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After a night out with colleagues old and new devouring helpings of juicy grilled meat at the popular Brazil eatery in Adliya, the totally vegetarian lunch buffet at Govinda’s restaurant in Juffair was a welcome change.
Back in India we used to consume an array of vegetables in our daily diet, with meat and chicken occasionally and fish more frequently.
Indian food without onions and garlic is a rarity, but that is what you’ll get at Govinda’s where the fare is described as ‘food for the soul’ and the principles of a sattvic diet are followed. I knew that there are some Indian communities that do not add these popular items in their food, so, having the chance to taste ‘pure’ vegetarian fare appealed to my palate.
The restaurant chain is known worldwide for its delicious and nutritious vegetarian fare ‘in the mode of goodness’ and sampling the menu at Mannai Mansions opens the eyes and taste buds to how delicious vegetarian fare can actually be.
At BD2.500 the buffet lunch is affordable and filling and its popularity can be gauged by the fact that most of the 60 seats in the bright, colourful and spacious eatery were taken up when the GulfWeekly team arrived.
Even though there is no meat, onion, garlic or caffeine on show, the team at the restaurant has allowed a range of other ingredients to work such as cereal grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, unpasteurised and unhomogenised fresh milk and fresh milk derivatives, mostly ghee, but also butter, cream, cheese, yogurt and raw honey.
The kitchen team headed by 30-year-old Sushant Barui, from the Indian city of Kolkata, and assisted by Sangamesh Kumachagi, 32, from Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), laid out the buffet spread consisting of a green salad, pasta salad, mini aloo vada (boiled and spiced potato covered in batter and fried), with mint and tamarind sauce, as well as a coriander corn soup for starters.
The main course included roti and naan (Indian breads), with spiced potato and capsicum, vegetable Hyderabadi – consisting of mixed vegetables, stuffed brinjal curry, paneer butter masala (cottage cheese cooked in butter and spices) and the popular dal fry and rice.
To wind up the lunch there were two dessert dishes on offer, namely sahi tukda and doodhi halwa.
Restaurant manager Dhanraj Boloor, better known to regular diners as Bobby, said: “We are working on a completely new menu along with the introduction of some tandoor (clay oven) dishes. We also have launched special nights with a Chinese Combo on Thursdays for BD2.500 and Paratha Night on Saturday for BD2. There are also daily specials six-days-a-week with each item priced less than BD2.”
The restaurant truly lives up to the accolade it received in a listings magazine of being labelled ‘Best Budget Restaurant’. Bobby said: “We didn’t even know that we were being judged until one day I received a call from my staff at the restaurant saying that there were some people at the restaurant asking for a representative to receive an award. That came as a real surprise. I understand we have once again been nominated for the 2014 award.”
Bobby says the weekends are always packed at the restaurant and during the working week there is a growing demand for food deliveries to offices.
Its reputation continues to grow. Near closing time Prakash Ramaswamy, a planning engineer at the Ministry of Works, and his wife, Sreekala, arrived. Mrs Ramaswamy said: “We are vegetarians and enjoyed eating at Govinda’s in Dubai. When we were told that there is a Govinda’s in Bahrain we were thrilled and the restaurant did not let us down!”
Surprisingly, I didn’t miss any of the ‘forbidden’ ingredients in my meal. Every item on my plate was packed with flavour, which tasted even better because I knew it was good for both my body and mind.
This is a destination well worth recommending to friends and anyone who is seeking delicious and pure vegetarian food in a place where they can relax and dine.
For further details, call 17827127 or 17695577.
