The Basin Bakery

If you're after a proper pie in The Basin, this is the bakery people point you to. The pies are what get the most talk: a seafood pie that one truck driver makes a point of stopping for whenever he's passing through Melbourne's outer east, and a steak and chilli pie that one rider called the best he could remember. There are also pizza pies, sausage rolls and pasties on the counter, and vegan pies for anyone who skips the meat. The vegan range is a genuine plus, not an afterthought.

Beyond the pies, the cabinet carries a good spread of slices, donuts, coffee scrolls and salad rolls, and one local rates the salad rolls as the best in the area. Coffee is a draw too, and cyclists heading up to the Basin or into the ranges like it as a quieter stop away from the busier cafes. It's a friendly place, with staff who are helpful and cheerful even when the queue builds, and Mario gets a mention as something of a local legend.

They do custom cake orders and catering as well. One family had them cater a first birthday for around fifty guests, with sandwiches, wraps, fairy bread and mini pies and sausage rolls, and they came away planning to use them again for any function. Prices are widely seen as fair for the amount of food you get.

One person felt a pie was a bit hot and the pastry base thick, and there's been the odd grumble about how a special was handled. At peak times, like the days after New Year when other cafes are shut, the place gets slammed and coffees can be slow. Seating is outdoors only, and the resident cockatoos are keen to share your lunch, so keep an eye on your pie.

You can take away or eat in, and there's free parking out front and a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park. Cards and tap payments are all accepted. Check the hours before you go, since they open early most mornings.