A doctor should be personal, caring and above all, an expert in diagnosing and treatment patient illness. Dr Alan Rose from Prahran Clinic is the best doctor that I've had. Not only is he humerous and attentive, he has time and time again demonstrated his medical talents through diagnosing illnesses that other doctors just simply haven't picked up. I have brought friends and family from all other parts of Melbourne just to see Doctor Rose - and he has helped them get better every time. It is always a pleasurable experience when visiting him.

Hepburn Springs is a lovely part of the world, but what makes the experience that much more special is being able to have a bite at the Chowder House. Probably the most popular place in town and recommended by all the locals, the boys at the Chowder House serve up giant sized and delicious creations of what can only be classified as home cooked American fare.
Obviously, the thing to go for is the chower, and there is plenty of variety including daily specials. Everything from your traditional corn and clam chowder, to seafood, fish and even chicken (from memory). For the non-chowder fans, there is a great deal of other things on offer, including huge breakfasts American-style, and plenty of tasty cakes and muffins.
The service is warm and friendly - and people drive all the way in from Melbourne just to enjoy what's on offer.
Make sure your trip to Daylesford and Hepburn Springs includes a stop off here (or just do what everyone else does and drive up for the day just to have some chowder!).

Approximate cost: $17

When it comes to Chinese restaurants, most people have their given favourite. It's quite likely, that many people will associate the "Pacific" chain of restaurants as being one of the best value Chinese food places around - with branches in South Yarra and Richmond - famous for their seafood dishes.
It's no wonder why the new cafe form utilising the same name is seeing such great success, considering it's only been open for a short time.
The cafe is busy, pretty much from open 'til close. Roast ducks, BBQ pork and soy sauce chicken hang from the front window.
The food is served fast - the staff uphold the reputation of the Pacific name - fast service. The food is of exceptional standard, and frankly, probably the best BBQ pork/roast duck in town - but be careful, you'll be paying for it. Pacific Cafe is a couple of notches more expensive for this type of food than most places you'll find in Chinatown. Is it worthwhile? You'll need to determine that for yourself - however, it is great value for takeaway.
For those who like a relaxed meal, be mindful that the staff are quite conscious of ushering you out of the cafe as quickly as possible to make way for others wanting to come in.

Approximate cost: $12

Finding the very best Vietnamese dishes is often difficult amongst the wealth of offers in any of the major Vietnamese areas such as Footscray, Richmond and Springvale. However, Star is truly a gem, serving traditional and hard to find Vietnamese dishes in portions that were created to be shared in large groups.
Offering venues in Footscray and recently in Springvale, it's not uncommon to find large Vietnamese families here having a celebratory or general family meal.
Be sure to try the BBQ deer meat, the signature dish of the restaurant. Other popular offerings are the Vietnamese sour soup, Pipis with XO Sauce and the salt and pepper flounder.
While the restaurant's decor would not win any awards for style - it's the quality of food that's the main drawcard here - so don't be frightened by its appearance.

Approximate cost: $20

Ito is a cosy Japanese eatery on the upper side of Bourke Street. It offers a standard array of noodle and rice dishes with a moderate selection of sushi and sashimi. The staff are courteous without being too friendly, while the dishes are of a reasonable size without being great value for money.
There are some specials regularly on offer which are worth taking up, such as a side of gyu tataki (raw beef) for a reduced price when a noodle dish is ordered.
While the general items on offer may be average, the green tea smoothie is a must.

Approximate cost: $15

You know - with the number of Japanese eateries and sushi places around Melbourne-town, it's easy to make a wrong choice. No chance of that at Yoyogi though - the sushi is great value for money here, with sizes that would actually be able to fill you up. There is also a filling selection found here which is quite rare to find at other places (soft-shell crab roll comes to mind).
If you're after something fast, the home made Dim Sims are exceptional value at $0.80 each and it only takes a few to get you full.
Best of all though is the hot food menu which offers exceptionally large portions of great tasting Japanese fair at insanely low prices. Take for example the Yikunku Don (fried beef with rice), at approximately $8, the serving is so large that you'd think a whole cow went into it. The chicken curry is also exceptional value at only $6 or so.
While the service may not be flash, and the upstairs seating somewhat stuffy during the warmer months, once you've tried this place, it'll sure to become an easy choice for regular eating when you're in town.

Approximate cost: $7

Barbarino's + Wong is truly a unique dining experience with a diverse menu which will be sure to satisfy anyone. On the one hand, there is an exceptionally delicious array of steaks and ribs while the flip side offers high quality Asian noodles and rice dishes.
The atmosphere is relaxed, and is especially suitable for large groups.
No matter what you do, be sure to get a serving of the ribs and the onion rings!

Approximate cost: $22

When building a new home, it's imperative to get a building inspector to ensure that your house is built according to all the relevant building guidelines and regulations as well as to a high quality. The side benefit of getting a building organiser is that your builder will most likely be more on their toes and build your home better to start with!
Kevin from New Home Inspections has an excellent reputation amongst the building trade for picking up on things that your builders generally don't. For our home, Kevin picked up on a number of critical issues which the builders subsequently fixed. Without Kevin picking up on these things, we're certain it would have resulted in medium-long term issues for our hew home. Kevin is thorough, punctual and provides an excellent service for the money paid. He is generous with his advice, and will not over-recommend too many inspections for you (some inspectors recommend that you get one done after every stage). We've definitely gained much more peace of mind knowing that Kevin's been involved in the building of our new home.

Approximate cost: $400

Pho to the Vietnamese is like a Chicken Parma to us Aussies. As such, it's no suprprise that it is one of the most easily recognisable Vietnamese cuisines (next to rice paper rolls) for any foodie. Once you've tried a bowl of tasty Pho, it soon becomes an obsession to find the best in town. Pastuer, in the heart of one of Melbourne's Vietnamese centric areas, is probably rated as one of the best in Melbourne. With a limited menu, the selection is easy and the service is prompt (yet generally accomodating). The Pho is exceptionally tasty and generously proportioned. The chefs will accomodate you asking them to reduce the amount of oil in the soup as well (for those health conscious). Those who prefer something non-soup based can opt for the traditional Vietnamese spring rolls instead. For a Vietnamese eatery, the place is generally quite clean. A takeaway service is available as well if you're pressed for time.

Approximate cost: $7.5

While most dog grooming places provide a sense of care and attention for your pooch-child, Jenny and Tony take it one step further by not only ensuring they get a great bath and cut, but at a great value rate. Most importantly, the staff are flexible with drop off and pickup times. We've taken our dog for grooming a couple times, and have been exceptionally happy with not only the look, but their attention to the smaller details (style, nails etc). We chanced upon Canine Clip Joint after searching for a groomer to replace our previous and constantly price escalating groomer. Give them a shot, I'm sure you won't be dissapointed.

Approximate cost: $50-55