Five Favorite Boston Area Roast Beef Sandwiches

I love myself a classic North Shore roast beef sandwich. For those not familiar with these beauties, it’s thinly sliced, rare roast beef served “three-way”- with James River BBQ sauce, mayo, and cheese. They typically come in three sizes: junior, regular, and super beef- served on a Piantedosi Bakery roll. Our visit for five favorite roast beef sandwiches is going to hit up a variety of establishments. The roast beef sandwich as we know it started at Kelly’s in Revere. We’ll have to stop there, after a foray into the North Shore, and then finish up with stops in Boston, and two in the South Shore. 

Purists may balk at the idea of a South Shore version of the North Shore classic. Here’s the thing: I live in Plymouth, and as any Boston area driver knows, to get from the heart of the South Shore to the heart of the North Shore (let’s say Plymouth to Gloucester) often can take upwards of two hours! Luckily, I’ve found a few places that do the North Shore style right, even though they are located on the wrong coast of Boston. And RIP to Angelo’s Roast Beef, a Plymouth establishment that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

Kelly’s Roast Beef

Kelly’s is the original roast beef restaurant, where legend says the roast beef sandwich was born in 1951. The Kelly’s chain has a few locations, but the original in Revere, right across from Revere Beach, is a walk-up, take-out stand that serves fried seafood and other food but is known best for the roast beef sandwich. It all began as a bit of an accident. Original owners Frank V. McCarthy and Raymond Carey manned a hot dog stand at Revere Beach. There was leftover roast beef from a wedding that took place at the Paul Roger House, which was owned by Raymond Carey’s family. The meat was sliced, placed on buns, and sold at the hot dog stand, making it the maiden voyage of the roast beef sandwich. It was a hit, and the establishment of Kelly’s as a roast beef mecca was born. McCarthy’s and Carey’s first or last name is not “Kelly,” so how did the restaurant come to have that name? It is named after Tom Kelly, a friend of theirs. 

Kelly’s, across from Revere Beach, is still just a walk-up stand. Look for the iconic neon green sign marking its location. At Kelly’s, the sirloin has been aged for twenty-five days, and each sandwich is made to order. Unlike most of the other roast beef joints in the North Shore, Kelly’s roast beef is not served rare. The beef is brown, not pink. No matter what, though, the roast beef sandwich at Kelly’s is so tender. 

Bill & Bob’s

Many of the roast beef joints are no frills, somewhere between a take-out stand and a fast food restaurant. Bill and Bob’s in Peabody and Woburn is no exception. Their Peabody location is situated smack dab in the center of town. 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. The James River BBQ sauce gives enough of a zing to just kick the sandwich up a notch. The roast beef here is excellent. It’s like sinking your teeth into a pillow made of meat with hints of tangy sauce. Bill & Bob’s isn’t far off the highway, which means even if you’re passing by Peadboy on Route 128, it’s easily accessible. 

Cusser’s

Here’s where things start to get crazy! We’re veering off the North Shore route to Boston and its southern environs. First, we will start at Cusser’s Roast Beef and Seafood. Cusser’s has two locations; one in the Time Out Market near Fenway Park and one in the Hub Food Hall in North Station/TD Garden. The name “Cusser’s” may be familiar to you since they also operate the Mooncusser Fish House, an upscale restaurant in Boston. Cusser’s is their take on a North Shore roast beef and seafood joint. I like their roast beef sandwich just as much as their North Shore brethren (although this will cost you a few bucks more). It’s a perfect bite before a concert or catching a Sox game. Rare, tender and served three-way, yum!

Brother’s Roast Beef

Brother’s Roast Beef restaurants extend from Malden to Kingston. The location closest to me is Kingston. The building at 137 Main Street is a former Burger King situated just off of Route 3. From the outside, Brother’s is still reminiscent of a Burger King, although bathed in a brown hue instead of blue. Inside, though, the restaurant is appealing with comfortable seating and a brown and white painted interior. When I’m at Brother’s, I need to order the super beef! Their super beef is just as good as anything I’ve eaten in the North Shore. Brother’s has a large menu with an array of sandwiches, pizza, salads, and pasta to choose from. Along with its roast beef sandwich, Brother’s is also known for its pizza. Friends have recommended the pastrami sandwich to me as well (although it’s hard NOT to get the roast beef since Brother’s is definitely one of my five favorite roast beef sandwiches). 

Bark BBQ

Bark is Plymouth’s best BBQ, hands down. The brisket and pulled pork are typically what I choose. We often try options for sides, including potatoes, mac & cheese, or collard greens. An order of burnt ends is also a must! Bark’s portions are big, so consider splitting. Bark is located in North Plymouth on Court Street in a small strip mall. I usually prefer to take out but make sure to fill your cups with sauces. The meat is tender and simply delish! But this is about roast beef sandwiches! 

Never fear, but make sure to check the specials, for Bark offers a three-way roast beef sandwich on their menu from time to time. It’s a different kind of roast beef, served in chunks closer to how brisket is cut rather than the thinly shaved kind. Nevertheless, order it as a three-way and although the texture is different, the outcome is just the same, it’s damn good! Now with Angelo’s gone from Plymouth, when this special comes around, it’s as close as we’ve got to the North Shore staple. And it’s from Bark to boot, which means it’s gonna be good. 

Our trip to find the five favorite roast beef sandwiches was a bit unorthodox. Eschewing the typical North Shore-only meal for others that are more convenient for folks like myself living in the South Shore. With two South Shore destinations, one pre-Fenway option, the Kelly’s OG sandwich, and one classic North Shore special, there are plenty of different choices for favorite roast beef sandwiches.