This was our second time dining at Masons, and sadly we found that the standards did not live up to our expectations based on our previous visit. The batter on the crispy flathead tails was disappointingly thick and heavy. The hand cut potato chips also seemed smaller (individually and as a whole portion) and were a little overcooked. However the steak was the saving grace here, cooked very well and perfectly juicy.

Service was slow at times and rushed at others - though there seemed to be enough floor staff they looked rather confused and did not seem to have a purpose to their movements. One of the girls also appeared extremely sullen and unresponsive to the point of rudeness.

Ordered clothing from Boohoo.com recently. Sadly, it was a disappointing venture - delivery took an extremely long time, over a week. Compare this to other stores, like The Iconic, which offer next-day delivery. When it finally arrived, the quality was disappointingly poor, thread count was low and the material overall did not appear very sturdy.

Most surprising of all, however, was the fact that they charge a hidden "import tax" - this is not listed anywhere in the Terms and Conditions, nor is it itemised on the invoice when you purchase something. This is frankly unethical, as it is not mentioned anywhere and it is only when the statement is delivered with the clothing that you discover this.

Recently a friend of mine had a birthday dinner at Clogs. Having heard a lot of positive things about it, I was excited to try this restaurant as I hadn't been there before. Sadly, however, I was to be disappointed.

Upon our arrival, we discovered that they were going to charge us $3 per person to bring a cake. Now, as we were a large party of approximately 20 people, this was a sizable amount. This was completely unfair in my opinion, amounting to highway robbery. I had never heard of this so-called "cake-age" charge; it wasn't published anywhere and was a ridiculous notion in the first place.

And the night did not improve from there. Although the food was of a reasonable standard, portion sizes were disappointingly small, and not really filling. The rockling fillets battered in Coopers Sparkling Ale were disappointingly oily, the batter thick and overly heavy.

This Asian grocery recently opened (about a year ago to the best of my knowledge) and they've been a great addition in my opinion.

Surprised to find such an authentic Asian store in Bendigo, they stock a lot of Asian products that used to only be found in Melbourne's Chinatown.

However, the prices are a bit expensive (perhaps due to transport costs?).

Excellent coffee is served here. If you come looking for a good cup of coffee, you'll find it. However, we found their dessert selection sadly lacking, in both variety and quantity.

Decor and overall ambience is great though, the warehouse-type feel is unique and shows a great deal of thought went into its planning.

Good selection of beers at a good price. Good atmosphere, the working fireplace was a bonus - makes it very cosy. Also it's really clean, which further adds to the ambience. Service was good, the bartender was friendly and helpful, directing us towards lunch specials and meals that he recommended.

They do great parmi's here, and they're reasonably generous with their chip servings. Atmosphere is good, family-friendly and not crowded. Service is efficient (especially given how busy they were when we went) and overall it's quite a pleasant place to grab a quick bite.

Approximate cost: $20

The Iconic was my first real foray into online shopping - and what a great experience it was. Delivery is extremely efficient - it only took two business days for my purchases to be delivered.

With free shipping combined with their competitive prices, value for money is excellent.

So far the quality of my purchases more than lives up to their description on the website, and their customer service is prompt and friendly.

I definitely recommend this wonderful site to anyone considering shopping online.

View Street Cafe is truly a hidden gem. Great environment, friendly and prompt service and their coffee is very well-made - possibly among the best in Bendigo. Their drinks list is extensive as well, with some selections not seen elsewhere. Their cakes were a little disappointing, possibly not home-made, but tasted quite good regardless.

Service was acceptable, the waitress was polite and professional though a little curt. The quality of drinks and coffee left a little to be desired, but I was willing to overlook this. However, it was the prices that really surprised me (and not in a good way) - the food and drinks there seem extremely overpriced, not comparable to the quality provided at all.