Massive fan of this place, which I have no doubt has contributed to the demise of many nearby Chinese Restaurants as the Australian palette looks for something more than the slap up westernized Chinese.

'I Love Pho" makes you really say "I Love Pho" and all the dishes on the menu. My favourite is the Crispy Fried Chicken, which defines authentic. There's also the diced beef cubes in a black pepper sauce which is my second favourite dish.

Of course I love the Pho, but unlike an Seinfield episode "Soup is a meal here" and a very good one at that. Just I don't like sound all the time. And Pho variation on the menu is sublime.

Service can be up and down and I think all the delivering places that "I Love Pho" caters for, slows it down more than the number of patrons, which seems to be consistent every time I go there. Great place for lunch, but I prefer the diner ambiance.

Well worth a visit.

Approximate cost: $19

Most people love it when they hear the word "Free" so the GoMA is already off to a good start. Most of the exhibits were visually stunning, if not Art, but what do I know?

Downstairs tucked away from most of the Gallery is a kids section. When we went (weekday), the kids were able to make masks and our four year old was able to pretty much have the run of a craft table to himself and had a great time. He made his sister and himself a mask, whilst I joined in as well. We weren't rushed and he had a great time!

There was also a communal colouring sheets, but he didn't see the point since another kid has already messed it up! Also not being able to take it home, seemed a little silly to a 4 year old.

But I take my hat off to Brisbane City and GoMA for having something like this for free and for families.

Approximate cost: $0

Is there anything more relaxing than after an intense day in the city with kids to sit back and chill with a smooth rich coffee?

As you kick back and replenish the energy levels, the kids can dose up with more sugar in the shape of a cupcake or ice cream.

Well that's what Coco Noir just off Pitts Street has to offer. It is rather busy, so I had to get lucky and get a side table and position the pram in the very busy thorough fare, so "pram friendly" it ain't.

But it does have a variety of fresh cakes, with my Tiramisu coming with some awesome ice cream and the coffee rich and full in texture.

My kids chocolate cupcake with sprinkles was a little dry, but he wasn't disappointed. No table service which isn't the end of the world, just noted. Which is a shame as we all wanted more, but Daddy was too lazy to order more food (and leave the kids) and return to the table.

Ultra busy cafe, in great location, where you can enjoy the little things in life to escape the CBD even for a fleeting moment of indulgence.

Approximate cost: $12

So this is a review of the Museum and the cafe on Level 4

So I recently took my four year old son to the museum which was about his 3rd visit in his life. We really go for the dinosaurs and the small paleontology pit which allows hit to dig up bones. He doesn't even watch the video on 4min loop, "boring."

At four years old, the stuffed animals really doesn't cut it when you see many of them alive at the zoo. Nor does any of the other exhibits.

He does love the kids zone area, which has a variety of toys, books, bean bags chairs and other activities for the kids to play with. As this is limited to kids under 5, going during the week allowed him to only have to share the are with a few other kids.

I really feel the Museum has a tiny window for kids between 4-7 I'm guessing. Otherwise I don't think he will be back until he's an adult.

Now the Cafe on level 4. Though it is more than your average cafe in terms of price it's not offensive and reasonable for a cafe in Sydney. The Wagyu burger, Barramundi with vegetables were all restaurant standard and coupled with the view of the Domain parklands, St Marys Cathedral and a glass of white. It was a perfect break at the museum, so the parents have enough energy to do it all again with the kids after lunch.

$15 entry (kids under 4 free), $20 for a nice lunch. A nice enjoyable day to be had.

Approximate cost: $15

A Latte at the Intercontinental costs $7

So you would expect their buffet lunch to be a gastronomic indulgence, out stripping the best Michelin experiences possible.

Unfortunately it was nothing more than average, nothing more than some decent seafood , dry roasts and a desert selection which was plentiful in number, but lacked a knocked out cake to make anyone come back.

The seafood included crab claws (which weren't cracked properly) and no tools available. Prawns, muscles and bland sushi. A Nice selection of chicken and vegetable dishes - but again, nothing you mother can't make given the time on a Sunday morning.

I felt the roasts of pork and beef were a little dry and could have been better timed for the lunch opening at 12pm.

I or my friends won't be rushing back and if You know Sydney, there are much better options for $10 cheaper. I felt the service staff rather 'snobby' which would have been fine if the food match the attitude.

A very average experience, coupled with very average food.

Approximate cost: $55

Great room (clean and decent size) on level seven though the view was of offices nearby.

Novotel stuck to the 14:00 check in which is fair enough and not an issue. Decent internet with good speed, though far too many dropouts, which required a simple re-login, just annoying really.

Nice pool on level 2 and gym (and usable Sauna, ie didn't stink).

Breakfast was described as "the best" by family members, but I felt it was a full buffet breakfast to be expected, with plenty to chose from. Including good selection of fresh fruit.

But here comes the main gripe, which was the guests! Though the Hotel can't stop [redacted due to offensive descriptor] booking the hotel, there was far too many upper middle-class [redacted due to offensive descriptor] who feel since they have paid a little more than the average B&B they can demand everything from everything on the buffet to be recooked, from the eggs to the bacon, to warming the milk, to cooling the milk, to 4 coffees they have no intention of drinking to cutting in front of you at every opportunity, to taking your toast and it seemed like every morning they were attracted to me!! I could see the staff doing it tough, especially on Christmas Day, so I don't blame them. It was as if one customer saw staff do one nice thing, then they would demand it as well, otherwise they aren't getting their monies worth from the Novotel. Honestly if they kicked one customer out of the restaurant or hotel, it would send such a clear message to the rest of the [redacted due to offensive descriptor], who probably would normally never act like that, I hope.

This behavior continued at the pool and the gym, as well as the rooms which had people running and down the hallways well past midnight and banging on the walls. But again, this actually isn't the Hotels fault, just worth considering and mentioning, as it wasn't a one off, but indicative of our 5 day stay.

Yes I mentioned this to the staff, who were polite but simply suggested they will look into it, or perhaps as frustrated as I was.

Some other, minor issues was that one day house keeping neglected our bathroom. Whilst the following day they neglected our room all together.

The bar closed early most nights, including 9pm when last drinks were called on a Wednesday night.

There is a kids area in the lobby which is usable for 3-5 year olds at best. But a nice touch (when the [redacted due to offensive descriptor] children aren't screaming and throwing blocks at other kids, whilst their parents are drinking at the bar or on their mobiles in 'we are on holidays' mode.

Overall staff were very nice and did their best to meet everyone's needs, even if this meant an endless barrage of requests.

Lastly, access to the Hotel is rather difficult for those with a wheelchair or in our case with a pram. When walking to the nearest station (Central Station) or just to Queens Street Mall nearby you have to walk down (and then up when returning) a very steep driveway shared with cars. And then a negotiate and extremely narrow footpath, which could only just fit our pram, when people walked in the opposite direction, they were forced to walk on the busy road.So if you use a wheelchair or pram, sadly I would NOT book this place, unless you want to pay for a taxi to go anywhere.

As I suggested, staff and facilities are Good. But too many issues (especially other guests) to make me recommend the Novotel Brisbane.

There's a saying, "happy wife, happy life" well the wife will be happy at Paradise Resort as the kids will be truly truly happy.

If your child loves the water, this is truly a wonderland. The entrance has a jungle gym which will can keep the kids 3-12 easily amused. There is also two major Kids Group activities (10-2) and (4-8pm) to look after the kids aged 0-2 and 3-12. Now my boy was 3 and being the youngest in the larger group was a little too much for him, as the activities in the evening were catered for kids 6-12 I reckon. But we got him out after 2hrs and that was long enough for him, he didn't really enjoy it and we never went back. But they are great for the older ones and can give the parents up to 4hrs off.

Our boy just loved the water slides and pool. We spent a large part of the day at the resort, with him playing on the slides or in the pool. Being 3 years old a parent was close by, the entire time, I would suggest at about 6 they could be left alone.

The beach is only 100m walk away. With the Centre of the Gold Coast two bus stops away ($4.80 for adult be warned) easy walk in the evening. A bit hot and long during the day.

We weren't planning too, but ate at the resort for breakfast and lunch. Nothing over priced and more than reasonable for Australia and compared to the Gold Coast area. I don't think there are enough healthy choices for the kids, but otherwise a great variety of food at reasonable prices.

Issues : Reception, it took us 1½hrs to check in. Luckily there was a jungle gym to play on, otherwise I think my boy would be a 'little' bored. Other inquires always took over 30mins to wait and be served, with honestly an hour being the average for the 5 times I had to visit reception.

Also the checkout bill is generalized I am still disputing 3 items on the bill, but it's hard to chase up when it just says breakfast on this date $45 - rather than who had what. But you can almost accept this given all the plus's throughout the resort.

I haven't even mentioned the Ice Rink or many of the other activities that the resort offers, like movie night.

Recommendation : Do not upgrade the room as it may give you a pool view, but this just puts you closer to the noise. Weren't much bigger or better than the standard room.

Flatout the most expensive Chinese Resturant I have walked into bar none. More expensive than those found around the Casino (Century) which catters for those with loose money.

BBQ Pork yum-cha style on a small tea saucer was $16, tastey. But there wasn't more than two bites to it. Fried rice, which wasn't enough for one was $15 and really wasn't that special.

Most Chicken dishes like my classic favourite in Black Bean was $28 with quantities nothing special. Garlic Prawns was $48 and though big prawns, you can walk less than 50m to get half dozen equally as good options and 1/3rd the price. Just not impressed.

All Yum Cha was $12 a plate, this is almost double what I expect to pay on like-for-like fair and based on location. Never felt so robbed, honestly with Chatswood being the Cabramatta of the North Shore, you have so much better choice at a quarter or 3rd the price.

Like other reviewers (rrg) the service was terrible, being spoken to in Cantoneese and NEVER in English where's very thin, very quickly.

Approximate cost: $50

Never has a restaurant gone down hill so fast! New management are more concerned about making a buck then anything else.

The salmon is dry and 3/4 qtr the portions they were before, whilst the prices have gone up by 50c to $1 a plate. Same with my former favourites Karrage Chicken and soft shell crab which is half the size, though the crab is $1 cheaper than before. The soft shell crab is also smothered in mayo, to hide the poor quality and give it some quantity.

But my issue with this place is the head waiter, who lets his mates push in. There is a waiting list which I and other families used and waited patiently. Thought the list isn't as long as it use to be, we were 4th in the queue, when a couple turned up and pushed in front over everyone as the head waiter let them in. Then it happened again, with other customers also baffled what number his mates are being seated before them four families waited as his mates were seated before hand. When this was raised to him by the next people in line, he said they took a number before, which is a flat out lie. The customers with young children really appreciated that they wait in the cold as his mates are eating up.

We all said we won't be back, but after the tasting the lack luster sushi plates which look like they are plated on diner plates the food quantities are so small, I am sure no-one will.

Approximate cost: $14

Absolutely no complaints. Starting with the location, which is on the north-side of town and dead centre. Just two blocks from the free tram ride. There are also trams down Elizabeth street heading North and South Melbourne. The Hotel is in the Tram Free Zone which is nice.

I felt the prices was more than reasonable, booked three months in advance and considering it was over the F1 weekend. Above average but fine nothing silly.

Staff was super friendly without being pushy or rude. Great toiletries and clean rooms and bathroom.

Room is actually dark, which I find very important and noise was not an issue.

Breakfast (included) is a choice of about 6 meals. After going for the bacon, eggs, chirozo sausages and mushroom. My arteries suggested I worry less for value for money and more for my health, so the fruit salad with yogurt was the go.

If I wanted to be pedantic, the bathroom sink has a small splash area depth, so as soon as I turned it on, it splashed all my clothes. Learned my lesson after the first time.

Otherwise, I would recommend this place to anyone who wants to stay in the heart of Melbourne.

Approximate cost: $171