Reviews by justin-s

This review is for Friendly Grocer, Hurlstone Park NSW

verified email - 21 Dec 2018

Cute local grocer with friendly staff. Products are on the expensive side.

This review is for Free Pour Cafe, Marrickville NSW

verified email - 28 Jan 2017

On the surface, this place is pretty good if you want to grab a coffee in Marrickville, and up until 6pm (Most close at 4:30pm M-F). The people are friendly and they are trying and they smile. There is internet available and it works well.
My table was wobbly and all I got in response to my request for something to put under the table to even it out was "we already threw the cardboard away". No help, no alternative offered.
A few things I witnessed on my third visit:
> A very average omelette being served up and sent back. I would have sent it back as well.
> The seat of a baby chair only being wiped down with a cloth very quickly and put back next to me. There is food smeared everywhere else and no spray or disinfectant was used to wipe the seat.
> Two people had to chase their orders.
> One person left and gave up on waiting for their order.

This review is for Campos Dulwich Hill, Dulwich Hill NSW

verified email - 23 Oct 2016

This place looks more like a pharmacy than a cafe. They've gone with the clinical approach, and unfortunately its not 'cute', its cold.
The staff have a habit of letting it show when they are busy and not enjoying themselves, or feeling the pressure. In these times, they forget the basics of customer service.
I hate nothing more than someone taking my order and money and never once making contact, smiling, or saying hello.
The cakes and wraps etc are nice, but OMG are they overpriced.
This place needs to chill a bit and remember its a cafe, a place where people come to relax and enjoy a coffee.

This review is for The General , Dulwich Hill NSW

verified email - 08 Oct 2016

This place is a lot more than a cafe. It is a bar, a restaurant, a cocktail bar, a place of pretty amazing food and superb service.
The decor is phenomenally fresh and Dulwich Hill needs this kind of boost.
I had a chicken burger that seriously had two of the most succulent, phenomenal, very lightly battered chicken breast I've ever seen on a burger. It was a shame it was drowned in a tangy mayo, came without a napkin to wipe up the sauce that was dripping everywhere from bite one, and its a shame that it came with my coffee even though I specified that it not.
The people are brilliant, very attentive, but not annoyingly so, and the service is generally outstanding, especially for Dulwich Hill.
Give it a go though, you won't regret it. It certainly doesn't have its head up its backside like The Hub, the food is better, the service is better, the general vibe is much more friendly. I rate the place despite my post consumption negativity!

This review is for Cafe 99, Petersham NSW

verified email - 24 Sep 2016

Very friendly staff that make great coffee. Nice selection of cakes and I can recommend the blueberry muffin! Very nice. It's a great new local with a friendly and relaxed feel.

This review is for Torrens University , The Rocks NSW

verified email - 24 Sep 2016

The administration of this University is appalling. I am constantly experiencing portal issues that include:
> Not being able to enrol for the next semester because of technical issues
> my portal being 'accidentally and unexplainably' wiped clean... because of technical issues
> not being able to view my grades because the system has changed and students were given no notice of it what so ever
> not being able to get online to access resources... because of technical issues
> being given a timetable online only to find out some of the classes I am arriving for have been cancelled.
> the uni prescribing online textbooks that are written in Malaysia that are not of university standard for 3rd year subjects
> lecturers being unable to access their materials during class is a common problem... because of technical issues.
> it is not uncommon to have days of being unable to get on the internet during class... because of technical issues.

Lecturers are mostly top quality, however their ability to deliver to students is hampered by internal cost saving initiatives that see them:
> being unable to correct inaccurate or false information that is supplied to students via the portal
> not being given access to resources until an hour or minutes before they teach
> not being briefed or trained on how to use classroom technology
> tech support staff not being on campus when real-time issues need fixing, impacting the ability for lecturers to deliver important material
> lecturers for the same subject never being brought together to ensure there is consistency in what is being delivered, what is expected and what is required of assessments.
> poor assessment briefings being provided by lecturers being instructed that it cannot and will not be amended before the trimester is finished.
> no walls between classes so they end up in a shouting war with other lecturers to compete to be heard by their students, and videos are blasting to be heard across screens.

Being incorrectly blocked out of the portal and being unable to access resources is common place, as is being asked to pay for subjects that you don't have to pay for... and being denied important services until administration corrects the matter. Student Services Staff do not have access to a large number of tools that would enable them to correct significant issues like these. Student service staff have been cut back dramatically meaning there are now significantly fewer of them to solve issues, but this is not connected to a drop in students issues needing support. In Trimester 3 for 2016, I am seeing an increase, not a decrease ,in the number of technical and other issues. For example, technical issue prevented me from enrolling for subjects for five days (meaning some classes filled up before I was able to enrol in them), resources are out of date and incorrect, and students and lecturers have had periods of not being able to access the internet on campus. Also, course fees for some international students were increased without notice.
Despite it being illegal to offer incentives for enrolling, international students from particular locations are being targeted with 'scholarships' that provide them with almost 50% off their course fees. Said 'scholarships' are merely an incentive as everyone from those countries gets them. Add on top of this, they are attached to Masters degrees that in reality, have no credibility about them at all and would struggle to pass for an undergraduate degree.
It is my recommendation that if you would like to study a University degree, until this place gets its act together; shop elsewhere.

This review is for The Hub House Diner , Ultimo NSW

verified email - 30 Jul 2016

I fail to see what is 'American burger' about this place at all. It's just another cafe selling cafe quality food at very over priced prices. I had to send my food back as part of it was cold. The staff are not particularly friendly. There are plenty of other places to get cafe food at half the cost and you get a smile.

Approximate cost: $25

This review is for Victoria & Hobbs, Lewisham NSW

verified email - 30 Jul 2016

Great cafe run by very friendly people. Whenever I go in, they are smiling, chatty, say hello and give great service. Great coffee is everywhere - its not always coupled with a friendly atmosphere or a smile. The competition for this street is healthy and I hope it encouraged the grump a few doors up to start smiling.

Approximate cost: $4

This review is for The Edwards , Newcastle East NSW

verified email - 19 May 2016

On first glance this place looks great. The staff are mostly ok. While the food tasted great... it made me sick, literally and It took too long to come out.
Overpriced for what it is.
I don't rate it.

Approximate cost: $100

This review is for The Cut Bar and Grill , The Rocks NSW

verified email - 30 Mar 2016

The Cut is phenomenal. You get great service, fine food and quality plus! You need to book for a reason. Amazing selection of cuts, wines and top shelf spirits. Treat yourself.