Harrison’s Roast Beef might be North Andover’s best spot.
How many local fast food joints do you know that have nearly 1,300 likes and more than 3,200 checkins on Facebook?
They’ve been cooking up some of the best roast beef in the world since 1984, with no signs of slowing down any time soon.
[map]Fame
This place is legendary. From the well-known and maybe-a-little-embellished stories of 2000’s metal band Godsmack frequenting on their Harleys…
To a 4-star review from the roast-beef-joints-only amateur food critic blog Beef Day…
To a #1 spot on a “Hidden Gem Restaurants” list with 90,000 Facebook subscribers…
Everyone around NA knows Harrison’s.
And for those of us who grew up here in NA, nothing completes a Friday or Saturday night like a late-night visit to Harry’s before their 9:30 closing time.
You’re guaranteed to find whichever side of the restaurant is still open full of NAHS, Brooks, Andover HS, and Merrimack College kids almost every night of the week.
At least one US Congressman likes it
How many federal lawmakers tweet about your favorite pizza shop?
Long line at Harrison’s Roast Beef in North Andover, one of my favorite spots from high school. Definitely worth it! pic.twitter.com/d5iAO1BkPW
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) October 16, 2013
Press
Harrison’s has gotten plenty of press over the years.
Why is it so good?
Ask any regular Harrison’s patron. They’ll all tell you the same thing.
The single best thing about Harrison’s sandwiches?
The sauce.
The slow cook
In a 2011 interview with New York Magazine offshoot Grub Street, former employee turned entrepreneur Ray LeMoine described the roasting process.
Harrison’s History
Harrison’s should be a national landmark. It’s certainly a North Andover landmark. Here’s their “story” from Facebook.
There’s really nothing else that compares to the first bite of a Roast Beef sandwich from Harrison’s. There’s just something about that juicy sandwich bursting with flavor that assures you’ll be hooked after the first bite.
Aside from that we’re pretty simple. Along with your sandwich, you can grab some fries, onion rings, chicken fingers, pizza rolls and soups.
We’re just a small shop really good at one thing, making only the best Roast Beef Sandwiches.
They’ve been cooking up some of the best roast beef in the world since 1984, with no signs of slowing down any time soon.
The Details
You’ll notice from the ratings and reviews that Harrison’s doesn’t get 5 stars across the board every time. That’s probably fair. It’s not the best restaurant you’ll ever visit in your life.
But that’s ok. They’re not trying to be.
They know exactly who they are and they’ve gained a fiercely loyal cult following over 30+ years, and they’ve earned every bit of it.