The Linton Hotel, East Lothian Restaurant Recommendation, Scottish inn dining guide, Address
East Linton Eating Out Guide, East Lothian
The Linton Hotel Review, Scotland : Information
The Linton Hotel
Address: 3 Bridgend, East Linton
Phone: +44 (0)1620 860202
The Linton Inn is warm and welcoming – like a little beating heart in the centre of the village East Linton, just off the A1 west of 5 miles Dunbar.
We chose to enter through the pub entrance, but only because it was closest to where we had happened to park our car, we might as well have gone through the more formal entrance – it would have made no difference, apart from then we would have missed the pub. I was struck by the cozy welcoming feeling there.
We had a choice of either having a drink in the bar whilst studying the menu, or going straight through to the restaurant. We would probably have settled in for a pre-dinner drink at the (real) fireside had it not been on a weekday evening with work next morning!
The restaurant was in the room directly behind the pub. A good sized room, tastefully decorated in neutral colours, all the tables were furnished with lit candles and real flowers – again the atmosphere was informal enough for week day dinners, yet I could easily imagine bringing family and friends here for a special night out too.
The menu was straight forward and easy to understand with six starters, ranging from £3.95 to £5.75. The eight main courses to choose from ranged from £10.50 to £15.75.
Our service was good, our drinks orders were taken, Adrian had a pint of Arran Ale and I had a glass of Merlot . A jug of iced water arrived unprompted, but very welcome, together with our ordered drinks.
For starters Adrian ordered a Tartlet of Stornoway Black Pudding with a poached egg and crispy pancetta, I ordered Baked Goat’s Cheese Salad with sweet chilli dressing. While we waited, which wasn’t long, we enjoyed warm white bread with butter.
Our starters were beautifully presented. Adrian’s egg was poached perfectly and the yoke complimented the black pudding nicely. My three goat’s cheese balls were arranged on three thickish slices of cucumber with the fresh salad in the middle. I enjoyed both the texture and the flavours. The crunchy cucumber was a great contrast to the soft cheese.
For main course Adrian had the Scotch Ribeye Steak with Portobello mushroom, grilled tomato, sautéed potatoes and creamy peppercorn sauce. I had the slow Braised Shank of Borders Lamb with creamy mash and a root vegetable sauce. Both portions were large, well presented and tasty.
For dessert I had the Caramelised Lemon Tart with a delicious raspberry coulis, Adrian had Terrine of Dark Chocolate with an orange syrup. It was all good. Our host assured me the Caramelised Lemon Tart was her favourite, and during the fifteen years she had worked with the chef, the Lemon Tart had never been off the menu. I can only say I agree – it was heavenly.
I surprised myself by ordering a Coffee Dream after-dinner cocktail – it was truly a dream, and I will be back for more.
After dinner we were shown the more formal part of the hotel upstairs. The function room cleverly decorated to suit both functions and individual diners. The room, not only has a bar and a cosy corner, but also French doors which open out to a lovely garden with both decking with tables and chairs and an area laid out with a lawn.
We can warmly recommend The Linton Hotel for both formal occasions and informal dinner. Every town should have a place like this, but sadly pubs of this calibre are beginning to be a rarity, especially if they have a good restaurant attached, and six hotel rooms to boot!
The Linton Hotel, 3 Bridgend, East Linton : +44 (0)1620 860202
A Traditional Inn in the Heart of East Lothian
The owners previously owned and operated Haldanes in Edinburgh for the last 13 years and took over The Linton Hotel in Jan 2009. The restaurant and bar have been refurbished to maintain a really cosy traditional feel and they have added a superb Garden Room restaurant which opens from April 2010 onwards on a Friday and Saturday evening. “A Cosy Country Treat” – 3 star Visit Scotland.
The Linton Hotel restaurant review – online 20 Mar 2010
East Lothian Restaurants
Selected East Lothian Restaurants
**
Goblin Ha Hotel, Main Street, Gifford
+44 (0)1620 810244The food is fairly traditional and service variable but the setting is great – choice of bar or conservatory in a pleasant East Lothian village.
Goblin Ha’ hotel
Greywalls Hotel, Duncur Road, Muirfield, Gullane
+44 (0)1620 842144Seasonal opening : Open 1 May 2010 closes end of December 2010
East Lothian restaurant & hotel open again to non-residents. Greywalls hotel & restaurant has returned to being a hotel & restaurant after a brief change :
*
Tweedale Arms Hotel, High Street, Gifford
+44 (0)1620 810240
Service & food poor when we visited, though many locals speak highly of this place
Gifford Buildings
^
The Waterloo Bistro & Courtyard Bar, Haddington
+44 (0)1620 822100
Dining review welcome
–
The Waterside Inn , 1-5 Waterside, Haddington
+44 (0)1620 825674 fax +44 (0)1620 825607
Waterside Bistro
Well-known bar and restaurant on banks of the Tyne, once popular on summer weekends: Waterside Bistro. This used to be a classic and well-loved restaurant when run by Jim Finlay, now running The Rocks in Dunbar
East Lothian Restaurant Review
The Rocks Restaurant, Dunbar, East Lothian – Restaurant Review Jul 2005
“Stumbled across this place whilst watching rugby and needed to get out of the cold in February! Warming, friendly and decent food.”
Rocks Restaurant
+44 (0)1368 862287
East Lothian Restaurant Recommendations welcome
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