Lentil As Anything

It is pay as you like! They give you good recommendations as to what amount are appropriate. I had the lentil burger and it was fantastic! So many flavored! We sat at a table in the back corner with another couple and service is terrible, but you kind of feel like it’s part of the experience. Very laid back!

So many magical connections have come out of this wonderful community space. Treasure it, St. Kildans!

I have nothing but praises to sing for Lentil As Anything and its mission. A short walk from the St Kilda Pier, Lentil As Anything is a quaint, unassuming little restaurant that operates from donations on a «pay as you feel» basis — diners pay what they can afford, or pay what they believe the experience is worth.
The okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) was a delightful surprise! I’m normally indifferent towards the dish, but I was hankering for some as I was reminiscing about the okonomiyaki from my most recent trip to Hiroshima and Tokyo. It’s definitely not what I’m used to in terms of the toppings thrown into it, but the flavors from the sauces were there.
The chai latte was rather bland, but it was nicely presented. Maybe my taste buds aren’t quite developed to understand it, but I only recognized the taste of steamed milk and a very, very slight hint of spices.
The menu is quite limited, but their dishes are vegetarian/​vegan unless otherwise noted!

Perfect sunny lunch on terrace at Lentils As Anything! We have been very well welcomed and enjoyed a delicious mix of Indian dishes (lentil dahl, eggplants, rice, yoghurt), after spending 10 minutes not knowing which dish to have –because we obviously fancied everything on the menu-​.
We were so amazed to see the concept was actually working –being French, we were also wondering whether such an initiative would work in Paris… still haven’t settled our mind about that haha-​, the initiative is great and I’d be delighted to contribute to it once again if I ever go back to Melbourne!

The Lasagne. I feel like I don’t need to say anything else. Go there. Get the lasagne. This will equal happiness. Lentil is an amazing concept and I love to support what they are doing. Having volunteered at the Lentil in Abbotsford, I tend to give a little grace knowing the waitstaff are all volunteers. That said, I would really appreciate their coffee machine staying on a bit later as I’ve gone there wanting a chai only to be disappointed.
(You don’t have to get the lasagne, the Thali and Okonomiyaki are also delightful)

Yes, the Japanese pancakes are excellent and the place can get really packed. Service is slow, but the food is very tasty. Even though you probably end up subsidizing starving backpackers the food is worth your fair contribution.

If this type of «Pay As You Feel» dining exists in America, can someone please share the love and let me know? :)
+/​-​Food = Japanese pancakes were yummy while the pumpkin curry was bland. But it’s made with love from volunteers. And it’s all veg!
+ Donation Based = Restaurant works on an honor code and it works! For donating, there will be a wooden chest on the counter for that.
+ Community Dining = I came by myself, was seated outside, and ended up being joined by three others. Conversation flowed easily. Makes me wonder who came in alone vs who came with friend (s)!
If you’re in the area, I highly recommend checking out Lentils! Other locations include Abbotsford, Preston, Footscray (Melbourne), and Newtown (Sydney).

Absolutely blows me away that this establishment has multiple locations and works solely on the honour system and donations. Not sure if I can say that such concept could work back in Canada.
Excellent and nutritious meals, not to mention friendly staff. The drinks are of great quality too — the chai lattes and the regular lattes were very impressive (I don’t usually do dairy in my coffee but this was definitely a worthwhile exception).
I would love to come back and be able to contribute a whole lot more than I had when I visited back in April (having been travelling for a while I was very much on shoestring budget). I feel like we need more establishments like this back home!

I’m an absolute sucker for community outreach projects, and this, has to be one of the most beautiful ones I’ve ever seen!
Founded on the idea that you «pay what you feel is right,» this beautiful vegetarian restaurant serves up anything from veggie burgers, to curry plates, to Japanese pancakes. While the food may not be the best you’ve ever had, it’s undoubtedly made with love and the good energy of the staff and the people around you make this a truly unique and heart-​warming dining experience.
The «staff» are all volunteers and their passion for what they’re doing is clear. When the bill doesn’t arrive, simply mosey over the wooden treasure box and anonymously put in what you think your meal was worth.
Beautiful. Genius.
Wish we had one of these in Sydney!

I’ve wanted to eat at Lentil for a long time. After watching the series on SBS, Naked Lentil, I fell in love with the concept of paying what you feel is right. I needed to be part of this experiment.
We popped in for a late lunch on Saturday. I had the lentil burger. My partner went the potato burger. Not exactly burgers, either of them. More so, hardy sandwiches. Delicious and satisfying them both. Not bad coffee either.
Then came the moment of truth. What would we pay? We chatted about and deliberated over it for a bit and came to an amount – whatever loose notes we had in our wallets in fact, which would have been equivalent to the bill and a healthy tip elsewhere. We felt that them going out on a limb, as they do, ought to be rewarded. If it had of been tougher times for us, we may have done what the scheme allows. Perhaps the woman at the table across from us was in a tight spot and only put in what she could? Perhaps not. I like to think the philosophy averages out. Well I do hope so. Places like Lentil deserve to prosper.
++++ VEGAN FRIENDLINESS — Plenty of options.

What a wonderful and unique not-​for-​profit community establishment.
You won’t find a cash register in this small restaurant, but rather a wooden box placed on the counter where customers pay and donate what they feel the food is worth.
Although the interior is rundown and simple, the atmosphere and cause are a real standout.
People and volunteers that come to this restaurant add a certain vibrancy to it that can’t be matched anywhere else.
The menu consists of vegetarian options only, serving up lots of curries, rice and salads, but my favourite menu item happens to be the Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake).
It’s seriously a great place to go for a completely different style of dining, or if you’re struggling with your finances and need to feed yourself and your family.

Amazing idea. I love giving back to the community in this way. It feels real!
Food is far from the best vegetarian food I’ve had. A bit too simple for us.
All that said we did pay generously last time I was there, but then we left and went to Claypots for a Seafood Chili Stir fry (in my next review).

Tasty simple vegetarian food

One of my favorite places to eat in St. Kilda! the Chai Latte is amazing and all the food is super flavorful. Try the Japanese pancake. Great for someone on a budget although I always end up giving more then I planned since the food and service are impeccable.

Lentil As Anything serves up good quality, fresh, simple, vegetarian food, mostly with an Indian influence, but they do also have some Western options (like the veggie burger).
Though the food is very good, Lentil As Anything is more widely known for the fact that the food does not have a set price — it’s «pay what you feel».
Though I have heard their waiters say (when asked) that approximately $ 10 per meal is what is required to keep the business afloat, there really is very little pressure on patrons in terms of what to pay.
So it goes that, when rent was due a couple of years ago, I went to Lentil As Anything, with some friends and I left without paying any money (because I had none). Yes, I felt guilty at the time, but I went back and ate there the following week and paid more than double what I would normally pay. And I think that’s the vibe that they are trying to sculpt at Lentil As Anything. It’s a little bit hippy, and it relies on the idea that most people try to give more than they take in the world. That’s an idea that I don’t necessarily share… but I like it! And for that reason, I really love this place.

Lentil As Anything is one of those restaurants that even all my friends from the Peninsula have managed to hear about.
The concept of «paying what you feel» is quite the novelty to most. The vegetarian restaurant, located in St Kilda, Brunswick and now Footscray, is a unique, not for profit organisation that works by the «pay as you feel» philosophy.
The restaurant’s unique financial model functions independent of any government funding and relies on the generosity of the customers in order to pay for rent, utilities, wages and stock. Lucky the food that is served up is delicious. With an ever changing menu of curries, soups, stews, savoury pancakes, pastas, frittatas and salads, you’ll always find a satisfying feed, worthy of your money.
Lentil not only provides great food but a place for the unemployed, new migrants, refugees, and people with disabilities to gain skills, confidence and receive assistance. Truly a great place that leaves you feeling contented for a whole list of reasons.
One of the main struggles a business like this has is obviously the hordes of people taking advantage of the flexible payment scheme — so c’mon guys, don’t be stingy.

I love the idea of Lentil As Anything. Beautiful vegetarian food at whatever price you desire. To allow your customers to determine how much they’re going to pay, you have to be pretty confident in the quality of your food. Relying entirely on the kindness of the strangers is a brave concept. However, the food is just so good here that I always end up paying far more than I’d intended. Every single time. I only hope that I’m not alone in doing this because these guys really deserve it. The largely asian inspired menu is so well done that I’ve yet to have any complaints whatsoever. The perfect spot for when you’re on a bit of a budget, Lentil As Anything is a truly great restaurant.

I’ve always been drawn to this idea of «pay as you feel», where I’m a huge fan of the Lentil As Anything at the Abbotsford Convent. There are four in Melbourne where the St. Kilda restaurant is quite small and intimate in comparison. The philosophy of this restaurant is so strong that it’s hard not to support the idea and pay what you think is right.
I’ve always loved the food, even though its all vegetarian and vegan, it tastes amazing. Sorry meat addicts, but it might not be up your alley. I would recommend it highly though, as it is a high quality and quantity meal. Go with an empty stomach to make sure you can fit it all in! The staff there are completely «at one» with the philosophy of the restaurant and it’s clear their heart is in the right place.
A very pleasurable experience and totally trendy as you are two seconds from Acland St where a beer after completes the evening.

These guys are good. No really, they are very good people. Just go onto their website and read the philosophy. After you have eaten the ever changing selection of vegetarian delights you pay what you feel the food is worth. I once worked with a chef that worked there and she told me that if the business makes a profit that night they get paid but if they don’t do well they don’t get paid. Sounds strange, but why should society function the way that we see every day? Why can’t people change things up a little bit every now and again? Lentil as Anything proves that one eatery can make a difference.