Morning Loaf Bakery

Keith sits on the road between Adelaide and Melbourne, and Morning Loaf Bakery has become a familiar stop for people making that run. We hear travellers stop in, and more than one local says they time their visit for opening.

Pies are what people talk about most. The lamb and mint, the chicken and veg and the chunky meat pie all get a mention, along with pasties (one couple who stopped on a long drive described the veggie pastie as the best they'd ever had). Sausage rolls and a spinach roll turn up too, and the pastry is described as flaky and the fillings tasty. Everything is baked fresh, and folks say the pies come out nice and hot.

On the sweet side, the vanilla slice has been mentioned, and so are an iced apricot slice, blueberry cheesecake, lemon curd muffins and big, fluffy-looking donuts. One visitor was pleased to find mock cream in the eclairs and cream buns, which took him straight back to childhood. Coffee gets a good word as well, with generous cups.

There's a real gluten-free range here, which isn't something you find in every country bakery. We've heard of coeliac customers being well catered for, with gluten-free sausage rolls, toasted sandwiches and cakes. You can dine in or take away, and there's plenty of room to sit, so a busy rush doesn't leave you stranded. Staff are friendly and quick even when it's packed, and one family mentioned how kindly the team replaced a child's dropped ice cream.

One traveller found the pasties and quiche average, and another didn't rate a pie, so tastes clearly vary. The overall word, though, is warm, and Morning Loaf is well regarded locally.

Practical bits: there's free street parking, and the car park and entrance are wheelchair accessible. Cards and mobile payments are accepted. It's open seven days, but check the hours before you head in, especially around public holidays.