Transformer. More than meets the eye…read more Sorry, as a child of the 80s I couldn't resist. Wanting a healthy dinner option for a catch up with a girlfriend, I thought we'd give new kid on the block, Transformer, a go. I'm not sure what I was expecting. Vegetables disguised as other things, faux meat...maybe hippies, mungbeans and incense? Having no real expectations meant I was really impressed with our experience. Upon entering, we were pleased to see a beautiful fit out, ambient lighting, and not a hippie in site. There was, however, lots of hipsters and it soon became apparent that we should have made a reservation! We luckily scored what was a cancelled table and proceeded to have a really lovely meal, with the perfect amount of friendly service. There's a decent wine list, beers and cocktails too. But for those not drinking (myself included on this particular occasion) there was an interesting selection of cold pressed juices and some little mini tonics (read: shots) loaded up with the likes of turmeric, ginger and coconut water. I liked having this before the meal as a way to get my appetite firing. We shared the pumpkin and tahini dip which is apparently the most popular thing on the menu. It comes with a slick of good quality olive oil and what I think is pomegranate molasses on top. Tangy, savoury and silky smooth it really was terrific. Next we had oyster mushrooms (tasty but not the biggest portion), a cucumber salad (fresh and creamy) and a sprouted brown rice beetroot risotto (delicious!). I can see more decadent, and boozy, nights being an expensive affair but we weren't super hungry and so these shared dishes only set us back around $30 a head! Bargain. I'll be back to try more of the interesting menu items.

I can never really be bothered writing a review but sometimes a dining experience is so good that…read moreit stands out amongst Melbournes quality food scene. Transformer is such a place. The interior is fresh and cool. Raw exposed concrete, timber, brick and wire mesh are dramatically softened by extraordinary lighting and wild plants. The place looks like it would be noisy but it's not and I was able to enjoy great conversation with my friends over delicious vegetarian food without having to shout..! I'm not a vegetarian so I was skeptical but the food was fresh and filling and did indeed 'transform' me. I'll be back...

We had an absolutely delicious meal at Smith & Daughter. Every dish was full of flavor. I'm a…read moresauce lover, and they have great sauces. We started with the mushroom skewers, which were perfectly grilled. The pole beans were crisp and seasoned nicely...they were thick and hearty. We took a chance on the red beans and rice. One of our favorite food vacations is New Orleans. I will not doubt this chef again..they were delicious... comforting and flavorful. I would definitely get them again. I do wish the plantains were traditionally made though. The star for me was definitely the country fried lion's mane. Crispy, hearty, and so well-seasoned. I've wanted to try lion's mane for a while. This was the best place to try it. I'm not usually a big dessert person, but the chocolate brownie with biscotti-flavored ice cream had me claiming my fair share (my husband usually gets most of the dessert to himself!). The decor was modern but also cozy and inviting. It really made for a great night out. I don't know how we skipped over the bbq brisket. We will definitely be back to try it!

Melbourne's bustling scene of vegetarian restaurants includes one I thought I'd never see: a vegan…read moreSpanish tapas place. Besides having transformed a vegetarian-unfriendly cuisine, they've also managed to do it in a fairly prominent corner, and fill their tables (both the individual ones and the communal table I sat at and the bar) with a very typical-looking bunch of Australians. It is not what one expects of an all-plant restaurant; the mainstream, hipster-ness of it all was quite unique to Melbourne. Like most tapas places, you'll pay a lot of money for a little food and probably like it. I only tried the chickpea soup and some sort of soda, though people sitting next to me ordered all kinds of delicious-looking things that I could only ogle. The soup was appealing enough that I finished a large bowl rather quickly. I would struggle to pay up for it on a regular basis if I lived in Melbourne, but I certainly would want to come with a group and try everything. It seemed like this place was a success.

Great veggie/vegan spot! Lots of different food options. The space is massive. Very vibrant…read moreatmosphere. Probably one of my favorite vegan pizzas I've had. The truffle mushroom. It didnt have layer of awful vegan cheese. Just a sprinkle of vegan parm. Delicious. Tried the "chicken" bao and the cookie sundae. Also amazing. If I had more time in Melbourne, I'd go back

Vegetarian cuisine of the Moosewood globalized variety…read more You can find something like this place in any US College Town. BUT Execution is much much much much better than at the standard collegiate vegetarian place. This is vegan eating done right! My lovely wife ate at this place several times, ate all over the menu and was generally ecstatic. I had just one meal one time.' I had Peking Duck Wrap with vegan duck and plain old onion rings. The onion rings were absolutely first rate. They were far far better than the onion rings I get in the bars, grills and burger joints I frequent at home. The duck wrap was positively huge and was wonderul eating. Chinese vegan duck is wonderful stuff anyway. The garnishings and sauces, along with the huge size off the whole production, made this a treat. Are the desserts wonderful? I wish I could tell you. After all those rings, and all that vegan duck with vegetables, I had turned into my suitcase. When I leave Melbourne tomorrow, My suitcases will be crammed as full as it is physically possible to cram a suitcase. And that super-stuffed condition is me right now after having come home from the Vegie Bar.

In the heart of Chinatown is the Daughter in Law restaurant. Brought and colorful and billed as…read more'the unauthorized Australian Chinese restaurant'. We had the great lamb chops as well as delicious garlic naan. You've got to try the Ball of Happiness - a hollow shell that you pour mint, yogurt and tamarind sauces into and eat it in one bite. Excellent!

As a Indian food lover I had to absolutely try some in Melbourne while I'm here. Went to Daughter…read morein law last night. Now not your typical Indian restaurant. This was kinda upbeat, trendy hipster a little bit. I did enjoy the music very much while there. Service was good. I would say it was a very solid 4 stars . More closure to 4.5 Just not the insane depth of flavors like I've had in many other places but good non the less. Had the lamb Rojan Josh. And we did the naan Bread and condiments sampler.

Excellent place for fresh Japanese food ! I have been there so many times and never been…read moredissatisfied. Panko Salmon is my favorite! This place is being more and more crowded, but you can still order food to go if no more seats are available ! Enjoy!

Great healthy and tasty option while I was in Melbourne. Cool decor if you like cats.read more

Love the concept!!! As a Bay Area Californian visiting Melbourne, I was pleasantly surprised to…read morefind this place. I was given a ton of Berkeley / Oakland vibes (except this place was a ton cleaner, ha). Not sure what else I can state that other reviews haven't stated below, but Lentil As Anything is a donation based restaurant. $12 AUD covers the meal, which you can pay in either card or cash at the end of your meal. Everyday the menu changes (for this location) and its buffet style which is nice! I would say classic etiquette is to not take more than what you can eat, as you're always welcome to go back and grab more food. Drinks are extra - but they have a nice variety of coffees and a juice that changes daily. Vibe here was great; everyone was so nice and friendly. Also loved that it was in Abbotsford Covent where there's outdoor seating for you to enjoy a sunny day.

Amazing concept with food to match. Pay as you feel but done right!…read moreThe food is all vegan and served by volunteers; all of whom wear a happy smile and are always happy to have a chat. There is live music sometimes and on a nice day the courtyard / outdoor area is super pleasant. A must visit if you are touring the Coventry :)

Had every intention to dine (for the first time) at the Vegie Bar (which is the rave on vegan…read moresocial media) only to walk in to a veritable undergraduate haunt - jam packed and resembling more a bar fad - so backed up Brunswick street and spied Madame K's With no brief it looked well patronised (this was a Tuesday night and it was near full) so that's gotta mean something and it promoted vegan dishes The young waitress was trying to oblige but language skills were a barrier and experience was clearly an issue Found a place for one and I went with a small plate of Betel leaf (Miang Kham) with red quinoa, peanuts, coconut shreds topped with a sauce (vegan) - this was very nice and I thought I was onto something However the main plate - a Tofu cashew nut stir-fry with brown rice (tomorrow is an ember day and one of fasting - so time to stock up) was fairly disappointing - the veggies were average and the whole dish fairly uninspiring Overall the place was not great and I won't bother again

Another all-vegetarian entry on a street with several such options. I ended up at this one largely…read morebecause of its slightly more generous opening times. The menu offers a range of Thai and pan-Asian dishes, and the prik khing I ordered was tasty, but not really filling enough to justify the price. The service was a bit of a struggle as well, as I don't think my (admittedly foreign) accent was quite understood. Mostly, however, the food itself wasn't up to the local competitors that I tried. It was good, and in a less saturated market I'd look on it more favorably as all-vegetarian restaurants are a valuable thing in my eyes, but in Melbourne I can't see it as better than average.

Grump's Green is typical to Fitzroy, decked out in retro styled furnishings, worn and comfy couches…read moreand an exposed brick wall. It serves some very tasty vegetarian cuisine that is tempting and flavoursome enough for even the hungriest meat eater. Grump's Green is a little alternative, and sometimes maybe a bit too relaxed, celebrating a birthday at the restaurant we had a decent sized group of hungry ladies and gentlemen and found it a little unorthodox having to sit all around one tiny coffee table with our meals on our laps! We ordered a selection of curries, burgers and tapas style dishes and although the serves and flavours were great, when asking for a spoon from the kitchen the waiter told us there wasn't any left so we couldn't have anymore. Grumpy's Green only dishes up food found in Victoria which is great for local growers and produces they also use soy candles for guests to dine by encouraging us to opt for green energy.

I've given it five stars for the trivia night. In my ever so humble opinion, Grumpy's probably…read morehosts the best weekly trivia night going. The questions are hard, but not impossible, and the prizes are very decent (even more so considering it costs a whole NOTHING to play). Grumpy's is an eco-friendly bar, trying very hard to be carbon-neutral, environmentally and ethically considerate with what they produce. This means that you'll find "token meat dishes" on the menu instead of the poor token "vegies stirred through pasta" vegetarian option you'll find at most restaurants. A lovely place to pop into and escape the outside world of a busy afternoon.

Trippy Taco never disappoints. Consistently delicious and it's vegetarian with the options also…read morebeing available vegan!

Food just took too long. But was good. Great seasoning on…read morethe fries.

Well, here's something new: a deli-style place, but entirely vegan. Admittedly, as a tourist I did…read morenot eat much here and spread myself around the city. However, I did spend quite a bit of time perusing their selection. It is notably the first place I've seen in Australia to offer the new Ben and Jerry's dairy-free ice cream (which I had no room to try, sadly). They make a variety of fresh sandwiches and things, offer premade pastries and such, and sell a variety of hard to find goods. As with most vegan stores, it's pricey and something of a luxury, but a nice one to have. I would not, however, suggest that any non-Australian try anything with vegemite. I know I'm writing this place a positive review, but that stuff is pretty gross.

Being new to Melbourne, trying to tick off all the good foodie place I've been recommended is hard…read morework... especially when there's amazing food to be had practically everywhere! Smith and deli is no exception. The variety of sandwiches alone, and alllll vegan pointedly, is outstanding. I went with the "bacon" and "chicken" schnitzel sandwich with ranch lettuce and tomato and it was fantastic. I'm not even vegan and can tell you that if nobody had told me it was vegan, I'd have thought it was the real deal. They have a great selection of vegan products from around the globe too. You can imagine how crazy busy this place gets. Staff are lovely too. Get amongst it!