Oscar's Bakery Cafe

Oscar's Bakery Cafe is a Mediterranean-influenced bakery in Weetangera, ACT, and it's the kind of neighbourhood spot people are glad to have close to home. Everything is made from scratch on site, from the breads and pastries to the pasta, using family recipes. The tagline, "A Fresh Taste of The Mediterranean", fits.

Start with the baked goods. Locals rave about the pide, thin and crispy with a marinated lamb filling, along with boreks, gozleme, croissants and olive simit. The sourdough and the pies get plenty of love too, and the baklava is a favourite. One local summed up their visit simply: coffee and a pie, and they were won over. A little local honey and the odd traditional slice sit alongside, and people like the chocolate caramel one.

There's a practical side as well. The take-home frozen meals are a regular part of many households' weeknights: lasagne, cannelloni, cottage pie, and vegetarian options like a lentil lasagne and a chickpea curry. People talk about them as easy, good-quality dinners that don't cost much, and the value comes up often. Bread to take home is on offer too.

You can sit in or take away, with indoor and outdoor seating, and coffee and breakfast are on the menu. Delivery is available around Canberra, so it's worth checking with the bakery on timing. Free parking out front and at the back makes it simple to pop in, and the entrance and car park are wheelchair accessible. Cards and mobile payments are accepted.

What people keep coming back to is the welcome. Staff are described as friendly and warm, with Kem and the team mentioned by name, and the feel is homely rather than flashy. It's a quiet local cafe where customers feel welcome and tend to plan a return visit.

Check the hours before you head in, as the week runs a little shorter on weekends.