Saba Artisan Bakery

Saba Artisan Bakery, Bardon has changed to French Tarts and awaits a new review.

It may be small, it may be laidback and unassuming, but Saba is a serious foodie’s destination, with 2012 Masterchef finalist Filippo Silvestro manning the wood-fired pizza oven and turning his hand to fresh daily loaves, Italian style while renowned pastry chef Ben Haslett (ex-London’s Waldorf Hilton) churns out light golden croissants and patisserie items.

Behind the enterprise is long term city restaurateur Joseph Nicotra who greets customers like long lost friends.

In the mornings croissants, Danishes (sweet cheese, apricot or apple crumble), still warm sourdough loaves and well-brewed Elixir coffees walk out the door while during the day customers drop by for quiches, baguette sandwiches, milk shakes and divine pastries like caramel and hazelnut or vanilla slices and redberry crunch.

Once the sun sets*, the traditional pizza oven fires up and diners can get their fill of Italian style pizzas like Margherita, Pepperoni, 4 Cheese, Calzone and, for dessert, Nutella.

Highly recommended is the Volcano – tomato, mozzarella, pepperoni, mushrooms, drizzled with hot chilli oil – and, for something different, the Summer – a lightly heated pizza base with fresh salad-like topping of cherry tomato, mozzarella, rocket and olives.

Customers can dine in at one of the marble topped tables inside or out front, casual Italian street style at the low tables with stools (or take away).

Need to know – At the time of writing in Oct 2014 a side driveway was being converted into a covered dining terrace, which, before year’s end will feature a frozen yoghurt/gelato and juice stand in the afternoons. *Pizzas available from 6pm daily.