Keith Bakery and Coffee shop

Keith Bakery and Coffee Shop is the kind of country bakery that travellers on the road through Keith, South Australia plan a stop around, and locals treat as their own. It's no-frills and a little dated inside, but the food and the welcome are what people talk about.

Pies are the big drawer. The potato pie gets particular praise, a generous square serve with a golden potato top, and pasties, sausage rolls and a bacon and egg roll that really does come loaded with bacon round out the hot cabinet. Everything is baked fresh, and there's a marked-down section of the previous day's bakes for anyone watching the budget. Salad rolls and sandwiches are made properly, with the old-school fillings like pineapple and beetroot that are hard to find these days. Daily specials get a lot of love for value, and the coffee and hot chocolate come out hot.

Gluten-free eaters are well looked after here. We've heard of travellers ringing ahead from the road to have a gluten-free pie heated and ready on arrival, and there are gluten-free sweets and frozen pies to take away too. They also take custom cake orders, and the cupcakes and cheesecake slices turn up in plenty of conversations, including a vegan chocolate cupcake that has its fans.

You can dine in or take away, and breakfast is on the menu. Parking is free, with a wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance and toilet. Cards and tap-and-go payments are accepted. It opens early on weekdays and closes earlier on weekends, so check the hours before you head in, especially if you're passing through late in the day.

Opinion isn't entirely uniform. One or two people have been unhappy with their visit, so, as with any busy counter, it pays to look at what's in the cabinet and pick the freshest. Most people describe welcoming staff, good-sized serves and a lunch that costs less than the roadhouse down the highway.

If you're travelling between Adelaide and Melbourne and want a proper pie and a decent coffee, this bakery in Keith is a sensible stop.