volker-j

I use Aldi really strategically. Whenever possible I try to avoid going to either Coles or Woolies. So for the essentials I always start at Aldi's. Since they started in Australia, the variety of products has enhanced a lot. A huge amount of products is imported from Central Europe and they always know what's in demand. While this is not exactly the sustainable way, shipping products half way around the world, they still manage to beat the prices of Coles and Woolies, period. The fresh fruit and vegies corner is not always the best quality, but that seems to be a general problem with the big supermarket chains. In terms of service, Aldi personal is quick, knowledgable, educated and helpful. I think this is the biggest bonus you'll get at Aldi's.

If you are somebody who loves cooking - and I don't mean microwave - Maxi is the place to go. Particularly if you are into artesean bread, fresh herb, spreads like strawberry rhubarb, smoked goods or a variety of cheese that goes beyond three different coloured cheddar bricks, then Maxi is your place. They also have a remarkable range of organic products such as Schulz Quark (from the great Ocean Road). Even though some of the products are more expensive than the stuff from Woolies and Coles, I'm always happy to throw some extra money on the counter for quality.

Best Fish'n'Chips shop around. They use rice bran oil, they do special orders like grilled fish rather than fried if you don't like too much batter. They even keep on top of everything when it gets really hectic. The shop is always crispy clean and the food is high quality, and fresh for a very reasonable price. We never had to wait longer than the time estimated by the cute lady at the cashier. They really do everything to keep their customers happy.

I had some severe tooth pain and requested to be slotted in. Fortunately within an hour I was in the dentist chair. My doctor was Kate. She explained every option to me and really made me feel like there are no other patients waiting. We decided to have the tooth extracted and she did everything super careful - placing the narcotics, making sure that the area is numb before the extraction and even during the extraction, I didn't feel any pain at all. So, if you need a caring, gentle and patient dentist, go to SDG and ask for Kate.

Approximate cost: $160