AUSTRALIAN not-for-profit restaurant chain Lentil as Anything plans to extend its “pay as you feel” model to health and healing services when it opens near the Northcote border in Thornbury this month.

Lentil as Anything founder Shanaka Fernando said he and others behind the venture in High St were working on creating a “pay as you feel hub”, with a restaurant and juice bar at the front and health practitioners, massage therapists and yoga teachers offering classes at the back.

“Whatever constitutes helping people to improve their health — that’s what we want to offer in the back space,” Mr Fernando said.

As with the other six restaurants in the chain, the philosophy that no one should miss out, regardless of financial position, there will be no set prices, with customers free to donate however much money they would like for food or services.

Mr Fernando said he was optimistic residents would support the new venture and help make it viable.

“There’s a lot of wealth of attitude in Northcote — people support sustainability and a community focus,” he said.

The new business occupies two large High St shops, formerly occupied by Human Powered Cycles and Three Little Seeds children’s cafe.

type_quote_start “There’s a lot of wealth of attitude in Northcote — people support sustainability and a community focus” — Lentil as Anything founder Shanaka Fernando type_quote_end

Northcote Lentil as Anything manager Nadene Marsh said the focus on health and wellbeing would extend to the restaurant and juice bar, with food and mocktails made from high quality organic ingredients mostly sourced from the chain’s community garden.

She said three experienced vegan chefs would create tasty, nutritious food and would cater for a range of dietary requirements such as gluten free.

“This will be a finer dining affair — not the buffet like our Abbotsford restaurant,” she said.

“The benefits of Lentil have been around for a long time and it’s got a strong following — we believe the community will support this new place.”

Hospitality training for asylum seekers, long-term unemployed and people on cultural exchange trips will also be available at the site.

Lentil as Anything Northcote plans to open next week at 562-564 High St, Thornbury.