MARCH 23, 2001
“I see you have homemade soup. Is it made here?” I asked as I entered the new Quizno’s Subs shop on South Washington Street.
“Well, no,” said the attendant at the counter.
“Oh,” I said. “Is it made in someone else’s kitchen?”
The young man nodded, and I ordered a cup of broccoli cheese soup. Then, never having been to Quizno’s before, I tried to figure out what kind of a sandwich I wanted. There are signature subs and classic subs listed on the menu. Under signature subs, I found a turkey-bacon guacamole combination that comes in small ($3.99), regular ($4.99) or large ($6.99). I figured small would do me. I asked for whole wheat bread, rather than white.
This was an excellent sandwich. The bread was toasted and warm. The turkey was very thinly sliced and had a nice smoked flavor. The combination with guacamole and bacon was most tasty. The soup ($1.29) was as thick as porridge. Good enough, but it might not win a blue ribbon at the state fair.
Quizno’s is relatively new in Grand Forks, and adds another interesting dimension to the eating out scene. The company bills itself as an upscale sub shop and is growing rapidly.
Inside all Quizno’s shops, the colors are red and green, and the tone is Italian. There are red, green and gold lamps hanging over the counters. When I had lunch there a week ago Thursday, the music was playing, and the pop machine was humming away. My soup came in a paper cup with a plastic spoon. I like the napkins at Quizno’s because they are natural-colored and are made from recycled fibers.
My plan was to try a salad or a classic sub on my second visit to Quizno’s. I looked over the hot beefeater, albacore tuna and other sandwiches. But my eye kept straying back to the turkey-bacon-guacamole. I enjoyed it so much I went for a repeat. Thus, I did not taste three other sandwiches that are top choices of Quizno’s regulars: classic Italian with salami, pepperoni, ham and cheese; Mesquite chicken with bacon; and Black Angus steak on rosemary parmesan bread.
The cookies are generously sized and $1.09. The lineup includes chocolate chip, oatmeal chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, white chocolate chip, M&M and Reese’s Pieces. Dessert choices include a chocolate Bundt cake, carrot Bundt cake, apple cobbler and very berry cobbler. All are $1.69. Coffee and hot tea are 69 cents at Quizno’s.
The sandwich I had twice at Quizno’s was indeed above average and just a tad pricey. I would go back for it again because I like the way the bread tastes—so fresh and toasted. The bread comes in flash-frozen from Colorado and is baked at the shops. The homemade soup, as it turns out, comes from a grocery supplier.
There are currently two Quizno’s restaurants operating in Grand Forks.