Patriot Steakhouse promises fine dining, fun in Lebanon

Owners promise a laid-back atmosphere, live jazz, trivia


How to go

What: The Patriot Steakhouse & Tavern

Where: 1525 Genntown Drive, Lebanon, Just north of the intersection of U.S. 42 and the Ohio 48 bypass in the Wal-Mart Shopping Complex.

Hours: Opens at 4 p.m. Monday to Friday; opens at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday

More Info: (513) 228-2500 or patriotsteakhouse.com

LEBANON — Even though Greg and Meri-Ellyn Carter take food — especially the food they make — very seriously, the couple promises a laid back dining experience at the Patriot Steakhouse, their newly opened restaurant.

How laid back?

The Carters haven’t even bothered to establish a closing time.

“We want this to be a place where people can just come and relax,” Greg Carter said. “We don’t want our customers to feel like they have to be out the door at a certain time.”

The Carters recently opened the Patriot Steakhouse & Tavern at 1525 Genntown Road in the Walmart Shopping Complex at the intersection of Ohio 48 bypass and U.S. 42. The restaurant serves upscale American cuisine such as steaks, fresh catch seafood, and chicken. One speciality is a seared primed rib that is specially grilled on a flat iron stove.

The Carters have lived in Lebanon for the past 12 years and chose to open a steakhouse because they were frustrated at the lack of dining choices in Lebanon.

“There just wasn’t a place like this in town,” Meri-Ellyn said. “A place where you could get a quality sit-down meal, especially after 9 p.m.”

Greg Carter has worked in the restaurant business for several years, and has managed several chains, including Longhorn Steakhouse and Shell Seafood, as well as his own private restaurants. A life-long lover of food and cooking, Carter entered the restaurant business as a waiter while in college and found he could never leave the business for very long.

Besides food, Carter promises to offer the most affordable bar in town. The restaurant will feature live jazz from the local group Finale on Fridays and Saturday and have a live trivia contest every Wednesday.

The patriotic theme of the restaurant was inspired by the Carters son, who was in the Marine Corps. To show their support for active military, the Patriot Steakhouse offers a free meal to any soldier about to deploy or just returning home from service and will work with families to host a farewell and/or welcome back party with discounted meals.

“It’s the least we can do for the people who defend out country,” Greg Carter said.

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