Kafedaki Fairfield

Kafedaki Fairfield sits on a busy corner of Heidelberg Road, and it's the sort of place you might walk past without noticing until you venture inside. The street presence is modest, but inside it feels warm and settled, part cafe, part deli, with a modern fit-out, a handful of tables, stools along the edge and a small pantry section with a fridge of craft beers. It's a coffee shop first, so think of it for a bread-based lunch or a sit-down coffee rather than a traditional bakery counter.

Sandwiches and rolls are where locals get most enthusiastic. Toasties come up in conversation, including the pastrami toastie, along with bagels, baguettes and a salami roll finished with an olive tapenade. The toasted baguette with salami and bocconcini gets its own fans, and the lunchtime pizza by the slice is called freshly made with generous serves. Breakfast goes down well too, with granola, a big cooked breakfast and a jalapeno English muffin with roasted pumpkin all getting a mention. Muffins, brownies and cakes sit alongside the coffee, and people are happy with the chai, matcha and hot chocolate as well as the long black.

Food is available for takeaway or dine-in, with kerbside pickup, catering and vegetarian options on offer. There's seating inside and out, and the outdoor area is a pleasant spot on a sunny day. Families will appreciate that it's child-friendly, with a small corner of toys at the back.

What comes through most is the welcome. Locals describe the owners and staff as friendly and chatty, and one visitor was offered a tasty cheese swap at no charge when a roll came with something they didn't fancy. Portions are generous, prices are seen as reasonable, and plenty of regulars pop in through the day, which says a lot.

It's open for breakfast and lunch, with the doors closing mid-afternoon, so check the hours before you head in.