Raqwa Cafe & Bakery

Raqwa Cafe & Bakery is a Syrian-leaning bakery and cafe in Preston, Victoria, and one local summed up the surprise nicely: they walked in expecting a usual bakery and found a proper Syrian menu instead. The front is a bakery-style counter. Walk straight through and there's a courtyard and beer garden out the back, which people enjoy for lunches, and the space has a welcoming atmosphere.

The wood-fired menu is the main event. Locals talk about the zaatar, beef mince, lamb and fajita chicken breads, all fresh from the oven, along with dips and hummus served with wood-fired bread. The chickpea fatteh with lamb gets a lot of love, and the stuffed baby eggplants, garlic lemony potatoes and meat platters are mentioned too. Wraps are on the table as well, and there's a Syrian big breakfast for those who want to settle in for a while. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all covered, plus dessert and coffee, and the coffee gets real praise, including Arabic coffee.

Vegetarian and vegan options are easy to find here. One vegan local tried the eggplant and hummus, zaatar and tomato breads and came away delighted. Dine-in, takeaway and delivery are all available, and they do catering. It's halal.

The staff come up again and again. People describe the welcome as warm and family-like, and the coffee by Noor is singled out by name. Prices are described as affordable for the amount you get, so it's good value for a filling meal. One person did mention fruit juices arriving well after the mains, so if timing matters, it's worth a gentle nudge at the counter.

The back courtyard is the spot for a leisurely meal, while students and coffee-grabbers use the front. Parking nearby is limited, with some across the road and more behind the cafe. They close in the late afternoon for a break and open again for dinner on certain nights, so check the hours before you head in.