Aviv is my go to place for all things pastry, from their excellent bagels (steamed in the traditional way, unlike most of their competitors) which come in numerous permutations including mini-bagels, delicious creamy quiches with perfect pastry (sizes being individual, medium and large in vegetable, spinach and artichoke and mushroom) to occasion cakes of many kinds, many sold by weight. The current Swiss owners have retained many of Aviv's long time Jewish and central European favourites like rich Challah bread and Kugelhopf, but also do seasonal Christmas and Easter lines and some excellent chocolates. Prices are reasonable when you consider the high quality and top ingredients used.

This place is very popular - hence the ticket numbering system at the door during their (many) busy) periods. There are four small tables inside and a basket of magazines and newspapers for those popping in for a solo coffee and cake. Service is efficient and friendly.

My favourite items at Aviv are the excellent thinly sliced almond bread ($5 for a packet), individual chocolate mousse cake - rich and smooth, and choc dipped shortbread biscuits ($1.80) (their range of house made biscuits is excellent and they are all high quality- great gifts).

Despite their popularity, Aviv has kept up their high standards, making this small bakery my vote for best cake shop in Melbourne.

Let me first say about Limor's: this is the place to take big eaters. Do not expect innovative or healthy eating here - Limors delivers what its die hard customers want - enormous serves of schnitzels, shaslicks, barbecued ribs, cevapcici, marinated chicken ribs - the list goes on.
There are complimentary salads served with most dishes - coleslaw, beetroot and tabbouleh - and dips are the usual fare in Middle Eastern style restaurants - hoummous, tehina, eggplant. And don't forget the shoe string fries - piles of them.

The main draw for most Limor's customers is definitely the meat - but don't make the mistake of ordering too much first up, as most mains will feed 2 or more people. Despite the slabs of fried and grilled meat, there is a felafel plate for the vegetarians in your party, which is served with a selection of dips, salads and pita, and a choice of a couple of (fairly gluggy but huge) pasta dishes, like the creamy mushroom sauce dish - edible, but not great. I can't comment on desserts - after more than a dozen visits to Limors I have never ordered one, often having been defeated by the entree course.

If you order judiciously amongst a few people, Limors can represent good value.

The restaurant is very loud and busy and service can be a little slow. variable.

Approximate cost: $30 and up

Topolinos has almost reached iconic status as one of the longest survivors on Fitzroy street and the basic menu is the same as it was in 1977 - well executed Italo-Australian pizzas in the Lygon Street manner. Ever reliable, this late opening pizza place has maintained a good standard in a restaurant strip often so packed with diners that other similar pizza places have simply let the quality of offerings slide. All the popular Italian dishes such as Lasagne and spaghetti Carbonara are available. The service is generally efficient. Prices are reasonable.

Remezzo is a busy (and often noisy) neighbourhood restaurant I have visited numerous times, that has a broadly mediterranean menu including Italian, Greek and Spanish style dishes, with an interesting tapas (smaller snacks) menu including goats cheese fritters and arancini balls (delicious, both $9.90). There are pizzas on the menu (including thin base) - I didn't like the "gourmet range" (from $11 to $19.50), much preferring the regular (and cheaper) offerings ($7.50 - $18, Vegetarian and Capricciosa are the favourites in my family). On the pasta menu, my favourite is the (not striclty pasta) Gnocchi Pumpkin - lovely light gnocchi in a creamy spinach and pumpkin sauce ($14.50). Of the mains on offer, the Chicken Parma is my family's favourite, while the grilled lamb cutlets with lemonata potatoes always brings complaints - that there isn't more! When you first enter Remezzo one thing you can't miss are the outrageously large platters of the house specialities that are carried regularly to appreciative tables - Loukmades (doughnuts in syrup) and Churros (long piped doughnuts wth a chocolate sauce) ($9 each). You should definitely try these, they are really delicious - even if only once! On a couple of visits our food was a bit slow coming (made worse by the appearance of aforesaid huge fragrant plates of doughnuts at other tables) but the service and atmosphere is friendly and homely (if your home includes about 40 people talking loudly). There is also a free delivery service in the local area for orders over $20 on the nights you prefer to stay cocooned at home.

Europa Cafe, a welcome addition to the Koornang Rd shopping strip, carries an extensive range of central European style cakes and biscuits, (from $1 for a biscuit to an average $5 for a cake) as well as an eat in menu ranging from light breakfasts to comfort foods like soups, cabbage rolls and lamb shanks. Vegetarian options, beyond breakfast, are limited to vegetable pasties ($5 when they have them) and cheese and spinach pastries ($4.50). The biggest drawcard, though, is really excellent coffee expertly made by friendly staff who care (there is a card available - free, just ask - which entitles patrons to a free coffee or hot drink after sufficient stamps are obtained). All prices are very reasonable for good quality offerings. The cafe has a pleasant atmosphere and daily newspapers and other reading material, which makes dropping in there after shopping a pleasant and relaxing experience if you are going solo. This is the best spot for coffee and cake in the street and Europa has the added plus of being open much later than others on this generally early closing street.

Oasis Bakery combines casual dining/takeaway with a mainly Middle Eastern sourced supermarket. The cafe menu, which includes breakfasts, is generally Lebanese and includes seasonal dishes (from $10 - $18) along with snack style items such as kebbeh and haloumi pies (around $5) that are also stocked frozen in the supermarket. You order and pay off a fast food style wall menu then collect your items and eat them at one of nearby tables. The atmosphere is busy but you can generally find a table even at weekends as turnaround is quick. Biggest bargain meal is the felafel wrap ($6) which can be upgraded to include a soft drink and a bucket of really delicious chips for an extra $3.50. "Sharkwama" wraps, with a ridiculous amount of meat are popular with the young dudes, but there are plenty of much healthier options including soups and salads too. The supermarket carries the hard to get Linda McCartney range of vegetarian pies etc, and an extensive range of salads, dips and dry goods under the Oasis label. There is an extensive range of Levantine cakes and desserts as well as beautiful macarons (not baked on the premises but still the best I have had in Melbourne) in luscious colours and flavours (Turkish Delight and Belgian Chocolate are my favourites $2.80 each, $14.95 for six - special gifts boxes a couple of dollars extra). The house pita is also a great buy - $1 for a pack in either wholemeal or white (get in early on weekends). A visit to Oasis can be an expensive proposition as there is a great temptation to try all the interesting new things as well as stocking up in the supermarket with everything from Israeli Tofutti (non dairy "ice cream") to frozen Russian piroshki. For the budget conscious, though, there are some great value options that will have you coming back regularly.