Reviews by Publius
I went twice to get my eyebrows done, and although those 10 or so minutes were good, the rest of the experience left a lot to be desired. Both times, I had to wait at least 15 minutes before it was my turn, despite having made an appointment and being asked to arrive early. They're also a little on the expensive side, although I was satisfied with the final result on both occasions--I'm just not sure if it's worth the time, hassle, and cost.
A friend and I got here a little after 6pm on a Thursday night, and managed to be seated right away. The food and service were excellent, and my curry dish was served very mild at my request. I absolutely loved the coconut juice, and the desserts were delicious!
Came here for a late dinner. The decor and service were lovely, but I was a little disappointed with the quality of the meals, especially considering the prices. The pâté starter was excellent, but my pork belly was a little dry. I also had a cocktail, the "Blood & Sand", and although it was good, the serving size was tiny--not really worth the $18! A real shame--I'd think twice about returning, and if so, it would only be to try out their signature suckling pig.
I only come here for the reasonable prices and the convenience--particularly handy after a few hours in Kinokuniya. The food itself isn't anything special, and although it's all overtly Japanese, neither the noodles nor the rice dishes captures the subtle flavours of Japanese cuisine. You'd be much better off at Menya or Ippudo, which are both excellent Japanese noodle places in the city.
I used to work across the street from Benz, and frequently it almost every day. A few years on, and I returned to Benz for brunch on Saturday--and it was just as I'd expected. The service, decor, and food are all excellent, and also quite reasonably priced. By far my favourite thing on the menu is the blueberry smoothie, which goes well with omelettes, pancakes, quesadillas--the whole range!
I came here for drinks with friends, and was absolutely blown away by the cocktails. These drinks cost around $20, but they're worth every cent--I've yet to find a place in Sydney with such a wonderful range of unique cocktails that were a complete delight to the palate. I had a "Wood and Smoke" (a beautifully smoky whiskey-based drink with cinnamon--my favourite from that evening), a "Life is Peachy" (whiskey-based, with lots of delicious peaches), and a "Aerated Caprioska" (an amazing lime and vodka-based "drink" that is made of foam, which you eat with a spoon!). Wonderful!
My only qualm is that the music was way too loud, and detracted from the exquisite cocktails. That being said, I'm definitely going back for more--perhaps at a quieter time--and I fully intend to work my way down the cocktail menu!
Delicious pho, fast service, and reasonable prices. The drinks are also really interesting and worth trying--the "Qing Bao Liang" is a "cleansing" cold drink that contains things like seaweed, and is surprisingly tasty!
A fantastic place to hang out for food and drinks. The wedges and chips are delicious, and the punch bowls are excellent for sharing. There are also open mic nights on Wednesday evenings from 7pm, which is always great fun!
I first went to the salon on Clarence Street back in 2009, and was blown away by the quality and the service. Unfortunately, since then, Shinka has been on a slow decline. My favourite stylist, Yuu, left a couple years back, and now, the only other stylist I know is Hiro, who's pretty good, but charges a little extra.
The prices are very high, and although I didn't mind paying it a few years back when some of my favourite staff members were working there, now it's become quite extravagant. That being said, I have been returning over the years because I do like the cut and digital perm they provide, and the service is still rather good (though not as excellent as before). On the most basic level of hairdressing, the stylists are very competent and are always able to work off the photos I bring them.
An additional note: the staff don't have a good command of English, but this is fine with me as I speak a little Japanese, and our chats in Japanese is one of the reasons I keep going back. Of course, this isn't for everyone--I guess I'm still a customer due to a huge nostalgic factor!
Approximate cost: $240
I got a baby grand piano about ten years ago, and since then, we've moved around in Sydney three times. All three times, Anthony's has moved the piano, and all three times, we have been perfectly satisfied with our experience. Anthony's (and Anthony himself) is prompt and professional: our piano was dismantled, lifted away, then reassembled in no time--and, most importantly, it was completely stress-free! Highly recommended for anyone who needs a specialised piano removalist!