The Great Australian Bakehouse & Cafe

If you're after a bakery in Pakenham that doubles as a proper sit-down cafe, The Great Australian Bakehouse & Cafe on Main Street has been doing exactly that for 20 years. It sits close to the train station, which makes it an easy meeting spot, and the tagline about freshly baked favourites daily matches what people say: items come out fresh from the oven, and the cabinet is generous.

Pies are the bakery side of the story. Locals mention them first, along with pasties and sausage rolls, in plenty of varieties. Bread, pastries and cakes fill out the counter too, including caramel slice and smaller portion sizes if you only want a little something. Gluten-free and vegan options are available, and custom cake orders and catering are on offer as well, so it's worth asking about those when you call.

Then there's the cafe. The toasties are a regular talking point, with one local raving about a reuben-style toastie that was generously filled and a melt that came out perfectly toasted. Wraps and sandwiches get a nod for being packed with fresh ingredients, and the flat white and latte are made to order, hot and smooth. Breakfast is on the menu, and it's a popular way to start the day.

You can eat inside, with its exposed brick and timber floors, or grab a seat out along Main Street on a sunny day. Takeaway is straightforward if you're on the run. Staff are described again and again as friendly and welcoming, and one local noted they were looked after kindly even when walking in close to closing time. Parking out the front can be tight, though there's free street parking and a free car park nearby, including an accessible one. Cards and tap-and-go payments are accepted.

We've heard one unhappy experience about how a complaint was handled, and one local felt the counter service didn't match the food. Most people, though, come away happy and come back regularly. They open early most days and close mid-afternoon, so check the hours before heading in.