Great Food in Marietta: The Marietta Diner

Looking for food in Marietta? Ever had the feeling of knowing that you want to eat, but never sure what to eat. Don’t want to commit to a particular taste. Chinese? No. Mexican? No. BBQ? No. Dilemmas like this have caused more than enough fights between couples and often end with one person not being happy with that evenings dining choice. Hidden down on Cobb Parkway, in Marietta, GA is a restaurant that can satisfy the most undecided appetite the Marietta Diner.

The Marietta diner is one of the best restaurants Marietta. This hidden gem, just south of the locally famous “Big Chicken” on Cobb Parkway looks just like every other 50s style diner on the outside. The reflective paneling, the neon light trim, the word “diner”, its all there and that’s where the similarities end for once you step inside, a “diner”, is the last thing you’d call this place.

The first thing you see while your waiting to be seated, or are being taken to your seat is the 3 full cases of desserts. Cookies, and Cannolis, and Cakes Oh My! Just looking at these desserts you can nearly see the richness of them. It not a rare event for a patron at the Marietta Diner to order desert first, just to make sure they have enough room for it.

Once you’re seated, you finally get a look at the menu, and you see how special this place truly is. This menu, reads more like a short story. The shear amount of items listed is astonishing and their servers deserve major complements for being able to keep everything straight. There is the typically food you would expect to find. Two pages of breakfast, a page of burgers, steaks, and sandwiches, all the normal things you’d find in a normal diner setting. But its what’s on the menu that you wouldn't expect, that sets this place apart.

Never in my life have I had to tell the server “I need a few more minutes, please” As many times as I do every time I eat there. They quite nearly have everything, over 300-400 items. Just getting through there menu takes a good 5 minutes of reading. Each night has a different full page of specials offered such as Roasted Duck, A Trio of Stuffed Chicken Breasts, and my personal favorite, the Greek Platter.

The Greek influence of the Diner is found throughout the menu. Within the normal breakfast offerings one will also find an Athenian omelet, with Souvlaki , tomato and feta cheese, and thick country grits and a biscuit. Served with many of the meals as a side dish or starter is a serving of spinach pastries (pies). These pies are square shaped, and feature homemade creamed spinach between 2 flaky pasty crusts. Gyros and Souvlaki are also daily feature on the menu and are served with Homemade tzatziki sauce and a Greek Style side salad.

Speaking of salads, their salad menu is enormous. If you can’t find a likable salad here you will never find it anywhere else. A whole page is dedicated to feature all 20 of them. From your typical House Salads, to the Greeks, to simple veggie plates, the selection and style never seems to end as you read down the list.

The Marietta Diner opened its doors in 1995 and is the creation of Gus Tselios and is run with help from his all Greek Family, who have major restaurant experience throughout the south and northeast. Since then, he and his family have successfully opened 3 more restaurants in the Marietta, GA area, two of which, The Marietta Diner and The Marietta Fish Market, have been featured by The Food Networks Guy Fieri.

I am a fan of multi-course meals, thus I usually always order an appetizer. I’ve done this every time I’ve eaten at the Marietta Diner and trust me, you really don’t need one. We usually start off with the Potatoes skins, which are crunchy and cheesy, with real chopped bacon on top and served with Ranch and Sour Cream. My first meal I ordered at the Diner was the Trio of Stuffed Chicken Breasts. It had 3 good sized whole chicken breasts; one stuffed with spinach and cheese, another stuffed with an apple filling, and the last one stuffed with a variety of seafood and cream. This was enough in itself, but it was also served with a Rice Pilaf, a Spinach Pie, Soup, and a side salad. By the time I was full, I had roughly 2 chicken breasts left, ½ of the Rice Pilaf, and 2 potatoes skins left, and unfortunately for me, no room for that dessert that was teasing me throughout the evening.

My second dining experience also featured the potato skins, and this time the Greek Platter. The Greek Platter featured half a plate of a Greek style “side salad”, with a huge chunk of fresh feta on top. 2 Pork souvlaki and a Gyro with all the fixings. Again, I made the mistake of overeating, and left without dessert for the 2^nd time.

The Papa George Famous Greek Salad

Chopped Hearts of Romaine & Iceberg Lettuce, Red Onion, Tomato, Cucumber, Pepperoncini, Green Onion, Kalamata Olives, and Feta cheese tossed in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Red Wine Vinegar, and Fresh Dill. Topped with Stuffed Grape Leaves, and a chopped boiled Potato.

The Reuban

Corned Beef, Swiss Steak, and Sauerkraut on Panini Bread. Served with Fries

Broiled Baby Lamb Chops

With Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Fresh Spinich. Served with Cup of Soup, Salad, Vegatable, Bread and Butter.

Fried Combination Seafood Platter

Scallops, Shrimp, Filet of Flounder, Clam Strips, and Stuffed Mushrooms with Seafood Stuffing. Served with Cup of Soup, Salad, Potato, Vegetable, Bread and Butter, and Tarter Sauce.

Baked Lasagna Parmigiana

Served with Cup of Soup, Salad, Brad and Butter

Bacon Cheeseburger Deluxe

Served with Fries, 2 Onion Rings, Cole Slaw, and a Pickle

Philly Cheese Steak

With Onions, Peppers, Topped with Melted Cheese and served with French Fries, Cole Slaw, and a Pickle.

Marietta Breakfast Special

Two Eggs, Two Pancakes, Sausage Bacon, Home Fries, and your choice of Toast, Pita Bread, or Biscuit.

My 3^rd time, I finally got dessert. Again ordered the potato skins but went with a breakfast menu item this time. I had the Corned Beef and Hash meal, served with toast, and 2 eggs your style. Having learned nothing about the over generous portion size of the dishes, I ordered a side waffle just to be sure. Ever see those serving dishes that are like a half bowl in shape, 12 inches across? That’s what my Corned Beef Hash came in. It had to be at least ¾ of a pound in there, not including the eggs in toast, It was perfectly done, the meat was extra tender, and the filling had the right amount on crunch to balance it out. I finished ¼ of that plus my eggs, and shared my waffle with my dining partner, before moving on to the long awaited dessert menu.

When I first heard about dining guests getting dessert first, I wasn't sure how I felt about it. But finally, after 3 meals here, I got to taste one of their desserts. I shared a piece of Red Velvet Cake, and the hype was well deserved. I've had countless slices of cake, in my life, especially red velvet. From homemade, to store bought, to cake from restaurants that claim to have the best. No one has anything on this cake. It was simply in a different league. The portion size was huge. The creaminess and richness of the icing went perfect with the ultra-moist cake found underneath. Calling this cake a delicacy, doesn't do this cake any justice. Every time I have visited the Diner since, i'm sure to either get dessert first, or make sure to save plenty of room.

The bottom line is this. If you are looking for something to eat, and you can’t decide. Don’t limit yourself. Stop by the Marietta Diner anytime, day or night, 24 hours a day. Here you will find an unrivaled selection of dishes that surpass your expectations in size and quality. Everything on the menu is tasty. From fish and lamb, to steaks, burgers, eggs, and gyros, it’s all on the menu. Surprisingly for all of this great food, everything is priced like a diner, affordable and reasonable. Two people could easily have breakfast or lunch for under $25.00 total. I am a college student, on a tight budget, and nothing beats going to the Diner after a long night at the library. The Marietta Diner is a true gem of Cobb County and its highly recommended if your near the Atlanta area to stop on by for a diner experience unlike any other.