Barnstead Country Store

Good breakfast sandwiches, but not a place to shop for anything unless you really need it and can’t make the trip elsewhere. The only game in town and the prices reflect it.

I guess most of the Red Sox fans will enjoy me getting upset but I need to have my say. Its funny how New Hampshire people tend to really hate people from Boston, or Mass Asses, as they are called, yet love the «Boston» Red Sox. But its not that love Im talking about its the hate for the Yankees. My Mother was born in Boston but my Dad when his family came over from the UK started a business in New Jersey. I spent most of my life visiting New England and not hating the Red Sox but becoming a Yankee fan. Now I’m retired and moved to New Hampshire to be near my Moms family over a dozen years ago. I love it up here but find it hard to reason with the hate shown by locals towards the Yankees and anyone that is a fan of them. That brings me to my point. As I went into the Barnstead Country store to buy some fuel for my mower, there on the counter were «Yankees Suck» stickers for sale. I told the girl at the register I was offended by them and to please tell the owner this Yankee fan would take his money elsewhere from now on. She said this is New England and its not the Yankee people that suck but the team. So I give this place less than a star and will not spend my money again because of this foolish, childish, owner.

We don’t have a lot in town, but I appreciate Barnstead Country store above the few other options. Everyone is friendly, the food is decent overall, although sometimes the fried chicken sits under the lights too long. The store offers a good variety of drinks (is the only place in town with Diet Orange Soda, which I appreciate), grocery items when you don’t want to drive all the way to Alton, and great snacks. I typically get my gas here.

The Barnstead Country Store is a convenient place to stop for a quick bite, located along NH Route 28 between Alton and Epsom.
This store offers Mobil gasoline and the basic grocery items (including the Shur Fine label), frozen foods, snacks, candy, newspapers, magazines, cold beverages, baked goods, and 13 kinds of fresh brewed Green Mountain Coffee (self serve carafes). There’s a full service food/​deli counter & grill offering breakfast items, sandwiches, pizza, special comfort dishes, sides, and Roadies Chicken meals (pay for your food at the front register). Grocery items are on the pricey side (the closest supermarket is 9 miles away) and the prepared foods prices are reasonable. The layout inside this old fashioned general store with old wood floors is pretty cramped and packed. There’s also a self serve table seating area in the side room which also has bagged ice and DVD rentals.
On the way out to the eastern Lakes Region, I stoppped here for breakfast takeout. They already had cheese pizza slices in the glass case, which looked dry. I ordered a breakfast sandwich (with egg & sausage on a roll), hash browns, and coffee. However, the breakfast sandwich was just okay since there was a normal sized round fried egg with a grilled sausage patty and a whole lotta soft chewy roll (too much salty bread ratio to the proteins between the bun). The hash brown patty was deep fried crispy, almost identical to a McDonald’s hash brown. The cup of Green Mountain Coffee (original) was very hot and brewed just right.
The parking in front is a bit tight and there’s also parking along Maple Street in front of the store.