I followed my usual GP to this practice over a year ago. Whilst it's a nice new building and the staff are professional, it's often hard to get an appointment within 72 hours of phoning. This sucks if you are sick. The last two times I have called wanting to see the doctor for treatment for illness and also to get a sick certificate for work - getting an appointment in 3 dyas time doesn't really help me out much.

To see my own specific doctor can be even harder as she's popular and it can take a week to see her - again not great when you're unwell today. The silly thing is the reception staff ask on the Phone if it's "urgent" - I find this hard to respond to - I'm sick enough I want to see a doctor as soon as possible, but not sick enough I called an ambulance - how urgent is that?!!

Approximate cost: $45

After an unfortunate rear end accident that was not our fault, but resulted in our car being sandwiched between a vicious bull bar in front and slow-to-brake vehicle behind, we went to Montrose Panel Beaters for a quote. They were prompt, helpful and knowledgable about the insurance claim systems and how to get the best result quickly.

The work was done to a great standard and the car came back to us looking new - detailed inside as well as out.

Approximate cost: $Varies

We have been to Moo several times over the past 18 months and our experiences have varied a bit depending on the day. When it's firing well, Moo is a great place with fun atmosphere, good food and wine and fine service. When it's a little off the mark, the quality of food and service drops. I once had my poached eggs for breakfast served to me cold with grey hard boiled centres - you get the drift.

It's fun for Mooroolbark to have somewhere like Moo that's new and fresh cafe style works well. It's also great they stock local things like the Yarra Valley produced Buckley's beer range.

We will go back again, and think it's worth risk - hopefully their good days will continue to out numebr their bad ones.

Approximate cost: $20

We literally walked into Kofi Beans off the street one Saturday afternoon. Having gone to Croydon to use up an old book store voucher we thought it looked fun and interesting so went in for some lunch and a coffee. We found a cafe-come-tea/coffee/gift-shop that would be standard fare in Fitzroy, but was excitingly out of place in Main Street Croydon. It's exciting because this is EXACTLY what Croydon needs - a high quality, relaxed atmosphere, funky cafe retreat that works whether you are just grabbing a cuppa to take away, sitting down with kids for Sunday breakky or having a business lunch.

The food is great, the service is accurate and efficient and the system of ordering, paying and taking your table number to wherever you wish to sit (including the courtyard to the rear) works like a well-oiled machine.

The breakfast prices are higher than usual, even taking into account that the food is good quality and well prepared. There is a good choice of organic and fairtrade coffee, tea and chocolate to take with you and the assortment of moroccan homewares is fun to look over although I expect the majority of items are priced a bit steeply for the area.

It was so good we went back again the next day!

Approximate cost: $expect $15-20 for breakfa

A group of 4 of us dined for the first time at Taj Agra on a Saturday night. The restaurant filled up quickly and we took that as a good sign. Although our food was fine (not WOW, but fine) and we did receive what we had ordered, the service overall was really disappointing. There seemed to be adequate numbers of staff, but many were unsure (eg. when asked if there was chai masala tea available as only tea/coffee was listed on the drinks menu) or simply inept (eg. we had to ask for water for our table 5 times). Simple things were forgotten (eg. no complimentary papadums arrived at our table until we queried why we had the sauces that go with them after entree).

The food was OK, but there are better Indian dining options around the area - we won't be going back.

Approximate cost: $11

Cru is fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere. I've been to this restaurant on several occasions now and it has a beautiful outlook across the Yarra Valley back towards Melbourne. It's situated alongside Outlook Hill Winery adn the cellar door is right with the restaurant if you feel like tasting some wine.

The food is seasonal and professionally prepared, always interesting and of high quality. Priced accordingly.

Approximate cost: $25+

A regular for lunch eat-in or take away - they let you phone ahead for super-fast pick-ups during lunch break which works well for me. They have a special lunch menu (which hasn't altered fro 4 years, but why change anything when you've got the right formula?!) that has set lunch value deals (like teriyaki fish set including mizo soup, spring rolls, teriyaki fish and rice for $8) or you can go the sushi/handroll option (lots of variety and $2 per handroll - and they're big!).

Food is always fresh and prepared quickly - they have a lot of lunchtime trade.

If you dine in the service can vary from fantastic to supremely dodgey - always a fun experience, but if you're short on time, phone ahead and collect.

Approximate cost: $<$10

I regularly get my lunch from Hind Tandoor - they do great value lunchtime deals and the food is always delicious. Curry Vegetables with Dahl and Rice and a Naan warm off the hot plate for under $10 always hits the spot! Simple seating on site and fast easy take away. the guy who owns this place does it all and he's a legend!

Approximate cost: $8.50

Two of us went for dinner on a Saturday night - the mood was great and the restaurant filled up quickly (always a good sign). They seem very family-friendly. Unforunately I think we got the staff on an off night as we seemed to struggle to get attentice sservice - the young staff seemed exceelent at making eye contact and looking at you, but not noticing the empty glasses or bottles on the table - even when delivering meals! In teh end we asked for the empty drinks to be taken away. The food was great, but after declining tea/coffee at teh end of the night we were again disappointed in having to sit and wait for our bill despite several staff standing around idle - in the end we got up and initiated this ourselves. The food was good enough that we'll go back and they were doing regular take away trade, so maybe that's the way to get the yummy food whilst avoiding the lack lustre service?!

Approximate cost: $12

Went to a friend's birthday drinks event at Madame Brussels and found it to be a totally unique and fun experience. The whole place is a mix of pink, fake lawn, antique furnishings and somehow pulls it off as a totally funky and fun venue wihtout seeming to "try too hard". We sampled many (oh dear!) of the cocktails and fantastic punches on offer (they go by fantastic names such as "vanilla and fruit of the loins punch") - although not cheap at $25, a small jug of punch between two goes a fair way (maybe 3 glasses each), so I would suggest everything's fairly priced. We didn't eat here at all, but the Grotto (out the back) was a perfect venue for a group of 10+. Nice anc cosy in Melbourne's Winter too.

Approximate cost: $Drinks varied from $10+