Reviews by RoccoGBralta

This review is for Mcdonalds, Bacchus Marsh VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2011

The local kids seem to like hanging out here, which is a bit of a shame given their anti-social behaviour. They can get quite busy inside, and on occasion I've had to wait 15 to 20 minutes for my order to be ready. It's probably better to go through drive-thru, which seems to run a bit smoother than the front counter.

Update: I made the mistake of not going through drive-thru the other day. Had to wait over 15 minutes ... for a coffee. That's right. A quarter of an hour for a coffee. It wasn't because the equipment was broken or anything like that. They just decided they would continue taking everyone's orders before they focused on trying to got any orders out. There were people who had been in several positions behind me in line, who had placed orders for over $40 of food, and they got they orders before I got my simple coffee. I won't be in a hurry to return to McDonald's.

Approximate cost: $8

This review is for Jeff Jones Plants & Produce, Bacchus Marsh VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2011

They have a pretty good variety of produce. Their prices are very hit or miss. By that I mean, while their prices on a few products will be good, and others will be very expensive. The same goes for their quality too, as sometimes the fruit can be ripe and ready to eat, and others it's shriveled up with a tough skin, while underneath you can feel the flesh is too soft.

I was overcharged one time though, and explained to the cashier she had entered the wrong price, to which she just ignored me and carried on scanning the remaining items. I was very unimpressed, and now buy most of my produce elsewhere.

Update: I've been back 3 times since writing this review, and each time they tried to charge me more than their posted prices. The last time I was there one of the cashiers was making fun of one of the other workers behind their back in front of all of the customers waiting in line, which seemed extremely rude and unprofessional. As long as there's other places to buy my fruit and veg, I'll be taking my business elsewhere from now on.

Approximate cost: $They like to charge more than their posted prices.

This review is for Nikos Tavern, Ringwood East VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2011

If getting take-away, it's better to go there and order, rather than call your order in, because most of the time the phone will just ring and ring and ring, and no-one will answer, and if someone does answer, it's always the same rude guy who shouts because he can't hear anything, and treats you like answering the phone is the last thing in the world he wants to do.

The food is usually pretty good. The spanikopitas are my fave, and their mixed grilled veg offers a really good variety. We did find a hair in our food on two different occassions, which was enough to put us off for several months the first time, and for a couple of years the 2nd time.

There's always lots of staff, and I mean a lot, but somehow it doesn't make the food come out any quicker, so be prepared to wait up to 30 or 40minutes for take-away. Always check your order before you leave, because they would mess up our order probably 25% of the time.

I'd recommend them, but only on the premise that you don't expect everything to be perfect. It's more of a place to take family and friends, rather than a date or business client, if that makes sense.

This review is for Keith's Hairdressing, Bacchus Marsh VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2011

Great barber. Great haircut. Great value. Couldn't ask for more.

I've only been a few times so far, but their cut is consistent and perfect. The barber is also very friendly and polite. Would definitely recommend to others.

This review is for Foodworks, Bacchus Marsh VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2011

The local Coles almost always beats them on price, though the service at Foodworks is much better, especially at the Deli counter, which is far friendlier and quicker to serve. I appreciate their unique British products section and their fruit and veg is better than Coles too. Oh, and they have a pretty good selection of flowers to choose from too.

Update: I've been to this FoodWorks a couple dozen times now, and have to say I'm super impressed with their consistently friendly service. Every cashier and deli-counter server has always smiled, been polite and wished me a good day. You can't beat good service. They put the staff at the competing Coles to shame.

This review is for Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, Bacchus Marsh VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2011

Great variety of pies, desserts, sandwiches and beverages, and the service is always very friendly. At nearly $5 for a pie, they're quite expensive for a bakery, but their food consistently tastes great.

Approximate cost: $4.90

This review is for Jimmy's Fish Shop, Bacchus Marsh VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2011

Pretty good chips here. Nice and crispy; definitely not soggy. One time their potato cakes had a bit of an eggy taste to them which left me a little queezy, so maybe they were slightly underdone, but normally they're very nice.

The service is always cheery and friendly. Would definitely recommend to others.

Update: Having been to Jimmy's several times since I wrote my original review, I'd like to reiterate how good their service and food are. Their chips are the best in the Marsh by a country mile. And the service is always prompt, polite and comes with a smile.

Approximate cost: $3.00 minimum chips

This review is for Bacchus Marsh Fish & Chip Shop, Bacchus Marsh VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2011

Their chips are just disgusting.

The first thing you'll be greeted with as you approach the shop is the smell. Not a nice smell, but an awful, stomach-turning stench.

When cooked, their chips stay clumped together, which means they don't soak the peeled potatoes in water to wash off all the starch. It's obvious that they cut their own chips, and while I appreciate the effort to use fresh potatoes instead of frozen, the chips are poorly cut and you'll find several big slices of potatoes because they couldn't be bothered to cut all the way through and so they're undercooked.

The chips end up being a big soggy and greasy clump. Yuck. And that smell you were greeted with as you approached the shop, well you'll be stuck with that smell for the rest of the day if you dare eat any of the chips. I think they need to change their oil more regularly and turn up the temperature of their fryers too so the chips cook in the oil instead of just soaking in it.

The service could have been better too. The guy who served me was day dreaming and undercharged me.

Strangely, the shop has been recommended to me by a few locals as being the best Fish and Chip Shop in town, which I just find completely bizarre. I haven't tried their fish, so maybe it's their fish others like, or maybe they just know the owners and are trying to send them some business.

For what it's worth, in my opinion they are far and away the worst chips in town, and quite possibly the worst I've ever had.

This review is for Georges Hotel, Ballarat Central VIC

verified email - 12 Apr 2011

We stopped by George's to have lunch before seeing a movie at the Regent Cinema next door. The Chicken Parma was one of the best I've had in a long time. The meat was thick and tender, and absolutely no gristly bits at all. The accompanying chips and salad were also very good, though perhaps their portions were slightly small, but that's being overly critical. The staff were friendly as one would expect. The hotel could use a bit of a freshen up inside. There's minimal decor, the seats looked a little tired, and the water stains running the full height of the wall was a little unnerving. Definitely recommend for a casual meal with family and friends, but it's not the place to bring someone you're hoping to impress.

Approximate cost: $12.90

This review is for Flanagan's Border Inn, Bacchus Marsh VIC

verified email - 29 Jan 2011

I've been to Flanagan's a couple of times now. It seems to be very popular with the tourists who seem to enjoy sitting out the front under the shade of the maple trees soaking up the vibe of Main Street.

The first time I went there I ordered the schnitzel, which turned out to be very bland, and was undercooked! This experience warned me off of Flanagan's for at least a year. Recently though I met up with a friend there for dinner, and ordered the Parma thinking that maybe it would be cooked better than the schnitzel. The first bite did have that undercooked taste, but only that 1st bite, as the rest of it was well cooked. I still wish they would cook their food a little longer. Seriously, I'd rather wait an extra two minutes, than end up with food poisoning. Regardless, my second experience there was far more enjoyable than the first, so hopefully they'll continue to improve.

Service-wise, they seemed pretty friendly and efficient.

If you do go to Flanagan's and order a meal with meat, you might want to ask for it well-done, just to be on the safe side.

They seem to have a special running just about every day of the week. eg. Pie night, Steak night, Burger night.

Approximate cost: $12-20

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