Simard's Super Roast Beef, 279 Main St, Wilmington, MA 01887

Simard's doesn't claim to be famous, but they do claim to be super. We went to see if they can hold up to that claim. Located on Rt. 38 in Wilmington Ma, Simard's has a prime location, a drive through, along with a size up on the super beef competition, the King Beef. 

Bun: The smell of onions assaults your nose before you even get the sandwich unwrapped. Needless to say this bun has some serious onion flavor, which is visible by the large burnt onion flecks. The bite is a tad chewy but well grilled with plenty of crunchy golden crust. Warm and delicious equals...  Score: 4

Beef: First bite, Cold. Not even a hint of warmth here. Seemed like it could of been refrigerated before slicing. If you can get beyond that the beef was actually super (I mean SUPER) tender and sliced extremely thin. The flavor was lacking any defining characteristics and the serving size was not overly generous. If hot a 4 as is a... Score: 2

Sauce: There was not enough sauce or mayo to even be detectable never mind review. I actually had to go up and ask for sauce on the side. That being said their sauce is excellent (It taste like they are using James River BBQ to me). Sweet, tangy and black pepper spice. My score here reflects the fact that they were stingy with it.   Score: 3

Overall: Once I received my extra sauce this sandwich was pretty tasty. If I had ordered extra sauce and my beef was warm this would of been a great sandwich. But frankly the flavor here is all in the bun and sauce, the beef just slides through with it's tenderness.    Score 2

Notes: My overall score is reflecting the sandwich I got. If I received warm beef and more sauce this easily could be a 4. 

Kelly's Roast Beef, 595 Broadway, Rte. 1 South at Lynn Fells Parkway Saugus, Ma. 01906

With five locations (Revere, Saugus, Natick, Danvers, and Medford) Kelly's Roast Beef is a giant in the roast beef world. They claim they invented the sandwich when their Revere Beach location first opened in 1951. Offering a large menu with everything from salads to seafood plates, as well as hot dogs and sides such as french fries, onion rings, and mac & cheese Kelly's has tried to broaden it's reach beyond their classic namesake. But at what cost?

Bun: Kelly does not offer a super beef, so needless to say they do not offer an onion bun. A huge detractor right off the bat. But Kelly's sesame seed bun was beautiful to look at, it had great volume, and was grilled to golden brown perfection. As far as flavor goes I'm afraid this bun was just ok. It tasted overly like butter. So much so that it bordered on fake. Score: 3

Beef: Thick slices of roast beef are piled high on this sandwich. That being said most of the beef was actually tender and juicy, but occasionally you would catch a piece of fat that would be chewy. The flavor while chewing was pleasing, but once done the after taste was anything but. Score:2

Sauce: When I looked back at my notes I realized I did not take many on the sauce. Just one line in fact. "Sauce is sweet, black peppery, vinegary" This is because this sauce was incredibly forgettable. Score:2

Overall: Kelly's may of invented the roast beef, but they are yet to perfect it. All though this may be more of an issue of selling out to become a more profitable fast food style restaurant. Kelly's Rt 1 location leaves much to be desired in the form of roast beef. Not a sandwich I would crave. Score: 2

Notes: I would like to see how the original Revere Beach location compares.