At Mak’s Roast Beef and Breakfast Restaurant, three things are always in full supply: roast beef, delicious homemade food, and family.

More than just a restaurant, Mak’s Roast Beef and Breakfast is a labor of love for owner Maksim “Maks” Xhengo. Maks, his wife Tisa, and their four children are the heart and soul behind this establishment, with a restaurant that reflects their hard work and family values.

Located at 451 W Central St in Franklin, Mak’s offers more than just a meal. This family-owned eatery is a local favorite known for its exceptional homemade dishes, inviting atmosphere, and spotless interior. 

Maks Xhengo’s path to becoming a successful restaurateur is a testament to his unwavering work ethic and determination to provide for his family. Hailing from Albania, Xhengo pursued his passion for cooking by attending culinary school in Greece before immigrating to the United States with dreams of opening his own restaurant. Upon arrival, he dedicated five years to honing his culinary skills at the renowned Mike’s Roast Beef in Gloucester, MA, a beloved family-owned establishment that would serve as the model for Maks’ future restaurants. Working tirelessly seven days a week, Xhengo laid the groundwork for his future success. At the age of 24, he opened his first restaurant, Mak’s Roast Beef and Pizza, in Revere. 

After opening their Bellingham location, Maks and Tisa moved to Franklin. “We love Franklin,” Tisa explains. “When we moved, we only had our daughter and were thinking of growing our family. Franklin is such a good, homey type of town.”

With four kids now and three Mak’s restaurants under the Xhengo name, Maks’ whole family is pitching in. “We’re not a franchise. This is a family-owned business. We have three locations: one in Revere and one in Bellingham. We sold Norwood in 2018 before opening the restaurant in Franklin.” 

“It’s a lot of work,” says Tisa, “but we have a great team behind us! Our family members help tremendously! Maks’ older sister, Marjana, works at the Revere location. His other older sister Alketa, along with his older brother Feridon, works at the Bellingham location, and both of our parents help out watching the kids when we both have to be at the restaurant.”

Best known for their tender, homemade North-style roast beef, Mak’s in Franklin is also making quite a name for their all-day breakfast service! While their other two locations focus on roast beef, pizza, subs, pasta, and salads, the Franklin spot offers a unique breakfast menu featuring unexpected items like the breakfast pizza, steak tips and eggs, cheese blintzes with homemade raspberry sauce and the ever-popular cornbread French toast. They’ve won Franklin’s Business Hall of Fame’ Best Breakfast Restaurant’ award three years in a row, and to top it off, Mak’s serves beer, wine, and mimosas, making it the perfect spot for any meal of the day.

Tisa explains what sets Mak’s apart from other restaurants: “The homemade roast beef is slow-cooked to perfection right here on the premises. We serve it hot, unlike other places that use cold deli beef.” Mak’s takes pride in using the freshest ingredients; everything is made from scratch, from pizza dough to calzones and salads.

“All the police officers and firefighters eat here,” Maks said, smiling. “So you know it’s good! We appreciate our first responders and offer a 20% discount to our local veterans, police, and fire departments.”

For customers with dietary restrictions, Mak’s offers a variety of gluten-free and vegetarian options. “Our menu includes gluten-free buns, subs, wraps, pasta, and breadcrumbs,” explains Maks and Tisa. “Guests can enjoy popular dishes like chicken ziti and broccoli with gluten-free pasta. Additionally, our breakfast menu features gluten-free toast, pancakes, waffles, and French toast to accompany eggs and omelets. To ensure the safety and satisfaction of customers with gluten allergies and vegetarian preferences, we prepare their meals on a separate grill to prevent cross-contamination.”

Mak’s restaurant stands out for its family-friendly atmosphere, boasting a spacious setting with large booths that provide ample space for families to dine comfortably and a newly renovated patio seating area complete with cozy bistro umbrellas. Parents can unwind with a glass of wine or beer while the kids are entertained by the large-screen TVs on the wall. Tisa, a mother of four, knows the challenges of dining out with kids. She’s quick to hand parents the remote, saying, “Put on whatever makes the kids happy,” making it a relaxed and welcoming spot for families to dine together. 

Mak’s Roast Beef and Breakfast keeps things fresh, especially with the changing seasons. “For the fall and holiday season, pumpkin-spiced pancakes will sometimes pop up on the menu,” Tisa hints. 

When asked about the most rewarding part of running the business, Tisa reflects on their bond with the community: “Our customers are our number one priority. When they step into Mak’s, we show them our love for food on every plate we make. Maks always says that when a customer trusts us to come in and eat at our place, it’s in our hands to show them what we’ve got! We both love food and, honestly, enjoy cooking, which makes our job easy.”

Mak’s Roast Beef and Breakfast is open Monday through Friday 10-8 PM, Saturday 9-8 p.m, Sunday 9-7 p.m. Enjoy their newly renovated patio seating area with comfortable bistro umbrellas. During operating hours, they also offer local delivery, making it easy to enjoy their homemade meals from the comfort of your home. You’re sure to love all they have to offer!

For October, Maks, Tisa, and the kids would like to say “Thank You” to the surrounding communities by offering 10% OFF food orders. Mention this article with the code MAKSGIVESBACK for a 10% discount on all in-house and delivery orders. (Please enter the code for online orders in the comments section.)

Check them out online at maksroastbeef.com to see what’s cooking! 

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