I visited the Rooftop Cider Bar with a friend after attending a theatre performance, and I found my experience enjoyable, but not unforgettable.

They offer a large range of ciders in both small and large serving sizes; but as the name suggests, only Cider is available, making it difficult if friends are not a fan of the beverage.

I personally found the sitting areas nice, but not all comfortable; My friend and I moved 2 or three times before finding a nice place to sit. We went on a cooler night, and despite heating, it was pretty cold. As we were leaving it started to rain, and as the name suggests - ROOFTOP - it is not well covered; Had you been sitting inside, there is a chance you would get rained on while drinking.

Staff were friendly but did not go out of their way to make the experience exciting or interesting.

I would consider returning during the warmer months, to see if the experience is any different.

I am a long time fan of Boost Juice smoothies! While they are a little bit overpriced, the customer service experience you receive upon every visit makes up for that! Even at the busiest of times, staff remain friendly and calm, and generally you place your order quickly, receiving your freshly made smoothie within minutes.
There are a variety of free smothie offers available if you join their frequent shopper style club - which is easy to sign up for online.
Overall, while menu items could be cheaper, I have never had a bad experience at Boost Juice, and I look forward to returning for special treats, especially on hot summer days!

Approximate cost: $7

I visited the Hard Rock Cafe with a friend on a recent trip to Sydney.
We initially visited the cafe to check out the music history artifacts on display (including clothing, guitars, autographs, and accessories, some dating back several decades), and thought about maybe buying a drink or snack while there. We were greeted by a friendly manager who was happy for us to browse the music memorabilia collection and the gift store, and even fixed a faulty display in order for us to capture the perfect photo. We were that impressed by his courtesy and generosity that we decided to skip the midday drinks and return for dinner (after having already eaten lunch).

When we came back, our waiter promptly gave us a table by the window, overlooking the Darling Harbour, upon finding out that we had traveled from interstate and never dined there before. We were brought menus, which seemed as though they would cater for anyone's taste. While some items were expensive, that could be expected considering the dining experience.
Our food arrived cooked perfectly, meeting all special requirements. Servings were quite large in size.

Overall, we were greeted by a friendly team of staff (managers, waiters and waitresses, and gift shop staff), and we enjoyed our dining experience - both the view of the Harbourside and the music culture within the Hard Rock Cafe were wonderful, and made this experience well worth it!

Approximate cost: $25

After Nandos seemingly "blew up" as being so popular, I was hesitant to try it. I visited this store, trying to keep an open mind, and while I wasn't disappointed with my experience, I would not return to Nandos unless in the company of someone else who wanted to.

I ordered a chicken wrap and a serving of the Peri-Peri chips. The wrap was nice, but not stand out. I enjoyed the chips, but found that all of the special Peri-Peri salt was piled on top of the chips and sitting in the bottom of the bag; It had not been mixed through properly at all.

The dining area was quite crowded and it was hard to find condiments such as tomato sauce, which we were advised was placed around the dining area and may already be on tables - there surely wasn't any on our table. We waited at least 15 minutes for our food to be prepared - much longer than I would expect from any other fast food store - however I do not believe all components were served fresh.

Generally, the staff were friendly but not always helpful, the food was good but nothing special, and it wasn't expensive, but a little bit more than I would expect to pay for food from a take-away chain.

Approximate cost: $15

As someone who does not particularly enjoy many meat products, I was suggested Lord Of The Fries by a friend. They provide a full vegetarian menu (with some vegan options available), including burgers, snacks, and as the name suggests - fries! With at least 20 different vegetarian or vegan sauce or topping combinations to choose from.
Whenever I visit Lord of the Fries, my fries are always cooked fresh, and generously topped with my choice of sauces.
While I sometimes hesitate to add a $2 topping to my $3 snack sized small fries, it is definitely great value when ordering larger portions. As the only vegetarian fast food store in Victoria, I can truly say they do their job well - they provide high quality vegetarian food for a typical fast food price - and it always tastes great.

Approximate cost: $10

Walker's is a much loved treat stop for myself and friends from university.
Their menu consists of hot dogs and donuts, with a wide variety of shakes, American sodas, and hot drinks available.
As I am not a fan of meat (other than chicken) I was impressed to see that Walker's offer a vegetarian hot dog option.
The donuts are absolutely superb - I prefer them to Krispy Kreme or other places around the city where donuts are available. I am also a fan of the variety of shakes, especially with the cheap milkshakes, and the range of flavours available (including my favourites, Blue Heaven and Banana).

Personally I find some menu items or extras to be a little bit pricey, but there is also a great range available at a value for money cost.

The staff are friendly and attentive, and the old fashioned American style is welcoming and comfortable. I'll definitely keep coming back!

Approximate cost: $6

Having previously eaten a couple of times at Hallam Hotel, as well as attended country music concerts at the venue, I would be happy to return for either.
While the food is not the highest quality, and is much the same to any pub style meal, it is well priced, especially considering the serving sizes. My only complaint would be a recent purchase of salt and pepper squid - the first piece I tried was wonderful, but the second was tough and chewy. I was unable to eat it, and it has turned me off eating the same dish again.

The venue isn't necessarily the most beautiful, but it is rustic and has a comfortable, homely feel to it.

If you are thinking about it, I would highly recommend attending a concert at the Hallam Hotel - They are always very well organised and most performing artists offer autograph and photo opportunities after the show.

Generally, staff are friendly, and it is a pleasant experience. I wouldn't choose to go there for just a meal, but if I was invited, or if I was to see a show there, I would happily go along for dinner, too.

Approximate cost: $20

The Pancake Parlour has always been a special treat for me. Many birthdays and milestones have been celebrated there, but also plenty of just-because occasions, too. I find that all branches of the restaurant chain are much the same in terms of quality, service, and value; They provide a good meal, at an average price, but the dining area is beautiful, and the staff are always lovely and polite.
I find this particular branch to sometimes be a little bit slower in terms of coming to take orders, and preparing meals, however I am willing to put down to its location, and also that I would usually dine there during their peak dinner hour.
While I do find some menu items to be pricey (particularly drinks and main-course pancake meals), there are also a great range of value offers, including discount meal packages for students.
The staff's friendliness, the extremely accessible central location, and the peaceful, antique feel of the restaurant make up for what can sometimes be lacking in value for money or timeliness. Overall, I rate this business 4/5 stars and I am likely to return.

Approximate cost: $20

St. Kilda's Palais Theatre is a beautiful, historic venue, not too far from Melbourne's CBD. A great variety of artists of all genres play at the venue, and usually, tickets are of a reasonable cost.

In terms of concert going, shows are up close and personal. Even the seats at the back of the top level provide an intimate experience. Generally shows run to advertised times (give or take 15 minutes), and are well worth the money spent. My only complaint would be that security can sometimes be a little bit too strict in their job, for example asking concert-goers to take a seat just seconds after the band performing has insisted the audience feel free to stand up and dance.

When it comes to getting there, the venue is easily accessible by public transport, with trams running from the CBD and stopping just metres from the venue's entrance. There are plenty of car parking spaces surrounding the venue, however it should be noted that it can be difficult to find a spot, particularly on Summer nights or during school holidays, with Luna Park and St. Kilda beach in close proximity. Drop off and pick up may be an easier option, especially during these times.

If you are looking for food or drinks, the venue itself does not have much to offer. You are not allowed to bring your own food and drinks inside, so if you can't go the length of the show without a bottle of water or a snack, be prepared to pay double what you would elsewhere at the snack bars. They offer lollies and chocolates, chips, etc. as well as a range of cold and hot drinks. There is also a bar upstairs, but it should be noted alcohol cannot be taken onto the downstairs level. With this said, there are a large range of restaurants, bars, and fast food places in the surrounding area for those looking to grab a meal or a drink before or after the show.

Overall, the staff are friendly for the most part, the venue is beautiful, and the location is convenient.

Approximate cost: $100-$150