This is by far my favourite Indian restaurant. It might even be my all time most loved place to go.

Don't be fooled by the exterior! This place is the most authentic Indian you can get. The banquets are unbelievable and I dare anyone to get through it all!

Every dish is amazing and the variety is mindblowing. You need atleast half an hour to choose. Get a banquet!

The prices are even more amazing. You can get the most filling and generous meal for next to nothing.

The staff are pleasant and highly efficient and the whole place has a really authentic Indian atmosphere. You can even see into the kitchen, which is always a bonus.

Go here! It's fantastic.

Approximate cost: $10+

Nursery and giftware aside, this is a great little spot for a light lunch and coffee. It's always busy on a weekend, but the staff always get you a table. They have lots of little gourmet treats and very 'Australian' based cuisine. The savoury muffins are surprisingly filling but save room for a chai latte, as they are a nutty, creamy treat to indulge in.

The nursery features all Australian native plants. The staff are only too happy to give you advice on anything and everything to do with natives, but ask for a foreign plant you'll get one of those looks that make you wish you hadn't asked (I went to a local nursery for my protea).

The shop itself has a great selection of special giftwares and gardening accessories. It's a great place to catch up with family or friends, but it reminds me of the kind of place my nana would have liked :)

Approximate cost: $10+

After hearing rave reviews, we decided to try Platypus for lunch one day. Sadly, we were a bit disappointed. We were the only customers for at least the first 40 minutes that we sat waiting for our meals. When they arrived, they were of average quality and didn't appear to match the descriptions in the menu.

The service was pretty poor as our table kept having ants drop onto it from a nearby tree and along with the sticky marks from previous customers, it made for bit of a mess - but noone was around to clean it up.

We asked for some water, but ended up with dirty glasses. At that point, one of the cooks walked out from the kitchen and lit up a cigarette, put their feet up and sat outside for half an hour (all the time we were waiting for our meals!). As we were the only customers at that point, we felt a bit hard done by.

After eating we quickly left, and decided that would be it. However...

Because so many people had said it was good, we gave it another try for dinner. While this experience was much better (we ate inside, there were more people around), the meals were still pretty average. The service was generally better, but you still waited a long time for your meal.

Approximate cost: $15+

If you want service with a smile, you might not want to pop in to the Bystander. And if you're not keen on hearing any conversation at the dinner table, make sure you don't sit in a booth! Aside from that, the Innocent Bystander provides a variety of great lunch and dinner options. The four-cheese pizza is truly a must. Toss in a glass of moscato and you'll be on a real winner.

I've never done a wine tasting here, but its very popular. My reason is only that I don't feel very welcomed by the bar staff and feel more like I'm intruding on their territory than being a customer.

Despite the issues, we do go here when we want a good pizza or something a little gourmet and different.

Approximate cost: $10+

It might be right at the edge of the main strip of shops in Healesville, but there's no need to go further. Wattleseed is a fantastic quality restaurant with a delicious menu and a good atmosphere. It can get pretty busy at times, so you might want to book for dinner over weekends.

My favourite meal is the seafood hot pot. It's got a good selection of seafood and really warms you up around the winter months. To finish, the desserts are particularly indulgent and come in generous servings. Combine this with a creamy latte and you're on a true comfort food winner.

Gets my thumbs up!

Approximate cost: $15+

We've been here for dinner and lunch now and we've been happy with the result both times.
Ranges is a neat little restaurant along the main street of Olinda. The warm fire place is a great feature during the winter months, and goes quite well with one of their creamy lattes and a slice of mouth-watering cake (huge servings, by the way).

The menu features a great deal of local fare, which is a bit pricey, but good quality. The lamb pie and the fish and chips have my recommendation. Servings are substantial, so you may not opt for both dessert and an entree. But I do recommend trying one or the other, as you'll enjoy yourself.

Approximate cost: $15+

As regular visitors to Olinda we like to try a variety of the restaurants, cafes and pubs in the area. With its appealing outside facade, we couldn't go past Credo and we're glad we did!
Credo is a gorgeous little restaurant offering a mostly Italian cuisine and a cosy atmosphere. The bruschetta is a fantastic start to a meal, as is the dip platter which comes with a delicious serving of turkish break.
Lunch was equally fantastic. We actually had a lot of trouble choosing. Pasta or calamari? Barramundi or prawns? In the end, we went with our favourites: spaghetti and meatballs and tiger prawn risotto. The results? Scumptious.

Generally, the service was pleasing. The staff were pleasant enough and attended to all the details. But, really it was what you would expect.

This is a great little restaurant for a little lunch, bit of brekky or a dynamite dinner. Well worth it.

Approximate cost: $15+

Sick of buying your limp lettuce in a bag? Or getting tasteless tomatoes and old broccoli? Well, I was too. I wanted an alternative to Safeway and Coles' plastic wrapped fruit and vegetables. I also wanted to support local produce that is organic and has a lower carbon footprint than other fruit shops. So, I discovered Gateway Estate!

Now, I do all my fruit, vegetable and meat shopping here. They sell in season varieties mostly and its just about all grown either on site in their hydroponic greenhouse or local to the area. Their meat is aged, grass-fed and absolutely beautiful. My husband is a huge meat-eater and he swears by their steaks. You can get local organic breads, local cheeses and they also stock pasta. The best part is the wine! Spend over $30 on groceries and you can get a bottle of wine for half price! We love the shiraz! They do tastings as well!

Since shopping here, I haven't once had to deal with floppy zucchinis, old potatoes or slimy lettuces. And, if I don't use my veggies within two days, they're still fresh and crisp. Not like any supermarket fruit and veg I've come across!

I love Thai food and go everywhere for it! But I always go back to Poppies either in Croydon or Healesville (the original Poppy works there!). The roti bread and coconut rice are worth their weight in gold. It's just a nice, affordable Thai meal and I love it.

Approximate cost: $15

They've certainly got the reputation, and they don't dissapoint! If Beechworth is too far to go, then head to Healesville and grab a cornish pastie. They are brilliantly awesome! I like to scoop out the yummy middle and eat the pastry last, but enough about my strange eating habits! I love their snickerdoodles - berry tartlets, their lemon slices are little pieces of heaven and if you just want a pie...they are pretty good too. If you don't feel like pastry, get a ham and tomato toastie. The bread is so thick and the cheese is so gooey and yum. Some days they're packed to the gills, but generally you get served quickly.

Approximate cost: $3+