Starbucks Coffee Zagat-rated as America’s Best Coffee and located reasonably close to campus, few Andover students end their careers without at least one trip to this coffee haven (admittedly, this reporter makes trips at least twice per week). Known internationally for its intellectual mood, but also for its soaring prices. Grade: 5+ Dunkin Donuts Don’t feel like paying five dollars for a cup of coffee? Sick of snobby, Mac-toting hipsters and the occasional afternoon stampede of baby-faced sixth graders searching for that double chocolate-y chip frappuccino? Fear not, for Dunkin Donuts—on which America (allegedly) runs—lies even closer to campus than Starbucks, and for five dollars, you can buy three coffees and a donut. Don’t you just love a bargain? Grade: 6- Bruegger’s Bagels Conveniently connected to Starbucks and abundantly spacious, Bruegger’s offers its famous variety of delicious bagels as well as other food and drink. However, this reporter recommends that you stick to just bagels. And don’t think for a second that you can buy that double chocolate-y chip frappuccino, waltz right into Bruegger’s and sit down anywhere—be forewarned: you will be scolded. Grade: 4+ The Ultimate Perk For a refreshing break from franchise coffee shops, take a stroll to The Ultimate Perk, located across from Dunkin Donuts. Complete with a charming ambience, outdoor seating, remarkably reasonable prices, and very friendly staff, The Ultimate Perk is Ultimate Perfection for the Andover coffee-addict. Grade: 6+ Palmer’s Restaurant & Tavern With its quiet, dimly lit dining rooms, Palmer’s offers patrons an undeniably romantic background, perfect for a first date or anniversary occasion. With impeccable service, gorgeous presentation and scrumptious cuisine, you get what you pay for at Palmer’s. Entrées: $17 – $30 Grade: 6 – Cassis It is a tragedy that the hidden gem, Cassis, is closed. Offering flavorful and homey French cuisine, Cassis had been a great escape to the banality of Andover cuisine. Grade: 6 – Glory For Andover students looking to spend loads of their parents’ money on a delectable and memorable meal, look no further than Glory, the absolute crème de la crème of Andover cuisine. Glory finds the perfect balance between a chic, modern feel and an elegant, refined dining experience. Each dish is thoughtfully and expertly prepared, down to the last garnish. Additionally, the staff is warm and attentive, treating each diner like royalty. Glory is great for dates or just with friends—but be sure to dress up for a dinner that you won’t soon forget. Entrées: $20 – $35 Grade: 6+ Bertucci’s Despite its cramped serving space, Bertucci’s is by far the Andover student’s restaurant of choice on most downtown eating excursions. With familiar and reasonably priced Italian-style dishes, a relaxed environment to enjoy good food with good friends, and those mouth-watering rolls, what’s truly not to love? Entrées: $12 – $20 Grade: 5 Dylan’s Bar & Grill If Bertucci’s is full, students will often find themselves wandering down Main Street to Dylan’s, a spot that sometimes feels more like a loud pub than a restaurant. A place more appropriate to watch an NFL game than enjoy a quiet meal, Dylan’s is very reminiscent of the nation-wide chain Applebee’s (except for the old stuff on the walls). For a pretty affordable, but not very memorable meal, Dylan’s will do just fine. Entrées: $14 – $25 Grade: 4- King’s Subs and Pizza / My Brother’s Place If you don’t make it over to Commons for our homemade pizza, you’ve always got the reliably tasty array of inexpensive dishes available for typically speedy delivery from King’s Pizza and My Brother’s. Entrées range from $5 – $15. Grade: 5 Yama Located close to campus, Yama—technically labeled a Japanese-Chinese eatery, but is really just a Japanese one—is an option for both take-out and sit-down meals. However, delivery is notoriously slow and, given that Yama is so expensive, why not savor your sushi with friends in Yama’s adorably decorated downtown space? Entrées: $15 – $25 Grade: 5 Mootone Fine Japanese Cuisine For sushi-lovers, Mootone offers a yummy alternative to ordering Yama. However, the Mootone delivery service can be excruciatingly slow. This reporter once waited two hours for his California rolls. Tsk tsk… Entrées: $15 – $25 Grade: 4-
