Bernard's Bakery

If you're after a bakery in Bathurst, Bernard's Bakery is known for pies. Pies are the draw here. We've heard the curry pie is the one to order, with flaky pastry, a generous filling and a base that holds together while you eat it. Pepper steak and mince and cheese get a nod too, and locals tend to describe the prices as fair for the size.

The pies aren't the only thing people queue for. The banh mi has a following of its own, with one traveller calling it probably the best west of the Blue Mountains. Pork rolls, sausage rolls and bacon and egg rolls made fresh at the counter round out the savoury side, along with sandwiches and a spinach and ricotta roll that one visitor said tasted homemade. On the sweet side, there's a selection of cakes and slices, and one customer has come away happy with a large chocolate eclair and oversized neenish tarts.

You can take your order away or sit in. There's a dine-in option, coffee and breakfast, and some tables out the front when the weather suits. Delivery and custom cake orders are on offer too, so it's worth asking the bakery about timing if you're planning ahead. Access is easy, with a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park, free street parking nearby and card and mobile payments accepted.

Friendly service is a common thread, and a line out the door at lunchtime is a familiar sight. That also means you may wait a little when it's busy, and one local found the counter service a bit hit and miss. One visitor was not taken by a plain pie, and another was disappointed in the hot cross buns. Overall, though, Bernard's is well regarded around Bathurst, especially for a hearty, good-value lunch. The doors open early every day, including weekends, but check the hours before you head in.