Back in May I spotted an empty shopfront on Brunswick St promising "wholefoods-vegetarian-raw-organic-vegan-Hare Krishna"; by July it opened as Radhey Kitchen & Chai Bar, and Brian reported enjoying lunch there on Fitzroyalty. A couple of our friends have checked it out, too, and gave us tips on what they liked best. We had our chance to sneak in for a very early dinner last Wednesday night.
The menu follows a basic formula with the details varying from day to day. Entrees include soup and pastries at around $7 per serve, mains include a curry, a burger, pastas and bakes ($13.50), while the display cabinets show off a range of salads, sandwiches and sweets. Everything is vegetarian and the staff are very mindful of vegan and gluten-free diets, not to mention super-friendly - they'll gladly talk you through your options.
We tried out the tandoori tofu burger with chips ($13.50). Tofu slabs run a high risk of being chewy and bland, and when this arrived at our table I thought the bun looked burned around the edges too. I could not have been more wrong on all counts: the tofu was tender and spicy, with a soft gently toasted roll and plain but fresh salad fillings. The chips were good too, with two fine dipping sauces.
The vegan meatballs seemed to be a mix of TVP and vegetables with a comforting (possibly fried) crust; they were served with spaghetti and a thick dousing of sweet tomato sauce ($13.50), plus our choice of the fresh salads - I chewed my way through some creamy-dressed kale and crunchy carrots. These were both generous, home-style meals - presented simply but executed skillfully, and great value for money.
We didn't have the time or appetite for sweets, and I want to go back for their specialty chai and something from the dessert cabinet. Everything in it was vegan on the night of our visit, an unusual achievement even for a vegetarian cafe.
This section of Brunswick St is already overrun with veg*n eateries, yet Radhey Kitchen has something extra to offer - simple, comforting food that steers away from the mock meat and (for now, at least!) a quiet, personable atmosphere.
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The only other blog post we can find about Radhey is the abovementioned one on Fitzroyalty.
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Radhey Kitchen & Chai Bar
336 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
9077 8858
menu
http://www.radheychaibar.com/
Accessibility: I think there's a half-step up on entry and a flat interior. Tables are quite densely packed with a clear wide corridor through the middle. We ordered and paid and a low-ish counter, where much of the food is on display and chalkboard menus are easy to read. We didn't visit the toilets.
It is amazing that this area continues to have enough business for so many vegan eateries - this sounds like a great place for us - will have to keep it in mind when down that way
ReplyDeleteHi Johanna - yes, I think this one will appeal to you!
DeleteI went there on Saturday for Vegan Day Out but it seemed like hungry vegans had been lining up outside waiting for it to open because it was packed ten minutes after opening. Really looking forward to trying their chai.
ReplyDeleteHi Veganopoulous! Seems like the quiet times might already be over for them. I want that chai too. :-)
DeleteI've been hearing really good things about this place. Looking forward to checking it out. That burger looks enormous, but I think it might just be the camera angle.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda! It's probably the camera angle, but it's a decent sized burger nonetheless.
DeleteI've walked past a few times now and yet to stop by because I was a bit unsure... looks amazing though! Loving the dessert selection though - it can often be slim pickings for raw/vegan/gluten free etc sweets!
ReplyDeleteHi Jess C! Yep, it's rare to see such a vegan-friendly dessert cabinet. :-)
DeleteThe dessert cabinet looks pretty good - I think it'll definitely be worth returning for!
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda - just gotta get myself there in the dessert hour. ;-)
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