Roast Beef, Seafood, and Sandwiches Since 1951.

Head just 10 minutes north of Boston and you will be in for the best roast beef that Massachusetts has to offer. Kelly’s Roast Beef has been a Revere Beach landmark for over 50 years and it is easy to see why. So if you’re hungry for some good Roast Beef, don’t settle for Arby’s or one of those small places in every city with “famous” in the name.

Service at the original Kelly’s location is eat-in-the rough, grab-and-go style. Place your order at the big window, wait for your name to be called, grab your food, and head over to the beach to find a place to sit and eat. Keep a heads up for swooping seagulls who would love to have your clam box, roast beef sandwich or onion rings. If sand and seagull droppings aren’t your idea of fine dining, Kelly’s has 4 other locations, in Saugus, Natick, Danvers, and the newest one in Medford.

The roast beef, available in a small or large sandwich, is always tender, pink, thinly-sliced, and piled high on a butter-toasted, sesame-seed bun.

Although their namesake is their roast beef, I would argue that the reason to go to Kelly’s is their fresh seafood and burgers. The fish and chips could rival any in Maine. The fish is moist and crunchy, heaped on a plate with French fries. The fried clams are even better and you will be overjoyed to find that they always overflow into the bag. They are golden-brown, toasty-flavored, and fresh with the flavors of the ocean. A clam plate includes French fries, sweet onion rings, and homemade tartar sauce.

My favorite item on the menu at Kelly’s is the underappreciated cheeseburger. Kelly’s burgers are big and juicy and you can have them made up your way with a choice of single, or double, with or without bacon, and your choice of toppings. I like mine with cheese, bacon, lettuce, onions and pickles.

They also have chicken fingers, which are always a good choice for the kids and picky eaters, a variety of other sandwiches like the buffalo chicken wrap, or comforting clam chowder.

The only complaints that I have ever had about any of the Kelly’s Roast Beef restaurants are that their prices are a little above average when compared to other places of its kind. A roast beef sandwich is their best value, $5.75 for a small and only a dollar more for a large. However, if its seafood that you are craving, you might be better off going someplace else if you don’t want to put a dent in your wallet. A classic New England lobster roll will set you back $16.75 and a large size box of fried clams will cost you a little over $25.
Despite the steep prices, Kelly’s is always a safe choice because you know that the food is going to be just as good as it was when they started in 1951. Kelly’s is one of the only restaurants that I can think of whose standards are still as high as they were and quality has not been compromised as they have expanded.

By the way, don’t forget to try their “frappes.” Don’t you dare call them milkshakes.

If you want to check out Kelly’s entire menu and find their locations, go to their website