Mark L.
Yelp
I've been meaning to try the new Kelly's when driving south on Rt 1 and now was my time. I was a bit surprised with the nonexistent line for drive through despite it being lunchtime. It's telling and it's not telling a great story.
My buddy a big meat eater, was excited when Kelly's first opened but warned me it's just fast food now, pretty good but a bit pricey for what you get. Nothing special. He tried a few things and said stick to the roast beef and leave the seafood for seafood joints. At $27 bucks for a lobster roll I wouldn't dare unless you were paying!
As for the roast beef, the Large is $11.25, and the Small is $9.95. At that price point who wouldn't spend $1.26 to get the Large? When you consider that all food prices have gone through the roof (especially it seems fast food) I believe the Large is priced about right. I could see them adding a Jumbo on an oversized bun for another couple of bucks. I would opt for that as the Large is not overstuffed at all. The portioned meat fits almost too nicely in the bun. The other sandwiches on the menu include burgers, fish, pastrami, corn beef, turkey club and a few more displayed on the website. I have to say the pictures of the sandwiches are pathetic and unappetizing. The food staging and photography is below average at best. Nothing looks great or in this case scrumptious and therein lies the problem. High expectations intentionally lowered by crappy depictions leads to below average results = 2 stars. They definitely need to "beef up" their whole game.
Kelly's has name recognition synonymous with great roast beef going back to 1951, way before I was born. Perhaps franchising and the need to cost crunch everything dulled the mystique and diluted the product. Judging by the comments here which are more bad than good corporate franchise directors should be concerned as this location has a large footprint on a desirable stretch of highway which means they need to do volume.
Years back when I was yearning for a roast beef sandwich in South Florida as well as Maine Lobster and whole belly clams and South Shore bar pizza, I wrote to Kellys. I asked with so many transplanted Bostonians in Florida why not open a store there. Nobody but Arby's had a roast beef take out. Well finally it happened, and they have several stores on the west coast Naples, Ft Meyers and St Pete. There's room for a store in Delray or Boynton Beach but after this visit I would say let somebody else fill that void!
Look it's still a decent sandwich, just not exceptional. No complaint on the amount of beef it is sufficient. Taste was middle of the road with the mayo. Next time mayo with BBQ or Ketchup on the side to dip. The onion rings were really very good though and elevates the review to a 3 star. I could eat 2 orders of those with a beer and be happily burping all afternoon. And I would come back again if I was over there, I just wouldn't be salivating in anticipation like I used to be in the old days ..ah the good ole days.