I am a regular who has been coming here for many years, maybe only once every two weeks, but that adds up to a lot of visits! I both eat in, grab a coffee and buy the bread.
The bread
Never had a dud loaf....All are lovely. My teenage daughter recommends the cornbread. I love the fruit bread and the rye. I have tried all. They sell off yesterday's loaves at a significant mark down if you buy a loaf of fresh. These are great to toast or freeze. The Good Loaf bread is also available to buy in towns around Bendigo so you don't necessarily have to come into Bendigo.
My recommended dish
I have eaten other things on the menu, but I love the vegetarian frittata served with a tomato relish in a small side dish and a substantial portion of the salad of the day on the side. I have read some other reviews, and I can only say, man, people can winge. This is a well-balanced meal. The frittata is substantial with lots of pumpkin and spinach with a lovely flavour (it is always fresh and sometimes sold out), the salad is always excellent (different each time) and could come with nuts, quinoa, rice, salad, roast veg and is dressed subtly. It is never salty or overseasoned. The tomato relish is quite sweet but a perfect accompaniment to the frittata. My family and I have had various other meals, and all have not disappointed. I think the food is priced well.
The coffee
It is consistently very good. Other drinks we have had over the years have all been good. Water bottles and glasses in a fridge are available self-serve.
Service
Friendly and to the point, especially whilst ordering at the cash register (there is no table service). When food is served, the staff are more friendly, have more time and are less pressured. My main comment would be It is a busy place - staff bake, prepare, serve, clear, clean, etc. and whilst not understaffed, they don't have time to suffer fools gladly. If they have ever gotten anything wrong (v rare), my experience on every occasion is they fix it up without a fuss.
The building
It is situated in a rustically converted circular tyre repair shop, with lots of concrete around and above. Think 50's America workshop, sort of like a rising UFO. I've not seen that many old workshops like this in Australia, even 50 years ago, and not many are remaining now. This is a bit of Aussie architecture to be retained.
An aside - Bendigo Hospital has a Good Loaf too!
The Good Loaf has another site at the Bendigo Hospital, which is just as good - it is tucked away near the teaching buildings to the North-East of the main entrance but well worth seeking out if you are there.
The seating
There is some limited indoor seating, perhaps four tables seating four each and a stand/sitting area for maybe room for three, shared with the available newspapers for customers to read. The outdoor seating is split between that which is open to the elements and a semi-permanent enclosed gazebo. The site is exposed on a good day, it's lovely, but being circular with a very high roof, it can get overly warm, windy, wet, etc. It is never enough to put me and many others off and never so bad that it is genuinely unpleasant. It just is as it is. If the owners put up barriers, it would detract from the simplicity of the building and probably wouldn't work unless it was very substantial. But I'd imagine some would find the seating a challenge. My advice in dealing with it is to grow a bit of backbone and live a little!
Parking
Almost always free parking on site for 30 mins (the limit on the sign). If you miss out on onsite, there is plenty of metered parking directly outside on the street and only one block away unmetered (a short walk).
Cleanliness
My only gripe or constructive feedback. I agree with some of the other comments. Whilst clean-ish and adequate, I think the place could do with a regular deep clean and more regular cleaning of tables, the building, windows, walls, flooring, etc. I've worked in hospitality (in the past) and eaten in many places. Changing this would take a concerted cultural shift from the owner/management/staff, but it would be good. I think may increase patronage overall and particularly with the return of some customers. I think I would enjoy the place more if they upped the cleaning too.
It hasn't put me off, though. I will be back for more lovely food, made and served by the lovely staff.More