Our first experience (and last) was far from satisfactory, whilst waiting to be noticed (for a table) the waitress attended to others who had moved passed us. She then looked around for a table, saying we should return in about 10 min to be able to be seated, we asked if this was a certinty as we wished to know where we stood, We were told that they do not hold tables, so we asked for a more specific time to return, she replied 5-10 min. So we then waited outside, after only 2 min others went in and were immeadiately seated, we then entered and asked is there was a chance of a table. She replied that there were still no tabels available, we refered to the people that she had just seated, her reply being, I’m not arguing and don’t want to serve you. Thin appeared that they had a selective seating policy and outsiders were not welcome!

It should be made clear that this event was experienced at the St Kilda restaurant.

Check out Lentil As Africa!
328 Victoria st Brunswick

Weve been open 3 months, its been hard work but well worth it!
Due to the overwhelming crowd at the spot Lentils we opened up this new project in a cosy pocket just round the corner on Victoria st.
Same staff same philosophy,
The menu is all African, Injera bread served with African Curry and rice cooked by The Horn Of Africa Womens Group.
Art exhibitions, open mic wednesdays, Live bands every Thursday night and vegetarian brekky organic fare trade coffee on weekends.

We are still a baby buisness come and support as and be part of the fun!
Were open 6pm every night of the week and 10am all day veg brekky on weekends only.

I have been to the St Kilda one twice, and on both occasions found it very underwhelming. Seating was cramped and half the menu was unavailable. Food my friend requested as vegan came covered with dairy. Also the waiter would glare at and act very icy towards people who he must have felt did not pay enough. The food was tasty, but because of these other issues, not worth it.

I’ve been to both LAAs and love them both muchly! I’m going to the Sydney road one tomorrow night actually & really looking forward to it. Sure you may have to wait for a table for a little longer than you would in other places, but the food is well worth the wait!!! Delish!

I went to the one in the convent grounds next to the collingwood childrens farm, the food was great (tho not at take away speeds), atmosphere relaxed and cosy with a small spot for young kids. Great location too, and on a warm day the outdoor seating would be brilliant.

Both our kids (13 and 1 y.o.) love the LAA at the Convent - and we’re pretty fond of it too. It’s not the place for slick presentation and oh-so-cool hanging out - but it’s shambolic, comfy and the food (depending on your taste) ranges from OK to really rather good! The venue is fantastic. The folks there seem to look away as you approach the magic box with money in hand, so don’t be shy

Went to the St Kilda restaurant not too long ago for the first time. All four of us tried a different main meal, and sampled around a bit - everything was delicious! I had the Japanese pancake. The sauce on top of it was sooo good, too bad I can’t remember what it was called. But I’m going back tonight, so I’ll get a refresher!! :o) Anyway, highly recommended.

We visited the Brunswick Restaurant when it had just opened. Being a long standing veggie, I was really enthused to have a restaurant like this open nearby.

What a huge disappointment.

Service was terrible, food was ok, but not great, and the hygiene was terrible, cigarette smoke throughout the place (despite laws to the contrary) and we watched one of the cooks happily rolling cigarettes halfway through food preparation, no hand washing, no nothing.

We were very disappointed. Would never go back or recommend it. Far to many DECENT veggie restaurants in Melbourne.

The one in The Spot lost my business forever the night I ate there with a friend, only for my friend to have her bag stolen by the girls sitting at the table behind us. Having stolen her bag,they then proceeded to rack up over $100 on her credit card at the local bottle shop (as a phone call to the bank later proved) before discarding the bag, minus her phone, iPod and cash. While all this was happening, we asked the staff for any help - if we could use their phone to call the cops, bank, that sort of thing. Not only were they completely unwilling to help, they were very rude about it and didn’t seem in the slightest bit concerned that a theft had just occurred at their establishment.

Given the “pay whatever you feel the meal was worth” policy and the appalling treatment we experienced from fellow customers and staff, - as well as the pretty average food (under cooked, bland; rice that tasted and felt like day-old, reheated leftovers) - we decided it wasn’t worth anything. But considering that the whole dinner ended up costing my friend over $100, a mobile and an iPod, as well as the stress of spending the next two hours on the phone to the cops, the banks etc, I think we ended up paying way too much…

I agree with Ben (above) 100%. Will never go back and will never recommend Lentil As Anything (Brunswick or St Kilda) to anybody. Much, much better places to eat.

I have eaten at both the St. Kilda and Brunswick Lentil As Anything. I enjoyed the Brunswick one but not so much the St. Kilda one. At St. Kilda there were no seats and people were sitting outside on the foot path with picnic blankets and we sat in our car which was parked directly outside! Crazy but interesting! I love the concept of the restaurant, the food is great and I am not even a vegetarian!!

[…]  Shanaka Fernando, founder of the Lentil as Anything restaurants received the award for his successful, socially inclusive restaurant concept, where there are no prices on the menu and people pay what they can or what they think the meal is worth. […]

I visited the St Kilda one a while back and it was not a pleasant experience. There were little poems displayed at each table…what I gathered from it was that they were telling customers that paying $5 per person was not enough. Fair enough, but I came in with the impression that we could pay whatever we felt like. It immediately made me feel uncomfortable.

At the end, my companion went up to the cash register to pay (we didn’t notice an honesty box…?) and the waitress seemed to express displeasure (she gave a grimace) at what we had decided to pay - $20 for 2 mains and a lassi. We both left feeling positively awful after that experience.

That said, the food was good (took ages to arrive though) and tonight, I’ve decided to give it another try and will be visiting the Brunswick one.

I have frequented the St Kilda LAA many many times and sure, sometimes there are dramas with certain characters who turn up, and sometimes the staff are not perfect (esp when it comes to seating) but we must remember that this place is run mostly by volunteers. Some of the staff can be a bit crazy but that adds to the experience! If you want to have perfect service, go somewhere else. The idea is to support such grassroots establishments and enjoy the food. I’m sorry some of you have had bad experiences but don’t let that deter you.

As for the paying issue.. I think that if you eat a big meal (which is mostly organic) and also spend a large amount of time there taking up table space, plus if you are obviously not one of the less fortunate who sometimes come to the place and use a barter system, you DESERVE to be scowled at by the wait staff. (Altho Stef, I think what you paid is totally reasonable).

A lot of people take advantage of the place’s concept, I have seen it myself. Private school kids paying $1 for their huge meal, for example. OF COURSE they have to put a reminder that $5 is not enough, seeing as they also have running costs and barely make rent most months. And most Melburnians can afford to pay a reasonable price, not to mention those of you who have access to a computer and have put comments up here.

I am not a fan of the Brunswick LAA at all and would not go back there anytime soon. The staff are not as good, it’s not a very clean place and it being next to a bar brings a negative vibe to it all. The food is also subpar in comparison to St Kilda.

I hope that despite problems, everyone here will still try to support them. Some days things are good, other days things are not so good, I’ve seen it all basically! This includes the food. But more good than bad overall.

[…] in Melbourne, we have a restaurant, ‘Lentil as Anything’ that uses an honesty system when it comes to their pricing, […]

It has been really interesting to read all the comments about LAA. I have eaten at the Convent many times and think it’s just great, the relaxed atmosphere and the food. The waiting staff are not slick however they are mostly new arrivals to Australia and getting an opportunity to work and train in the industry. I also ate at the little kiosk set up at Birrarungmar (sp?) and the food was brilliant. I personally love the idea of it and really do pay what I can at the time, sometimes more and sometimes less. I think many of the issues expressed above reflect the complexities of our society where we love to get something for nothing and are very competitive and materialistic. I have seen people eating a lot and paying little and feel annoyed about it but think well Shanaka Fernando set up the cafes to be about something other than money and he doesn’t talk about it in his interviews generally so maybe we can all learn from this?

I def dont think $5 is enough- esp if u get a drink! I have heard from a convent lentil chef $7 is about break even price- dep on what u order… Staff have had to take many wage cuts because the lentils cat offord to pay ( rising) debts and wages.
The philiosophy is pay what you think its worth - not what you want to pay- where else can you get a table service meal for under- well 15$ in most places ( and harrie krisna doesnt count)

LEntil convent is a charity for refugees not for the customers.. but they always seem to need helpers… $5 a meal does not leave any remainder for the good work they are trying to do..
If some thing is wrong leave note in the box about it- and sugest a remedy.

Ive been to the St Kilda LAA and the Brunswick LAA. I’ve enjoyed them both. Friendly srevice, the best food! I’m fonder of the Brunswick one, tho. Just a little more spread out, I think. Even so, I would recommend them happily to all. Love it, and I go back often.