There is vegetarian food and then there is Sattvic food – made without using onions and garlic. You would say that it would not taste as good without these staples that can make any dish flavourful! But a visit to Govindas restaurant will change your mind!
Sattvic Food – The word sattvic comes from the Sanskrit word “Sattva” which means clean, good, and powerful energy. According to the Bhagavad Gita, the food that an individual eats directly influences their thoughts, nature, mental well-being, and health. Eating Sattvic food purifies the mind, removes toxins from our body, thus cleansing both the body and mind and infusing positive energy or prana in us.
The chefs here use the sattvic method, to infuse positive energy in diners giving them a unique dining experience. Govindas is a vegetarian haven with a wide choice of dishes that are flavourful and generous in portions. With thai and chinese dishes made to vegetarian preferences, they also have vegan options and can customise dishes to suit your preferences, if any.
We visit the branch at Dubai Silicon Oasis and tell you all about it.
The outlet at DSO has a unique location with ample of parking. The interiors are bright, airy, spacious, and well laid out with enough room for privacy while dining. The décor is minimalist and subtle, evoking an atmosphere of peace and calm while dining. The ambience is a refreshing mix of old and modern India. Artworks reflect the intricacies of Indian art and are complemented by the clean lines of modern design. Water elements create a soothing environment and adds a distinct note to the gentle music of the restaurant.
The servers are attentive, well-informed, and polite and can guide you capably on the ingredients, portions and more.
We begin with the drinks and settle for their signature drink – Govinda’s Amrit – a delicious concoction of lemon mint and ginger along with Watermelon juice for my partner. They have a wide choice of fresh juices, lassi, and a must try is their Thandai – a cool drink made from milk, almond, pistachio and saffron. They also have a wide choice of mocktails – Planter’s Punch, Govinda’s Paradise, Jal Jeera Mojito to name a few.
We move on to the starters and decide to try something unusual and opt for the Kachori saag – a Rajasthani speciality and five spiced broccoli tikki! The kachori saag was Rajasthan on a plate in a mouthwatering medley of crispy kachoris with moong dal filling and topped with a yellow chickpea and yoghurt saag (gravy) that is poured on the kachori after breaking it open. Simply delicious!
The five-spice broccoli tikki is served with crisp broccoli florets on each tikki along with a beautifully presented salad on the side, and after taking a bite we realise that the alchemy of their five-spice powder probably makes magic out of everything it touches. The tikkis are piping hot, absolutely delicious, and melt-in-the-mouth!
After poring through an extensive menu that has a number of options for starters – street food, and freshly made hot kebabs and tikkis, we move on to the main dishes. There are soups available for someone who wants to opt for a proper five-course menu but we being light eaters decide to skip and go for the mains.
From a wide variety of starters, we choose the watermelon and avocado salad – a delicious mix of avocado, baked beans, cherry tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, rocket leaves, watermelon, orange, lime, feta cheese and balsamic vinegar! Wow! Never imagined that this could be a combination and a burst of flavours on the palate!
We course trough the menu that has raitas, Amritsari dishes like tikkas, seekhs, tandoori platters, koftas and several paneer and soya options, to the vegetables and opt for the Mirchi Ka Salan. From the number of Dals on offer, we select the Dal Pancharatna. We choose the Khasta roti and Pudina Paratha from the bread options to accompany our mains.
A melange of spices and herbs have made this delicious bowl of mirchi ka salan. Tangy and flavourful tamarind, curry leaves, mustard seeds, cloves along with chillies and a spicy salan paste are mixed together. The big chillies are stuffed with delicious, mashed potatoes and dunked in the salan gravy and eaten with rice or rotis.
Chana, Urad, Moong, Toor, Moth are the dals that go into making the Dal Pancharatna. This is a protein-packed lentil dish that contains the goodness and nutritive qualities of 5 different lentils and is healthy and delicious. A speciality of Rajasthan, this dal is served with bati, roti or with rice for lunch or dinner.
The Khasta roti, as the name says, is crisp and made from wheat flour with a dash of semolina and topped with caraway seeds. The pudina paratha is a flaky, layered, mint flavored whole wheat flatbread.
After eating this sumptuous meal, we are too stuffed to opt for the rice or biryani options on offer although they look too tempting to resist! Especially the mouth melting biryani – cheese dumplings, rich tomato sauce and ghee in a biryani – Heaven! But we decide to try it next time and go straight for the dessert.
There is a fantastic array of Indian desserts to choose from along with their original Tru-frut icecream, made from fresh fruits. We try the Sitaphal Basundi and the Angoori Rabri. The Basundi is a delicious twist to the classic recipe. Thickened and mildly sweetened milk is flavored with the sweet and luscious flavor of ripe custard apple – scrumptious! The Angoori Rabri is a fusion dessert where soft and spongy mini rasgullas are loaded over the Delicious Rabri and topped with almonds and pistachios with a dash of saffron and edible silver foil.
At Govindas, food is a philosophy and vegetarianism a way of life. They merge the wisdom of the Vedas, with the flair of modern-day cooking to create signature sattvic meals – pure, wholesome meals prepared without the use of garlic, onion, eggs, caffeine and never over-spiced. It’s not only easy, but also absolutely enjoyable. It is said, “You are what you eat.” They uphold this principle at Govinda’s and prepare food that pays tribute to the inherent spirituality that exemplifies Indian cooking. The sattvic cuisine satisfies the senses and enriches the soul.
The Good: It is a vegetarian’s delight! Comfortable dining for those who want to eat vegetarian food cooked in a pure manner.
The Bad: The menu is so extensive that you need help to decide! You will need multiple visits to try out the variety on offer.
The Trendy: Health benefits of a sattvic diet are enormous. It is the best diet for strength, calm mind, perfect health and longevity. This is the best option for current times when we are all looking for health and calm.
There are a number of sweets and savouries available to shop at My Govindas.
Visit www.mygovindas.com to know more.