Lentil As Anything

Amazing dining experience! Very friendly and lovable volunteers ans in-house staff. Loved the whole concept of pay as you want and you can also pay extra which goes to support the local community. Food was very good, packed with flavours and big portions! Loved the little poppy seed cake too! Will be back!

Live music! Awesome atmosphere! Friendly and attentive service! Sumptuous food! There were four of us and we ordered the four dishes offered on Easter Monday. Coupled with the spiced chai tea it was an excellent meal. Thumbs up!

This is a gem of a place in Sydney! A great initiative of pay as much as you want. The volunteers were very friendly and polite. There are big tables and we should be prepared to share our tables with other people around. Just not go for a meal but also provide your volunteer services if you wish to.

We enjoyed our vegetarian lunch and our puppy was sitting outside the restaurant while eating. It is a busy place. This restaurant is a non-profit organization, mainly run by volunteers. Customers only need to pay according to their own ability. All they have done is very admirable. The food is simple but delicious. There are three options on the menu: lentil soup, pasta, sweet potatoes and rice. We have tried all three, and we like to eat spaghetti. The sauce tasted light and tender. The staff is very friendly.

Food - 2/2 Ambience - 1/1 Vegan and Vegetarian options - 1/1 Service - 1/1 I love the concept of this restaurant. You can eat whatever is available on the menu and you can pay as much as you want. I would recommend every customer to pay $10 at least, if they can afford it. The food is brilliant, I’ve never had a disappointing experience. I would suggest to eat an early lunch and dinner for the best seats and best customer experience. You can find their daily menu available on @menulentilnewtown on Instagram. Every thing you see in this restaurant has been donated, it’s run by volunteers and is a 100% vegan. Now that’s how you give back to the planet!

Its one of the best places to experience vegan food. They have roughly 3 different vegan dishes on the menu daily along with a dessert. The restaurant runs entirely on the volunteer basis from the kitchen staff to floor staff. The food is not priced and instead the person can donate money based on what he thinks should be best. The staff is lovely and adorable. It is at an easy walk from the Newtown station, on the King Street

Believe it or not, there's a place in Sydney where one can eat for free (donation is highly encouraged though). Basically this place runs like a soup kitchen, staffed by an army of passionate volunteers and intended to help the less privileged. Was pleasantly surprise when i tasted the food served here. They menu (from Appetizers to Dessert & drink) changes daily and someone uploaded the menu on an exclusive IG account in fact! The food served are boldly-spiced, carb-loaded stews that are tasty! Experience for yourself and contribute to the good cause.

I go to Lentils as much as I can. Best place in Newtown. Runned by volunteers, you can pay as you can/want. The food is vegan and delicious. Always big portions. So much variety all the times. Best chai drink ever. The atmosphere is so friendly, I just love to sit at the table with strangers that eventually will share with you their story. Or just sit with my friends and enjoy the love music. We need more places like this please!!

A wonderful meal and that the food is by donation on an honor system: pay for your basic meal $10, pay meal and their overhead $15. Pay it forward: $20! Incredible! And the food vegan and so wholesome. Well done guys!!

On a Sunday morning, we wanted to explore the Newtown area in Sydney. We stumbled upon Lentil As Anything. We saw the menu and said why not. Lentil As Anything looks like a hippy hangout. The people who come here look like students, artists, travelers, vagabonds, and the homeless. The waiter told us all that we see comes from donations. He told us to donate after we finished the meal. The waiter offered us a choice of two drinks: a lemon ice tea or a chai black tea. I ordered the tofu and Joseph orders the curry Dahl. Surprisingly, the food tasted delicious. It seems like the staff took pride in preparing it. Located around cultural stores, Lentil As Anything operates as a nonprofit. So they gladly accept volunteers (volunteer time if one cannot pay for the meal), utensils, fresh produce, coffee beans, tea lights. Lentil As Anything wants an electrician. When in town, come to Lentil As Anything. Volunteer, or stop in to say hi.

Love this place! Such a great concept- run by the community and pay as you go. Honestly this place restores your faith in humanity. The food was delicious, served by friendly people, and such a bustling environment. We came during lunch and the entire restaurant was filled, but were seated within 5 minutes. Even if you're not vegan, the food was yummy. Who doesn't like food made with love? If you're okay with sharing a table with total strangers, tasty food, and good vibes- give this place a shot!

So, there's this place you can go if you're either a) broke as hell, and find a meal hard to come by b) cheap as hell and/or a student, and want to have the satisfaction of paying as little for a decent meal as you possibly can without feeling like a total shmuck or breaking the bank c) shocked that you can go somewhere and "pay what you feel" for a decent meal and you have to experience it for yourself to believe such a place actually exists. These are pretty much the three type of patrons you'll find at Lentil As Anything. If you fit into category c, I totally understand, as I was once just like you, and I can tell you first hand, it's a real thing. On my first visit, I was ushered into a packed dining room, and seated at a back table and told I would be joined by someone else shortly. A sweet girl sat down with me a few minutes later, and we shared an amazing meal together. I walked out of the restaurant putting $17 in the anonymous donation slot, and thought to myself, "that was f-ing awesome!" Suddenly, a new category made itself known to me. Category d) those who love to meet really interesting new people over a pretty good vegan meal and pay whatever they feel for that meal. I came to the restaurant two more times, and on my second visit I met a gal who introduced me to a future girlfriend. True story. That's the magic of Lentil As Anything. Perhaps even cooler than that is that on my third visit, I decided I wanted to pay by volunteering in the kitchen, so I walked back there and they told me to put on an apron, wash my hands, and start prepping veggies. And, that's what I did for three hours because I had such a great time hanging out with other volunteers. True story (pics attached for proof). Visit Lentil As Anything if you fall into any of the categories listed above, which is pretty much everyone at least one night a week, and you'll leave thinking, "that was f-ing awesome"! The only reason I give it 4 stars is because the food is only worth 3 stars, but the rest of the experience brings it up to 4.

Number 1 place for food in Sydney! Lentils Is full of love. You can go there alone and feel like you belong there. Keep seeing the same people there.

Incredible. This place has it right. The whole premise of placing complete trust in the patron when it comes to payment lies at the core of success for Lentil As Anything. Food and service based not on profit, but the simple measure of contributing good things to the world. When you break down the trust barrier through fixed, expected payment, you do two things. 1. You willingly hand that trust to the diner, who no longer needs to worry about "will I get value for my money". 2. You create an almost instant and intangible bond between people and the collective idea of "good karma". Based on that alone, I would come to eat here again as much as I possibly could. But let's talk food. Usually only a few items will be on the menu. It's a simple system. Mostly 3 mains and a single desert. I ordered the Potato & Red Pepper Stir Fry. When it arrived, it was art on a plate (I posted a pic of it here). Big, generous servings that in no way left me feeling hungry. And the taste? Delicious. Don't think that this is just a restaurant of hacks trying their hand in the restaurant business and trying to be all radical about it. No...there's some serious skill in the kitchen. I was so full I skipped desert. My friend ordered the Sri Lankan Curry Plate. It looked amazing, but we were so into our own meals we forgot to take samples of each other's food. For a place that's only been open a few weeks, with no advertising, it's packed. They open at 6pm. We arrived at 6:30 and just got seated. A queue formed behind us and people were happily waiting in line to experience this amazing food. Lentil As Anything won't just be one of the best restaurants in Newtown. It will also be a community that is built on everything good there is in this world. Thank you!!!

Reading an article on news.com.au about 8 quirky cafes around the world and low and behold Lentil is Anything appears on the list although it was the Melbourne version. The article mentioned they had a new branch in Sydney too. The place is community run and operates on a you pay what you think it's worth basis. This is refreshing from the usual cafes and restaurants we are used to visiting. The place is run by volunteers but entering the place we got seated straight away and are served almost instantly. The waitress served us Chai tea to start and took out order. We decided to order white bean and lemon kale soup , tofu wrap , pancake and a bowl of Biriyanyi rice. The service was quick and order came out fast. The soup was delicious and generous portion to share. The pancake was very fluffy and tahini sauce was very interesting. Quite sweet. Pancakes were good considering they had no eggs . The tofu wrap was pretty average and was in need of a little bit more tofu to make it a little more flavoursome. The rice was really good. Indian spices and complimented all the order dishes as a side. The vibe of the place was really good and the other punters were mostly hipsters. Everyone seemed friendly and the table next to us even questioned what was in our soup. On the way out you leave a donation in the box of what you feel it deserved. Was happy with the meal so left approximately what would pay for in an equivalent cafe. The concept is very cool and will visit the place again as the dinner menu is different.

Great place and environment~ not-for-profit organisation is a great idea aswell, as you pay by donation. Food is great, vegan which is very convenient, and they serve you a drink beforehand and offer dessert aswell :) Atmosphere is really amazing, quite busy but the people working are super down to earth

Really good atmosphere supported by their community philosophy and donation/volunteer setup. The volunteers are super friendly, and the service is really quick too! It's a great place to appreciate the Newtown culture, with delicious vegan eats and lots of cool kids and colourful characters at the table. They serve you really good warm spicy chai when you sit down and the diners always look like they're having an awesome time. Extra bonus points for "all gender bathroom," for inclusion, love, and acceptance!

This place was packed for lunch, and at first I was confused about the format and whether there was table service. There is! Wait at the doorway and someone will come over and show you to a free seat. Lucky ones will sit by the window or wall, less lucky ones get crammed into a communal table. Order a chai at the bar or one of the platters on offer, and it comes out after 10-20 minutes, depending on how busy they are. Food was great! Portions decent and fresh ingredients. Service was winningly friendly and the clientele is a mix of dazed travelers, 80s punks, fresh-faced yogis, and people like me. The servers clear your plates and offer dessert, just like a full service restaurant. But of course this place is pay what you feel. Collection box is by the door, and I read an interview with the owner that says payments of $12 are enough to cover costs and overhead. Did see some diners walking out without dropping any payment... That's just not the way to do it mates!

Words can't describe how much I love this place. I was told a few times to visit this place, but every time I walked past, there was a bit of a queue. Last Saturday though, we noticed we could just get in and give it a shot. The world needs more places like this. A community driven eatery, no profit and volunteer based. Helping those in need and adding that little piece of light that we all need. You know how sometimes you think "I want to do something good, but life gets in the way?" Terrible excuse, but we do... (Well, I do). You can easily do that here. You pay what you want to contribute. that said, I think I paid a lot more than I would have for the food, because they deserved every single dollar of it. The food is good, and satisfies a hungry belly, but of course, not a Masterchef piece of art. Still, I will happily eat there again. People are chill, everyone has a good vibe. This is place is great!

What a great little endeavor. A cheap, hearty and tasty vegetarian meal all by donation. I've been told $7-$8 is the right donation by the way but of course the idea is to leave what you can. The staff are volunteers and cheerful and the food is served quickly. You get chai, a main of your choosing (usually from about 3-4 options) and desert. The tables are communal and usually there are an assortment of students and travelers. A cool place indeed. This is not a fancy place by the way and the meals are simple so if that's not what you are looking for, this is not the place for you.

The initiative behind Lentil as Anything is amazing. Pay your way and help out this beautiful not-for-profit that ensures everyone in Newtown can eat that night. The food is always different and usually curries and soups but still delicious. Sit with a stranger and make some new friends, revel in the friendly vibes and pay it forward!

Healthy, vego / vegan place in Newtown that serves delicious hearty meals. You're asked to pay what you think the meal is worth and I encourage you to dig deep! Menu changes everyday and we had the Moroccan lentil stew and the Sri Lankan curry plate. Totally delicious! Staff are all volunteers and you can tell that they are passionate. Quick to seat you, quick to served and all with enthusiasm and a smile. Add them on Instagram to get updates on the daily menus. Will be back! Such delicious food! And all for a good cause!

This place is SO cool!! All volunteer run and everyone was very kind. I have many food allergies and one of the volunteers went out of her way to make sure there was something I could eat. Great atmosphere!! and that coconut rice is bomb.

Excellent food. The brunch was so delicious and filling. My first time here but not my last. I really appreciated the tastes (Tex mex and northern Indian). It was also a bustling place. It's donation only and worth contributing to.

It's hard to give this place low stars because they operate by a donation system wherein you pay what you can afford or what you think the meal is worth. They generally have about 4 things to choose from every evening. You also get a glass of the best chai I've ever had. I had some delicious vegan cauliflower curry with a generous side of dahl and rice. For people who don't know how much they're going to get the servings are very generous. We also tried the desert of the night which was very sweet, but delicious. The owner came to our table and had a chat and encouraged us to spread the word if we liked the place. So here I am spreading the word. He encouraged all his customers to get involved somehow whether it was by volunteering or bringing friends for a meal. I think soon they're moving down the other end of King Street to a permanent location. The only reason they lose a star is because some of their furniture is quite hard to eat at, low tables etc. I'm being very picky here! It's hard to complain when you can pay with whatever is in your pocket for a pretty delish meal!

If there is one thing I miss living in Sydney it's this place!!!! Fantastic vegan food and you pay what you can which is awesome when you're a backpacker! I'm not even a vegan and I would eat here everyday if I could.

UPDATE!: they *do* dress the salads, i guess they just didn't happen to that day. I've since been back... a lot actually! And the food is ALWAYS divine. They do lunch from midday-3pm and offer a choice of the crack-chai or a juice. I've also discovered that 30% of their produce comes from Ozharvest which is why you can always rely on a nice varied menu!

A choice of delicious vegan meals, chai tea on arrival and dessert. Excellent, fast and friendly service by volunteers. Warm and inviting environment. Great concept in the 'pay what you feel' iniciative of the not-for-profit restaurant. AUD$12 covers the minimum costs and keeps this amazing place running. Funky, talented musicians often provide entertainment. A great way to create a sense of community as you will be seated along side a diverse crowd of people on long tables inside or smaller tables outside. Lentils Newtown also has an upstairs area that often holds community events, yoga/salsa classes and is open on Friday and Saturday evening for the public to enjoy 'pay-as-you-feel' mocktails and entertainment. Check out the website for more info.

This place serves up delicious food for a great cause, and they do so with a smile. I came in during the Wednesday lunch rush and was greeted by a friendly waiter. He promptly took my order and brought out my food. The curry tasted great and the presentation was nice as well

I've been to Lentil as Anything in Melbourne manymany times so I decides to check this one out as well since I'm in Sydney. This place is definitely a bit different but the food still is amazing, the idea of pay-what-you-think-it-is-worth is still great. Here you are served as in a restaurant vs a buffet style I got used to in Mel. There are two floors with lots of seating area and they are open for lunch and dinner every day and brunch on weekends. The volunteer-staff is as always superdly friendly and the food is delicious. They also have live music every night as I was told, this one I'm yet to check but I'm sure it will be fantastic:)

If you want the traditional soup kitchen vibe, this place will suit you just fine. It's a community run, pay as you go meet-less soup kitchen where your meal will is usually lentil based (obviously). While the team of volunteers deserve the admirable credit they're due, the same cannot be said about the quality and depth of flavour of the meals.

Fantastic idea of a non profit community vegetarian/vegan food. They offer chai tea before your meal which is a nice gesture. The food is yummy. Great restaurant! Would recommend to anyone!

We ventured here during one of their weekend lunch sessions in the hopes for a varied delicious vegan menu. When we turned up it was only half full but only serving one meal on their menu: curry platter. Well I was disappointed. My partner was not, as he actually likes curry. Whereas I was hoping for something more. I skipped lunch this session although I'm unsure of whether I'll go back now. I understand this cafe operates as a charity/pay what you think fashion, which is why it was interesting to watch what others actually paid when they were all being served the exact same meal. They did have an expected list of how much they would prefer you paid but curious nonetheless to watch the cheapies throw coins in the donations box one after another. This is Sydney, which means the cafe would expect you pay Sydney prices. That is minimum $15-$18 per meal, minimum. Let's not be too shocked about this but I witnessed people donating mere silver coins and some, nothing at all. I don't know how well this charity-cafe method truly works out for the owners, nor do I think the diners give a damn either. Either way, despite not eating a plate and just watching my partner eat and drink two chais we paid/donated a proper price of $25. It's like a done up soup kitchen here for vegans and it'll depend on the time you turn up of what type of menu variance you'll get. I hope they'll have actual choice on their menu the next time I think about going here again. If ever.

As something different this is quite a pleaser. There are a limited number of dishes and once sold out there are even fewer choices. The food is healthy, nothing fried or standing too long. The bread is made fresh each day without preservatives. The atmosphere is trendy and you pay how much you think it is worth. The decor is a mixture of old wooden tables, flour bags, indian paintings and old 1970s lamps. The restaurant is on the busy King Street with a lively crowd walking past.

Good people good food and good community initiative. This place is always busy and hopefully with continued local support will thrive.

Best restaurant ever. They dont charge you a certain price. They donate their revenue, the waitress are all volunteers. They make the food from scratch and most importantly they taste great

Went to this "pay what you can" restaurant on a recent visit to Sydney. Met some really nice people sitting at the outside tables on a rainy evening. Staff was very friendly and service focused. Plenty of great food too.

Amazing food, clearly train all the staff well as they are all volunteers. I love how the menu changes every day and I love that you can pay by donation I think it's a really great service you're running! Keep up the great work

The concept here is amazing and something I love to support. The menu changes often, which is great for trying new vegan meals if you are the type that gets stuck ordering the same thing all the time. Its considered cheap because you pay whatever you want to pay for your meal! Once you're finished eating, you either drop any amount of cash in the box by the door or go to the credit card machine and input your own amount and swipe. The food is delicious and the dessert is comforting. With the large portions, I like to pay around $20 for my meal. Its for a good cause! Support your local businesses.

Really cool idea which we commend. With respect to the food itself -- average taste. Glad to experience it and wish them the best of luck.

Stopped in here with a friend from overseas, he was amazed and very pleased to find such a place existing and thriving in Sydney. Great place - I hope everyone donates generously to ensure it can putting on its awesome food and vibe!

Queues of eager diners were seated swiftly. We were squeezed into a cosy spot at the outdoor communal bench and before we knew it, we were served cups of spiced chai by the great staff. The food was generous, hearty, honest and tasty. I had a giant bowl of lentil curry stew flecked with grains of soft rice and a hint of coriander. My dining companion had puffy fried chickpea fritters and a light salad followed by tapioca pudding for dessert. Afterwards we went up to the donation box and left $15-20. Lentil As Anything is a fantastic social movement and a delicious place to grab a bite. It's ideas like this that will make the world a better place.

Great philosophy & vibe - yummy chai and delicious vegetarian brunch. I had the scrambled tofu and couldn't be happier. Also offer yoga salsa plus live music and a mocktail bar on fri and sat nights!! A great addition to king st - I'll be back!!

Awesome food and the staff is super friendly! Love that it's vegan friendly. The place is a non-profit, very inclusive and with a great concept. I love sharing the table and making new friends every time!

This is an awesome place and a really cool premise for a charity. Basically the restaurant is a not for profit (funds go to the running of the place and the rest to Asylum seekers I believe). Patrons pay what they think the food is worth. It's a total honour system. The food is all vegan and changes every evening. All the staff are volunteers and they often have live music playing as well. The servings are really generous and while it's humble food is delicious! This place has a really good vibe and certainly worth supporting.