I'm giving Perry's a three out of five tentatively and will update the review after I've gone again. If it were possible to give half stars I'd give it a 2.5, but alas. I want Perry's to do well because I miss the Lantern Brunch and we need more sit-down breakfast/lunch spots in Andover.
The Good: 1) They have Chicken Barb on the menu and it's not just a daily special. This is a huge plus for me as it is my favorite sandwich. How was it? Well it was pretty good, it wasn't Lawton's or Joe's Bungalow, but I was a simple and overall good version of a local classic. I'm very happy that they make them. 2) The location.
The Bad: 1) I know they're trying to fit as many customers as possible, but it's so crowded I could barely get to my table... By sacrificing a couple of two-tops they'd make the place more relaxed and safer, I'd hate being a server here because I would constantly be afraid I'd scald someone with coffee if I tripped. It just seems like a dangerous inconvenience. 2) No silverware on the tables upon arrival and had to ask for spoons after having been served coffee. 3) severely cracked mug and a broken maple syrup dispenser that was covered in a layer of syrup, two things that should have been tossed and replaced immediately. The mug may go unnoticed, but not the dispenser. That's regular end-of-day restaurant maintenance.
The Ugly: Well, I realize this is a matter of personal taste so it doesn't weigh too much on the rating but when something strikes me as undesirable, in my opinion, like a restaurants atmosphere, I put it in this section. I have no problem with the owners putting a personal spin on a restaurant, but this place is over the top. I get putting up some sports memorabilia, local high school and college banners, or some stuff about your family's heritage but for the life of me I can't figure out why a place which seems like a breakfast place needs a gigantic TV in the corner and another hanging over the bar just above the heads of people sitting at the counter. Nor do I understand plastering the windows with football posters and having your logo decal take up two of your three picture windows in near entirety. It seems like something silly to complain about, which again is why it has hardly any baring on the review, but it makes the space feel very claustrophobic and overly busy/distracting.
My apologies for the long-windedness, but I think Perry's has potential, and the few things in the bad section can be easily remedied and because we only tried a couple of the menu items I'm willing to go back a couple times and confirm this experience or be pleasantly surprised. We will see how it goes. read more