All I cab say is WOW. Some friends of ours took us to Lee Ho Took and I'll be honest, as a vegetarian, I wasn't expecting to like let ( let alone LOVE it!!) Our party of four were well looked after, our server recommending a great mixture of dishes for us to have ( while specifically pointing out the vegetarian dishes for me) and all four of us were thrilled at the fun adaptations of classic Chinese dishes and blown away by the flavours! Definitely try the eggplant ( trust me ) and my hubby said their deconstructed San choi bow was to die for! This place is nothing to look at but worth the trek into Collingwood for sure! Especially for vegetarians, because typical suburban Chinese food is often sad and lacklustre, but not at Lee Ho Fook!!!!

Approximate cost: $18

The best burger spot in the local area without a doubt... if you can get in!!! Peak hours will find you curbside looking in, so try to get there a little bit before peak lunch and dinner times. I always get a veg burger of some assortment and they've all been tasty! Hubby tries the beef burgers and a friend of ours simply adores the lamb burger. Chips are crisp and have that nice salty/Herby seasoning. A little on the 'spensive side ;) but well worth it.

Approximate cost: $13

My hubby and I always go here to grab their 4 dips (or cheese/nibblies) for $10 deal ever since one of our friends told us where they got their delicious dips from! We've tried a wide variety of the dips, olives, and dolmades - all selected from that 4-for-10 range and they've all been delicious. I haven't bought anything else I must confess, but if the drops are any measure of quality and value, then I don't think you'll be disappointed in their offerings! Plus, its always great to support a local business whenever you can, so drop in for their dips at the very least, yum!!!!!

We've been enjoying pizzas from Nandos in Feltham since about 2004 and they're always consistent. They're unique in that they have a 'standard' pizza menu (where they stack the toppings a mile high), a gourmet menu (haven't gotten to try anything off that one yet) and an 'economy' menu - which is the menu I normally order from. From what I've tried off the standard and economy menus, the economy pizzas are just as good as the standard ones, they just have less toppings. But in saying that, Nandos' 'less' is pretty much the norm for other pizza places (eg. Pizza hut 2 doors down) but so much better. I just got the economy Vegetarian (for the ump-teenth time) and it had plenty of yummy veg toppings and cheese over their signature 'just ever so slightly sweet' tomato base - all for only $8. Tasty, affordable AND support a local business all in one visit? Count me in! If you're in the Eltham area and have a procket full of coin but a rumbling tummy, head to Nandos Pizza!!!

Approximate cost: $10

I've read a lot about this place, it's been in a lot of media, so my hubby and a friend of ours trekked down to the CBD to try "Melbourne's best coffee" and I have to say, flat white in hand - it was pretty average. Nothing special, couldn't taste any special notes, no particular flavour stood out. Granted, it was in a paper cup and perhaps that makes a difference? Either way, it wasn't really worth trekking into the city for (Miss Maries in Rosanna would have impressed me more) -- but looking at the line there, perhaps I missed the mark? Not sure, you should give it a try and let me know what you think! ha!

Approximate cost: $5

We lovingly call this place "The Cemetery Fish & Chip Shop" because it's right next to a... yup, you guessed it, a cemetery. They've always been consistent, and have the tastiest flake around (says my hubby). We just ordered takeaway there for an impromptu lunch last week, both getting their loaded burgers (hubby got meat, I got a vegie one), minimum chips, hubby got their flake (which comes grilled unless you ask otherwise) - all top notch. Except, hubby says the flake didn't seem as fresh this time, but out of the countless visits we've made here, I think a one-off like that is acceptable. Definitely worth a visit!

Approximate cost: $5

We've been frequenting Cafe Spice for quite some time, say for the past 6 or 7 years and they're very consistent. They've recently changed chefs, and the new one - although different to the previous - is really good. My hubby and I went with our inlaws back on 16 May and got our usual: Tandoori Mushroom (delicious!), Tandoori Lamb chops (I've been told are not as good as the previous chef's but still really yummy), the Veg Parokas (very good), the Dahl Makhani (my mother in law says is delicious), Beef Madras (both hubby & father in law said was very flavoursome) and I got the pumpkin curry - which was okay. Their naan bread is almost always outstanding - fresh, fluffy and yum! Value is good, I think for all of us to eat, entrees, mains, bread & rice - plus corkage is always around $90. Good for 4 people I say! Give them a try, the new chef is worth the visit!

Approximate cost: $16

Wanting to beat the Mother's Day rush, we took my mother-in-law to (what I would now consider) her favorite Chinese spot: Crystal Dragon. We ate here for her birthday (Sept) last year, too - so we had high hopes of another great meal - and they were definitely met! My mother-in-law had the Wonton Soup and a dumpling special, both she thoroughly enjoyed. My hubby and father-in-law got the Steamed Dim Sims -- and they both declare they are *the best in Melbourne*!!! I had the Spring Onion Pancakes, eh, nothing special, wouldn't order them again. Mom-in-law had the Veg Omelette with gravy as a main, which she loves! Father-in-law had Satay Prawns which were completely eaten - nothing left on the plate! Hubby got the Salt & Pepper Prawns - and I had the same rendition of it but with Fried Tofu; both were very tasty (will definitely have again), it's just a shame there's no veg on the plate with that dish. Both the Special Fried Rice and the Veg Fried Rice were full of flavour - hands down the best we've had in a long time. Overall, the standouts were the Dim Sims & Fried Rice, the essentials for a good Chinese restaurant! Service is satisfactory, as you'd expect, friendly and smiling. Prices are as you expect, around that $18 - $22 mark per main. Biggest downfall -- they must have changed their chairs -- which are now the most uncomfortable things - ever! No padding, they're like metal chairs with a piece of fabric over wood, after about an hour, your rear end starts going numb. (We didn't cop these chairs when we went last year, so not sure when they brought these horrid things in) So bring a cushion if you're planning a big dinner here! hahaha! You can read about last year's trek to Crystal Dragon here: http://twobearsandafork.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/crystal-dragon-templestowe-lower.html

Approximate cost: $20

After a whole lotta talk about Chin Chins, my hubby and I finally decided to go for lunch last week. Out of our 2 entrees, one was outstanding (Green Beans) and the other was just okay (Corn Fritters). Of our mains, mine was brilliant (Yellow Curry) and hubby's was good, but a little on the sweet side (Beef Massaman). The roti bread was coked perfectly - was huge & well priced at $4. Overall, we were impressed - it was a good experience, but not the best. Nothing to knock our socks off, be definitely worth going to if you're in Flinders Lane and have a hankering for Thai/Indian! Read my full blog about our experience here: http://twobearsandafork.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/chin-chin-melbourne-cbd.html

Approximate cost: $25

My husband and I recently attended Michelle's Meditation & Spiritual Growth Group - and it was amazing! Michelle is very professional, has a soothing voice & methodology for her meditation session. It was a wonderful experience and also really great to discuss our meditation experiences afterward and pick out affirmations and angel cards. After the session, both my husband and I were so relaxed, yet felt really 'alert' - as though our 'reset' button had pushed! If you need a break from your stressful daily routine, we highly recommend Subtle Twist Intuitives' meditation class! As well as Michelle's Reiki healing - brilliant!