We had a burst hot water service. Steve came at very short notice and was very friendly and a total professional. His work was top notch and his communication was great. We had our hot water back within hours and are very happy. We have since got Steve in to replace a toilet, and again he was thoroughly professional, came when he promised he would and did a great job.

Approximate cost: $1600

Mr Wolf is definitely one of the better pizza places in town and part of the pizza Renaissance that swept Melbourne a few years back. The surroundings are stylish but comfortable, but it is the pizza that is transporting. Perfect thin base, good tomato sauce and top qulity toppings. Never soggy, lots of choice. One pizza is really only enough to feed one person and at $20+ they are not cheap. Mr Wolf has become more kid friendly over time (it wasn't when it first opened). 5:00 to 7:00 is definitely family hour so go later if that bothers you or to their bar next door. They have a kid's menu and give the kids crayons to keep them amused.
Other than the pizzas the cos, cucumber and feta salad is a winner, and the wet dish (a braise of some sort) is worth considering. I probably prefer Ladro in Fitzroy as it has a wood fired oven, but Mr Wolf is definitely the best pizza this side of town.

Approximate cost: $21

This is definitely one of the better public libraries in Melbourne. It has a really good vibe as a community hub. I could spend the whole day here holed up with books and mags, nipping down to Carlisle st for sustenance. I was very disappointed by the library service when I moved to a neighbouring municipality, and am happy to be back. The Port Phillip Library Service has an extensive collection, great kid's collection and children's programs (Linda who ran the story telling when my kids were little is great) and is well connected with the community. They also have very reasonable borrowing conditions and don't charge for some of the services that other public libraries do charge for (but shouldn't). All pubic libraries should be like this.

Approximate cost: $free

I love Aviv and I hate Aviv. I love it because the bagels, onion rolls and challas are wonderful. I hate it because I can't walk past their enticing window display without stopping in for an individual Isreali style babka (chocolate fix) or monkey face (nostalgia fix). The bureka are also a great lunch standby, especially the potato and leek, and the spinach quiche is a good standby dinner option, really tasty with good pastry, and I don;t even really like quiche. Staff are friendly and helpful and will hold the door open for parents with prams or elderly clientele. They know lots of their customers by name which is always a good sign. It can get really busy, especially on weekends, but they have a ticket system to keep the sometimes pushy customers under control, which the staff do with good grace. I think I'm off there now to get some pan au chocolate and croissants for the family breakfast and might sneak in a little somthing for me to eat onthe way home.

We have been going to Attica through all its incarnations and it just keeps getting better. Ben Shewry's food is amazing. This used to be best great food deal in town. Interesting, innovative food with great flavours and a hint of the molecular gastronomy thing going on. Prices have crept up as the accolades have been showered on the place but it is still good value. The service is knowledgeable, friendly and attentive and the quality of the food is always high. It is one of those place you can go to knowing that you will have an excellent meal, everything will be perfect. For a special occasion or if you just want a great meal Attica is definitely one of the best restaurants on this side of the Yarra. It has an inviting, neighbourhood feel but the food is creative and exciting.

I often go here for lunch as the quality is good, prices reasonable and servings are generous. The filled bagels, soups and salads are always good. I can't vouch for the coffee personally as I don't drink the stuff, but coffee loving friends love their coffee. I have ever found the staff rude, but getting a seat can be difficult. I'll often get a bagel to take away. Carlisle street would be poorer without this place, despite the competition.

Approximate cost: $10

I love this butcher for good value for money meat and smallgoods. They have a limited selection but what they do have is good quality and great value. They will also do almost anything with a bit of notice. The real value comes in if you are feeding lots of people. You can buy a whole eyefillet or a whole porterhouse for about 60-70% (but don't quote me on that, I just know that it is cheap) of what it would normally cost. Great if you are catering for large numbers. They also have wagyu and make their own sausages and smallgoods. Staff are friendly and helpful. It can get busy on the weekends.

Victor has been part of teh Middle Park community since forever. He gives very friendly service and knows his dry cleaning. If he thinks you could get rid of a stain wihout dry cleaning it he will tell you how to DIY. Honest, reliable, very good service. He got chewing gum off a very hard to clean item of mine that I was sure was ruined. Knows all the locals, most of them by name. A good dry cleaner you can trust

Great sourdough bakery for bread made by purists. They use organic, biodynamic and unbleached flour in their breads. They are uncompromising in their quest for quality and their breads are delicious but a bit pricy. They do a standard sourdough every day and a different daily special, written up on a blackboard, including Irish soda bread and a fruit loaf. I love their sourdough pizza sold by the slice. Interesting toppings and a good lunch standby. The downside to this place is their baking schedule, which means bread is often not avaiable for sale until 1pm, not always convenient for the customer, but ensures the bakers have a normal life I suppose. Definitely one of my top 3 Melbourne bakers

I absolutely love this place. i was living in the area when they set up shop and it was the only place I would buy bread. They do a range of fantastic artisan sour dough breads. Their pane di casa is wonderful, just the right mix of chewy, and a little sour. Bready perfections. Their pies are also fabulous. The best pastry I've tasted in a meat pie. This is also a great place for breakfast. It is always crowded, and you will probably end up out on Fitzroy st which is not as salubrious as it sounds, but the kids can watch the bakers at work through the windows, the cakes are wonderful, they make their own nougat, what more can I say. I can't comment on the coffee as i don't touch the stuff, but everything else I have ever tasted here is totally perfect. And they do great hot cross buns. Expensive, but a great Easter treat. I can't walk there anymore, now that I have crossed the Nepean Hwy, but I still visit often for great bread.