Flora Hill Bakehouse

If you're after a bakery in Flora Hill, Victoria, this is the one that comes up when the talk turns to pies. A plain pie, a steak and mushroom, a seafood pie: locals rate the pastry and the fillings, and the sausage rolls and pasties get a good word too. One local reckons the plain pie reminds them of the old-fashioned kind, only better.

It's a traditional bakehouse serving the Bendigo community, and the bread, hot pies and coffee are the core of it. Beyond the pies, there's a good spread of sweet things. We hear the vanilla slice, the lemon meringue tart with its generous meringue and the Boston bun all have their fans, and one person called that Boston bun the best they'd eaten in years, nicely moist rather than dry. Breakfast is covered as well, with a toasted ham and cheese croissant a popular early pick alongside a coffee.

The staff are a big part of why people come back. Friendly and welcoming is the usual description, even on a busy weekend morning or a scorching hot day, and there's outdoor seating if you'd rather stay a while than dash off. It suits a smoko run or a quick lunch just as well as a sit-down coffee.

One visitor found some pastry items a little soggy, and there's the odd grumble about pricing and the occasional service hiccup, so it's not flawless. Most of the chatter, though, is warm, and the pies keep drawing people back.

Takeaway and delivery are both on offer, and you can pay by card or phone. Getting there is easy, with free street parking and a free car park, plus a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park. The bakehouse also backs local sporting clubs and fundraising events, which locals appreciate. It's best to check the opening hours before you head in, particularly for the weekend.