With Boston ever extending its tentacles into the surrounding suburbs and shores, the loss of affordability creates an upper-class monoculture. In cities like Cambridge, once bohemian, Harvard Square has been all but lost to the throws of chain stores, upscale eateries, and luxury condos long ago. Much is the same throughout the Greater Boston Area. One region certainly still affected, but with some semblance of the past is the North Shore. Cities such as Salem and Gloucester retain an authenticity. Another tradition continues in the busy burbs north of Boston: the roast beef sandwich. Today we’re heading up to the North Shore for a records and roast beef day trip.
Mystery Train Records
As previously stated time and time again, I still buy records and CDs, yes tangible music. Although my album consumption has diminished in the last few years, I tend to either purchase copies of new records by artists whom I love or wait until I go to a favorite record store to browse and buy.
Over the past few years, the record store where I have made an annual pilgrimage for browsing and buying is Mystery Train Records in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Gloucester still retains much of its gritty fishing town underbelly with facades of gentrification thrown in. Mystery Train’s selection is astounding. There is music everywhere. Alphabetized where it should be but everywhere else too. Make sure to check under and over everywhere for more piles of music. After spending at least an hour here, I often come out with an armload of CDs from desired albums to guilty pleasures.
Turtle Alley Chocolates
This isn’t records or roast beef but is just another “r,” a recommendation. Turtle Alley Chocolates is located just a few blocks away from Mystery Train. This chocolatier makes simply delicious chocolates. Try their namesake turtles or truffles or simply any of their delectable chocolate creations.
Roast Beef
During my last visit for records and roast beef, I was hoping to try King’s, which is on the same drag as the other two stops. Alas, King’s was out of roast beef!
Instead, I hopped back onto Route 128 heading south back toward home but took the exit for Peabody. Here I decided to try Bill & Bob’s Roast Beef. The roast beef sandwich is a North Shore staple. Originally started by accident at Kelly’s in Revere, next to fried clams, the roast beef sandwich is the king cuisine of the North Shore. Every North Shore town has at least one of these no-frills roast beef sandwich joints.
Thinly sliced, made-to-order rare roast beef is piled high on a roll in the sizes of Super, Regular, or Junior Beef. Most of these places are in highly commercialized areas and the restaurants do not specialize in atmosphere. What they specialize in is amazing roast beef sandwiches.
Bill & Bob’s Roast Beef
At the center of Peabody is the location of the Bill & Bob’s that I went to. Just like the others, this is no-frills. Order at the counter, fill your fountain soda, grab a table, and wait for your order. I always order my roast beef sandwich the traditional three-way; with mayo, James River BBQ sauce, and cheese. The sandwich here is excellent. It’s like sinking your teeth into a pillow made of meat with hints of tangy sauce. Although it wasn’t in Gloucester, Bill & Bob’s isn’t far off the highway and made my North Shore road trip for records and roast beef a success.
If you want a turn-back-the-clock road trip, try records and roast beef on the North Shore.
