The Grain Emporium - Retail

The Grain Emporium is a family-owned bakery and café on Clayton Road in Clayton, Victoria, and it has built a loyal following by doing a lot of things properly under one roof. You can pick up handcrafted stone-baked loaves, sourdough, brioche buns and handmade pastries to take home, or settle in for a coffee and something fresh from the oven.

Pies are a big part of the story. Regulars talk about the Thai chicken pie in particular, with generous filling, good pastry and a gravy that isn't runny, and sausage rolls and meat pies get plenty of love too. Sourdough is another thing the bakery is known for, so it's a sound choice if bread is what you're after.

Then there's the sweet side, which is where the Greek influence shines. Locals come back for baklava, cannoli, eclairs and the continental cakes, and we hear the homemade custard is the secret behind a lot of them. One longtime visitor to the area called it their favourite Greek dessert shop in Clayton.

Custom cakes are a speciality as well. Families order from here for birthdays, christenings and end-of-school parties, and the jungle-themed and red velvet cakes people have shared are the kind of centrepieces that get noticed. If you're planning one, it's best to talk to the bakery directly about timing.

The coffee gets high marks, with one regular saying a daily cup over five years has never let them down. The staff are described as friendly and quick with a laugh, and the prices are seen as good value for the quality. As with any busy place, the odd order mix-up happens, so it's worth double-checking your pie filling if you have dietary needs.

Takeaway, dine-in and in-store pick-up are all available, and there's free street parking and a free car park, plus a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park. Cards and mobile payments are accepted. Check the hours before you head in, as they vary across the week.