I reviewed this restaurant in the past, and just went back last Sunday. Food is still good, though the service is disappointing and slow - one male waiter was downright rude (hand on the hips, etc)! I think the restaurant was too busy and they were flat out, though that was no excuse for rude behavior.

Approximate cost: $15

Still the best value breakfast in town with service to boot. Very kids friendly, with toddler meal and play area (and free fruit if you buy a kidsmeal), free microwave to use to heat up baby's meal, free bib and servingware to use. Oh, and all you can drink coffee/tea.

Approximate cost: $5

Hoh Won is a place to go if you want value. For a mere $11 you get a very generous serving, more so to other Chinese restaurants I know. Their deep fried BBQ beef is really good, so good that my sister is still thinking about it after she left Australia (mind you, she lives in Singapore. So this makes it extra special). The place is abit cramp and service wise, well it's not a five star dining. But, it's a good value, no nonsense eatery.

Approximate cost: $11

The best Thai restaurant in the Southern Highland. A must try! The restaurant itself is so quirky, full of artifacts from Thailand. Bring the kids in, they will love the hanging birds and butterflies. Foods are so fresh, wonderful and pretty large (compared to other Thai places), very good value! You won't regret coming here. Oh, and you gets real orchid on your drink. That is total service for you!

Approximate cost: $15

We love going to Kagaya. As well as being local, it is one of the yummiest Japanese around. Well, we think so, anyway.

The service is non intrusive, food wise really great and really good value as well.

They have lunch specials for 2 items for $20, and you'll definitely get your money worth by ordering that. We love the combo of tempura and eel. The tempura is yummy and crispy – alot too. Enough to share without fighting for your share. The eel is tender and sweet. My little girl's favorite. They also serve free entree of noodles in vinegar dressing, which is also really good. Both items comes with rice and the eel comes with miso soup as well.

Approximate cost: $10-20

We went there one Saturday night after reading about it on a Sydney Morning Herald restaurant review. The area where the restaurant is was pretty dark, although we came at 6pm only. It was pretty difficult to spot and if you don't look for it, then you'll definitely miss it. We looked for it and still missed it.

We didn't call for booking because we thought it wasn't necessary for a Chinese restaurant. Definitely not recommendable. There were a lot of empty tables but apparently they were all booked and we couldn't get a spot. Our baby daughter was a bit sick and hungry, so we thought of getting a takeaway instead. They said it was going to be 20 minutes, so we waited. During that time, some customers had finished dining, so we asked again if we could eat in instead. Still, the proprietor said no. Apparently, those tables were going to be taken anyway. We said we could wait for a table if it will be about the same waiting time as when our takeaway finished. He said, no tables - all booked in. Then, after waiting some more, we saw a Chinese family who insisted on the same thing. Sure enough, after waiting, they got a table and we still got no table and no food.

The waiting time has lapsed for the takeaway and we still haven't got anything. So, fed up, I went in and asked for it. Guess what? They haven't even made them yet. After alot of hassling and scowling, 5 minutes later, we got our dinner. Maybe I should be more impolite ... insisting? next time ... well, not really. If I can help it, there won't be any next time for us.

Food wise are also just so-so. Really oily to a point where you can tip the oil off the container. Good for reusing the oil for your next stir fry dinner. Taste wise to the bland side ... no sparks there too.

I am afraid this time around, either the writer from SMH didn't go to many chinese restaurants previously or maybe his dining experience was at the courtesy of the restaurant. Teach me not to believe everything I read on newspaper by face value.

Approximate cost: $15-20