Good grief, what a disaster. All I wanted was a French polish on my existing nails (nothing complicated like acrylics or anything), something I've had done at numerous other salons without an issue. The staff member who served me was rude from the beginning, telling me multiple times (with an edge creeping into her voice the last time) to sit down at a station that was clearly being blocked by someone else's shopping trolley. She finally put me somewhere else, then proceeded to file my nails down really short and in a bizarre, asymmetrical shape. While she was doing the second hand, I looked at the results of my first hand and the nails weren't even filed smoothly. The whole time she was doing this, she kept trying to upsell me to a shellac polish ($40 vs $25 for a regular manicure). Wow, I said no the first time -- so stop harping on it! When she clipped my cuticles, she made two of my fingers bleed, something I have NEVER experienced anywhere else. She applied the white part of the French polish very thickly, and I had to keep asking her to make it smaller. She was NOT happy about this at all, yet kept saying "Well, it's up to you." Yes, of course it's up to me -- they're my nails! The more irritated she got, the rougher she was, so I finally just called a halt to the whole thing, chucked $25 on the counter, and left. When I got home, I took the polish off and trimmed my nails back to a normal shape, and now my hands look about 10 times worse than they did when I started this whole endeavour. Not only am I never going back there again, I feel like staging an intervention to prevent other women from going there, too! Here's hoping I don't contract hepatitis.

Absolutely outstanding. I normally have my hair cut at Luc Espace in Chatswood Chase, but decided to try Royals for a perm (a service not offered by Luc Espace) after a series of medical treatments turned my hair to straw and took away my natural curls. I probably spoke to two or three staff members during the process (the first time I stopped by to inquire about it, then during the initial consultation), and all were extremely understanding, kind, and knowledgeable. Blake, however, was the real standout. I'm sure it must be very tedious winding hair on rollers, but he was meticulous and patient throughout the entire procedure. Although the whole process took about three hours, I actually found it very enjoyable. The staff clearly get along well with each other and there was a sense of camaraderie in the air that made it a pleasure just to sit, relax, and enjoy the atmosphere. Most importantly, the results of the perm were amazing -- I look like "me" again! And thanks to an Olaplex treatment at the end, my hair is not just curly, but soft and bouncy. I don't often think much about my appearance, but it's amazing how something like this can give you a real lift in how you feel. Thanks, Blake, and everyone else at Royals!

We've been using Hanrob to board our two cats since 2006. There's no disputing the quality -- our cats always come home happy, clean, and smelling great. They are particularly good with anxious cats who aren't used to being around other animals or unfamiliar people. Their free pickup/delivery service, which operates through an extensive network of Sydney-area veterinary clinics, is both convenient and well-run. My only quibble is that their pricing structure as shown on their website isn't as transparent as it could be. Prices for standard cat boarding "start from" $21/day, yet I have never been offered a price that low, regardless of the time of year I book. Prices during autumn/winter are $22/day, and during school holidays the price goes up to $24.50/day. They do mention that there is a small surcharge for cats over the age of 11 years, but they don't mention that a $5.75/day surcharge also applies to slightly younger cats (our cat is 9 and attracted the surcharge, but I'm not sure exactly what the cutoff age is). I'm not arguing with these prices or implying that they're exorbitant, but it would be nice to see this information clearly laid out on the website so an accurate estimate can be calculated before booking. On the topic of price, I also miss their discounted rates for two cats from the same family sharing accommodation. I'm not sure when or why they ceased that practice, but unfortunately it means they're not quite as affordable as they used to be. Overall, however, the care our cats have received at Hanrob has always been top-notch, and we will continue to use their boarding service as well as recommend them to our cat-owning friends.

We moved into the area in 2007 and have entrusted the care of our two cats to Hornsby Veterinary Clinic ever since. I really appreciate the fact that they offer extended consultation hours, since both adults in our household work full-time. We have only had one negative experience with a veterinarian there, but according to the clinic's website, this person is no longer employed by Hornsby Vets so I will not let it influence my current rating. We particularly like Dr. Waung -- both her surgical skill and "bedside" manner are excellent -- and it's always a pleasure to deal with Karin on the front desk or over the phone. I also note that their services are less expensive than our previous vet, although this may just be a function of location as Hornsby is more affordable than the last area we lived in. Highly recommended!