I came here with some friends on night. One of them has been here before and she really liked it,…read moreso I was excited to try out this mock meat restaurant. For 8 people, we ordered 6 banquets and one additional main dish and wow, there was a lot of food! Some of the "meat" dishes was more convincing than others. (I really liked the duck. The beef was a good attempt.) But more importantly, the sauces and spices were balanced very well with the mock meat, so each dish was great. None of them made you feel "here is a failed attempt at mock meat that tastes terrible" because even the not-as-convincing dishes tasted great. The menu can be quite entertaining, because most of the plate names don't have the word "mock" in them. So as I read something like "sizzling beef," I thought "I'm vegetarian, so I can't order this," and then I realized "oh, this is actually sizzling mock beef!" I wonder if it would be possible to bring a friend into the restaurant and trick him/her into thinking it was all real meat!

Every so often you come across a restaurant that will keep on dragging you back, it's cheap, it's…read moreeasy, the food is fantastic... Enlightened Cuisine is one of those restaurants. Sort of. Though maybe not for the right reasons. As a vegetarian living in Southbank I have eaten here a number of times and have always found the food to be rather hit and miss. Sometimes everything will be fantastic and other times you will leave the restaurant with the sneaking suspicion that you've just wasted your money. While not overly expensive, Enlightened still isn't exactly cheap for the quality of the food that you're getting - you're going to struggle to find a main on the menu for under $20 and some meals really feel like they should be priced in the 12-15 dollar range. Don't get me wrong - I have eaten here may times and enjoyed myself - the beef with black bean sauce is excellent and the chicken with satay is definitely a worth a try, but the good meals can be let down by others which don't quite match up. The vegetable and oyster sauce for instance comes accross as rather bland and oily and there are a number of dishes where the msg tickles at the back of your throat just a little too much. My advice is to turn up with a few people and order a number of different dishes and share them so that you can find out what you do like and what you don't - the menu is rather expansive so it may take you a number of visits to find something that you really like - once you do however you will probably end up coming back. After all there aren't that many mock meat places in the area to choose from, decent or other wise.

The Vegan Collective is a new food stall that's part of the Queen Victoria Winter Night Markets…read moreevery Wednesday night. It's great to have a 100% vegan option at the Queen Vic night markets, which for years have been very heavy on the meat. Not to mention, the food here is YUM. Right now they have 5 things on the menu, all vegan: - Middle Eastern Open Wrap - Japanese Udon Noodles - Yellow Lentil and Coconut Curry - Laksa Noodle Soup - Sesame Crusted Tofu I've had the Middle Eastern Open Wrap and the Laksa Noodle Soup. My friend had the Yellow Lentil and Coconut Curry. All very tasty. The Middle Eastern Open Wrap was my favourite -- it's probably one of the best falafel wraps I've had in a long time, and it seemed like a real step up from the junky kind you get at kebab shops. This one actually tasted somewhat "gourmet," if you know what I mean. Real thought was put into the flavours and the sauce, which was delicious. The laksa was OK -- a bit messy to eat if you can't find a seat and you have to stand around awkwardly holding the bowl in one hand and trying to navigate with your chopsticks/spoon in the other. (I'm bad with chopsticks anyway and nearly stabbed myself in the eye at one point.) This food stall is located next to the Sri Lankan food stall, away from the main row of food stalls, so you kinda have to hunt for it. It's further south than the main row of food stalls, if that makes sense -- kind of in the middle of the building, with more of the non-food stuff. On the plus side, that means the queue is much shorter than at other food stalls! Prices are right in line with every other food stall at the Queen Vic Night Market -- i.e., a couple of dollars overpriced, but you're paying for the atmosphere of the place. Really great food stall. I'll be back.

Their service and staff are perfect and very hospitable and friendly. Their menu has only few item…read morebut they are all vegetarian and all are very tasty and yummy.

Supercharger's OK…read more I love that it's vegan and healthy, and it's definitely fresh and nutritious and packs in a LOT of food that's excellent for your body. It's especially awesome that you can get something vegan and healthy in a food court setting! I'm a vegan and it's super-awesomely-great that I don't have to settle for french fries and/or a boring falafel wrap when I meet friends here for lunch. But something about the flavour profiles here don't sit quite right with me. I don't know what it is. For a long time, I would come here and order the "make your own" types of bowls, where you pick and choose what you want, and no matter what combination I chose, I always chose something that tasted a bit weird when put together. Not BAD, mind you, just weird. I always dismissed it by telling myself: "Self, you are no gourmand. Your idea of 'gourmand' is actually eating out instead of blitzing the crap out of something in the microwave at home. So it's not Supercharger -- it's you. You just chose the wrong combinations and they just taste funny TOGETHER." However, lately I've been getting the "pre-set" Supercharger meals rather than designing my own, and they STILL taste a bit funny. I don't know what it is. I'm not crazy about all the tahini sauce -- tahini is a little too bitter for my liking. The curry seemed to have a strange combination of spices -- it was mild, but the spices just didn't taste right all mixed together. I ended up throwing half of it out -- and I hate hate hate wasting food! The cauliflower seemed sad and limp and flavourless. The rice and quinoa bowl, however, was delicious, with very fresh-tasting carrots, corn, etc. Maybe I'm still just not ordering the right things? I don't know but I've eaten here easily 6-8 times and really only enjoyed about half of what I ate, tolerated another 40% of what I ate, and flat-out hated 10% of what I ate. As far as price goes, it's moderately expensive but come on, you're at the Emporium food court where people are dropping serious money on handbags and clothes and shoes so I don't blame Supercharger for superovercharging. On the plus side, you do get a lot of food. I'm quite full every time I eat here. The concept of a fresh, nutritious, plant-based eatery in a food court is AWESOME, so two thumbs up for Supercharger. But the flavours just aren't really my speed and it would be great if they put some effort into improving them -- then they'd get 5 stars from me!

I'm a girl who loves options and Supercharger's got so many of them to choose from. To create your…read morevegan dream bowl you select a base (I opted for mashed potato and brown rice because, hello, carbs!) and add toppings (green pea smash, broccoli, mushrooms, coconut sauce, daikon and garlic). Soup's also an option (it comes in a separate bowl). I won't complain about the prices because I happen to think Australia's just generally quite pricey so $20 for a bowl of plant-based goodness isn't that crazy. However, the ordering process can surely be improved. Invest in some iPads, do something - anything! - but persist with the current system of paper sheets with so many options laid out in a non-intuitive manner (that require someone to erase them after use). Supercharger, please consider setting up shop in San Francisco! Your vegan, plant-filled bowls are just what the city needs!

As a first-timer in Australia, I have been constantly amazed by the level of quality cuisine…read moreoffered in every neighborhood pub I've visited - but, Green Man's Arms stands within a class of its own. My partner and I stopped in for a quick pint and a snack, and little did I know that an Heirloom Tomato salad would change my life forever. Sure, you may be laughing by this point - but, this pub deserves a Michelin star or two, and a 3rd for offering an entirely vegetarian/vegan menu. The bartenders are welcoming and attentive, and the ambiance is equally welcoming and laidback. As soon as I return to Melbourne, this pub will be one of my first stops!

This place has certainly changed quite a bit over the years. In fact I still remember when it was…read morebasically an old man pub, but that is no longer the case. Then again a lot of the old man pubs have silently gone the way of the Dodo over the years. These days it is much more like a restaurant, though you can still come here and simply have a beer. As for beers, well, they do have a pretty decent selection available as well, and the place is also quite relaxing. I didn't mind it at all.

This has to be the best vegetarian fare in Australia. Reminds me so much of a yoga retreat I went…read moreon a few years back. Perfectly balanced curries combine with fresh salsa with important items like chick peas and quinoa. Top it with tahini dressing and down with mango lassi (the best I have ever had). A perfect meal! And then there is cake.....

Great value for money at this place, which is run by Hare Krishnas and is completely vegetarian…read more(with heaps of clearly-labelled vegan options). It's located up a staircase on Swanston Street. Look for the white sign that says "Vegan Vegetarian" and the stairs that seem (oddly enough) to lead straight to a men's restroom and you've found it, ha! They have salads, curries, a few sides like samosas and pies, a couple of desserts, and three drink options. You can load up on rice, 2 curries and 2 salads for only $9.50. Or you can do the Vegan Platter, which is what I did -- rice, 2 curries, 2 salads, dessert, and drink for $11.95. Throw in a soup for $12.95 (the "Feast Plate.") Or you can just pick and choose which curries or salads you want from the display case, although this isn't as good a value for your money as the platters because each salad and curry is $4.50, which adds up fast. The food here is good but not great. Their hot food is way better than their salads, which are bland and uninspired. But the curries are hearty and warming and flavourful. I got the vegetable kofta ball (amazing) and the kidney bean curry (yummy) with the cold chickpea salad (boring) and the beetroot salad (meh). You can choose your dressing on the salads -- two of three are vegan. I got the tahini and it wasn't a very nice tahini. But the nice flavours of the hot food, dessert, and drink made up for it. They have 1 vegan dessert -- when I was there it was a date, raisin, and cashew halwa -- delicious! For the drink I chose the lemon and mint, which was light, sweet, and refreshing. Other places similar to this are Crossways (close by) and the Om Vegetarian locations (there are four). All are Hare Krishna vegetarian places with cheap, tasty food. I find Gopal's to be the one with the nicer, sleeker atmosphere, with its trendy hanging light bulbs and dim lighting and white walls, whereas the Om Vegetarians and Crossways are more into fluourescent lighting and brightly painted walls, giving off more of a "cheap and cheerful and maybe a little dirty" vibe. The food choices are also more varied at Gopal's. All of these places are great value for money, but if you're dining with more of a pickier friend, I'd probably say choose Gopal's.

A local institution, I found this place nice in atmosphere, appealing in its food offerings, and…read moreyet a bit too costly. I didn't mind it as a vacation splurge, but if I lived here I'd have to limit my visits. That being said, that was a fantastic laksa; sweet and lemongrass flavored with a wonderful array of toppings and inclusions, notably tempeh and some very thin sliced mushrooms. A rounded, satisfying meal to be sure. It came mild, but they offered me some sort of chilli sauce; it was delicious with or without. I would have been happy to explore the rest of their offerings.

I've been to Shakahari (and Shakahari Too in South Melbourne) maybe 5-6 times over the past few…read moreyears and was always a little bit disappointed. The taste and quality of the food just never really seemed to jibe with the price, which is on the slightly higher end for the portion sizes. I always walked out of there thinking I had spent too much money on a pleasant but overpriced meal. But eating here tonight, I was not at all disappointed and in fact would now be perfectly happy recommending Shakahari to vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. I've tried lots of different things on their menu over years, but nothing really wowed me. Tonight though I had the Malaysian curry, and it was super-yum. It's definitely a step up from your standard cheap-o Asian coconut milk curry, with way more "sophisticated" flavours than what I've had at hawker markets in Asia, so I didn't mind paying the $22.50 for it. It had a slightly gourmand feel to it, with intriguing flavour combinations like the "mustard pear chutney" which was really pretty tasty. My boyfriend had the stew with quinoa and really enjoyed it. We sampled from each other's plates and while I liked his meal too, the Malaysian curry was better. His stew overall tasted healthy and fresh, whereas the Malaysian curry tasted more hearty and warming (and probably less healthy, ha.) But we would happily order both again. Ambience-wise, this place is REALLY loud and echo-y at dinner time when it fills up with diners. It's probably way more pleasant at off-peak hours. We could barely hear each other speak, it was so loud. The place itself is cute -- an old house with creaky old floorboards and bright paint and high ceilings -- but no real decor to speak of and doesn't really make you feel cosy and comfortable (but it could with a bit of work. The character's there, the charm's not.) Service was nice. Servers were pretty busy but didn't seem to let that affect them. They were polite and pleasant. Clientele was mostly hipster. Out back there's a really cute garden, but I never see anyone out there using it. Maybe it's not really set up for dining? Honestly their outdoor space is a lot cuter than their indoor space and I could really see them making something out of it in the future. Definitely worth a visit for tasty and inventive vegetarian food, with vegan and gluten-free options clearly marked on the menu. Also a couple of options clearly marked as "no garlic and onion" for those of you who are vegetarian Buddhists too.

Trippy Taco Southside is the offshoot location of Trippy Taco in Collingwood, which has enjoyed a…read morelong-standing reputation for delicious, inexpensive vegetarian Mexican food. This location (the St Kilda one) is a lot newer, so I wasn't sure what to expect. But they pretty much share the same menu and ingredients as the Collingwood location, and I wasn't disappointed. I had the tofu asada burrito (made vegan) and my boyfriend had the special quesadilla. We also shared chips and guacamole. Both of us enjoyed our meals. Most of the menu items can be made vegan (including their desserts!) The St Kilda location feels larger than the Collingwood one. The Collingwood one has more of a "cozy, cluttered and cheerful" vibe. But the ambience in St Kilda is still nice, with the same brightly colored Mexican decor. It just somehow feels more contrived and trendy than the decor at the Collingwood one. But eh, I guess that's how a lot of places are in St Kilda. The St Kilda location also has a much larger outdoor space than the Collingwood one, with quite a few tables (including a long one that seats 10+) out front. We sat outside because it was a beautiful day. They have these adorable cushions to sit on that look like giant limes. Like, seriously, I wanted to steal one, they were so cute. (I didn't.) We got there fairly early for dinner time (around 5:30) and the place was pretty quiet, with fast and efficient service, but by the time we left it was starting to fill up. This location is also a bit more boozy than the Collingwood one, which makes sense given the St Kilda crowd. They're fully licensed and had $14 margaritas and mojitos on the menu. Even if you're not coming to Trippy Taco to eat, it would be a nice place to have a few drinks in the sun. I should add that nothing about Trippy Taco is "authentic" Mexican food, but then again I'm from Texas and have lived in Oz long enough to know that nothing here is really authentic Mexican food. If you're from Mexico or the southern U.S., just come here knowing that flavors will not be authentic, and hopefully your expectations won't be set too high. For unauthentic vegetarian Mexican food, though, it's definitely tasty and worth a visit :)

Bloody Mary and Breakfast Quesadilla on a beautiful fall day. Eggs perfect and fresh salsa.read more

I stumbled upon this vegetarian cafe whilst looking for somewhere to have breakfast in Belgrave…read more Being vegan I wasn't expecting to find much so The Laughing Owl was a very happy surprise. The menu is varied and includes crumpets, burgers, and a vegetarian and vegan big breakfast. They also have a selection of baked goods (vegan date scones even), raw cakes and other takeaway goodies. A prominent sign also advertised their ability to cater for those requiring fodmap friendly meals. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Chai and juices were delicious and the vegan big breakfast was actually big! An all round wonderful cafe in the heart of Belgrave.

What a wonderful place - a cafe with a conscience - that's how they describe themselves. I knew I…read morehad come to a great place when I saw the list of lattes available - beetroot, dandelion, mushroom, matcha or blue pea. I enjoyed their stunning Nourish Bowl - fabulous mix of falafel, mini chick pea patty, hummus, pepitas, beetroot, carrot on red cabbage and spinach. Fantastic. I loved it. Water comes in a jar but be careful not to knock your teeth on the steel straw. Service is quick. Coffee is great. Thank you.