Ever since I visited Gopal’s back in September 2013, I’ve been waiting to go back. I haven’t been in that part of the city recently and although I could always catch a tram in to town and go eat somewhere, it’s not really something I do that often!
Today I took Arthur to the city to watch the Adam Spencer ‘Blurred Primes’ show as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. We left home with enough time to allow us to buy lunch. Arthur got fries from Lord of the Fries and we took those up to Gopal’s so we could hang out a bit.
Truthfully, we walked up in to Crossways first and it was unbearably hot in there. We were in there a couple of minutes, checking out the food and Arthur said in a pale kind of voice “can we go somewhere else, it’s really hot in here”. As he gets nosebleeds a lot when he’s too hot, we got out of there fast.
Gopal’s is a hop, skip and jump away from Crossways. I was pleased to see the window seats were empty so I told Arthur to stay put eating his chips while I got my meal:
Today I got the vegan deal for $11.50 (up from $10.50 last year). I had brown rice, a chickpea kofta, a mixed chickpea-veg curry and then two kinds of salad. Dessert was plain sago pudding and I got the lemon mint drink. Like I said, all that for $11.50 and a mega serving. I couldn’t finish the drink or the salad, I was so full. Arthur had half the sago, I tried to finish it off but was way too stuffed:
I didn’t take any Melbourne photos because it was raining and I hadn’t taken my camera. I was too busy dodging puddles (my boot has a hole in it somewhere) and trying to steer Arthur through crowds. We got a good seat and enjoyed the show. Part of the show involved a Melbourne world champion in Rubik’s Cube solving. This guy solved the cube in under six seconds. Then he did it one handed. Then he did about a fifth of the cube then put it behind his back and completed it.
It was nice to have a day out with Arthur. I wish he’d eat the same kind of restaurant/cafe food I do, so we could share those huge Gopal’s plates! But three years ago he would only eat cheese sandwiches and WeetBix and now he’s in to roasted chickpeas and tofu. All plain, without rice or salad or anything, but we’ll get there one day!
Gopal’s Pure Vegetarian Restaurant is located at 139 Swanston Street up a lot of stairs. Website here.
veganopoulous.com <-- I've moved here! 
Woah, that is a serious plate of food! It looks delicious – especially the kofta. I am afraid of hot oil so don’t deep fry at home, but would love it if a local restaurant made kofta.
I’ve never had this kind and it was nice, I’m glad I only got one because the plate was just too big to finish off!
oh I used to love going to gopals but it has been too long – don’t eat out in the city like we used to before kids. that plateful looks so good
I definitely can’t finish those plates on my own, one kofta itself was quite filling with the rice!