The service is exceptionally good at this chicken and salad store. You never have to wait long for your meals and the salads are the reason we keep going back. Try the pumpkin and bean salad, it's the best! The store decor could do with an update but the tables and chairs are kept clean and we are happy customers.

The Gift Hotel has a large, modern bar area that is perfect for events. In my opinion, the best experience is to visit this hotel during the Easter holidays when the crowd from the Gift running race are keen to celebrate. The bistro area is clean and serve good, honest counter meals. The meal prices are reasonable and the dining area has a child friendly atmosphere.

The National Hotel is your friendly, local type hotel with it's regular clientele and efficient service. The meals are Australian-Chinese counter type meals with the adjoining restaurant at the back. Decent sized meals and good value. I recommend the honey chicken and special fried rice.

The Hawthorn also belongs to the new breed of pub with it's modern decor and relatively trendy clientel. In my experience, the Hawthorn is best visited in the late afternoon, where you can sit out in the terrace beer garden with a jug and some of the delicious wedges (these are particularly good). After dark, the Hawthorn is a different animal though and being right on the universities doorstep, this is not surprising.

On first impressions, the dining area of the Moreland Hotel causes you to take a step back and take it all in, with it's Greek style columns and sky-painted ceiling. If i had to make one major complaint about the Moreland Hotel, it is the seating. In my opinion, the chairs belong on a sidewalk cafe, rather than in a restaurant that attempts to give off the fine dining vibe. The meals on the other hand, are fantastic and would happily go there more often, if it wasn't for the seating arrangement.

My first trip to the Stag's Head Hotel was a last minute decision on a Saturday evening to go for dinner with the in-laws and though we were early, i wasn't expecting to be seated so quickly or in fact, have the entire dining room to ourselves for a short time. After ordering our meals, another entire family came in, kids and all, and were seated, and they in fact received their meals before we did. It wasn't an excruciating wait but frustrating none the less. The meals were well priced and well worth the wait. Quite happy to return and indeed, i want to try out the beer garden next time.

To really experience the Retreat, you need to take two trips. One at lunch time on a nice sunny day, so you can sit either out the front with a friend, have a beer and watch the world go by and also to experience one of the better beer gardens in Melbourne. The second trip would be a night trip, and skip dinner so you can come down and get chips and gravy. Chips, gravy and beer, what a combination!

The Albion Hotel is more of your classic Aussie pub with it's slightly sticky carpet and familiar smell. You order at the bar and someone brings your meal out to you. There's no separation between dining and bar and it is the definition of a counter meal. I had the pot and parma, and that's exactly what i got.

The Castle Hotel is one of the new styles of hotel where everything looks shiny and clean, and lacks that distinct pub smell. The Castle offers very pleasant meals, even if they are not that adventurous. I'd put it in the category of quality Australian pub dining. It's a very reliable and safe place to take company if you were looking for something more than a counter meal but less than fine dining.

Comfortable bistro setting where you can go and get good, honest Australian counter meals. Nothing fancy but consistent. Appears to be consistently busy with a family friendly atmosphere. Meals arrive together and on time.