Puritan Backroom, Manchester, N.H.
Puritan Backroom got its start in 1917 as the Puritan Confectionary Company, an ice cream shop opened by two friends who emigrated from Greece, Arthur Pappas and Louis Canotas. Their children opened the Puritan Backroom in 1974.
There’s still ice cream on the menu, but the venue also serves American comfort food and Greek classics. In fact, the restaurant claims to have invented chicken tenders.
But the restaurant has also become a required stop for political candidates on the campaign trail.
Puritan Backroom is run by third-generation owner Arthur Pappas, son Chris Pappas (also a New Hampshire congressman) and a son-in-law Eric Zink.