Affordable vegetarian food made with love is on the way to Lismore’s CBD, with restaurant The Cardamon Pod set to open next month.

The old Mel's Café space at 63 Woodlark Street been leased by Mayleen Joy, who will be ready to open The Cardamon Pod’s doors on October 12. 

This will soon become a new vegetarian restaurant.

Hare Krishna

The Cardamom Pod is part of a chain of restaurants based on the principles of Hare Krishna vegetarian food – with western additions.

Mayleen and her husband Subir already have similar restaurants in Byron Bay and Mullumbimby and Mayleen said she is excited and nervous to open a new vegetarian restaurant in Lismore.

“We’ve been wanting to open a restaurant in Lismore for a few years, but it was hard to find the right space,” Mayleen said.

Food sold at the Mullumbimby Cardamon Pod restaurant.

“When we saw the café space up for lease a few weeks ago – we decided it was perfect.”

Mayleen said her husband Subir had originally worked as a chef for the original owners of the Byron Bay Cardamon Pod, which has been there for 20 years. She and her husband took it over about five years ago and later they also opened a store in Mullumbimby.

"One of the reasons why we wanted to open in Lismore is because it’s a low socio-economic area,” Mayleen said. “We wanted to provide affordable food for people– especially with the virus causing problems - people are struggling.”

Food sold at the Mullumbimby Cardamon Pod restaurant.

Conscious food

While the Hare Krishnas are traditionally famous for offering free feasts to devotees, The Cardamon Pod keeps the food at a low price, and makes it with “proper consciousness”.

Part of what makes the food so special is that the food is prepared by Krishna devotees, and there is no onion or garlic used in any of the dishes.

“Part of being Hare Krishna is to make Sattvic food which keeps you calm and is prepared with love,” Mayleen said.

Indian meets the west

She describes the food as half way between Indian and western.

“We also sell lasagne, potato bake and salads, as well as Indian curry and kofta – and it’s not as spicy as the original Indian food,” Mayleen said.

“We want the food to be tasty – to give people an idea that when you eat vegetarian food, you don’t have to give up on taste.

“If you’ve been to one Cardamon Pod, you know the food is good and you know what you are getting.”

The Cardamon Pod will be open Monday to Fridays 11am to 5pm, from October 12.

Menu

The menu available at other Cardamon Pod restaurants is as follows:

CURRY & DHAL - VEGAN & GLUTEN FREE

TOFU W/ VEGETABLES

GREEN THAI CURRY

RAJAMA / KIDNEY BEAN CURRY

CHICKPEA CURRY

MIXED VEGETABLE CURRY IN PUMPKIN PASTE

MIXED VEGETABLE CURRY IN COCONUT CREAM

ORGANIC DHAL

SALADS

MARINATED TOFU W/ BROCCOLI, SWEET POTATO & BEAN SPROUTS (V)

MARINATED TEMPEH W/ KALMGI SEEDS & CARROTS, CAPSICUM, BEAN SPROUTS & SNOWPEAS (V) (GF)

ROASTED PUMPKIN & FETA IN BABY SPINACH W/ ROASTED CHERRY TOMATO (GF)

SWEET POTATO & AVACADO, ROASTED CHERRY TOMATO IN MIXED GREEN (V) (GF)

ROASTED VEGETABLES MIX (V) (GF)

GREEN SALAD W/ AVOCADO, CHERRY TOMATO & MARINATED SUNFLOWER SEEDS (V) (GF)

BAKED DISHES

VEGAN VEGETABLES GRATIN (V)

POLENTA GRATIN

GAURANGA POTATO GRATIN (GF)

LENTIL MOUSSAKA (GF)

LENTIL PIE (GF)

EXTRAS

SPINACH & PANEER SAMOSA

PEA & POTATO SAMOSA (V)

CAULIFLOWER PAKORA (V)

EGGPLANT PAKORA (V)

KOFTA BALLS (V)

OTHERS

KOFTA BALLS IN SEASONED TOMATO SAUCE (V)

TUMERIC BASMATI RICE (V) (GF)

BROWN RICE (V) (GF)