Andover Diner — Restaurant in Andover

I should have just walked out after coming in on a Sunday afternoon to a completely empty diner in New Jersey. But against my better judgment I wanted to stay and try to the diner food in my new town. I was extremely let down. I’ll preface by saying I worked in food service for many years; both front and back of house. I spent a few days contemplating whether I should write this, whether it’s worth it. Because ultimately I’d love this business to straighten out with some harsh truths and thrive.

My kids ordered Mac and Cheese, which I thought was foolproof, but I was wrong. It was cold. Mind you, it was not “waited too long in the back” cold, but “stick your finger in the middle and it’s refrigerator cold”. I know the difference between room temperature and food that hasn’t been microwaved properly. I’m a dad after all.

They denied not making it fresh, but not a single ingredient on my BLT tasted fresh either. The bacon was dry and tough like it was pre-cooked. And the tomato didn’t taste great either. I’m willing to chalk that up to my imagination given the other circumstances happening around me.

Don’t even get me started on my wife’s salad with sliced strawberries that looked old: I can’t tell you if they were past prime before or after they were sliced, but if I were to guess I’d say pre-sliced at least a day or more prior to being put on the lettuce.

I go out to eat and expect to pay for freshly cooked food, not this. Again, I hope this establishment takes my criticism as a wake up, because no diner, dead on a Sunday afternoon, is going to make it long-term. It’s never too late to make a...

Our first clue should have been that there was literally NO ONE in the parking lot... but we stopped anyway because it had been previously an alright place (at least 2 yrs ago). We have noticed over the last 2 or 3 yrs that it was not as good. And today proved it will be another place we don't bother with again for a LONG time. There were 2 people standing around in the front when we walked in - just hanging out and gabbing. (Two men - no waitresses. One of them was not dressed like a server and wearing a hat indoors, on backwards, bright orange - standing behind the register. The other was our server.) The server was friendly and attentive enough. We noticed it was cold in the building and wondered about the heat. Then we both ordered coffee and the coffee was barely warm. None of the urns literally across from us were even on - he had to go to the urns out front. The prices - like everywhere else - are now just unacceptable for the quality of food. A chicken fingers platter from the appetizer menu is almost $13 for 4 not so great chicken fingers and really just terrible fries. The breading on the chicken fingers was mushy and I noticed another reviewer said the same thing. Coffee - small mugs - are $3 a piece? I pay slightly less than that for a medium 16oz Dunkin Donuts coffee - and it's much bigger than these cups. My husband ordered only a patty melt (nothing else) and I gave him a huge portion of the fries that came with the fingers. Our bill, with a tip came to over $40. While I understand these prices are comparable to everywhere else these days, it's just unacceptable for...

I had the misfortune of dining at Andover Diner recently, and it was an absolute disaster from start to finish. Let's start with the food—where do I even begin? The French fries were a sad excuse for a side dish; they were nothing but small, greasy crumbs that tasted like they had been scraped from the bottom of a week-old bag. Next, my burger arrived at the table looking like it had never seen the inside of a kitchen, let alone a grill. The meat was raw and cold in the middle, as if they had slapped it straight from the packaging onto a bun. It was not only unappetizing but also a health hazard. To add insult to injury, my son's taco meat was practically inedible. It was dry and rubbery, like it had been sitting out for days. The whole taco was a disappointment and left him hungry and dissatisfied. As for my wife's Reuben sandwich, it might as well have been a frozen, microwaveable dinner reheated and served with a side of disappointment. The bread was soggy, the cheese was barely melted, and the corned beef was tough and tasteless. The service was no better than the food. The staff seemed disinterested and indifferent to our complaints about the quality of the meal. It's clear that no one in the kitchen or on the floor cares about serving anything remotely resembling decent food. Save your money and your taste buds—avoid Andover Diner at all costs. This place is a culinary disaster waiting to happen, and I wouldn't wish this dining experience on my...