Esk Bakery & Cafe

Esk Bakery & Cafe is the sort of proper Aussie bakery that travellers pull over for, and it's easy to see why the shop is often buzzing with people. Pies are the main event here. We hear a lot about the chunky steak pie, the cheese and bacon, the pepper steak and the mince, with big pieces of meat and baked-in-store freshness that people notice straight away. One chicken curry pie has been described as life changing, and a traveller who came through twice on one trip went back for the same pies and sausage rolls on the way home.

Sausage rolls get just as much love, particularly the cheese and bacon version. On the sweet side, the caramel slice and caramel tart come up, along with the vanilla slice. There are salad rolls and toasted sandwiches if you want something lighter, and kids' options like a Dagwood dog and a ham, cheese and tomato sandwich.

It's also a cafe, so you can dine in or take away. Coffee and breakfast are on offer, though opinions on the coffee are a little split, with some people finding it delicious and one finding it too strong. Inside is large, air-conditioned and clean, with space to sit, and there are tables outside too. Locals say the staff are friendly and helpful, and one visitor noted that a trainee behind the counter handled things very well. The shop can get busy, and one person found the wait long during a rush, though they thought the toasted sandwich and coffee made up for it. They also take custom orders, and prices are described as fair.

Practically, there's free street parking, a wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance, and card and mobile payments are all accepted. It's a handy stop for anyone riding the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, and some people drive out from Brisbane just for the sausage rolls. Hours cover most of the day, seven days a week, but check them before you head in. If you're passing through this bakery in Esk, Queensland, plan on grabbing a pie.