I have taken my kids here for a special birthday breakfast for years now. It is quite a different atmosphere with the big balloon and booths everywhere but it's so cheap for what you get and the kids have a ball choosing their meal with the more chocolate and sweetness the better. A favourite for my kids is the chocolate sauce and sprinkles with cream and ice cream piled all over these big fat fluffy pancakes, how they get through it I'll never know but we haven't left it behind yet! It is quite an old restaurant but well and truly worth a visit but don't eat before you go as meals are huge.

Approximate cost: $12

After searching high and low to find chicken livers to make pate I finally thout to ring Red Lea and see if they had them and of course no they didn't but they are very happy to order these in for me. Very friendly accomodating staff that supply you with fresh chicken and pieces and as I said if they don't have it they can get it and you don't have to order fifty kilograms either. Very well priced and I am so glad I can now get my bits and pieces to make our home made meals and snacks. You name it....they can probably get it.

Approximate cost: $8

I have just picked up my young sons new glasses and I was very impressed with the service we received. On the first day we went in looking for glasses for a three year old we had so much help to choose one that is tough enough for a young active boy and also one that fits such a little face. After the choice was made the glasses were made to script and we were called to advise that theynhad checked the glasses and were not happy with the paint on the arms so a new pair were being made so sorry for the delay. Any other company would probably have just given us the funny paint ones hoping we never noticed. When the new set came in we were called to come in for a final fitting and while we were there we took out the great insurance policy they offer for children's glasses as it's not a matter of if but when they will get scratched or broken and for an excess of $25 we are given a completely new set no questions asked. Glasses are great and little face is ever so cute with his new eyes on!! Our private insurance claim was done on the spot instore so another hassle taken care of by OPSM.

Approximate cost: $85

I have managed to get rid of a few things on Gumtree both free to give away or priced to sell. I also like the fact people can advertise a service on it. I thought you could buy absolutely anything on eBay but Gumtree tops it with any possible thing you could want to find. Really handy site and it's free to advertise where eBay charges to list even if it's a start of 99c. Give it a try as it can't hurt and won't cost a thing!

I have both been here for or held a birthday party and been just to let my kids have a play. It was taken over by new owners a couple of years ago and they put a bit of money into cleaning and fixing it up a bit. The parties are great value as the kids are well and truly put through the ringer and entertained the entire time. They are left to play amongst themselves and also taken into the hall to play special games etc. The food choices are quite good and will cater to most diets. You can bring in your own cakes or there is the option to order one through them. If you are just looking for something to do with the kids one day just head in and they can play while you have a cuppa or catch up with a girlfriend and all along you can still see them running around Turku the glass wall.

Approximate cost: $18.00 party guest

Yuck and yuck. We have been going past this tavern for a while wondering what it's like......now we know! When you first walk in you stand by the wait to be seated sign and wait you do, the staff have a lot of gossiping to do first. Your table is pointed out and menus sent along with you. We ordered a club sandwich which was all piled in the middle of the bread and I ordered a tapas plate which was just plain gross. The Cajun beef skewers were so tough I had to spit them out, the spring rolls were browned meat wrapped in filo and the two prawns were ok but by the tme I'd got to them I was past it. Th epri es I thout were a little over the top and after getting the meals I am convinced of that as it was horrid so a waste of $50. I think this place needs a bit of attention from management and the staff retrained and could someone please point out that when you have a customer with a pram do not try and stuff her down the back corner behind all the other tables like we watched this poor lady struggle to get her pram through and as the place begun to fill up they put everyone around her so good luck getting the pram back out when she was ready to leave. Common sense is free!

This beautiful old restaurant is a real treat and the wonderful waiter buys them an extra star. We went on a Wednesday night as a group of four and the meals were absolutely lovely and what different choices you have with both meals and the local wines on offer. This is not the place you come for a cheap meal out but it certainly is unique. The building alone is amazing and the waiter we had for the night was just so nice and helpful. He is also a passionate local happy to join in with your conversations. Although this is alacarte you can order your meals in either a two or three course deal and we ordered a main and entree and a main and dessert and each couple shared their entree and dessert as they are quite filling. For a treat out this is a wonderful place for a quiet get together or romantic night out.

Not a bad pub for a quick lunch, very large meals and we found them quite cheap. You have to go and order at the counter but they do bring your meals out to you. It was very quiet the day we were so hard to get a feel for the ambience. The only thing going against it was you had to walk all the way around to another section to get to the bar to get a drink and you couldn't order any through the waitress. Not a huge problem I suppose but you had to stop eating or talking, get up and walk all the way around to the public bar....huge meals and still a good quick pub lunch.

Approximate cost: $14

We have been to both birthday parties and held out own children's party here and dispite the rink and seating etc being quite old it is a fun day for the kids. Really cheap prices and the staff could be a little more helpful but it is still a good entertainment or party option. We took our own cake which they had no problem with us cutting etc. There is a morning or afternoon shift to choose from as they shut in between to let the ice recover. Biggest tip I could give is wear heaps of woolies as even though you are expecting it to be cold if you are not skating it is really really cold. I would have liked the staff to be a little more interactive like theynwere when we went to roller skating and it amps the kids up a little more rather than just doing circles and if you don't want to get involved then you keep doing your own thing. Parking is not in abundance but there is plenty out on the street and being that kids parties are usually on the weekend you have a whole street to choose from.

Approximate cost: $12

We popped in here this morning to grab a coffee and it was surprisingly quiet considering it's right near the highway. The decaf lattes were really nice although a napkin wrap or handle would help as the cup is quite large and stays really hot for a while which is great only hard to hold onto. We ordered a melt and it was lovely and fresh not the old stale focacia you get at some cafes. The service could really do with a vamp up and a smile wouldn't go astray but whatever. Food and coffee good so accept the grumpy faces.

Approximate cost: $8