Throughout a pleasant weekend keep in Warren County, we had dinner at one in every of it’s most iconic eating places: The Golden Lamb in downtown Lebanon.
The Golden Lamb is distinguished because the oldest frequently working enterprise in Ohio! It was first began as a small public home in 1803 earlier than the brick lodge and stagecoach cease was inbuilt 1816. Over the next many years, the third and fourth flooring had been added to create the attractive construction that’s been a well-recognized website to diners and vacationers for years.
The decor remembers the constructing’s historical past, with some authentic items nonetheless in place. There’s a bench within the entrance room (pictured on the left right here). Because the enterprise has modified fingers, the contracts state that it’s to not be moved, and it by no means has! Stagecoach drivers used to sleep there after they would cease on the lodge. There’s additionally an outdated report participant that hasn’t moved, and a pair pistols that – the story goes – had been left by a Union and a Accomplice officer who met there throughout the Civil Struggle. They promised to return as pals after the conflict, however the pistols went unclaimed and nonetheless dangle up entrance.
The Golden Lamb’s eating rooms fill a lot of the decrease flooring, and embody trendy touches that also match properly with the historic constructing.
The Black Horse Tavern is situated on the rear of the house, and affords a contemporary tavern expertise. It’s open seating and doesn’t take reservations.
The restaurant encompasses a full bar with cocktails, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic choices.
We sampled a pair cocktails, just like the Honey Mead Previous Style with mead, 4 Roses bourbon, orange bitters, and a neighborhood honey syrup, and the JB’s Gin Buck with The Botanist Gin, ginger beer, and contemporary lemon juice.
It’s exhausting to argue with a basket of cheese curds and a aspect of ranch! These had been very properly achieved – crispy and gooey with out being too heavy.
The Cheese & Crackers unfold encompasses a good choice of cheeses, peppadew peppers, pecans, fruit, honeycomb, and different bites.
Kudos to the creamy smoked salmon dip as effectively!
They’re recognized, too, for his or her aspect of rolls served with apple butter and common butter. We had a number of point out these earlier than we visited!
Along with salads, soups, burgers, and sandwiches, their signature entrees signify a spectrum of consolation meals, from shepherd’s pie to roast turkey dinners, seared scallops to braised brief ribs, NY strip steaks to lamb loin.
That is the couscous, mushroom, and vegetable “cobbler.” It’s served piping scorching in a dish, with a backside layer of pearl couscous topped with mushrooms, roasted garlic, inexperienced beans, sun-dried tomato, spinach, and goat cheese cream, with a buttery biscuit crumble and a few roast rooster. It’s hearty and scrumptious.
However The Golden Lamb’s most well-known dish is their Ohio fried rooster dinner. I knew effectively earlier than we arrived that I’d be ordering it. I selected the half rooster; it comes with seasonal greens, a scoop of mashed potatoes, and gravy.
When a spot banks its fame on single dish, the strain’s on to ship. And I’ll say it: The Golden Lamb delivers. That is precisely what you need in fried rooster: deliciously tender and juicy meat, a crispy and well-seasoned breading. I devoured the plate and will have eaten extra.
After you’re achieved savoring your fried rooster, you’re welcome to stroll round all three flooring of the constructing. It’s an energetic lodge, so the visitor rooms shall be off-limits, nevertheless it’s additionally partly a residing museum.
You’ll spy quite a lot of occasion areas on the higher flooring. And the decor nods to the constructing’s historical past and its many well-known guests, together with a group of U.S. presidents over the centuries.
One show case options quite a lot of toys, sculptures, and different lamb-centric items.
And a few of the rooms are closed off like little museums, with tales about previous residents. And, sure, the lodge is supposedly haunted.
The Golden Lamb is open Monday via Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, midday to eight p.m. Reservations are beneficial for dinner!
The Golden Lamb Restaurant & Resort
27 S. Broadway St.
Lebanon, OH 45036
(513) 932-5065
Net: goldenlamb.com
FB: The Golden Lamb
IG: @thegoldenlamb
