Reviews by Alessandra

This review is for Emerald Thai Restaurent, Emerald VIC

verified email - 05 Aug 2013

Only noticed it was there recently, stopped in for some takeaway. Food was great, really fresh and the flavors were really nice. The chicken larb in particular was fantastic though I think the Pad Thai could have had some more flavoring.

Approximate cost: $13-17

This review is for Miss Marple's Tea Room, Sassafras VIC

verified email - 04 Feb 2013

I was in the area on Friday with a group of friends on a photographic trip. After the morning shooting we decided to stop in and grab something to eat. Our party of 8 or so sat down but one was still outside and planned to join us in 10 minutes. Upon arrival he asked one of the waitresses to place another chair at the end of the table. The woman was downright rude and told him that she would not, that he was ill mannered for trying to jump the queue. Our party tried to explain that he was with us, but she didn't believe us, or him, and embarrassed him by telling him that he was lying.

The food was overpriced and nothing special. We will not be going back, when there are other places in the same street who do not humiliate their customers and offer better food.

This review is for Dino's Family Restaurant, Preston VIC

verified email - 04 Feb 2013

Went in today as a group of 6 for lunch. Ordered a variety of entrees (Saganaki, hot cheese dip, greek salad, fries). All were perfectly cooked. The chips were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, the salads were fresh with tangy dressing and the Saganaki divine.

For mains 5 of the 6 ordered Seafood platters. Fish, Prawns, Calamari and I believe Mussels which are all crumbed and fried and come with salad and fries. Once more the food was perfectly cooked, not too oily or soggy. The Calamari did not have that rubber band consistency which one sees when it is frozen. I had the Chicken Caesar Salad which was good but not great. A little too much dressing and iceberg instead of Cos Lettuce. Will try the steaks next time as I saw them on another table and they looked amazing.

Service was impeccable. All the wait staff were attentive and smiled, many would stand at edge of dining room making sure they were available for further drink orders or to refill water jugs.

It is a Family Restaurant and it's what you should expect in food and atmosphere.

Approximate cost: $15-$20

This review is for Eurobites, Oakleigh VIC

verified email - 04 Feb 2013

Went there this evening as a party of 8.

The place is spotlessly clean when you enter and you can smell the aroma of spit roasting meat.

We shared 2 serves of the trio of dips, the saganaki and the whitebait for entree. The dips were fantastic, in particular the hot cheese and the taramasalata. The Bread that comes with the dips is divine.

We ordered the Seafood platters and Meat platters for mains as well as the greek salad. The Seafood platter contained 6 mussels in a tomato sauce, 4 prawns, a whole squid body that had been char grilled, the fish of the day as well as a generous serve of whitebait. It also included some fries. All was cooked to perfection.

The meat platter was just as good. Tender and juicy meats served with the most amazing lemon roasted potatoes.. The Greek salad was what you would expect and also wonderful quality.

The waiter who served us was attentive, providing bottles of water without being asked, and also refilling them when he saw they were empty.

My one complaint was the time delay between when the seafood platter was served and when we received the meat platters but that happens.
Wonderful evening with wonderful food. We will be returning.

Approximate cost: $15-$20

This review is for Tasman Market Fresh Meats, Berwick VIC

verified email - 02 Jul 2012

I regularly go to Tasman Meats to stock up my freezer. Can't beat their prices for chicken breasts or thighs. Weekly specials are great for things like roasts.

Way cheaper pricing for steaks than anywhere else and the quality can't be faulted.

Highly Recommended.

This review is for Tre'shique Hair Dressers, Emerald VIC

verified email - 02 Jul 2012

After having my hair cut at a fantastic place which unfortunately was an hours drive away I decided to look locally. The girl who did my hair was in her last year of apprenticeship.

The cut was ok, same with the styling, nothing to rave about but no mistakes. Will go back again and try another stylist. I might just be spoiled by my old hair dresser who was amazing but is now overseas.

Pricing was very reasonable.

Approximate cost: $35 cut & blowdry

This review is for La Collina Pizzeria, Belgrave VIC

verified email - 02 Jul 2012

Really fresh ingredients, generous with their toppings too.

Base got a little soggy because it took 20 minutes to drive home but the slice eaten in the car (yes, I was hungry!) had a lovely crisp base.

Well worth the drive and the service is wonderful and friendly.

Approximate cost: $13 a large $12 pasta

This review is for Monbulk Fish And Chips, Monbulk VIC

verified email - 22 May 2012

Really good fish and chip shop. The chips are crisp yet fluffy inside, fish is always fresh. The burgers are ok, the meat patties are a little thin but it's been a long time since I had an old fashioned fat burger in a fish and chippery.

This is our regular place when we choose to have Fish and Chips and we drive down from Emerald rather than go locally.

This review is for Emerald Fish & Chippery, Emerald VIC

verified email - 22 May 2012

An average Fish & Chippery. The chips are lovely and crisp, the fish comes with a crisp and non oily batter but the potato cakes always taste foul.

I'm not sure what the problem is but to me (though my husband disagrees) the potato cakes taste as if the potato is rancid. I won't order potato cakes from there.

It's ok but I choose others in the area rather than coming here.

This review is for Pine Grove Hotel, Beaconsfield Upper VIC

verified email - 02 May 2012

I have visited many times and am sad to say that it seems to have deteriorated slowly and over time.

My last visit was on a Tuesday night, there weren't many people dining in yet food took forever to get to us.

I ordered a steak, my husband ordered a steak and kidney pie, my sons a chicken enchilada and fish and chips.

My steak was lovely and came served on a bed of mashed potatoes with wilted spinach. Hubby was pleased with his meal but didn't think it was anything more than pub food (well it is a pub, right!). The serve of fish was small but pleasant tasting with the batter being crispy and not too oily.

The chicken enchilada was terrible. Very little chicken, too much capsicum and onion and the tortilla it was wrapped in was overcooked to the point of stiffness. I ended up giving my son my meal.

The kids wanted dessert but by the time we went backup the dessert we had prepaid for was gone. We were offered a refund and a choice of another dessert as a way to make amends.

Overall the place is what you would expect from a pub, I would think the food would be a little better since it was in the dinning room.

Approximate cost: $18-$25