Clarke's Pies

If you're driving through Mortlake and your stomach starts making demands, Clarke's Pies is on the main street and hard to miss. It's a pie shop and cafe in one, and pies are what it's known for. Travellers heading to the Grampians or back to Ballarat tend to pull in.

The pies are the main event. People talk about the original beef and pepper, the pepper pie, the curry pie and the lamb and rosemary, which one visitor called the best they'd ever tasted. The fillings come in for praise as generous, the pastry flaky, and the pies fresh from the oven and served piping hot, so give yours a minute before the first bite. There are also sausage rolls, pasties and a veggie quiche, and we've heard the raspberry and white chocolate muffins deserve a mention too. It's not a perfect record: one local found a steak and cheese pie a bit bland for the money, and the caramel slice didn't win over another visitor. The pies are still the safe bet.

It's more than a pie counter, too. You can dine in or take away, and breakfast and coffee are on offer, including a breakfast-style burger that earned its own fan. There's also a selection of heat-at-home meals, handy if you'd rather not cook after a day on the road, and they take custom cake orders. The staff come across as friendly and patient even when it's busy, and one visitor described the lady who served them as the friendliest they'd met on their trip. A couple of people mention the inside can run cold, so bring a layer on a chilly day.

Getting in is easy. There's a free car park and free street parking, and travellers with vans say there's room for them nearby. The entrance and car park are wheelchair accessible, and you can pay by card or phone. It's open most days, but it's worth checking the hours before you set out, especially on weekends. For a bakery in Mortlake, Clarke's Pies earns the diversion.