New Roast Beef Restaurant Set to Open in Lewiston, Maine

For more than seven decades, one of the most popular food items in Boston, Massachusetts, has been the roast beef sandwich.

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, Kelly's Roast Beef has been a Massachusetts staple. In more recent times, a couple restaurants in Maine have found their footing serving up a classic taste of Massachusetts in Portland and Westbrook.

A Boston Native Plans to Bring a New Roast Beef Sandwich Restaurant to 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.

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.

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.

Bene's Beef plans to open their new roast beef restaurant in Lewiston, Maine, sometime in June.