Vegan
International
Take-out
Fusion
Non-profit community organization operating several cafes on a "pay as you feel" concept. This location opened in 2015. Has space for kids and small stage for performances. During non-meal hours it offers coffee, tea and chai throughout the day. Lunch served from 12pm. Accepts EFTPOS. Reported closed October 2021.
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 10 Oct 2021 by Guest
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Added by Soybean on 03 Nov 2015
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20 Reviews
First Review by PotatoesTho
user2secpic
Points +56
Amazing community restaurant - Edit
This place is amazing for supporting the local community with the way you pay being by donation. You can eat for free if you are struggling for money in this covid time! I still usually spend a minimum of $15 so these places can keep running and help people less fortunate. Amazing food too!
Read moreGuest
TheVeganTravelShow
Points +1412
Wonderful! - Edit
Not sure why ppl get upset seeing art with animals in it, dead or alive. Technically movies are a form of art & I'm positive the same ppl (upset by the art in the restaurant of a man holding a fish) advocate watching movies like Dominion... Perhaps some hormone impalance? Brains not quite working right. Or just new vegans with narrow minds.
Read moreAnyway, don't allow their judgement to get in the way of enjoying the vision this place has to share.
As for the restaurant, I love the altuism the owners here have. It's a similar albeit hip spin on Govinda's chain of restaurants. Instead of set prices you pay however much or however little you desire.
Don't be cheap, pay your own way.
Very happy with the quality of the produce used in the restaurant. Wonderful customer service for a place run by volunteers. Come here, try it & don't forget to smile.
Pros: All vegan, It's vegan. , Did I mention the food is vegan?
Cons: Attracts cheapskates, Some ppl come, pay very little & leave bad reviews, Not enough of this restaurant outside of Melbourne
BreakfastKlutz
You forgot to mention the aquaculture. I guess you didn't want any honesty in your review.
Read moreGuest
YohanⓋ
Points +6099
Fantastic concept - Edit
I give Lentil 5 stars because not only is it fully vegan, this institution helps sustain people with little or no money. The food menu is always changing and the flavours are quite good! I like the ambience and the staff, who are all volunteers.
Read morePros: All vegan , Charitable business, Nice food, place and staff.
Guest
Tofulicious
Points +1337
Hit and Miss - Edit
Yes it is primarily operated by volunteers, but - whatever you order - expect to receive something different (or, just when you’re waiting to see what the ‘lucky dip’ will present, you will receive *exactly* what you ordered that day - just to throw you!)
Read moreI would love to pay market rates to support this venue, however: chunks of dehydrated reconstituted soy protein in passata does NOT equal ‘Hungarian Goulash’; and a pile of boiled quinoa with half-a-dozen mixed leaves for garnish does NOT equate with ‘quinoa salad’! (potatoes in some sort of unidentifiable sauce is not ‘eggplant and red pepper curry’; cinnamon cake with strawberry topping is not ‘chocolate cake with caramel coconut sauce’....!!!)
If LAA expect (and promote that expectation) to receive market rates for their offerings, and avoid losing patrons to local establishments that serve exactly what is ordered (for an equivalent price), they will really need to lift their game.
Pros: vegan, affordable, funky decor, great community and environmental ethos
Cons: food quality and service hit-and-miss, dishes very rarely match their description
Guest
BreakfastKlutz
Points +12278
Unfortunate - Edit
March 2020: On our most recent visit we witnessed animal exploitation (aquaculture) and complete apathy towards the lives of animals via (what they called) "art": a photo of a fisherman holding up dead fish, in the dining area.
Read moreRepeated contact with Lentils confirmed an unfortunate truth, they still have little to no interest in equality.
Updated from previous review on 2019-03-12
Cons: only plant based
Guest
Tiggy
Points +13797
Quality food - Edit
I hadn’t been to Lentil in a long time and the Thornbury cafe has changed in a good way. There’s a store selling groceries now for a donation. From the menu that Sunday I ordered the Mexican beans and the lentil tomato and celery soup. Both of these were very good, and of the quality of many inner north cafes with a fixed-price menu. There were only a handful of choices but the standard was high.
Read morePros: All vegan, Decent standard of food, Great space
Guest
Pips
Points +1596
Cool place, vibe and good food - Edit
This place is cool and the vibe and food are great. All run by donations and volunteers. And the food is still great!!! Love this place!!!!!
Read moreGuest
Amanda Panda
Points +376
Well worth a visit - Edit
Really enjoyed my visit to this restaurant. Delicious food, friendly staff, wonderful artwork and decor and I greatly respect their humanitarian and environmental mission. We ordered the curry which was actually three different curries served with veggie rice, poppadom and vegan yoghurt as well as the apple cake with strawberry cream and syrup. All very tasty. We will definitely return.
Read morePros: Food + staff + decor, Ethos
Cons: None
Guest
robinthewanderer
Points +46
Favourite lentil - Edit
Vegan, pay-as-you-feel, community run, not for profit restaurant with lots of vegan options made from food that was saved from going to waste. Great concept and some of the tastiest food I’ve ever had!
Read morePros: 100% vegan , Really tasty food
Guest
DemianNomad
Points +275
One of the best restaurants in Melbourne - Edit
I love the idea of the Lentils. Super nice food, service and the paying method.
Read morePros: Food, Service, Place
Guest
EvieLonghurst
Points +168
An Oldie but a Goodie! - Edit
A staple haunt for many years and I’m pleased to see it’s still going strong. I’m a regular fan of the Buddha bowl and the daily dessert.
Read morePros: Great cause, Changing menu , Tasty and hearty dishes
Cons: Staff can be a little rushed but no big deal
Guest
PotatoesTho
Points +13574
Consistently very good - Edit
Today was the first visit in quite some time, but it's still difficult to fault this location. The menu is somewhat smaller and I'm not sure how often it changes, but the meals are of a very high standard and the service is quick and friendly. Always worth a visit when in the area.
Read more......
The standard of the fare is better than just about any restaurant in Melbourne; its easy to forget this is a pay as you feel establishment! Meals are also beautifully presented and served without delay. The space is expansive, spreading over several large rooms and the atmosphere is laid-back and friendly.
The servings are on the small size but this will give you a reason to try everything on the menu and wastage minimised. Great to share with a friend!
Updated from previous review on 2019-03-09
Pros: Excellent food, Friendly, efficient staff, Pleasant atmoshere
Guest
MadeleineSc
Points +528
Yum - Edit
Had a delicious vegan lasagne tonight.
Read moreGuest
megann389
Points +44
delicious and a great cause - Edit
healthy delicious options :)
Read moreGuest
czarnajulka
Points +485
the best - Edit
i love lentil as anything and the concept and atmosphere in general. no complaints. and they serve alcohol in the thornbury shop (not on donations).
Read moreGuest
isobelfaktor
Points +20
loved it - Edit
It's a great place with an awesome feel and yummy food
Read moreGuest
veganvirtues
Points +2834
LAA - Edit
First time here like in Sydney we came across many dishes off the menu (run out of). Left with one soup a brocolli, cauliflower and zuchinni was flavoursome but the veggies were in a puree state. Had a polenta salad and curried potatoes. Finished with a tapioca pudding and chocolate sponge cake. Overall was nice, staff very attentative, but menu was very limited. Got Happy Cow sticker.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2017-10-15
Pros: 100% plant based, Great service, Staff helpful
Cons: Many dishes unavailable
Guest
len1square8
Points +40
Great place. Amazing staff and atmosphere - Edit
Great vegan cafe / restaurant in a lovely location. We went for lunch mid week. Had trouble finding space for 5 of us it was so busy. On offer that day were a couple of different salads, 2 mains, rice, tortilla crisps and dessert. It was all vegan, fresh and delicious. Choice of teas and coffee all available with organic soy milk. Really friendly place. Lovely staff. Great atmosphere and a lovely concept. You pay on a "as you can afford" basis with the reccomended amount being just 15$. So if you pay more it allows other to pay a little less. Loved it! We came from France and will defo Be back on our next visit.
Read moreThanks
Pros: Vegan, Friendly, Inexpensive
Cons: Very busy (but that's good!!)
Guest
WeFewVeggies
Points +365
Best Lentil by far! - Edit
Dinner for 2 at Lentil?
Read more'Twas a pleasant experience, with table service, two choices of entree,main and desert......all brought to us by the charming Volunteers!!!
By far the better organised and best presented
Of all the lentils!
I will still eat at all the others pending where my travels take me, but Thornbury is definitely my "FLAVORite!"
Pros: table service, friendly staff, multiple eating areas to choose from
Cons: none, none, none
Guest
Bridiekate
Points +68
I love lentils! - Edit
Absolutely delicious food and impeccable service from all volunteers. Often small but quality portions. Please support lentils and donate generously. The meals here have only continued to improve and donations are needed for that to happen
Read moreGuest
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