Balranald Bakery

Balranald Bakery is the kind of small country-town bakery that does a bit of everything and does it with a smile. If you're after a bakery in Balranald, New South Wales, this one is known for pies and helpful staff.

The pies are what people bring up first. One local reckons the cheese and bacon pie is the real deal, with puff pastry that's just right, and the pasties get the same enthusiasm. We've also heard the pies could do with a bit more filling, so it pays to turn up hungry. Sausage rolls get good words too, with crisp pastry and a seasoning that isn't overdone.

The vanilla slice has quite a name around town, praised for pastry that cuts cleanly and a smooth custard that isn't too sweet. A custard tart comes highly recommended as well, and the donuts and muffins round out a decent pastry cabinet. One passing visitor found the pastry on their slice too hard, and popular lines like pasties can sell out by late morning, so earlier is safer.

Beyond the baked goods, there's a sandwich bar where the fillings are piled on generously, and toasted sandwiches that come out fast. Breakfast and lunch are both on, and coffee gets a mixed response, with one customer calling it among the better cups in town and others finding it ordinary.

Service is a regular talking point. Staff are friendly and quick, and one family running the shop impressed a crew working locally by opening earlier than advertised. Another visitor was handed their toasties to enjoy and told to pay afterwards, a small gesture that stuck with them. Prices are considered fair, and even the sauce comes without a charge.

You can take your order away or sit in the little dining area, which suits anyone breaking up a long drive. There's free street parking, a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park, and cards and tap-to-pay are accepted. It's worth checking the hours before you go, as weekends differ from weekdays.