For more than seven decades, one of the most popular food items in Boston, Massachusetts, has been the roast beef sandwich. It's become a classic throughout the commonwealth.

The North Shore of Boston popularized the sandwich, which typically consists of thinly sliced, rare roast beef served on an onion roll and slathered in some sort of sauce that varies from cheese to barbecue and beyond.

Since the 1950's, several restaurants in Massachusetts have become well-known staples for roast beef. It only seemed fitting that the popularity of roast beef in one New England state could be duplicated in another.

Boston Native Opening New Roast Beef Sandwich Restaurant in Lewiston, Maine

Lewiston is in store for a little taste of the North Shore. According to Portland Food Map, Bene's Beef is set to open at 990 Lisbon Street. The location was formerly the home of El Pochos restaurant.

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Bene's Beef plans to honor the traditional North Shore roast beef sandwich recipe with some additional options to customize it. They're also going to serve up beef tallow french fries and a few other goodies at the restaurant.

Bene's Beef has announced that their grand opening will take place on Friday, June 27. The restaurant will be open Tuesday through Saturday from noon until 7pm.

Roast Beef Sandwich Restaurants in Portland and Westbrook Have Done Well

What started as a food truck has now become a popular restaurant. George's North Shore food truck quickly became one of the most in-demand food trucks in Maine. That enthusiasm turned into George + Leon's in Westbrook, Maine, which opened in 2023. The roast beef sandwich restaurants remains popular.

More recently, Portland got its own standalone roast beef joint. Roasty's has been receiving glowing reviews, serving up several different regional variations of the roast beef sandwich.

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Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

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