Drove here at 9pm-9:30pm from Medford, MA only to find that they were closed! The dude behind the counter saw us walking up and pulling on the door handle but didn't care. Their door said they were open til 10pm. Drove off...I don't give a crap how good their roast beef is (according to other customers and my hubby)...they're not getting my business or money! What a total waste of time! read more

This is the BEST roast beef sandwich I have ever had! When I worked at PAN Communications in Andover, I would come here 2-3 times a week. Now that I am thinking about it, I am honestly thinking about taking a drive up there this weekend. It would be well worth the trip! Just walk up to the counter and say: "Beef, Cheese, Sauce" That will get you the best sandwich ever! read more

I can't remember the last time I gave a 1 star review, but now I know what I was saving it for! We we excited to check out Harrison's, but extremely disappointed in the experience. I think the biggest problem was how unbelievably rude the cashier was. I asked a couple of questions - nothing crazy and there was no one behind us and he literally acted as if I was stupid (and yet, at the same time it was clear that *he* wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer). He was so obnoxious that my 10 year old actually got a little emotional and said, "Why is he treating us like we are pieces of garbage?" No idea. But he did, and then proceeded to screw up our order, and become completely irritated with us when we told him. It was one of those weird situations where the service is so bad that you end up talking about it the whole meal. Add to that dry-as-a-bone chicken fingers, overly greasy fries (and I like grease!), and bland roast beef. All "enjoyed" upon a sticky table. I couldn't get out of there fast enough and will not be back. ever. read more

Custom made Roast Beef sandwiches served up quick. Probably the best RB sandwich in the area. Highly recommended!

Unbelievable. The roast beef is amazing but there's an older guy with a gray beard there that will lie to your face if he gives you the wrong order. He called out the order he gave us, we mentioned it was wrong, he checked the slip and said "oh yeah that's what i meant", then we get home and it's the wrong order that he first called out us. Lying degenerate. read more

A good solid lunch spot. We often head here from our office. Best part of Harrison's: the meat is very well done, very thinly sliced. I've had the Roast Beef, which is obviously what they're famous for, and it shows. It is certainly been one of the best RB sandwiches I've ever had (large beef + mustard). What surprised me was how great the corned beef was. This is now my standard order. Other food: most everything else on their menu is stuff they just by from the restaurant fulfillment company. It's OK, (the onion rings are pretty decent) but you can buy it at COSTCO yourself, too. Staff: a little scary. They do their thing fast and accurately but that may be because they skip the basics of "Hello" and other niceties. Premises: I prefer take out. Nothing to brag about here. So despite all the drawbacks, you'll still note I give them 4-stars. That's how good the meat is. (this is coming from someone who eats a reduced animal protein diet) read more

Being from the North Shore area and growing up on Bill & Bobs and Big Fred's Roast Beef, this place is outstanding. I was not aware that it even existed until today. Although the place is not much to look at inside, the roast beef was out of this world! Not too rare not too well done either. It's sliced right there while you wait! The sauce was great. Not too spicy, cause I hate spices! The fries were also very good. Drinks are majorly cheap. .99 for a small soda and I think like $1.50 for a large that is comparable to a "Big Gulp" sized portion. Definitely get to this place if you are ever in the North Andover area! Beats Kelly's hands down! read more

The food is delicious, the service is atrocious, but that is part of the fun! If you are reading here, you are aware the service is crap. People that come here obviously don't do so because they want to be waited on. This business is run "family style" with all of the bickering of who can do a better job in front of the guests. It was actually quite entertaining. Corned beef, Roast Beef are both WONDERFUL. Best within a reasonable driving distance by far. We hope to try the pastrami next time. Onion rings and fries seem like big servings (based on seeing those who ordered before us), but they pull them out of a bag from the freezer and drop them into hot oil. I am sure plenty of places do this without my knowledge, but when I DO know that's what they are serving, I tend to just avoid it. As mentioned this is a no frills place. Go here if you want a reasonably priced sandwich that fits your level of hunger (small, medium, and large). Only reason it gets four stars is, well, the service sucks. I can't rightly give a place a five star review, even though I have mentioned multiple times it is to be exected. :) read more

The BEST roast beef sandwiches!!!! Got these all the time after sports in school and always a treat going back. Love the vibe and people that work there too. The best sandwich is sauce, mayo, and cheese -- sometimes extra sauce! read more

Harrison's is decent but I definitely prefer Simards in Wilmington. I was a little taken aback that they only take cash and they also don't have lettuce as a topping. Their roast beef sandwich was OK (thought it was a little small for a medium) but their chicken fingers were very good. A few people have commented on the staff being rude, but I have to say, when I went in the 2 guys that helped me were extremely nice and talkative. Maybe I hit it on an unusual day for the restaurant but I don't really know because I wasn't impressed enough to try it again since I stopped in about a month ago. I guess this is just one of those places you have to try for yourself to see if you like. Personally, I'm not anxious to go back but I wouldn't avoid the place either. read more

Having grown up in Niagara Falls, NY, I had plenty of roast beef on weck in my lifetime. Harrison's is *almost* as good as Buffalo-area roast beef sandwiches. My husband, who grew up in North Andover, would beg to differ, and it will remain a point of contention between us. :) The good thing about Harrison's sandwiches is that you get a metric crap-ton of roast beef in your sandwich. You also get a crap-ton of sauce to go, if you want it. Hence, you'll need a crap-ton of napkins, so grab some before you leave. The sandwiches I've eaten from here are decked out with onion and cheese. The soft rolls can't compare to kimmelweck rolls in Buffalo, though. Damn, I just made myself homesick... Still, it's worth stopping by if you're in the area and hankering for mounds of meat. read more

Wow. An excellent roast beef sandwich. Perfect texture and big quantity in each sandwich. Sauce has a kick but not too spicy. Why only 3 stars? Well, it kinda sad in there. Old tables, no decor and generally dirty. Also, they feature Pastrami and Pulled Pork but don't make it on site. So, they ONLY make their own roast beef. Kinda week for such a big place. However, you can't go wrong with a pretty solid Roast Beef sandwich. read more

An institution of North Andover and for good reason! It's simplicity at its finest and the holy grail of roast beef! Large comes on an onion roll and make sure to order extra heavy sauce and sauce on the side. They put so much meat, you wanna dunk it to get sauce on the middle meat. The service is awesome and everybody is super friendly. So why only 4 stars? The pizza and spinach rolls are pretty gross. They just taste processed, frozen and heated. I don't know how else to explain it. read more

EDIT- 3/14/15 I decided to give Harrisons another shot. I have to give credit where due. The service was great and they got my sandwich exactly right...roast beef with cheese and light sauce. It was truly tasty. The Roast beef was tender and rare, just the way I like it. I will still say to check the order before you leave..but they got it right and I will definitely go back the next time I am craving a roast beef sandwich. They have great Roast Beef sandwiches...but if you are getting takeout, make sure you check your order carefully before leaving. I've been craving a Roast beef with sauce and cheese for two weeks and finally decided to stop on my way home to get one tonight. When I got home and unwrapped the sandwich it was a Roast beef with cheese, no sauce and a grotesque amount of mayonnaise. Yuk. I think Roast Beef with mayo is just gross. So into the trash it went and I heated up some leftovers for my dinner. I guess I will have to satisfy my Roast beef sandwich craving at Phil's in Andover where they never mess up my order. read more

This is a great local place! I'm not a huge fan of their roast beef but I found a friend in their chicken cutlet sandwiches! They fried and have a great crunch to them when you bite into one. It's incredibly moist and juicy and I can't rave enough. The Onion rings and French fries are great too! The fries are crinkle cut and fried perfectly. Again their roast beef is ok but I find they put a lot of sauce on them (which some people love). read more

I haven't been to Harrisons in over 15 years. I was passing thru and had to stop in. The roast beef sandwich and french fries were just as good as i remembered. . read more

Cash only and locals only! Just kidding...well, sort of. No one's going to make you uncomfortable for being from out of town; it's more like if you aren't from the Andovers, then what the hell are you doing there?? MMM....a huge, warm pile of paper-thin, fatless, red roast beef shavings shoved into a dense onion-bun that sticks to your palate and gets into your teeth...get EVERYthing on it, including fresh onions, mayo, and especially horseradish sauce. For all you health conscious wimps; go large or go home! Who the hell would order a small here?? [Hint: the larger the sandwich, the larger the meat-to-bread ratio.] Macaroni salad, crinkle-cut fries, and onion rings are also absurdly comforting, though not a must. Last time I was there, they even had their own sodas. Has anyone tried those? read more

Harry's is a great roast beef place much beloved North Andover and Andover townies. The service is quick and the menu is bigger than some other roast beef places out there. The decor is appropriately retro, fitting of a roast beef place and the atmosphere it should project- which is to say, it is a place meant to have a solid meal, and not the sort of place where you need to dress to impress. Generally, if I am in the area on 114 or 495 , I always sort of check myself to see if I am hungry, because it's worth a stop every time--- that being said- the Michelin Guide gives various star ratings which I think are appropriate here--- 1 star - "a very good restaurant in its category" - there are many roast beef places that are like this, solid, but nothing special 2 star- "excellent cooking, worth a detour" - I would put Harrison's in this bracket, along with one or two other places. 3 star- "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey" - the one roast beef place to rule them all, and the only one that deserves the word 'Famous' in its name, ya dig? read more

Very good Roast Beef, no comparison to Kelly's (meat is so tender and never chewy at Harrison's). Delicious Onion Roll with the large and the sauce has some kick to it. Service was very fast and polite. Fries were piping hot and my brother had the ham cheese sandwich which was grilled to near perfection. Only negative was being too full after!! That's on me for eating too many fries. read more

tried it because I needed lunch, bad mistake. ordered a Large Beef and it was like a small beef in a large roll. I even showed the counter guy and said this is really cheap. check out the pic section, and tell me if that's normal. read more

Harrison's Roast Beef - hardly any meat in this large ... - Sandwiches Near Me - North Andover, Massachusetts

My wife and I stop in on our ride home 2-3 times a month. Love the sandwiches and the staff. Unfortunately even though I've broached this subject with them before. They re cook the fries. Lazy and tastes gross. Come on guys! read more

I have had an opportunity to have an orgasmic lunch in North Andover. No fellow yelpers it was not an afternoon delite so to speak. Darn so boring...but now I digress. What it was, was a killer lunch place that I found out about from Jeffrey H. Thanks for the tip Jeffrey!! I can't believe I've been working in this town for over 2 years and just found out about this place. Clearly, I need to get out for lunch.......but then I wouldn't be able to Yelp. Sniff Sniff! It's a pretty simple menu which you should spend no more than 2 minutes on. It's pretty simple and you'll get the hang off it once you hear everyone else order. Roastbeef which is being sliced fresh as you wait - perfectly tender and rare, Pizza Rolls, Chicken Fingers, Fries and Onion Rings. No matter what you choose it's all part of that not healthly for you goodness that you need to splurge on occasionally. I went with the Medium Roastbeef with Mustard/Mayo/Onions and Cheese. But you can fill in the ____________ to your hearts desire. My friend had a simple Roast Beef with the special sauce. Honestly her description of it didn't really sound tasty to me, so I'd probably stick to something saucy and cheesey. Top it off with a side a O Fries and made my way to the classic (and I do mean that literally) dining area. Nothing special....really, but anything else would not make this the experience known as Harrisons. Certainly was worth the trip, relatively cheap and if you are into the trucker, construction man type - and you are looking - you'll get the bonus of some prospects. Definitely owe my friend Jeffrey a night out with Harrisons and drinks just for the tip. I so didn't think it was possible in North Andover. :) read more

Plain old roasted beef sandwich. Just about a 1/4lb of pure yummynesss. It was my first time of trying it and had no idea how to have it. So, the guy on the counter asked me how would i like it and I was like 'everything'. So basically that was with beef, ketchup, mustard and mayo and some more beef! It was nice, pink and juicy. Yes we are talking about the beef alright :P Quick service. Plenty of parking and good stuff. read more

This place has yummy oversized fries, is very cozy and has a kick ass fish sandwich. The downsides are that it's cozy aka small and they only take cash. The wait is always long but it's because it is so popular and located on a busy section of Rt 125 in the vicinity of Andover, N Andover, Haverhill and Lawrence so be ready to wait. The prices are bit high too but the quality is much better than the fast food places and the 99 down the street. Really friendly staff too. read more

Been going here for decades and have always been pleased. Noticed recently quality has deteriorated and the customer service is non existent. Ordered two medium roast beef sandwiches light mayo and onion, large fries and two chicken fingers....$40 total so not so cheap for takeout. Got home and one sandwich was prepared correctly but the other which was also prepared correctly was drenched in barbecue sauce on the outside/inside of wrapping paper. Sandwich was not eaten because of the sauce. Fries were petrified, as they were so fried there was nothing left inside. I called to share these comments and girls were very defensive and questioned my statements then hung up. I explained that it was my intention and pleasure to support local establishments but recently had experienced poor quality but they continued to be defensive and abruptly hung up. Truly there are other more accommodating, cleaner looking, quality driven establishments out there!! read more

Been coming to Harrison's for over 20 years and it's still one of my favorite spots. My go to meal is the roast beef (medium) with extra BBQ sauce, french fries and a pickle. I go with a medium as a large size comes on an onion roll, which I don't personally prefer. The sandwiches contain a good potion of roast beef and can come with mustard, mayo, BBQ sauce or horseradish. The BBQ sauce contains the right balance of sweet and spice to compliment the roast beef perfectly. Fries are always cooked to perfection and you can request to have them lightly cooked to avoid any over crunchy bits. The peoples are homemade and huge! They slice them into four portions, which are great for sharing. They started accepting debit cards over a year ago - which eliminated my only gripe. Worth a stop in if you're in North Andover! read more

SOS, FTW! ..... {Here is my now standard disclaimer. (It is directed towards Y'HQ. Everybody else, please, feel free to disregard it.): I've had a firsthand experience at this wicked fine establishment, Yelp, thank you! End of review. I'm done. Print it!} read more

Being the kid of a townie, I've been coming to Harrison's for years. The sandwiches are always amazing. My fiancé (from California) and my cousin's husband (from Texas) send each other pictures whenever one gets it and the other is thousands of miles away just to make each other jealous. There are usually swears involved. The sandwiches are always so tasty, even if they aren't made right. Service is the issue. I came home for the weekend and ended up at Harrison's (one of two trips in a 4-day weekend) around 9:15pm on Saturday night. Four of us ordered 5 sandwiches total. Somehow they messed up one of ours, but it wasn't a big issue. They just threw in another sandwich that was supposedly made correctly. It wasn't, but we didn't realize this until we got home. On the bright side, it was the perfectly drunk munchy, made correctly or not. I'll definitely be back, but I'll be checking my sandwiches thoroughly next time. read more

"Beef Mayo! Med! Fry!" Someone needs to write an ethnography of the North Shore/Merrimack Valley roast beef sandwich culture, and when they do, this place will be at the epicenter of that work. Not only does the food inspire orgasmic, eye-rolling accolades from many people, but the fierce loyalty Harrison's inspires, despite it's awfully dingy atmosphere, suggests something truly special. And of course, we can't forget the distinctive ordering system, in which the guy at the counter yells out a staccato shorthand for your order: "Med! Junior! Mayo! Fry!". I grew up eating these sandwiches and despite my attempts to eat healthier, more veg, etc., I can't help getting a medium with mayo every once in while. Too good. read more

I kept hearing about this place and I eat other roast beef places but its literally 1 min from my house and I decided to try it in case I was missing a hidden treasure. What I discovered was something I wish had stayed hidden. The place was absolutely filthy. It looked like a bad church potluck in a basement that was never cleaned up after in 1982. The service was abrupt and curt and the food was very lackluster. If this was an institution at one point, it's now a place where you would be institutionalized for going back. read more

Have been a fan of Harrison's since I attended college at Merrimack. Their menu is basic and straight forward but you will not find a better roast beef (or sauce) in the area. Love the fact that they now accept debit/credit cards, makes my life so much easier. And their are open late which is great when you a craving a late night meal. I think they really need to work on the interior/staff that work in the restaurant. Defiantly brings the place down a notch. But don't let the looks scare you off, the food is amazing. read more

Love this place. Most tender roast beef ever, on grilled bun, sauce on the side. (ok, once I got a slice from the end of the beef which I simp[y removed). My husband and I haven't eaten out or taken out since covid. My mouth is watering. We just get mediums, and sometimes save 1/2 for next day...grilled roll allows for this. Big serving! (Can't speak for the fries, but my daughters family loves them.) I have never noticed the place being dirty, it's not a restaurant, its a take out place with space for tables. The employees are behind the counter, no one works the floor. Actually, its an old diner style building, has had several lives. Woody's back in the 50-60's, then it became a bar/restaurant, then Harrison's. Worth the long lines, but if you time it right, no prob. I enjoy the staff, they're characters, no turnover, same faces. If they have time to make eye contact, you get a nod or a smile. They are wicked busy, nonstop. I have yet to see any workers leaning back, doing nothing. Best roast beef around! Really good, really tender! Can't wait to go back...maybe tonight! read more

The world fades away when it's just me and my succulent and generously packed roast beef, heavy and overflowing on the tangy BBQ sauce, with a memorable kick of horseradish and onion. I had a 6 oz. medium, following by a 4 oz. junior for a total of under $10. Try getting a 10 oz. steak for that price or even making your own at home. It's impossible. I was in a daze of euphoria, loving this country and thanking God for the incredible fortune of finding this place. Unparalleled. Eye-ball rolling ecstasy. I'll never leave Massachusetts now. Ever. read more

Any deli owner that refuses a simple customer request such as asking for lettuce on a roast beef sandwich does not belong in business

After all these years, this place is still one of the best roast beef joints around. Menu has not changed much...Mostly different roast beef size options, some sides, and fish. They are trying to add clam chowder. But I would pass on the clam chowder. Trust me, you don't want it. Stick to the beef. read more

Classic. Always delicious, and always fun to bring new people in and order in the Harrison-style code. I always get the medium, sauce and mayo. As for other people saying there's bad service... I get it. The staff can come off as not that helpful, as if you should already know the menu and how to order even if it's your first time. But this place is well know and gets busy so everyone needs to move fast and if you've worked in food you're not that mad about it. Also this place is what it is, you're not there for a fancy dining room or 5 star customer service. You're there because they've won best roast beef for years on end and the sammys are damn good. read more

Place was clean employees are nice but the main thing you Come to Harrison's for is the roast beef and it's a little on the dry side if it wasn't for the bbq sauce and mayo the sandwich would be nasty read more

Once again ~~ the lobster roll for Mama was a hit. Even on a Sunday your staff made sure that it was made perfectly and she loved it. 94yrs old and she rarely eats good food.......but she loves your lobster rolls. Thank you again. read more

Harrison's Roast beef is tucked away on the way into North Andover Center down route 125. In the realm of the unique world of North Shore (MA) roast beef, this is one of the top 5 places. You certainly won't get service with a smile. In fact, service can be quite brash but it adds to the charm of Harrison's. The menu is well known for their staple roast beef sandwiches. These delectable treats come in small, medium and large (onion roll for the large). You won't be able to get much for toppings like other roast beef joints. The standard sauce (bbq), mayo, cheese, mustard, horse radish are always wise selections. The menu also features crinkle cut fries, pizza rolls, kosher pickles, corned beef, large chocolate chip cookies, onion rings, and chicken cutlet sandwiches. And don't be surprised if you order a beef with sauce and mayo and a kosher pickle to hear the cashier yell out, "beef SM, pickle!" Whether it's for a quick bite after a Merrimack College hockey game or to complete your quest for the most delicious North Shore style roast beef, Harrison's is the place to be if you're in the greater-Lawrence area. read more

I still remember my first trip here when a buddy of mine took me. He would rave about the place all the time so I had to try it. I wasn't sure what to make of a roast beef joint that didn't have the word "famous" in their name. Isn't that illeagal in Massachusetts? Anyhow, I loved the fact that they were slicing the beef right in front of you. It hadn't been sitting around and was really fresh. I got a "med, s, c". It was heaven on a bun. The beef melted in my mouth and onion roll was good, too. I had to have another. I went back to the counter and got a "large, s, c". Midway through that one, my buddy joked that I should probably go back for a small to complete the set. So I did. All told I had a large, medium and a small, plus a pizza roll. An event that became known as "eating for the cycle." Is the staff friendly? No, they work at a roast beef joint in North Andover. Are you expecting them to pop out of bed every day excited about that prospect? Seriously, if you ding a place like this because of cranky employees you probably also complain that your drive-thru meal at McDonald's felt "rushed" and "impersonal." Also, no-- this isn't Kelly's roast beef. It doesn't have aquariums in the place and fish platters. It doesn't have other locations in furniture stores and it wasn't mentioned in "Good Will Hunting." It's roast-frickin-beef. And as the art goes, it's the pinnacle. So get over your townie self. read more