New York - 14 July, 2004 -

Upstart Denver-based chain Quiznos, which has recently opened a slew of new stores in New York, is challenging stalwarts Subway and Blimpie for top-dog status. To find out if it rates the buzz, The Post put its Italian hero up against Blimpie and Subway in a taste test. Quiznos: Quiznos scores high marks for the quality of its meat - the capicolla had a deep red color, the pepperoni had some kick to it, and the salami was tasty and not too fatty. The toasting of the bread had left the ends blackened - a potential turn-off for some, though our panel didn't mind. "It's an imperfection, but I'm excited by it," said one panelist. "It proves that human hands made this." Price, with tax: $8.46 Rating: 3 1/2 Blimpie: The Blimpie sandwich came on an oversized torpedo of bread that overwhelmed the ingredients. "I don't know whether to eat it or clean my sink with it," said another panelist. The ham was garden variety, and the salami was soggy and unappetizing - if it was cured in wine, it was probably Thunderbird. Price, with tax: $7.50 Rating: 2 1/2 Subway: The clear loser. The chain's touted home-baked bread was devoid of character - "like Wonder Bread shaped into a hero roll," said a taster. To make matters worse, it was drenched in vinaigrette. "There's more oil in that sandwich than there is floating on the surface of the Persian Gulf," said another. The salami was fatty and gray, the ham was limp and lacked flavor, and the pepperoni was greasy. Price, with tax: $6.19 Rating: 1

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