More than a decade after its closing, Roy’s Place remains one of Montgomery County’s most fondly remembered restaurants.
Roy’s Place first opened in Rockville in 1955 and became known for a massive menu featuring more than 200 sandwiches. After several moves within Rockville, the restaurant relocated to 2 E. Diamond Ave. in Olde Towne Gaithersburg in 1971, where it remained until closing in 2013.
The restaurant was known as much for its unusual sandwich names and descriptions as it was for the food. Menu staples included “The Bender Schmender,” made with corned beef, turkey, roast pork, chicken liver pâté and golden brisket with lettuce, tomato and golden sauce, along with what the menu jokingly described as “a psychiatric appointment.”
Another creation, “The Raunchy Raymond,” combined ham, crab salad, Swiss cheese, bacon, tomato and golden sauce, broiled on the customer’s choice of bread.
Founder Roy Passin remained the driving force behind the restaurant until his death in 2009 at age 87. His sandwich creations, often inspired by customers and whatever ingredients were available, helped expand a menu that reportedly grew from two pages to 23.
Passin was also known for his colorful personality. One longtime story claimed he once chased a customer from the restaurant with a meat cleaver. Asked about the tale in a 2003 Frederick News-Post interview, Passin reportedly responded, “It never happened in Gaithersburg…it happened in Rockville.”
Roy’s Place continued operating for four years after Passin’s death before closing in 2013.
Several years ago, MoCo Show reader Brad Herson shared photos of the restaurant’s entire 1973 menu. The menu provides a glimpse at the humor that became a hallmark of Roy’s Place. Alongside elaborate creations such as the $5 “Bender Schmender” was “The Nothing Burger,” a plain hard roll with butter priced at 10 cents.
“The Fred Ward,” a $4.60 four-decker piled with lobster salad, crab salad, ham and chicken, was described as “a ridiculous sandwich at a ridiculous price.” Even the side dishes got the Roy’s treatment: beneath the 50-cent Soup Du Jour, the menu added, “If business is slow, Soup D’Hier.”
Photos of the complete 1973 menu can be seen below.
