Banjo’s Bakery Café - St Helens

For a bakery in St Helens, Tasmania, Banjo's Bakery Café is the kind of place that suits a quick stop on the way to the Bay of Fires just as well as a sit-down breakfast. It's a franchise bakery café, baking breads fresh on the premises each day, alongside cakes, donuts, savouries and handmade treats. Dine-in, takeaway and delivery are all on offer, and there's catering and custom cake ordering for bigger occasions.

The pies are what come up most. Locals will tell you the pastry holds together well, with decent chunks of beef inside, and the scallop pie has won over at least one visitor. Beef and mushroom, mince meat and steak and mushroom are the sort of fillings people talk about, and the sausage rolls and sour dough rye get a mention too. Prices are considered fair for what you get, which helps if you're feeding a few people.

It's more than a pie counter, though. People mention the coffee often, from a good cappuccino to a barista-made flat white, and there's a decent run of lighter options, including vegetable rolls, wraps and a couple of vegan and vegetarian choices. We've heard the vanilla slice is worth considering if you're after something sweet, and the hot cross buns were a hit at Easter.

The staff are a real part of the story here. One visitor with several food sensitivities was impressed by how patiently a team member went through the ingredients to find something safe to eat, and another noted the crew kept the coffees coming with a smile when more than forty people packed in. Like any busy counter, it can slow down when there's a queue and only a couple of people serving, and one customer suggested toasting the ham and cheese croissant a little longer so it isn't cold in the middle.

There's plenty of seating inside, free street parking and a free car park, and a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park. It's open every day, with generally long hours, though it's worth checking ahead.