Photo courtesy of Jamie's Roast Beef
Northshore Magazine
The North Shore of Massachusetts is known for its beaches, historical towns, and seafood, among many other things. Over the past several decades, the region has also become renowned for something else: its unique roast beef sandwiches.
History of the Roast Beef Sandwich
The sandwich’s presence on the North Shore goes back to 1951 when Kelly’s Roast Beef opened on Revere Beach. Originally, the sandwich was created as a way of using beef left over from a canceled wedding, but the roast beef sandwich quickly caught on.
Kelly’s roast beef sandwich quickly became a staple of the area. Recently, Kelly’s Roast Beef announced that they are expanding outside the North Shore and will be rebranding its name, logo, and restaurant.
Numerous food establishments followed Kelly’s and began selling roast beef, even focusing their businesses around the sandwich. These early roast beef shops included Bill and Bob’s in Salem, Harrison’s in North Andover, John’s in Lynn, Londi’s in Peabody, and Nick’s in Beverly.
Bill and Bob’s was the first roast beef shop to slather sandwiches with sweet and tangy James River BBQ Sauce—today used on almost every roast beef sandwich in the North Shore. The iconic recipe is the “three-way”: roasted beef on a toasted bun with mayo, cheese, and the signature barbecue sauce.
The sandwich’s evolution did not stop there. Roast beef shops began to innovate with new methods such as sous vide, which seals the beef in plastic then immerses it in warm water to cook over the course of hours. This method allows the beef to be the perfect temperature on the inside so that it can quickly be warmed before it is served.. Many different roast beef shops now use this method.
Photo courtesy of the Modern Butcher
North Shore Roast Beef Culture
As roast beef shops proliferated and places began to perfect their recipe, a sports team-like culture developed around the North Shore, with each person having their favorite place.
Andy Ferg, a lifelong North Shore resident who grew up in Danvers, was so passionate about the sandwich that he “decided to start a Facebook page dedicated it just to roast beef sandwiches. “[It was] kind of a joke” Ferg says. “I didn’t expect it to become as huge as it became.”
Followers of Ferg’s Facebook page, “North Shore Beefs,” which mainly consisted of his friends at first, has now ballooned to almost 30,000. The page consists of people rating roast beef sandwiches from across the North Shore according to “a scoring system that uses acronyms to describe the beef,” Ferg says. The acronyms, such as “flavor of beef” (FOB) and “beef to bun ratio” (B2B), allow for shortened and consistent reviews.
“What I realized was that I wasn’t alone in my love for this sandwich. I knew it was popular. but I didn’t realize how many spots there were and how passionate people were about their spots.”
The Best Roast Beef Sandwiches on the North Shore
With so many good roast beef shops to choose from and the controversy surrounding which is truly the best, here is our roundup of some of the North Shore’s favorites:
Atha’s Roast Beef & Pizza
Atha’s continues to put out outstanding roast beef sandwiches year after year. The Boston sports memorabilia inside makes all the locals feel at home while they eat classic North Shore roast beef sandwiches. Between the tasty flavor of beef and the perfect sauce to mayo ratio, Atha’s should be on everybody’s radar.
10 Sylvan St., Peabody, 978-536-9915, athaspeabody.com
Bella’s Roast Beef
This old-school roast beef shop in North Andover is family-run and has perfected their sandwich over the years. All of the ingredients in the sandwich—meat, bun, cheese, mayo, and sauce—come together to make it one of the very best on the North Shore. Although an old-school beef shop, the interior emanates a clean, modern feel in addition to offering very friendly service.
1211 Osgood St., North Andover, 978-258-1123, bellasna.com
Harrison’s Roast Beef
For nearly four decades, Harrison’s Roast Beef on Chickering Road in North Andover has prided themselves in serving delicious roast beef sandwiches. The interior of Harrison’s includes a large retro dining room and rock ‘n’ roll vibe. The family-run business also serves a selection of other sandwiches and food.
80 Chickering Rd., North Andover, 978-687-9158, harrisonsroastbeef.com
Jamie’s Roast Beef
Jamie’s Roast Beef in Peabody excels at the classic roast beef sandwich with Mathew Marquis, a Peabody High School graduate and trained chef, seasoning, roasting, and thinly slicing the beef himself. Jamie’s also has different variations of the sandwich such as the “Full Send,” which is topped with truffle aioli, melted taleggio cheese, pickled red onions, and baby spinach topped on a pile of beef.
44 Margin St., Peabody, 978-531-9942
Londi’s of Peabody
Londi’s in Peabody combines generous portions with fantastic-tasting food. One of the early roast beef shops, it has been selling beef for several decades and it shows. Their roast beef sandwich remains in many people’s hearts as their favorite in the area.
515 Lowell St., Peabody, 978-535-1300, londisroastbeef.com
Nick’s Pizza, Subs & Roast Beef
Nick’s on Essex Street in Beverly remains one of the best old-school roast beef shops. Nick’s is known for making a roast beef sandwich that consistently ranks among the top on the North Shore. Anybody passing through the area should be sure to check this place out.
207 Essex St., Beverly, 978-720-8972, nickspizzabeverly.com
Niko’s Roast Beef and Seafood
Opened in 2005, this family-run business has made a name for itself around the North Shore with its great roast beef sandwiches. Niko’s also has additional items to customize your sandwich, or you can choose from a range of their other delicious food.
194 Elm St. #1805, Salisbury, 978-463-8887, nikosroastbeefandseafood.com
Pomodori
Pomodori in Newburyport was opened by Peter Nikolopolous in 2019 after opening locations in Ipswich and Georgetown over the last two decades. Pomodori prides itself on creating an excellent roast beef sandwich and has recently launched “Beefie Boys” food truck to take the sandwich on the road.
192 State St., Newburyport, 978-255-1722, pomodorinbpt.com
Route 110 Roast Beef and Seafood
Route 110 Roast Beef and Seafood stuffs their sandwiches with tons of delicious beef along with other classic ingredients. Across from Hodgie’s Ice Cream in Amesbury, this place offers a hefty sandwich that should be on the list of any serious fan of North Shore beef.
66 1/2 Haverhill Rd., Amesbury 978-388-3800, rt110roastbeef.com
Supreme Roast Beef
Supreme Roast Beef on Maple Street in Danvers offers great food and service at an affordable price. Their roast beef sandwich has become renowned throughout the area for its mouth-watering taste and classic style.
18 Maple St., Danvers, 978-776-3130, thesupremeroastbeef.com
The Modern Butcher
Although sold only once a week, on Saturdays, The Modern Butcher’s roast beef sandwich has taken the North Shore beef scene by storm. Its beef is sourced from within 150 miles of Newburyport, and the owners make sure that the animals on the farms are healthy and treated well. It is well worth waiting for their superb roast beef sandwich sold on Saturdays, or you can grab another one of their delicious daily special sandwiches throughout the week.
226 Merrimac St., Newburyport, 978-465-6500
Zeno’s Roast Beef and Seafood
Although Zeno’s doesn’t get the same attention as some others on this list, their roast beef sandwich is among the best in the area. The family-run business makes exquisite roast beef sandwiches and has other items, such as seafood, which keep people coming back for more.
40 Central St., Ipswich, 978-312-1497, zenosroastbeef.com
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I am an expert in a wide range of topics, including food, culture, and regional specialties. I have a deep understanding of various cuisines, culinary traditions, and local food scenes. My expertise is based on extensive research, analysis of culinary trends, and a passion for exploring diverse food cultures. I can provide detailed insights and information on topics related to food, including regional specialties, culinary history, and popular food establishments.
North Shore Roast Beef Culture
The North Shore of Massachusetts is renowned for its unique roast beef sandwiches, which have become a significant part of the local food culture. The history of the roast beef sandwich in the region dates back to 1951 when Kelly’s Roast Beef opened on Revere Beach. The sandwich was initially created as a way of using leftover beef from a canceled wedding, and it quickly gained popularity, becoming a staple of the area. Over the years, numerous food establishments, including Bill and Bob’s in Salem, Harrison’s in North Andover, John’s in Lynn, Londi’s in Peabody, and Nick’s in Beverly, began selling roast beef, with each place developing its own unique take on the sandwich [[1]].
The North Shore's roast beef culture has evolved into a sports team-like phenomenon, with each person having their favorite place. This culture is exemplified by the "North Shore Beefs" Facebook page, which has almost 30,000 followers and allows people to rate roast beef sandwiches from across the North Shore using a scoring system that includes acronyms to describe the beef, such as "flavor of beef" (FOB) and "beef to bun ratio" (B2B) [[1]].
Best Roast Beef Sandwiches on the North Shore
The North Shore is home to several renowned roast beef shops, each offering its own take on the classic sandwich. Some of the favorites include:
- Atha’s Roast Beef & Pizza: Known for outstanding roast beef sandwiches with a classic North Shore flavor. The Boston sports memorabilia inside adds to the local atmosphere.
- Bella’s Roast Beef: A family-run, old-school roast beef shop in North Andover that has perfected its sandwich over the years, offering a modern interior and friendly service.
- Harrison’s Roast Beef: Serving delicious roast beef sandwiches for nearly four decades, with a large retro dining room and rock ‘n’ roll vibe.
- Jamie’s Roast Beef: Excels at the classic roast beef sandwich, offering different variations such as the "Full Send," topped with truffle aioli, melted taleggio cheese, pickled red onions, and baby spinach.
- Londi’s of Peabody: Combines generous portions with fantastic-tasting food, remaining a favorite in the area for several decades.
- Nick’s Pizza, Subs & Roast Beef: Known for consistently ranking among the top roast beef shops on the North Shore, offering old-school roast beef sandwiches.
- Niko’s Roast Beef and Seafood: A family-run business that has made a name for itself with great roast beef sandwiches and additional customizable items.
- Pomodori: Known for creating an excellent roast beef sandwich and recently launching a "Beefie Boys" food truck to take the sandwich on the road.
- Route 110 Roast Beef and Seafood: Stuffs their sandwiches with tons of delicious beef along with other classic ingredients, offering a hefty sandwich for serious fans of North Shore beef.
- Supreme Roast Beef: Offers great food and service at an affordable price, with a renowned mouth-watering taste and classic style.
- The Modern Butcher: Known for its superb roast beef sandwich sourced from within 150 miles of Newburyport, sold only once a week on Saturdays.
- Zeno’s Roast Beef and Seafood: Offers exquisite roast beef sandwiches and other items, such as seafood, making it among the best in the area [[1]].
These establishments represent the diverse and thriving roast beef culture on the North Shore, each contributing to the region's culinary identity.