The Golden Lamb: Ohio’s Oldest and Most Haunted Restaurant

Throughout Europe, a pub that has been open since 1803 is pretty common. In Ohio, a restaurant opened during the Jefferson presidency is rare — a class of one consisting of the Golden Lamb in historic Lebanon, Ohio.

A Legacy of Legends: 200 Years of Ohio History

Ohio’s oldest continually operated business, located just north of Cincinnati, the Golden Lamb is a place where you can enjoy classic American food in a historic setting.  

And this place is definitely packed with history along with some really good food. Visitors include 12 U.S. Presidents, such as John Quincy Adams, Ulysses S. Grant, and George W. Bush. Looking for literary icons? Golden Lamb has hosted literature’s giants throughout the decades, including Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and Harriet Beecher Stowe. These walls have also seen their share of American legends too, including fellow Ohio native Neil Armstrong and Annie Oakley just to name a few. 

These iconic names all made their way to 27 South Broadway in downtown Lebanon, Ohio — perhaps with their famous fried chicken on their mind. While we can’t be 100% certain that’s what drew them in, they certainly wouldn’t have been disappointed.

From Scratch: The Golden Lamb Dining Experience

Each meal at the Golden Lamb starts off with rolls and apple butter. These rolls are one of the many highlights of the meal. 

The menu features some unique and high quality appetizers. If you are daring enough, you might try their famous sauerkraut balls. This starter features four balls filled with a secret blend of spices and pork roasted with savory kraut, and served with both cocktail sauce and their house mustard. 

We were not quite that adventurous, sticking with a traditional dish. The deviled eggs feature local, fresh eggs, Sky Haven ham, and a pickled red onion. They were good, though we found ourselves jealous of the table next door.

Our neighbors at lunch the day we visited chose the cheese and cracker tray. This appetizer featured Cotswold, Danish Bleu cheese, whipped Capriole Chevre, fresh fruit, Peppadews, candied pecans, local honeycomb and house-made garlic crackers. We’ll be sure to give that a try the next time. 

Signature Flavors: Pan-Fried Chicken & Roast Turkey

The Golden Lamb features classic American dishes. Each meal is made from scratch, providing your taste buds a delightful farm-to-table menu experience. Their two signature dishes are the pan-fried chicken and the traditional roast turkey dinner.

The fried chicken is lightly fried and not too greasy. Accompanying the chicken is mashed potatoes, skillet gravy, and fresh seasonal vegetables. What set this entree apart was the skillet gravy, which was spectacular. While they have won numerous awards for their chicken, the stand out for us was the traditional turkey dinner.

Roast turkey and dressing at the Golden Lamb is what you wish every Thanksgiving meal tasted like. The turkey is brined, slow-roasted, and cooked to perfection. Their sage sausage and apple dressing is as good as it gets. To give you that late November feeling, this meal is accompanied with mashed potatoes and two-day turkey gravy, and seasonal vegetables. 

If you’re not wanting to eat traditional American food, the Golden Lamb still has plenty of options for you. The menu has a wide variety of options, from Faroe Island Salmon, traditional shepherd’s pie, braised lamb shank, braised short ribs, tenderloin and more. 

If you’re looking for burgers and sandwiches, they have a section on the menu for that too. Golden Lamb has something for everyone. They control their supply chain for many of their ingredients, through their Golden Lamb Farm which they established in 2018. Many of the other ingredients are regionally sourced from the rich farmland that surround this historic location.

Shame on us for running out of room and not having dessert. It was a rookie mistake from us filling up on the bread and apple butter, appetizer and meal. Next time, we will dive into their famous dessert menu. The Golden Lamb is known for their Sister Lizzie’s Shaker sugar pie covered in caramel sauce. The bourbon bread pudding dessert also sounds delightful. 

We went to the Golden Lamb for lunch. The atmosphere is very relaxed and casual. If you prefer an even more relaxed atmosphere, you can check out the Black Horse Tavern. Golden Lamb takes reservations, which is very nice for particularly for dinner hours. Black Horse Tavern has open seating. 

Haunted History: The Ghosts of Sarah Stubbs & Clement Vallandingham

The delicious food should be enough to get you to visit the Golden Lamb as you travel through southwest Ohio. But if that is not enough, it is worth mentioning that the Golden Lamb is the most haunted restaurant in Ohio. Their two most famous ghosts are Sarah Stubbs and Clement Vallandigham.

Stubbs’ most frequently is found on the fourth floor of the historic inn in what is referred to as Sarah’s room. Sarah was the niece of Isaac Stubbs, who ran the inn for many years. Sarah passed away at the inn at a young age, which explains why guests often comment on seeing a young girl in a white dress in the building.

Vallandigham was an attorney that met his demise at the Golden Lamb in 1871. The attorney tragically lost his life while trying to prove that an alleged murder victim had committed suicide. He was trying to demonstrate this to the jury, using a pistol he thought was unloaded. He was wrong. 

The Golden Lamb is open seven days a week, Monday through Saturday 11:30am to 9pm, and Sunday 12pm to 8pm. After your meal, be sure to check out their gift shop. 

Whether you are a history buff, a foodie, or a paranormal investigator, The Golden Lamb is a must-visit. As the oldest restaurant in Ohio, it offers a rare glimpse into the past that few historic inns in Ohio can match. It’s the perfect Cincinnati day trip for those looking to swap the city bustle for a side of spirits—both the drinkable and the ghostly kind. While there are many haunted restaurants in Ohio, none carry the weight of history and the flavor of a world-class turkey dinner quite like this Lebanon legend. Be sure to add it to your next Ohio ghost tour itinerary!