Bittern Bakery & Cafe

Pies are the first thing people mention when Bittern Bakery & Cafe comes up, and it's easy to hear why. The chunky beef gets the loudest praise, along with chicken and leek, mince and cheese, curry, chilli and a potato pie. One local, who makes a point of trying a curry pie at every bakery they visit, called this the best they'd had, with pastry that held together instead of crumbling. Sausage rolls are popular here.

Pies aren't the whole story. People come back for the fresh-baked feel of the place, with food coming out of the oven through the morning, and there's plenty beyond the pie warmer. We've heard good things about the vanilla slice and custard tart, the lemon tarts, and the donuts, which one regular described as packed full of jam. Sandwiches and salad rolls are made fresh, and the coffee gets a nod alongside the baking. One visitor summed it up as a little cafe that brings people together.

This bakery in Bittern, Victoria, does takeaway as well as dine-in, so you can grab a pie to go or sit down with a coffee. Breakfast is on the menu, and custom cake orders are available if you've got an occasion coming up. Pay by card or phone, and there's free parking out the front on the street and in a car park, with a wheelchair-accessible entrance and accessible parking.

The staff are a big part of the appeal. Locals describe them as friendly and helpful, and one story sticks: a customer a little short on cash for a sausage roll was looked after with a smile, and given sauce on the house. Another person praised the man who boxed their pie so it stayed warm for the drive. The bakery has changed hands in recent times, and a returning visitor was just as happy with the new owners.

Prices are fair for the size of the pies, which suits anyone driving through the Mornington Peninsula who wants a proper lunch without paying tourist rates. The bakery opens early, so it suits a morning stop as well as lunch, but check the hours before you head in.