Hare Krishna Student Center

What a wonderful option to eat on campus or at the Krishna house.
Super sweet people working the buffet always make you feel like family. Everyday comes with a specific dish but it is always vegetarian and vegan options available too. Super healthy and good for you food that will nourish your body.
Extremely cheap $ 4 all you can eat and can even take home if you want.

Great spaghetti wednesdays. All you can eat!

I just ate my first Krishna meal in 3 years and it immediately brought back flashbacks of being on the UF lawn and buying Hare Krishna lunches at $ 3 (and sometimes getting seconds for free!!).
From the looks of the new reviews, the price has drastically increased to $ 4 now; but, now that I’ve lived in Miami and DC where food is much more expensive, I think that this price is a steal. Their food is easily worth twice that amount.
Oh, how I miss that dressing!

I dream of the Krishna lunch.
It was my last semester at UF — Due to an error on my transcripts, I needed to take 1 measly 2 month long summer class in order to graduate. I realized on day 3 that it got out as Krishna lunch began — WOOHOO!!! I ate it EVERYDAY for 8 weeks. And lost a few pounds from foregoing fast food!
This food is out of this world. I WISH Miami (or anywhere in South Florida for that matter) had food like this. It was usually 2 kinds of veggie stews, rice, a cream-​of-​wheatish dessert, salad with amazing dressing, and mint lemonade. All for 3 bucks (although I hear it’s 4 now). With seconds if you wish!

Krishna Lunch is the best food you can find on campus and for the price is absolutely fantastic, especially for vegetarians/​vegans. The menu varies by the day, but neither of us can recall a day where we had a bad meal. For $ 4 you get a plate full of vegetables/​salad with THE best dressing ever made/​some sort of starch (usually rice)/dessert/organic tea.
The cups they use are a bit on the small size, but you can always get refills without issue. They non-​students (a few older gentlemen) are extremely kind, as are the majority of the student servers. We’ve known people who’ve worked both at the campus luncheon and at the big blue house a few blocks away and everything is kept very clean and orderly. They apparently only use completely recyclable dinnerware, but the cups have a vaguely odd smell. This isn’t a Krishna Lunch problem though, as we’ve experienced the same issues at real restaurants that use the same brand. Must be the material that is used.
Downside is that if it’s raining, you’ll have to cram onto the benches under the Library West walkway and if it’s hot (hello, it is the swamp!) the shaded areas amongst the trees in Plaza of the Americas are usually taken up. There is generally a drum circle and some singing going on, which is a good thing or a bad thing, depending upon your view point. The lines are long, but move pretty quick since everything is done cafeteria style. Krishna Lunch to us, was the epitome of college/​grad school eating, except it was healthy, filling, and left us feeling refreshed, not sick like the fast food fare served at the Hub or in Reitz Union.
In response to Chris V.‘s review, we never had anyone of the workers talk about Krishna to us other than to say how serving/​feeding people is how they worship, but we had an acquaintance who said he was harassed about it. Take it for what you will. Guess it all depends on who’s around, but for the most part we have had nothing but good experiences. Besides, it’s way cheaper than going across University to grab a sub. :)

KRISHNA LUNCH REVIEW, Plaza of the Americas, University of Florida:
Since I couldn’t find an entry for this Gainesville staple, I will create my own!
This stuff helped put me through college. 3 dollars a plate (now 4 dollars) of all you can eat Indian food with the option to take some home if you bring a tupperware container! The menu varies depending on the day but has undergone a few revampings since I’ve been in Gainesville. The fan favorite is always spaghetti Wednesday, but my personal favorite is the curry subji on Thursday.
What makes it so amazing is the almond dressing that goes on the salad and, if your like me, the rice, halava, and vegetables. I’ve gotten the recipe and made it at home before but its not the same. There is something utterly perfect about the dressing and many times I’ve bought a bottle from them (8 dollars) and eaten it on EVERYTHING in my house. Even cookies. Don’t judge me.
The atmosphere fits perfectly since you are enjoying such natural vegetarian food outside in the sun. Though on rainy days its hard to find a cramped seat in the Library West hallways. Also interesting is the constant singing and chanting the Krishnas do during the entire lunch, and if your lucky you will be approached by a kind Krishna who wishes to talk to you about their religion. Seriously these guys can bring ANYTHING back to Krishna.
«Oh yeah, I just got out of the hardest test in Biology.»
‘You know who else was tested alot? Krishna.”
I give it 4 stars though because I have had the chance to go back this semester and its not the same. Its a bit more corporate, if you catch my drift. Before, not having the money was no problem as they would feed you out of religious belief. Now I hear stories of Krishnas getting huffy and lecturing. Also lists of rules giving conduct of how to act in the line? Krishna devotees giving me dirty looks when I ask for extra dressing, as if I’m stealing money out of their organization with each squeeze? The pitiful half squeeze I finally do get while being stared down? Wheres the love?
Still, amazing food.