There is a minor traffic jam on Fifth Avenue and Maple Street every day around the lunch hour. Motorists are waiting for a parking space in the small lot at Marketplace Deli. There is usually a line inside the store, too, as customers wait for their orders. This is why I always phone-in my selection for pick up. You can say I’m impatient.
Since opening their doors in 1985, the friendly family-owned business has provided a wide selection of wines, craft beers and liquor, as well as sundries and groceries. Located adjacent to Balboa Park, Marketplace offers a great selection of homemade soups, hot and cold sandwiches, pizza and fresh salads. With lunch specials starting at $4.99, it’s the perfect place to grab all the fixings for a picnic.
In the mood for something healthy but no time to wait? The bountiful salads are pre-made for convenience and include chopped Southwest Chicken with grilled breast meat, corn, black beans and tortilla chips, and Asian chicken salad with mandarin oranges and chow mein noodles. My favorite is the bow tie pasta with pesto; tender pasta lightly dressed with olive oil, minced garlic and basil, and tossed with sweet sun-dried tomatoes. Perfect for a warm sunny day.
In the mood for pizza? Marketplace uses bottled water and the best ingredients in their dough and toppings. Order a pie to go, or grab it by the slice. Do you like your sandwiches grilled? Try their Reuben sandwich, a heaping helping of corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese on marbled rye with tangy mustard or thousand island dressing. Deee-lish!
While there’s a vast array of choices, my favorite sandwich is the Chicken Salad on a French roll. The salad is a blend of succulent bites of roasted rosemary chicken with mayonnaise, minced celery and cracked black pepper. The meaty mix is mounded on a yeasty French roll, and served with vine ripe tomato slices, Bermuda onion, mustard and green leaf lettuce. Marketplace prides itself in using the freshest ingredients and the flavors really come through.
Marketplace Deli is based on the simple principle of providing delicious fare at affordable prices. Apparently their business model is a success; that’s why there’s always a line of cars jamming Fifth Avenue during the lunch rush hour.
The Marketplace
2601 Fifth Ave.
San Diego, CA 92103
619-239-8361
