4me gluten free

If you're after a bakery in Elsternwick, Victoria, where nobody at the counter has to ask about ingredients, 4me gluten free is the one people point to. Everything they bake is gluten free, dairy free and nut free, and the range is far wider than you might expect: breads, bagels, focaccia, pizza bases, muffins, cinnamon scrolls, donuts, pastries and biscuits, plus cakes and cupcakes. They also cater to vegan and low FODMAP needs, so it helps to mention any special requirements when you order.

Locals will tell you this is a place that puts in extra effort. One parent of a coeliac son talks about a large order of pretzels sorted out at very short notice, with a few extra treats slipped in for the birthday boy. Another had chocolate bars posted off to a coeliac daughter in time for her birthday. A wedding client was delighted with a big spread of savoury pastries, biscuits and sweet hearts that arrived looking great and tasting even better.

Custom cakes are a real strength, and the tagline says it all: they love a challenge, so unusual requests for a special function are welcome. Catering, delivery, takeaway and in-store pick-up are all on offer, and there's coffee too, along with free street parking and a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park.

The cooking gets plenty of praise. People mention the tomato and cheese bagels as a handy lunch on the go, the brownie cake with passionfruit cream, and warm chocolate scrolls on a cold day. Plenty of regulars aren't coeliac at all and simply prefer the baking. Donuts have been described as only turning up on certain days, so ask ahead if they're your main reason for visiting.

The shop is described as clean and welcoming, and the staff are friendly and helpful. One visitor had a less happy experience over coffee milk options, so if you take your coffee with a plant-based milk, ask what's on hand before you order.

Popular items sell out quickly, so for anything specific, particularly a cake or a big batch, order ahead. Check the hours before you head in, as they vary through the week and the weekend.