Even by Manhattan standards, the sandwiches are outrageously expensive – $500 for a turkey club.

At least proceeds from the Celebrity Club International, created by Real Housewife of New Jersey Teresa Giudice and author/Mafia daughter Victoria Gotti – who also supplied the special sauce – go to charity.

Contestants hustle to make the most for their teams on “The Celebrity Apprentice,” returning for a fifth season Sunday on NBC.

On a warm day in October, Zap2it got the first look at the new season. This challenge consisted of the teams working two different locations for a sandwich shop chain.

Illusionist Penn Jillette stands outside a Cafe Metro on East 42nd Street and juggles fire. Next to him, Lou Ferrigno (“The Incredible Hulk”) flexes and yells, “Eat here or I’ll eat you – for charity.” Paul Teutul Sr. (“American Chopper”) loudly revs tricked-out motorcycles.

Across town, beauty pageant winners including former Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza prance in front of the Cafe Metro on West 52nd Street and smile at men who stop dead in midconversation and suddenly develop an appetite.

This is all supposed to be under wraps; imagine if they had wanted to draw attention to themselves. They did want, however, to draw customers into their respective restaurants.

The men’s team includes George Takei (“Star Trek”) quietly manning a counter and “American Idol” runner-up Clay Aiken working the cash register as a line snakes through the store.

The men charge $9 for all sandwiches. Their location is better, just around the corner from one of the city’s busiest intersections and in a neighborhood where grabbing a quick, cheap sandwich is a challenge.

One man says he will pay only $7 for a sandwich, an odd bargain, but he does tip $305,000.

Paul Teutul Sr. called his pal Carlos Urbaneja, who owns restaurants and sports-car dealerships.

“I bought a bike from him,” Urbaneja says, explaining their connection. He has someone pick up his water, and he’s off.

Had the health department visited during the men’s team takeover, the shop would have racked up violations. Counters are gummy, the drain in the soda machine is clogged with lettuce and tomato, and the place needs sweeping.

However, at the Cafe Metro where the women rule, all is spotless. Not everyone is kitchen-savvy, but Gotti and Giudice know what they’re doing, evident by the way they slice food, flip a sandwich and clean as they go.

Contestants work their smartphones, and Russell Simmons shows up and gives $10,000.

Wyclef Jean surveys the kitchen, where neat trays of sliced tomatoes are stacked under cellophane. People pose for photos sure to be on Facebook.

The women are also tapping into their considerable contacts. “There is no way the guys will beat us,” she says, unaware of that $305,000 check.

As they close the West 52nd Street branch, a cleaning crew takes over. One must wish luck to the crews across town, where they need their own apprentices.

Teresa Giudice is a contestant in the fifth season of “The Celebrity Apprentice.”