Pies, Pedals and Pooches at Wattle Park Bakery
Wattle Park Bakery - Selection
Some bakeries sell pies and coffee.
Wattle Park Bakery feels like part of the neighbourhood.
Lance and Trudy Bishop have owned it for more than 25 years. You don’t last that long without doing plenty right.
The first thing that struck me was the sheer range. Pies, pasties and sausage rolls filled the warmer, with so many varieties that choosing one wasn’t easy.
The chilli cheese chorizo pie is the hero, with pepper steak and Philly cheese steak also among the favourites.
Wattle Park Bakery - Pies
And that was just the savoury section.
The display cabinet was packed with cakes, slices, tarts, cheesecakes and some seriously oversized doughnuts. The citrus tarts were delicious.
I was told around 90 per cent of the bakery items are made on site.
The bakery was busy, but the service was fast and the atmosphere relaxed.
Then there was Pip, our waitress.
Wattle Park Bakery - Waitress Pip
Friendly, attentive and knowledgeable, she made us feel genuinely welcome.
I chose the barbecue chicken sourdough toastie. It arrived quickly and hit the spot. The coffee was excellent and came with a little biscuit on the side.
A small touch, but a good one.
The bakery itself has plenty of personality. Handwritten menus and playful slogans cover the black walls, giving you something new to read wherever you look. There is local honey and apricot jam on display too. It all adds to the strong local feel.
The covered outdoor area was another standout. Long communal tables, plants, overhead heaters and blankets on request make it inviting on colder days. It is comfortable and easy to settle into.
Wattle Park Bakery - Outdoor Area
Lance is a cyclist himself, which helps explain the impressive bike-rack system. Up to 12 bikes can be hung vertically around the outside of the seating area, safely out of the way.
The bakery has become a favourite post-ride stop for several local cycling groups—particularly on Saturday mornings. Cyclists settle in for coffee, breakfast and the far more important business of talking about the ride.
Wattle Park Bakery - Bike Rack
Dogs are clearly welcome too.
There is a water bowl, a purpose-built kennel labelled “Wattle Dog” and even “Doggy Donuts” for sale. Among the regulars is Noodle, a little black-and-white Shih Tzu who loves a familiar face.
Strangers, however, have to earn her approval.
Nobody seemed in much of a hurry to leave.
They come to eat.
They come to talk.
And quite often, they stay longer than they intended.
Wattle Park Bakery - Pooch
Photo Credit: Brett Partington
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