Eating Around Andover

We know Andover residents don’t just stay in Andover when they want a night out and a break from cooking.

Restaurant coming and goings, new business and the best dishes and recipes are among the items that have appeared on area Patch sites over the past month.

Below is a look at the restaurant and food stories local Patch sites have covered over the past month. Read through our round up for the latest food news in the area.

NORTH READING-READING

According to Owner John Ryan there will be a tent outside on July 25 from noon to 6 p.m. with samples and free drinks.

A roasted beet salad, butternut bisque with fresh crabmeat and shrimp and a grilled veggie sandwich are just some of the new menu items customers can try on their anniversary.

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The self-serve concept allows you to choose exactly how much fro-yo you want, and you pay by the ounce. Try every flavor, or just one and then cover your yogurt with as many toppings as you'd like. 

"We are truly excited to be bringing a quality franchise like Zinga! to Reading," Pothier said. "We hope and trust that the community will embrace this new business and help us succeed. We look forward to many years of serving our community with his healthy and delicious product.

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 has re-opened for business. Regular Hot Spot customer Jerry Costa, CEO of JT Costa, LLC, acquired the business last month from its original owner . 

Stop by the café on Saturday from now until Labor Day for a free treat with the purchase of a coffee or fresh baked item.

NORTH ANDOVER

Smolak Farms got an unexpected demolition.

On July 20, after the business was closed, someone was backing out of a space, but she had the car in "drive" instead of "reverse."

The result was her car crashing through the wall of the bakery/shop.

There were no injuries in the accident, although the car went through the wall where the fudge was so there was a loss of fudge and some of the penny candies.

Smolak Farms is still open for business.

WILMINGTON

Mary Buscone’s business is still several weeks away from opening its doors. But it’s not difficult to predict that Wilmington’s newest ice cream shop will be well-received in the community.

“I think I get 20 messages a day asking when we’re opening,” said Buscone, the owner of Fro-Yo to Go, which will open on August 11. “It’s been no secret that we’re coming to town.”

Fro-Yo to Go, located in the Square One Plaza at 2 Lowell Street, will provide 12 flavors of self-serve frozen yogurt along with a variety of topping choices. Customers fill their own cup and can do so with multiple flavors if they desire before hitting the toppings bar.

Self-serve frozen yogurt shops are popular as they pop up around the country. But Wilmington’s location is not a part of a chain, and brings a local flavor thanks to its owner.

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The trio wanted to be featured on New England culinary television program “Phantom Gourmet” within a year, and they wanted to be on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” within five years.

It took the restaurant owners just months to achieve their first goal. And by this fall, the group will be able to say they achieved their second goal as well.

DANVERS

on Elm Street will be offering a new line of speciality Rail Trail beverages, including soda, lemonade, and spring water.. 

"When Kate [Day] told me she still had a lot of drinks left from the , I told her that I would try to sell the items in the store to help out the rail trail,"  owner Andrea Harry said. "We feel that it is a great cause and we are willing to help out the town our business is located in as much as possible."

Proceeds from the drinks will benefit the . 

Rail Trail beverages will range from $1-2.