Reviews by smeadie

This review is for Avenue Bookstore, Albert Park VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2008

the best bookstore ever. it's not too big, but somehow it always has everything. The range of design, art, travel, home, cooking, architecture, design books is amazing. They have really niche stuff. There's a great childrens' section, excellent fiction - they have mc sweeney's, wallpaper guides, all the most amazing, beautifully published books. they let you browse for ever, it's not a chain - it's run by peple who love and care about books.

This review is for Ten Minutes by Tractor, Main Ridge VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2008

we arrived without a booking for a late lunch and they were full but very friendly, and offerred us seats and a glass of water (it was really hot) and that a table would be ready in about 10 minutes. we then had tastings while we waited. the wine list was excellent, with some old-world wines as well as their own and local producers. you can get different sized glasses, which is good if you want to try more than one or two, or if you're driving. the food was so good we were amazed, usually at winery restaurants the food is good, but not this good - this was top city restaurant quality, as was the service. the simple, well designed dining room has wndows overlooking the vineyard. There are even aesop products in the bathrooms

Approximate cost: $30

This review is for Prince Wine Store, South Melbourne VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2008

huge and beautifully designed wine store with tastings every saturday. they have a huge range of french and italian wines, large range of champagnes,a d of course australian wines. the selectio is huge, they have some serious names and vintages and will gladly help you find soemthign to fit your food and budget. they also sell a really good range of top spirits. you can buy a bottle and for an extra $10 you can drink it out of reidel wine glasses on the tables out the front. or you can have a coffee. They have more top end wines and don't go in for any of the mass produced crap.

This review is for Naked Japan, Albert Park VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2008

sashimi here is very fresh and the salads (there are usually 3 on offer) are really good value - this is a basic cafe-style japanese place. they have nice sake and a small drinks list with japanese beer, too. it's got a relaxed and friendly feeling to it. We usually sit outdoors on the street tables.

Approximate cost: $16

This review is for St Ali, South Melbourne VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2008

the coffee here is really good - organic and free-trade. They also have great chai tea. It's hidden in an alley off Coventry st and the building itself is very cool, an old warehouse with the bones visible - atmosphere is very cool. Fhe food is middle-eastern inspired flavours, which can be a bit heavy - choose cafefully at breakfast time - the twists that sound yummy sometimes don't work.

Approximate cost: $14

This review is for Ezard, Melbourne VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2008

we were made to feel very welcome by the staff, they're not too formal or too overly attentive. the food was excellent, creative but not annoyingly so. not too rich, but still filling. The wine list was large but the advice of the sommelier helped us out, without spending more than we wanted to

Approximate cost: $45

This review is for Aurora Spa Retreat, St Kilda VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2008

aurora is the best day spa I've been to in Melbourne - the staff are calm, quiet, very professional, they design of the rooms and space is lovely with great natural light, quality fit-out. Treatments are expensive, but the products they use are top quality and never skimped on. the therapists are excellent and the whole experience is always relaxing and makes you feel liek a queen.

Approximate cost: $75-1000

This review is for Town & Country Insulation, Dandenong VIC

verified email - 18 Apr 2008

we had the old insulation in our roof removed, the roof cavity cleaned and new insulation installed by these guys. they were so professional, quick, punctual and made recommendations based on what we needed, not on how much $ they could make out of us (like some of the other companies who quoted for the job)

Approximate cost: $800.00

This review is for Madame Sousou, Fitzroy VIC

verified email - 17 Apr 2008

I used to really enjoy Mmme Sous Sous, the food was rustic and generous and well priced, and the service used to be better. The last couple of times I 've been though, the skill with which the food was prepared had dropped, the prices had risen and the service was average. The wine list was very disappointing. But the main thing was that there were so many italian dishes on the menu (entree, mains and dessert) and they were so run of the mill, that you mno longer felt you were in a french restaurant.

Approximate cost: $30

This review is for The Henry Jones, Hobart TAS

verified email - 17 Apr 2008

gorgeous design-driven luxury hotel in historic building right on the harbour with beautiful modern aesthetics. it's an "Art Hotel" the rooms are pricey, the suites are worth the extra money. Quality (beds, linen, fittings, furnishings) is top notch. Staff are professional and friendly, even if you look scruffy, as we did when we arrived. They have an amazing art collection, the lobby is somewhere you actually want to spend time, look around and have a drink. The bar and restaurant both live up to the high standards of the rest of this hotel. wouldn't stay anywhere else in Hobart.

Approximate cost: $300-500