Reviews by Phylos

This review is for Shop For Shops, Collingwood VIC

verified email - 07 Jun 2013

Shop For Shops are one of the best shopfittings companies I have come across. The staff are very friendly and very well versed on the products they sell (they import directly and the buyers have actually been to the factories that make the goods they sell). The quality, likewise, is great (because of their hands on approach to purchasing). And because they import directly, they offer great prices.

Whether you're looking for a complete fit out, or just some additions to your existing store, or even just looking for some coat hangers, paper bags, or other consumables for personal use, these guys are definitely worth talking to.

They offer shipping, and also have a great website you can order from.

This review is for Parkinson Plaza Seafoods, Parkinson QLD

verified email - 02 Jun 2013

I was in the area to get food from another place, but they weren't open. I was in a bit of a hurry, so I didn't want to wait the fifteen minutes until they did open, so I thought I'd give these guys a try. The sign out the front said "Best Burgers In Town", which I always take as a challenge.

First impressions were good. The first thing that caught my eye was how clean everything looked. Where you'd normally expect to see a hot box, all the food was on display, so you know exactly what you're getting. The next thing that caught my eye was the sign saying "No EFTPOS". I always get irritated when I see this sign - not having EFTPOS for your business in the 21st Century is like not having a website, or an email address. That's just my opinion.

I ordered their Burger with the Lot, Chips and Can of Coke for $10.50, which seems a touch expensive to me, and the price-point seems odd ($10 would be a better price point - folding money, no change, especially with no EFTPOS), but they're the best burgers in town, right?

A couple of people have ordered in front of me, so I take a bit of a wander while I wait. I come back as the people in front of me are leaving, and after a few minutes they call out the number before me, which is odd, because those guys just left. The guy behind the counter asks what number I have, and I tell him, and it turns out that he's given my order to the other people, so he has to remake my order. That's pretty much how he says it. No sorry. No checking if that's fine with me. No offer to make things right, just a simple statement telling me that he'll remake it for me.

Finally, when it's ready, I head home. The chips are hot and cooked properly, which is what you'd expect, and perfect for munching on in the car (they are wrapped individually, not put in a box with the burger, so it makes eating them on the go easier). I get home and open the burger and I'm pretty unimpressed. It's a burger with bacon, egg, cheese, beetroot, lettuce and onion (as well as the meat pattie), on a slightly fancy roll. When you take off $2.50 for the chips, $2 for the drink, that makes this Burger $6 (if you assume the meal deal has no discount). Definitely not worth the price, when you consider I've had better burgers with fresher ingredients for less than this.

The real icing on the cake was after I'd finished the burger, and was getting ready for work, I got violently ill.

I'll never eat here again.

This review is for Tenterfield Veterinary Clinic, Tenterfield NSW

verified email - 30 May 2013

I had to visit these guys because my cat was sick. In the end my cat had to be put down. It was a very emotional experience for myself and my daughter. The vet was very understanding, very patient, and went above and beyond as far as what he actually had to do. It's those little things that really count in times like this. Hopefully my next visit there will be under better circumstances.

This review is for Jennings Hotel, Back Creek NSW

verified email - 30 May 2013

A good little country pub. I have a soft place for these pubs - a place where you can go in and have a yarn with the locals, enjoy a beer, and watch the world go around. And have the locals want to talk to you. Not like city pubs where it's all rush, and no one will look at you, let alone talk to you.

A nice place to be.

This review is for Wallangarra Hotel, Wallangarra QLD

verified email - 30 May 2013

Kerrie and Steve run a great little pub. The service here is fantastic, as you'd expect for a pub in a small town - you have to supply great customer service, otherwise people will not go to your pub.

The beer is cold, there is a fireplace to sit by in winter, they serve meals (I've never had one, so I can't comment on those), and there is some accommodation available. Well, the accommodation might be available, because it is usually taken up by backpackers.

Probably not a bar you'd casually drop in on, but it is a great place to have a beer, and to listen to a yarn if you happen to be in the area.

This review is for I.SUSHI HYPERDOME, Loganholme QLD

verified email - 30 May 2013

The sushi here is pretty good. The train can be a little slow, so you're better off ordering what you really want, and use the train for "impulse buys" and "surprises". The staff are nice and friendly, but can be a bit slow/relaxed at times - this mainly happens when things aren't busy for some reason.

It was a good experience, though. I've been there a few times and it's definitely one of the better places to eat at the Hyperdome.

This review is for El Torito, West End QLD

verified email - 28 May 2013

A lovely little hole-in-the-wall style Mexican restaurant in West End. The food is good, the staff are friendly, and it is a nice welcoming atmosphere.

The only thing stopping me from eating there more often is their hours. When I was living in West End I'd often wander past to find them closed when I thought they were meant to be open, so I'd eat elsewhere. Not living in West End now, I'd hate to make the drive in, to find they aren't opening.

This review is for Carolina Kitchen, Coorparoo QLD

verified email - 28 May 2013

I gave these guys a try today, and was a little disappointed, to be honest. The food was pretty good, but it didn't really scream American to me - if anything it was more of an Australian interpretation of American dishes. I had the Chilli Dog, New York Fries and some corn bread. The chilli itself seemed lacking flavour, which was a little disappointing - it was almost like a spaghetti sauce. The fries were pretty good. And you can't really go wrong with corn bread.

The service was friendly, but a little slow, and the food seemed to take longer to get onto the table than I would have expected, considering the place wasn't exactly busy. Also, counter staff playing around on a cell phone while in view of customers isn't exactly a good look, especially when the store phone is ringing.

Maybe I should have gone for the ribs and Buffalo wings, instead. I'm not sure I'll be back.

This review is for King Of Kings Seafood Restaurant, Fortitude Valley QLD

verified email - 28 May 2013

This has to be my favourite place to get Yum Cha. It's usually pretty busy, which means having to wait for a tale to open up, but it is well worth it. The staff are very helpful, and keen to make you happy. The place really buzzes. Eating here is not just a meal, but an experience, and a pleasant one. I'll keep coming back!

This review is for Mellum Munchies, Landsborough QLD

verified email - 28 May 2013

This place has been there forever, it seems. I can't even guess the number of times I've stopped in for a burger, a drink, or a snack before getting on a train or after getting off one. Even now, whenever I'm heading up to Maleny I like to stop here for a bite before heading up the hill.

The quality is good, the service is good, the staff are friendly, and the place is always busy.

A perfect example of the good old Aussie corner takeaway shop.