Joanna Blythman, Sunday Herald

I've found the perfect place to take Dr Atkins out to dinner. The Dr Atkins, that is, of diet fame. I feel that he could do with a sympathetic hearing.

On Atkins' diet proper, you renounce carbohydrate and eat protein and more protein, with limitless amounts of non-starchy vegetables like green beans or salads and when you've got your weight down, you gradually reintroduce fruits and wholegrains as part of your ongoing eating plan.

Dr Atkins would find something to sink his teeth into at Livingstons, a meaty establishment if ever there was one, and a calorie-counter's nightmare. It does have a more than token vegetarian menu, sporting the usual veggie clichés; risotto, filo basket things, stir fry veg, etcetera. But you just need to look around the plates, crowned with huge tottering towers of animal protein, to see where the kitchen's allegiances lie.

Black pudding (a nutritionist's nightmare) seems to be in vogue in restaurants at the minute and here it was layered up with fried (shock horror) apple, crisp layers of pastry and fried leeks. Dr A would doubtless discard the pastry but I didn't, and in truth, although the dish was on the dry side, a dressing of reduced balsamic vinegar and a herby oil drizzle (more fat) with caramelised shallots cut the richness rather well.

Nairn, UK

Have eaten here a couple of times and been very impressed with the food and the ambience - a hidden gem, you could pay lots more for a meal of inferior quality in nearby Edinburgh.

David Williamson, UK

The 3 course set lunch for uder £20 is brilliant value. Food is always good. Easily the best place eat out in Linlithgow!

Trip Advisor

Livingstons is tucked away off the High Street but easily found. We visited twice during our weeks stay in the town and on both occasions were very impressed by the superb quality of the meals.Don't go if you want a cheap meal of button -busting proportions, straight out of the freezer.Livingstons take time to make your meal special and the quality of the ingredients would be difficult to better.
The seared Islay scallops with marinated mackerel was a wonderful starter as was the rack of Texal lamb as a 'main'.I chose the same sweet both times-Banana Semi Freddo with spiced pineapple.
The staff,without exception were terrific and even the wild rabbits in the rear garden were fun to watch.
Our three course meal with coffee came to £79.90 We had a bottle of wine to add to that and we left feeling that we had had an exquisite meal which added greatly to the overall enjoyment of our holiday in Scotland.

Trip Advisor

The place is fab
Food mouth watering
Staff the biz...
Fine dine at its best!

St. Etienne, France

I admire Scottish hospitality, it never fails to disappoint. Closed on a Sunday, in a tourist town.

Bonne chance!

Denver, Colorado

We got a walk-in table on a Saturday night (!) and I am so thankful that they squeezed us in -- food was incredibly good (scallops and red mullet starters,followed by perfect lamb and perfectly cooked beef filet), imaginative without being foo-foo, and served with unobtrusive and friendly service. Wine list is quite good, with many affordable options. Dinner is set price for two or three courses.

Halfway through my meal, I realized that the dish I was eating was so good that I had actually forgotten what I had eaten at the Witchery (one of Edinburgh's top-rated restaurants) only two days before. I made a point to tell the owner, and we had a lovely conversation about five-star restaurants and food near Edinburgh. Part of our vacation has been to enjoy very good food and wine, and this was definitely a highlight.

The restaurant is small and quite crowded, but manages to avoid being cramped. We almost missed it in town - it's off a small close on the main street through Linlithgow which opens to a lovely garden behind the restaurant. There did no seem to be a dress code, and we saw people dressed up, and in jeans (as we were). Lovely!