This convenience store in Collins Street was my saving grace and office escape in the corporate…read moreworld prior to working for myself as a freelance writer. One used to feel a little like a kid walking into a candy store at the time, and there would be some days where they would have items for purchase for only $1 to celebrate a particular time of day, and most recently their birthday. Cherry Ripe here I come. The staff always seem to be so glad to see you, it isn't stock standard chain based convenience store service. You would feel kind of special. The Freddo frogs (although simple) was a big deal at the time, like my office survival kit: especially during the last three months of my corporate career. They would always have specials for buying four Freddo frogs of different varieties at any given moment, and this convenience store would run the occasional competition where a pre-paid Visa card was up for grabs to entice you into buying more chocolate which stocked up my survival kit when one needed it stocked up the most. The ambience was inviting, especially the owl and inside (although a bit of tight space at times) allured that welcoming feeling for the tired office worker.

The local Milk Bar, good for last minute items or if you cannot be bothered with the extra 500m to…read moreWoolies. I've been in here a few times and just really shocked by the pricing in here. My housemate had fallen ill and needed some Soda Water, so instead of venturing a few more minutes down the road to Woolworths, i stopped in here and my god i left just as soon as i entered. I looked in the fridge and saw that a 2L Soda Water was around $4. This is something that the local Woolies stocks for 80c - $1. I understand that this small independent business is something of a dying sort but i'm not comfortable paying twice or three times as much for something i can get a few hundred meters down the road.

The name of this place suggests that this small family-run store, which has been here for over 30…read moreyears or more, is an in fact a convenience store. Phooey! I totally disagree with that and therefore refer to it as a milkbar, because that's exactly what it is. After all, milkbars are a dying rapidly and only a few now remain, like this one, and I'll be damned if I start referring to it as a convenience store. I don't know how many times I'd be on my way to work and completely forget to bring some change for the ticket machine on the tram. And, like a mirage in the desert, this little milkbar would come to my aid. It also looks after me on all those days when nothing can take away your troubles like an impulse buy of ice cream or chocolate on the way home. The prices can be a little higher than other places but for the people situated around this milkbar, and forgetful little me, the convince it provides more than outweighs the extra few dollars. Plus I quite enjoy the friendless and familiarity you get from regularly coming to a small place like this which you'd never get from a supermarket no matter times you go there or how much you spend. I applaud these guys for keeping the legacy of suburban milkbars alive.

This is the neighborhood Coles in Point Cook town center and I have been going there for my daily…read moregrocery needs since 2009. It's kinda similar to Kroger or Safeway in the US and contains most of grocery items we need. There are plenty of parking spaces in town center whether outdoor or underground which is good. I will be back whenever I visit Point Cook.

What a hidden gem. Gorgeous donuts hidden away in a tiny…read moremilk bar. Flavours such as lemon, Nutella and custard. Fluffy sugary doughnuts with fillings- not your American style traditional donut. They are addictive, well priced and not too far from where I live! Dangerous!

There's a reason that this place is making big head lines. It's the delicious donuts. Mouth…read morewatering, soul soothing, waist expanding donuts. The range here is small but oh so sweet. This isn't one of our beloved Melbourne hipster donut stores. You won't find fresh new crisp design work or even a coffee menu. Jimmy's Place is an old school suburban milk bar in a very ethnic and multicultural area. Hipsters beware the locals here won't tolerate eye rolling and line pushing. So why trek out this far from your comfort zone? Nutella donuts. Yup I said it. This is where you'll find the famous Nutella donuts that the CBD crowd are going nuts for. At $3 a pop you'll want to buy them all. Ask Jimmy himself what flavours are on offer. He rarely has time to restock the small display cabinet before the donuts fly out the door. Flavours tried and tested- Nutella- delicious nutella to kill off any do-gooder diet. Warm in the microwave for 20seconds for a life changing experience Jam- ol' school jam donut. Can't go wrong here. Custard- a super smooth creamy custard. Perfect with a cup of coffee and a good book. Lemon meringue- A tart little minx. Sweet on top and all sneaky flavour hidden inside. There's occasionally a salted caramel floating around.

I've been going to the Knoxfield Milk Bar since my primary school days. I remember taking the…read morelonger route on my walk home just so I could pop in and grab some Fads for a dollar or so. I remember the days when I actually believed they looked like real cigarettes and I'd rush out to buy some on cold mornings so that I could loll them out of my mouth and breathe out big gusts of steam. I thought I was so cool. I've had some many experiences in this milk bar, some great and others not so good. When I was ten I remember the guy behind the counter would persistently shortchange me and try to make me think that I was bad at maths. Eventually I had to get my Mum to stand outside the shop and she would check my change and go in and yell at him if he gave it back wrong. Ah, those were the days. Mostly though I've had pretty all right experiences there. The shop itself is always stocked up and though the service is the same in any milk bar, it is still service. The bell rings, the staff member calls out hello and then I wander around until I find something. I approach the counter, give them my money; they repeat the cost and the amount I gave them before giving me my change. I haven't had a problem with them shortchanging me since I was ten - but maybe that's because they are scared I'll bring my Mum back in. She can be pretty scary when she's mad! At the end of the day, it's cheap enough and it's convenient. I've always been a fan.

Be VERY aware of being ripped off at this business. This was our third visit and EVERY time we have…read morebeen overcharged. The first time $8 for a sandwich we were told was $6, the second time we were charged $15.60 for two vegetarian pies when the sign says they are $6.80 each making the total $13.60 and today we were overcharged $2 AGAIN on a donut. The same woman has overcharged us each time, short blond hair in her 60's who actually spends most of her time leaning against the counter talking to customers she obviously knows rather than actually working. Today she stood and continued her conversation with one man for around 5 minutes while we waited. We also noted that she handed him his food but he did not appear to have paid??? Is that how it works, someone she knows is given products while other customers are overcharged to make up the shortfall? We said nothing the first couple of times thinking it was a small amount and possibly a genuine mistake in a busy business but then again today we realise this is intentional. This is a very busy business, if they serve 100 customers per day and add on $2 each that's an extra $200 in clear profit per day, 5 days a week that's an extra $1000, per month $4000 and in a year $48 000. Most people won't notice a small extra charge or when walking off just let it go, but this business is ripping people off. Possibly a case for notifying Consumer Affairs. Treat your customers with respect or you will lose them.

I recommend the dusted sponge cake. Highly recommend actually…read more It is a simple, light sponge. Filled with cream and a little strawberry jam. Dusted with icing sugar. This for only $7. Someone from work shared with me. Now I'm sharing with you. If you like cake and appreciate simple and yum things ... TRY THIS CAKE. The shop looks very dated and old school and I like that. I haven't tried anything else here as yet. But I will keep coming back for the dusted sponge!

Carmen at Wing Sam grocery is extremely helpful and gracious with my mooncake order during 2020…read morelockdown. She accommodated my 5kms. My family is able to enjoy our mooncakes during the Autumn festival.

Win Sam has been around for years, but it's only in the last few years that I've been brave enough…read moreto enter and do some shopping for myself. We've become very willing to experiment in our kitchen since we discovered the food network on pay TV. Win Sam, along with others like Yeoh's and a couple of others, has become something of a regular addition to our weekly shopping trip. For me, the real drawcard is the freezer, because I love to buy steamed custard buns. They're like an addiction to me. Yes, they're better fresh, but I'm not yet at the stage where I'm confident making my own yum cha doughs for steaming. I often get that craving for yum cha, but being a bit cheap, this place helps save me quite a bit of cash. I really like this place.

I am impressed every single time I go into Leo's…read more It has to be one of my favorite supermarkets. The range is so wide, I feel like you could go in there and always find something. Shelves are packed in such a nice homely way. Last time, I stumbled upon a spoon of chocolate to make hot chocolate with. Who knew? Plus, their selection of wine has a lot to offer. I could get lost in this supermarket, just looking at everything that they have.

The original Leo's Fine Food & Wine in Kew does a lot right. The bakery, the deli with gourmet…read morecheese, antipasto and salad. The wide range of meats and fresh produce that share the spotlight with a diverse grocery collection. This is the spot to pick up gourmet food for your picnic basket or your next morning tea. However this supermarket has simply outgrown itself. It is full to bursting point with tantlizing tastes and aromas. The result is chaotic. The problem isn't the space itself, more that I have spent time in its sibling supermarket in Heidelberg. That location has wide aisles, great lighting, windows and feels spacious, not so Kew. It does gourmet as well as anyone though and is a great place to browse. I liked the blackboard listing liquor specials and was chuffed to find Viru, an Estonian beer that I enjoyed while living in there. Queue Tallinn flashbacks.