We are in the upstairs dining room, rather than the tavern downstairs. The dining room was quiet, set with linen tablecloths and napkins. We both had the "French Onion" sirloin steak. Cooked to order, a large New York strip topped with caramelized onions and melted Gruyère cheese, resting on a slice of baguette. It was amazing. Our teen had the haddock limoncello which also rocked. My entree came with garlic Parmesan mashed potatoes that were wonderful, along with a healthy serving of green beans, which were the best I have ever eaten (high praise as I loathe green beans). Wines by the glass are somewhat limited in terms of choice but there were enough varieties to satisfy even a wine snob like me. Our server, Amanda, was friendly, helpful and efficient. Extra thanks to her for the help. This was as pleasant a dining experience as you can get. Rest assured we will be back. read more

Good menu selections for dinner though not extensive, with good pastas, chicken, and steak tips. Bar section has good table seating for drinking and ordering off the menu, with a smaller dinner only section. Drinks were great, with good call and top shelf liquor. Service in the dining room was excellent and attentive without hovering. Ambiance is average to above average noise, being good for casual dining or families with young children. This will be one of my go to's for take out too. read more

Excellent food service and ambiance. I used to visit this beautiful restaurant in the mid 90s. Amazing place. Rare in this day and age to keep the quality and atmosphere. Love it read more

Palmers Restaurant & Tavern - The Lemoncello haddock dish. Super delicious. The steak tips and French fries are too which my boyfriend enjoyed - New American Near Me - Andover, Massachusetts

Met my son at Palmer's Restaurant & Tavern for dinner recently. I was in the mood for a burger. It was the best burger I've had in a really long time! Cooked perfectly-I added mushrooms and Swiss Cheese. The fries were very good. My son really enjoyed his burger, as well. AND-bonus! Burgers are half price on Mondays! Score! I was impressed with the draft beer list and enjoyed a Guinness and then a pint of Old Brown Dog, a favorite that I hadn't had in a while. Service was great! There's a parking lot in the back. Atmosphere is classy pub-style. I would not hesitate to return. read more

Great experience! Went for mom's 87th birthday dinner. Waitress was great, food was delicious, cocktails were perfect! Plus, the bill was not crazy! Great evening. read more

nice atmosphere, wait staff excellent, i had the bolognese-chock full of meat .. tasted great, wife had a dinner salad that was huge and friend had fish tacos with blackened salmon. she raved about it. Dessert we shared a profiterole. also huge , enough for the three of us to share. read more

We ordered takeout here and it's one of the best meals I've had in Andover in a long time. The chicken special was amazing! They also have wonderful hamburgers. I look forward to eating there again soon! Very friendly service. read more

Came in for dinner on a Wednesday evening, reservation at 6pm for a party of six. We ordered a few appetizers including the gyoza, hush-puppy-like app, and fried breaded chicken (bite size). I dont know the names because i didn't order them. All were decent, cooked properly, and nothing was under/over cooked. The restaurant has a decent list of alcohol. There was house wine, which was merlot that night. I opted for the Oban 14 while others enjoyed fruity cocktails, beers, and the merlot. I ordered off the dinner special, the Cajun swordfish. The filet of fish was nicely prepped and set on a bed of rice and veggies. I enjoyed the dish but it was nothing memorable. Others ordered the steak and pasta dishes, all looked delicious, but i did not try. I finished off with a creme brûlée, which was done very well. Someone ordered a sundae, which i tried, also very good. Parking: as you approach the converted house to restaurant, there is a large parking lot behind the building. A small single lane driveway to the left of the house (when you are facing the front) takes you to the back of the house, where the large parking lot is. Decor: it's a bit of a fun maze (converted house most likely). There is a bar area in the living room. We sat in a space that would be someone's front porch. read more

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Husband and I had been there years ago and enjoyed. Not sure why it took us so long to return. But I don't think we will wait as long again after both having the French onion sirloin steak. It was absolutely delicious. I asked for no bread or potatoes and was not in the least missing them or disappointed. Husband had both and was very happy with his also. Also started with the warm spinach salad with was well dressed and delicious. Husband had the Cesar which he also enjoyed. read more

Went there at 6 and waited an hour and got one drink and waitress refuse my food order. After saying to the waitress we are not getting service and we would like to order she says she will be right back, waited another 30 minutes. Had to ask for the check to leave. Letting them know I'm not satisfy I thought would improve behavior, instead was worse. Will never go back. read more

Wish I could comment on the actual restaurant but I called 8 times and was disconnected 3 times. When I explained situation to the hostess she denied the phone had rung. Nice! Owner couldn't have been less concerned. Good to know owner finds local patrons irrelevant. Sadly I won't have a follow up review because after this experience I won't cross the threshold. read more

We were visiting from Florida in Andover and stopped in for lunch. The service with Toni at the bar and food were so good we returned for dinner. We had the Limoncello Haddock and our favorite Pinot Noir Meiomi to round out the meal. Both exceptional. There was live music and the bartender Russ made my wife and I feel right at home. We had a blast. When we come again Palmers is a definite stop for us. Great job to the staff and owners for a great local spot to dine and relax! read more

Palmers rocks. Best spot in Andover for live music. Food is solid. Atmosphere is different in a great way.

If Andover is your idea of an appealing upscale New England town, then Palmer's would fit into the model. The atmosphere inside, from which you can choose to sit at the bar, or at bistro-style tables, or on the terrace (and I guess outside in nice weather) reflects this. If you prefer more of a pub experience, you can sit at the bar and select from many drafts and food off the pub menu, or you can opt for cocktails or wine from an impressive list as well as the full dinner menu at nearby tables - or some mixture.. Service is top-notch. Since we had had a late lunch earlier in the day, we opted for appetizers and food off the pub menu instead of dinner. I wish I had been hungrier, because the dinner menu appealed more to me both in selection and quality, and that included several very tempting dinner specials. We ordered chowders among us, their regular clam chowder, and tonight's special fish chowder. My clam chowder had a nice little zing to it, not quite sure just what but perhaps lemon, which made it distinctive from other chowders I've had. But the amount of potatoes in the chowder outnumbered the clams by about 5:1. The fish chowder was a bit more balanced, with a hint of bacon flavor. Our meals were off the pub menu, which included the fish tacos, and I ordered a cheeseburger. The fish tacos are a unique take - they had the citrus flavor, but little slaw and instead accompanied by fresh avocado. My burger, ordered medium, came out closer to medium-well but was fine otherwise. It was presented simply, with just the cheese on top, and with lettuce, thick tomato slices, and pickles on the side. I was not impressed with the fries that accompanied the burger. They tasted industrial to me, with what felt like a coating. I feel that for a place like this and a nice burger, hand-cut steak fries would have been more appealing as a side. My overall impression was quite favorable, and if I come here again, as previously mentioned, I plan to be a bit hungrier to sample from the dinner menu. One final warning - if you sit at the smaller bistro tables (square, seat 4), do not place any significant weight on the corners, as the tables will very easily tip. I almost lost our drinks because of that. read more

My wife picked this place tonight and let me tell you she's batting in the single digits... this place redeemed her!!! Live band tonight . They were a bit loud so we decided to eat upstairs. Yeah we sat right above the band so it wasn't quiet date night Nancy was our server, her service standards were spot on!!! The only negative were the wings. Jalapeño and garlic was good but no sauce made it bland. She ordered the Macadamian chicken and I had the salmon. Both were meals I would write home about. Then we topped it off with dessert I had the profiteroles and she had the cappuccino mousse. Seriously for the price I'm definitely coming back next weekend. read more

We held a small staff event here over the weekend and could not be more happy with our choice. The food was amazing! We had 3 main course options: chicken parm, shrimp scampi and mushroom ravioli, and everyone was happy with their choices! The chef and event coordinator were extremely accommodating during the whole process. Besides the food, honestly the service is what made the night so great! Nancy was our main server. We had a party of 18, and there was a never instance that someone needed something, and she wasn't already there asking. Thanks for such an awesome night Palmers! read more

We had a great experience. We didn't have reservations and there was a band BUT they sat us in the back dining room. Was perfect. Ford was really good and excellent portion sizes. We had 2 orders of the short rib and Mac and cheese, 2 Burgers and one filet and Shrimp. We didn't see the front of the restaurant but the back dining room is very cool. Loved it. Our server was really great. He gave us very spot on recommendations. Parking in the back is GREAT TOO!! read more

Went on a Wednesday night around 7:00 pm. Very few people there. We had two drinks each and a cheeseburger and a salad with steak tips. With tip $113. Are you kidding me! $15 for a small Kettle One Martini and the world's smallest glass of wine. Avoid except for dancing and maybe a beer. Ridiculous! read more

PROS: Old Speckled Hen Beer (England) on draft! This beer is amazing. On the heaviness scale it falls above Sam Adams and below Guinness. Great aroma and super smooth, goes down very easy and leaves a hopsy and nutty after taste. Goes really well with the Steak and Lamb chops. Ok, the Lamb Chops done medium well are probably the best I've had so far. The Filet Mignon was good but the Lamb chops won the Meat battle rounds and the evening. We ended with Coffee and a Decadent flourless Chocolate cake that prevented any repenting on our part like when we pack our mouths with a three ton heavy sugary chocolaty brownie The bar area seems nice and they had a live band. Good beer, good food, good wait staff, live music...this place does it right CONS: Peppered Bacon wrapped scallops - avoid; 2 pieces and 2 overpriced. Maybe the price is for the friggin truffle butter which is not (in my opinion) worth a premium seal of approval from one's taste buds. read more

Consistent food, hardworking staff and nice music. It is also nice to sit on the porch to eat.

This place is great, whether you want a quiet drink with a friend, a good meal, or to hold a large business meeting. Plenty of parking in back (and across the street) and lots of different 'spaces' for different types of gatherings. I have been here about 12 times -- several times to meet a buddy and many other times for Kiwanis or other meetings / functions. The staff is great. They make you feel very welcome. They remember our names and drink preferences, too. Everyone that I've gone to Palmer's with enjoys the food, the selection, and the decent prices. Try it! It is in Downtown Andover, close to the library. Enjoy! read more

First off, I was sold on going here, because they told me it was once a funeral parlor. So I figure, if it was once a funeral parlor and people are still going there must be something really special about the food. The menu is pretty diverse, which has bar food, as well as salads, ala carte items and sides. For the appetizer we had the tuna tartare which was a decent size portion with chips and the brie bread dip which was a little rich but still very tasty. The texture of the crunch bread with the melt brie topped with capers was very interesting. I ordered the braised short ribs ravioli and asparagus. The Sauce was a little salty, but I ended up dipping the asparagus in it which really made it even the taste. The wine selection is good, the beer selection on tap, a little shallow. I did have a Chocolate Stout which had some good smell and initial flavor but the lacked a powerful clean after taste which I prefer stouts to have. The waiter was helpful, and my drinks never ran dry. The price for 3 people was $182, which is a little pricey for the area but it's an ala carte menu, sooo you should expect pricey and small rich tasting portions. This ain't applebees folks. I would definitely go there again! read more

Really surprised at the varied reviews. My husband and I love Palmers. Mondays half price burgers ($6) are the best. Weekend music in the tavern is great- "older' crowd but it is perfect if you aren't 20 something. Prices upstairs are a bit more expensive but quite in line with Andover. PLUS fabulous. read more

Probably won't return. The food was very good but just expensive for a meh atmosphere. We were a party of 4 and had made a reservation in advance for Sat night at 6:00. We were taken to the upstairs dining room. It's nothing special. A huge room of tables covered in white table linens. No 'wow' atmosphere. Service was okay. All our wine glasses had water marks all over them and they were worn. I guess I expect a nice wine glass when I'm buying an $11 glass! We were never offered water refills and all our glasses were empty midway through our meal. Also, if you ask for a substitution side for your meal, they will tell you sure it's fine but do not inform you there's a $2 'up grade fee' until you get the bill. Overall, I just wasn't impressed with this place enough to go back again. read more

This place okay. I have nothing much to add to the other reviews, except to warn you against the hot wings. They were borderline inedible for me due to the weird tasting, too-mild sauce and unsatisfying size and texture. If they were 10 cent wings I would have just eaten them and gotten over it, but I expect a lot out of a $1.50 wing and these did not deliver. Also, they do not serve shots here, according to our server that night. Boooo. Their loss. Okay, complaining over; on to the good stuff. My crab and lobster salad sliders were small but very tasty. Mr. W ordered a tuna melt that was large and pleasing. Also, they have a decent selection of beers on tap that are priced reasonably. read more

Petit filet medium rare with blue cheese, mashed potatoes and asparagus. Prepared beautifully and tasted great. My first cocktail, something cucumber... Was really horrible. The waitress brought me a lemon drop instead and it was great. She returned with a freshly made cucumber, stating the manager wanted me to try it as it was intended to be prepared (complimentary). It was MUCH, much better. Nice place, great food, good drinks. There's no dance floor, so the tavern got too crowded with a band and lots of people dancing between tables. read more

Today was one of those Arctic blast kind of days. . being bundled up , sipping hot tea , dodging in & out with the heat cranked up Nothing seems to warm you..... Lunchtime I expected some warmth within the building along with comfort food. But that unfortunately was not the case. We chose seats where we presumed it would be draft free, and away from any doors. It just felt cold - as if the heat hadn't been turned on. I don't enjoy dining with my coat on...a sweater - yes. My coat, no. Our server, who doubled as the bartender came over with menus. I chose a Butternut Squash Flatbread with Ricotta, Spinach, along with a fig glaze. My companion opted for the Tuscan Sandwich.. It wasn't long before our food arrived. The presentation was very good. Only thing is that the food was lukewarm. It wasn't long before the description would be cold. We were already cold. I started on the Flatbread - it was ok. But there wasn't any crispiness perhaps due to the Ricotta and spinach mix being too cool to start. Actually the center of the Flatbread had a just- doneness - not completely cooker. My dining companion's Tuscan sandwich looked similar... Not hot as it should have been. The homemade potato chips looked to die for. I'm sorry to say that our server never came by to ask how we were doing, how the food was, etc. That wasn't too good. Anyway , I wish I could have given the experience a better rating. But today it was off read more

We picked this place because of the outside seating. It was a perfect night to sit outside. If I had to judge it only on the food, I would give it 5 stars. I have only good things to say about the food. The drinks were great summer cocktails. My husband got the fish and chips and very much enjoyed it. I got the fillet sliders and they were perfectly medium rare. The profiteroles for dessert were flakey and delicious. Unfortunately, the food is really the only thing I have anything positive to say about. If I could have physically eaten the meal somewhere else, I would have been a happy customer. But the overall experience was craptastical. The outdoor seating is a nice idea with terrible execution. The process to get a table outside is awkward and uncomfortable at best. At worst I felt like I was a stalker. Our waiter was nice but never checked on us once he dropped the food off. My husband had to wait until dessert to get a second drink. PROS: -great food -outdoor seating (if you don't mind a weird, uncomfortable experience to get a table) CONS: -waiter never checked on us -they police the outdoor seating in a way that is both rude and uncomfortable...there was an empty table for 4 but because we were a party of 2 they wouldn't let us sit there...the table sat empty for more than 20 minutes while we waited for a table for 2 to open up -outdoor seating is "first come, first serve" which left me feeling like I had to hover over people or risk losing the table to someone else...I am not sure who was more uncomfortable, me or the people we kept watching like a hawk to see when they were leaving... Unfortunately, the experience of waiting for the table outside was the first and most lasting impression I had. and I doubt there is any food that could have overcome that awful first impression. read more

Get the sticky toffee pudding! Get the sticky toffee pudding!! My friend and I (a little embarrassingly) admitted that the sticky toffee pudding was the best dish of our meal. Everything else was good too, but oh, that sticky toffee pudding, with the warm cake filled with dates and the cool scoop of ice cream and sprig of mint and then the caramel all over... mmmmm. Get the sticky toffee pudding! The dessert might convince me to sit through another 2 hour dinner again. (Maybe they'll let me to takeout on the dessert.... probably not). Ok I get that the upstairs dining room is supposed to be romantic and dark and all, but I felt like I needed to get up and stretch to get through a dinner that takes 2 hours. Service was polite and even a bit entertaining but also a bit slow. Oh, and get the mussels appetizer too. But the baked haddock and lobster risotto wasn't worth calling home about. read more

My review is for the function facilities. From my beginning inquiry to the end of the event Palmer's service was impeccable. Kelley, the function coordinator was so helpful with constant and timely communication. She was fantastic with assisting in the planning of the event down to executing the day of the event. I can't say enough about the servers. They were extremely attentive and hospitable. They were even able to change the timing of the food for me without notice. The food was also very good. We were actually all surprised at how good the food was. We went with the buffet style - this can usually be disappointing. But the quality was very good. Even our guests commented on how surprisingly nice the actual dinner was. We were in the Wine Lounge. It was a great space for the number of people we had. Although my only suggestion would be to spruce the place up a bit. It could use some new paint. Palmer's was an excellent choice for our function. High quality food and exceptional service. We will definitely be back. read more

If you want to have a cozy lunch w/ friends head directly to Palmer's. Sit at the bar in the charming tavern. Say hello to Sabrina and order an icy pinot grigio. Then flip a coin about whether you should order the tuna melt or a turkey bacon wrap. Enjoy every bite w/ the divine home made chips. Then, if you want to live on the edge order the profiteroles for dessert. Trust me when I tell you this is literally the perfect fun lunch. You can' too wrong w/ Palmer's. read more

Live music is great fun on the weekends and the inside is beautiful! Personally this isn't my bar scene - I prefer lounges that aren't jam packed and loud. If this is your sort of thing than you'd love this! Hard to find parking too - so get there early on the weekends or have fun walking. :) The average age of the crowd is mid-30s early-40s. read more

My husband and I took our parents here the other night after buying the Groupon. Everyone really enjoyed their meals. We got the scallops, crab cakes, and bruschetta for appetizers. I think the only criticism was that the bread for the bruschetta was a little too hard. The entrees were all well received as well - grilled shrimp salad, baked haddock, beef tips, scallops, etc. I don't remember hearing one criticism. The desserts were also quite good - decadent chocolate cake, creme brulee, and profiteroles. The room we ate in - right next to the maitre d's desk - was so warm and homey - beautiful red walls and a fireplace. It made for a really homey meal. My only criticisms revolved around the server. When she approached the table, she would ALWAYS interrupt whoever was talking. She wouldn't wait for a break in conversation or quietly inquire if the person next to her was finished with their meal. She just... interrupted... and it was rude. And she also wasn't great about making sure people had enough water. Also, there was no good place to stand while waiting for our table to be open, so we ended up standing awkwardly in a hallway. But the food was good (if a bit overpriced), and I would return. read more

Upstairs at Palmer's is really great. Rarely busy enough for a wait but the quality of the menu and service is quite high. Our servers have been extremely professional while keeping things relaxed. The steak sliders are phenomenal. Great caesar salad and always an excellent beer selection from downstairs. I usually get something off the specials menu and have always enjoyed myself. Upstairs at Palmer's is a bit expensive but not excessively so for the quality and the service. Pass read more

Relatively solid, but entirely plain restaurant - especially for the price. Not my style. Appetizers were good. Main courses were well received by the group I was with, but my pesto pasta tasted like anything but basil. It was oily, but not in that yummy nice-olive-oil way. The noodles required a second shipment of sauteed veggies to balance out the taste and oiliness... odd, for a nice restaurant. Nobody raved about the food. Most comments centered around "this is a nice place." And it was.... read more

Best New England clam chowder I have ever had, but I was not as impressed with the swordfish. Great service, but would go with a different menu option next time read more

Palmers Restaurant & Tavern - New England Clam Chowder - New American Near Me - Andover, Massachusetts

Great service and solid meals! We came here with a large group that was accommodated upstairs. The waitress was very attentive and friendly. I ordered the salmon which was perfectly cooked with a delicious glaze. It was probably the best salmon of my life! Highly recommend all around. read more

A disappointing menu selection. But what they did have on the menu was made to perfection. Good food, good service,good atmosphere.

We recently held a large function at Palmers. The food, the service, the set up, every detail was fabulous. Our guests had a great time and I can't say enough about Stefanie, who helped me plan the night. She was really fantastic, accommodating, and truly a calming force (despite my nerves on the details). A great spot to hold a party! read more

Service, food, ambience all impeccable. For lunch today I enjoyed Palmer's petite filet mignon and a glass of Penfold's shiraz. The filet was cooked to a perfect medium rare and accompanied by an herbed butter with mash potatoes and fresh green beans. I thought my lunch was delicious and a good value too. read more