The steaks here share a building with a 1779 Revolutionary War battle flag. That is a serious dinner companion.
The meats come out of an on-site smokehouse fed with hickory, sassafras, and apple woods.
The brick building went up in 1837. It once served travelers along a canal.
Today you can pick from seven period-furnished dining rooms, including one with a big stone fireplace.
I like how this place mixes a house-cut prime strip with real American history. Down in the cellar, the stone-and-brick walls were chiseled by hand.
Some of the old stories involve presidents. Others involve a ghost.
I believe that’s a lot of character for one small Ohio town. So why does a country steakhouse need a smokehouse, a lodging wing, and a rumored resident spirit?
Let’s find out.
Presidents, Masons, And A Canal Boom Built This Place
Back in 1837, Will Rhodes built this tavern near the Sandy and Beaver Canal. Business boomed while the canal kept travelers coming through town.
The building is considered one of the finest examples of Federal period architecture in the area. That’s a big compliment for a place that now serves steak.
Things changed once the canal faded. The inn closed in the late 1800s and spent years as a private home.
Then came a comeback. Peter Johnson bought the building at auction in 1988, and the Spread Eagle Tavern & Inn reopened on October 2, 1990, after a two-year restoration.
The famous-guest list is impressive. Folklore says Abraham Lincoln stopped here, and a room bears his name.
William McKinley and James Garfield reportedly stayed as well. Not a bad trio for a small Ohio town.
There’s even a fraternal footnote. The Sandy Valley Order of Free and Accepted Masons organized on the third floor in 1863.
So when you sit down to eat, you’re dining inside a living timeline. Few steakhouses can say that with a straight face.
Head Downstairs For The Most Atmospheric Seat In The House
Below the main floors sits Gaver’s Rathskeller. Its stone-and-brick walls were chiseled by hand, and they look every bit their age.
Rathskeller is an old German word for a cellar restaurant. The name fits this space perfectly.
The cellar carries some weighty history too. Early Hanoverton was known as a safe haven for people escaping slavery, and the tavern is said to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Remnants of an underground passage are part of that story. The cellar itself is believed to have hidden people seeking freedom.
Eating a steak in a room tied to that history is a moving thought. It adds real meaning to an ordinary dinner out.
The lower level now serves as a dining area. It’s a far cry from the bright, open dining rooms most steakhouses offer.
If this is the room you want, mention it when you reserve. Popular spaces fill fast, especially around holidays.
Take a moment to look at the walls before your food arrives. Those hand-cut stones did a lot of work long before you showed up hungry.
The Strip Steak Gets Top Billing For Good Reason
Steak lovers, meet your reason to gas up the car. Spread Eagle Tavern & Inn serves a house-cut strip steak made from Certified Angus Beef Brand prime beef.
That prime label matters more than it sounds. Only a small slice of beef earns that top grade, so you’re starting with serious quality before the grill even warms up.
House-cut means the kitchen trims the steak itself. That’s a nice detail in a world full of pre-portioned everything.
The beef lineup doesn’t stop at one cut either. The menu offers a wide selection of beef dishes, so steak fans have room to explore.
Here’s my practical tip for first-timers. Look at the full dinner menu before you arrive, because choosing on the spot can feel like picking a favorite child.
Dinner runs most evenings, with longer hours on Friday and Saturday. Sunday dinner starts in the afternoon, which is handy if you’d rather drive home before dark.
Reservations are a smart move for a place this popular. A long country drive feels much better when a table is waiting at the end of it.
Three Kinds Of Wood Smoke Are Doing The Heavy Lifting
Hickory, sassafras, and apple walk into a smokehouse. No punchline here, just a very good reason to be hungry.
The kitchen runs its own on-site smokehouse. That’s not something you find at every restaurant, especially one built into a nineteenth-century tavern.
Each wood brings its own personality to the party. Hickory is the bold one that most barbecue fans know well.
Apple wood leans milder and a bit sweet. Sassafras is the wild card, and it’s not a wood many kitchens bother to use at all.
Smoking meat in-house takes patience and planning. The payoff is flavor that a quick sear simply can’t copy.
The tavern takes real pride in these smoked meats. That tells you the smokehouse isn’t a gimmick sitting out back for photos.
So when you scan the menu, keep an eye out for anything that mentions smoked preparations. Those dishes show off a skill the kitchen clearly cares about.
Pairing a smoked item with a steak at the table is a fun way to sample both sides of the kitchen. Sharing is caring, and also strategy.
Not A Steak Person? The Menu Has Your Back
Every group has one. That friend who says they’ll just look at the menu and see what happens.
Good news for that friend. The menu goes well past beef, with seafood, pheasant, and rack of Ohio lamb all in the mix.
Pheasant isn’t exactly a regular on most small-town menus. Seeing it here adds a touch of old-fashioned country dining.
The kitchen also takes a trip south with some Louisiana-inspired dishes. One features snapper with a sweet-potato crust, and another brings shrimp dumplings to the table.
Starters cover plenty of ground too. Homemade soups and appetizers make the opening act worth showing up early for.
Then comes dessert, which deserves its own little spotlight. Apple crisp with vanilla ice cream sounds like the exact right ending after a country drive.
My advice is simple. Let one person at the table go bold and order something unusual, like the pheasant.
You’ll get a taste of something new without risking your own entree. Everybody wins, especially the person holding the extra fork.
Seven Dining Rooms Means You Get To Pick Your Mood
Cozy fireplace night or flag-and-history night? At Spread Eagle Tavern & Inn, that’s an actual choice you get to make.
The tavern offers seven period-furnished dining rooms. Each one sets a slightly different tone for your meal.
The Barn Room leans rustic. A stone fireplace anchors the space, which feels just right on a chilly Ohio evening.
The Patriot’s Room brings the drama. A 1779 Revolutionary War battle flag hangs there, and it’s hard to think of a more memorable dinner backdrop.
Five smaller rooms round things out. They work well for quieter dinners or private parties.
Some rooms carry the names of famous figures. William McKinley and Taft both get a nod, which suits a building packed with presidential lore.
Planning a birthday or anniversary? Ask about the smaller rooms when you book.
A more private setting can turn a nice dinner into a real occasion. And yes, you can absolutely tell everyone you dined with a president, at least in name.
Skip The Drive Home And Sleep Upstairs Instead
Here’s a plan that solves the long-drive problem. Eat a big dinner, then just walk upstairs to bed.
Spread Eagle Tavern & Inn has five guest rooms on the second and third floors. Each one is furnished and decorated in its own style.
Modern comforts come along for the ride. Rooms include free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, flat-screen TVs with cable, and irons with ironing boards.
Fireplaces add an old-fashioned touch. That’s a cozy bonus after a cold drive through the countryside.
Morning gets even better. Inn guests receive a complimentary full breakfast, served daily from 8:00 to 9:30.
That timing matters, so set an alarm. Sleeping through a free breakfast is the kind of mistake you only make once.
Remember that this is a nearly two-century-old building. Expect stairs and a layout with plenty of character.
Book the room and dinner together if you can. That way your whole evening is set, from the first bite of steak to the last sip of morning coffee.
Rumor Has It One Guest Never Checked Out
Every old inn deserves a good story. This one comes with a name attached.
Olevina Nicholas was the daughter of one of the original owners. Legend says she still lingers at the inn.
Her story is tied to the Jefferson room. Over the years, guests have reported unusual sensations and noises there.
Is it a spirit or just an old building settling? That’s for you to decide.
Either way, the tale fits right in with the setting. Creaky floors and antique furniture make a great backdrop for a bit of spooky curiosity.
Ghost fans might enjoy asking about the Jefferson room when booking. Skeptics can simply enjoy the history and a solid night of sleep.
I think the story adds charm rather than chills. It’s a reminder that real families lived full lives inside these brick walls.
Plenty of hotels offer a pillow menu. Very few offer a legend with a first and last name, plus a room you can actually request in Ohio.
Make A Day Of It Around Guilford Lake
A great steak tastes even better after a little fresh air. Luckily, the countryside around Hanoverton delivers.
You’ll find the tavern at 10150 Plymouth St, Hanoverton, OH 44423. It sits just off US Route 30, which makes the trip fairly easy.
Guilford Lake State Park is about a 10-minute drive away. It’s a nice spot for a lakeside stroll before dinner.
History buffs have options too. The Lisbon Historical Society is under 10 miles from the inn.
Timing your visit takes a little planning. Lunch runs most days, while dinner hours shift a bit depending on the day of the week.
Sunday dinner starts early in the afternoon. That’s perfect for a weekend loop through eastern Ohio farm country.
Here’s a simple game plan. Spend the afternoon at the lake, then roll into town for an early steak dinner.
Stay the night if you want the full experience at Spread Eagle Tavern & Inn. Either way, the drive home will feel a lot shorter with a happy stomach.
