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574-2932000
Restaurant and library. Open Mon-Sat 12:00pm-3:00pm.
Categories: Vegan-friendly, Lacto, International, Buffet, Fast food, Hare Krishna
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17 Reviews
First Review by allthewaytothestars
Contributions +182
So bland - Edit
I have to agree with the previous review on here about Govinda's.
I stopped by to get some lunch, and got the vegan tamale.
It was probably the blandest, most weirdest thing I've ever tried to eat, and unfortunately I had to throw half of it away.
Maybe the other foods are better, but my experience was not so good.
Pros: Central location
Cons: Bland, bland, bland
Contributions +19
Not a tasty restaurant - Edit
Small, hot and crowded restaurant in the center of Medellín. I did not come back to Govindas for a long time, now I remember why. I ate a Paella, it only had carrot, vetch and a little olives and it was cold!!. The food is not really tasty, soup was just fine and the salad was not much fresh. The dessert is the only acceptable.
Pros: Cheap
Cons: Small, not tasty
Contributions +492
Fan número uno - Edit
Mi perspectiva de Govindas cambió totalmente hoy, no sé qué le pasó a Govindas pero ya comer vegano allá se volvió absurdo, ahora le echan lácteos a absolutamente todo, hoy almorcé allá y mi opción como vegana tuvo que ser una sopa de papa y zanahoria (casi incomible de lo salada) arroz integral con lentejas, una ensalada diminuta porque al parecer disminuyeron el tamaño de la porción, una torta pequeña, esta sí estaba rica y una aguapanela, es decir que comí practicamente lo mismo que me hubiera comido en un corrientazo retirando la carne y comiendo lo que quedaba, qué triste decir esto de Govindas que era de mis favoritos, pero en lugar de acercarse a una comunidad vegana cada vez en aumento, parecen estarse alejando cada vez más. Pasó de mis favoritos casi que a mi lista negra :( Espero que vuelvan a mejorar y a ser lo que eran antes.
Updated from previous review on 2016-05-28
Pros: Buen servicio
Cons: Todo con lácteos , Opciones muy pobres para veganos
Contributions +115
Indian-style vegan buffet restaurant - Edit
In the center, 3min walk from Plaza Botero, my first and best vegan meal I had in Colombia. They mix Indian and Colombian cousine. The daily menu is more than enough for one person. Friendly staff and low prices, can only recommend.
Contributions +304
Just okay - Edit
It was alright but food all pretty bland. It's a buffet style place and they were able to give me vegan things. It's across the road from the church and up some stairs.
Contributions +184
good value but a bit bland - Edit
Portions are big, and there are a lot of options. But out of all the dishes, there wasn't really anything special unfortunately. A bit more flavour or salt would've made a big difference, as all the dishes were healthy, well cooked and full of vegetables.
Maybe I went on a bad day, because the other govindas I have been to have been excellent!
Pros: cheap, many dishes to choose from
Cons: bland
Contributions +627
Generous portions, good prices - Edit
Like many Hare Krishna restaurants, Govinda's is a dim, buffet-style restaurant. Didn't love the atmosphere, but the food exceeded expectations - yummy beans (nice break from all the soya and gluten), plantains, veges, rice, soup, juice and a little maracuya dessert. Also picked up a vegan eyeliner from the sari shop. Staff are knowledgeable about veganism, the location is good (2 mins from Plaza Botero), and the price is right.
Pros: Cheap, More options than usual
Cons: Dingy atmosphere
Contributions +202
What a deal! - Edit
Incredible deal for $8500 COP.. you get a soup, rice, whatever 2 entrees they have that day, a small little salad, a small little dessert (think rice pudding) and a glass of whatever juice they have. Additional things like empanadas, huge fried potato ball things, cookies, etc available for around $1500 COP each which is also a great deal. Not gonna be the best meal you've ever had but healthy and tasty and cheap! Ate here everyday I was in Medellin. Sit by the window and watch the sketchiness unfold on the street. One of their staff even spoke English which was helpful. Recommended!!!
Pros: Delicious, Great value, Rotating menu
Contributions +241
Great Food - Edit
Went here today for lunch&told staff i was vegan &she spoke english &named everything she was putting on my plate. The food was great i paid 8500 for soup,main,dessert,salad&rice milk. They also have take away food eg vegan papa rellena etc. The portion sizes were big &food was satisfying. Loving sitting at the window watching what was going on in the plaza. Thank you govindas for supporting me on my travels
Pros: Vegan Friendly, Big Portions, Great Location
Contributions +678
Good value in city centre - Edit
I went here at lunch time and the menu of the day was $6500 COP, which is very good value for a soup, main, desert and drink. However, not all of it is vegan but you still pay the same price. They are knowledgeable about what is and isn't vegan though.
Pros: cheap, location
Cons: no vegan substitutes
Contributions +19
Govindas - Edit
We enjoyed our lunch at Govindas. The food was simple but well prepared. The servings were plentiful!
I recommend sitting at the bar at the window instead of a table. You get a great view of the street/plaza below.
Pros: vegetarian, good value
Cons: Good food but not amazing
Contributions +1364
the grandmother of Medallo Krishna spots - Edit
Located next to the oldest church in town (I believe), it's actually quite a large building when you see it from the outside... though as other reviewers have noted, it's easy to walk past it several times trying to find the entrance.
Once you do, go up the occasionally crowded staircase into the second floor restaurant, which is surprisingly roomy and spacious. Food is pretty typical Krishna fare, not ideal vegans since they do use ghee and cheese, but there still several options. Best time is to arrive for the buffet lunch between 12 and 3, but they are open later for fast food and snacks.
The neighborhood is generally safe, but it's also a few blocks away from less desirable areas as well as some very crowded corners so it's important to be wary. Recommended!
Pros: central, hearty, friendly
Cons: lots of dairy products, a bit hard to find, need to take care in neighborhood
Contributions +1612
Good food in the historic part of town - Edit
This place is an excellent value and you will not leave hungry. You may not even be hungry at dinner time if you have lunch here!
It's easy to miss the entrance of this place as they have a glass case with pastries and breads for sale that partially blocks the doorway. Just go up the stairway, enter the dining room area, get a tray and silverware and choose what you'd like from the buffet. They have signs on the wall in English and Spanish that describe the different meals of the day. I just get the most expensive one (I think it was 7.500 pesos) and I get to try everything. I have eaten here several times and always found the food to be good and very filling. The food seems to be well balanced with attention paid to protein. It's only a few blocks from the metro station Parque Berrio.
Pros: Good food, Attention to nutritive value, Friendly staff
Contributions +19
my advice - Edit
Review: hey guys! i'm going to share with u what i eat whenever i go there, my personal picks:
*the special dish of the day WITHOUT rice.
*lasagna
what happens with rice's that it's a very boring rice in my opinion, so i would suggest to skip it and fill your plate with something else ;).
eat without it and you would probably be good. ;)
Cons: heat , rice, location
Contributions +223
Decent but try others - Edit
I`ve had better food at other Govindas. Maybe it was an off day. The atmosphere is cool though and it`s worth checking out since they have movies, events and stuff. For 6000 pesos i expected a bit more though, the food was cold and kind of plain.
Pros: hold other events, in center of town, nice atmosphere
Cons: cold food, bad soy coffee
Contributions +21
Govindas - Edit
Great food, buffet-style...awsome. Not simple at all, excelent flavors and recipes. It's a lovely place and you can see how they spread the vegetarian message 'cause there's alot of different people having lunch. It's a nice option for those who look variety. I didn't like the location, it's very hot, hard to find and far from the zona rosa or "where the action is".
Pros: Food variety, Nice decoration, Lovely people
Cons: No air circulation, Location
1 Response
Jeffrey 22 Feb 2013 - Hi beminevalentine, I liked your review of this Govindas. I usually like the Hari Krishna places, so I'll try this one out.
Contributions +23
Lunch at Govindas - Edit
Really great lunch at a very reasonable price.You have to go upstairs through the herbal shop to get to the resturant.Staff are fantastic.Buffet style meun.Staff will help with choice if unsure of what anything is.Really good find and definately worth a visit.
Pros: excellent food, great staff, lovely decor
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