Lentil as Anything
Lentil as Anything is a series of pay what you can, not for profit vegetarian restaurants in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, founded by Shanaka Fernando. There are currently five restaurants, the first of which opened in 2000 in St. Kilda and the largest being located in the former Abbotsford Convent. The most recent venue opened in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Newtown in 2014, and four other locations have opened and later closed in the franchise's history. Lentil as Anything is a multicultural and refugee friendly organisation.[1]
Live music, world music, films, and artworks are often performed and displayed at the restaurants, particularly at Abbotsford, where the restaurant has become a public meeting place with many patrons traveling from the inner north and east. Food is sourced from local organic food suppliers, prepared on site and often served in buffet style allowing guests to choose their own meals. There are also a small range of vegan and gluten free options with the exception of the Newtown location where everything is vegan. All locations also feature espresso coffee and some cakes. Lentil as Anything also offers a catering service and notably catered for the Green New Deal conference in Melbourne in 2009.
The restaurants wholly rely on the generosity of their patrons, volunteers and suppliers to operate, receiving no government or church funding. Patrons are asked to "pay what they feel" the meal, service and beverages are worth by contributing an amount of their choice into a box at the counter. The Abbotsford and St. Kilda locations initially faced large financial debt due to mismanagement and other factors, many of which have since been resolved. The introduction of week-round buffet at Abbotsford saw a significant boost in patronage during 2009.
In 2010, The Naked Lentil, a documentary on the restaurant and its founder Shanaka Fernando, was aired by SBS.
Locations
Current
- St. Kilda - Blessington Street, opened 2000
- Abbotsford - Abbotsford Convent, opened 2006
- Footscray - Barkly Street, opened 2009
- Preston - High Street, opened 2013
- Newtown (Sydney) - King St, opened 2014
Closed
- Brunswick - Sydney Road, opened 2000, closed 2008
- Collingwood - Collingwood College, opened 2008, closed 2011
- Lentil as Africa - Victoria Street, Brunswick, opened 2005, closed 2007
- Lentil at Fed Square - at Art Play, Birrarung Marr, opened 2007, closed 2009
See also
References
- ↑ Valent, Dani (October 16, 2006). "Lentil As Anything". The Age. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
External links
Coordinates: 37°52′13.37″S 144°58′51.64″E / 37.8703806°S 144.9810111°E