Smith & Daughters

Best vegetarian Mexican restaurant ever! Ok, so vegetarian Mexican food don’t come up often or ever, but this place is fantastic. We ordered quite a few dishes and sat at the bar on a busy Friday night with no reservations. On the top of the list was the nachos. It was made with jackfruit that looked like pulled pork and cheesy sauce was poured on top with guacamole. The other top rated item was the mushrooms. They had a really nice thick brown gravy and my only complaint was I didn’t get enough bread to eat the gravy. The mushrooms were good, but elevated by the gravy. The cocktails were very good too and they made us a passion fruit pistachio mezcal that was not only delicious, but was very original.
We ordered some other items that were also good so make sure you try the other items. I never missed the meat and I was perfectly happy with the food.
They also server brunch on Saturday and Sunday until 5:00 PM. I will be back to try their brunch!
Thanks Smith & Daughters and keep up the good work!

Pure Vegan heaven.
The dishes are generous. The Nachos are huge so prepare to share. Everything we tried was spot on, really. Even the cocktails we had were awesome. Service is prompt and friendly. Love the place.

I’m visiting Melbourne for work; I’m from the San Francisco Bay Area, and my wife is vegetarian, so I am familiar with good vegetarian and vegan food options. Although I primarily eat meat, I have made it a point to stop in to Smith & Daughters on every trip I have made here.
A favorite for me is the breakfast burrito, but I also enjoy the potato hash. They use sauces to great effect, giving an impression of butteriness and creaminess that makes the moderate portions rich and extremely filling.
I enjoy the cocktails, as well!

Each time I come back to Smith & Daughters I am reminded why it has been months since I stepped into the over-​hyped king of vegan eats. What was once filled with creative flair now feels like run of the mill, in and out service with food that is good, not great. Seems their new Deli is draining the soul of this place because the difference in quality between the two is vast. Would never avoid, but for the price I expect a little more.

Celebrated my birthday here last week and thoroughly recommend. For a meat eater, the food is divine. Had the croquettes and grilled asparagus which were delicious. My surprise «birthday cake» was a slice of the most delicious cake which tasted of pineapple. Staff were very attentive and very accommodating — moving us to the large table when it became available making our night so much more enjoyable. Going to the jazz club next door afterwards topped off a perfect night! Will definitely go back.

I really enjoyed my time here at Smith and Daughters. The décor is cool and quirky, the staff were really nice and helpful and they seem to enjoy working there as much as I enjoyed eating there!
I will definitely revisit this place, there are so many great dishes to try, all with their own twist on classic Mexican food.
My tip is to bring a meat eater here and not tell them it’s vegan, I’m sure they will love it!

Let it be known you will not go hungry here!
Most people think that by being vegetarian or vegan that somehow vegetables could never fill you up. Smith & Daughters proves this wrong.
I ordered way too much and ended up taking some home.
The menu consists of sharing plates, tapas style and salads (couldn’t even look at the desserts) my guest and I shared the Mexican soup, leek & kale bake, paella fritters and cauliflower salad. Flavours were good although the bake had quite a bit of salt in there.
Only downside the service seemed really rushed and you can only book for 90 mins, but this was a Saturday night so have to expect that.
Will be back if only to order less and enjoy dessert!

It’s quite difficult to make a menu decision regret here, as everything is pretty impressive. I can easily see this as the setting for the reality show «fool me once!» Notable positives to take form this restaurant are, certain dishes which evoke mixed or ambiguous feeling towards are totally fine here. I.e. Pâté which can be a bit too much to burden at times, or quiche/​fritata/​omelet which are very easily adverse to being unpalatable are delicious here. So too, are the fried paella fritters.
Standout dishes are the rocket and artichoke salad as well as their take on potatas bravas, or great potato diving range. You’ll see what I mean if you order it. It’s freakin huge. Being of Spanish influence the menu has quite a great range of diversity. But best of all, knowing that most alcohol is already vegan, it’s a winner here. discounting wine fined with dairy or fish and most beers. Spirits are totally fine however. Hot sauces on all the tables– WIN. Great for sharing/​degustation style meals, replete with conversation and a great flow of dishes arriving at the table as they’re cooked. Quite good and service from über hipster/​Dark Rock/​glam/​Rockabilly/​Grunge chic/​Alternative staff– in dress and presentation.

Believe all the hype, this place is really very good.
The space is eclectically decorated with a few large share tables and quite a few smaller tables for 2 or 4 people.
The food menu has a reasonable number of share dishes plus some great salads, a yummy Mexican soup, a few desserts and an extensive drinks menu with loads of cocktails and some interesting juices and teas.
Our stand out dishes were the Championnes; butter mushrooms in a Spanish sherry (PX) reduction; quite rich but absolutely divine, and the Artichoke and Chick Pea salad which was crunchy and fresh.
The restaurant was full on a Thursday night, we booked 2 weeks ahead to make sure we could choose our time slot, so I highly recommend booking ahead.
The food is all Vegan, but I think our carnivorous friends would enjoy it too.
Definitely worth the drive across the bridge.

Wow! Fantastic service, friendly staff and fresh flavoursome food. Busy, busy for a Tuesday night and somewhat noisy. But don’t let that dissuade you from a visit. Fresh vegan Mexican inspired food. Great use of spices, food delivered promptly and a menu to suit the neighbourhood crowd. Will be back.

So I am not a vegan, but I really wanted to try the food at Smith & Daughters as I had heard many great experiences. My group ended up getting a broad selection of items from the menu to share — which I highly recommend as the way to go. Have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by the taste and quality of the food. Would definitely go back again to try more of the menu. The garlic tofu prawns, lentil sausage and mushrooms I would add to your order. If your up for trying something different do give Smith & Daughters a go.

Smith & Daughters officially has a special place in my heart! I must admit when I was invited to a friends birthday dinner there I wasn’t that keen, as other Mexican places have disappointed me in the past, I wasn’t sure how a Vegan Mexican establishment was quite going to work. Not only did it work, it just blew my mind!
Being that we were in a large group, didn’t know one another and most of us were meat eaters, we had no idea who, what, when, where and why when it came to the menu and how we were going to order. So the absolutely fabulous and incredibly attentive staff swept in and saved the day! They just kinda got a gauge for what we were willing to pay per head, in this case it was $ 40 and she said, leave it to me I’ll bring you three courses to share!
Not only was this a relief, but it broke the ice, got us talking to the strangers sitting around us. The food was mouth watering. I can’t stop thinking about it. I want to go back alone and write down exactly what I get so I can try making it at home. We had «cheese» dips, «prawns,» fried stuff, salad with «Mayo,» the best mushrooms I’ve ever had, potatoes, breads in many forms, crispy things, avocado ice cream, piña colada cheese cake and many more!
Honestly, I don’t remember ever eating like that before. For the amount of food we got for what we paid was phenomenal. You know when you eat a lot you feel kinda sick and awful? Yeah, well we all agreed we didn’t have that here– plus everyone was just as greedy as I was!
Anyway, scrumptious food– really showed me Mexican can be delicious! Oh and that I should let Vegan change my view of a restaurant. The vibe of S&D is second to none. The bar is awesome. The staff know their staff and are so happy to help. I am in looooove!

I understand it’s a hip place with cool décor. However, $ 15 for a tiny cup of guacamole that’s probably used half of avocado with no flavor (we add so much salt n paper that we could’ve made this at home for less than 5 dollars) with «fresh chips» that’s just super greasy and in broken tiny pieces and terrible shapes. I don’t know what’s up with ppl here! Seriously… Such a joke!

Remember the movie ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ that had those magical gold tickets hidden in chocolate bars that afforded the lucky holder entry into the wonders of Willy Wonka’s factory, well… very similar to this experience was the joy of holding a ticket to Smith & Daughters «Fiesta De Cinco Rondas» evening — their collaboration with Tequila Tromba as part* of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival this year.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about my excitement at getting a ticket to this event is that I am not really a fan of alcohol in food, but you know, where S&D is EVER involved, well… resistance is futile… deliciously futile. Five rounds of amazing vegan food and cocktail combinations later, and, again approaching vegan piñata status, I am happy to report that S&D remain a bright and shining star in the Melbourne restaurant sky, for vegan or non-​vegan patrons alike.
With scrumptious fresh food combinations including prawn tacos (amazing combination of flavours & textures), fiesta calamari (perfection), paella (shared among the table, just as god intended), passionfruit lime tart (need I say more) and ice cream sandwich (amazing!!!), complemented perfectly by cocktails including frozen jala-​pina, smokey hibiscus iced tea, sangringo, coconut cheescake margarita, and anejo cacao old fashioned, the three hour food-​fest flew by in what felt like minutes. The sheer logistics of presenting approximately 60 dishes simultaneously to the packed restaurant is testament to the quality of this place, and the energy and friendliness of staff did not waver for the entirety of the event, with an explanation of each dish and cocktail presented provided with each course. The evening was a celebration of food (specifically vegan) & drink (specifically tequila), and it was truly enjoyable to watch strangers sitting around our table turning into friends as the night progressed — magical place this!
Hard to believe this restaurant has only been open for a year (this coming Saturday — congrats to them). The energy and congeniality of staff, including the co-​owners who are very much hands on in every aspect of running S&D, combined with magnificent quality of food ensures this restaurant will long have a place in my heart (& stomach). Jump on board the S&D train if you have not already had the gastronomic pleasure — you will not be disappointed!
* the BEST part some people^^ might argue
^^ some being this people

This is really good place for vegans and all people! Healthy and delicious~ I love Smith&Daughters! I’m big fan of them! Yummy~~~~~~

Breakfast Burrito. That’s all you need to know before you visit Smith & Daughters for brunch on a weekend. Sure, you can get a Bloody Mary, fresh juice or coffee (go black unless you’re down with non-​dairy milk) depending on your level of tiredness/​hangover but the thing you want to eat is the burrito.
It’s one of the tastiest things to eat for breakfast and amazingly they make it with not a single animal product. My favourite +1 couldn’t believe that something so tasty didn’t include bacon!
There’s other options of course, and in the evening it’s more tapas style, but my favourite time to visit is on the weekend for brunch. The staff are warm and friendly and the vibe is always relaxed. Bring your newspaper and bestie and enjoy some healthy (ish) cuisine with a giant pitcher of freshly squeezed juice.

Can’t remember if i have already reviewed this place. Even if i have, it deserves another. I cannot recommend this place more highly. As a vegan i was super excited to hear that Smith and Daughters was opening up. It is perfectly positioned on Brunswick street, surrounded by other great vegan establishments. I love that fact that although it is a vegan restaurant, its not advertised as such. It is a restaurant that just happens to serve only vegan food. Vegans and meat eaters alike will love this place. The food is well thought out and the flavours are just amazing. I’ve been lucky enough to eat here a few times for both brunch and dinner and if i could i’d eat here every day. They do an amazing mexican and spanish omelette for breakfast as well as one of my fav’s the breakfast burrito. Also you can’t go past the green juice!
For dinner, they have just changed their menu to be more little meals and share plates, but you can’t go past the pea and tuna croquettes. They are delicious and its hard to believe its not real tuna.
Aside from the food, the venue itself is amazing. A lot of thought are care has gone into the décor. I love all the knick knacks and cute little salt and pepper shakers adorning each table.
Lastly, you can’t go past the staff. They are great. Always friendly, helpful and quick. This is my new favourite restaurant in Melbourne! Check it out!

Not sure how to describe the artistic slant of this place. There was a back feature wall which I didn’t look into much detail until I saw this window sill full of crosses and Marys. The back wall was full of frames and pictures that are probably tied closely to Latin America; religion and art.
It’s wooden tables and classic water jugs makes you feel like you are in the old school Latin America. We had a delicious French toast with quince fruit… yummy! A glass of wine to top it off.
They seem to have an colourful and extensive bar too! Worth a visit!

Being a quasi-​vegetarian (read: pretend), I’m usually pretty clued in to who does vegetarian and how well. So, on a recent visit to Smith and Daughters, I was just dumbfounded when, halfway through reading the menu filled with deliciousness (read: meat) my friend casually mentioned that everything was vegan. how did I not know this? I had specifically looked up the menu beforehand and it hadn’t even registered. And, in that instant, I realized that Smith and Daughters is amazing Because It’s Vegan Without Making A Big Deal About It. at last.
Now, when I say I’m a quasi-​vegetarian, that just means that I’m lazy, and socially-​inclined. So, I won’t refuse meat at a dinner party and I also hate having to order the one veggie pasta at a nice restaurant, so I usually won’t. Smith and Daughters makes eating ethically easy and just plain lovely. The food is amazing. Some of the best Mexican food in Melbourne, plus it’s vegan! I recommend the Tacos En Salada (sp?), though it’s all a treat. Plus, there’s a great drink selection (everything from $ 5 cans of beer to work-​of-​art $ 20 cocktails). Go, now. But be sure to book a table.

Needing a semi rushed dinner before a talk we decided to try out Smith & Daughters. Knowing they had opened only a week before I decided to book a table and it was lucky I did. Arriving at 6 the place looked empty but they told me that they were fully booked for the night. (The place was fully packed by mid meal)
Upon first looking at the menu I was slightly confused as words such as tuna and chorizo popped out… But my dining companion had already asked and it was certainly all vegan. I must admit normally I don’t like faux meat. What’s the point of eating something that resembles meat?! But after this meal I will never say a bad word about it again.
We ordered the tamales, patatas bravas with chorizo, tuna and pea croquettes, and the chillies rellenos. The tuna and pea croquettes were the standout. Absolutely divine! I’m still thinking about them 3 hours post meal. Unfortunately we were in a rush so didn’t get to order desert. But there’ll definitely be another dinner booked there soon.
Easily the best meat free meal on Brunswick St!