Okay, so fried food may not be the healthiest option on the menu, but when you treat yourself to a night out, a fried item is always on the radar.

Be it onions, seafood, or beloved potatoes, anything can be fried. You might be surprised what some local restaurants have done to spice up an already popular meal choice.

Here are five fried favorites that you can find in the Andovers:

1. Fried Zucchini Sticks

Good things happen when healthy food is fried.

Find out for yourself at Grassfields on route 28 in Andover. One of their most popular appetizers is their lightly breaded fried zucchini sticks.

The sticks are served with tangy peppercorn dressing and costs only $5.99.

2. Fried Catfish Fingers

Joe Fish on 125 in North Andover serves fried catfish fingers that can also be prepared buffalo or Malay style.

The fried catfish appetizer costs only $8.99 and Joe Fish also offers the following fried dishes: fried calamari, Woonsocket calamari, fried shrimp, fried popcorn shrimp, and boneless fried chicken tenders.

3. Mozzarella Fritta

These aren’t your ordinary mozzarella sticks.

Bertucci’s is on 114 in North Andover and on 28 in Andover and their version of mozzarella sticks is a nice change from the usual sticks. They pan-fry their mozzarella in extra-virgin olive oil. The cheese is then served over plum tomato sauce with fresh basil.

This appetizer goes for only $7.99.

4. Crispy Onion String & Jalapeno Stack

Why order onion rings when you can have onion strings along with fried jalapenos?

Chili’s, now open next to La Quinta in Andover, brings you both on the same plate. Ranch dressing is the perfect accompaniment to this spicy duo.

5. Crispy Chicken Sandwich

Fuddruckers, on 114 in North Andover, may be known for its burgers, but do not overlook their fried crispy chicken sandwich.

The chicken is beer-battered, skinless, and boneless breast. The market fresh veggies that Fuddruckers offers are basically an opulent salad bar. There you can gratuitously customize your sandwich.

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Do you own or manage a restaurant? Would you like to see your featured or most popular dish in this column?

If so, send an email to jay@jayoza.org. Please include details, ingredients, and pricing of the dish as well as a photo.