I met a friend there for brunch one Saturday afternoon and it was packed out. We were seated at the back corridor of the cafe and there was literally 30cm between one table and the next. It was too noisy, we felt rushed, the wait staff hurried and inattentive (understandable since I'd estimate the ratio of staff to table was 1:8).

The food and coffee was decent but nothing I'd wait in line for (which we did). This was rather disappointing as I went there after hearing rave reviews about the place. The reality was that I could've eaten the same thing at any other decent cafe in Melbourne.

Approximate cost: $10-20

Working as a makeup-artist means I spend a lot of time with photographers and models but I've never been in front of the camera until I won a shoot with Urban Life Photography. The prize package included makeup and hair and a mounted canvas print.

I found the shooting experience lovely - the photographer is very friendly and funny, which is excellent because a relaxed subject makes a beautiful picture. The in-house makeup artist is very experienced but I thought the hygiene of the brushes could improve a little more. After the shoot they take you to a small room to show you the pictures which you have to choose immediately and I felt very pressured to buy. I understand this is necessary but it made me very uncomfortable (especially on a tight budget).

We split my shoot into an indoors headshot 30mins session and an outdoors 30mins session with my car. The photographer is definitely better with close-range, indoors photography. My headshots looked wonderful but my full-length, outdoor ones did not.

Approximate cost: $200+

We went there about a week ago on a friend's recommendation. The food was a bit hit and miss: we ordered two plates of duck - one was excellent and the other was a little below average, the Nasi Goreng is fantastic but the seafood salad was fairly terrible.

The waitress on the night didn't carry a pen and pad so of course she forgot a dish when we ordered. When we ask her to check on it, it was fairly obvious she had left it out of our order. Towards the end of the entire meal it still hadn't come and we had to ask for it a third time. Completely disappointing.

Approximate cost: $20-35

Great home-y little cafe. Very comfortable to catch up with a friend in since there is no loud music and very, very comfy cushions and pillows on the benches. The coffee's very decent (not amazing) but the food is the main draw card. If you're having lunch there you should try the meatballs or the chicken pot pie - both are to die for!

The service is also fantastic - they take pride in what they do which is so rare nowadays. I wouldn't go there with a big crowd though - they tend to get a bit overwhelmed if it's a big table.

Approximate cost: $20