Fox and Hound Tavern, Lebanon NJ:
A Restaurant Review

Restaurant Review

The Fox and Hound Tavern at the Lebanon Hotel (formerly the Cokesbury Inn) is an historic restaurant dating back to the 1800's when it served as a stagecoach Inn.

The tavern is owned and operated by George Owen and George Donzella with Executive Chef Doug Gaines running the kitchen.

Chef Gaines comes with impressive credentials having served as personal chef to celebrities such as The Beach Boys, the late B.B. King, and Jay Leno, and having recently served as Executive Chef at The Bayou in Easton, PA.
Chef Gaines features a well-executed menu of American Fusion ---- with Italian and Asian influences, with a limited selection of sandwiches, salads, and entrees.

Both the quality and prices of the menu items are both higher than other nearby NJ taverns.

Having said that, the Fox and Hound Tavern is more than a rustic neighborhood bar, it's a destination restaurant with a historic past that has been beautifully renovated for dining patrons to enjoy in a warm, cozy setting.

The front exterior of the historic building remains from the original hotel and has a circa 1850's section that connects the two older structures. The interior is rustic, upscale with the original brick and beam walls, fireplaces, restored wide-plank pumpkin pine floors, a copper-top bar, and a courtyard.

There are three dining areas with each providing an attractive setting for dining, and each having a working fireplace.
The main dining room is the more formal of the three, quieter and upscale. The bar area is also upscale with a large Chicago-style bar, hi-top tables, banquette, and fireplace surrounded by wainscoting and antiqued tin.
The main dining room on the first-floor features two fireplaces surrounded by rich red damask-papered walls, creamy alabaster moldings and restored wide plank pumpkin pine floors. Second floor intimate dining and conference rooms each have fireplaces.

During the warmer months there is outdoor dining on the attractive garden patio, and on the front porch. The garden patio dining area is surrounded by trees, shrubs, and flowers, and tables covered with attractive umbrellas.

The Fox and Hound Tavern is open five days /week. Closed on Mondays & Tuesday. Sunday: 5 pm - 9 pm, Wednesday - Thursday: 5 pm - 10 pm, Friday: 12 pm - 10 pm, & Saturday; 1 pm - 10 pm.

Open on holidays for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
The ambiance, especially during the winter holiday season is very warm and welcoming with fireplaces and holiday decorations.

(Updated November 2023)