Howard Springs Takeaway/Bakery

This is a no-frills spot in Howard Springs that locals treat as a proper old-school takeaway and bakery, the kind of place you stop at for a pie and leave with a doughnut for the road. Pies are the main draw, and the range goes well beyond plain mince: tomato, beef, cheese and onion, chicken and vegetable, chicken and mushroom, cheese and bacon, even baked bean. A sausage roll and a vanilla slice sit alongside them, and the iced doughnuts get plenty of love. One visitor called the chocolate one the best they'd ever had and went back for a second, while a regular says the lady behind the counter will happily put together a plain doughnut with cream just for them.

It isn't only a bakery counter. The kitchen also turns out fish and chips and a chicken schnitzel burger, and one local reckons the batter on the fish is worth driving up from Darwin for. You can dine in or take it away, and coffee and breakfast are on offer too, with early starts across the week. Check the hours before you head in.

One person found a chunky steak pie a bit tough, another came away unimpressed by the pastry and a pink-looking mince filling, and the hot chocolate has been called a little bland. The pies are worth trying, so it may come down to which one you pick.

What people agree on is the welcome. Friendly service comes up again and again, even from those who weren't sold on the pie, and the food is considered good value. One happy customer described a lovely woman at the shop who carried a special order out to the table for a friend in hospital. On the first weekend of the month the car park fills with the Cars and Coffee crowd, so expect it to be busy then.

Parking is free, the entrance and car park are wheelchair accessible, and you can pay by card or phone. If you're after a bakery in Howard Springs for an honest, friendly feed with no frills, start with a pie.