Artisanal Bakehouse

313 Centre Road
Bentleigh VIC 3204
https://www.artisanalbakehouse.com.au/

For an early birthday treat, I went and got myself a haul from the hidden gem that is Artisanal Bakehouse. With decorated alumni from some of the fanciest places in France, the pastries here are the real deal. And without a doubt, everything I tried was delicious and of the highest quality. If you’re sick of Lune getting all the pastry cred around Melbourne (though don’t get me wrong, I love that sanctum of butter more than most), Artisanal Bakehouse is a worthy contender. And the icing on top is that there’s no crazy-ass markup, so you can get your kwa-son and latte for less than a tenner.

Rating: 14/20 – the real deal in pastry.
The best one? The chocolate almond croissant.

Unlike the towering confection at Lune, the Croissant aux Amandes ($5.5) here is a more pared back affair, consisting of a flat crescent of pastry, topped with almonds and filled with a smear of frangipane. But despite (or maybe because of) the simplicity, everything about it is just right, with a neat balance between crisp and fluffy, sugary and buttery. I can also vouch for the chocolate almond version, which is the best call if you’re after something more decadent.

The Cinnamon Roll ($4.5) is a crowd favourite, and I am happy to jump on that bandwagon. For the price of a coffee, you get a miraculous confection of buttery layers, fragrant cinnamon sugar, and the most decadent caramelised edges. Eaten with a hot drink, these little babies are the key to true happiness and inner peace.

The Garlic Croissant ($5.5) also came highly recommended, but honestly, I was a bit underwhelmed. Though perfectly delicious and flawless in technique, I wanted more garlic. Make my breath stink, y’all!

The heartier options include a variety of sandwiches, and whilst the Tuna Sandwich ($12) may not be the first choice for most, I can absolutely vouch for it. The balance between the creamy tuna salad and crunchy fresh veggies is both refreshing and indulgent, and when stuffed into a good sourdough roll, brings to mind long, lazy picnics on a summer afternoon.

The traditionalists will enjoy the Beef Pie ($8), which comes with a filling of slow-cooked Angus beef in a light gravy. The pastry is, of course, perfectly light and buttery.