Govinda's

Good food, nice people, cozy atmosphere, verry reasonable price. Went years ago and recently got takeout, delicious.

I work at the University of Ottawa and this restaurant is close by, offering delicious food at extremely affordable prices. The restaurant itself is clean and brightly lit by the big windows. It is not fancy but the food is delicious and service is friendly and prompt. With many vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options, you can eat a huge lunch for only 10$, 12$ or 14$. There are student specials that make the food even more affordable. Last time I was there I had carrot and spinach curry, cabbage and potatoes, and dahl with rice and salad. Highly recommend!

Pure vegetarian restaurant. Minimal preparation but outstanding food, quality wise. You can take more if you want but try not to waste it. It is satwik and I loved interacting with the devotees as I loved the food there. I am visiting this restaurant time to time and would definitely recommend.

I would give this place 6 stars out of 5 if I could! What I love about it is the food is very "home cooked" and not dripping in oil as sometimes Indian food can be. Super value, and the customer service was outstanding too!

Incredible vegetarian and vegan food. Great portions for the price. Very peaceful and calm environment nestled in Ottawas only Krishna temple. The food is already made and placed out in heating bins which you select your options and is graciously served out to you. There is commonly good dessert options as well. The food is made with love and offered to the lord prior to serving. Very high quality of food. Would recommend to any vegetarian, vegan or even just spiritual person.

Blissful place. Our first Govindas in North America. We've been to one in Mumbai. Great food. One can go with different options of Thali (plate) depending upon how much one wants to eat and are priced accordingly. The volunteers are great to speak to and they're very helpful. There's street parking around if you have a vehicle. Definitely coming back next time we're in Ottawa.

Govinda's is a little slice on all that is incredible about India. Delicious food, welcoming and generous hosts, and a cosy and vibrant atmosphere. Thank you to the kind owner for making our visit, on our 13th anniversary, extra special! We highly recommend going.

It was an amazing place, where we met new people but they were very close and the conversation went well with them and it was very knowledgeable, it feels homely there ❤️❤️

I'm not normally into vegetarian food, but this is a great spot to go as the weather gets cooler if you're around uOttawa campus trying to eat on a budget. This is hearty food with plenty of lentils, pasta, rice, chickpea salad and delicious curries like their paneer curry. There was also some delicious banana bread on the side for dessert. Next time, I'm going to get their zucchini pakoras. Remember to take off your shoes once you get inside. The lady is very nice. I believe it used to be buffet (get your own) style but now she portions things out for you. You will be full for the entire day for $15.

I located a vegetarian restaurant on google maps few years ago, so I was thrilled. I was a student at the time and I ate a simple large quantity of food while paying the price of mere $5. It was $6 for non-students. They had a daal, one or two vegetables, salad and sweet too. If I had lived close by it would have been perfect for me to eat there daily. Due to inflation their prices have risen to $12 now I think but they have upgraded their menu too. I love eating there because the food is prepared by simple devotees who chant the name of God whole day. How lucky I am to eat this kind of food! It is invaluable. The food does not contain onions or garlic and is mild. Parking is tricky, but I have been lucky all the times. Once we enter, we remove our outer wear and hang coats etc., remove our shoes while we can keep the socks on. Some people do not like that it is mandatory to remove shoes. The reason for asking to remove shoes is that Krishna Temple is attached to the restaurant. Whenever temples are built their floors are designed to conduct the cosmic energy and positive vibes of the temples through the feet. Temples are a place where cosmic energies meet. Every person who enters the temple becomes the conductor of that energy. Just like electricity is connected to the earth similarly human bodies need to earth the cosmic currents. Even science suggests that morning walks (which I used to do in my childhood) bare feet on dew on grass very early morning is very good for eyes. Having said that, it is also important to keep our shoes on while visiting graveyards and places where negative energy might be present. Bare feet definitely ensure we do not bring any dirt inside as devotees afterwards remove chairs etc. and prostrate on the floor. The same space is used as temple seating. I also go to Govindas for buying bindis and other pooja items. They carry beautiful Indian wear too at very economical prices. I definitely recommend you to visit Govindas Restaurant to enjoy a good Indian vegetarian meal prepared with love and devotion.

This is a simple dining option in the temple. It is not a buffet, but you can choose from a few items. I went twice in my stay in Ottawa---healthy, easy, simple but tasty options, and price is fair as well. Friendly service, no pressure on the Hare Krishna front, but you can read some materials if you want. On the days I went, the meal was essentially the same, but it was fine. I wold go back again, and a great choice for vegans!

I am not sure what to say -- I have eaten at iskcon temples before (where I didn't have to pay) and my expectations were a bit higher when I was going to a place advertised as a "restaurant". I didn't quite like the food -- there was a small selection available -- a really runny Dal, two curries (potato and bean), rice, a lettuce-based salad, a cold pasta salad (just pasta with hints of red pepper), and some banana cake. I think there was not much effort put into preparing some dishes. Lastly, I was a bit appalled when a patron at the restaurant asked me to pay $8. There was an elderly woman who was the staff/caretaker and she was the sweetest person I've come across in a while, who didn't feel obligated to argue with the misbehaving patron. I liked the food for its simplicity but if I am eating outside, I expect just a little of that extra "taste". I won't visit again as I think the food I prepare on my own tastes/costs better than here.

Govinda's is not a "normal" restaurant. It's actually part of a Hare Krishna temple. As such, don't be alarmed by the meditating and the fact you need to take your shoes off when you enter. You'll want to show up early if you're with a big group. The seating is limited and first come first serve. They generally have food available from 5-8pm. Govinda's tends to run out of food around 7:30pm. Please also be aware that the owner goes away to India every summer for 2 weeks, so if you want to avoid disappointment, call Govinda's ahead of time to ensure they're open. The food is presented buffet style; there are usually about 5-8 options available. All the food is all vegan and filled with good karma. You can eat as much as you want for 7$ or 5$ for students.

I went there friday night after i got off from the bus terminus .. after an exhausting 3h30 bus ride from Montreal. It is in a temple, so there are people preying and reading books, but they are not disturbing and you don't have to be a krishna in order to come here. In fact, I think that's how they pay for the rent or other services : by offering on week nights a vegetarian/vegan buffet for 7$. You have to take your shoes off when you come in and keep your voice low, in sign of respect. As soon as you enter this place, you feel the love ! There is this kind of peace vibe all around the place, it's worth it really. And the food, Oh My, the food ! I love indian food but this is good stuff. A few choices, but everything is tasty and worth trying. Their curry & Curcuma potato stew was so good that I had cravings all week end. Unfortunately, they don't serve food on saturday or sunday. I want to go back !

Govinda's is a wonderfully welcoming and affordable vegetarian restaurant, but with unfortunately inconvenient hours: Monday - Friday 5-8pm. Sometimes they even run out of food early. However, it's the purpose and atmosphere of this restaurant that makes it so popular. It is operated by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness with the goal of offering a buffet of affordable, nutritious and often local food to all its customers: $5 students/seniors, $7 regular. The owner treats everyone with a warmth that's hard to find elsewhere and a mutual respect is often felt between the establishment and its patrons. However, this restaurant may not be for people who prefer a more formal and dependable dining experience, as well as keeping their shoes on while they eat.

Whenever I travel, I like to look for a Hare Krishna temple restaurant in that city since I can eat there without asking any questions about diet concerns. Ottawa had one, but it has two negatives. The hours are VERY limited. Open for dinner only on weekdays from 5 to 8 pm. The second negative is that unless you get there early (try to be there no later 6:30), they may run out of food. I got there on Monday at 7:15 pm or so with a colleague and his wife and they were out of food so we had to go elsewhere. I did go back on Wednesday and Thursday and enjoyed the food. It was the exact same menu on both of those days. It is close to the university and very affordable so it tends to be frequented by students. As of this writing, the buffet is $5 for students and $7 for everyone else. There are about 6-8 different things including salad. Parking can be a bit of pain. The restaurant is in a house and as such it is very small. Maybe seating for 20 or so people very tightly seated together. You have to take your shoes off and leave them on a rack before you enter the serving/dining area. The part about removing shoes is different than any of the other Govinda's I've eaten at in different cities. Basically, you have to plan your evening around your visit to this restaurant if you plan to eat here, but I think it's well worth it.

Such a lovely place to eat! The atmosphere is nice and friendly. You can't really beat the price - 5 bucks for all you can eat? Psh - yes! The food is homey and simple. My dinner party was all over their cinnamon cake. My only complaint is that they don't replenish their buffet, so when they're out, they're out.

The cutest place. Although I was a bit apprehensive when I walked in with only a few selection available, for 5$ it was amazing. All you can eat dinner for that price and the food was full of flavour and healthy it was just a great place for a student looking for a cheap home cooked meal. On top of that the banana cake was awesome.

Govindas serves delicious, dirt-cheap vegetarian food in a welcoming setting. An excellent deal, particularly for students.