The Passionate Baker

In Bunbury, The Passionate Baker is the kind of bakery people tend to treat as a breakfast and coffee stop as much as a place to pick up pies. Some locals will tell you the venue has been trading under a different name lately, so don't be thrown if the signage doesn't match what you've seen online.

The setup suits a sit-down start to the day or a quick grab on the way past. You can dine in or take away, and there's a full breakfast menu alongside the bakery cabinet. One local was happy with a potato rosti Benny and the French toast, and the menu stretches to plenty of vegetarian choices, plus dishes like nasi goreng and poke bowls that you don't always find at a bakery in Bunbury. The coffee gets a good word, and so does the modern, welcoming fit-out. Portions are described as generous.

In the cabinet, people mention pies, sausage rolls, pasties, donuts, salad rolls, pastries and sweet treats. The jam donut and the pies and cakes get a thumbs-up from at least one regular, and the fresh rolls and sandwiches are a favourite for people grabbing lunch near the gym or school. Custom cake orders are also on offer if you're planning something for an occasion.

What comes up most is the staff. Friendly, accommodating service is the thing people keep mentioning, and it's a big part of why the place is valued locally.

We've heard the odd grumble about pies that weren't hot enough and baked goods that didn't seem fresh, and one person found the bread disappointing, so it's worth asking what's just come out if you're after something warm. A regular also found it a touch pricey, though they kept coming back for the service.

Practically, there's free street parking and a free car park, with a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park, and cards and tap-to-pay are accepted. It's open daily, with slightly shorter hours on weekends, so check the hours before you head in.