• CLOSED: Lentil As Anything

  • (31)
    46

    Closed

  • White Vegan
Vegan
International
Organic
Western
Fast food
Take-out

Non-profit community organization operating several cafes on a "pay as you feel" concept. Serves meals such as curries, burgers, and Asian influenced dishes; also coffee and cakes. Produce is organic, meals are vegan and can be wheat-free. Limited seating. Reported fully vegan Sep 2018. Reported closed May 2022.


31 Reviews

First Review by tessha_m

GrayHorwitz

Points +1681

Vegan
22 Mar 2022

The world would be better with more places like this

Truly serving the community, while also bring folks together and providing amazing food. Go here before you go anywhere else and take part in something magical!

AnneWhite

Points +66

Vegan
30 Dec 2021

Lovely simple vegan food

Only 3 choices on the menu, simple and delicious! #Veganuary

Pros: All vegan, Indoor and outdoor seating , Pay what you think it’s worth

Cons: No air con, Choice limited

travellingbutterfly

Points +1209

Vegan
06 Aug 2021

A reconnecting delight

I met up with a dear friend here who I had not seen in a while, and to reconnect at an establishment I love to support was special. As it was during lockdown, we ordered at the makeshift counter and sat outside eating the two options that were available at that time. Lovely to eat, lovely to reconnect, lovely to support.

VeganVampyr

Points +161

Vegan
12 Jun 2021

Good food and vibes

It's not fine dining, but I know what to expect here and I keep going back.

Pros: Good vibes and food

Cons: Food can be basic / small quantities

Sabbyy

Points +225

Vegan
26 Jan 2020

Love the concept!

Cozy and friendly restaurant. Pay by donation is such an amazing idea. Really appreciate this place.

The food is tasty and the staff are very friendly.

Pros: Good atmosphere

Cons: Can get very busy

AmyB93

Points +114

Vegan
15 Jan 2020

Yummy wholesome food

A perfect place to have excellent quality home cooked food. A relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Pros: All vegan menu, Pay by donation , Lovely atmosphere

eszter.csapo

Points +1027

Vegan
23 Nov 2019

Kindest & nicest

This place and “concept” is just so great, I wish they opened up restaurants all around the world! The food is made with love and kindness and very tasty! You pay as much as you like. I had their “oko” and chia seed pudding they were both very delicious. Please support this restaurant if you happen to be in Melbourne.

DemianNomad

Points +275

Vegan
19 Aug 2019

One of the best restaurants in Melbourne

I love the idea of the Lentils. Super nice food, service and the paying method.

Pros: Food, Service, Place

robinthewanderer

Points +46

Vegan
28 Apr 2019

Good food

This pay what you want restaurant offers four different meals for lunch and dinner and a nice dessert.
I personally prefer the one in abbotsford a bit more but the restaurant in St. kilda ist still worth a visit

StanLeffers

Points +167

Vegan
06 Apr 2019

Must visit.

The staff (volunteers) that day was wonderfully kind and fairly casual. The Quinao salad with tahini, chai tea and soymilk dessert were all wonderful. The atmosphere is great and the pay as you feel is a very unique and refreshing.

Pros: All vegan, Great atmosphere, Pay as you feel

Cons: Small, Limited choices

EmmaZ

Points +869

Vegan
16 Feb 2019

Great food and initiative

Such as amazing idea to bring into society. Love coming to support this place, food is so so good and people are so nice. ❤️

Maryy

Points +354

Vegan
03 Feb 2019

For a good cause

I had the burger and the chia pudding - both super good.
Portions are very small, but if you need more just order another dish =)
It can get quite noisy when it's busy but I still enjoyed my time there.
Staff is super friendly and helpful.

Pros: you decide what you wanna pay, good food, friendly staff

Cons: small portions

EmCarroll

Points +50

Vegan
10 Dec 2018

Tasty and cheap

Pay as you feel with a guide on the wall. Had the burger and curry - both delicious but very simple and not the best vegan food around, however you can’t beat it for the price and concept!

Charlie.

Points +812

Vegan
10 May 2018

Good

Situated in this busy tourist/local attraction at St Kilda beach, service was below expectation but since this is a pay as you feel eatery, I won't complain much. Delicious vegan food though

V-for-Vegan

Points +876

Vegan
28 Mar 2018

Good

Vegan food is properly labelled, pay as you feel but there's a guideline you may follow if you wish. The place is always due to its location and it's a little small place.

DKTravels

Points +43

Mostly Veg
05 Jan 2018

Highly recommend

I love the concept of this place and the food is simply awesome. Highly recommend going here because your money is helping, so you can feel good and eat good food.

Pros: Food is delicious

Eda

Points +157

Vegan
01 Jan 2018

good food for less fortunate

Awesome concept and even better when there's vegan and gluten free options!
Perfect for less well off people like me, it's pay as you can/feel. The food isn't mind blowing or big portions but for the concept, it's perfect food!

ericacrombie

Points +491

Vegan
09 Oct 2017

Warm, happy vibe and hearty food

You go here more for the experience but the food is nice, too. It's pay-as-you-feel but you should pay normal restaurant prices (or more, if you can) unless you're having a rough time with money.

It's got a great, positive vibe and the food is like very nice home-style cooking. The type that warms your soul.

Pros: Positive vibes, Yummy home-style cooking, You'll leave feeling great

Cons: It's not exactly gourmet, Not everything is vegan

madalynmayfield

Points +22

Vegan
06 Jul 2017

Perfecto!!

Every meal on the menu will satisfy your taste buds! I had the Japanese pancake as well as the curry plate and both were delicious 

Pros: great food, good location , excellent service

PlantbasedLovin'

Points +48

Vegan
13 May 2017

Always Perfect

Always perfect
Plenty of vegan dishes to choose from
Drinks and vegan desserts are fabulous
Lovely staff and volunteers
Relaxing bubbly atmosphere

** donate generously if you're able as this is pay as you can and enjoy. No set prices.

Pros: delicious, plenty of choice, always fresh, great service

Wuji_Luiji

Points +2512

Vegan
21 Feb 2017

Love it!

It was wonderful to come back to the original Lentil As Anything after many years. They still had my favourite dish Okonamiyaki and it was delicious, as mas my soy chai! The staff were friendly and service was quick. There's a small amount of indoor and outdoor seating and it has a funky atmosphere. If I lived closer I'd be here all the time!

CatherineM

Points +192

Vegetarian
13 Oct 2016

Fine for a quick meal

Small menu but the green curry I had was good. Staff were a bit dozy and it seemed like they were there to chat to each other rather than serve customers. The 'donations' box has a suggested amount which tells you what is covered by each payment.
A useful location in the middle of St Kilda.
Nice concept, but I left feeling a bit disappointed by the offhand attitude of the staff.

Pros: Quick service, Good location

Cons: Non-attentive staff, Small menu

happyhuman78

Points +51

Vegan
24 Apr 2016

An Oldie but a Goodie!!

Really tasty food and, as you pay what you feel is fair, you only have yourself to blame if you think it's too expensive! I thought I remembered there being more choices on the menu last time (mind you that was at least 3 years ago cos I'm not from Melbourne). We shared the Thali plate and green curry and I'm a wuss when it comes to spices and was worried it might be too spicy for me but was perfect. Full of spice flavour without the heat. I just hope people pay appropriately and support such a great concept and organisation.

Pros: Love the concept and their policies, Really tasty food, Warm inside and relaxed vibe

monisonfire

Points +4799

Vegan
11 Apr 2016

nice food, interesting concept

came here with a friend a while ago. place was crowded but after a little wait we got a table outside. weather was lovely, so we were very happy abut that. service wasn't super fast, still nice. we both ordered a burger. taste was good, nothing super exciting/surprising, but definitely good.
I actually like the concept, even though I feel like it puts a lot of pressure on one, reading statistics of what costs can be covered by the amount one's paying. i'd say: fair enough. but it doesn't really leave you with paying what you actually feel like. also, we were told, there's no change possible, so you may wanna make sure you have a little change with you (my friend only had a 20 note, so he ended up paying for the both of us).
overall, a nice experience. and st. kilda is just great.

Pros: taste, location, atmosphere

Cons: payment

BreakfastKlutz

Points +11986

Vegan
12 Mar 2016

St. Lentil

Small venue with a fairly small menu. Food and service were both very good.

PotatoesTho

Points +13450

Vegan
21 Sep 2015

Good and simple

Enjoyed a Vegan green curry and Thali, along with an Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake).

Service was quick, meals were tasty and well sized.

It is a tiny space so weekends could make wait times much longer. We visited on a Monday night and were able to secure a table quickly.

Pros: Good food, Friendly staff

Cons: Limited seating

hatman919

Points +242

Vegan
11 May 2015

An old favourite.

I noticed that nobody has reviewed this place since 2013, so I guess I'll write something here! The first time I came here would have been around 2008, when I initially became vegetarian. It was the first time I'd heard of an all veg restaurant, so I went down on the weekend with another veggie friend from school to check it out. The place was very small but completely empty, and they only had one food option, a burger, which I thought was okay but nothing special. I didn't come back here for a long time after this, because it was quite far from where I lived and I didn't think it was worth it.

In 2013 my boyfriend moved to St Kilda, about a 2 minute walk from Lentils. We ended up eating here weekly, as it had changed so much and was absolutely wonderful. They did various curries, the burger (which I still think is average) and some other dishes. The okonomiyaki, pea and potato curry and pumpkin curry were the highlights for me. I think they also do a breakfast but I was never up early enough for it! The coffee was always really good too.

I haven't eaten here in a while, as my boyfriend no longer lives in St Kilda, and every time I do happen to be in the area there is a massive line out the front. The restaurant is tiny and is extremely popular now, and I could never be bothered waiting in the line. However, if you do pass here and the line isn't big, I would highly recommend stopping in. It's a great place with a lovely atmosphere and really nice food.

Pros: Tasty, nice vibe, good coffee




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