Our Story

Since 1803, the Golden Lamb has been a gathering place. Community was built in these very rooms, and we pride ourselves on delighting guests with exceptional service and a memorable culinary experience in an atmosphere found nowhere else.

To enhance this unique experience, we ask that you respect the following guidelines:

Since 1803, we’ve been a gathering place for our community and guests.

When Jonas Seaman traveled from New Jersey to Ohio and spent $4 for a license to operate a “house of Public Entertainment” on Broadway in the newly-founded village of Lebanon, he could never have imagined that more than 220 years later his establishment would still be offering food and lodging for travelers.

Seaman’s establishment got its name from the sign hung outside the business – an image of a golden lamb, used because many early travelers could not read.

Throughout its more than 220-year history, the Golden Lamb has hosted, entertained and provided lodging for many notable guests, including 12 U.S. presidents; political figures Barbara Bush, Mitt Romney, and Henry Clay; American legend Neil Armstrong; literary greats Charles Dickens, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Alex Haley, James Whitcomb Riley, Louis Bromfield and Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain); movie star Charles Laughton; and pop singer Kesha.

Today, the Golden Lamb — Ohio’s longest continually operating business — is a vibrant restaurant and boutique hotel infused with a spirit of hospitality and history. Our rich heritage is displayed throughout our building, as well as in our fourth-floor museum rooms, which showcase the history of our innkeepers and Shaker culture.

We invite you to make your history part of our history.

Attire standards:

Contact Information

27 S. Broadway, Lebanon, Ohio 45036

(513) 932-5065

We find the following attire too casual for our dining rooms:

• Flip flops
• Gym attire, including but not limited to team athletic attire
• Hats
• Tank tops

Smart casual attire is recommended. Formal dress is welcome for special occasions.

Dining guidelines:

Large groups

Most of the tables in our main dining rooms can only accommodate up to four people. To further enhance the guest experience, we have private dining rooms available for large parties. If separate reservations are made with the intent to create a larger group, we will not be able to seat and serve everyone together. 

Note, we reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee for large groups that lower guest counts within 24 hours.

Allergies

Please notify us of any allergies you may have, as the ingredients listed on our menus are abbreviated.

Device use

In honoring a rich tradition of togetherness, we invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy your meal without the distractions of phones or other electronic devices.

Please take cell phone conversations out of seated areas, set devices on silent, and limit the use of laptops or tablets. 

Respect for employees and guests

We are dedicated to being a gathering place for our community and guests. We have a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment or discrimination of any kind and work to actively ensure that the Golden Lamb is an establishment where guests and staff of all backgrounds are welcomed with warmth and respect.