I no longer live in the Sutherland Shire however I keep returning to Sage as I haven't managed to find a Hair Dresser who gives such consistently good cuts. I go to Jamie and she is lovely and friendly as always remembers so many details about my life along with how I like my hair to be done. She has also coloured my hair on occasion and is definitely a talented hair dresser. If you live in the area, they also often send out coupons. My last cut there was a shampoo, style cut and blow dry and cost $55 however i had a voucher so it came down to $42. This is so cheap for a quality cut, I don't think i'll be leaving in a rush!!

Approximate cost: $55 (Shampoo, Cut & Blowdry)

I went to the recently revamped Goldfish on a Saturday Night for a couple of drinks. Friends had recommended it to me and I was definitely not let down. The bar was dimly lit, with a DJ who got louder as the night wore on. The furnishings were classic and added to the atmosphere. Goldfish was quite busy, but they also did table service, which made it easy to get drinks rather than having to line up at the bar. Cocktails were priced at around $17, and were delicious.

Approximate cost: $17/Cocktail

I went to Kudu Lounge with 2 Girlfriends for cocktails(were later joined by several other friends), there was a function on in the lower level, so even though there was room for us, they opened up the next level and we had our own bartender for a while and kudos to Kudu for having him, he was able to explain ther range of exotic alcohols and make off menu items for us when we asked what he recommended. Cocktails were around $16 and I think for the quality you get, they are well worth the money. Kudu is a hidden gem in Darlinghurst - well worth a visit. Decor was well thought out - very dark and classy and the music they had on added to the atmosphere by not being too loud. They do serve food, however we didn't eat.

Approximate cost: $14 for a light meal, $16 for a cocktail

The Jenny Cake shop sell a range of Individual Asian breads, including such as those you would expect to buy as a Yum Cha item including steamed or Glazed Pork Buns (Approx $1.80). These were a delicious snack on the run. They also have preprepared hot dogs, ham and cheese buns and sweet buns. Great to pick up on your way to work, or just as you shop the streets of Ashfield.

Approximate cost: $2

2 girlfriends and I went for drinks on a Friday night at the Piano Room. We ordered mixed olives $6 and Hand Cut CHips served with roast garlic mayonnaise $8 and both dishes were great. The menu is far more extensive (available at the website), however we only wanted something to snack on. The atmosphere was amazing, it was dimly lit and old fashioned with a small stage with a grand piano. Firstly a very talented guitarist played and then a little later on a club jazz band played. Both were great and weren't so loud that it was made impossible to talk. I recommend making a booking, as most tables were reserved. They offer table service for drinks as well as food, and also have a Bar Tab facility in conjunction with the Trademark Hotel. Cocktails were made with quality ingredients and offered flavours away from the norm - they were priced as no be expected from a venue like this at $19. I also had a glass of White Wine which was $6.50.

Approximate cost: $18 - 20

I went to Different Drummer on a Friday evening. When we first arrived, it was empty, however it didn't take long for it to fill up, and we had a great seat at the window bench. Cocktail Happy Hour runs from 6 - 7.30, where they have selected cocktails (good range of delicious ones!!) at 2 for the price of 1. The cocktails range in price from $12- $18each. We also ordered their tapas special - you can choose 4 standard tapas for $42 or 6 for $60. The individually priced Tapas dishes range from $11 for basics, $15 for Seafood and $18 for premium. If you include the premium and seafood dishes in the special, you do pay a bit more. The 4 dishes was a light meal for 2 people and went excellently with the Cocktails we chose including Mojito's and woo woo! They do have an upstairs area and a back area, however upstairs was booked for a function. I would reccommend either arriving slightly before 6, or booking to avoid disappointment. It does get very loud & busy quickly. Just as a little quirk - in the ladies room there is a chalkboard!

Approximate cost: $11-$18

I've been to Edwards on a number of occasions, it's one of my favourite butchers in Ashfield. They have a great variety of meats, however their Lamb is limited (that said, their backstrap is great quality and only $17-18/kilo). I regularly purchase their Pork Fillet from them, which is great quality and is only $14/kilo. I've also bought blade steak for $8/kilo and diced lamb for a similar price. I do not recommend the diced lamb at all - it was very gristly, and even slow cooked only some of it was usable. Service is a little cold, but it's a butcher, so I'm not really bothered.

Approximate cost: $14/Kilo for Pork Fillet

I went here in search of Lamb Shanks - the lady who served us was incredibly friendly, and even though they had a large order already placed and not much residual stock were happy to sell it all to us (First thing on a Monday Morning). The lamb shanks were only $6.49/kilo, and are about 4 to a kilo. As a comparison, Edwards Meats, just up the road sells Lamb Shanks at $2.50 each, and other butchers i've been to have been up to $15/kilo. We also bought 2kg's of Blade Steak for a casserole, which was only $6.99 a kilo. A trip to Ashfield's Butchers pays for itself in the savings that you make. My favourite thing about this Butcher compared to others in the area was the service. The lady was so friendly and made conversation freely while she served us. They also sell a number of specialty items including fish mince and tofu items, along with a range of frozen ducks and birds.

Approximate cost: $6.49/ kilo for Lamb Shanks, $6.99/kilo for Blade Steak

Ashfield Fruit World is a busy fruit store with a small deli that has a very large range of produce (from specialty asian vegetables, to a large variety of potatoes, and all different types of fruits!). Most items are priced very well, cheaper than many green grocers and supermarkets. Compared to the other green grocers in the area, this one feels cleaner and better quality to me, however some items are slightly more expensive - eg. approx $18.99/kilo for Salad Mix which I bought at the fruit store in Ashfield Mall for approx $14.50/kilo the week prior. However - i think the overall quality is better here. They also have a variety of specialty items including anchovies in a jar, chillies and other pickles. The deli sells such things as Duck Marylands which I so far haven't found elsewhere.

Approximate cost: $20

I walked in to this restaurant on a Monday night to order takeaway. The staff were helpful, however there was a slight language barrier. I ordered Mongolian Lamb, Crispy Skinned Duck, Lemon Chicken, Steamed Asian Vegetables in Oyster Sauce and steamed rice. This was enough to feed myself, my parents and my older brother - and we definitely have healthy appetites. We waited approximately 20 minutes for our food which I think is reasonably. The food wasn't great quality, particularly the duck which wasn't very crispy as described.

Approximate cost: $14