Govinda’s Vegetarian Lunch

Govinda’s Vegetarian Lunch is owned by the International Society For Krishna Consciousness, an institution with over 108 temples around the world. Every temple has a govinda, which is named after the lord who is the protector of cows. This govinda is managed by Bhakta Vatsala, who used to sell eyewear in India and is now running this vegetarian spot in Downtown Brooklyn after his spiritual master convinced him to move from India to New York. The menu includes Indian vegetarian dishes like kofta in a creamy tomato cashew sauce and sesame-crusted tofu with tahini cilantro sauce. If you’re dining in their basement location on Schermerhorn Street, you’ll get your food on nostalgic orange plastic trays cafeteria-style. While the menu changes by the day, if you catch yourself there on a Tuesday, here’s my go-to order: spinach lasagna with a side of oven-roasted cilantro potatoes and a samosa for later. Just know that they’re only open from 12-3pm on weekdays.

photo credit: Alex Staniloff