Larouche Restaurant & Bakehouse

Larouche Restaurant & Bakehouse is a Lebanese spot in Liverpool, New South Wales, where the bakery side is very much part of the appeal. Locals who've been will tell you the first thing you notice is the smell of bread and manoush coming out of the oven, and that the food really does arrive fresh. Plenty of it is cooked or baked right in front of you, and they bake their own fluffy bread rather than bringing it in.

A bakery in Liverpool that people call good value is worth knowing about, and this one has that reputation. One regular who's been coming for years says it's some of the best value around, and another points out that the recipes and the way things are done haven't drifted over time. Manoush made to order is the thing many people come for, along with a breakfast spread of crispy falafel, fateh, kibbeh and hommos. The flavours are traditional, and we've heard more than one person say it reminds them of food from back home in the Middle East.

Service gets a lot of praise. Staff are friendly and patient, they're happy to let you try a sample, and families come away feeling looked after. The place is on the small side, with seating mostly outside, so it can get busy and you may have to wait a little. Regulars see that as a good sign rather than a drawback. One visitor felt a few small things could be improved, but even they found the place clean, comfortable and welcoming.

You can dine in or grab takeaway. There's a wheelchair-accessible entrance, car park and seating. They open early most days, so it suits a breakfast stop, but check the hours before you head in. If you're after a bakery in Liverpool for fresh manoush or a proper Lebanese breakfast, this is a good place to start.