Fox and Hound Tavern

The good news: Lovingly restored historical inn with courtyard garden dining and bar.
The bad news: Everything else!
This place opened to great reviews with fabulous food and service easily comparable to the Tewksbury Inn. Since then, the food (not the price) has declined dramatically. Food is mediocre, often served under temp or overcooked, and according to employees I’ve known, frozen/​pre-​packaged foods are used regularly (Caesar salad or Tavern pizza for instance). Service is inconsistent, and the drinks are micro-​measured and overpriced. Management is dollar driven and unconcerned.
Living in Lebanon, we and our neighbors continue to try the place at semi-​regular intervals only to regret wasting our money. We want so much to like it for it’s proximity, warm, rustic atmosphere and secluded patio, but are always disappointed… so sad!

Nice cozy, rustic restaurant and bar in a lovely little town. First I have to say that the food at Fox & Hound is excellent and you pay for it, but the value is there. There are three eating areas that all offer a nice dining experience. The dining room is a more formal setting that is quiet and upscale. The bar side is also upscale but with exposed brick walls, fire place and a large bar. They also have a few high top tables I like. In the back is a smaller bar with fewer tables that gives a more intimate feel. The service is excellent. During the summer they open the outdoor dining area that is surrounded by nice foliage and the tables are covered with attractive umbrellas. AND they have one of the very few outdoor bars in Hunterdon County, The outdoor dining/​bar is also done very well in an upscale design sort of like a city garden. We’ll sometimes just have drinks and a few of their excellent appetizers at the outdoor bar enjoying conversations with other patrons and the relaxing scenery. One of the best restaurants in Hunterdon County and surrounding area.

Very disappointed order two appetizers and both weren’t worth anything near the $ 11 price. Fried calamari was tough and the coating was soggy — same applies to the fish and chips. Won’t be going back.

Great food, service and atmosphere. Our server Kathryn was a doll. We had the clam chowder which was amazing and the veggie burger. Looking forward to going back soon when the patio opens. I should have tried this place sooner!

Nice cozy, rustic restaurant and bar in a lovely little town. The food is pretty good but prices are little high.

Very nice venue with a nice drink selection and a good menu. Food was above average and the drinks were good, though changing the price because something is served on the rocks or neat is a silly way to try and make a few extra bucks. Had it not been for this I would have given this place five stars. The Ambiance, especially in the winter, is very warn and welcoming. Love the fireplaces and Christmas trees.

My mother and I dined at the Tavern last night and the food and service was exceptional. I live not far from there and have been to every ‘quaint and charming ’ restaurant you can find in a 50 mile radius. The tavern is hands down, one of the best. My mother who is a bit of a ‘food snob” and friends with the food editor of the NYT, commented that with every visit, her oven-​roasted chicken is by far, the best she has EVER had. Can’t say I ever hear her say that with any consistency. With all due respect to Susan who commented on 10.26 about the veggie burger, I am a vegetarian and the ‘red or under-​cooked’ comment is explained by a main ingredient of beets. What I appreciate about Unilocal is what appears to be, the honest review of guests, so I do refer to it frequently. With that said, I am tempered with those who are vehemently contradictory to the general consensus. In my experience, I find these are simply impossible people to please no matter where they go. Definitely visit the Tavern, the summer patio is beautiful, the fall decorations are warming, and the holiday decorations feel like home!

Was here when they first opened and loved it with the previous owners — Jeff & Tom. Returned a few Friday’s ago. Bar was backed, and atmosphere still very warm & cozy. Food however, eh… Husband had a steak ordered mid rare and as usual in our restaurant experiences lately it came rare. Friend ordered the pork chop and she raved. I ordered the house made veggie burger and was taken aback when I cut it in half and it looked like raw, red meat. Kind of gross visually and hard to get past when you are a vegetarian. For the life of me I cannot figure out with the ingredients listed on the menu how they managed to make it look like a raw hamburger. Did not taste too good either. Will def go back to the bar, but dining room not so much.

The chef, Brian Spagnola, should know the difference between a strip steak and a ribeye. But it appears not only does he not know the difference, but when his kitchen tried to serve the strip to my husband, when our wait staff took it back, they tried to tell us that it was a rib eye where they had removed the bone — all of this lies! Our own server said «I could tell it was a strip steak». Then when we asked to see the chef, we were told that the chef doesn’t come to the table. I wouldn’t either. How he calls himself an executive chef tells me he has yet to learn accountability. He will never be great until he does. Call me anytime Brian, to discuss.

Let me say I was here for a group dinner while I was at Merck a few year back, the food was good, and the service very good. We were upstairs in the private room. Never a problem.
But, my wife and I stopped by on a Saturday afternoon this summer and had a couple appetizers, after reading reviews on Unilocal that people said were great. Some of them were from NY, so I figured they had been around and seen a few places, and were to be trusted. Wow, never trust that again.
Grilled Tavern Pizza? Appeared to be a small frozen pizza they put some scorch marks on the bottom of on the grill. That didn’t enhance the taste, or change the fact it was a frozen pizza. No way that was made in house. Perfectly round, perfectly smooth — that was made in a factory. This was the only thing my wife even touched.
Pork Tacos? It was a small pile of pulled pork sitting on a couple chips, with a scattering of unidentifiable scorched items around it. REALLY gross. I ate the pulled pork, avoided the rest.
Sauteed Calamari? This was truly gross. It was a pile of something that didn’t look like squid, in the center of a small pond of balsamic olive oil. Not edible. That one I sent back. I paid the bill, but wrote ‘really awful food’ on the bill. ;-)
BTW, the waitress was very nice. She had what I thought was a British accent, and I asked her about it. Turns out she was an Aussie. I don’t think she appreciated me suggesting she was British. Sorry about that. Okay, that one was my fault. ;-)

Made a put stop here on our way to PA and it was great. Accommodated our large party with kids with no problem. Great Victorian ambience.

Read all the review before we went… so I could manage my own expectations. I was not disappointed.
We started with fried calamari — tasty but not my favorite. Not a fan of corn meal coating and was a little salt, however our server gave me a marinara sauce — I have a food allergy to cyan pepper. Entrees — Sea Bass — Delicious but odd temp — veggies and potatoes were considerable cooler then steaming hot Sea Bass — but still very good, the second entrée — Scallops — very good but the «under sauce» was odd — not quiet our palate. Wine selections not your standard selections — not your typical bar pour and I like that. Service was outstanding!
Only complaint and personal pet peeve — I HATE plate sharing charges. I love to sample menus…

Food was very good and atmosphere and service is great– had the Scallops and Clam Chowder– must have ! The Fried Chicken is also very moist. Would definitely be back!

Mr. F doesn’t understand one bad review for this place. He has been dining here for 7 years now, and he has never had a bad experience. Food & service are always amazing. Scallops and filet mignon are always consistent and delicious. Mr. F wishes that they would bring back the shrimp & grits appetizer. It was so delicious.
Prices are on the high side, but quality is the tops. Drinks are probably priced too high. Also, it would be great if the used Open Table for reservations.
Give Fox & Hound a try. You will not be disappointed.

Great Monday night the worlds best Calm Chowder OMG Yummy add the Fried Chicken Mac cheese yummy

Nice place, outside area is also nice in the summer. Food was ok but the service we received was very slow. You’ll do ok if u don’t drink. Ordered margaritas, they came in glasses that looked like toys, they were the smallest I’ve ever seen. Ordered wine and there could not have been more than an inch and a half… I milked it all through dinner since it was house wine an was 10 bucks an inch. We will not go back for those reasons there are a lot of places that are a much better value.

Rated this place a couple of months ago. Has good food and drinks and nice indoor atmosphere. Patio is ok, they could use more comfortable chairs outside. The menu is expensive for the area, but like I mentioned before the food is good.

I had the veggie burger; it was tasty and, because of the beet inside, even red like steak tartare, nice touch. the interior is very stylish. I sat outside because of the excellent weather. The outside decoration could be better — the metal tables look a bit cheap compared to the interior.

We love eating at the fox and hound. The food Is always so good (most amazing Brussels sprouts and wonderful fresh fish). You can also always find upscale comfort food on the menu. The atmosphere is very inviting. A local favorite.

Although it’s located in a very old building, the food and service and good. Although the menu selection is small, the portions are abundant and the food has the home cook flavor to.