Lexington Center Sandwich Tour: Avenue Deli

On the eve of national bakery-cafe titan Panera Bread's , we're going on a , searching for the finest deli sandwich in town.

was , an italian speciality shop on Waltham Street that moved into town in 2006. Next up is Avenue Deli, a relatively new independent deli on Mass. Ave.

Where: Avenue Deli, 1806 Massachusetts Ave.

The Sandwich: The "New York Deli Double Decker"

What's in the 'wich: Layers of Boar's Head turkey, roast beef, and swiss cheese topped with coleslaw and russian dressing in between three slices of marble rye bread.

The verdict: Try this sandwich only if you're ready for one heck of a meal.

Avenue's "New York Deli Double Decker" was a solid interpretation of a classic New York sandwich. It was massive, and a bit messy, but hearty and tasty enough that I'd eat it again.

A highlight was the homemade coleslaw, which added some much needed moisture and crunch to the heavy, meaty bite.

Comparing this 'wich to Tutto's is difficult, since Tutto's simply uses better meats, including a cayenne-dusted salami that was fantastic. Avenue also pre-slices its meat, cheese and veggies, unlike Tutto's, which slices everything fresh.

But overall this 'wich was enjoyable enough for me to recommend. It filled me up for hours and reminded me of delis where I grew up, in Brooklyn.

Whether Avenue's "New York Deli Double Decker" is the best sandwich in Lexington Center, however, remains to be seen.