Racine Bakery

If you're after a bakery in Orange, Racine Bakery offers sourdough, pastries, and pies available for takeaway or dine-in. The almond croissant is a favourite, and the hazelnut and ham and cheese versions get love too. One visitor who has eaten croissants around the world called them pure, flaky and not too buttery, and said people will make the drive from Dubbo for them. Hot tip from regulars: they're lovely straight out of the oven, though they taste quite different once they've cooled.

The website describes Racine as a bakery and café, and the range backs that up. There's real organic sourdough, all-butter pastries, pies, sandwiches and salads, plus cakes and ready-made meals to take home. Sourdough and pies are both things people mention, and one regular says they pop in just for a loaf to go with meat from Cured for lunch. The sausage rolls and meat pies get a good word as well. On the sweet side, we've heard good things about the lemon meringue, the blueberry danish and the Biscoff danish, and one local says the pastries use fresh local fruit without going overboard on sugar.

You can eat in or take away, and they offer delivery and catering for events and group functions. They also do coffee and breakfast, and the toasties and the vegetarian sandwich have fans. The staff come across as friendly and welcoming, and with plenty of people on the floor the queue tends to move quickly. It does get busy, so a seat can take some finding at peak times, and the display can be a bit awkward to see while others are lining up.

A couple of people felt it was good rather than extraordinary, and one longtime fan missed the feel of the original shop. One visitor noted the prices sit a touch above the usual but are worth it.

There's free street parking and a free car park, with wheelchair-accessible parking and entry, and they take cards and tap-and-go payments. Opening hours run a little shorter on weekends, so it's worth checking before you head in.