Glicks Caulfield South

Glicks in Caulfield South is a family bakery specialising in boiled bagels and challah, and the shop here is where locals go to get them fresh. Ask around the Eastern suburbs and plenty of people will name these as their favourite bagels, with the cinnamon raisin and the savoury varieties getting special mentions. The challah has its own following too: soft and fluffy, with a balance of sweet and bready that holds together properly. It's a kosher bakery, which matters to many of the people who shop here.

Beyond the bagels, the counter is well stocked. We hear regulars come back for the potato pastries, blueberry muffins, poppyseed slice and a hefty jam tart that one local described as the closest thing to a childhood memory. There are cakes, donuts, rugalach and babka as well, plus made-to-order cheese and salad rolls, sandwiches and a salad bar if you want lunch. Everything is baked on site, and bagels and other items come fresh from the oven.

It's a popular shop, so expect a queue around lunchtime, though the counter staff are friendly and keep it moving well. There are tables at the back if you'd like to sit down with a coffee and something to eat, and a park nearby for a sunny day. Locals aren't unanimous on everything: one person wasn't won over by the chocolate babka, and service can be a little variable when it's busy, so it's worth getting in earlier in the day if you're after the salad bar.

Glicks also does takeaway, delivery and catering, which suits office orders and family gatherings. The entrance and car park are wheelchair-accessible, there's free street parking nearby, and they take cards and mobile payments. Hours vary through the week and the shop closes on one day, so check before you head in.

If you're in Caulfield South and want bagels or challah baked that day, this is a bakery locals know about.