This is a pearl hidden in an oyster. On the outside it looks rather average but coffee and food are…read moregreat. I was out and about getting non-essentials at a gift shop when it was recommended to me. Always take a local recommendation. I gave it a try and found it that good, I had to return with husband. His verdict was a thumbs up. There is on street parking on Logan Road or around the back in building car park. Takeaway or sign in for a table. COVID requirements observed. You'll probably be greeted by Maria who bakes many of the cakes and treats, including the Baclava. Order, pay and they'll bring it out to you if at a table. Good selection of food with GF options. Reminds me of the old Milk Bar Cafes.

Hello Garry plonked on my radar via a loyal mobile Yelper. In the spirit of exploring new suburbs…read moreand not limiting ourselves to our usual suburban boundaries, we bundled the dog into the car and made way to visit this Norman Park cafe. First impression: popular amongst the lyrca-clad cycle locals. This is generally a good sign. The interior of Hello Garry (I'm going to take a stab in the dark that the tall, slender man behind the counter was Garry) is fairly simple and void of any great personality. There's the main counter and the standard menu written on a front-facing panel blackboard. You can choose from all the regular coffees (Genovese beans), avocado on toast and a few other simply prepared items. Be warned (we got caught out and had to duck back up the road to the service station to get out cash) that they don't have EFTPOS. Our iced coffees and chocolate were quickly delivered to our outside table and the wait staff were so friendly. It definitely has a family-owned and run feel to it. I liked it. There was a steady flow of people throughout the morning and not once were we made feel like we'd sat outside longer than welcome. I did notice most of the customers coming in were grabbing take-aways and if they were sitting in it was only for coffees or drinks. While I don't think I'd travel out of my way to especially visit Hello Garry frequently, it would be somewhere I'd go on a regular basis if I was more local or in the area.

great service and coffee. makes you feel like a regular customerread more

What's up with the service here? I avoid this place like the plague simply because I refuse to walk…read moreinto a store where I'm going to be either ignored, growled at or dismissed by one of the staff. You would think that people employed to work at a store that promotes healthy, principled, community minded living would reflect some of these characters- not at the Green Grocer. I distinctly get the feeling that I'm burdening them when I walk in to purchase something from their store. "Oh I'm sorry, you interrupted my doing nothing. How dare you." HOW DARE YOU, Green Grocer girl. How dare YOU. It is a good store to get things like moon calendars, healthy snacks, natural supplements, seeds, remedies and cure alls. The products are great. The Green Grocer is unique in that it's one of the only stores of it's kind in the area. The Green Grocer is actually a great shop, it's just a shame that it's staffed with people who don't seem to give a damn about anything.

I do like having a shop like the Green Grocer handy for those times when I'm chasing some obscure…read moreingredient that can only be found in a health food store. However, I struggle to see how the place stays alive. It has a shabby, unkempt feel to it and there's not a time I've been in there when I've received overly friendly service. The vibe is that they couldn't care less whether customers came in or not. This said, they stock a small but good range of organic dairy products, including the lovely Barambah; pre-packaged Sol Bread; a good range of herbal and organic tea; plus quite a few things in bulk bins. All in all, a well-located store that could do with a bit of fresh life brought to it. Note: $5 EFTPOS minimum.

Off the beaten track ...which is to say this business is tucked away around the corner from Banks…read moreSt (Moore st is opposite the Catholic Church, this is a great place for a quiet coffee and a delicious biscuit. I challenge you to find a more crumbly melting morsel of moment. Mistress of Spice stocks colourful and whimsical kitchenware & wears (aprons, teatowels) as well as having a large wall freezer full of simply scrumptious curries. These are qwell balanced and not overly oily like takeaway curries too frequently are. The spices are flaoursome and balanced very cleverly against the textures and tones of the other ingredients. My favourites : lamb and spinach curry, mauritanian chicken and potato, byt then again the beef dansak is fabulous and my son swears by the butter chicken. Yes you do have to heat it but believe me it is very easily done. Dessert? How about white choclate coconut truffle or hold on! bread and butter pudding. Rode past on my bicycle the other morning and there were no less than 8 chaps sitting out front with their coffees. Not an Ashgrove housewife in sight! The morning school shift must have just finished.

Great eco store. Such a great concept to minimize the impact on the environment. Feel great…read moreshopping here.

Isn't it lovely to shop in stores with a conscience? Biome certainly makes it easy with its array…read moreof gorgeous gifts, cosmetics, magazines, stationery and other green fun! I've been shopping there for around a year and it never fails me if I'm looking for something a little bit special with the guarantee that it's made with the Earth in mind. From the choose-your-own-colour Keep Cups to the beautiful giftware from Paper Boat Press, this store is teaming with gorgeous gifts and home wares. Even if the receiver is not hugely "eco" it's always nice to know you have purchased something that's helping the environment. The store in the CBD is big and friendly and the staff have always been more than happy to answer any questions I have for them. I've also utilised their website many times for tips to save energy and water around the house. If you tend to get the guilts about consuming and harming the environment, then Biome can certainly help. Not only that, it's a lovely shopping experience and has a good turnover of stock so there's always something new to look at.

Nice ambiance great place to meet a friend for coffee, smoothies are my go too, girls are aways…read morelovely.

This place is rather cozy. I went with my sister on my birthday weekend for a brunch. Which we…read moredon't get to do much, rather enjoyable. The food is delicious and thoughtfully presented. The cabinet of cakes and pastries looks particularly appetising. I would go again since we're close. The only reason I haven't been more often is just because I don't drive. Their coffee is wonderful too. Thank you to the staff here for their hospitality. My only ask is for the red chairs to be replaced with comfier ones.

Ashgrove is a bustling little shopping strip, in large part due to Ashgrove Fresh. I've been…read morecoming here for years and years due to their good quality produce at very cheap prices. They always have pre bagged specials outside such as red and brown onions for $1.99 per kilo bag, and are usually the cheapest and best place to buy tomatoes. The owners make sure they buy what is in season, so you may find locally grown mini roma tomatoes, so sweet they could be in a fruit salad, or crunchy peas grown and picked outside of Brisbane. Free range eggs are also significantly cheaper and fresher than the supermarket brands. There is also a very good deli selection of both dry and fresh goods. Fridges groan with imported cheeses, meats and olives and there are some great dried deli items available that are usually only seen in specialist import shops. The best part of shopping at Ashgrove Fresh is the staff, it's a family run business and it shows. I'm greeted by name and have occasionally walked out with a free bunch of flowers (they're already open Sun, take them!). I'm pretty sure THAT has never happened in a chain supermarket...

Has Ashgrove Fresh Fruit Markets had a make-over? I feel like their rocking a brand new look and as…read morea result they've taken the fresh-fruit offering to another level. There's fresh produce, deli cabinets of Roza's dips and sauces, loaves of fresh bread and several shelves of suitably smugtrolley ingredients. And it's still got that family-owned feel. There's a friendly face greeting you at the counter. It matters. It makes it a welcome place to shop, to stock up on fresh produce as you need it. Prices are pretty easy on the back pocket, too.

Clafield Fruit Market has all the best bits of what you want from a fruit market. There range of…read morefruit and vegetables is spot on, with all the basics plus a few more exotic varieties and herbs for cooking. They also have a neat little deli section packed with meats, cheese and other treats. The service is always fantastic when I have been and the wait time is not too bad to be served. Parking is ok but it is a tricky small car park to navigate if it is busy.

Ah, Clayfield Markets. Friendly faces, great customer service all within walking distance. Between…read morethis place and Aldi Toombul I don't have to be a slave to Woolworths/Coles more than a couple of times per month. The fresh fruit and veg are plentiful, there's so much variety. The deli section is to DIE for, and not a little bit overwhelming. My better half gets so impatient with me, because I'm known to turn into a slack-jawed, drooling, indecisive-zombie-cheese-charcuterie-fiend. He inevitably makes our choices ;) Yes. Things like milk, bread and like staples are more expensive if I've got to make an emergency dash. But they open at 6am and close at 7pm. Every single day. It's worth the convenience...and goodness knows I love me some predictability! The staff are the icing on this tasty, tasty cake. Even when I wasn't a familiar face, everyone is always willing to assist or even let me know what's particularly delicious at the moment. Just keep on being you, Clayfield Markets!