Thr1ve, Melbourne CBD by Bureaucrat

I’m a bit picky when it comes to paying for salad.  I baulk at the idea of paying over $10 for a mingy bowl of iceberg.  While there are a number of great salads to be had from proper cafes and online delivery gourmet saladeries(TM by Bureaucrat) sometimes convenience is the order of the day. 

Meeting up with Beaker for lunch, we heading into the food court at the Emporium.  We both wanted something quick and healthy, and we spotted Thr1ve.  Flanked by pretty young things of both genders, you front up to the counter to place your order.  You pick a salad base, what sort of leaves, protein, dressing and extras that you want.  You pay for it and wait for them to make it up. 

There are two sizes – small and large.  Basically, you get one serve of protein for the small and two serves of protein for the large.  I went for the small size and got a mix of salad leaves, brown rice and salmon ($12.90) in a takeaway bowl.  It came with some strips of char-grilled caps.  I thought this was kinda underwhelming.  There wasn’t that much salmon and it was these little nuggets and scrapings of fish.  The salad leaves and rice weren’t that special or memorable.  For less than the cost of this salad, my weekly Trout Thursday lunch that I make (using trout and salad ingredients that I buy from the Vic Market) is cheaper and more filling.

Beaker went for a small salad as well but with sweet potato mash, spinach, herbed chicken and extra avo ($14.90).  She was equally underwhelmed with it and still felt a bit hungry at the end of the meal.

Verdict

Food – 6.5
Service – 7
Ambiance - 7
Price – 6.5

Overall

The quality of the individual ingredients were okay.  However, I still find the salads to be a bit pricey for what you get.  My search for a value-for-money saladerie continues…

Address

Thr1ve

The Emporium

287 Lonsdale St  

Melbourne 3000

Telephone: 9650 9864