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A friend recently wanted a DVD Box set he found on an overseas site but, as a student, couldn't afford it.
I told him about Booko and he found the item cheaper at BigW. He got it on lay-by. A win for Aussie retailers and a win for him!

Approximate cost: $Varies, but savings can be anywhere up to 70-80% for some items

This place is down a daggy side street but was packed. My friends and I scored a booth and never felt pressured to leave, even after we'd eaten and our table had been cleared.
The staff here are really friendly. The coffee is fantastic and the food is plentiful, fresh and tasty.
I had the One Stone breakfast and a couple of cups of coffee.
They mix their own special coffee blends, but I chose the usual coffee.
Two Birds One Stone has a nice vibe, I'll go back.

Approximate cost: $17

Yesterday in the city a friend and I needed a mid-shopping lunch break when I spotted this place and remembered reading good reviews on Womo, so in we went.

The staff were immediately friendly and inviting and seated and served us quickly.

The menu isn't long but has the Greek dishes you'd expect. I ordered the open lamb souvlaki that came with salad, pita bread and tzatziki.

The lamb was falling apart because it was so well cooked and was perfectly moist and flavoured. The salad was super fresh. The meal was beautifully presented on a rectangular plate.

What really took my breath away was the tzatziki. Normally, I can take it or leave it, but this one was delicious - not too tart and not too runny. I wish I knew their recipe.

My friend isn't one to gush over food when she enjoys something. You tend to realise how much she liked it when she's devoured everything without a word. On that basis, I'd say the lamb souvlaki was also very good.

I'm not often in that part of town but now I know about Aspro Ble that may change.

Approximate cost: $14 for open souvlaki, 12 for regular souvlaki

This former deli reopened a little while ago as a cafe.

The coffee is good and the menu varied. They've retained the feel of a deli with several meaty options on the menu (bacon, chorizo, fish, ham,prosciutto). There are meat free options as well.

I had a Wood Smoked Bacon Foccacia. The bacon was perfectly cooked, flavoursome and plentiful but not greasy. It came on a multigrain foccacia with eggs, rocket, tomato and aioli. It was so tasty that I ate it all and paid for it later when I felt a bit too full.

The staff were delightful - helpful, pleasant and quick.
We ate at midday and there was a steady flow of customers. The feel of the space is relaxed, like a favourite aunt's kitchen. Some 60s lounge tunes played in the background at a perfect volume where you could hear it but didn't have to scream at your dining companion.

I'll be back. Will try the king prawn, mussels, garlic and chili Fettucini next time.

Approximate cost: $15 foccacia, $3.50 coffee

I adore the food here. It's always fresh and perfectly cooked.
It's Middle Eastern cuisine with the inspiration being from areas around the Sahara Desert.

Be careful or you could miss the entry which is a doorway and a set of steps leading up to the first floor to the actual restaurant. It's opposite the Myer Homeware Store at QV. I don't think there's wheelchair access.

I've been here several times over the last year and have tried something different each time. All have been great. I've converted a few friends to this place.

The wait staff are friendly and helpful and know the menu well. The ambience is relaxed and this is due in part to the staff not being pushy or too rushed to answer questions.

Last visit I had the falafel balls (entree) and the apple and walnut salad and a glass of wine. I'm drooling now just thinking about that salad. I found this a filling meal and the wine was good.

I believe Sahara also has lunchtime deals for students (it's not too far from RMIT) and also a happy hour, though I've not been there at those times.

If you follow the old traveller advice that says you should always eat where the locals eat because locals know what's good, you will find yourself at Sahara one day.

Approximate cost: $35 for Falafel, salad & wine

My car refused to change gears at times so I tried a mechanic in my area. They didn't seem to believe there was a problem as it didn't play up when they drove it, so they just renewed the clutch fluid and hoped that would fix things (aka - go away, you silly woman). Needless to say, they were wrong.

I found Billy 1 Motors in the phone book and my insides nearly dropped through the floor when I realised they were the derelict looking ex-servo on Neerim Road near the entry to the train station. But I figured they couldn't do worse than the other guys so I took my car there.

I'm so glad I did.

He fixed the problem in an afternoon and when it needed tweaking, he asked me to bring it in the next day. Wonderful service.
Note to self: Never disregard a place just because it's not freshly painted.
This wasn't a major problem but was an important one to fix. Billy 1 spotted the problem straight away, rang me, and ordered in a new part to fix it, and kept me informed throughout.
PS. JAM Cafe Gallery and World of Food Cafe are across the road if you need to hang out while your car is being looked at.

A friend new to the area put me on to JAM Cafe, and I'm so glad she did. It's a newly opened eating spot it's already at home in 'beena.
I've eaten there several times and everything has been delicious. You know you've struck gold when you and your dining companions actually moan whilst eating.
It's also a deceptively large space with seating beyond the counter area to another area near the open kitchen.
The coffee is superb.
Service here is friendly and welcoming. JAM also has a gallery of artworks where you can purchase the art you like.
The owner told us they don't open Sundays as they have young children and want one day for 'family time'.
The winning trifecta is here - great food, warm and friendly service, and reasonable prices.

Approximate cost: $10 - $17

A friend and I were keen to try this place and went a couple of months ago. It's a tiny space and had three staff working for Saturday brunch.
First surprise was that such a small, well-staffed place required us to order at the counter. So my friend ordered and paid for hers first while I saved a table. Then I went up and ordered. Neither of us knew what the other had ordered.
The first meal arrived and the waitress plonked it in front of my friend, who began eating.
Then mine arrived and it was decidedly bare of some of the promised components. When I mentioned this to my companion we eventually realised that we were eating each others meals.
As it was brunch, we'd both chosen similar dishes but mine should have had a few extra elements on the plate than hers.
After this fiasco, we then had to flag down a staff member for our already paid for coffees. Only when we reminded them did we get them.
I don't know why the wait staff can't speak to patrons and ask whose dish is whose. Plonking it in front of the first person seemed to be the service strategy of the day as it happened at a nearby table as well, but unlike my friend and me they realised they had the wrong dish and swapped before they got half way through their meals.
The food itself was bland. The coffee was okay but unremarkable. I wouldn't bother with Spilt Milk again. They're just too much hard work. Especially with other far more satisfactory choices nearby.

Approximate cost: $13 for the meal I ordered, $10 for the meal I got.

Their chicken and chips are sensational. Their chooks are gluten free and delicious.
Their salads look good, but I get an entire chook, chips and gravy whenever I go. Can't beat it.
They're really friendly and are up for a chat most times, though tend to get on with things when it's busy. These guys know what they're doing - clean shop, friendly service and great product.

Approximate cost: $18 including a whole chook

My apartment got a leaky roof nearly 6 months ago. Thornton's came and did a temp-fix as it looked as though another group may have damaged it when working on it earlier in the year. Two attempts were then made to fix it by other businesses. Without success.
The body corp. called in Thornton Plumbing again.
The problem was found and repaired in about half an hour.
I haven't needed to call them back because the leak is now repaired.
I can't recommend them highly enough. They're quick, know the job and are pleasant to deal with. Big thumbs up.
(I can't judge their value because it was paid by Body corp but it didn't seem fair to give a zero. After 6 months of frustration I think I would have paid almost anything to get it fixed.)