From Boston or not, this saucy, 6-napkin sandwich is one you’ll want to try
As Charlotte is a city of transplants, it’s pretty common to find folks reaching out in search of staple foods from back home.
We’ve searched out plenty of food cravings, including former New Yorkers’ favorite spots for bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches and bagels in general, upstate NY staples and Midwest favorites. And, now, after a recent post in the Charlotte Foodies Facebook group, we’re all abuzz about North Shore Roast Beef.
Brash pizza reviewer and Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy — who made waves in Charlotte with a pizzeria tour last year — says, “If you don’t know what a North Shore Beef is, then you’re an idiot.”
Well, alright then. I better get right on that.
A little digging reviews that the specialty sandwich comes from Massachusetts’ North Shore — north of Boston — where a Revere Beach hot dog stand named Kelly’s is credited with crafting the roast beef beauty in 1951.
Now, Kelly’s is a regional chain with sandwiches that come in three sizes — junior beef, large beef and super beef. Those sandwiches are often called a “three way,” a nod to the American cheese, mayo and thin, peppery James River Barbecue Sauce. Make that a “four way,” if you add on an onion ring or two.
It’s not quite like a Beef on Weck, the Western New York roast beef sandwich that’s served on a crusty, caraway-seeded kümmelweck roll with horseradish.
To those who aren’t in the know, it’s more reminiscent of a high-end Arby’s Beef ‘n Cheddar, but that’s not quite right either. (The sauces aren’t the same, the cheese is different and a true North Shore comes on a toasted bun.)
We’re all about learning here, so we set out in search of a true North Shore Roast Beef in Charlotte — and, of course, we found one.
Where to find North Shore Roast Beef in Charlotte
Thanks to a previous CharlotteFive story on Nor’East Family Treats & Eats, I had a good idea about where to go looking for a North Shore Roast beef in Charlotte. And, as it turns out, I remembered correctly. (And the restaurant’s owners soon chimed in on that same conversation, too.)
Restaurant owners Blake and Carol Anderson grew up in the Northeast and lived all across the country before settling in 2006 in Charlotte, where a food truck venture eventually turned into a sitdown spot inside Town & Country Ford.
“New England food is hyper-local, and each region has its own thing,” Blake Anderson told CharlotteFive’s Philip Freeman back in 2024. “Most of our food tends to be messy. It’s basically American food with a New England twist.”
And among the New England offerings on the menu — which include a Vermont maple burger, a Cape Cod salad and a Northeast pickled beet salad — there’s also a North Shore Roast Beef.
The $14.99 creation, described as “a Massachusetts North Shore regional favorite,” comes with thin-sliced roast beef on toasted onion roll. The sandwich includes melted white American cheese, mayo and the tangy, smoky James River barbecue sauce that’s crucial to getting the flavor profile just right.
Local food influencer Papi Eats gave the restaurant’s version a try back in 2024 and proclaimed it “spectacular,” noting it was “better than at least a couple of the beefs I’ve had up there.”
Taking all that into consideration, I had to go see what all the hype about this particular style of sandwich was for myself, so I scooted off to Nor’East for a taste.
What does a North Shore Roast Beef taste like?
At Nor’East Family Treats & Eats, Blake Anderson was kind enough to educate me on the intricacies of North Shore Roast Beef — and the nostalgia of regional food favorites.
“There’s a lot of similarities, but there’s also a lot of specificities,” he said.
“If it’s massive and messy, and has the right bread and the correct toppings, then it’s a North Shore,” Anderson explained.
It’s not like any other roast beef sandwich I’ve had, thanks to that tangy James River barbecue sauce with smoky backnotes and the toasty onion roll.
With each bite, the sandwich gets a bit spicier, but not enough for a lasting burn. And it’s a hefty one, stacked with layers of hot, cheesy roast beef.
Nor’East Family Treats & Eats’ version came with two onion rings on the side and a cup of extra sauce for dipping, both adding layers to the flavor.
Do you want to try it yourself? Come hungry. You’ll want a big drink and plenty of napkins at the ready, and that’s no exaggeration. Perhaps a bib, too.
Here’s how my visit stacked up:
- Napkin count: six
- Spills and drips: many
- Shirt stains: just one
- Handwashing count: two+ (the tangy smell of vinegar-based barbecue sauce lingers)
Was it worth it? Absolutely. I’d go back for that anytime.
Nor’East Family Treats & Eats
Location: Inside Town and Country Ford, 5401 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28212
Cuisine: American, New England
Instagram: @noreasttreats
