There are so many dining options nowadays that it is hard to know where to go for any meal. Whether you’re craving a delicious American breakfast, a hearty Italian dinner, or something light, this list contains the best restaurants in Lebanon for you to choose from.
The restaurants were selected for their popularity and ranked based on their average stars from reviews. Each location had an average of four stars or higher on its reviews and can be easily found via Google Maps. The descriptions below tell you a little about the food, the atmosphere, and what you can expect.
When you’re looking for a unique and satisfying dining experience, look no further than this list. With this ranked listing of the best restaurants in Lebanon, you’re sure to find a restaurant that hits the spot. From American cuisine to Thai, to Mexican, to Italian, whether you’re in the mood for breakfast or dinner, simple or complex, this list has the restaurant for you.
1. Mae Ploy’s Thai Restaurant
$$ | (513) 409-5600 | WEBSITE
A unique location featuring an old bank vault, Mae Ploy’s Thai restaurant is a veteran and woman-owned business in the heart of Lebanon. This popular location is frequently packed to capacity.
According to patrons, even then, the service is friendly and attentive, and the food is always worth the wait.
You’re bound to find something delicious with dishes like Phad Thai, Phad See Ew, Chicken Satay Lettuce wraps, and various curry dishes. The owner is known for personalized attention to guests. People driving from two and a half hours away make sure to stop while in town for the delicious food and excellent service.
2. The Golden Lamb Restaurant and Hotel
$$$ | (513) 932-5065 | WEBSITE
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This historic location is the oldest continually operating business in Ohio. Over 215 years old, the Golden Lamb has served many presidents, celebrities, and historical figures.
Today, the staff offers friendly and knowledgeable service, and the restaurant provides beautifully plated dishes. From prime rib and trout to Lamb Shank and Shephard Pie, these delicious entrees tempt your appetite. While the atmosphere takes the forefront of this location, it is well supported by its food and service.
3. Greenhouse Café
$$ | (513) 934-7248 | WEBSITE
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Greenhouse Café is known for its fresh, healthy food and cute and cozy environment. With a farm-to-table approach, they pride themselves on their fresh and local ingredients. The menu offers quinoa bowls with chicken, Chicken Apple Bree sandwiches, tofu Rueben, and more.
Aside from the local drinks and foods, they also have unique offerings like Kombucha on tap! This trendy location is excellent for the ethically minded who want to support sustainable business approaches.
4. Black Horse Tavern
$$$ | (513) 932-5065 | WEBSITE
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The Black Horse Tavern is attached to the Golden Lamb but has its unique experience. While the menus are similar—offering high-end, delicious entrees and beautifully plated appetizers—the Tavern also offers Burger and Beer nights. New burgers will be featured regularly.
This open-seating dining experience is as rich in history as the rest of the hotel but with a slightly relaxed environment. Many people meet here for drinks before dinner or dine on the beautiful patio for an outdoor experience.
Regardless of why you’re here, you’re sure to be satisfied. And you won’t have to sacrifice taste, affordability, or service! Greenhouse Café has the whole package.
5. Breakfast Club Cafe
$$ | (513) 932-0210 | WEBSITE
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This recently remodeled diner is a trendy spot for a great breakfast in Lebanon. Traditional bacon, eggs, biscuits, gravy, and pancakes are offered, but so are breakfast enchiladas!
With excellent service, outdoor seating, and a delicious menu, Breakfast Club café is a great option for either breakfast or lunch. This Café prides itself on home-made quality with fresh ingredients and the coffee they roast. A family-owned business, they are proud to have been operating since 1993.
6. Toki Japanese Steak
$$ | (513) 409-5571 | WEBSITE
This traditional Japanese hibachi restaurant is a family favorite, offering grill-side and table seating. From the excitement of trying to catch shrimp in your mouth to the delicious entrees prepared immediately before your eyes, the experience is a memory-maker.
With the large portions of the delicious meals, you will be satisfied and might even have leftovers. The restaurant also offers takeout so you can order your chicken hibachi for a home dinner.
7. Acapulco Mexican Restaurant
$$ | (513) 228-0200 | WEBSITE
Offering dine-in, takeout, and delivery, Acapulco Mexican Restaurant is a great option for locals and visitors alike. The dining area offers a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The menu features traditional dishes such as fajitas, burritos, and tacos with plenty of variations to suit your preferences. Patrons gush over the portion sizes. It’s always more than enough. The staff is known for their hard work and friendliness. Come in for good food, stay for the great atmosphere and the drinks.
8. Broadway Barrel House
$$ | (513) 934-7799 | WEBSITE
Offering a large open patio for seating, Broadway Barrel House is a great dining destination. It features drafts, cocktails, and ‘pub grub.’ The appetizers offered are unique but warm and filling, and the entrees feature everything from burgers and wraps to ribs, salads, and more.
This veteran-owned business prides itself on its great food and its wide selection of beer. Broadway Barrel House has the screens if you’re looking for a place in town to watch some sports. The service is known for being fast and friendly, and you can’t ask for anything else on a game day.
9. El Picante
$$ | (513) 228-0694 | WEBSITE
El Picante in Lebanon is one of four locations for this restaurant local to Ohio. The restaurant is known locally for its good food, great service, and excellent drinks. Everything gets rave reviews from Google reviewers, from the molcajete to fajitas, the tacos, and the chille rejenos.
They offer takeout, they will sing happy birthday, and they know how to bring the refills. El Picante gets the staples right—the chips and salsa, the margaritas, the atmosphere, and the fun. Add the reasonable pricing, making El Picante one of the go-to dinner destinations for locals.
10. Doc’s Place
$$ | (513) 228-0485 | WEBSITE
This gastropub is a great local destination for good food and entertainment. From trivia nights to live music and screens to watch sports, you’re sure to find something to entertain you while you eat.
The décor inside features a warm-toned wood bar and seats, paying tribute to its history since the building is over 160 years old. The patio outside is perfect for nights with great weather. While bar food is available and delicious, Doc’s Place also offers a variety of full entre options such as salads, sandwiches, steaks, chicken alfredo, and more.
11. Cherry Street Cafe
$ | (513) 836-3262 | WEBSITE
With breakfast, sandwiches, and more, Cherry Street Café offers American Cuisine at affordable prices. The café also offers outdoor seating and is conveniently located near a bike path.
Biscuits and gravy are the stars of breakfast, with the generous helpings of sausage. The lunch menu offers delicious sandwiches such as roast beef, turkey club, or salads. This homemade-style café will satisfy your craving for a home-cooked breakfast or lunch.
12. The Village Parlor
$ | (513) 932-6918 | WEBSITE
Though known for its delicious ice cream, The Village Parlor also offers an enticing menu for lunch and dinner. Featuring classic American favorites like chili-cheese fries, chicken tenders, tuna melt sandwiches, and more, the menu has plenty for the family to choose from.
The atmosphere has hints of retro Americana, suggesting the soda-pop shops and parlors of old. After visiting downtown Lebanon, it’s a popular location for visitors and locals to stop in to eat or cool off with ice cream.
13. Villaggio’s Italian Eatery
$$ | (513) 932-5355 | WEBSITE
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Located in the plaza in downtown Lebanon, this beautiful location offers delicious Italian classics. The ambiance is warm and welcoming, with a brick interior and a patio for outdoor dining.
Pizza, pasta, salads, sandwiches, and a kid’s menu offer families options to fit every appetite. For the adults at the table, there is an extensive drink menu with a variety of beer and wine. Large portions, good food, and great drinks ensure you’ll leave full and satisfied.
Lebanon features a vibrant restaurant scene with many options. From American food at local cafes like the Breakfast Club or Street Café to delicious Thai food like Mae Ploy to classic Mexican cuisine at Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and El Picante, this town has the option you are looking for. And with this list of the best restaurants in Lebanon, you can’t go wrong.
Hayden has been a digital director for years. He has five years of experience editing and writing about food, restaurant, and recipe review content. At Birch Restaurant, he’s in charge of scouting, showing up unannounced in different restaurants, and writing a thorough food guide!
I’d put the Breakfast Club number 1. Great service, atmosphere is fantastic and the food it tops!! N