From the size of the store to the "useless" greeting when you walk in the store, really no complaints with this store. Sure it's not as good as their Taren Point store franchise, as I felt they did better bargains and price comparison.

But this store still does a decent job. Castle Hill also has photo development - though I found the Kodak staff rather cranking to be honest. I did like their range of products and bought my air conditioner and printed some pics from these "Good guys."

Food is a massive massive rip off. Yeah it's good ingredients, but the price and portion size is one third of what other cafes are serving 10m away! I appreciate it's Lane Cove, but no where to sit - tiny inside area and tiny outdoor tables. Not my thing.

So why the 2 stars? The coffee is very good, still over priced like the food, but well worth it take away wise. Yes they know their coffee, they also know how to swindle the customer!

Like so many Cafe's in Sydney - if you get just bacon and eggs - you wonder how on earth can they get away charging these prices!! But I will say that the full breakfast for $18.50 was well worth it! Dare I say almost too much.

Service was excellent and besides all the magpies attacking your food when you sit outside, really no complaints. There seems to be about Twenty cafes in Lane Cove (no exaggeration), so a testament to Aristorcrat it was here before all the commercial chains and remains solid after they have swamped Lane Cove.

Approximate cost: $18.50

I have been with Fitness First for some time and have been to their gyms nearly all around NSW, ACT and Brisbane when I have been travelling.

I would have to say that the St Leonards Fitness First being in the heart of a business district, would have to be the BUSIEST Fitness first I have ever ever been too. Even busier than their Park St gym in the CBD. Absolute crazy - at lunchtime and after 5:30pm you have to fight and/or weight for a machine. There is almost zero floor space to stretch or move around. You have more room in peek hour traffic over the harbour bridge!

The equipment and change rooms are fine, when you get on them. Didn't even try the classes. I have nothing against Fitness First - though closing nearby Lane Cove FF doesn't help St Leonards FF, but really I can't believe people even bother to try and workout here!

Approximate cost: $45

Sadly this place doesn't get reception when is important, if your shopping with your partner and trying to get football scores at the same time.

Otherwise, the best thing about this store is the fact that it has drove down the price of competitors nearby. It's a big store, with plenty of variety and choice, with a really good fruit and veggie selection. Whilst stocking an excellent selection of Deli meats and cheeses. Above average Woolworths and well above average supermarket.

The reason for such a low review for this Bar is simple. I decided to play the pokies which has clear signage throughout the gaming area, "Complimentary Snacks & Drinks Everyday." I would attach a picture to my womo review if I could.

So when I asked the staff for a coke which can be clearly seen in the promotion or advertisement. The staff and bar manager said "No, what are you talking about, that will be $3.50" After I showed them the signage and promotion, they still said that will be $3.50 which I said don't worry. Withdrew the remaining money in the poker machine and left. Seems crazy to have this signage and for the cost of a postmix Coke, they won't even honour the promotion - which comes down to false advertising,

Approximate cost: $25

What I really like about these people from a reviewer or product sample viewer point is that they really think about their promotions from both sides. The view point of the company they are marketing as well as how it will reflect on the people using their products.

You see, that's the difference with Soup, you aren't doing a survey. It's not - here are 4 new soaps launched by this company, please fill out this on line form. They are about building communities and building long term relationships between the companies which pay them, and the wider community in general. If I can give you an example, I am still checking the Panasonic site regularly after Soup Marketing introduced me to their online community. It's not just a one off product demo or otherwise.

With a juice promotion - they gave me enough juice to host a party and enough information like "fun" handouts which made me invite friends over and so on. It wasn't in this small vacuum which I feel a lot of other marketing companies seem to employ. I am supported to tell more people about it, whereas if you start telling other people about companies like "See film first" it means less people will get tickets to the movies, and you may miss out. The bigger the community the better.

I have been with Soup for years now and as long as you answer the question honestly to start off with, you will find each promotion awesome and well worth the time and reward.

Generally speaking I would prefer to walk a mile in the opposite direction when it comes to Gloria Jeans. But maybe because this one is near Hill Song (owners of Gloria Jeans) they hire decent staff, who are warm, friendly and most importantly make a decent coffee.

This cannot be said for their other outlets which sell you a bucket of warm milk. This store is also considered the "Flagship store", and there really is only one store next door which competes with it.

Main draw back is that the coffee in generally still well over priced, but you get this from every Gloria Jeans store - and they aren't really forcing you to pay these prices. I come here most days before work and have bothered to learn the barristers names - so I shouldn't be surprised to get good service.

Simply but - well worth the visit.

Approximate cost: $4.50

A Restaurant is often a crescendo of smell, sounds, ambience and hopefully climaxed with taste as the food. But let's say Chequer's illustrates why no composers like Bach, Mozart and Schubert come from China.

Conveniently located in the Cabrammatta of the North Shore, it is as if Chequer's has been composed by Chen Xitong (he happily butchers things like his own people). Atmosphere butchered, food if you want to call it that, butchered. Sounds of diners, like being in a packed butchers with buzz saws going, and the goal is to do nothing more than out scream the person sitting next to you, if you win that battle try the table furtherest away from you. Eating with your mouth open, is a must.

To be honest, just writing about the whole experience is starting to make me ill.

I ordered Chicken in Black Bean - if you haven't read any of my other reviews, you will see I always order this. Generally as a rule, you can't butcher this meal. But sadly Chequers joins the restaurant in Perth, Scotland to be the only restaurant to totally stuff up this simple classic Chinese meal. I am pretty sure that Chen Xitong would execute someone if he was served this meal.

The Black Bean sauce was watery and turned my rice into an oats like dish. My friends Chilli Fish (Snapper they reckon) was all chilli and no fish - there's "Flavour" and then there's just drowning something in a spice we scrapped off the insides of an old sauce pan.

Would never come here just to spend my enemies money for the sake of it. Well over priced as well, together with soft drinks came to $60 which put the meals at $25 plus.

Approximate cost: $26

If you don't like paying up for your drinks, don't come here! The food was great, when the pizza was the same as "the Australian" for those familiar with that pub in the Rocks.

But now it's changed and gone down hill - not to mention a Johhny Walker Black in Plastic Cups, was $13.50 (Circa April 2012)

Sadly Cargo bar gets far too crowded for its own good. The crowd sadly are a bit full of themselves as much as the drink. If you are more interested in seeing yourself and being seen, then having a great drink, this is the place to come. Otherwise, Sydney has better places to be a local at.

Approximate cost: $24