Cobar Hot Bake

If you're passing through Cobar on the Barrier Highway, this is the bakery on the corner of Marshall and Barton Streets, and it's the sort of place locals and travellers alike pull up at for a pie. It used to trade as The Great Western Bakery, so you may hear the old name used around town.

Pies are the main drawcard. The curry pie gets the most talk, with one visitor saying it was the best they'd eaten in over two years, with real curry flavour and a bit of bite. A chilli pie has its fans too, and people say the pastry and filling come out fresh. Beyond the pie warmer you'll find sausage rolls, pasties, filled rolls, sandwiches, jam buns, scrolls, donuts and fresh bread, plus a decent spread of salads if you'd rather something lighter. Coffee and breakfast are on offer as well.

It's a traditional country bakery in the old-fashioned sense, and one traveller was glad to back a local shop over a franchise. The mining community is a regular crowd, and staff are known for being friendly and quick, even when the shop is full. Prices are generally seen as fair for what you get.

It isn't flawless. We've heard the odd grumble about food that wasn't as hot as it should be, and a couple of people weren't happy with the salad fillings or the extra charge for sauce. The takeaway-only cups are worth knowing about too, so bring a keep cup if you have one.

Seating is limited to a couple of tables outside, which suit a sunny morning, though there's nothing indoors. Takeaway is the easy option, and some people grab lunch here and eat it in a nearby park. Free street parking is close by, and they take cards and mobile payments. Hours run long, starting very early every day, but it's worth checking before you head in, especially on weekends.