Oregano's Bakehouse & Cafe

If you're after a bakery in Epping with a Lebanese slant, Oregano's Bakehouse & Cafe is the one locals point to. It sits in Aurora Village, and the draw is food baked fresh, often made to order, rather than anything that's been sitting around.

The manoush is the thing people rave about. It's the Lebanese answer to pizza, and we hear it comes out hot, soft and properly crisp, with cheese you can actually taste. One local called it the most delicious manoush they'd ever had, and manoush comes in zaatar and sujuk versions too. Beyond that, there are spinach and cheese triangles, bagels, and a Nutella braided flower that one visitor singled out as a standout. Zaatar veggie wraps get a good word as a full meal in themselves, and the bread is spoken of as being as fresh as you'll find.

Pies are part of the reputation here too, and people say the prices are fair for the quality and portion size. One regular noted the pizza is big enough that it might be a lot for one person at breakfast.

The cafe side holds its own. Coffee gets a lot of praise, with one person raving about an almond-flavoured cup and another calling it the best they'd had in ages. Ali is mentioned by name for his morning coffee, and Sebastian for his friendly service. Staff come across as welcoming, with someone on hand to talk you through what's on offer.

One person who travelled a fair way for a sujuk pizza found it light on sujuk and heavy on cheese, and another mentioned a wrap arriving a touch cold. Those seem to be the exception, and people do come back.

It opens early, from the crack of dawn on weekdays, which suits a breakfast stop or a pick-up on the way to work, though it's worth checking the hours before you head in. The car park and entrance are both wheelchair accessible.