The Rocky Bay Patisserie

Pies and banh mi share the counter at The Rocky Bay Patisserie in Safety Bay, which is a combination you don't see often. Ask around the area and the banh mi tends to get mentioned first, with the roast pork and crispy pork belly versions coming up most. The bread is made in-house, light and crackly without falling apart in your hands, and the rolls come generously filled with fresh pickled veg and plenty of chilli on request. A lemongrass beef version has its fans too.

The rice and noodle bowls are the other draw. Crispy chicken, crispy pork and lemongrass beef all get a mention, with a choice of noodles or rice, and portions that leave people full. One local drove a good 15 minutes just for the crispy pork bowl and came away calling it outstanding value. Lemongrass beef rice paper rolls are also on the list of things people rave about.

Back on the bakery side, the pies get a good wrap. We've heard the pastry is the highlight, with steak and onion earning praise for its caramelised onion flavour, and steak, bacon and cheese and a potato pie rounding out the range. Sausage rolls and a selection of pastries sit alongside. The odd person has felt a filling could use a touch more seasoning, but the pastry wins people over.

Staff are friendly and quick. One local rang ahead mid-afternoon and had a full order ready within minutes, chips and gravy included. Dine-in and takeaway are both on offer, with coffee and breakfast too, and there's free street parking and a free car park. Wheelchair-accessible entrance, seating and car park are all in place, and they take cards and mobile payments. One visitor suggested making the most of a sunny day by eating down on the foreshore.

Hours run a little shorter on weekends, so check before heading in. If you're in or near Safety Bay and after a bakery with a banh mi counter built in, this is the one to try.