They are a glance away from the local Woolies but far far below in price, Get there early if you…read morewant the best fruit and veg at a fraction that the Woolies nearby is selling it it!. They have a selection of nuts and their veg is top-notch but has a bit of a smaller selection when it comes to certain exotic products (certain types of tomatoes, Also some asian veg), The staples however are all there in spades, they have very nice apples and huge boxes of the stuff out the front along with some local plants (which is confusing but whatever). Later in the evening you get their discount bags out the front filled with random veg or just random products for very very cheap. Also I noticed they have started to sell a small selection of Indian ready-packet meals (which had a few flavours I haven't seen outside of an Indian food-store) and various spices and other interesting products just inside the door to your left.

This fruit store is deceptive. On the outside (which often you'll have to walk through if you're…read moregoing from any shop to any other shop in the centre) it looks like a market fruiterer. In other words, as much fruit as possible packed in as much as possible. Inside, however, it's much more elegantly displayed. The fruit is high quality, but the selection is small. Service is minimal, too, you'll have to ask if you need some help. To be honest, I really like what they have on display outside. It's where the good specials are, you know, the bag of apples for loose change or capsicums for half the price of the supermarket 50 metres away.

This store would have to be a dieters worst nightmare. Shelf upon shelf stacked with lollies, and…read morechocolates. I try to avoid this place as much as possible, but every now and then it pulls me in.. Last time I ended up leaving with a full box of Bouchee chocolates (you know, the ones that are shaped like elephant feet). You can see now why I have to aviod this place...I can't be trusted to behave in there.

There are quite a few of these Sweet As shops around - usually to be found in Centro shopping…read morecentres. Most are completely alike, stocking the same range of imported and local chocolates and lollies at just below supermarket prices. This Sweet As is a little different. Yes, it has the obligatory shelves and shelves of half-kilo and kilo packs of brightly coloured sugary things. Yes, it has all those weird and wonderful lollipops that my mother would never have let me have as a child. Yes, it even has the shelf of American choocolate, including the 4 different kinds of Reese's Peanut Butter cup. What it has in addition to all the standard requirements of a shopping centre lolly shop is great service, an owner who remembers you (although maybe that's because I went there a few too many times) and ridiculously cheap stock. I don't know where she finds it, but gourmet fudge bars at 30 cents a bar? Yes please. The specials do change regularly, but it's always worth stopping in with a gold coin because there'll be something that'll substantially satisfy your sweet tooth. The prices on the regular items are good too, without the mall markup (and, if you compare to the Chadstone markup, really excellent).

Bushy Park Wholesale is one place you won't be overcharged. The fruit and vegetables stocked here…read moreare either grown in the fields that surround the shop or driven in daily from the farmers markets in the city. The prices are always cheaper than the supermarket chains and there are plenty of bargains to be had. Last time I went I got three mangoes for just $5! I was pretty chuffed with that find too! I wouldn't bother going on a Sunday as it is more likely to give you a headache than a satisfied feeling. It seems everyone wants to shop there that day and the crowds are ridiculous. Sometimes the cars pile up all the way down the long granite drive and out onto high street road. That is simply too much craziness for me. They don't generally advertise their sales but wednesdays are the best day to go to pick up a great bargain. They often have vouchers in local papers letting people know but if you don't live in the area you will often miss out. So if you can get there on a wednesday - do it. The staff are friendly and nice and there are around eleven registers so it is pretty big. The queue can be intimidatingly long at times but with all the registers working it moves pretty quickly.

My friend and I have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the Bushy Park Cafe for about 6 months…read morenow. Every week we would do our shop here and and walk past the building, peer inside and see the elegant decor and the stunning view and imagine what a classy breakfast eatery it would become. Perhaps we hyped it up a little too much but imagine our excitement when it was announced on Facebook that it was finally opening it's doors! We went along Sunday morning, excitedly getting there early in case it was super busy, looking forward to a big fat indulgent muffin or some avocado smash. The menu was fairly disappointing. Perhaps they had a different vision for their cafe than what we did, but it's more sporting club kiosk meets chinese takeaway than brunch. Fluorescently lit photos with numbers made the backdrop of the front counter. We ordered some traditional big breakfast style dishes, eggs with bacon and sausage I believe was the official name. They were incredibly cheap ($10) and really delicious, so it wasn't a total disappointment. The coffees were also very good. The venue is lovely, and has a spectacular view, it's just not what we were expecting. I think they would benefit by adding a pastry case to cater to the coffee and cake crowd, and maybe consider putting out paper menus, and ditching the photos, as it just makes the place look tacky and gross, which is a shame as it has so much potential to be a highly popular brunch spot.

Boococks Butchers in Studfield Shopping Centre sells a large range of meats, small goods and even…read moreeggs. The shop is super clean and is always well stocked. The staff here are very nice and the owner Darren has served me many times. The meats are quite varied compared to the selection in the supermarket and the prices are also a bit cheaper. My favourite product from there are bits of chicken breast wrapped in bacon. They are held together with a skewer and have yummy cheese in the middle. They are perfect for a quick dinner when you cannot be bothered cooking and are almost a staple food in my house! Once I had quite a few bags from Boococks and the staff member noticed I was struggling so they helped carry them out to my car - you can't beat that!

I owe the discovery of this fantastic little business to my partner. He brought me here to have a…read morelook at some great organic produce near to where we live. This is a beautiful little store. There is a great range of organic and fair trade food from veggies to milk, and eggs to olive oil. Asparagus, apples, oranges and corn are all really cheap at this time of the year and it was great to see that organic produce is only a little more expensive than the industrial fruit and veggies that we buy in the supermarkets. There were a few finds that made this organic store really special. They have Mount Zero Olive Oil for around $16 (at least $2 cheaper than what I found in the CBD), and they also stock galangal. This is a type of ginger that is used a lot in Thai cooking and that has consistently eluded me in my shopping. They also have a little coffee and drink section up the front that produces fruit smoothies and iced chai among other beverages. There is seating out the front, and the atmosphere of the store is a pleasant and health-conscious one. Something we can all be happy with.

From the owner: Organic, vegan, vegetarian, gf specialist.read more

It's getting hard to find a good butcher shop. Having to compete with supermarkets has driven a…read morelot out of the business over the last decade or two. And given that these days, we seem to have very little time to do our shopping, it shouldn't be a surprise. However, a few years ago I rediscovered the butcher shop in Kerrie Road, Glen Waverley. I'd been watching a lot of cooking shows and decided that I'd try and cook with meat you don't have to unwrap from a plastic tub. One of the best things I ever did. The quality of the meats on offer is fantastic. The chicken breasts taste like chicken, not cardboard. The steaks are tender and they don't look dry and horrid like you find in supermarkets. The service is excellent. The staff are really friendly, always up for a chat, and if you're stuck for an idea of what to cook, they'll have a suggestion or two.

Kerrie Rd Butcher is just what you'd expect from a local butcher:…read more Fresh produce, Super friendly staff who actually remember your name and ask about your day, and staff who really want you to have a good experience. If I buy chicken Kievs, the guy tells me the best way to cook them (I never knew for best results I should just wrap them in oiled foil). You might pay a few cents extra than safeway, but it's worth it.

Love this market. The variety of food for the family is excellent. Always fill our bags up with…read morefresh produce and a treat for our Sunday.

this market is on every second sunday of the month. there's lots of organic produce, grass fed beef…read moreand free range eggs. there's homemade pastries, pasta, soups and sausages. the local rotary club makes egg & bacon sandwiches. there is a lady that makes the most amazing meat pies, they're family size and about $15, made from scratch and so so tasty. i drag my husband around, buying him sweet treats and coffee so he won't complain too much about being away at 9am on a sunday. this is definitely one of the better farmers markets in the area.

The Vermont South Delicatessen is a cacophony of smells and sounds. There is a generous array of…read moreherbs, spices, cheeses, meats like salami and sausages, nuts, pasta and continental groceries. The staff in here are enthusiastic and knowledgeable and they are happy to share. They love answering questions, providing info and giving taste tests to back up their explanations. The shop is often quite busy and runs on a number service system - make sure to grab a card from the counter or you'll be waiting a while. My Mum loves this place and is always popping in to get herself a treat for an afternoon snack or dessert platter. It is a great place to go to get some good nibblies for a party or special event. The staff are happy to put together a package for you without making you spend a fortune. Give them a try.