Talk about food! Well, I traveled with my friend (2 hours) to her medical appt. I was up early and no time for breakfast as we had to be on time. Check in was a long process. Finally, she gets called in for her 10:00 appt. Almost two hours later we were done and both starved. This place, "The Fort" was recommended to us by the greeters at the Dartmouth Hitchcock medical ctr. WOW! It was exactly what we wanted. GPS said we had arrived, but where the heck is it? I remembered that we were told you had to drive around the back. She was hesitant. Yup, that's a gas station...keep going. We landed. Walked in... It was like going to a back room of a place where illegal things take place, I guess we used the wrong door, lol! Upon entering the actual diner, you are greeted with a display case of muffins and donuts that are about the size of your head! Just around the corner are pies. We were immediately seated. The table next to ours was a man eating a HUGE breakfast! BISCUITS AND GRAVY! Oh my, that looked delicious! Yup, that's what I ordered! Two scrambled eggs sat atop of that. This plate was HUGE! Best I have ever had.... and I finished almost the entire plate. My friend had lunch. She kept remarking that she was eating a "real" hamburger!!!! It was cooked to perfection! Our only complaint was that our meals were not hot, which was odd because we waited an awfully long time for our food. BUT, it was well worth the wait! Service was good and ambience in my opinion was good too. On the inside, it reminded me of a log cabin. Overall great experience! Sadly, I couldn't leave without some of their enormous baked goods. ...Sigh... I am just so weak!"... read more

When we walked in to The Fort diner, they were playing Bocephus (Hank Williams, Jr.) , and now they're playing Patsy Cline and maybe that's at least half of the charm of this diner-hidden-inside-of-a-gas station, here. But first, when you drive in, you will never think there is a restaurant here! And once you walk in, you definitely think you misunderstood the term, "restaurant." But keep walking to the back and towards the right, and you'll find a door that opens up to a whole, charming, old-fashioned slice of historic Lebanon, NH country restaurant. You can get breakfast, lunch or dinner here, and breakfast is served all day. So, unless you are looking for 24-hour breakfast at Denny's, this is the most awesome homestyle diner to eat at up through 6:30pm-ish (it clears out by 7:45 i think). There is a lot of charm to be had, here, including friendly waitresses and cantankerously-charming cooks. And did I mention that I loved the vintage country music?! :) There is a narrow U-shaped counter here with a fair amount of counter seating. Our server was fast and friendly. We really enjoyed it when one of the cooks came out who has just the right amount of self-depricating humor if you dare to banter with him. The hot cakes and biscuits are cooked on a real cast-iron griddle, here, and you can taste that flavor and how good it is. The biscuits are like nothing I've seen: cast iron grilled corn meal and wheat maybe? Not sure. They look like hamburger buns but have the mouth feel of a nice, firm cornbread - though not as sweet. Our biscuit was overcooked but if I get back there, next time I'll ask for it toasted light. This biscuit did have a good and unique flavor. You might ask for your hot cakes cooked light, as well, because one of those came out dark. And we had to send back the first order of pancakes because one was dark on the outside but raw batter burst through. It we go back and get our dishes served less brown I will upgrade my rating because I was delighted with The Fort, otherwise. We got a double side of mashed potatoes and gravy as an appetizer and it was delicious! They have an almost-whipped but definitely substantial feel, yet also firm and so buttery. Very good! You can tell the cooks put a lot of work into this food and that comes across in the flavors. We ordered a breakfast called the Lumberjack and it was gigantic! Two eggs, 3 slices of fresh, crispy bacon, big sausage patties, 2 gigantic slices of rye toast and well-seasoned potatoes. There was a very subtle taste of garlic seasoning and I loved it! The bacon was my favorite: tasty - oversized and light in flavor - vs. some of the real country bacon I've tasted a few times around here. Their sweet tea is good. It tastes like the homemade version of what Country Time Lemonade was modeled after. Their two dessert cases definitely serve up some tasty treats: homemade muffins, cruellers, donuts, pies, oversized brownies and gigantic coconut squares (chocolate chips, concise slivers, Oreo cookies and tons of other sweet goodies layered in). You can order 3 different types of pie slices for the same price of a half of a pie. We ordered: 1. Coconut Custard: sweet, coconut throughout the custard, with even sweeter whipped cream 2. Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie: smooth and sweet peanut butter filling with a very present flavor of Hershey's syrup. This is good and tastes like flavors i haven't enjoyed for decades. You will not find this anywhere else. 3. Cherry Pie: perfectly tart, round and plump cherries with a sweet sauce. I love that the cherries aren't over-baked and drowning in a sea of sauce in half sizes. The pie crust is thick and buttery. Order to go items by 7:30pm at the latest. Or be seated by 6:30pm latest because when they close at 8pm, customers are leaving by 7:45pm. read more

The Fort is tucked away inside a service area. It is casual dining in a cozy room that has seen thousands of travelers and truckers pass through, as well as in-the-know locals. It is solid diner food. Big portions, tasty food and fast service makes a great trifecta. Any place offering tater tots is ok in my book! They make their desserts. There are more fruit and cream pies than I can remember: plus chocolate cake and carrot cake. The servings are HUGE and mighty yummy. They also sell muffin and other baked goods. Just after we were seated, 12 hungry college students walked in. These young men ate well, left sated and happy. If you are looking for good food and a relaxed atmosphere, The Fort is your place. If you want upscale ambiance, go elsewhere. Don't go elsewhere! read more

This is a truck stop. They serve breakfast all day. My wife and I got steak and cheese and the club sandwich with hamburger. Food was 6 of 10. The service was pretty good. It's attached to a convenient store. It has a small time diner feel. A little pricey. They have awesome desserts. I recommend. read more

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The food is out of this world I got the omelet and home fries and everything was very good. My waitress was actually the owner and she was very nice and was constantly checking on us. Overall the vibe of the restaurant was good everybody was nice and the food came out quick. All and all the restaurants was great. read more

Need lunch or breakfast in this part of New Hampshire - definitely swing by this place. It is surprisingly hard to find (behind a truck filling station) but worth it. Super basic food, but very well prepared, fast service and great prices. read more

The Fort - Hash Benedict + - Diners Near Me - Lebanon, New Hampshire

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The service staff is always friendly and prompt. The food is always delicious and plentiful. Compared to other area restaurants the prices are definitely fair read more

One of the cooks was urinating with his apron still on, he just pulled it off to the side. I have also seen one of the other employees not wash his hands when returning to work. Yuck! read more

Order the Cruller French Toast and your taste buds will thank you! So amazing!! It is very sweet so I was thankful my friend was willing to split this and an omelet with me. We did have some issues with ordering the omelet and had to send it back a few times. Our final product the eggs were too 'fluffy' (aka too much water added). Our server was very friendly and helpful. read more

The Fort - Diners Near Me - Lebanon, New Hampshire

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we had a very good experience at The Fort for breakfast. We were greeted and seated immediately. Coffee was offered as soon as we sat down and it was good. The homemade corned beef hash was mostly meat and it was excellent. It came with eggs, potatoes and toast. Everything was delicious. Coffee was continuously refilled. I definitely recommend The Fort for breakfast. read more

Tasty food for a good price. Typical diner faire on the menu - just what I needed. It does say outside 24 hours, but that seems outdated.

My SO and I came in tonight - a slow Monday - for dinner after a day at DHMC. While her hamburger steak was fine, I was disappointed with the fish and chips. The haddock, although fresh, appeared to be overdone and chewy. Both our mashed potatoes were borderline cold, though the gravy was good, as were the mixed veggies and the pickled beets. The place was extremely hard to find and the interior was cold. I thought the prices were on the higher side for a diner. The server was very pleasant. Not a terrible experience but not one I'd rush to repeat either. read more

An enjoyable locally owned eatery that is frequented by locals and truckers alike. The restaurant is located inside the convenience store at Irving Gas. Don't let that deter you from eating here. We enjoyed breakfast twice. You should arrive early enough to order the muffin (grilled is best) of your choice. Bacon was crispy and plentiful. Friendly service. The formal name of the restaurant is The Fort at Exit 18. Our server was unable to tell us how the place received its name. The read more

The Fort - Background - Crispy bacon and grilled raspberry muffin; foreground - eggs, potatoes, cinnamon toast and sausage (hidden). All delicious - Diners Near Me - Lebanon, New Hampshire

We walked in on a Friday morning and the blonde haired woman, not our server, was extremely rude. She was snarky and short, both when we entered the restaurant and when seating us. She behaved this way with my group as well as another couple. The restaurant was quiet, and you could tell people were uncomfortable. We ended up walking out as we were so taken aback from the behaviour. As someone who's been in the service industry for 6 years, I was shocked. It was the type of interaction that would have someone fired on the spot if it occurred in front of management. I'm hopeful this is brought to management/owners attention. read more

Such a great diner. Had family at DHMC and stopped in for a quick meal. My eggs were delicious and the service was great. Truly a hidden gem. read more

This place doesn't pretend to be anything but what it is, a genuine truckstop with good food at good prices. If you want pretentious look elsewhere. read more

This is a good spot for breakfast/brunch in the area. It might be difficult to find at first since it is located inside the convenience store. The vibes are welcoming and there is a good variety of options on the menu. Food is what you'd expect from a diner, and though service can get a bit slow when it is busy, the staff are super friendly. read more

The Fort - Diners Near Me - Lebanon, New Hampshire

We stopped at the Fort today for lunch! I have been there many times in the past and had meals that you would not complain about . (Would have given it a strong 4 star back then ) Server's were pretty weak to start with. we ordered off the specials and got Shepard pie. I was still eating my salad. Everything was coming out piece meal, but I did notice that it was scorched, so I am trying to eat this, and it was horrible! The only thing I really ate was the salad . Garlic toast was not good . This was bad I didn't even finish my drink the server did ask if we saved room for dessert ( Half finished meal we said no she then had some speed and gave us the bill ) will never go back read more

Nice little dinner located off exit 18 on 89. Typical NH diner serving breakfast and lunch. Nothing fancy which is what you expect for a diner. I usually will grab breakfast here. Service is slow so don't be in a rush. Food is good not great. I had hash and eggs today. Not the best hash I've had. It overwhelmed the eggs so I felt I was mostly eating hash. Hash was too soft for me with no solid pieces of cornbeef. Lets just say I fed some to my 9 mo old grandson and did not even have to smash it or cut it up. All and all a decent place to stop on your travels. read more

The Fort is a truck stop diner and an Upper Valley classic. I have been here more times than I can count and I almost always have a good meal. Their menu has changed over the years but their onion rings are the best I've had anywhere. Make sure to check for their daily lunch and dinner specials. They used to offer an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner that was incredible (I haven't seen that in some time though). Their donuts are legendary in size and flavor, and the pies always look scrumptious. The service can be hit or miss but is generally reliable. They don't make them like this anymore. read more

The Wife and I had to make an extra trip up to DHMC. We got out earlier than usual and decided we would try a Restaurant we had heard of, but never been to. The Fort is not easy to find if you're not looking for it. It is a 24/7 Truck Stop Diner, and not a stand alone restaurant. We went with the expectations of a generic breakfast/brunch and a good cup of coffee. The diner is good sized, but not huge. They have Pandemic accommodations in place, and seem to be adhering to the cleanliness guidelines of the town and state. Currently the hours of operation, seating space, and menu are limited due to the Pandemic. The limited menu will be in our picture section. My wife ordered Fried Pickles and a Deep Fried Chicken Sandwich with fries. My order started off normal, Boneless Buffalo Wings, the Cruller French Toast (Homemade Donuts cut in half and served as French Toast), and a Monte Cristo with fries. At this point, I asked if they had ever thought of making the Monte Cristo with the Cruller French Toast. The Waitress thought it sounded great and asked if I wanted to see if the chef would do it. I said sure and away she went. Within an acceptable period of time the Appetizers were served. The Pickles were exceptional. The generous portion were well seasoned and the breading stayed on the pickles unlike the usual oily flaking of other fried pickles we have had in the past. The Boneless Buffalo Wings were 4 huge chicken fingers well cooked and covered in a generic Wing Sauce. The entrees again arrived in a timely manner, and we were both awed by the portions. My Wife did not enjoy her Deep Fried Chicken Sandwich. She thought it was overcooked and would try something else next time. Honestly if it was horrible, there would not be a next time. I however found my meal wonderful. The Cruller were huge and flavorful. Had I known how big they were I would have only order them and not the sandwich. Thankfully I did. The Chef did make the Monte Cristo with the Cruller and it was fan-F'n-tastic. I would highly recommend this sandwich modification if you ever eat at the Fort. read more

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Great service. Food has no love. Bland. Nothing anyone that likes a good breakfast place may recommend. read more

We stopped here for dinner and sad to say it did not live up to expectation of previous diners. Maybe the breakfast is worth it but dinner was terrible. I did get the prime rib which was very fatty & chewy. The mashed potatoes were from a box with gravy dumped all over them. The green beans were from a can and tasted like they came from a burnt pot. My husband got chicken fried steak and nothing to write home about there either. We paid $40 for this terrible meal. Will never ever go back read more

Stopped at The Fort for brunch on the way home from VT. The wait time was reasonable considering they were packed (we opted for counter service). Staff was very friendly but our meals were delayed- some others clearly made it out of the kitchen ahead of us. Food was warm but acceptable. My omelette was super stuffed and my wife's lumberjack special was done just right. Plenty of food! Typically your local dinner and we'll be back again! read more

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Food options were surprising for a country diner attached to a gas station. And freshly made! And OMG the donuts & pies. We stumbled upon The Fort while looking for coffee. We are urban dwellers and did not expect to find something this good. I had the Greek Eggs Benedict, and hubby had their homemade chicken tenders - 3 were such a big portion; he could not have eaten 5. We were pleasingly stuffed. Great country diner! Enjoy if you get to this area. read more

This review is a culmination of multiple visits and experiences over the past 9 months. Most importantly, the food is very standard for an American diner. You won't find anything past salt and pepper for seasoning and it relies heavily on salt, meat, and fat to produce flavor. Service is only expected if you are white. Unfortunately, like most places in the Upper Valley, if you are not white I do not recommend this place. And if you aren't white you know exactly what I mean: - customers and wait staff oddly staring, but avert their gaze when you look back - wait staff minimizing interaction with you, but making conversation with other tables - wait staff will only explain specials to other parties and not yours - wait staff unconsciously servicing other tables before yours It's not the worst place to eat in the world, but my experience was not very pleasant read more

This is a diner essentially inside of a gas station. I came here to get takeout after work. I bought chicken tenders with fries and paid $17 for them, which I think was pricey. The chicken tenders were not particularly delicious. I should have gone to KFC and gotten the same thing for half the price. read more

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Yummy. Great service considering how many people they had to serve who had come up for the eclipse!

I finally got to try THE FORT! The Fort is a 24 hr truckstop/ diner. Located right off I-89 in Lebanon, NH, dennis and I were passing through early and decided to stop and check it out. The inside is clean and small, has the foux log interior. The menu consists of burgers, sandwiches, breakfast, and a dinner menu. I had the homemade corned beef hash with poached eggs on top. Dennis had 3 huge berry pancakes which where loaded with tonz of blue and cranberries. Real Maple syrup found here for an extra $1.95. They also have a bakery inside the Fort, and they have a big display case filled with creme pies and muffins and such. We will have to come back to try some of that!! read more

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Standard truck driver diner with solid breakfast food. Great pastries. Just delightful service.

when I came in, the waitress put me on a booth and asked if I wanted anything to drink ordered mine. When i ordered my breakfast, it came, and then I never saw the waitress again until the check came. My eggs and English muffins were under cooked. Won't be back!!! read more

Craving comfort food? This is your place! Where the locals eat, food is good, portions huge. A no frills diner with a horseshoe counter, this place is a hidden gem. I ordered the breakfast taco (without meat) to go. A warm tortilla stuffed with eggs, cheese, breakfast potatoes, sour cream and salsa. Could only eat half of it, but it was delicious! They have daily specials, fresh baked goods (fresh pie, cookies, brownies, crullers and HUGE Whoopi pies). Dinner specials looked amazing. Wow - this place is a must try if you're hungry and in Lebanon! read more

My family and I go to The Fort about once every couple months, and we absolutely love the food, and most of the time the service is great as well! The reason I'm only leaving 3 stars is because of one waitress, Kim, who effectively ruins our experience every time we have her. She is inattentive, and rude when we try to get her attention about anything that she's forgotten. We've even had to get another waitresses attention on multiple occasions to get previously ordered drinks and maple syrup for my 3 year old. Im not sure if it's because we're not regulars, or what the problem is, but when we've watched her interactions with other patrons, she does not act the same as she does with us. read more

Fantastic local spot hidden away inside a gas station convenience store. Classic diner food with huge portions, and it all tastes amazing! Service is friendly and you aren't going to get basic comfort food done any better than this. I had fried chicken breast over biscuits, with gravy, and it was phenomenal. Highly recommend. read more

What are the portion sizes?! For breakfast, I had an $8.95 omelette with peppers, onions, and cheese, with sides of home fries and 2x toast, and I must've gotten like 5 eggs or something. The food was fine, but also nothing to write home about. The service was wonderful though, and I won't hesitate to return if I'm in the area and need a filling meal. The restaurant masquerades as a trucker stop, and you can indeed top up your car after topping up your stomach! read more

Horrible service. I ordered to go over the phone. They told me 20mins. I waited 30 mins inside to be told they're just starting it. "10 more mins". Absolutely infuriating. Hour+ for a breakfast sandwich I never even got. read more

Generous portions of "meh" food at an affordable price. Great if you just want to stuff yourself with decent food on a budget, but maybe head elsewhere if you actually want to have a good meal. Menu: Typical diner fare. You'll find soups, salads, burgers, pastas, and the usual entrees such as pot roast. They showcase baked goods up front next to the register. They have weekend specials and senior specials as well so check out the board for those. Food: I ordered the chef's salad which arrived as a large bowl of mixed greens, garden vegetables, roast beef, ham, turkey, cheese, and hardboiled eggs. Filling but nothing special. I also was really craving pie so I ordered a slice of coconut creme. While the crust was decent, the filling was disappointingly dense and chewy instead of smooth and creamy. Didn't bother finishing it. Service: Came with an attitude. Ambiance: It's a diner/truck stop. read more

The Fort - Diners Near Me - Lebanon, New Hampshire

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Service was good food was not the greatest. Wife ordered Turkey dinner which was heavy on the sage. I ordered a medium beacon cheeseburger and got a very well done plain cheeses burger read more

Went in sat down we ordered my frend wanted ice and a straw for her orange juice ten minutes later she got it table of 7 came in she was all over that. That table ate before us and another table also did 40 minutes into this we get our food ice cold and no silver ware that's when I got up and left I paid for it !!but could not stand somebody that rude to me it caused a large problem for the ride home but I will not be disrespect hated my day thanks to that place read more

Have eaten here several times for breakfast/lunch/dinner and has always been consistent. Nothing amazing but, solid. Staff has occasionally been brusque but, considering the past year, they get a pass. Basic local diner read more