MissKitty

Gelobar is just down the street from me, and we've been here several times. It is incredibly popular, having been one of the first places to serve gelato in Melbourne, and summer nights see long queues snake out of the door well into the night. The gelato is delicious and the flavours and texture very authentic and similar to what I've eaten in Italy. Having said all that, this place isn't my favourite in Melbourne, but certainly up there.

I've been to Miss Marples on several occasions, and have enjoyed it thoroughly every time. The servers are genuinely friendly and helpful. The mains are well prepared and the desserts are simply delicious - the Belgian Waffles they were running as a special the last two times I was there are some of the best waffles I've eaten outside of home. I have to admit that having grown up in England, the fluffy cake-like scones they serve don't appeal to me (I'm told that these are so-called lemonade scones, a speciality of the area), but otherwise, a lovely meal on a day out driving.

My boyfriend and I stopped in here to pick up some ice cream up on the way home from work. I was shocked at how light the litre of ice cream we bought was - a sure sign of high overrun, where manufacturers whip the ice cream full of air. We had the mint ice cream with chocolate swirl - really pedestrian in flavour. It was cheap, but we might as well have bought something from the supermarket - it would've been more satisfying.

I've not eaten at St. Ali, but I adore their coffees! We use only their beans at work - anything else is a compromise for us. I'm told that the food is just as good. The next time I'm in the area, I am going to make it a point to drop by so that I can perhaps comment on the food too.

Edited to add: I've now eaten at St. Ali several times, and the food is excellent! Service is always friendly and efficient, and the staff are always happy to share their expertise on what coffee to try.

I love stopping by the Koko Black window to see what they're displaying, or what the chocolatiers are up to. What I like best about this outlet is that the staff are uniformly and genuinely happy to serve you, and very well informed about their products. The manager (whose name escapes me) was most helpful in helping me choose a chocolate which would complement the fillings for the moulded chocolates I was making.

I've been to Brunetti several times and love the vast array of cakes and tasties in the window, but think that it's all right. I'll agree that it's lovely to sit down there to have a coffee or one of their delicious thick Italian Hot Chocolates, but I think that the quality of the cakes is very variable. Having said that, I'm a pastry chef myself and have a pretty hard-to-please palate. The prices are what I'd expect for a place with such a famous name.

This outlet of Koko Black doesn't have the same charisma as the Royal Arcade store, nor do you get to ogle the chocolatier in the window, but hey, for a quality chocolate hit, you can't go past these guys. We stopped by for hot chocolates one cold afternoon this Winter, and were seduced by the selection of chocolates to bring home. The service was warm, and the staff were helpful as we made our selections.

People who complain about the food at Misty's have clearly gone there expecting it to be a fine dining experience, thus, they deserve to be disappointed. Misty's is what it is - an American diner serving good American diner food. Don't get me wrong - I love the place and think it's a proud expression of American vernacular cuisine, but fine dining it ain't. Misty's is the place we go when we want to grab some delicious food, carefully cooked by someone who cares and have a good time while we're at it.

My boyfriend and I went on two separate occasions, between those times we've tried:

The Corndog - better than at any county fair I've ever been to.
The Hamburger - juicy, succulent, rich but not greasy.
The Cheesy Bites - deep fried cheesy goodness, what more can I say?
The Chilli Cheese Fries - YUMMY!!!
Misty's French Dip - the bite I managed to cadge off my Mum was delish.
Philly Steak Sandwich - stuffed FULL of delicious, tender steak.
Barbecue Beef Sandwich - I didn't get to try any of this, but judging by the way my boyfriend scarfed it all down, it must've been good!

We also tried several thickshakes, which were delicious, and the Root Beer Float brought me back to my childhood. Funnily enough, we never seem to be able to leave room for dessert...

Both times we went, we were served by the lovely Misty, who goes out of her way to make her customers feel comfortable and well taken care of. Who else would offer you a choice of thick or thin fries?

As a chef, this is the food I love to eat when I get to eat out - good honest food that hasn't been messed with. And the bonus of being able to score Junior Mints and Caramels, Turtles and other American candy at the counter just seals the deal for us!