Friends of the Earth Melbourne Food Coop & Cafe — Restaurant in Melbourne

This place feels like it's been here forever. It certainly attracts some regulars and fits well into the Smith Street community. There are a couple of parts to this place. Firstly the cafe/restaurant at the front where you can order from a nice menu of healthy food that is mostly made with seasonable items plus you can order your coffee or refreshments here. The vegetarian/vegan food is reasonably priced as well. Then there is a fridge area where you can buy vegetables and eggs. Towards the rear, there are items such as handmade soaps, candles, herbs & spices and even handmade beanies which at the time of writing this - end of May cold snap, is quite appropriate. There are also packets of seeds available for purchase. Plus there is more. Love the sign at the counter about allergies (see picture). You are encouraged to bring your own bags and where possible, buy items that are sourced ethically and buy in bulk. As you can expect, there are many flyers and items on what's happening locally in regards to community events, community action groups and organisations that are looking for assistance. If you'd like to volunteer for a few hours, just ask the staff. Wheelchair friendly. Kid friendly. Good parking in Smith Street. A must visit and only wish there were more of these places...

My favourite place on Smith Street, hands down. FOE is an underrated vegan destination serving a rotating daily lunch special plus an assortment of pies, pizzas and sweet baked goods. I absolutely love everything they serve and sell, plus the lovely team who keep the place going.

I recently enjoyed a lunch of pumpkin curry, Dahl, rice, salad and toasted coconut, plus a jackfruit pie and side salad. Lunch plates are always organic and gluten-free, which isn't a necessity for me but is an added bonus. I also love that a range of non-dairy milks are available at no extra cost. Coffee is always nice, as are the speciality teas. If you're up for a dessert, my top pick is the Crumbs chocolate cake or iced strawberry donut.

FOE gets very busy during lunch (for good reason) so get in early if you want to snag a seat. Otherwise, they do provide eco containers to...

I came to this cafe a couple months ago with some friends, the food was great, but it was a shame about Beth’s attitude. They had a half and full sandwich option. My friend requested to order the full sandwich option and Beth pressured her not to get it because it was “too big”. My friend was very hungry and payed for the full size. Beth then proceeded to give her the half portion anyway, and said she packed it with extra filling instead, assuming that the full sandwich was too much bread. Overall her attitude felt very judgemental and targeted, which was very disappointing as the rest of the staff were lovely. I don’t usually leave reviews at all, but I cannot stop thinking about this interaction, and agreed with my friends that it was wildly inappropriate. Not to mention as we walked in she was speaking badly about some previous customers who...