Tuscan Inn

 I have been to the Tuscan Inn several times with my parents and every
 time the food was fantastic.  The Tuscan Inn is located in Hampton
 Township near North Park. Every time I have driven by it, it is packed.
 Reservations are definately a good idea.  The last time I went there I
 had a steak, I think it was a sicilian steak, it was excellent, done the
 way I like it.  The Tuscan Inn is a quaint restaurant with a romantic
 atmosphere.  I suggest you try it.

 Kristine

 A friend and I finally made it to Century Inn this weekend (first we toured
 Nemacolin Castle and the Wayside Inn in Brownsville). I'd had pretty high
 expectations for this place, as I'd heard primarily good things about it.

 In case you've never heard of it, Century Inn is a working inn and has been
 for something like 200 years. It's on the National Pike (the road from
 Cumberland, MD to Wheeling, WV). According to the '95-96 City Guide, their
 specialty is "country american dishes served in a colonial setting." Since
 my friend and I were doing the touristy thing, we were afraid we might be
 too casually dressed, but it turned out that wasn't a problem.

 The first thing they brought us was a basket of rolls. I have no idea if
 the wheat rolls were any good, because my friend and I quickly grabbed their
 version of a cinnamon roll--a petite roll that wasn't overly gooey. The
 bread was served with cranberry sauce and whipped butter.

 The only disappointing note to the meal was the appetizer. I ordered something
 called the "Portabello Insurrection." Apparently my mushroom rebelled before
 it hit the seasoning table :-). I found myself wishing for some other hint of
 flavor (rosemary would have been nice). Fortunately, the salad was
 impressive--a
 very fresh selection of assorted greens.

 The entrees were presented very nicely. We both chose the herbed piped potatoes
 over baked, and the veggies that day were baby carrots that still had a bit of
 bite to them. My friend ordered the stuffed porkchop and I ordered the
 seafood "treasure chest"--a collection of scallops, crab (yes, virginia, real
 crab), and shrimp in a sherry basil cream sauce served in a pastry shell.

 We had started the evening eyeing the dessert menu (I never got to find out
 what "syllabub" is), but couldn't even comprehend it after dinner!

 Our meal was about $60 w/o tip (including drinks). As a reference point, I'd
 put Century Inn in a group with Sewickley Hotel, Tuscan Inn, Casbah, and
 Southwest Bistro in terms of food quality and value. All in all, a very
 pleasant dinner. Well worth spending an afternoon of shopping in Scenery Hill
 and/or sightseeing in Brownsville, then doing dinner afterwards.

 They were comfortably crowded on a Saturday evening, but I'm not sure that
 I really needed reservations. However, I was lucky to have had my checkbook
 on me, because they do *not* take credit cards.

 Century Inn is right on Rt 40 in the middle of Scenery Hill. Best bet for
 getting there is either taking Rt 79 down past Washington and heading east
 on Rt 40, or taking Rt 19S from the South Hills. Either way, it's around
 45-60 minutes from town. Note that the Inn also has several guest rooms and
 a very nice gazebo and gardens off the back. Good place to consider for a
 small wedding or other special event.

 Beth Mazur           "Whatever you fear, whatever you hide, whatever
 MAYA Design Group     you carry deep inside...there's something more
 Pittsburgh, PA        than this."
 [email removed]                                     -- October Project
 www.maya.com/Local/mazur