Wicked Delights Bakery

If you're after a bakery in Alstonville, Wicked Delights is a family-run spot that covers a lot of ground: pies, sausage rolls, tarts, slices, sourdough, made-to-order sandwiches and a proper cup of coffee. It also has a second shop in Ballina, so you may know the name from the Northern Rivers already.

The pies are what come up first when locals talk about it. Mushroom and plain pies get a good word, and one visitor brought along her 88-year-old mum, who finished a plain pie without any sauce. The sausage rolls have their own following too, with one local calling them the best they'd tasted in the area. Add a chicken schnitzel burger that someone else rated among the best they'd had, and you get the picture: honest, typical bakery fare done well, and good value for what you get.

Then there are the cakes. Custom orders are a big part of the business, and we hear the cakemaker, Taylor, has handled everything from wedding slab cakes to engagement and birthday cakes. A red velvet for a child's party became the centrepiece of the day, and the carrot cake gets raved about by locals and passing travellers alike. Someone in Victoria even arranged three cakes for delivery to Ballina as a birthday surprise, and they arrived looking and tasting just right. If you need a cake for an occasion, enquire ahead rather than turning up on the day.

It's also a relaxed place to sit down. A visitor describes a pleasant country feel in the middle of town, a pet-friendly atmosphere and helpful staff who make visitors feel welcome. Takeaway is easy, there's free street parking, and the entrance and car park are wheelchair accessible. Cards and mobile payments are accepted.

One person found the bread in a sandwich less fresh than hoped, and another felt the service had slipped on a visit. Most of what we hear is warm, though.

Hours run on weekdays only, starting early, so check the times before you head in.