I had an express pedi done. Luckily I wasn't in a hurry as it took close to an hour. The lady doing my nails did a good job but was really slow and it took a couple of goes onsome of my toes before she was happy with the result. She was really lovely and had a great attitude but was clearly learning. Overall she did a pretty good job, just very slow. The thing that annoyed me a bit I'd that they charged about $30 which would be ok to charge if she wasn't on L plates.

I had heard good things about Soul Mama, so was expecting to go. We went for a friends birthday, and were really disappointed. As my husband pointed out, all the food tasted the same - bland and slightly spicy. We started with a quesadia which tasted OK, but the soy burger, and the slop served in the bay-marie was the same taste, just a different texture. You have to queue for the food unless you order off the very limited menu, not table service. The serves are big, but we didn't eat much due to lack of taste. So if value is quantity then its good value. The best thing going for this place are the views over the bay. I'd give this one a miss. There are better vegetarian places out there.

for decadent European cakes, you can't go past Europa cakes. I particularly like their filled biscuits. They also serve coffee, so you can order a slice of cake and have it with coffee on their premises. I have long been going to the store of the same name in St Kilda, so was excited to find that they had a second store that was closer to us, and where parking was not a problem. They are always busy, and I wandered whether this had resulted in the less than enthusiastic approach of the people who work there.

I have found this to be the best Chinese restaurant in the area. We have eaten here for yum cha, and also for dinner and take away. We have generally had very good experiences and have found the food to be really good (although chinese is not my favourite). I was disappointed by recent issues with cleanliness as reported by 366 - I always thought the place seemed really clean. Even though I have read the article about poor practices I would return as my personal experiences have been good.

This is one of the best Thai restaurants around. They also sell Burmese food. I loved their green curries and their masman curry. Went on recommendation of a colleague and was not disappointed. Their quality was what I would expect from a CBD based restaurant - they pitch themselves as fine dining, and I have to say that they meet this expectation. A little more expensive than what you would expect in the suburbs, but the quality justified the extra cost. We had takeaway, but next time I'd like to eat there as it looked like it would provide a good experience.

Approximate cost: $14

This deli is straight out of Eastern Europe. They mainly sell ham products, but have a range of other things including cheeses, jam, chocolates etc. It is really well priced. A bit of an institution in Bentleigh, it is always packed. This is a sign that it is good, but the downside of this is there is always a long wait.

my child goes to Bambini. Evidently we were very lucky to get in. My advice is to put your name down when pregnant if you want to get in. My experience is that the childcare team there really do care and want the best for your child. Not only are they caring but they are skilled and put together stimulating programs to spark your child's imagination. The food is great, much better than I have time to organise. I feel really relaxed going to work knowing that she is in such great care. The premises are excellent, the sleeping facilities are clean and each child has his/her own cot allocated. The outdoor areas are well equipped with equipment. The admin team are also friendly and professional. I find that they have been great in terms of communication with us as well. If there is a down side it is the cost. It is on the pricy side, but at the end of the day was only a couple of hundred more than others in the area, and for us it was well worth the expense. I have given 4 stars on value because i think that the service they give is worth the amount they pay... but they are on the expensive side

Approximate cost: $113

This place offer basic old school pizza. There is nothing fancy about it. If you are looking for something gourmet, steer clear. But if you want cheap pizza with plenty of topping then this place is for you. It is dirt cheap. We get three large pizzas for about $20.

Approximate cost: $7

This baguettes at this bakery are the best I've had outside of France. This bakery is something I'd expect to find in one of the more upmarket bayside suburbs. I highly recommend their croissants, their baguettes and their sausage rolls. To top if off the baker at this French style bakery is actually French. Bon Appetit!

Approximate cost: $2

I recently changed hairdressers. I have fine hair which has a habit of looking limp. I decided that now I am in my mid 30's I should really get a more professional but fun haircut. Suzy from Wentworth was brilliant. My hair cut is really great, and is exactly what I asked for. People I have never met in my office have complemented me on it, not to mention all my friends and family. The quality and service was great, but this was surprisingly matched by a very reasonable price. I thought being at the Paris end of Collins st that they would be very expensive. But actually they were very reasonable. Highly recommend Suzy at Wentworth.