Grices Bakery Cafe

Grices Bakery Cafe sits on Cessnock's main street, and the busy tables of locals are usually what draw people in. It's a bakery and cafe in one, so you can grab a pie and go or settle in for a proper sit-down meal.

On the baking side, locals will tell you the pies and sourdough are what Grices is known for. The pies are the traditional, family-style kind, with sausage rolls and pastries alongside. Sponge cakes get a lot of love too. One visitor reckoned the caramel sponge was the best they'd ever eaten, and another ordered a jam and cream sponge for their mum's birthday and went home thrilled. The caramel tarts and a rich chocolate mousse cake also get a mention, and coffee with a slice of cake is a popular way to spend half an hour. Not every filling suits every palate, and one person found a few of the savoury pies a bit salty, so it's worth chatting to the counter staff about what's fresh.

Beyond the cabinet, there's a full cafe menu covering breakfast, brunch and lunch, with sandwiches, scones, big salads and a vegetarian brekkie that earned a rave. They also offer catering. Outdoor seating out the back has a quiet, home-garden feel, with parking and an entrance from the car park. High chairs are available and the place is set up for families. A wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park are there too, and the bathrooms get a good word.

The staff are a big part of why people return. We hear they're friendly, cheerful and happy to help, and one parent with a fretful, hungry baby was set up at a table and looked after beautifully. Prices are fair and servings generous, so it's the sort of place where you feel you've had your money's worth. As at any busy counter, there can be the odd slow moment when the team is flat out, but the overall word on Grices is warm.

The cafe runs on weekday hours and is closed on weekends, so check the hours before you head in.