My family was recently in Salem, Mass., and looking for a place to eat when we stumbled upon Kelly's Roast Beef. "Uumm, a roast beef sandwich sounds good," my husband said. So we pulled into the parking lot.

"World Famous Roast Beef and Seafood" a sign on the wall read inside. The ordering procedure was "fast food", that is, you went up and ordered at a counter. We chose roast beef sandwiches and cheese fries. The order taker asked my first name and told us he'd call us up when our order was ready.

The sandwiches were piled high with sliced beef and as good as promised. But those cheese fries...smothered in melted cheese and bits of real bacon...they were heavenly.

Kelly's also offers shrimp, clams, scallops and chicken, as well as sandwiches such as turkey club, corned beef and tuna salad.

"On July, 3, 1951, Raymond E. Carey, Jr., Restaurant Manager, and Frank V. McCarthy, Chef, combined talents to create a food establishment that would offer customers a whole lot more. Their philosophy for this enterprising venture was to work hard, provide the finest quality food, cook to order, give generous portions and all at a fair price," reads their placemats. I'd have to say that their philosophy still holds true.



Kelly's is still family owned and operated. They now have four locations in Massachusetts; Danvers, Revere, Saugus and Natick. We visited the Danvers Kelly's at the Liberty Tree Mall. For more information, visit:Kelly's Roast Beef