Gopals

Ph: (03) 9650 1578; 1st & 2nd Floors, 139 Swanston St, Melbourne 3000

vegetarian, $ -
Open mon-sat 11am-8.30pm, Closed All public holidays; Unlicensed; MC V EFT

Mietta's Review
Gopals has a view overlooking Swanston St as does its sister restaurant, Crossways. Here the emphasis is less on religion. The upstairs room is open and breezy with solid wood tables and padded chairs with well-dressed office workers ranging from young to middle aged sitting in groups. Some even venture here alone. Downstairs is busier and more like a vegetarian health food canteen than a Krishna worship centre. Laminex tables and vinyl chairs are crowded into a space around the serving area. The Indian presence is stronger at Gopals with its buffet style Indian vegetarian dishes.There are also western vegetarian dishes such as lasagna and spinach pie. Home made cheesecake is also a favourite.

Other published opinions

The Age Cheap Eats 2008 "There are vegetarian fads. And then there's Gopals. Hare Krishnas have been keeping it real here for 23 years and there's no shortage of gluten- and wheat-free pilgrims who worship at this temple of spicy L, comfort food"

The Age Cheap Eats 2007 "It's not that it's the best-looking venue around, or that it promises a you've-gotta-try-this experience, but Gopals always feels so welcoming, with its steaming trays of specials and the gentle murmur of contented patrons peppered around the room."

The Age Cheap Eats 2006 This Hare Krishna-run cafe provides karmic and culinary satisfaction. As staff ferry trays of steaming vegie meals, students, health nuts and down-on-their-lucksters chatter over tables or peruse the guru literature.