Reviews by Sparkesy

This review is for Wyndham Court Bakery, Claremont TAS

verified email - 05 May 2012

This bakery can be a little bit hit and miss. I've had some fantastic pies from this place, and others, like the curried chicken one I had today, have been nothing special.

The service is always cheerful though, and the prices aren't unreasonable.

There are worse places to go and it is a convenienr location, but at the same time there are better offerings out there as well.

This review is for Augusto Cafe, Lenah Valley TAS

verified email - 30 Apr 2012

Delightful little cafe in Lenah Valley with very tasty coffee, friendly service and a tasty menu - my wife and I have stopped in here for brunch on a few occasions and have never been disappointed.

The Trio of Dips has been amazing every time we've had it and they do a mean Eggs Benny as well.

They also come in pretty handy for takeaway coffee on the way to work.

Get in and check them out.

This review is for Dino Pizza, Claremont TAS

verified email - 30 Apr 2012

Very hit and miss. I've had pizza from here that was fantastic but I've also had some pretty poor efforts too.

The menu has your usual suspects as well as a couple of interesting taste sensations like the "Sunday Roast".

There's better pizza that will deliver to this area or within driving distance but it'll do in a pinch.

This review is for The Beach House Restaurant, Cafe & Bar, Dynnyrne TAS

verified email - 29 Apr 2012

Popped in here today for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere as very relaxed and there was even live music.

My wife ordered the chicken burger which was huge - fresh chicken breast, bacon, cheese, salad and a tasty sweet chilli dressing.

I had the beer battered fish & chips which was cooked to perfection and came with a mountain of salad that Edmund Hillary would struggle to conquer.

We enjoyed a coffee each both before and after our meal and were not disappointed. The only minor detraction, and indeed it was very minor, was that our waitress forgot to bring teaspoons with our first coffees.

In all it was a really relaxing Sunday lunch and I'd happily recommend it to anyone.

This review is for Abbottsfield Store, Claremont TAS

verified email - 29 Apr 2012

This place is very much your stereotypical corner shop/milkbar with a good variety of grocery lines - prices are a bit up there for a lot of things but there are generally some reasonable specials as well.

It is run by your stereotypical European family and the level of service you receive depends greatly on who is working at the time. I've been visiting this store for several months now and have only just started to regularly engage the patriarch of the store in more than 3 words of conversation at any one time.

This review is for Petrusma Property, Glenorchy TAS

verified email - 28 Apr 2012

Let me start by stating that if there was any way I could rate the service of this business any lower, I would.

This horror story began when my wife and I found and made an offer (subject to finance & property inspection) on a house we liked and saw some potential in. The offer was accepted, a deposit was paid and everything progressed.

It was all plain sailing initially but after receiving the property inspection report we quickly realised the place was likely to be a money pit and we may have bitten of more than we could chew.

We duly contacted our solicitor to exercise our exit strategy.

This is where the problems began. Our salesman, whom I would dearly love to name and shame but won't because I want to remain professional, stopped returning calls and answering emails with regards to the process of having the deposit refunded.

On the few occasions I caught him (including one where I had to set up an inspection of a property I wasn't really interested in just to talk to him), he fobbed me off with the usual "cheque is in the mail" responses. I still haven't worked out whether he willfully lied to me or was just incompetent.

In the finish it took a scathing email to him with the figurehead (and former owner whose name adorns the business) copied in to get a response. After this I had a phone all from the manager of the Glenorchy office within a couple of hours and a cheque in my hand in 48 hrs.

Unfortunately after almost a month if chasing this it was really too little, too late. The Petrusma brand has been damaged beyond repair in our eyes and would never use them to buy, sell or manage real estate in Hobart ever again.

I dunno, if you don't cop our salesman you might be lucky and get a better experience. If you try them, I wish you luck.

This review is for Park Squire Motor Inn & Serviced Apartments, Parkville VIC

verified email - 28 Apr 2012

I stayed here earlier this year when visiting my father in the Royal Melbourne Hospital, staying with Mum & Little Brother we booked the 3 bedroom "Villa".

The staff were friendly enough on arrival without providing amazing service and the price wasn't bad since we booked online through one of the many travel booking websites (I looked at so many I don't remember which one i booked through).

The villa itself was pretty average, run down but it was servicable - though it probably could have done without the old furniture dumped in the little yard area.

The real win for us was the proximity to the hospital, since Dad was in the intensive care unit we weren't spending any significant amount of time in the room anyway.

Park Squire is located within walking distance or a short tram ride to both the Royal Melbourne and Royal Children's hospitals.

Reasonably priced handy accommodation if you're visiting sick friends or family. I'd stay there again in similar circumstances but hope those circumstances never arise.

This review is for Sandy Bay Massage Center, Sandy Bay TAS

verified email - 28 Apr 2012

After picking up a bit of a niggle in my lower back after a few hectic weeks of air travel, it was suggested that a visit to these guys may help.

The first big win for me was being able to get an appointment on a Sunday afternoon - very unexpected and very much appreciated as it meant not having to take time off work.

Upon arrival i was seated in the reception area until my massage therapist was ready. I waited about 5 minutes which still put me ahead of my scheduled appointment time.

My therapist did a fantastic job, always checking to ensure I was comfortable and how effective the treatment was.

Next time I have a niggle I'll certainly go back and may just go for a relaxation massage rather than wait for discomfort instead.

Approximate cost: $75

This review is for The Coffee Club, Glenorchy TAS

verified email - 27 Apr 2012

My wife & I generally pop in here for a bit of dinner after work on a Friday evening and have become loyal regulars.

The menu has plenty of variety and is unpretentious, the coffee is generally of high standard and the staff are always friendly and helpful. It really is the staff that make this place.

So whether you fancy coffee & cake while you're shopping or something a little but more substantial, I'd suggest giving these guys a go.

This review is for The Old Chapel Tea Rooms, Glenorchy TAS

verified email - 26 Apr 2012

Let me begin by stating that this isn't your standard run of the mill Tea Rooms. This is run by Aurora Disability Services and is staffed by a number of Aurora's clients. The proceeds of sales go back into the charity.

My wife and I stopped in and ordered a Devonshire tea (though I ordered coffee with mine). The scones were delicious and fresh and the homemade jam was fantastic. The coffee was far from barista quality but to see the pride of the individuals serving us was just amazing.

The store also sells a variety of handcrafts made by Aurora clients.

Highly recommended to support your local community.