Mansfield Bakery

For a bakery in Mansfield, Victoria, this is the sort of country-town place that does the full spread. Pies, pasties and sausage rolls are the main event, and locals describe them as proper bakery fare rather than anything that tastes mass produced. The Ned Kelly pie gets a lot of mentions, and we've heard the beef, bacon and cheese pie is a good one too, along with the lamb pie and the pepper steak. Salad rolls, egg and bacon pies and a decent run of cakes and Danishes sit alongside them, and the range is said to hold up well into the afternoon.

Mansfield Bakery is known for fresh-from-the-oven baking, and it opens early, which suits anyone grabbing a breakfast pie before a morning walk or an early start out of town. For those who prefer to stay, it offers dine-in with plenty of room inside and a few tables outdoors. There's coffee, breakfast and takeaway as well, and gluten-free options are available. Custom cake orders are also on offer, so it's worth asking at the counter if you have an occasion coming up.

Getting in is straightforward. There's a free car park and free street parking nearby, and the entrance and car park are wheelchair accessible. Cards and tap-and-go payments are accepted.

Opinion is fair to call mixed in places. Some regulars have been dropping in for years, often on the way home from a camping trip, while a few have found the pies a touch salty or the fillings lighter than hoped, and the odd comment about service or the coffee. The staff are generally described as friendly, and it gets very busy on long weekends, so expect a queue then. Some also find the dining area a bit canteen-like.

It's open daily, with early starts and an afternoon close, but check the hours before you head in, especially on public holidays.