The gist: This buzzy neighborhood brasserie, housed in a storied mid-century modern space,tweaks classic French and American fare with contemporary Maine flair, and delivers one of the warmest hospitality games in town.The food: It’s tempting to put together a meal of starters when choices include smoked trout mousse with house-made potato chips, icy seafood plateaus, deviled eggs with smoked bacon, and pickled crudité. They’re all terrific with cocktails like the Emergency Margarita (Reposado tequila, Grand Marnier, Aperol, grapefruit, chipotle salt) or expertly prepared Negroni. But don’t miss out on larger plate offerings like Parisian gnocchi, spicy shrimp & grits with fried pickled okra, meaty pork chops with a buttery potato and cabbage mash, or one of Portland’s most beloved burgers.

The casual, retro vibe at this James Beard Award–nominated restaurant about 2 miles north of the Old Port makes it worth the journey, as do chef Courtney Loreg's superb offerings—all of them spotlighting locally sourced ingredients from land and sea. There's something for everyone on the menu, including steak tartare, sumptuous deviled eggs, croque madames and monsieurs, homemade pâtés and charcuterie, and killer brisket burgers that are to die for. Meanwhile, the craft cocktail program out of the gleaming zinc bar is worth a visit in its own right.

In Woodford's lovingly restored mid-century modern space, Douglas fir accents and orb lighting draw your eye to a multi-peaked ceiling that recalls a vintage Howard Johnson’s motel. A long zinc bar suited for drinking and dining is the heart of the restaurant, its central mirror reflecting the buzzy dining room and the traffic lights of the bustling five-point intersection outside. Tuck into a comfy booth and look out onto the illuminated "Hopeful" sign that sits atop Speedwell Projects, the art gallery across the street.

A James Beard-nominated and family-friendly restaurant, the casual Woodford F&B is known for its comfort, hospitality, and classic New England fare. Burgers, perfectly spiced skinny fries, mussels, and heaps of oysters pair beautifully with their thoughtfully crafted whisky list. You'll find bottles of Old Overholt Bonded rye ($10), Russell's Reserve 13 year old ($25), George Dickel Sour Mash 9 year old ($20), Knob Creek 9 year old ($12), and Weller Full Proof ($20/2 oz.), as well as a private barrel Elijah Craig 8 year old ($25).

Woodford Food & Beverage: This neighborhood brassiere hosts brunch on Sundays from 10 AM – 2:30 PM. A regional farm-to-table seafood & more served in a reimagined dinerlike environment, the brunch menu includes staples such as smoked salmon, Croque Monsieur, eggs any style, and a mean breakfast sandwich with pork sausage. In addition, enjoy Banana Bread French Toast, Baked Eggs Florentine, Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich, Steak Tartare, Duck Liver Pate and a whole lot more!

To be totally honest, I wish we’d just done dinner at Woodford Food and Beverage. We had reservations here for pre-dinner appetizers and cocktails but it was so, so good and their outdoor space was perfection with outdoor heaters at each table and the kindest waiters. We ordered oysters, the smoked trout mousse, the soup of the day (I believe it was a chowder), and the bourbon old fashioned and I wish we’d had time to dive into the entrees.

Few restaurants do bistro-style comfort food and cocktails as well as Woodford Food & Beverage does. Chef Courtney Loreg prepares some of New England’s best brasserie-style dishes here, especially anything braised, like her smoky lamb shank entrée. Fennel-spiced fries and tart, mustard-forward deviled eggs are also perennial winners on a menu that features no losers.

Woodford Food and Beverage, taking its name from its location, was nominated for Outstanding Hospitality, but lost to Chicago's own Lulu Cafe. Jake Stevens of Leeward on Free Street represented Maine among the nominees for Best Chef in the Northeast category. The win went to David Standridge of The Shipwright's Daughter in Mystic, Connecticut.

Two other Mainers were also up for awards last night, including Jake Stevens of Leeward for Best Chef Northeast and Woodford Food & Beverage for Outstanding Hospitality, both in Portland. Best Chef Northeast this year went to David Standridge of the Shipwright’s Daughter in Mystic, Connecticut.

This Woodfords Corner restaurant has quickly become a neighborhood favorite and that’s in part due to the bar program. Snag a seat at the retro bar and enjoy classic and original cocktails, an approachable wine list, and local beer on tap. 660 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04103, USA

Not all the exciting dining around town is centered on the peninsula. Woodford F&B shares its building with a dry cleaner and a tanning salon, but the kitchen at this vinyl-boothed, formica-countertopped, family-friendly neo-diner turns out dishes every bit as ambitious as any…

Best Chef: Northeast – Bowman Brown, Elda/Jackrabbit; Vien Dobui, Công Tử Bột; Ben Jackson, Magnus on Water; Courtney Loreg, Woodford Food & Beverage; Damian Sansonetti, Chaval.