David vs. Goliath battle enters sub shops

by Chris Congeni
For The Post

Are franchises and massive oversized companies taking over every aspect of society? This is a question that has been posed many times in the world of commerce, one which this review will not answer. But it will tackle another brain bender: Which sub sandwich shop rules Court Street, Hole in the Wall, 35 N. Court St., or Jarret's Subway, 25 N. Court St.?

First off, the selection at both establishments is acceptable when comparing the menus to the vast majority of the other Court Street eating establishments. Subway, the national chain, has the same menu no matter which location you enter all over the nation. The three basic meats Subway carries are turkey, roast beef and ham.

Hole in the Wall has a large menu including multiple kinds of salads, appetizers and cold and hot subs. In all, there are about 60 different menu items that one can choose from. The locally owned store has unique items such as "The Killer" sandwich, which includes roast beef, salami, provolone cheese and baked ham.

The economics of the visit to these restaurants always weighs heavy on any Ohio University student. Subway has an answer to the money problem: deli-style sandwiches. One can get a hardy deli-style sandwich for $1.79. A turkey and tuna deli-style sandwich with a drink came to under $5.

Hole in the Wall provides much more variety, but offers little in terms of saving the consumers' money. One 12-inch "Killer" and a small drink came to more than $8.

The food-quality award is given to Hole in the Wall. Everything from their beer-battered cheese sticks to their grilled chicken salads to their hot pizza sub is fresh, while Subway excels in cold sandwiches and subs.

Subway's meatball sub cannot compare to Hole in the Wall's meatball sub. Hole in the Wall makes sure every meatball sub they serve has five whole meatballs. Many times this kind of standard is overlooked.

Both establishments provide friendly and enthusiastic service. The atmosphere at Subway is more conducive for studying; Hole in the Wall encourages loud conversations.

The hours for the two differ. Hole in the Wall is open long enough to serve intoxicated college students barging through their door after a long night at the bars. Subway closes before many people have even made it to the Uptown bars.

Though both eating establishments are assets to the Athens community, the best sub and sandwich shop on Court Street is Hole in the Wall. If one does not mind shelling out a few extra dollars, then the experience is sure to be positive.

Ratings on a 10-point scale:

Subway - 7.0

Hole in the Wall - 8.5