Cheap Eats - Great Australian bites

There is a word in Australia that has no real translation in the United States. The word is “daggy,” and it means terminally unhip, but in a lovable way. An otherwise serious person who has a tendency to say goofy things might be called “a bit of a dag.” An old sweater that has no fashion value but is nonetheless a favorite would be labeled daggy. Daggy is a word that comes to mind when considering East Atlanta — slightly shabby but in an endearing way. It is also a word that describes the Australian Bakery Cafe.

Aussie Authenticity: The thing that struck me when I first entered the Australian Bakery Cafe in East Atlanta (there is also a Marietta location) was how much it resembled a neighborhood Australian sandwich shop. The decor, or lack thereof, is the height of authenticity, with random Australian-themed wall decorations, mismatched furniture and an overhead chalkboard menu. Places like this are as ubiquitous in Australia as McDonald’s is here. And the food is as authentic as the ambiance.

Easy as Pie: A large glass case showcases an amazing array of Australian delicacies. The star of the show is the meat pie, the snack that is to Australia what the hot dog is to America. There is something so satisfying about having your own personal pie — hot, crusty and filled with gravy and meat. The Australian Bakery Cafe does a very nice version of the original meat pie, as well as eight variations, from steak and onion to barbecue chicken. For nostalgia’s sake I usually stick with the original, but the others are tasty, and the lamb curry pie with its spicy filling is fast becoming a staple of my diet.

Good Tucker: There are other great Australian snacks to be had here. My favorite is the Cornish pastie, which is buttery pastry filled with meat and vegetables. The sausage roll, which is sausage meat surrounded by pastry, is great for kids. Australian sweets are also particularly good here, with one of the best versions of a lamington I have had in America or Australia. The lamington is a square of yellow cake soaked in chocolate and then rolled in coconut. You might also want to try a vanilla slice, which is vanilla custard between sheets of sugared baked phyllo. I was turned off at an early age by the Australian nickname for vanilla slice (snotblock), but if you’re a custard fan you’re sure to like it.

Happy Little Vegemites: For those of you who know Vegemite only as a summer camp hazing tool, the cheesy Vegemite scroll at the Australian Bakery Cafe is a good gateway snack. For those already aware of the strange pleasures of the spread, it is available here by the jar, along with other Australian groceries and candies.

There is a full menu of breakfast and lunch sandwiches to be had here as well, and all of them are decent. But for me, it’s all about the bakery items. Nothing brings out the child in me like my very own pie. Whether you’re an Aussie ex-pat or a newcomer to the cuisine, you can be sure you’re getting the real deal here. Fair dinkum.