The most elegant dining experience in the Lincoln/Woodstock area can be found at the Woodstock Inn’s Clement Room Grille (745-3951; $$–$$$; right), which gets high ratings from locals for its informal dining with style. The Woodstock Inn also serves great daily breakfasts as well as a fabulous weekend brunch.

The Common Man (745-3463; $$–$$$) serves excellent food, with a menu ranging from lobster-corn chowder and rock-crab cakes to hazelnut-crusted chicken and double-thick pork chops.

For convenient, on-mountain dining, there are two choices: the Mountain Club on Loon (745-2244; $$) and The Black Diamond Bar ($–$$), both at the Mountain Club.

Locals claim the Open Hearth Steak House (745-8141; $$), at Woodward’s Motor Inn, has the best steaks. The wide-ranging menu at Gordi’s Fish and Steak House (745-6635; $–$$) includes steaks, Maine lobster, chicken, pasta and fish; a pub menu serves lighter fare.

Truant’s Tavern (745-2239; $–$$) serves clever dinner entrees in a mock schoolhouse atmosphere; drinking in class was never so much fun. The bar hops on weekends. For a reasonably priced meal, head to Woodstock Station (745-3951; $–$$) in an old train station on Main Street. Options range from meatloaf to Mexican fare, and the restaurant brews its own beer. Locals agree that the best pizza in town is found at Elvio’s Pizzeria (745-8817; $). The Gypsy Cafe (745-4395; $), on the Kancamagus Highway, across the street from The Mill is a good choice for either lunch or dinner, and don’t miss the margaritas.

If you’re off-mountain for lunch, KimberLee’s Deli (745-3354; $), in Depot Plaza just outside the Loon Mountain entrance, has a good choice of sandwiches, soups and salads. It also serves breakfast bagel-wiches. In the Kancamagus Motor Lodge, Brittany’s Cafe (745-3365; $–$$) is a good choice for either breakfast or dinner and CJ’s Penalty Box (745-4899; $–$$) is a sports pub with light fare.

Winners in the breakfast category include the Sunny Day Diner (745-4833: $) and Peg’s Family Restaurant (745-2740; $), both in North Woodstock. Sunny Day also serves inexpensive homestyle dinners, such as salisbury steak and fried chicken.

Dining Legend: $$$$–Entrees $30+; $$$–$20–$30; $$–$10–$20; $–less than $10.