Gentle Lentil Soup from Bluebag
57 Londsdale Street, Melbourne
(but there are 5 stores all up)
Having recently started work in CBD Melbourne, I am now starting my exploration of cafes for cheap and healthy lunch options. One place I have come across is Bluebag. I so loved the soup I had yesterday, that I had to go back for a repeat (albeit different) performance today.
Yesterday I consumed a wonderful chickpea and pumpkin soup, which was fragrant and subtly flavoured with a dash of coconut milk. It was garnished with sprigs of coriander and crispy shallots. Oh yeah.
Today was Gentle Lentil; red lentils, onion, red curry paste, carrot, capsicum, tomato and cumin. This was served with generous shavings of parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper. Mmm. Hit the spot on a rainy Melbourne day.
A large soup and a hunk of crusty bread is all yours for $6.50. My only complaint is they don’t include the option of multigrain bread. So Bluebag…are you listening? The health conscious demand a wholegrain option!
Anyway, would anyone like to pass on their Melbourne CBD lunch secrets? If so, write them in the comments. I’d love to hear about them.
Written by mellie on
August 9th, 2006 | Tags: restaurants | Category: Uncategorized
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August 9th, 2006 at 8:59 am
Not sure whereabouts in the city you’re located, but if you get the chance, try Satay Bar for lunch - fast, cheap, and very very tasty! One on Flinders Lane, not sure if the one on Manchester Lane is open yet?
August 9th, 2006 at 10:16 am
I like Bluebag, the other day I had the “Nimostrone”. Not sure which end of town you’re in but I once posted about the J Cafe which is nearby on Exhibition St, that’s a cute little Japanese place.
August 9th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
Hiya Ellie and Belinda! Thanks for the recommendations - I’ll have to try them out. I’m up the parliament end of town, but I have feet and I will travel anywhere for a good feed
August 10th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
up the parliament end shuji sushi on bourke st does a decent bento box for under $10. the quality is good for a chain
society (also on bourke) does reasonable pasta/pizza/risotto specials at lunch for the $10-15 mark and quite good snacky/tapas stuff post work for sub $10.
Ito, further down bourke, around russel i think, does decent japanese.
shark fin inn on little bourke always does a great yum cha trade if you’re with a group.
on the shanghai dumpling place off little bourke for a plate of noodles/hotpot or plate of dumplings for one
lebanese house on russel (between lonsdale and little bourke i think?) does quite cheap middle eastern stuff and is fairly quiet.
August 11th, 2006 at 12:21 am
Sounds great, will have to give the soups a try!
August 12th, 2006 at 9:20 am
Ooh, up near Parliament? Please tell me that you’ve been to Nudel Bar - if not, make sure you make a trip there and try their green tea noodles. They’re a bit pricey, but the servings are huge (for me, but when I go there I take a particular friend who eats like a horse to help me out) and very, very tasty
August 13th, 2006 at 5:43 am
Anon - thanks for all those wonderful recommedations. That will keep me busy for a week at least! I am very tempted by Lebanese House. That one might have to be my first try. And I love a good bento box too!
And Ellie…nope, I haven’t done the nudel yet. I’ve heard many a good thing about it though - it seems to hit the foodie reviews quite often. I’ll just fast for a day before I go so I can consume the whole dish of green tea noodles myself!
August 15th, 2006 at 1:56 pm
Hey there Anon. I tried one of your recommedations today - Lebanese House. You are right, it was a trifle quiet. But my my…what tasty food they have! I went with a colleague from work, and we tucked into their felafal, babaganouch, hummus and bread. It all cost us under $10 a head, and we were absolutely stuffed! Their baba was just amazing. I will definitely return to sample some of their mains! And I might even blog the experience! Thanks once again.
August 18th, 2006 at 10:56 am
Not a problem and I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I’m of the opinion their entrees are better than their mains both in terms of quality and value for money.
It’s fairly busy at night and a good place for a group if you’re looking for snacky food. You can graze on the mixed entree and end up feeling really full!
I’m going to try lucky coq sometime soon after reading your review
August 18th, 2006 at 10:57 pm
Anon - uh huh, I can see how grazing on some mezze’s with friends and good wine could be a great night out. I’ll certainly be back for that! The owner was quite a nice guy too (very dry sardonic sense of humour). We got talking about belly-dancing, and how 15 minutes of shaking your booty was equivalent to a 2km walk. Hmm. I wonder what one has to do to work off a plate of falafel?!?
Anyway, I think I’ll try Shanghai Dumpling next week. I have a craving for some good dumplings.