Today, we are reviewing Kelly’s Roast Beef sandwich. Kelly’s Roast Beef was founded in 1951 in Revere, Massachusetts by Frank McCarthy and Raymond Carey. Because neither partner wanted to use their name on the restaurant, they opted to name the place after a mutual friend, a florist named Thomas Kelly. Today, the chain is also for other foods such as lobster rolls, seafood, chicken, hamburgers, french fries, and onion rings. Currently, Kelly’s has seven stores in Massachusetts, one in New Hampshire, and four in the Gulf Coast region of Florida.

Normally, I don’t review products from smaller chains, but Kelly’s has established itself as an institution, most notably in the greater Boston area, where it originated. As fate would have it, I made a barnstorming tour through the Northeast and spent one night in Chelsea, Massachusetts. This gave me access to the original Kelly’s in Revere.

The Construction

The sandwich was a modification of Kelly’s 3-Way Roast Beef Sandwich. This sandwich consists of roast beef, James River BBQ Sauce, mayonnaise, and cheese. As many know, I dislike mayonnaise, so it was not included in the sandwich. I’m unsure if it was my error or theirs, but somehow, I didn’t get cheese on my sandwich.

I opted for the small size based on recommendations.

• Size: Small
• Sandwiches Eaten: One
• Location: Revere Beach, MA
• Price: $10.95

Note: Because I conducted this review away from my home base, weight and measurements were not taken.

 

The Experience

Meat

The roast beef used is medium-rare, and it is served warm. According to Kelly’s, they receive a delivery of 25-day-aged beef knuckle twice a week. The beef is only seasoned with salt and pepper and then “slow and low” roasted for three to four hours to produce a medium-rare roast. Once roasted, the meat is rested for an hour before moving to sandwich assembly. Kelly’s says the resting process allows for redistribution and retention of the meaty juices.

I was a little concerned about the medium-rare roast beef, as I prefer it less rare, but I opted to go with the default for the review. The roast beef was sliced thin and brushed with James River BBQ Sauce. This was one heck of a cut of roast beef. It was juicy, flavorful, and even without the BBQ Sauce, it would have scored well.

I was also concerned that the “small” size would be too small. This was not the case. There was plenty of meat on this sandwich.

Score: 4.00 out of 5.00 points

Bread

The roll was knotted and had sesame seeds. It was lightly grilled. The roll complemented the sandwich really well. The light grilling added a toasty layer that paired perfectly with the meat and sauce. Additionally, the roll was still soft on the inside, which also works quite well with the sandwich.

Score: 1.50 out of 2 points

Sauce

Usually, this would have been a condiments section, but for this sandwich, there was only the James River BBQ Sauce.

Having seen photos of the Kelly’s Roast Beef Sandwich, I was concerned the sandwich would be smothered with sauce, but that was not the case. It was brushed with sauce, and this was perfect. The James River BBQ Sauce was more tangy than smoky. I usually prefer a more smoky BBQ sauce. Ordinarily, I think of tangy sauce geared toward pulled pork or chicken, but the flavor worked nicely with the roast beef.

Score: 0.50 out of 1 point

Intangibles

Putting together the flavorful and juicy roast beef with the grilled bun and the right amount of James River BBQ sauce made this a delicious sandwich. Other condiments, such as bacon, tomato, pickles, lettuce, and onion are options. But in my opinion, you don’t need them. As mentioned, I inadvertently did not get cheese, but I don’t think the omission hurt the sandwich.

Score: 1.75 out of 2 points

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

In the end, Kelly’s Roast Beef scored a 7.75 on our food product assessment, which is above average. Roast beef sandwiches don’t have to be overly complicated regarding what’s on them, and Kelly’s is a good example. Kelly’s brings a delectable sandwich to the table. Moreover, while it is an expanding chain, it’s still small and maintains its small-town feel. This is easily a roast beef sandwich I would eat again, and I plan to whenever I’m near a Kelly’s location.

Summary

Meat	4.00
Bread	1.50
Sauce	0.50
Intangibles	1.75
Total	7.75

Score: 7.75 (out of 10 points)
Value: Above Average

Photo Credits: Cigar Coop