As its name implies, Public has positioned itself as Manuka's public bar. The vibe is retro, with a tiled interior echoing old-school Aussie pubs, and a 1930s black and white photo of the same street corner covering an entire wall.

Our share platter of hummus and grilled veggies was very generous and yummy, and the service friendly and efficient. However, I have deducted one star for the state of the wash basins in the Ladies', which looked as though they hadn't been cleaned in months.

We always drop in to the Sundance Bakery for a quick snack on our trips to Jindabyne. They sell a wide variety of baked goods, the service is quick and courteous, and they are generous with their tea (two tea-bags per pot).

Good for a grab-and-go coffee and lunch, Mingle serves a range of better-than-average rolls and wraps. There is a small seating area inside, as well as outdoor seating.

I have been going to Unique Dental Care for over 15 years, and can't recommend them highly enough. The staff make every effort to make sure that your visit is as enjoyable as possible (and I'm pretty squeamish), and they outline the various options and costs so you can make an informed decision about your treatment.

We had lunch today at the Elk & Pea, and weren't very impressed. I thought the menu was a little odd; they offer only breakfast/brunch throughout the day. My smashed avocado on toast was pretty ordinary, but my partner enjoyed his Jerk chicken wrap. Our meal of two breakfast/brunch dishes, two Mimosas (orange juice and Prosecco) and two coffees cost $65.

I visited the Aroma Cafe & Bar today for a quick lunch, and was very unimpressed. The owners pride themselves on their freshly-made sandwiches, but my smoked salmon sandwich was dry and unappetising, made with very ordinary supermarket bread and the barest smidgin of cream cheese. My green tea was served in badly chipped china. Next time, I'll keep walking.

We dropped into Kokomo's recently for Friday night drinks. The place was packed with customers in party mode, and the staff did a decent job of keeping up. Part of our order didn't arrive, so I had to chase it up with the kitchen staff, but they handled it professionally.

I loved my "Isle of Dreams" cocktail and the Taro Chips. The tropical vibe makes a nice change from other Canberra establishments.

We recently engaged Robert to paint our lounge, bedroom and bathroom, and were very impressed with the quality and professionalism of his work. He finished the job quickly, and cleaned up. We will definitely engage him for the next stage in our renovations.

I wandered into the Doughnut Department looking for a light lunch. If you're a doughnut person the Doughnut Department will hit your sweet spot. If your taste runs more to savoury fare, there is a very short lunch menu. I had sourdough toast with almond butter, tomato and basil - a kind of bruschetta for the sweet-toothed - and a glass of prosecco.

The Doughnut Department delivers through Deliveroo, and provides Friday night drinks from 5.30 with "doughnuts and boozy pairings".

Caffe Cherry Beans is a welcome addition to the Canberra Centre's new Monaro Mall Beauty Precinct, offering an inviting spot for shoppers who need a caffeine fix. Their coffee is great, and a waitress comes around to the tables with lemon and mint-infused chilled water, which is a nice touch.