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Govinda's
Categories: Vegetarian, Buffets, Indian, Hindu Temples, Pakistani [Edit]
Neighborhood: Central West End3926 Lindell Blvd
Saint Louis, MO 63108
(314) 535-8085
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Alcohol:
- None
4 reviews for Govinda's
Oh, what an incredibly strange place to eat. Although the food is okay, vegetarian, and really cheap, I have often had a hard time enjoying my meal here, as I feel like you're not really supposed to be talking. Not that any of the Hari Krishna people are walking around hushing you, but it's that kind of atmosphere.
It's an all you can eat buffet of Indian food, but for my spice-craving taste buds, it generally falls short in that area. It's an interesting place to check out just for the oddness of it and for the cheap and decent food. I think on Sundays or maybe Saturdays they give out free food, but maybe you have to listen to them talk about being Hari Krishna.
I ate here once when I was in college; I had to attend their religious service for an assignment. Being that I was raised within the western culture, I never experienced anything like this [only Catholic/Christian services]; I appreciated the Krishna service more than anything [I'm not religious] and was glad to have attended. Since I attended the service, I got to eat the dinner buffet for free! Nice! It was very good; however, every time I make the trek out there [on weekends] they're not open, so be sure to check their hours before you go! My friend who's originally from here has eaten there several times and always talks about how good this place is! Hopefully I'll make it back here soon!
One of the first times I visited Govinda's, I can remember feeling a bit greedy. Would the man serving me my food think me awful for asking for extra rice? It is, after all, an all-you-can-eat buffet, only in those days you had to walk back and ask the man behind the buffet for what you wanted.
I stammered a bit, and stared down at my plate as I practically whispered, "Can I have extra rice?"
"You must always ask for what you want," he told me, without even stopping to think. "Only then will you ever receive anything."
Those words stayed with me, long after the rice was gone. He was right. Who would have guessed I'd learn that at an all-you-can-eat vegetarian buffet?
Every time I go to Govinda's, I come upon a similar sense of inner peace. I love the plain ambiance. There's no pretension, no ostentation. Just quiet and amazing, healthy food. Now you can serve yourself, and there's a small, though filling, selection. Always chapati and pappadum (crispy lentil flour crackers). There is always a fried pakora, sometimes onions in chickpea batter, sometimes mixed veggies. There is always a dal, or lentil soup. Usually it's spicy. There is always a sabji, or stew. Sometimes it's potatoes with cumin, others it's okra and tomatoes. It's always amazing. Always.
There is always a different kind of halva, which is basically cream of wheat and butter and some sort of flavor, such as carob and walnut or strawberries or bananas. It's absolutely delicious, either way.
There is always filtered water and an herbal tea of some sort sweetened with honey. It's a wonderfully filling experience - in more ways than one.
These days I find that I don't even need extra rice. But if I did, I know I'd no longer be afraid to ask for it.
weirdo fun place to check out.
