That doesn't happen often! Two of my buddies also got inspired by the table behind us and ordered a gigantic bottle of Chimay Blue...they thought it would cost around 15 bucks, but it cost 22. The whole bill for 5 beers and 4 entrees came to 107 bucks...I didn't think it was too terrible considering the cost of the beers.
Also on their way out the couple behind us had heard us talking about their giant beer so they gave the rest to us to finish because they had to make a movie next door...the same one we were trying to make. Of course we got next door and I couldn't buy a ticket because it had become sold out with the person in front of me in line. But I digress...this time the fault was mine and not the Marathon Grill.
My friend started his review of the MG last time by saying "This place is death." I think it can now be upgraded to "this place is acceptable".
BOYCOTT MARATHON!!!!!
I can not tell you how much I loathe these over-priced ubiquitious chain-etter poorly run, poorly managed places.
The service (especially during peak times - like lunch hour) is attrocious. The guys who own/manage the place are not nice people, and the staff is vapid and dis-interested for the most part.
For an $11.95 BBQ shrimp salad there were 3 small shrimp.
Three.
Tres.
For 12 bux? Fuggetaboudit.
I will take my skinny, corporate ,white ass elsewhere.
"MarBar" is the nickname of the bar on the second floor.
During the day, this is a slightly more upscale (for students' budgets) restaurant that serves salads, hamburgers, and pasta for consumption, with a twist of European fusion now and then with all the American food - mostly sandwiches and Italian. There's outdoor seating in the summer, and they open up the windows/walls to the outside in the pleasant months during Spring and Fall.
Ice cream here isn't bad, though expensive (as it is dessert).
Drinks vary, but the music can be good here, they pretty much cater to the Top 40-crowd most days and they also have days where they'll bring in a guest DJ or events on the second floor. Dancing and music upstairs after a certain hour, sometimes with a cover, sometimes not.
This review is for MARBAR, on the second floor of Marathon Grill in University City. A small, convivial lounge, they have a decent-sized dancefloor with appropriate party lighting. Their VIP area is pretty small so doesn't seem worth it. There are plenty of windows (but not much of a view). Perhaps I was tired, but the bathrooms don't seem to be clearly marked MEN or WOMEN, or even that they're bathrooms.
I was there for a DNA Nightlife party. DJ Dr1fta was on hand to keep the crowd hyped up and dancing. Girls (not too many guys) danced on the various raised platforms throughout. Security staff were friendly, and the bartenders managed to mix drinks in a reasonable amount of time, though shots seemed to be a bit skimpy (and pricey), served in plastic cups.
In any case, I had fun and would return. NOTE: Maybe a separate listing for Marbar should be made so their star rating makes more sense...
my have u so gone downhill!!! great place to come to if you don't feel like getting mixed up with the college crowd at smokes next door! however don't expect anything else really cept to catch up with old acquaintances...
drinks... wow strong and nasty...
music... wow old and nasty...
that's all...
why is philly so ghetto? that was the theme of my weekend
Brought a LARGE group after a UPenn basketball game. We waited awhile, but that was OK. We got good service. Evryone enjoyed the beer selection and the food.
Not really the best location in the chain, but Marathon is a decent place to grab brunch... but I really only go there for the hand-cut french fries and chocolate milkshakes. Yum!
Dear stupid Marathon waitress,
Have you ever heard that first impressions are everything? When my friends and I were waiting to be seated, you came up to bitch to one of your co-workers about how upset you were that people were being seated at your tables that hadn't been cleared yet. You actually said the words "I can't take this anymore". Girl, it couldn't have been later than 6:30, unfortunately you have to take it some more. While you weren't even my waitress you made me feel like you, the staff, were not happy people and it makes me nervous when my servers aren't happy because I don't want you to spit in my mashed potatoes. Overall experience at the marathon grill- alright. Would I come here again? Maybe, but I'm not calling all my friends up to go.
Sincerely,
Shilton
RESTAURANT - Meh, not impressed with the food. I ordered an entree that consisted of melted cheese on top...it came out hard - yuck! The lighting was dim and the food was not worth restaurant-price. Unless you're coming for lunch for their sandwiches, go somewhere else.
LOUNGE - This is for the review of Marbar in Center City and West Philly. The one in center city is really nice, decor is sexy and the DJ plays chill music to sip your $2 drink special to (now thats afforadable!). Great place to just kick back with your friends or drink up before hitting the clubs.
The Marbar in West Philly is definitely more a partying lounge. Bathrooms are hard to find but there's at least more than 2 stalls. I didn't get anything at the bar so I wouldn't know the prices. I went when DNA-nightlife hosted an event there so the DJ was decent (though it would have been better if he played more than 15 seconds of each song) and the seating along the walls let you rest your feet. Took until after midnight for the crowd to get dancing, and if you like to show off your stuff, there's platforms to climb onto and show whatcha momma gave ya ;)
For the upstairs of marathon grille - they present to you MARBAR - a lounge in university city. On the nights that dna-nightlife would bring to you, a good dj and pretty roomy space to dance and sit on their nice couches or high chairs overlooking their 2nd floor view through their glass windows, it's pretty nice to me. It's pretty decent for dancing and having fun. They remodeled the back, so now there's a nice looking vip section but you would need to buy bottles to get it.
They have 1 main bar, which is okay. and then theres a bar towards the stairs as well, which nobody really pays attention to somehow lol. Their drinks are pretty worth it because their shots are pretty big.
The only thing is they need to upgrade their bathroom cuz it looks like a gas stations bathroom, but overall i like this place. oh and theres always plenty of parking on the streets, i always find one lol. oh and theres a lot of hatin ghetto people there, so i would watch out while you walk because theres a lot of ghetto people going to that movie theater now so they love to stare when they see a bunch of asians waiting in line and crowding outside their marathon grille outdoor seating, but um yea stop staring at us, you act like you never seen asian people before. lol
Marathon, you would have gotten 5 stars had you not jacked up your prices (even well before this damned food inflation spiral kicked in).
I liked Marathon so much, I even forgot what was there before they opened up shop. Not so much a fan of MarBar, but I did love getting dinner at Marathon; a grilled turkey bacon pesto sandwich sitting outside under an umbrella... for what used to be $7.50! My friends raved about the quesadillas, too.
EDIT: And how can you go wrong with a resty that plays Gypsy Kings? classic!
Moderately priced and lots of food. Salmon burger was a little soggy but overall experience was great. I would go back.
We've only been to the downstairs section of Marathon Grill for the food and a couple of drinks. My boyfriend and I went again yesterday pretty late when every other place had closed kitchens. The food is generally pretty okay. Just the regular American fare with a few entrees, sandwiches, salads, flatbreads and 24 hour breakfast. In otherwords, I guess it's a fancy diner with a full bar. The difference is that most diners don't serve their omelettes with smoked salmon and asparagus, or their salads with swordfish.
The drinks from the times I've been to it have been a little disappointing. From the martini drink menu, I ordered the naked martini, the description being 'vodka or gin, olives, and nothing else'. I opted for a vodka one, but it certainly was not only vodka and olives. What I got was basically olive juice with a splash of vodka and 2 olives. .... lame!! I could finish the whole drink in 1 draught. That was how weak it was (and I graduated from my vodka-swilling freshman days years ago).
They were also out of basic bottled lite beer. How this is possible is really beyond me.
The service can really be hit or miss as well. I think they have a high turnover in terms of the staff and so a lot of times they people who are serving you are either new or just don't care. One time our server was standing at the computer where they enter orders for about 15 minutes before we finally were able to flag her down.
All in all, it's a good place if you're looking for a quick bite and just want to have a good, filling meal. 2 stars.. they could definitely do better and try to appear to care a little more. Plus, the food and the pricing is a little mismatched. And my martini was not worth any more than $3.
Stopped in here for a drink before a movie. Not a huge fan of this place. The staff was really nice and the service was good, but it was uncomfortable to be looked up and down by all the Penn students as if I were invading their turf. The place wasnt good enough for me to want to go back again.
Four stars for four words: matzoh ball soup delivery.
The rest of the food is fairly tasty if unremarkable, and we often end up here by default on nights when it's late and we don't want to cook. The beer selection is good -- anywhere that has Scarlet Lady on tap wins bonus points with me.
But seriously, the matzoh ball soup is where it's at. It's delicious and full of vegetables and filling enough to be a meal without being at all greasy or heavy. And did I mention the cheap delivery? If you're a sick student, this is a godsend.
Love Marathon for their fun and yummy menu.
Good food for an afforable price.
Yummy drinks.
Bad service. I dont know if its just me, but alot of STARR restaurant's employees are kind of snobby. They are not rude, but should be more nice, afterall you are working for tips.
The Marathon Grill is Philly's chain of "upscale" diners, and it's quite good. A few years ago, the Marathon was dirt cheap. I remember coming into the city for the day while living out in Bryn Mawr, and being shocked by the amount of choices and the price. The prices have since gone up, but the food is still consistently yummy.
For brunch you can get dark chocolate chip cookie dough pancakes, huevos rancheros, or eggs benedict. Want a mimosa with that? Why not. And the coffee snob that I am, their brewed coffee is pretty tasty. But don't order a latte unless you like some grounds at the bottom. (???) Lunch and dinner options are also just as varied, from wraps to thai chicken to pasta and salmon.
If you're with a group and have absolutely no idea of what you're in the mood for, Marathon's the spot. There aren't many restaurants in Philadelphia like this one that are as consistently delicious.
For Sunday 'Girls Night Out,' Carrie, the little one and I went to "Sundae" at Marbar. We decided to get something to eat downstairs before we went upstairs. At first I was kindof impressed by the architecture of this Marathon...but the following events erased any good feelings I had. First, our server was barely audible. I chalked it up to being shy. Then the appetizer came out (cheese fries)...no plates. Okay, that's fine. Next? Well, my soda was empty for long enough to result in ice chomping...but worse than that was when the food came out I smelled a familiar aroma. Carrie ordered the seafood soup...and while I didn't try it, I can only tell you that the familiar aroma of the Fancy Feast that I feed to my cats was coming from her bowl. When we finally tracked our server down (it may have been easier to get in contact with the Pope) it ended up being sent back...something the BFF and I nevernevernever do. I ordered the caesar salad with shrimp. There were only a few pieces of shrimp, the lettuce was soggy and there were no croutons. Err... Whaaaaa?
Listen, I'm usually very chill about these things...but it's been a veryveryvery long time (if ever) since I have legitimately NOT not enjoyed an establishment in at least a few ways.
The food here is not that great. I would not go back again. This place stays open because of its location.
This is a great place to go for breakfast. They have a wide variety of breakfast options, including a tofu-scramble and meat options. They also have a lot of "breakfast alcohol drinks". And, really, who doesn't like to start their day out with a good stiff drink? That wasn't meant to be sarcastic.
They're non-breakfast food is real good too. I've been there more for breakfast than anything else though, so I'm not going to elaborate too much on this, but it is good.
The service is pretty good. They're often crowded, so sometimes the waitstaff is a bit too busy, but they're real good for a crowded place.
The prices aren't bad either, definitely fair. And the atmosphere is nice. It's very well lit, lots of windows, and comfortable tables and chairs.
Living and working in West Philly means that I inevitably come to Marathon every now and again. I like the fact that they have lots of choices; control freak salads, all the possible sandwiches known to man, breakfast stuff all day. The food is reasonable, but nothing special, and the service is generally lackluster, but not rude. One of my big pet peeves is that during the summer, they have outdoor seating (which is nice) but don't seem to care when vagrants off the street beg the patrons for money. It's infuriating to be eating lunch while being hounded by someone for money. All in all, nothing special, but sometimes when I'm not looking for anything special, it'll do!
Service at varying times -- weekend brunch or weekend dinner -- is equally lacklaster. The servers are disinterested at best, rude at worst. Food is overpriced. Considering the great restaurants in this city, there is no real reason to dine at Marathon. Same goes for Marbar.
We went here on a Saturday night for dinner/dessert. The waitress was rude and unattentive.
I.dont.play.that.
I have been going to Marathon for the past two years and have loved every visit. Their menu has expanded quite a bit and now I have many favorites.
If you go for brunch, the pancakes are a must! Delicious and fluffy, they are what every pancake should be. Also the salads, pressed sandwiches, entrees... heck, the whole menu is delicious! And, rumor on the street is that they have a delicious and reasonably prices Happy Hour.
If you go on the weekends, expect a short wait because the dining room is not that big. At least in nice weather they open the patio for more seating. I give Marathon Grill 3 thumbs up!
boo...food is crappy and seems very line-cooked and generally non-fresh. I've gotten served dirty cupware a couple times as well. Don't get anything but the most simple basic dishes that no one could mess up. I had a good omlet a few years ago at a Marathon Grill, and that's the only good experience I've ever had there. I've gone vegan since and now there's nothing there for me...unless I want to get drunk out of a dirty glass.
When I went to Penn, I ate at this place practically every other week just because it was close by, but let me tell you - the food was a disappointment Each and Every time. It was so bland that I won't set food in any other Marathon ever. This place is really conveniently located if you live nearby and want casual dining that's not a diner, food cart, or fast food. However, in my humble opinion, you'd be better off at Pattaya... or even Fresh Grocer. They've got tons of prepared food that's priced perhaps a smidge lower than Marathon.
Marathon can still have 2 stars because the servers are nice enough and I'm pretty comfortable in there atmosphere-wise. Great people-watching on 40th and Walnut, the corner that never sleeps, which is helpful when your dining partner is a total bore.
As for the bar, never been to MarBar on a night when it wasn't having an event hosted by a Penn org, so I'll withhold comment.
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Category: American (New)
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