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Mon. 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Tue-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tue-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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Excellent. My only complaint is the food is a tad over-salted. And of course the building is old and crusty but hey Sitar we're glad you are here. The level of heat is great. Lunch buffet is a STEAL.
Best items are chicken tikka masala, chile chicken, lamb korma, and veg biryani
Not the best Indian restaurant I have ever eaten at, but close and the best in Nashville.
This update is for the flat out rude service received (barely?). Please don't ignore your customers, or walk past them while they're in mid sentence when they know you saw them. If it's not too much trouble, ask them how their meal was. Try not to be so bored and flippant. It makes paying customers want to return.
I've tried the buffet a handful of times, and it's okay, but what really sold me was the dinner… Read more »
I have heard of the buffet here but stopped in for a dinner hoping for good things. The place looks a bit dodgy from the outside, but it is clean and friendly inside. The wait staff was attentive and helpful with the menu selections which is always a plus.
Everyone in my party enjoyed the food, but it was not exactly what I would call great. It was good enough for me to leave it on the list as a lunch choice to try that buffet in the future.
Seriously, I never thought I liked Indian food until I tried this place. I can't remember the name of the dish, but it contained peas and handmade cheese and it turned my world upside down. The other dish contained lamb; again, amazing. The Naan was served hot and was lightly drizzled with butter. The rice was fluffy and, well, pretty much everything about the entire meal was perfect. I would like to go back for the buffet as I haven't had the pleasure of trying it yet. The staff kept our glasses full and was polite and friendly. Uber impressed.
I'm originally from Nashville, but did not start eating Indian cuisine until after I left. The food at this restaurant is great!
If it's your first time for Indian cuisine, then go during the Lunch Buffet.
The people at Sitar are very wise in catering to Southerners. Ordinarily we might boot out restuarants that are too exotic, but Sitar has mild down their flavors while still staying true to their cuisine. Originally I was not a fan of Indian food, but when I tried their lunch buffet I was impressed in how they made the dishes not so overwhelming as Indian food can be to the Southern palette.
Mind you, Indian food is generally pricey. Therefore if you go anytime other than during the Lunch Buffet, prepare to pay a little more.
People who complain about the food here are usually avid eaters of the cuisine, A.K.A. "snobs." If you're a Southerner you'll like it; if it's your first time you'll like it. If you are used to how they do it in California, New York, or Chicago, then go back home. Haha
Mind-blowing experience.
Seriously, let me explain.
After dinner here one night, a few fellas I once knew and loved decided to taste a little LSD. Just for fun. You know, for kids.
About the time the walls started to quiver, so did a buddy's stomach--it turns out the Muttar Paneer was not in agreement with his innards.
"No problem," says another pal, "I've got some antacid."
"Antacid?" we all replied in unison. Could that be a good idea at this point in the evening?
Minds officially blown.
Sitar's buffet alone makes it a must if you like Indian food. Between 11-2:30 Monday through Saturday and noon to 3 on Sunday they offer an all you can eat buffet for $7 a person. It's an amazing deal for any genre of cuisine but especially so since it is one of the best Indian restaurants in town. The buffet really makes them accessible to the general populace. If you've never tried Indian cuisine before, it is a fantastic way to try a little bit of everything without worrying if you'll like it or not. If you are more familiar with the food it is a great way to load up on your favorites for an awesome price.
Their buffet is comprised mostly of typical fare including various Tandoori's, Masala and curry flavored dishes. They have a balanced amount of meat and vegetarian dishes which is great for those non meat eaters. If you're looking for more intricate dishes, their regular menu is quite extensive and their staff is very helpful in offering suggestions.
They're open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and they tend to be more crowded during lunchtime for the buffet. The building itself is pretty nondescript and is located off West End on the Baptist Hospital side of 21st avenue.
I am not a huge Indian food fan but when my husband get's a hankering, this is where we head. Here is what I will say. The place is always doing a brisk business, the buffet stays very full and fresh, and there seems to be all kind of options for both vegetarians and for not.
I don't think this is an overrated kind of thing, I think if you are looking for no nonsense but solid Indian, this is your place. There is an a far more expensive option in the Greenhills area that I feel doesn't offer anything better. It's saying a lot if I say I'm not a huge Indian food fan and I honestly don't mind buzzing in here from time to time.
I've been to every Indian restaurant and buffet in Nashville. This one is the best with regards to the spicing. The service can be rather, shall we say, abrupt, but I think that they are just trying to be as efficient as possible. That's ok with me. I like being able to pop in and pop out relatively quickly after having a really yummy lunch at the buffet.
I am such a huge fan of Sitar. Hitting the buffet on Saturdays is such a treat, and it only cost $7.01 with a diet coke. There are of course a lot of vegetarian options and kheer is part of the package. The place is usually crowded, but not so full that you have much of a wait if any.
If you're ordering take-out off the main menu I recommend the Malai Kofta with garlic naan. They will ask you "mild, medium, or hot" with every menu dish. I definitely warn not to go above medium unless you are really committed to that burning sensation.
The wait staff is friendly and efficient, even when you're eating from the buffet. I find that my water glass is usually refilled before it reaches more than half empty.
WOW, three count them... three Indian restaurants in Nashville? This is going to take some getting use to.
Sitar was the place most recommended by our neighbors so we decided to check it out.
We actually just placed an order for pickup, seemed a little pricey but given the way everyone talked about it we figured it was a little more high end and worth it.
Well the food was definitely nothing to write home about. It was decent, not great... not bad... the place seemed small but busy, they have a hookah bar set up in a patio set up which would be worth checking out.
Otherwise the guy at the counter seemed rather uninterested and rude.. If i was in SF and had more than a hand full of options i would probably write this place off.... But being that this is one of 3 places to choose from... I'll most likely have to give this place another shot or two.... ack.
So I don't know a great deal about Indian food, but I've sampled a little bit in my day and I can confidently say that this place is pretty solid. It's a relatively traditional buffet, and everything I tasted was pretty scrumptious.
The buffet was good, and their was a decent selection. It's about $7.50 for all you can eat, so if you come hungry you're sure to get your money's worth. There are several waiters who bustle around and refill your glass every time you take a sip; they're extremely attentive and polite. The building itself is pretty small and I wouldn't recommend it for large parties, but it was a great spot for a brief lunch with two friends.
The cuisine tastes comparable to all of the other Indian food I've ever had, though there's a very limited supply of Middle and Far Eastern food in the city, so I have little to compare it with. It's mostly though not all spicy, and the buffet seemed to be pretty regularly stocked. Everything was quite clean and the linen napkins and tablecloths are a nice change of pace from what I'm used to. If you're interested in sampling some Indian food, I think Sitar is a fairly safe bet.
Sitar has been a favorite of mine for many years. I've been going here since high school and it's the best Indian cuisine I've found in Nashville.
I went with my dad once, who's been to India, and he was talked about things he had eaten in India to the waiters and they made him some special real Indian items that weren't on the menu.
I've always loved the Chicken Tikka Masala there, but the last few times I've gone I've ordered from the grilled menu. The grilled combo for two is especially good and comes with soup, appetizers, and a dessert. The vegetarian thali is also a great deal and allows you to sample a few things at once.
The best thing about Sitar is the naan bread. Nowhere else in town quite compares.
You can go for the lunch buffet, and I sometimes do, and it's a good way to try different things, but I much prefer going for dinner, where I can take my time and order exactly what I want.
I've been for the lunch buffet a few times, and always get it to go. It works out really well because you can stuff a ton of chicken tikki masala, naan, tandoori chicken, and rice into that box.
Given the indifference I am greeted with when I enter, pay and leave, I am pretty sure that this is a front for organized crime, but the food is so tasty I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt as a legitimate business.
There's three Indian restaurants in Nashville (and I'll probably start my review of the other two the same way) and when someone pushes me for a recommendation, it always falls back to Sitar.
If you want spicy, you'll want to come for dinner, not the lunch buffet--that has been adjusted for the more delicate palate. The buffet offerings are pretty standard, a couple rice dishes, chicken curry, tandoori chicken. I enjoy lamb saag on the rare occasions they have lamb on weekdays and the channa masala is out of this world. They're also the only restaurant of the three that serves firni and I love my custards.
For dinner, go with a group of four to six and share things to get an idea of the array of flavors. The biriyanis are fair to bursting with vegetables and cardamon pods, the lamb is always tender--I tend to get a korma or the rogan josh, and they'll spice dinner however you can handle it.
Where Sitar loses a star from me is where you walk in the door. They don't smile. Ever. The hosts often act put out that you darkened their doorstep. Maybe they don't like women eating alone with a book? When I've paid for lunch and mentioned that I liked a particular dish, my reply has consistently been something like a grunt. I don't think it's a language problem, as despite this, I've gone there for years and seen the same people working there.
If you can take the service with a grain of salt, the food is fabulous, but the overall experience is far from perfect.
Went for dinner with a friend. I liked the food. I didn't love it.
Delicious naan and eggplant, but nothing was spicy enough for my friend or me. Not as good as Woodland's although the ambiance is better. Definitely agree with Kate K. though that the service is good, but it isn't with a smile.
Sitar is hands-down the best Indian food in Nashville. The lunch buffet leaves much to be desired, but if you go for dinner you are in for some great grubbin' action.
The chicken curry is fantastic, and if you are down with the spice, you can have them juice it up for you. The curry isn't runny and horrible like other Indian places I've been to. The rice is delish and has the random peas in it, for effect I guess.
Not really sure but they have something that looks like birdseed for dinner mints - I don't know if you are supposed to eat it, but it leaves a weird after-taste.
Pretty standard Indian lunch buffet - spicy but not too much so, minimal selection, and what is served (chicken tandoori, chicken tikka masala, channa masala, and a number of other vegetarian dishes) will not disappoint. It could be better, but the other options for Indian food (that's not all vegetarian) are almost non-existent in Nashville. The price is good - a lunch buffet will set you back about $8.00. The service is quick and courteous - the servers are not warm and smiley.
Will have to try this place for dinner - may bump it up another star.
Actually, there are more than 3 Indian restaurants in Nashville:
Sitar on 21st
Woodlands on West End
Cuisine of India (also on 21st)
Taste of India on Church (what is it called now?)
Best of India on Charlotte
Shalimar on Hillsboro
Those are the ones that I personally am acquainted with so far. There may be others!
Personally, I like Sitar and Woodlands best. Sitar's tikka masala and pakora are awesome, and I love their naan. I wish they offered dosai. Yeah, their waiters are surly and/or straightfaced and they don't always get you a drink during the busy buffet hours. But that is just what you come to expect at Sitar. Shalimar's food is nothing special, and too expensive at that. I haven't yet been to Best of India, but I think I will soon.
If you're coming from San Francisco, it's a small selection. But what can you expect as this is Nashville, TN. Our international cuisine scene is booming compared to way back when I was growing up here.
I went on Easter for Brunch. You can not say anything bad about this place unless you're from San Francisco I guess. I am from DC and I find Sitar to be the typical small Indian restaurant I would see back home and the food was just as good. Service is excellent; the buffet is not the spiciest but not bland like most buffets. My one complaint would be the Nan wasn't that great. People who went there before were commenting that the buffet options are always different, so I guess every time is like your first.
When I went to Vanderbilt Sitar was my favorite place to gorge myself for lunch. Their buffet is always well stocked, and though usually crowded, I have never had to wait in line for my food. The lack of a line or obstacles between me and the food, however, usually means that I leave there needing to be rolled out the door. Sitar has the usual array of vegetarian and meat dishes found at Nashville Indian restaurants, all well cooked and well seasoned. Weirdly enough the Naan bread is hands down my favorite part of the meal, as I have never found better Naan bread anywhere and fear that I never will. My one complaint is that my favorite dish, Chicken Tikka Massala, which was served during the buffet when I first moved to Nashville is for some reason no longer there. I don't know if I'm just coming on the wrong days, but it breaks my heart. I have now given in to going to Sitar for dinner to get a taste of the Chicken Tikka Massala I so love.
PS: If you want to laugh, check out their website. I have no idea what restaurant they photographed for the homepage, but it sure isn't the Sitar on West End!
The best Indian restaurant in Nashville. Buffet is great for lunch, dinner menu is excellent. The chutneys and papadum you get when you sit down are fabulous and fresh. Only reason I won't give five stars is that the service is at best indifferent...but it's usually fast enough if not incredibly attentive or friendly, and the food is so good you won't care.
I like Sitar in Nashville (much more reasonable than Shalimar), but I have to say I prefer the one in Huntsville. It surpasses the buffet and service (read "friendliness") of the other.
Can't be beat
everything is fine. nothing is amazing but everything is fine. and cheap!
Neighborhood: Hillsboro/West End
Category: Vegetarian
Nashville, TN
Category: Indian
Neighborhood: Hillsboro/West End
Category: Indian
Nashville, TN
Category: Indian
Neighborhood: Green Hills
Category: Pakistani
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