A Chef’s Tasting Menu Worth the Drive to Ohio’s Hocking Hills
What Is a Chef’s Tasting Menu?
A chef’s tasting menu hands the evening over to the kitchen. Instead of choosing one starter and one entrée, you settle in for a series of smaller courses, each one showing a different side of what the chef can do. It’s slower than a typical dinner out, and that’s the point. In the Hocking Hills of southeast Ohio, about an hour from Columbus, Glenlaurel turns the format into a Saturday night ritual with a distinctly Scottish accent.
The Signature Chef’s Tasting Dinner at Glenlaurel
Every Saturday, the dining rooms of Glenlaurel’s Manor House serve the Signature Chef’s Tasting Dinner, a seven-course meal that runs roughly two hours. The menu is made from scratch and follows the seasons, so the details change from week to week. Expect courses such as an amuse-bouche, a house-made soup, a seasonal salad, a sorbet to reset the palate, the entrées, and a dessert made in-house.
The constant is the rack of lamb. It anchors the menu every Saturday and is what sets the tasting dinner apart from the inn’s weeknight dinners. Diners who would rather skip lamb can choose another protein, and vegetarian options are always available. The kitchen accommodates the top five allergens, so mention any dietary needs when you reserve.
How the Evening Unfolds
Pub Social: The night begins between 5:00 and 6:30 p.m. in the Old Course Pub, or on the Grand Deck in warm weather, with cheese, fruit, and a glass of wine, bourbon, or Scotch.
The call to dinner: The Laird’s Call to Dinner signals it’s time to head in. On some Saturdays a kilted bagpiper leads the way, and a short verse of poetry is read before seating.
Dinner and beyond: Seating begins at 6:30 p.m. Wine and spirits are available for purchase, and the chef typically stops by the dining room near the end of the night.
Dressing up is part of the fun. Glenlaurel asks for a sport coat or suit for men and a dress, skirt and blouse, or pantsuit for women, and kilts are encouraged any night of the week. Jeans, shorts, t-shirts, and tennis shoes stay in the room.
Saturday vs. the Rest of the Week
- Sunday to Thursday: A multi-course dinner with a different featured entrée each night.
- Friday: A choice between a casual three-course dinner and the full multi-course dinner.
- Saturday: The seven-course Signature Chef’s Tasting Dinner with rack of lamb.
Current pricing and policies are listed on the inn’s gourmet dinner page.
Glenlaurel, A Scottish Inn & Cottages
The tasting dinner is the centerpiece of many stays at this adults-only inn on 140 acres in Rockbridge, Ohio. It’s easy to build a whole weekend around it: a morning hike on the property’s private trails, an afternoon at one of the region’s state parks, then Pub Social and seven courses at Thistle & Stone. Afterward, heading back to a cabin with a stone fireplace and private hot tub makes for an easy end to the night.
It’s a natural fit for anniversaries, proposals, and Valentine’s weekends. Several of the inn’s getaway packages include the Saturday tasting dinner, and the Anniversary package pairs a multi-course dinner on the first night with the tasting dinner on the second. For more ways to plan a couples trip here, see our guides to a Hocking Hills romantic getaway and a Valentine’s Day getaway in Ohio, or read up on where to stay in Hocking Hills.
Not staying overnight? Outside guests can book Saturday dinner when space allows, with at least 24 hours’ notice. Seating is limited, and overnight guests get the first chance at tables, so reserving 72 hours or more ahead is the safer bet.
Chef’s Tasting Menu FAQ
What is a chef’s tasting menu?
A set series of smaller courses chosen by the kitchen, designed to show off a range of dishes in a single meal.
How many courses is Glenlaurel’s tasting dinner?
Seven, served on Saturdays, with rack of lamb featured every week. Plan on about two hours.
Is there a dress code?
Yes. It starts at 5 p.m. Sport coats or suits for men and dresses, skirts and blouses, or pantsuits for women are suggested, and kilts are encouraged.
Can you dine at Glenlaurel without staying overnight?
Yes. Outside guests can book Saturday dinner, subject to availability, with at least 24 hours’ notice.
Are there vegetarian options?
Yes. Vegetarian options are always available.
Is wine included?
No, but wine and spirits are available for purchase.
Book Your Saturday at Glenlaurel
Seven courses, a Scottish welcome, and a cabin just steps away make for a memorable night. Book your stay at Glenlaurel and reserve your Saturday table.