CJ's Pastries

If you're driving through Woodford, Queensland, CJ's Pastries is a bakery on the main street that locals know about. It's a family-owned place, and the pies are what it's best known for. Steak and mushroom gets a good word, and people also rave about the steak, bacon and potato. One local reckoned a pie with peas was the best their wife had ever had. Another liked that it held together as they ate it and came out at a temperature you could bite into straight away, which is not something every bakery manages.

Beyond pies, the counter is well stocked. Sausage rolls, apple turnovers, custard tarts, croissants, carrot cake and a range of slices and desserts all get mentioned, and the breakfast wraps have their fans. Pastries come fresh from the oven daily, and there's bread and rolls too. The coffee is a big part of the stop, with a good range of teas and cold drinks as well.

It's more than a grab-and-go counter. There's indoor seating with plenty of room, outdoor tables, high chairs for little ones, and vegetarian and vegan options. There's also a wheelchair-accessible car park, and the bathrooms get a mention for being clean. Takeaway and dine-in are both on offer, and they take custom cake orders and do catering, so check with the bakery about timing. Local products are sold in store, and there's a charity donation collection running.

Motorcycle groups make it a regular early morning coffee stop, and staff have been friendly even in the pre-dawn hours, with one going out of their way to help with dietary needs. They open very early and run through to the evening, but it's worth checking the hours before you head in.

One local felt the pies and dessert pastries have slipped in quality and value lately, and another found a sausage roll too salty. The pies and pastries keep people coming back. If you're after the sweet side, locals suggest the apple turnovers or a custard tart.