Roast Beef Sandwiches: Adam 12 Picks Five Faves

Our Big Beefy Bracket is rolling out the roast beef sandwiches, so let me serve you some saucy stacks from a few stand-out joints.

And a reminder: we’re already in Round 2. On Thursday, May 12, at 12:00 p.m., it’s on to Round 3, the Sweet (Saucy?) Sixteen. I’ll have Andy Ferg of North Shore Beefs as a guest analyst for that round, so get your votes in now.

• Billy’s Famous Roast Beef, Wakefield

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  Billy's is in Greenwood, right on the Melrose border, so generations from both towns have grown up on their beloved Billy's. Sure, I'm biased because I grew up down the street, but I just popped in for a 3-way a couple of weeks ago and it's just as good as it was when I was in high school.

• Kipo’s, Wakefield

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  Kipo's has been slinging beef just outside of downtown Wakefield since 1976. They lost to Billy's in Round 1 of our Big Beefy Bracket but there's one thing that put's Kipo's ahead of Billy's in the minds of some Wakefieldians: they deliver.

• Jamie’s Roast Beef, Peabody

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  True North Shore beefers rave about Jamie's. I took my first trip there last month and I understand why: top-quality, melt-in-your-mouth roast beef. I got mine 3-way (of course) on an onion roll and it did not disappoint.
• Atha’s, Peabody

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  Because I'm a complete glutton, I took advantage of an afternoon in Peabody and hit Jamie's for a late lunch, then Atha's for supper a few hours later. Look at that damn roast beef sandwich. It's art. And it's one of the best-tasting beefs I've ever had the pleasure of wolfing down. Pity they didn't make it to Round 2, but that's the power of Jamie's.

• Supreme Roast Beef, Danvers

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  Another North Shore gem that's moved onto Round 2 of our Big Beefy Bracket. The photo doesn't do it justice (because I'm lousy at taking food pics). Are they good enough to beat Pete's Super Beef in Revere and move into the Saucy Sixteen? Your votes will decide!

• BONUS BEEF: Nick’s, Essex St., Beverly

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  No, not "Nick's Famous." I know, that's the one you've loved for years in Beverly. But the Nick's on Essex St. has usurped the former roast beef ruler. Just look at this monstrosity.
• BONUS BEEF: Jamie’s Roast Beef, Peabody

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  After Jamie's won the Big Beefy Bracket, I had to go back for another visit. And when I did, I tried the Sorry JR: house BBQ sauce, roasted garlic aioli, cheddar, and beer-battered onion rings. It did not disappoint.

• BONUS BEEF: Liberty Bell, Melrose

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  Did I pair this with a garden salad which I proceeded to cram into a half pita, douse with house dressing, and cram directly into my face? Yes. And did I chase it with a coffee heath bar ice cream cone from Kennedy's Ice Cream Bar next door? Also yes.

• BONUS BEEF: Jamie’s Roast Beef, Peabody

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  My third trip to Jamie's was to award them with a plaque for winning our Big Beefy Bracket. This time, I went with The Yoli: James River BBQ, roasted garlic aoli, American cheese. Incredible.