Contacted Paul of Total Automotive Service regarding a secondhand car I was looking at buying, that he had previously serviced. I was very impressed by his willingness to help search his records to provide information. Due to the car having new number plates the records didn't show up but he invited me to ring back when I acquired more information regarding the previous registration number or owner. When I found a record of the previous personalized number plate I rang again and he was again very accommodating. That is what I call excellent customer service. If I lived in the area and not 4 hrs away, I would certainly want him looking after my car

Whether it is accommodation or a restaurant what I am looking for is a place that offers me a positive experience that I want to talk about weeks or even years later. Some restaurants are so focused on the food that they overlook the other elements that create a memorable experience.
Alex’s has it all.
a) A selection of settings that cater for different taste- take away, or a conventional dining setting or the novel, somewhat quirky setting that will stimulate your mind for weeks to come.
b) Good food- pizzas, pastas, Asian, and a variety of traditional chicken and steak dishes.
c) Fabulous friendly customer service. My 10year old grandson felt compelled to say with great feeling ”they are very nice people here” and as we departed added “this was a very nice place to come. Thank you for bringing me here Nanna.”
For me it was the delight at being able to offer him an experience that was different from the conventional, but I also liked that he recognized and appreciate good customer service. The setting created a fun interaction as we converted the traditional game of eye spy into ‘spot the object’ with “can you find a ......” Give it a try.... See what you can spot.... Enjoy some good food....... Revel in some good old fashioned friendly customer service that will make you feel like you have reunited with some old friends.

The skill of a good salesperson is to be able to make an assessment about the customer and match your style of selling to what will suit that particular customer. Either David James of Coast Honda has that ability or his natural unassuming selling style is exactly what I want from a car salesperson.
He relies on the vehicle being capable of selling itself. He has the knowledge of the product and conveys it in a calm factual manner. There is an immediate feeling that this is an honest man. When you go for a test drive it will be because you are ready to do so not because you have been pressured in anyway. This makes for a very pleasant experience and allows uninterrupted thought processing. The man is a ‘gem’ and Honda was one of three options recommended by my mechanic.

I was very happy to find a restaurant in Warrnambool that offered a Tapas menu and Reunion Cafe Bar Restaurant certainly lived up to my expectations. There were 4 different bread options to share with your partner or group and an exciting array of chicken, pork, seafood, and vegetarian, options to choose from consisting of 2-5 pieces per serve.
You can choose your own combination or opt for the chefs Tapas Taste Plate and sample 4 set options, chosen by the chef, with 1 piece of each costing $18, or 2 pieces of each costing $30.
As Tuesday night was also oyster special night with a dozen oysters costing $15 which can be plain, kilpatrick, or pancetta and fetta, my companion chose to have these and we shared the 4 piece garlic Turkish loaf, followed by Chicken & chirizo croquettes with smokey aioli $9- which were delicious; twice cooked pork belly with caramalized apple $12 - to die for; Indonesian pork spring rolls $8 - nice; Malaysian chicken satay skewers & peanut sauce $12 -nice, quite hot.
The service was very good and meals were reasonably prompt. If you are like us and would prefer just two tapas optons be served at a time ask in advance. All four options were served together and as we hadn't encountered that before we didn't think to ask for them to be staggered, but the staff are very obliging so I am sure they would accommodate your wishes if you wanted to alter this.

During our visit I also noticed some very delicious looking options from the main menu, being served to fellow diners. During our visit I also noticed some very delicious looking options from the main menu, being served to fellow diners. Definitely worth another visit soon.

The high standard of service began before we even entered Restaurant 323. When my GPS tried to lead me astray on our way to Restaurant 323 I rang for directions. The lady gave precise directions to the very convenient car park at the rear of Restaurant 323. Turn into Lightwood st off Springvale Road and then Warrick st off Lightwood st and through the lane next to the green building. On arrival the restaurant was quite full but the staff took time to greet us immediately and show us to a table. We had a Living Social voucher that entitled us to an Asian banquet. There were three different banquet menus to choose from. Each began papa dams followed by a tasty soup. From then on each of the menus differed but each offered a selection of generous serves of very sumptuous food
The option we chose had chicken and corn soup, followed by four mini spring rolls with lovely crisp lettuce and mint. The two main courses were a beautifully cooked, Black bean beef served on a sizzle plate with onions and other vegetables. The other was a delicious lemon chicken. These were accompanied by a very nice fried rice that contained prawns. In addition, our deal included a glass of wine and a never ending supply of a sweet tea. The meal was finished off with the option of coffee or a more conventional tea.
The other banquet options contained more seafood courses. The premises appeared very clean, light and bright and one got the feeling that the other diners were also enjoying their dining experience. This was a very good deal at a very good restaurant.

Approximate cost: $17

It sounds like a cliché to say ‘if you want food that is to die for' visit Riviera on Yarra, so what I will say is – if you want a truly exquisite meal, dine at Riviera on Yarra. Both versions are an accurate account of my thoughts after dining at this restaurant. As I left, I racked my mind to recollect whether I had ever had a meal that surpassed the lunch I had just enjoyed and I realized I had not.
The quality of the experience began when I rang to make my reservation. Manager, Kevin imparts an infectious enthusiasm that filled me with an expectation that this was going to be a special experience. We arrived on a wet miserable day, but the minute we stepped inside, Kevin's engaging welcome created a sense of warmth. The gas imitation coal fire created a pleasant physical warmth, combining with Kevin's greeting to generate a wonderful warm environment.
We sat on a very comfortable couch in front of the fire and waited for your fellow diner to arrive. It is a perfect place to enjoy a pre-dinner drink.
The meal begins with complimentary dainty hand made bread rolls and a little bowl of dipping oil, followed by a tasty little mussel appetizer. The choice of entrees range from $12 to $14 in price, on the current menu and include two seafood options, a vegetarian option, braised lamb, and pork belly. I chose the pork belly, which was served with fennel, orange and beetroot. My husband chose the grilled baby octopus dish that was served in a very stylish plate and included potato, chorizo, and witlof.
For main course, I ordered the Wagyu Rump steak, ($36) cooked rare. It was cooked to perfection and the red wine jus, baby beats and pea puree were perfect accompaniments.
My husband chose the chicken cooked two different ways ($26), and served with smoked eggplant and sauce vierge. My daughter had the vegetarian option, which was Moroccan Lentil Ragout ($23) that came with little circles of crusty bread.

Despite the fact that I am not a huge fan of pears I chose the Saffron Poached pear dessert because it came with lime curd ($13). Ohhh! That lime curd did not disappoint. It was magnificent, but what was also pleasantly surprising was how much I enjoyed the pear, which was coated in a spicy poaching liquid and served with macerated other fruits and the delicious lime curd. Now that was definitely ‘to die for'.
The portions sizes meant a meal of entrée, main course and a shared desert could be eaten comfortably. Mind you, I had skipped breakfast in preparation. The whole experience was an absolute delight and I would not hesitate to recommend
Riviera on Yarra. In addition to the Australian menu they have a Japanese menu which I gather consists of the choice of 5 gourmet platters for sharing. These are priced from $50 - $80 for the seafood option.
Riviera on Yarra – fine dining at its best.

Approximate cost: $23-$36

The food here is of a very high standard. The chef is obviously a perfectionist because when it was discovered that the bacon I had ordered as an addition to my scrambled eggs was not on the plate the entire dish was redone. I would have happily just accepted some separately cooked bacon. The presentation of the food is very appealing. The all day breakfast, adds a great variety to their lunch time menu and their special Gourmet menu. My husband chose the rabbit pie from the gourmet menu. This was more like a dumpling in appearance. The rabbit was encased in a light fluffy dough, served with a tasty chutney and a very appealing salad that was topped with slices of pear and a drizzle of dressing. They also serve a duck pie which is of similar appearance. The coffee and Earl Grey tea were exceptional nice.
Most of the seating is comfortable booths, plus some high stools at a bench in the window, and there is seating outside. The Olive Pit also stocks a large variety of delicatessen items including a jar of truffle pate. For an interesting experience choose a seat where you can study the produce on the shelves. This adds an extra dimension of pleasure to eating the fine food that is served here.

Forget about the expensive restaurants. If you want warm hospitality and value for money try the $6 bar meal at the Kirstall hotel, a few kms out of Koroit. The bar is small so it is not a big noisy pub. Choose from the table for 2 or the one for 4 people, and follow up with a game of pool if you fancy. In winter there is a blazing fire that will warm the cockles of your heart as well as your body. An example of the $6 option is 2 ham steaks with a ring of pineapple, some chips and a dainty salad. To this you can add vegetables from the bain-marie. On the day we went (for the second time) the choices were mashed potato, roast pumpkin, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli topped with a delicious cheese sauce. For an extra $2.70 you can have the best Lemon, lime and bitters drink I have ever tasted. There is a menu of several other options at higher prices if you fancy something else. The delight of the ambiance does not come from the walls or furnishings but the layout of the place and the people who pop in. There is a feeling of being able to choose to have a private conversation or to be part of the interaction of others who seem to be part of the Hotel 'family'.

Approximate cost: $6 - $20

Prices start from $10 and basically work out at $1 per minute for the various, numerous massage options. They also offer reflexology, acupressure, pregnancy massage and child body massage, cupping, and treat torticollis, frozen shoulders, and tennis elbow. The location is extremely convenient with ample parking right out the front. The atmosphere inside is pleasant and the service absolutely wonderful. Their sciatica massage ($45) has made me free from agonizing hip pain that was plaguing me nightly prior to my first two massages. I find the option of not having to book in advance is extremely convenient but bookings are available if you prefer. Payment is by cash as they do not have card facilities.

Approximate cost: $10-$100

When you visit Penola Fantasy Model Railway be prepared to be entertained, awestruck, enchanted and delighted.
From the minute you are greeted by Graham at the entrance you know this is going to be a special experience. His enthusiasm is infectious, his passion obvious. As you step into his kingdom your senses are initially overwhelmed by the amount of delightful stimuli. Just when you think your brain might go into ‘overload' Graham steps forward and gives you snippets of information and subtle direction that makes you realize that your mind will be able to break all of the visual stimuli into manageable parcels that can be enjoyed separately. If you can hold the children back, get them to methodically work their way around the main indoor display. There is so much to see and experience, it would be a shame to overlook the finer details. This display is far more than a model railway set-up. Outdoor scenery and numerous castles of varying sizes house characters from many different walks of life and eras. Regardless of your age you will find images that trigger nostalgic memories from your present or past. Current day characters, many in humorous poses or positions delight the children. Other characters familiar only to the older generation are interspersed in groups amongst their more modern day counterparts.
Two walls have windows that house individual sections such as nine themed rooms devoted to Count Dracula including Count Dracula's cocktail party. Another window is devoted to the Rock Stars of today. See if you can identify them all. We had one member who could. After you have had time to familiarize yourself with the layout of the various groups of characters Graham gives each group a short Detective sheet where they are asked to locate particular figurines. This is a fun experience for all ages and Graham has several versions so he can vary the degree of difficulty. Days later, my grandchildren where creating there own Detective Sheets at home.

Of particular delight for the children is the opportunity to operate three separate trains through Willy Wonka's Wonderland. With three trains available most groups would be able to give each child a turn without any frustrating waits. Seating nearby allows the parents to rest and observe their children's delight.

Outdoors is the Water Garden Kingdom with a large rotunda to shelter from the sun or rain or take a seat and relax. The kingdom here abounds with waterfalls, creeks and sunken ships, planes and a helicopter. Another detective sheet is issued in a timely fashion and the fun escalates again.

The adjoining Tea rooms weren't operating the day we were there but judging by the standard of the rest of this venue I am sure the service here would also be of a high quality, and the venue is ideal for children's parties.

This is a venue I would recommend for all age groups, as a visit to Penola Fantasy Model Railway becomes a cleverly orchestrated delightful experience that shows that the creator has an extensive understanding of process of the human mind.