Laneway Greens | Richmond

The Verdict

With the recent opening of Benny Burger, the balance on Swan St has been swinging due to the bacon, so it’s probably good we get another healthy cafe to help even the score. Plus, our pants were starting to shrink mysteriously. Presenting the highly anticipated Laneway Greens’ Richmond store. A clean-eating, superfood-sprouting, soul-nourishing temple of purity, and the second location for the successful city cafe.

The new space seats up to 60 hungry diners (compared to 12 at the old CBD hole-in- the-wall). The menu is built around ethically sourced, sustainable whole foods, with a dash of good wine, beer and coffee. “Quality food can be part of the everyday, not just limited to fine dining,” says owner Luke Cala.

Ingredients have been sourced from suppliers like Yarra Valley Dairy, Cape Grim Beef, Kinross Farm, Ora King with transparency, integrity and minimal environmental impact. “We welcome and encourage our customers to ask where the ingredients are from – and to reconnect with the land, ocean and people which bring them to the plate,” says Luke. 

The menu is ridiculously good. Expect smoothies like the Raw Cacao and filtered coffee, with natural almond butter, banana and medjool dates. Then there are the bowls. Tasty goodness like the Redwood smoked salmon with a Kinross farm poached egg, avocado, carrot, beetroot and a lemon sesame vinaigrette. Oh, and did we mention that their coffee is too legit to quit, with filtered brews by none other than the legends at Industry beans? Nuff said. 

For us, all this couldn’t come sooner. Beach season is menacing, and there's only so many Swan St burgers we can smash. If you're after something light, healthy and 100% guilt-free, fight the lunchtime crowds and grab a table at Laneway Greens. We'll be seeing you there.

Image credit: Jenna Fahey-White