Lentil as Anything

Lentil As Anything Inc. (Lentil) is a group of pay as you feel, not for profit vegetarian and vegan Australian restaurants founded by Shanaka Fernando. Restaurants are located in Melbourne and Sydney and operate on a similar model to pay what you can. Lentil is named after the Australian new wave band Mental As Anything.

Lentil is a multicultural, refugee-friendly, organisation and was registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission in 2000 . There are currently four Lentil locations, the first of which opened in 2000 in St. Kilda and the largest being located at the former Abbotsford Convent. The most recent restaurant opened in the Melbourne suburb of Thornbury in 2015, and seven other locations have opened and later closed in the group's history.

Live music, world music, films, and artworks are often performed and displayed at the restaurants, particularly at Abbotsford and Thornbury, where the restaurants have become public meeting places with many patrons travelling from the 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 is also a large range of vegan and gluten-free options with the exception of the Newtown and Thornbury locations 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.

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