Quiznos Gets Classy with Quiznos Grill in the Golden Triangle

Quiznos, the homegrown toasted-sub company, is growing up: It just opened Quiznos Grill at 1147 Broadway, a few blocks from where Jimmy Lambatos opened the first Quiznos at 1275 Grant Street back in 1981.

The brand has had a bumpy ride over the past 35 years, and occasionally got toasted as well as toasty. Rick Schaden bought his first franchise in Boulder in 1987, then bought two more franchises, then bought the entire company. He's weathered fights from investors, franchise holders and others (see our November 2006 cover story, "You're Toast") — but today Quiznos is the second-largest sandwich chain in the country (behind Subway), with a brand-new concept: Quiznos Grill is the Quiznos sandwich brand turned fast-casual, with international and adventurous items on the menu. 

"We really just wanted to pull on all of these different fusions of international foods that we just so happen to love," says Quiznos's Elizabeth Sapp. Her personal favorites include the Grill'd Korean Cheesesteak ($10.50), and the Apple-Jalapeño Crispy Chicken Sandwich ($8) that she admits she's "dreamed about," despite having worked for Quiznos for thirteen years. Quiznos Grill held a grand-opening gathering yesterday but actually opened last month; entrees that have proved particularly popular since then include the Maple BBQ Brisket and the Falafel and Feta vegetarian sandwich.

The menu also feature classier salads than you'll find at traditional Quiznos spots, such as a Wasabi-Drizzled Chicken with romaine hearts, baby kale, shredded carrots, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, ginger-sesame dressing and a wasabi-mayo drizzle. Spicy, sweet and more inventive items pull inspiration from the street taco and food-truck movement, Sapp explains.

The company plans to add Quiznos Grill locations in LoDo and a local suburb. Keep reading for more photos of this Golden Triangle spot.