Haribol! Welcome to Govinda's! Step lightly as if you are entering another land, another culture. You are.Give yourself plenty of time to stroll around the grounds before entering. Sit, perhaps, by the pond; listen to the gurgle of the waterfall or watch a dragonfly skim over the surface of the water. Visit, please, with the Macaws and Pea-fowl, even just to tell them you're sorry they are caged. Beautifully landscaped flowers give the grounds a peaceful oasis-like quality even in the heart of the city. Browse awhile in their import shop, featuring fashionable clothing, incense, gifts and books. It is possible to eat quickly and run, but those who do deprive themselves of the rare opportunity to dine as if the very act of eating is sacred and holy, as it was meant to be. Though we may be of other faiths or beliefs than the Krishna devotees who operate Govinda's, we can feel the love and devotion- the care- that is put into the food and service, that we may all enjoy the bounty, the abundance of life.
Dining at Govinda's is buffet style and changes daily, though some staples and popular items are repeated in variations. Except for special items, such as deserts, natural sodas, or vegetable samosas (dough filled with vegetables and cooked, somewhat like an empenada or vegetable turnover), the price is for the buffet and is all-you-can-eat (though please don't take more than you can eat- waste is frowned upon). Everything is vegetarian (mostly vegan) and, to a large extent, organic. Look for the coupon in Govinda's advertisements throughout Tucson publications and save a buck on the buffet price! Tuesday night is Indian night and you may call ahead for entrŽe choices on other nights. Every Wednesday features a lunch buffet for $6 and a dinner buffet for $7.
Regular items, though they may vary a bit, include delicious lentil chips (crispy chips about the size of half a tortilla- sort of like an Indian pappadum); fresh baked whole wheat or rye bread; and a wonderful salad bar with an assortment of organic vegetables and delicious dressings, like creamy cashew or almond. There are usually a couple of soups, perhaps a couple of rice dishes, vegetables, pasta, and a special entrŽe, such as lasagna or moussaka. There are always more than enough choices to please everyone. Besides sodas, you can get filtered water and fruit juice-sweetened herbal tea. The previously mentioned samosas and deserts like frosted muffins are available at an extra charge, but a regular item included in the buffet, though the flavor changes nightly are the delicious halvah. Unlike traditional halvah made with ground sesame seeds, Govinda's halvah is made with cous-cous and are highly addictive. Sweet and flavorful, these are all the desert I need (but, then, I usually have several pieces).
On a recent visit my partner, Donna, and I enjoyed generous portions of lentil chips; rye bread and butter; salad with romaine and green leaf lettuce, grated cucumber and carrots, raisins, sprouts and creamy cashew dressing; vegetable chutney; lentil and vegetable soups; Basmati and brown rice with vegetables; fusilli pasta with herbed vegetable sauce; broiled zucchini; eggplant moussaka; a couple of carrot and potato samosas; several pineapple-coconut halvah and several refills of tea- the total bill (we each had a coupon) was $15!
This was Donna's first time at Govinda's and she was quite impressed with the variety and flavor of the many choices. Although I've enjoyed their food and hospitality many times, I must say I, too, thoroughly enjoyed everything and went back for seconds of the moussaka and several more pieces of halvah!
There are two dining rooms- one with rather patio-like tables and chairs and the other with low tables for sitting on the floor (please take your shoes off if you use this dining room). There is also a very nice patio, weather permitting, with a beautiful fountain. Unfortunately, due to the small kitchen facilities, paper plates and plastic utensils are used.
If you haven't yet visited Govinda's, what are you waiting for? They have one of the most extensive, delicious buffets in town, at reasonable prices, in a peaceful atmosphere. I know we'll be back and hope to see you there! If you get there before I do, save me some halvah!
Govinda's is located on Blacklidge, just south of Ft. Lowell and a few doors east of 1st Ave, in the Chaitanya Cultural Center. They are open Tuesday 5-9 p.m. (for India Night) and from Wednesday through Saturday at 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-9 p.m.
Robert Oser is a local chef, teacher and author of "Flavors of the Southwest" and an upcoming vegetarian chili cookbook. He currently works at the Food Conspiracy Co-op.