The Fort Cafe

Let me say this up front: We went for pizza at the Fort Cafe in Forty Fort and left disappointed.

Not because the pizza was bad. Quite the contrary. The 8-cut, Old Forge-style pizza was very tasty, with a baked crust topped with a balanced amount of tangy sauce, chunks of tomato, and cheese. It certainly wasn’t because of the staff. Our server was extremely friendly and delightful, making us feel right at home within 10 seconds with her glowing, warm smile.

The reason for our dismay stems from the fact that we didn’t ignore our hankering for pizza and missed out on what appeared to be some amazing dishes.

We arrived fairly late on a Friday evening at around 7:40, and were perplexed that – although the restaurant closes at 9 p.m. – we may have missed being served a meal because we arrived after 7:15. Really? All we wanted was to sit, eat some pizza, and leave. However, we completely misjudged our expectations.

We were fortunate enough to get a table anyway, and after looking at the menu, realized that Fort Cafe is no mere pizza parlor with an attached bar. Selections such as chicken or veal saltimbocca, scallops, shrimp vodka, baked gnocchi, and other dishes looked exquisitely enticing. Combine that with some wine, and one has an enjoyable experience.

Chef Jeff Piazza, who was once the co-owner of fine dining restaurant Gelpiaz in Kingston (now Kevin’s) and the nearby Whitehouse Diner, is at the helm of this tiny, unassuming eatery. He brings with him years of experience, and I’m very much looking forward to returning. Our table afforded me the advantage of peeking into the kitchen, where I was able to see him toss food in a pan over large flames. After glancing at what was eventually being brought out to patrons, I was envious. The meals looked very appealing, and here I was slumming it with only pizza.

From what I’ve been told, since the menu consistently changes, checking Facebook for daily posts is recommended. Although the dining room is simple and small, with the tables being very closely arranged, one does not feel cramped. The small venue makes for a comfortable, friendly neighborhood vibe.

So check Facebook, make a reservation, and eat delicious pizza only if you must. But I feel I must warn you that you’ll likely miss out on a very splendid dining opportunity if you do.

Absolutely incredible! Everything from the food to the service was amazing. We got the seafood fettuccine, chicken franchaise and hot honey garlic wings. We enjoyed everything. The atmosphere here is local and cozy. They have a bar area in the front and dining in the back. This place is BYOB but they do have some beer selections on tap and by the bottle. We didn’t see any specific parking so we street parked. The staff was very friendly and quick. Good food portions and they served us bread and salads. FYI we heard their menu changes frequently! We plan to try their pizza next.

Excellent meal and service….as usual! Eggplant and long hot peppers were fantastic, risotto was perfect! Byob, 22 year old Barolo!😎

I had the fish dinner with French fries, Cole slaw, and salad. Delicious. I took t he leftovers home and and had 2 more meals. I would only order the new England clam chowder as a 1 quart take out, and not a bowl. $ 13.00 / quart. $10.00/ bowl. But it was good.

We opted to eat at home for Valentine’s Day and the The Fort did NOT disappoint! We both enjoyed our dinners! The pasta was cooked PERFECTLY & so was the seafood in it! The Marsala was spot on. 😋
Thanks again!!!

Wonderful quaint restaurant. Food portions are great had the clams as an appetizer. Main course s a double cut prime pork chop,cooked to perfection. This place is a must go to.

Great experience. The food was spectacular. I had the lasagna and it was soooo good. Homemade lasagna pasta, almost paper thin and the blush sauce was delicious. Others in our party had the lamb chops and raved about them. Servers were very attentive and pleasant. Will definitely return and recommend to all.

Filet medallions Oscar with asparagus and lobster newburg- Excellent!

The Fort Cafe has consistently great food in a friendly atmosphere!

I'm not sure what's happened, but the dough recipe has changed the last year or so, and I very much enjoy the new flavor and texture. It's still one of the best values in pizza in the area. Definitely give this place a try.

Went here with group of 8, Friday after Thanksgiving.
The service was excellent. The large pizza was indeed large and we all thought it was very good.
We each ordered a dinner entrée from this evening's limited menu. I had Tuscan cappeletti -very tasty! My wife liked her chicken piccata. All portions were generous.
We'll certainly be back. One note:
The bar offers draft beers, but BYOB if you want wine or mixed drinks.

What an absolute pleasure going to The Fort Cafe. Wow-wee, beautiful place, beautiful staff, and beautiful food. We did not have reservations for our first time stopping in, and the staff made sure they could accommodate us. Amazing service from start to finish. Haddock francaise was to die for. Mouth watering so tasty. The chicken parm with homemade fettuccine noodles was so good. Homemade apple pie that was truly delicious. The staff took such great care of us. We felt like family. Thank you for such a great evening. Food was fantastic and the service was out of this world.

Got invited to come here by the owner of Troy Syreet coffee and got introduced to the owner Jeff. We had amazing apps and got the crusted prime pork chop that was the most wonderful cut of pork I've ever had. The waitresses were of an epic personalities. Thought I was in a 5star restaurant.

Delicious! The menu is always updated and changing according to the season or fresh ingredients available to them. The owner, chefs, and staff are very accommodating! Pizza is great too!

We were treated to dinner from my brother last weekend and it was absolutely phenomenal. On Saturday we had an out of town relative coming up to visit and I decided to take our family to Fort Cafe for dinner. It is fresh, delicious and filling. No one walks away hungry from Fort Cafe. Please dont change a thing. Great job Jeff and crew!

An anchor in North Eastern PA (NEPA) for decades. Consistently reliable pizza. Extremely thin crust, at times. Great cheese and the sauce is not too zesty. Takeout can be up to a 45 min wait, on weekends. Not a large dining room.
This may be the first pizza place in Wyoming Valley. Go experience Fort Cafe pizza in Forty Fort, PA. 9.5 out of 10

The thin pizza here is one of the best around, it's always cooked well and the crust does not overpower the sauce (which is excellent and tends to lean towards the sweeter side, but not so sweet that you'd call it sweet sauce). The cheese is also great. The suitcase is the best deal and square is my preferred shape of pizza. The restaurant inside is nice and the wait staff is always friendly and family run. It's small on the inside and carries a feeling of a pizza shop. The bar is small but a good spot to watch a quick game, or have a beer while you wait for pizza.

I took a couple of Philly boys to The Fort. Sat at the bar and ordered apps and the Prime Pork. Let’s say these guys will be making the 2 hour drive back. Great conversation with Jeff Piazza, the waitresses and Amy Frenchko. Always a great time here.

We tried three different pizzas. All were perfect with the best being the chicken wing. Plenty of leftovers and will definitely be back soon.

Great food and the staff is amazing!
It's nice seeing people do what they love and love what they do. If you've never been here you must give it a go, catering too.