Routley's Bakery Altona

Routley's Bakery Altona is the kind of bakery in Altona, Victoria where the pie warmer gets most of the attention. Locals rate the pies and sausage rolls highly, and the chunky beef and cheese gets a lot of love, along with the snow pie and a shepherd's pie with a potato top. One regular called the beef and cheese the best pie they'd ever had. Another was less sold on it, so as with any pie, taste is personal.

It's not only a pie shop, though. The range runs to pasties, focaccia, vanilla slices and a big spread of sandwiches and rolls, either ready made or built to your order. We hear the rolls and wraps are generous and fairly priced, and the fried food and salad rolls make it a handy stop for smoko or lunch. Coffee and breakfast are on the menu too, and there's a bit of room to sit down if you want a proper break rather than a grab-and-go.

Helpful staff come up again and again when people talk about this place, and that goes a long way. Takeaway and delivery are both available, and they take custom cake orders if you've got an occasion coming up.

A couple of practical notes. The bakery sits on a busy one-way street, which can catch first-timers out, but there's a free car park out the back and out front. Locals say it's easy to pull a truck in for a quick feed. The car park and entrance are both wheelchair accessible, and you can pay by card or tap. They open early on weekdays and keep shorter hours at the weekend, so check the hours before you head in.

We've heard the odd grumble about a lukewarm pie and a stock item that should have been pulled from the shelf, so it's worth giving anything from the display a quick look. People come back for the pies and the service.