Sometimes, it’s the happy accidents that surprise and
delight. On a recent road trip to
Western Maryland for a getaway weekend, the Four State Food Critic and his
companions were looking for a decent meal and literally stumbled onto Puccini Restaurant, just outside of
Cumberland, MD.
(Image Credit
– pucciniretaurant.com)
The restaurant occupies the historic Hinkle House (built in
1818) on the east side of Cumberland, right off of Route 68 (for those of you
who know the area, it is right next to the former “Mason’s Barn” drive-in
restaurant). Don’t be fooled by outward
appearances. Yes, the location was once
home to the old Colonial Manor Motor Lodge, but those days are long gone. The inside has been redone to support a
comfortable and inviting restaurant and bar area with lots of exposed brick and
even outdoor patio seating.
The menu covers a lot of territory - offering salads, soups,
sandwiches and wraps, as well as steak, pasta, and seafood entrees, but the featured attraction on the menu that
caught our eye was the wood fired brick oven and its assortment of
handmade pizzas.
Our party first sampled the fried zucchini served with a tangy
dipping sauce from the long list of appetizers. The tasty strips are
lightly battered and a great way to start any meal. We then dove into some wood fired pizzas,
sampling a classic Margherita and also a Bianca. The Margherita was covered in fresh
mozzarella, tomato slices, and basil.
Simple - - classic - - and delicious.
The crust was perfectly done and had that unmistakable smoky flavor of
wood fired preparation. The Bianca was a
“white” pizza, featuring a cream sauce base and toppings of spinach, artichoke
hearts, red peppers, and mushrooms. It
was also tasty and fresh.
The menu also offers many healthy choice, gluten free, and
“spicier” selections (all are clearly marked) as well as several dishes deemed
“customer favorites”. Puccini also
features a full bar with several selections of beer on tap and a nice sized wine
list (by the glass and by the bottle). Although
no on in our party had any room, desserts are created by “Jennifer’s Desserts”,
a well-known local bakery. Service in
the dining room was prompt and courteous.
If you’re traveling though Western Maryland or even staying
nearby and taking in the local attractions (such as Rocky Gap State Park), the Four
State Food Critic recommends that you seek out Puccini Restaurant and give them
a visit. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.
The Four Star Food Critic Review
(Each category has a possible “best out of 5” rating)
Atmosphere: 3.5
Food: 3.5
Price: $$-$$$
Service: 3.5
Overall: 3.5
Puccini
Restaurant is open daily from 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM. Reservations are welcomed and suggested on
the weekends.
Location:
12901 Ali
Ghan Road Northeast
Cumberland,
MD 21502
(301) 777-7822
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