Davies Bakery

Davies Bakery in Tarragindi is the sort of neighbourhood bakery someone will happily drive to. We've heard of one local making the trip from 45 minutes away, then coming back the very next day to check it wasn't a fluke. It wasn't.

The pies are a big part of the draw, with the pepper and steak featuring proper chunks of meat and a good hit of pepper. Sausage rolls get just as much love. Beyond the savoury side, there's a good range of bread, freshly made sandwiches and salad rolls (the roast beef roll has its fans), plus donuts, small quiches and an almond croissant that one visitor called the best they'd ever had. Custom cakes are also on offer. If bread is your thing, sourdough is the one to look at. A newcomer to the area who'd tried every bakery nearby said this was the first proper sourdough they'd found, and the seeded loaf gets a mention too.

Everything is baked fresh, and the value gets praised, with generous portions that people feel are fair for what they get. We've heard one grumble about a pie that wasn't crisp enough, and another about small tarts that felt dear for their size, so it's worth checking prices on smaller items before you order. The coffee gets a mixed response too, with some calling it excellent and others finding it merely fine.

You can take your order away or settle in. There's a covered outdoor seating area with wooden benches, a relaxed spot for a roll and a coffee on a weekend morning. Staff are friendly and quick, and one regular singled out the woman with pink hair at the counter for her service. Access is good, with a wheelchair-accessible entrance, car park, seating and toilet, plus free street parking and a free car park. They take cards and mobile payments. Hours run early most days, so check them before you head in.

If the weather's kind, the Toohey Forest picnic area is a short drive up the hill, a nice place to eat a pie among the gum trees.