Crossways Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurant — Restaurant in Melbourne

Growing up in a traditional family in Southern Part of India, food like this was always part of my life. The very first time when I visited the restaurant with my friends, they were more excited than I was. The very first thing you need to notice is that this place is more like an ootupura(dining hall) at a temple. There are certain believes and values this place withhold and the patrons are expected to keep up with that. A strict no to the Non-vegetarian food. The ambiance is just average, the staff are incredibly courteous and kind, the pricing is amazing considering you get to have as much rice and curry as you need.

Looking at the food, the taste is average. Of course, it is of homecooked quality and one of the best vegan options in the city. I know vegetarians who are concerned to eat from outside (it is an obvious fact that the vegetarians would never prefer a spoon/utensils used by non-vegetarians). This place is a great option for such people. The students get a discount by showing the student ID. For me, the best part of the meal was dessert. The Lassi they serve is, well I can't call it as Lassi. It was very watery and I had to stop it at the first sip. I know this review may attract some negative comments but, this is my personal opinion. Overall, if you ever miss your home and craving for some Indian food at an affordable price then just give them a try. PS: You also get to ring a bell once you are done...

I recently visited this vegetarian restaurant, and while there were some positives, I found aspects of the menu troubling.

The food itself was great—simple, flavorful, and relatively healthy. The environment was calm and inviting, with lots of books on yoga and mindfulness scattered around. However, as a restaurant promoting vegetarianism and featuring yoga, which is deeply rooted in Ahimsa (nonviolence), it was disappointing to see milk and eggs on the menu. These products come from industries inherently tied to violence and cruelty.

In dairy and egg production, animals face systemic exploitation, and eventually, all are killed. Male calves in the dairy industry and male chicks in egg production, who are not profitable, are slaughtered shortly after birth. This stark contradiction between the principles of Ahimsa and the use of animal products is difficult to overlook.

I hope the restaurant reconsiders its approach to align more closely with its philosophy by removing milk and eggs from the menu. Doing so would create a truly nonviolent and compassionate dining experience.

I'll be happy to change my review once animal cruelty is removed from the menu!

Edit: I'm not sure about eggs but some foods definitely have dairy. I even spoke to the owner and mentioned if they are selling books about Ahimsa and Yoga, they should be fully vegan. But they were not open to...

This is by far my favourite place to eat in Melbourne! It's SO cheap (discounted for students), offers hearty/wholesome meals (including dessert--- I LIVE for halva in custard) and is always a warm, welcoming environment to sit down at any time of the day.

The communal seating is so nice because it encourages everyone to eat together. While it does get busy, it's still a really calm place to go eat. There's even the option to go upstairs where (if you're lucky) you can get the lovely window table overlooking Swanson St and the town hall.

The curries are ALWAYS delicious-- literally THE PERFECT meal to get you through a chilly Melbourne day in Winter! I don't think I've ever had the same curry-- even if I have, I've never had any leftovers! Plus, the dessert (as previously mentioned) is so dang yummy! Never tried anything like it before I want here and ever since, I never turn down a bowl of it!

So if you hadn't already registered my general feelings towards Crossways, it's one of total appreciation for its existence! As a student studying in the CBD, it's awesome to having a place so close to campus where I can eat a proper, nutritious meal when assessments are bogging me down and I don't have the time to cook.

Give it a visit if you haven't already! I'm sure you'll be a regular like the...