This is one of my favourite restaurants in Geelong! $30 buys you three different tapas, which is just perfect for the ladies. I really recommend the pork belly, spring rolls and the barramundi. The upstairs bar is also a lovely spot to stop and have a drink.

Approximate cost: $30.50

My friends and I ate here on the weekend to celebrate a birthday. The service was great, the food arrived quickly considering how busy the bistro was, and the food was FANTASTIC. I had the Piri Piri prawns with cous cous, which was divine, and just the right size. We struggled to find a nearby car park, so we ended up down a side street nearby.

Approximate cost: $27

Armageddon Cake is a new, quaint little dessert bar hidden down a laneway in the centre of Geelong. It's only open Thus - Sat nights from 8pm - 11pm. We arrived at 9pm and were told that three of the seven dessert options were already sold out, which seemed strange seeing as they'd only been open for an hour so far! Each dessert is $13, and comes with your choice of cream or icecream, plus a sauce. I had the sticky date pudding with icecream and butterscotch sauce, which was presented beautifully and was very tasty! They also offer a range of teas, coffees and cold drinks.

Approximate cost: $13

I ended up taking Geelong Panel Beating Works to court over an incomplete job - I enlisted them to replace the floor pans on a classic car, but when I had the car returned, we discovered they had simply covered the old rust patches with silicone and black spray paint. The sheriff became involved, and I finally received an almost-complete refund (less a few hundred dollars) after nearly six months. I would not recommend this business to anyone at all.

Approximate cost: $2000

I've seen two different chiropractors at this practice, and they've both been wonderful - they take the time to explain what they're doing, and are very friendly. The front desk girls are also great and very professional. They have decent opening hours (into the evenings on most nights) which makes it really easy for me to get there after work without needing to leave early. Return consults are $45 which seems very reasonable, and they're normally running on time (never more than 10 minutes late). I highly recommend them!

Approximate cost: $45

This is such a cute, kitschy store - they sell everything from magazines, notebooks, posters, artwork, lamps, knick-knacks, jewellery, gifts, some clothing... the owner is just lovely, her gift wrapping is great, and it's just a fun store to browse around. Beware though - I've never left without buying something!

I had new soles put on a pair of shoes here - the wait time was a little long (a week), and they were quite busy when I was in there, so I had to stand around and wait for 10-15 minutes, but the quality of the repairs was exceptional and the price was not too steep. I'd definitely send more shoes to them for repairs.

Approximate cost: $39

I went to Gentle Dental after years of neglecting my teeth - I needed a fair few fillings, and opted to have them done under deep sedation. The process itself was fine - I don't remember anything about it, and I recovered fine, but the fillings have not lasted very well - they did not ask me to come back to correct my bite (by filing down the fillings), and pieces have snapped off here and there, not to mention some sharp pieces cut my mouth and tongue in the days/weeks following. I found the receptionists very rude, and I was frequently informed me that my appointment time had changed without them consulting me to check if the new time suited me. Once they also called me to inform me I had missed my appointment, when in fact I was sitting in the waiting room, and had checked in half an hour earlier. This practice seems to be concerned with only making money, and I will not be returning.

Approximate cost: $expensive

The food here is AMAZING. Overpriced for Geelong, yes, but the paninis are delicious (around $10 ea). It's usually very busy, especially around morning tea and lunch time, and it's quite pokey inside. I hear the coffee is fantastic too, but I'm not a coffee drinker.

Approximate cost: $10

This is a new Indian restaurant on Pako - our friends raved about it so I decided to celebrate my birthday there. Inside is very tiny - you really do need to book a table, even on a week day. Our friends ordered entrees as well as mains, but the entrees were so big I think that would be enough for me as a main! All of the curries are available as either mild, medium or hot, which is great if you're a hot freak like me. The chicken vindaloo was just divine, and I couldn't fault any of the other dishes I tried. They're also open on a Monday night, which is great when you can't be bothered cooking after your first day back at work for the week. We'll definitely be returning!

Approximate cost: $15