The Salt Exchange, Portland

It's pretty clear that Charlie Bryon loves his job. On any given night, you'll likely find the owner of The Salt Exchange moving throughout the dining room, chatting with guests and making recommendations from the restaurant's list of wines and cocktails. Honed over more than two decades in the restaurant industry, Bryon's outgoing nature makes customers feel at home and has led to a fruitful partnership with chef Torr Kelso. 

Together, the two create seasonal menus of upscale comfort cuisine inspired by local ingredients, as well as craft cocktails with a focus on American whiskeys. Depending on a their appetite, customers might pair a Kentucky Mule with a double pork chop after a Maine crab and brie cheese quesadilla appetizer. Beyond their well-earned reputation for food and drink, The Salt Exchange also doubles as an art gallery, giving local artists some much-needed gallery space to hang their paintings or display their macaroni sculptures.