Restaurants in Andover

The first IHOP—the dream of founders Al and Jerry Lapin—opened in 1958 in Toluca Lake, California, and was originally dubbed the International House of Pancakes. Since then, rapid expansion has led to myriad milestones across the company's colorful history, from introducing its modern IHOP acronym in 1973 to its 1,000th restaurant opening in Layton, Utah, in 2001.

Today, the company stands strong with around 1,500 locations across North and Central America, each one an enthusiastic dispenser of pancakes, french toast, and tables constructed entirely out of bacon. Though IHOP is known as a bastion of breakfast, it also stays open during the day and into the evening, delivering lunch and dinner as well.

Since 1930, the grill masters at NuWay Burgers have been crafting their unique crumbly burgers from the same recipe and patented cooking equipment, preserving the signature texture that has kept customers returning to their original Douglas Avenue location for more than 80 years. The crumbly burgers share a menu with chicken and pork sandwiches, handmade onion rings, and frozen treats, including floats made with homemade root beer.

Ruben’s Mexican Grill’s cheerful sign invites diners inside the casual family-owned restaurant, where plates of steaming, freshly made Mexican dishes tango with chilled margaritas on the palate. Chefs whip up classic burritos, tacos, and enchiladas, and extend their culinary prowess toward specialty carne asada dinners and shrimp rancheros with fresh peppers, onions, and guacamole. An accommodating wait staff tends to indoor and outdoor dining areas, making guests feel like family even if they believe people come from storks.

Owners Chris and Sheila Hare keep their menu simple, comforting, and hearty. Signature homestyle dishes include the Kitchen Sink omelet, plumped with five eggs, ham, sausage, bacon, and enough healthful veggies to help a child grow to the size of a small adult in just a few years. Amid burgundy booths and golden-tiled floors, tables populate with syrup-slathered pancake stacks, juicy burgers, and entrees of chicken-fried steak and meatloaf.

After noshing, guests can put their reflexes to the test on the dining room's air-hockey and pool tables or retreat to the sun porch, where a video-game room features such vintage classics as Area 51 and ATM Here.

Big Larry's Burgers proprietor, Larry, and his wife, Heather, serve up classic soda-shop snacks in an Americana-themed eatery with checkerboard floors and booths lined with red vinyl. Patrons can sink teeth into hefty 3/4-pound burgers, philly cheesesteaks, or hot links and round out meals with sides such as fried pickles and bacon-ranch cheese fries. A children's menu offers pint-size meals served with fruit and special surprises.

The cozy café’s sweet aromas of freshly baked breads and pastries satisfy sniffers without even making them scratch the menu of morning and midday delights. Quiche Lorraine and quiche Florentine ($4), which are new additions to The Palette's bill of breakfast fare, whisper savory complements to sweet stacks of waffles ($4). For lunch, nosh a handheld pineapple-, grape-, and cashew-clad chicken-salad sandwich or a grilled meatloaf sandwich, both served on homemade bread ($6). Cleanse your esophagus with barista beverages such as chocolate café au lait ($3), tropical paradise iced tea ($1.50), citrus smoothies ($4), or raspberry or apple Hot Lips sodas ($3), and complete the sweet with a warm slice of apple pie with ice cream ($4) or carrot cake with cream-cheese frosting ($4).