New York Bakery

New York Bakery in Golden Point, Victoria isn't a grab-a-loaf-and-go bakery. It's a sit-down spot inside Sovereign Hill, so the experience is part of the draw. Staff wear 1800s-style costumes, the room is cosy with a fireplace for the colder months, and the whole place has that old-school charm. Both dine-in and takeaway are on offer.

What locals will tell you first is that the pies are what the place is known for, along with warm scones that arrive at the table fresh. Beyond the baked goods, there's a proper menu of lunch dishes. We hear the open steak sandwich is tender and generous, the publican duck gets plenty of praise, and the soup of the day comes with good bread on the side. Fish and chips and the burgers are popular choices too, though opinions on those are a little more mixed, with the odd comment that the fish could be crisper or the seasoning a touch heavy. Drinks run from milkshakes and iced coffee to wine, and the iced chocolate comes in a very large serve.

Welcoming staff come up again and again. People describe the team as warm, attentive and happy to chat without hovering, and families notice the costumes add charm to the experience. Prices are generally seen as fair for what you get, and portions tend to be big.

A couple of practical notes. It can get busy, particularly with families, and one visitor found the service slow at a peak time, so allow a little patience on a crowded day. Drinks are served in cups or mugs rather than takeaway cups. Access is a strength here: there's a wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance, seating and toilet.

If you're after a relaxed meal with a bit of history around you and a pie or warm scone on the table, this is a Golden Point stop worth planning around. Check Sovereign Hill's opening hours before you head in.