Frequently Asked Questions

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RootsTable is scheduled to open in July 28, 2026, on the second floor of Ferleman Gallery in downtown Cumberland. We have reached our funding goals, but because restaurants don't generally do well when they open over the holidays and winter, we're waiting until early spring.

RootsTable is a modern American restaurant rooted in Appalachia and oriented toward what comes next. We cook from tradition, not nostalgia—using regional ingredients and time-honored techniques to create contemporary, restrained dishes. Our food reflects stewardship, seasonality, and transformation, shaped by a living landscape and modern producers. This is not revival. It is continuation.

Thomas and Rebecca Ferleman are the visionaries behind the Ferleman Gallery, Gallery Stage, and RootsTable, where they integrate the arts, live music, and refined dining to strengthen cultural and economic vitality in Western Maryland. Their leadership is recognized for creating sustainable ventures that elevate the region’s profile and attract new opportunities.

We pride ourselves on being self-funded. In fact, neither Ferleman Gallery, Gallery Stage, or RootSTable have never taken any grants, gifts, or donations from any outside source.

Our menu is location-based — a fresh, contemporary take on traditional regional flavors. Expect seasonal produce, farm raised meats, and artisanal products, with a balance of rustic comfort and refined creativity.

Yes. The menu will evolve with the seasons to reflect what’s freshest from our farm partners, ensuring every dish is timely, flavorful, and sustainable.

As seasons will allow, we plan to source fresh ingredients from regional farms. We are building partnerships with farms and producers throughout Western Maryland and the surrounding areas, including fruit orchards, family farms, creameries, breweries, and wineries.

Yes. We are committed to offering thoughtful options for different dietary needs while keeping flavor and authenticity at the center.

We honors our regional heritage through disciplined stewardship of the land and community. We aspire to source locally from regenerative farmers and foragers, practice whole-animal butchery and traditional preservation techniques to sustain a zero-waste kitchen, and minimize the use of plastics through closed-loop systems. Our commitment is simple: protect the land, strengthen the local economy, and redefine Appalachian cuisine through responsible, regenerative practices.

RootsTable will welcome guests into a setting that echoes the gallery’s contemporary-authentic design. On the second floor, dedicated four-top tables and casual lounge seating are surrounded by immersive art exhibits, blending comfort with creativity. Guests can expect warm hospitality, thoughtfully curated décor, a cocktail bar featuring regional craft beverages, and menus that follow the rhythm of the seasons.

Yes. Our space is designed to accommodate private gatherings, receptions, and special dinners. Working alongside Ferleman Gallery and Gallery Stage, we can create custom experiences that unite food, art, and music.

All staff and management live and work locally; we are in-and-of the community creating steady markets for regional farmers and producers. By welcoming both neighbors and visitors, RootsTable will enrich cultural life while strengthening the region’s economy. Beyond the table, our reforestation work has restored thousands of trees on former coal mines in Georges Creek, and through the Right Brain Foundation we support artists and cultural organizations with resources to thrive. Together, these efforts advance sustainability, creativity, and community well-being, ensuring RootsTable stands as both a restaurant and a catalyst for positive change.

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