Restaurants in Andover

Olives, tahini, feta cheese, and herbs accent Mediterranean Grill's recipes, lending their signature flavors to schawarmas, hummus, and fattoush salad. In addition to lamb shanks, seasoned roasted chicken, and other classic Mediterranean meats, the kitchen whips up pastas and grains that include a four-cheese penne rigate and vegetable curry served over a bed of rice. More than 20 wines from around the world color-coordinate with each dish, and Turkish coffee paired with desserts such as baklava top off each meal.

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 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.

The kitchen staff at Bann Thai Restaurant has nary a can opener. This is because they craft each dish from scratch using the owner’s family recipes—brought straight from Thailand—rather than using bottled ingredients procured on internet auction sites. Thai-style curry dishes smother chicken, beef, and pork with brightly colored sauces, while the flavors of thai basil, ginger, and chili peppers energize plates of duck and seafood.

A wave of flavor washes over visitors to Tsunami Teriyaki, who can dig into charbroiled teriyaki, chicken wings, and Thai and Vietnamese dishes. Spring rolls stuffed with chicken and vegetables and garnished with a ginger-lime sauce can start off meals, or diners can sample salad rolls made with carrots, bean sprouts, and peanut sauce. The hearty selection of noodles ranges from pad thai, “Thailand’s official rice noodle,” to vermicelli, Vietnam’s “light and healthy rice noodle.” The luscious noodles arrive mixed with cilantro, toasted peanuts, lemongrass, bean sprouts, and proteins such as tofu, chicken, or steak. The house Tsunami Specials platters include chicken or tofu mixed with string beans, Thai herbs, or a crushed peppercorn sauce. Thai iced tea and Vietnamese iced coffee wash down spices, and boba drinks of avocado, mango, and sour-green-apple flavors provide refreshing sips that may come with pearls of tapioca freshly stolen from the elusive tapioca oyster.

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).