Did you ever ride the train at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio? Now it mostly serves as transportation to the water park. But you’re over 30 you probably remember a time when the train was a ride and featured a story of the area. You might also remember a reference to the Golden Lamb Inn in Lebanon.
History of the Golden Lamb Inn
The Golden Lamb, established in 1903, is the longest continuously operating business in the state of Ohio. And in its 218 year history it has hosted 12 United States presidents, several of whom enjoyed overnight accommodations. Other notable guests include Neil Armstrong, Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), Harriet Beecher Stowe, Charles Dickens, Annie Oakley, Barbara Bush, and others.
As the story goes, the initial proprietor Joseph Seaman hung a sign outside of his business with the image of a golden lamb. Many travelers at the time could not read. Having a picture on the sign allowed travelers to easily identify his business.
Having heard the story of the Golden Lamb, I was anxious to visit and just recently crossed the site off of my Ohio bucket list. My history loving daughter, Marina, made the visit with me and the restaurant did not disappoint.
Sunday Afternoon at the Golden Lamb Inn
It was a Sunday afternoon and just after the usual lunch crowd. Patrons were socially distanced and the staff wore masks. They were respectful of COVID protocols.
There are two distinct dining areas on the property. The first one is located toward the front of the building, to the right as you walk in the main entrance. It is named the Dickens Dining Room. Charles Dickens visited the property in the mid 1800s.
We dined in the the area referred to as the Black Horse Tavern. It can be accessed from the front of the building by passing through the hotel lobby or from a second entrance on the side of the building. The decor, combined with the crackling fire, provided a comfortable and pleasing backdrop for our meal.
The Food
Our waiter was knowledgeable of the menu and recommended a few choices from the starter menu. We opted to split a basket of cheese curds. They were served with ranch. They were just enough to pick at while we awaited our meal, without being so much that we ruined our appetites.
Though the menu featured a number of mouth watering entrees, we elected to have sandwiches and save room to split a dessert. Marina opted for the Tavern Cheeseburger and added it to her list of top five cheeseburgers. She’s somewhat of a burger fan, so I trust her ranking.
After oscillating back and forth between the Egg Salad Sandwich and the Prime Rib Dip, I finally settled on the latter. The final push came from realizing that the dip came with tavern fries while the egg salad was served with chips. Both sounded good, but the tavern fries had my attention.
I enjoyed the sandwich and found the fried onions on top provided it a little something extra. And while I initially thought the serving of fries was a little light, it turned out to be adequate when paired with such a large sandwich.
Though we were feeling full, we soldiered on and ordered dessert. I was leaning toward the Bourbon Bread Pudding, but we decided to save it for another time. Marina was feeling a pull toward chocolate and we landed on the Chocolate Opera Cream Cake. It was amazing but oh so rich. I would not advise taking on the entire thing solo, better to split it with a friend.
More than just a Restaurant
After dinner we visited both the washroom and gift shop where the golden lamb theme persisted. The gift shop had a number of unique items and an entire section devoted to Ohio themed gifts.
I would highly recommend the Golden Lamb Inn if you are in the area. If you are making a road trip out of the experience you should consider staying in the Inn.
When Marina visited a few years ago, she stayed in the McKinley room. As someone who is deeply immersed in US history, she was thrilled to sleep in a room formerly visited by a president.
There are, she said, a number of rooms at the inn named after famous former guests. She plans to visit again and has plans to stay in the Grant room.
If you enjoy Ohio and US history, or even just a good meal, I highly recommend a visit to the Golden Lamb Inn. It’s located just 30 minutes from downtown Cincinnati, or just a short jaunt off I-71 if you’re travelling. At just about an hour and 15 minutes, the trip was a bit longer from Columbus, but it was totally worth it.
Finding Ohio Together
If you’ve had a memorable visit to the Golden Lamb Inn or would like to recommend an Ohio restaurant, share it in the comments. We’re always looking for great new Ohio adventures. And if you’re looking for more great Ohio dining, check out our restaurant reviews. We’re adding more all the time, so check back often.
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