Marathon Grill is my ideal balance of wholesome and chic: unmistakably family-owned and neighborhood-rooted, yet polished enough that the food, service, and all-day buzz feel genuinely cosmopolitan. It works just as naturally for a post-run refuel as it does for lunch or dinner, and the crowd shifts with the hour while retaining a distinctly Rittenhouse mix of people who care about quality but are largely over the theater of hype. The salads are excellent, the cheesesteak and salmon have both delivered for me, and Sheryl Borish is wonderful, vibrant, gracious, and seemingly younger than her years. With a little cheek, I always think it feels like something Stephen Starr's imaginary sister might have built after a few years in New York or Miami, then coming home to create something smaller, warmer, and deeply local: très bien! read more

I really love Marathon. Delicious wraps & sandwiches, there's always a table open for dine in, the staff here is SO kind/helpful/fun, and it's just a great catchall for the "I don't know...what do you want? Maybe we just get Marathon takeout?" moments where you need the most obvious, delicious, consistently excellent choice. Good go-tos include: + Both the chicken and tuna salad wraps with caesar salad. Large, filling wraps and the caesar salad on the side is super basic but memorable for whatever reason. At $15 or less this won't break the bank either. + Salmon burger is great for a twist on a classic. Comes with tomato, an remoulade I like a lot, and swiss cheese. They package this great for takeout (Actually, all of their takeout is packaged to perfection, a small detail but important). + Moroccan salmon salad with couscous and a great lemon dressing. + Comforting, tasty chicken noodle soup These are what I've tried and enjoyed the most but the whole menu is crowd pleasing. Online ordering couldn't be easier, but sometimes (like when I was ordering a larger lunch order for the folks who helped us move this past weekend) I like to call in as well. Order takeout or go enjoy lunch after time in Rittenhouse! A win and a classic and I am so grateful to have them in my neighborhood. read more

In came here on a recent rainy evening for dinner and my first impression was that it reminded me of an upscale diner, plenty of seating, a relaxed atmosphere and a wide variety of tempting dishes to choose from. The menu items were inexpensive, as well. Food 5/5 I decided to go with a Mexican theme, ordering up a blackberry margarita and the blackened chicken quesadilla. The quesadilla was prepared perfectly and very filling. Both were amazingly delicious! Atmosphere 5/5 As I said earlier, the restaurant is roomy and comfortable, with stylish decor. Service 5/5 Though my server wasn't the most attentive, the service was quick, friendly and ample. Overall, Marathon is a quality restaurant with plenty of variety of dishes to choose from, and judging from this experience, I will definitely be back. read more

Marathon On the Square - Blackened chicken quesadilla with a blackberry margarita to wash it down. Hearty and delicious! - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I had gazpacho which was delicious. The menu was large. The wait staff were attentive. The restaurant was very loud making it hard to hear conversations among table mates. There was outside seating which looked nice for when the weather is good. read more

This was one of the best meals I had visiting family in Philadelphia! The herb-marinated grilled chicken was filling without being too heavy. There was a ton of chicken drizzled with a pesto oil. The corn fricassee reminded me of a corn succotash with peppers and onions. The mashed potatoes were fluffy and buttery, and I could tell they were homemade from russet potatoes. The fries were delicious! They had a light but crisp exterior and fluffy inside. The crab Caesar from the specials menu was hearty and delicious. We made a reservation but the restaurant had plenty of room on a weekday afternoon. The ambiance is cool and welcoming, and the AC was refreshing on a hot day. There is also a spacious outdoor patio. The food came out quickly and was hot. The staff was friendly and offered us drink refills regularly. I'd definitely return to Marathon on the Square to try more dishes! read more

Marathon On the Square - Lobster Caesar salad, side of fries, and herb-marinated grilled chicken plate - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The service was great she was very attentive! The food was the star of the show I ate that crab cake sandwich and even the fries in probably under 15 mins lol. The restaurant was super cute and quiet because it was during the day so it was great for my breakfast date. read more

Marathon On the Square - Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Sandwich - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Service , food , and atmosphere all excellent . Will stop by when I'm in the area again

Always fast and consistent food. Never really a wait to sit down and eat. Their cheesesteak and buffalo chicken sandwich are great.

I was staying at the Hampton Inn near the Convention center and was looking for something on DoorDash. This place came up and looked delicious and it did not disappoint. The food was made very quickly and it was so good! They do not skimp on the hummus. It was piled on. I'll definitely try more from here since I'll be here for a few days! read more

Marathon On the Square - Turkey and Grain Burger with slices apples, bacon and cheese - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Yummmy and very cozy! Came for dinner with the ladies the other week and loved it!! Atmosphere is nice inside I really like it! We all got the chicken parm and 3 milkshakes just to shake things up! Good meal overall. It wasn't the best I've ever had but it was really good! Decent price for the location and just in general type of restaurant. We had a waitress even take out picture and wasn't weird about it so great service! Everything was fast and I will definitely go again! read more

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All of my recent dine in and takeout experiences with Marathon On the Square have been amazing! We live nearby, and whenever we are in need of a last minute place to grab brunch or lunch on the weekends, Marathon is our go-to. We are always able to get a table, and they have been able to accommodate large groups. The food is pretty good, with a large variety on the menu, and the price point makes sense for what you get. Our most recent visit was last Saturday. It was an incredibly hot May early afternoon, and a group of 8 of us were recovering from an evening that included a graduation and a wedding, so we were feeling that both physically and mentally. We decided to walk over to Marathon to try our luck for a table of 8. We anticipated having to split into two tables, because where can a group of 8 people walk-in for brunch on a Saturday at 11:30 AM? However, Marathon was easily able to accommodate us and seat us all together. To eat, we all shared the cheesesteak wontons because greasy food was much needed. The cheese sauce for dipping was really delicious. For my meal, I went for the Turkey Club which was delicious. In the past, I've also really enjoyed the Omelet and Salad option, which comes with potatoes instead of salad on the weekends. I will say that the breakfast potatoes are not my favorite. They aren't crispy, but they are well seasoned. It gets really busy weekdays for lunch, and I've noticed the crowd is often bigger on weekends the later it gets. Maybe we've been really lucky with out attempts, but I seriously love that whenever we walk in, we are seated right away. The staff is really friendly and helpful. We're grateful to have Marathon on the Square so closeby! read more

Marathon On the Square - Turkey Club with side cesar salad - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We wanted a menu that was simple, affordable and varied. Marathon is an upscale diner with something for everyone at affordable prices. Service was fine and the restaurant had indoor and outdoor seating. read more

They suck, hair in food, they made me grab a hot bowl of food, the bathroom was dirty I think they suck so bad that L N I SHOULD shut them down!! Ew ew ew ew! Oh the pastry on the pot pie was old and stale. read more

Recommended by a local. Excellent steelhead trout and fish tacos. Quick service for a full house, A warm atmosphere with plenty of outdoor seating. Highly recommend. read more

It's a great neighborhood staple ! Food is always great ! Service too! It's easy making a reservation read more

Service was fine Ambience was fine Food was uninspired and bland. I had a simple Caesar with salmon. The salmon was ok- not great. Cooked to the temp that I asked for, but really didn't taste great- ok quality but no flavoring. The Romaine was less leaf than stem and was underwhelming. Even the Parmesan could not make up for the watery sauce without enough peppercorn. Maybe my expectations were too high, but even at a paper napkin place, I expect more for a $20+ salad. read more

Consistently great experience and so fortunate to have this Marathon around the corner! Good service, fantastic menu with options to please everyone and very family friendly. read more

Was quite satisfied with my crab cake sandwich* and sweet potato fries, even eating al fresco in 40-something degree weather on a gray day! Food was piping hot and flavorful and service was friendly. *Better than other crab cakes offered "on the Square"! read more

Wondered in after getting my nails done and sat at the bar. First great service like 5+ stars. Ordered the mahi tacos which were on special... as a native Texan pleasantly surprised. Even the salsa was good. It definitely gives neighborhood spot vibes much more than the location on Chestnut. Highly recommend . read more

First timer, loved the club sandwich and baked mac! The food was delivered by dd so can't say much to ambiance or service but the food was on excellent. read more

My husband and I had plans to go to the Parc Restaurant in Rittenhouse Square. The wait for a table was 45 minutes. So we decided to walk around but once we turned a corner on Spruce we smelled something good grilling. We looked on the menu and we just couldn't resist to try what's cooking! We immediately got a seat outside and our server was quick to say hello to us and get our drink order. We ordered their Mac and Cheese to share. I ordered the grilled pork chops and my husband, the bbq ribs. My husbands ribs was a bit dry, and he couldn't eat it. Our server was happy to replace it with another item- he decided on the beef brisket instead. The grilled pork chops was cooked perfectly! Smoky, juicy and tender. The best grilled pork chop I've had. My husbands brisket was flavorful. We were stuffed coz their portions was pretty generous. We will definitely return! read more

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we ordered a nice lunch for takeaway and are at home with the family. Got the Margarita and mushroom pizzas from Marathon (across the street) then lamb chop, Caesar salad from @eatmarathon Lamb chop was bomb as usual, came with shishito peppers and grilled medium rare, just the way I like it Lastly the salads are always a hit. Caesar is nice and crispy with fresh shaved cheese and hearty dressing. The grilled veggie salad comes with heaps of grilled vegetables. We added the Moroccan chicken on it as well Came here another time for brunch . Got the last chicken pot pie, an omelette and the club sandwich. Good standard food as expected @midwestmunching for more on Instagram! read more

Marathon On the Square - Caesar salad - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We went to this restaurant for brunch on 10/20/24 at noon. We order appetizers and entrees. Within 2 minutes after receiving our appetizers the waiter brought out the entrees. When we brought this to the attention of the manager he said that is what they do when they are busy so they can turn over tables when they are busy. If you what to go to a restaurant where they throw the food at you all at once this is the place for you! This may work in the short run but it will not draw repeat customers. read more

Came here on July 4th for dinner, it was four of us and didn't have a reservation but they took us in with no problems. We sat inside and get helped right away. The food wasn't the wow, but decent and the service was superb! Thank you! read more

Marathon On the Square - Sheryl 's Salmon Burger - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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In November I had 2 stops here. One for some lunch time wine, and the second for dinner for 4. Both times, the service, people and food wowed me. They obviously work well as a team from top to bottom. Our evening waiter was a gentleman who explained everything to us in great detail and had great recommendations. We never felt rushed and they worked to adjust the temperature since we were near a drafty window seat inside. Overall, I don't think you can go wrong here and I will be back. Next time I'd like to try their other location over near Sansom street. This is probably one of my 2 favorite spots in Philadelphia now. read more

Marathon on the Square continues to be one of the best restaurants in Center City Phila. The prices are very fair and the food quality and service excellent. read more

Good choices and good service. But food was so salty that neither me or my partner wanted to eat it. :( read more

Rating regarding my takeout order via DoorDash, haven't been in the physical establishment. My husband and I were starving after a long day and he ordered the salmon with mustard, asparagus and mashed potatoes. We ordered the cheese pierogis to share, and I ordered the marathon burger. My husband also ordered an extra side of fries which was probably overkill- but we hadn't eaten all day and had bigger eyes than stomachs. My husband really enjoyed his salmon, the potatoes got a little congealed but the nature of takeout means those things happen. Everything was packaged up nicely. The thing with takeout fries is they're usually either soggy, cold or both. That's not the fault of the restaurant. Ours were hot but not the crispiest. The pierogis were sooooo delicious, served with sautéed onions and sour cream. Those are a must if you need a starter. We finished those despite being so full. My burger was GIANT, delicious, and not over cooked (which is rare these days- no pun intended). It was about medium which is how I prefer it even though I hadn't specified. It was well assembled and perfect as is, no modifications needed. We only wished we had more room to eat every last bite. Loved that they included all the necessary utensils, napkins and ketchup without us having to ask. Do not hesitate to order from them if you're considering delivery! read more

We only had drinks and and appetizer here, but everything was good for the price and the calamari was cooked well. Our waitress was friendly and helpful but the service was pretty slow. We were also sat in one of the two tables by the service line, which wasn't great. read more

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Great location. Sat outside on a beautiful fall afternoon. Fresh cut fries, and the wonton cheese steak egg rolls were delicious. Also had Troegs octoberfest on tap for him and wine for the rest of us. Service was good. read more

Great atmosphere! Best Cobb salad! The service is great! My favorite lunch spot in the city! read more

Our party of four dined here for a business lunch last week at 12:45pm. We had reservations and were seated promptly. The restaurant was busy but not too loud. The service and food were both very good. Three of us got smoothies (I got the strawberry mango -- not enough mango) and we shared the Cheesesteak Wontons to start, which were pretty good. I liked the dipping sauce. For my entree I enjoyed the Southwest Salad with Shrimp. It was a generous portion with layers of flavor and texture. Two others got salads and one person got an omelette. Everyone was satisfied. read more

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Back at Marathon. Ducked in out of the rain under their outdoor tent seating. This place is just good American fare coupled with five star service - this time thanks to Ryan who really made our lunch enjoyable. Love when the server over delivers. read more

I've been to Marathon on the square many times over the years. I used to live close by and go during movie nights. I don't live close anymore so it had been many years between visits. I was excited to go back for lunch twice recently to see if it was still as good as it used to be. I started one lunch with the cheesesteak wantons. The wantons themselves were good but the sauce had too much of a kick for my tastes. My entree was my old standby, the meatloaf. It comes in 2 circular pieces now, with mashed potatoes and spinach. It was as delicious as I remember it. I'm not a person that likes veggies, but the spinach was surprisingly tasty. I cleaned my plate. At another lunch I had the Marathon burger. It comes topped with Vermont cheddar cheese and bacon. It's a great burger that was cooked a perfect medium. It wasn't quite juicy enough to compete with the very best burgers in the city, but it's certainly a burger I could order again and again. For dessert I've had both the lemon cake and the apple pie, with vanilla ice cream. The lemon cake was awesome. It was right up there with the top bakery lemon cakes. The apple pie comes topped with whipped cream and it's delicious. The desserts here are better than what you get at most restaurants. But the ice cream was disappointing both times. I can't put my finger on it but something is off with their vanilla ice cream. This Marathon is a rare thing in Rittenhouse Square. A welcoming reasonably priced restaurant that still gives you great service and high quality food. I do work close by and Marathon on the Square will become a regular part of my lunch rotation. read more

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THE SERVERS WILL FILL IN THEIR OWN UNAUTHORIZED CREDIT CARD TIP AMOUNTS!!!! I was a guest at the establishment on April 6, 2024 at the Spruce street location and had Laura as our server. Overall Laura did a good job as our waitress. She answered our questions regarding the menu, took our orders and the food came out fast. The food was great and me and my guests thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. No problems there. The issue that I have is that Laura added in her own tip amount!!! Let me explain. I paid my portion of the total bill by credit card which came to be $52.36. I signed the paper that was left for me to fill in the tip amount and I left her $12. I placed it on the table. I had an elderly guest with me so I left to go get my car so I could come back to pick her up. When my guests came to my car they handed me my receipt thinking that I had left it behind. The receipt was folded so I never opened it to see which one it was, and then we left. Two days later I went into my purse and saw the receipt and decided to open it and noticed that the my guests gave me the receipt that should've been left for Laura. I felt bad and I wanted to make sure she would still get her tip that I had every intention of given her (I was once a server and I know what it feels like to receive tips and not to receive them) so I wanted to make it right. I was going to call the establishment to see how I could give her the tip. Before I would call, I checked my credit card transactions to see if your establishment had already charged my card and I'd noticed, to my surprise, that I've been charged $62.36 which means she automatically added $10 for her tip! I reach out to Marathon Grill and spoke to the manager on duty Dan at 11:00 am on 4/8/24 and he stated that this happens quite often. He also stated that if there was an imprint of what someone left on the other receipts then they will write in what they think they see. I counter that and said, no matter what you think a guest wrote, the guest never authorized it if it's not written. I take full responsibility for my guests taking the wrong receipt off from the table, but that doesn't give Laura any rights to freely write in her own tip. I am pissed, I feel violated and taken advantage of! read more

Went for Sunday brunch. My husband had the breakfast burrito which was good but his potatoes were cold. I ordered pancakes and specifically asked if they had " real" maple syrup. Waiter said yes, so I ordered them. Well, it was not real maple syrup so I said I didn't want them. Any reputable restaurant at least gives you the option ( with an up charge which is ok) for the real stuff. So while my husband ate, I watched him because by the time I ordered something else, he would have been finished or his food would have been colder. Won't be going back there. read more

Marathon is consistently great! I love coming here for breakfast/lunch. They have an extensive menu with options for everyone! I came here for lunch with a friend today. We made reservations in advance through Open Table and we were seated right away when we arrived. I had the daily quiche and it came with a side salad. The salad was basic, but good! The dressing was a balsamic vinaigrette and it went great with the quiche. The quiche was vegetarian. I can't remember all the ingredients but there was definitely broccoli in it. I loved the flavors! It was fluffier than a traditional quiche and the bottom wasn't really a crust, more like crispy cheese? It was so yummy! I had a cappuccino to drink. It was honestly a little lukewarm when I got it. I wished that it was hotter. Overall, it is a great and consistent restaurant! I will definitely be back. read more

Marathon on the Square delivers comparable quality to my recollection of Marathon Grill locations I frequently visited 20 years ago when I worked in Philadelphia. We needed a quick bite while in town on a Monday (when many restaurants are closed). We stopped here and my husband and I each had a salad. We both had a delicious Cobb Salad. It was large and quite filling. And the fresh brewed iced tea hit the spot on a hot summer day. read more

Chicken quesadilla is 90% Onion slices... Cheesesteak Wontons are quite good... so... a score of three! Delivery was fine; even slightly early from Uber Eats, so kudos to them!! read more

Came to Marathon for a work lunch the other week. The first thing I noticed about it was they had a great selection of seating options both inside and outside. We were promptly seated inside and dug right into the menu. The waitstaff was nice, friendly, and quick. I ended up getting the Marathon Burger - which had a plethora of items on it and was cooked to perfection. I can't recall the specific sauce they used on the burger but it was really good and blended great with the other ingredients. Make sure to get extra napkins with the burger as it can get quite messy if it falls apart. All in all the menu looked great for different lunch items whether you wanted something heavier like a burger or something lighter like a speciality salad. Definitely recommend. read more