Baker Friday

You could be forgiven for feeling a vague sense of deja vu when walking into Baker Friday. No, it's not a new outlet of Bourke Street Bakery. Certainly, though, Baker Friday's industrial space, wooden furnishings and big blackboard menu are a respectful nod to Bourke Street from owner Paul Giddings. Giddings was previously head baker at the Alexandria Bourke Street Bakery before he decided to branch out on his own.

Tucked away down a sidestreet in the pedestrian mall at Bondi Junction, Baker Friday provides a very welcome retreat from the frenetic shopping hordes and brings a welcoming village feel to an otherwise impersonal shopping megaplex. Try the housemade roast beef and beetroot sandwich with parsley mayo, or the perfect sausage roll: tasty mince, flaky golden pastry, no excess grease. There's are vegetarian options too, including a veggie pie and some snack-tastic empanadas with spinach, ricotta and sultanas that are only $3.50 a pop.

The sweet treats in the cabinet are worth saving some room for and if you would like to prolong your gluten love affair grab a loaf of the mixed olive sourdough baked in-house ($6), which will keep you going till your next visit. And visit again we think you will.

Baker Friday had only been open for a month when Time Out dropped by and already there was a steady stream of people diving through the doors, especially around lunchtime, drawn to the smell of fresh-baked bread and Aroma organic coffee. Lately the inner west has had more than their share of boutique bakeries dishing out handmade, pastry-wrapped parcels of delight and so we reckon it's about time someone spread the love eastward.