I never thought that an unassuming hole-in-the-wall eatery tucked next to a hookah café and a nail salon would become my favorite restaurant in College Park. But I guess life is full of surprises.
The first time I set foot in Marathon Deli I had no idea what to expect. I ordered a gyro because the kind old man behind the counter told me it was his favorite.
As I took a seat I thought about how Marathon is one of the only restaurants where I haven’t felt like I’m just another cow in the herd of cattle being ushered through long lines. Granted, I love the food at chains like Chipotle and Blaze Pizza, but they don’t have the family-owned sincerity of Marathon.
The food arrived quickly and tasted incredible. Plus, the man who had suggested the gyro actually came over to see if the dish had lived up to his stellar review (of course, it had).
One of the best aspects of Marathon is the overwhelming charm of the whole place. Worn-in dusty lamps illuminate a small dining room, the walls of which are covered in both framed pictures of places in Greece and posters detailing the schedules for Maryland sports games. Some fake plants in baskets hang from the ceiling on hooks. A tiny television is perched over the room and sputters out a news program. It’s a design aesthetic one could only find at a place like Marathon, where the decorations aren’t mass produced to be stuck in chain restaurants, they’re little bits of College Park history that have stood the test of time.
Marathon Deli is the best restaurant in College Park because it offers amazing food with a genuinely friendly atmosphere. It’s not fancy but it always feels homey. Other college campuses might have a Jimmy John’s or a Potbelly Sandwich Shop, but we’re the only one with a Marathon Deli, and that’s pretty special.
