Chocolat of Mornington

Chocolat of Mornington is a French-style patisserie and coffee spot in Mornington, Victoria, and the kind of place people drop into for a sit-down breakfast or a takeaway coffee and then leave with a bag of something extra. You can dine in or take away, and they take custom cake orders if you've got an occasion coming up. Locals also say it's a pleasant spot to sit outside, dog in tow.

The pastry cabinet gets most of the talk. The almond croissant is the one people rave about, described as buttery, crisp and generously filled, and we've heard it called the best someone has ever eaten. The donuts have their fans too, with soft dough that isn't too heavy and a jam donut that gets special mention. Pies are something they're known for, and one local picked up burgundy pies and apricot danishes to take home for lunch and thought both were fabulous. You'll also hear about macarons, baguettes, sausage rolls, tarts and a rich chocolate mousse cake. Mini florentines are a local favourite, and the advice is to eat one in a single bite.

It's the staff who bring people back. Regulars describe a team that's friendly and always smiling, and one person mentioned Lisa and Emily going out of their way to sort a special order. Another was touched to be treated to a bee-themed surprise after the team learned they kept bees. Coffee and hot chocolate come out quickly, which suits a stop on the way through town.

One person was disappointed by a sloppy almond croissant on one occasion, though they'd had good experiences there before. That's the exception in what we hear.

They're on Mornington's main street, with a car park nearby, and both the car park and entrance are wheelchair accessible. They take cards and mobile payments. Hours differ across the week and they're closed some days, so check before you head in, especially if you're planning on a special order.