This is as good as it gets for good food in quirky comfortable surroundings.
We first stumbled across the Old Bake House in August 2010 while riding the roads south of Edinburgh. We thought it was a cafe and were greeted by a gentleman in a tuxedo - most unnerving at midday when we walked in wearing motorcycle leathers. 'May I help you?', 'uh, yes, do you have a table?' (I thought that we may have stumbled into some private club by mistake!). 'do you have a reservation?' 'no'. i was still slightly gobsmacked by the tiny entrance, the guests waiting by the fire, reviewing the menu with an aperitif in hand and the tuxedo wearing gentleman with a mohawk offering us a seat. We fell deeply into the comfortable couch after stowing our helmets and jackets, reviewed the menu and were then shown through a small hallway, passed the kitchen to the back room - or, more accurately, rooms.
Since then, we have walked through the same small hallway at least half a dozen more times, and taken many overseas guests to the Old Bake House. It is truly a hidden gem.
Usually when I visit a restaurant over and over, I love to try different meals, but I find myself unable to order anything but the glazed salmon which has been cooked perfectly 4/5 times. Slightly over on one occasion but the rest of the meal made up for it. Desert is always delicious and the delightfully simple pear, walnut, blue cheese salad is usually our starter. On one occasion I had to order the chicken fajitas (because the salmon wasn't on the festive menu), and I was not disappointed - they were so good that I will have a dilemma next time we go back. What to order, the chicken fajitas or the salmon?? Ian often orders the Sunday roast and has sometimes been rewarded with double yorkshires!
The food is great, the wine is good, the beer is good, the temporary staff are hit 'n miss, the full time staff are great, the ambience is good, making the journey to West Linton can be an adventure or a hassle - but all in all we have never had anything but a great experience. read more