REEL

REEL CAFE
1628 Burwood Hwy
Belgrave
Phone 97541055

Sun-Thur 9am - 9pm
Fri/Sat 9am - 9.30pm

With the worst coffee in the Hills and what has to be the worst, slowest service this cafe is a terrible experience. We have given them 3 tries and each time got worse than the one before.
We told them that we were needing to eat efficiently because we were going to the movies but the service was still painfully slow and the surfaces had not been wiped on ours and the adjacent tables. When the dishes arrived they were wrong and the fries just did not turn up at all. The food choices are innovative and interesting and the food when you get it is pleasant but I will not bother again.

If what you want is coffee and cake you will likely be segregated from the table diners which is just as well because after you try the coffee you will want to make a quick exit! Cakes are not bad but since you can buy beautiful home baked cakes elsewhere I would not bother.

Beware that if you plan to take a cake for a birthday there is a surcharge which they may or may not tell you about.

FOOD          3.5/5
SERVICE       1/5
COFFEE         1/5
SCONES
VALUE           3/5

TOTAL         8.5/20

REVISIT?   Not a chance!

FORTNUMS

FORTNUMS
395 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
Sassafras
Phone: 97551200

Mon - Fri 11-4pm
Sat/Sun 11-5pm.

Situated on the main road through Sassafras this delightful restaurant caters for afternoon teas, lunches and weddings/functions in bright, pretty surroundings.
 The menu has no surprises, but they do have a large specifically gluten free menu which will delight coeliacs.
We loved the cake/ desert selection and the scones were to die for.

Everything is served like you are having high tea right down to the real tea leaves and individual strainer, with flowers on each table which is always a winner with me. As of Feb. 2014 they actually do serve High Tea which I am sure will be delicious (bookings needed).

There is also a gift shop filled with innovative and interesting gifts attached which is worth a look.

FOOD          4/5
SERVICE    4/5
COFFEE      4/5
SCONES      5/5
VALUE        4/5

TOTAL       21/25

Revisit?  Yes. We have to try the High Tea!

THE IVY

THE IVY.

540 MT Dandenong Tourist Rd,
Olinda

Phone: 97512388

Fri – Tues 12pm – 12am

Wed closed

Thurs 6pm-12am

This restaurant was not open till 12 midday on the Sunday we went so do check before hand if you intend to eat here. It would have been nice if we had been invited to sit and wait or have a drink instead of being turned away and told to come back but I suppose rules are rules.

It has a pleasant interior with wood stove and attentive staff. The children’s menu is quite extensive with all the usuals however if you cannot get a high chair you would not be inclined to take small children. The menu also states that children must remain seated and quiet which we felt was a bit dictatorial.

 We thought pasta dishes for lunch at $23.00 was a bit steep but the servings appeared generous. There seem to be rather a lot of items on the menu which you cannot get until a certain time of day and the gluten free pizzas are not available on holidays which makes ordering a bit of a minefield.

This place is licensed and the alcohol comes in glasses but beware if you order water because you get a jug with plastic cups plonked on the table. Not me I am afraid! This was the ‘last straw’ and we walked out after cancelling our order so we don’t actually know what the food tastes like here.

I would like to know what you think. Plastic cups for adults!....really! Not only environmentally unfriendly but more expensive than washing glasses you would think.