vw, are you going some place that actually has a butcher? If so, ask him what he suggests. You can get some good roasts in the general sirloin family (sirloin tip, tri-tip, sirloin butt) that are a little less tender and a lot less per pound. Your best friend is a meat thermometer.

It gets rubbed with thyme, garlic, salt and pepper, then laid over a bed of onions in beef broth.

No problem. Where are you going shopping? I'll look up the store and help you find a decent oven roast.

edited to ditto what Ginger said about the meat thermometer.

What's fun to do with a roast is cook it on a rack and collect the juices underneath, then roast the potatoes underneath the meat, in the juices. If you time it right, you can still use the juice to make gravy too. Mmm, gravy.

Where are you going shopping?

The Super Stop and Shop on McGrath Highway. I don't trust the local Star Market.

I'm gonna talk to the butcher there, though, and see what he suggests. I'm not gonna actually buy it till Saturday, so... I'm just trying to be prepared in case I need a Plan B.

edited to ditto what Ginger said about the meat thermometer.

But, but! Then your roast won't be red and raw and dripping on the inside. Or maybe it's just my family who like to taste the heart still beating.

In that case, vw, you can ask him to cut the size you need and pick it up Saturday.

vw, are you going some place that actually has a butcher? If so, ask him what he suggests.

Definitely -- ever since I moved into a neighborhood with a really good butcher, I haven't bought meat from a supermarket once.

[eta:

But, but! Then your roast won't be red and raw and dripping on the inside.

Thermometers are also useful for making sure you don't overcook it. (Though I'm a fan of the poking it with your fingers method, myself.)]

Or maybe it's just my family who like to taste the heart still beating.

Oh, that'd be my family too! It's crazy. Blech. Mine won't be *quite* like that.

I just looked at Stop & Shop's website, in anticipation of you shopping there. They don't have any roasts listed in this week's circular, but what you're planning on doing is better, anyhow.

It will be fine. It sounds yummy. Scott, the kids, my mother and I will be over about 2ish on Mother's Day. 'kay?

I use a meat thermometer to make sure it's still red and raw and dripping.