When this place opened they tried really hard and provided better than average Thai food. We ordered from this place every three weeks or so and were generally happy....
Alas, as time has gone by their don't care attitude has increased along with the oil content.
When you call to order take away they quote a FORTY MINUTE wait...
Second last time we ordered from them, the forty minutes was completely optimistic and we returned home without one of the mains - despite having a discussion during ordering about how it would come with Jasmine rice that we didn't have to order separately... So they DID hear the order - they just forgot the dish... After ordering at 7.15 - NOT RECEIVING dinner at 8.30pm was very annoying.... We rang to notify them politely in case it was sitting at the shop. Nuh.......
This week - our FINAL order at Kao San was quoted as taking 40 minutes and we were told they had "no prawn crackers tonight" .. Great planning for the weekend!
When we arrived 35 minutes later, they had completely overlooked the entire order.. No sorry, no rush on the re-order, no discount, no voucher for next time - nothing!! Just general underwhelmed boredom...
After another 30 minutes and not even the slightest care factor for customers who have been regular (we were very matter of fact and not outwardly angry/ aggressive at all), out came the order......
My fish cakes were over fried and sweaty in the paper bag they serve them in, the sweet and sour dish barely average and my husband's Massaman curry INEDIBLE!
I see Kao San Rd getting good reviews on other sites but I'm thinking they are from way back in the start when this restaurant had people who cared... Or maybe eating in is a whole different experience. Lets hope so for their sake.
If you can't run a takeaway service efficiently and well, maybe stick to the restaurant?
We are looking for a new Thai place!

Approximate cost: $15

This toy store is really a one woman show. The owner knows toys, loves toys and has been coming up with great and often unusual ones for years and years.
Just walk in and give her the name, age and a brief description of the child you are buying for's interests and the "just perfect" present will appear.
You will not find many toys here that are stocked in the big chains, nor will you find your favorite TV characters. But Mind Alive provides fabulous baby toys, boys and girls games, jigsaws, unusual writing sets, arts and crafts items, bath activities, activity books, science kits, musical instruments, sport sets and even exquisite dress ups and imported European dolls.
The service is good old personalised retail at its best.
If you can't find what you need here, it doesn't exist!

Approximate cost: $N/A

This cafe is one of my two favorites in Moonee Ponds.
The husband and wife team who run it are friendly and fabulous even when they're under pressure (which they increasingly are as their popularity soars) and they are not to "cool" to provide a high chair for those who need one!
The restaurant is clean and funky but you don't have to be a chic member of the latte set to feel comfortable there so it attracts business people, couples, families and shoppers.
The coffee is good and the menu is extensive - burgers, breakfast pizzas, foccacias etc but, for me, the highlight is the big fat chips which are out of this world. Many a diet has gone by the wayside.
The chef used to work at another local cafe and I suspect we are not the only people to follow him....

Approximate cost: $12

We phone ahead and then picked up the food and it was hot and great (not cool and soggy as take away can be)
The entrees (samosas etc) were really tasty - maybe a tad oily, but Indian food usually is in Australia.
The lamb korma was sweet and beautifully cooked and the vegetarian dishes were great.
Roti bread was lovely.
We haven't found a local Indian this good before so we are hoping they are able to maintain the great start and deliver consistency.

Approximate cost: $11

This place is a cut above your standard suburban pizza joint. The dining room out the back has always been very clean on my visits and the service reliable. The pasta here is your standard pizza shop variety but the pizzas are well abpve average. The toppings taste fresh, not dessicated, and the tomato based sauce is delicious but not loaded in grease. I love the vegetarian which is packed with green capsicum and onion, and mushroom that isn't all wrinkly. If you like your pizzas filling, but not heavy, Il Caminetto is THE place. We tried pretty much EVERY pizza shop in the district before this one became our pizzeria of choice!

Approximate cost: $20

Your standard suburban fish and chips. Nice fish, good potato cakes, OK chips!
My burger was nice but my husband didn't particularly love his.
Sav. in batter is a spicy sausage which is a nice twist!

Approximate cost: $10

The service is usually attentive and the food is great if a tad expensive.
This restaurant has regularly appeared in The Age Good Food Guide (am I allowed to say that here?) and is fairly formal but not stuffy, PLUS there are two big fish tanks to distract fidgety kids who need a break.
My husband religiously has the calamari entree, and the Peking duck is also special.
Our kids usually choose to have their birthday dinners here and we are absolute regulars!

Approximate cost: $20

Chili Pepper is not your traditional "Vietnamese" but the food is FABULOUS! The entrees and soups are great, there are about 40 different stir fry choices and about 40 other main meal options and the desserts you can eat in the restaurant are great.
If you phone for take away the service is always reliable, but the eat in experience can be overly slow if they are very busy, so phone in instead if you're in a hurry to eat.
Pretty much anyone we have eaten Chili Pepper food with is impressed!

Approximate cost: $15

Valley Seafood makes clean fish and chips with constantly fresh oil and fresh fish, the potato cakes are made from real potato (not like those fake ones you can get elsewhere) and their burgers are to die for! Many a diet has been broken when the Valley Seafood menu is spotted on the fridge!
Even on a super busy night the food is usually great!

Approximate cost: $10