Marathon Ethiopian - Calgary

I went here with my husband and my friend and her boyfriend. We went on a Saturday night at 630 pm. When we arrived it was not super busy, but soon after the restaurant filled up. It took us an hour to get a glass of water. The food took about 1.5 hours, but the menu stated that the food might take time to get the flavors. I have to say that it was worth the wait, and the food was delicious, but they really need to improve on the service. We had also ordered coffee and it did not come until we got our food and it was burnt.

I was here for lunch with a friend. The Entertainment book gave me a 10 dollar coupon against a second meal. I had the combination meat platter, which had a mix of different meats, along with home made cheese and salad. I had the 500 mL Tusker beer, which is a great addition to a spicy meal.the service was a bit slow, but friendly.

Since coming to Calgary recently, we have been looking for good vegetarian options. Marathon Ethiopian is definitely worth a try. (It's also a short walk from the Sunnyside Station.)Quick caveats: There is another Ethiopian restaurant, Blue Nile, just a block away, and we have not tried it yet, so cannot compare the two. The service was a little slow, mainly because there was a big group of 8-10 people that arrived just ahead of us. But the staff were very friendly and the ambience (with some African-themed decor) was nice on a cold evening. I'm willing to forgive some glitches, like a close call with a beverage that the waiter accidentally spilled, because the food, when it arrived, was terrific!My spouse and I ordered the vegetarian platter for two. We got a selection of five different dishes, served in the usual style on a platter with bread, and all were tasty. I especially liked the cabbage and carrots (not sure what it's called). The best thing is that each dish had a distinctive spice/flavor signature, so the platter made for a nice medley of flavors. The platter for two was slightly more expensive than meals we've had at other ethnic restaurants in the neighborhood, but worth it.We will definitely be going back. I'd recommend Marathon to anyone looking for a nice spot with lots of vegetarian options.

Had it delivered, so disappointed :( I used to live in Ethiopia for 2 years and ate injera and wot on a daily basis. The flavours were off, too salty, not enough texture. Should have tried blue Nile I guess!? I couldn't even finish it. I'm sad.

We highly recommend trying marathon Ethiopian restaurant if you are interested in trying something new. The dinner for two is delicious excellent flavour presentation, ambiance and service you will not be disappointed. We literally could not stop eating!