If you don't usually have Indian food I guess you'll find this place satisfying. However, compared to the real stuff, Sitar's food is not good at all. Their curries are bland, their gulab jamun often tastes burnt, and they cannot make proper matter paneer to save their lives. Their bathrooms smell really nasty too. Dosa Hut (formerly The Curry Pot) out east is a little better for the same price. I am not affiliated with either restaurant, I'm just an Indian food connoisseur.
(2)
Miana H.
Hit and miss - like someone else mentioned, one dish overcooked while the others were nice. The staff was friendly and the prices were decent. We'd eat there again.
(4)
Ryan M.
I don't eat Indian food often so take this with a grain of salt. The lunch buffet here is very good. I would say this place is a bit "mild" compared to most Indian places I've been to (the chicken curry didn't have an overly spicy or "curry-y" taste to it) so it was right up my alley, but may disappoint some more seasoned veterans of Indian food. The chicken korma and deserts on the lunch bar in particular were extremely good.
(4)
Eddie P.
If you like Indian food you will love this place. The menu has great variety and the plates are a hardy size. Plus they do ask you before hand how spicy you want your plate which is great for me and my girlfriend since I like it very spicy and she likes it mild.
(5)
Chris M.
The food was good for the price. I want to say very good, but one dish seemed like it was a little over cooked. We got two chicken dishes. One was very good and tender, cooked perfectly. The other was slightly overcooked, but not bad. I though maybe it sat in a warming pan a little too long? Still good though. Service was good and friendly My only real complaint would be the decor. The place badly needs a remodel. It looks like a long time ago it was painted with flat paint so there are marks all over the walls and overall it just looks a little run down. I have a pet peeve of bathrooms in restaurants. This one could use some work. It was just old I guess. Fixtures and things worn out and old. Smooth black marble tile was used in the bathroom and I think that was a mistake as it shows every drop of water and everything else (bits of paper etc). There was water on the floor from people using the sink and reaching for a towel and it looked gross. It was a single person bathroom and I had trouble locking the door as it was an old worn out doorknob. I think some fresh paint, possibly carpet and a remodel of the bathrooms would greatly improve this place. The food is very good and the decor while not the worst I've seen is probably losing them business and freshining it up would probably pay for itself quickly.
(4)
Melanie -.
Most highly recommended local Indian for sure. Go during lunch and get the $10 buffet. They rotate the platters frequently so everything's fresh and there's always good variety. Their naan is amazing, as are the mango lassi and chai. It's QUIET, which I love. Very serene.
(5)
Sunita M.
On a Saturday night this place was packed with Indians. That's a great sign right? I realized after it may have been an event. :-) Ordered mango lassi, garlic naan, chicken tikka masala, bhengan, saag paneer, and tandoori chicken tikka and seekh kabob. Mango lassi was as a mango lassi should be - not too thick and not too sweet, as some restaurants will serve - perfect for a hot day. Tandoori chicken tikka was not served as boti kabobs but as sliced pieces of chicken. It tasted dry - it even looked dry - we didn't eat it. Bhengan was delicious - had a smoky flavor (they smoke the Bhengan in the tandoor first). Saag paneer is my staple and it was also delicious - the paneer was soft. Chicken tikka masala was flavorful - and the pieces of chicken were moist. Garlic naan also good. Seekh kabob was ok - slightly dry. I am not sure why their tandoori items came out dry - otherwise good call on items ordered and a great Indian meal.
(4)
Gregg H.
I love Indian food and there is none near where I live so I search when I travel... Sitar is the best I have found in my travels so far. The food is much like what I remember of my friends mom's cooking.... the service is great, the room clean and has never been crowed when we ate.
(5)
Steve P.
Best Indian food in Chattanooga and best customer service in town. Out of the five restaurants we ate at while in Chattanooga Sitar had the best customer service. The food was authentic, spicy and delicious.
(5)
Jessica Y.
Went here for lunch today for the all you can eat buffet, which was only $7.99, bargain! I like to think of my self as a bit if a curry monster, it being one of my favourite foods, due to a lack of abundance of Indian restaurants in the US compared to what I am use to in the UK this is this first time I have been for a curry since moving to the states. I wasn't dissapointed. Although not the best curry I've had, most things were tasty and there was a reasonable selection of choice. The price tag also means this is very good value for money. The service was also excellent , we were seated straight and given water by some very friendly waiters. TIPS: Don't bother with the toilets there not the nicest, go in whatever tourist attraction you are visiting. Make sure you try the cheese balls in syrup for dessert, sounds gross but they are delicious :-)
(3)
Trilce M.
Food Was great, service really good. My husband and I love Indian food and this restaurant met our expectations. Prices are good. We really recommend this place.
(5)
Clayton F.
I came here with a friend for Thanksgiving dinner. We called first to make sure they would be open and they assured us that they would open at five and they would not be busy at all. They must do this every year because it was just us and two other tables. Like many Indian restaurants, their buffet is for lunch only so this isn't a buffet review. Their menu looks more like the one on the Nashville website, as opposed to the Knoxville one. We had the appetizer sampler, goat curry halal, and lamb korma. The goat was good but the lamb korma was excellent, the sauce was outstanding with the perfect amount of spice. Thanks to Sitar, we really enjoyed our Thanksgiving in Chattanooga.
(4)
B. W.
Sitar served as my introduction to Indian cuisine. My girlfriend and I visited on a Friday evening and found the restaurant almost empty -- only because, I suspect, it's tucked away and not particularly visible from the street. We were greeted at once and a rotating group of servers, all of them very friendly, waited on us throughout the meal. Granted that I had nothing to compare this particular Indian food to, but still I found it of high quality. The seasoned rice was the best rice dish I've ever eaten, while my girlfriend let me sample her lamb and veggies, both of which were also fine. Additionally, it all emerged from the kitchen piping hot, which is not always the case at restaurants. The prices are a tad high, but the portions are also above-average: both of us had a full meal's worth for the next day. The only downside to Sitar is, as suggested above, its obscure location. It sits in the bottom story of a building just before the Market St. Bridge, and its street-front sign is easy to miss; even though we were looking for it specifically, we drove around the block before spotting it. But once you're inside, you'll enjoy this place. It's clean, classy without being too formal, the staff is prompt and courteous, and the menu very good.
(5)
V K.
Amazing food. Went for the lunch buffet. Great variety of dishes.
(4)
Dave S.
Definitely the best Indian I've had in Chattanooga. Samosas were great with a nice dipping sauce. Had a wonderful pea, potato and carrot dish in coconut milk, curry and cream. Nann was good, which is a must for me. If you are in the mood for Indian and you're in Downtown Chattanooga, Sitar is a very fine choice. It is casual, good for kids. You can ask for mild or spicy of anywhere in between.
(4)
boopathi s.
Horrible food and rude service peoples... The foods are stored OLD foods.... When me and wife ate.. she vomited in the dining desk itself.... They have asked us to clean.. we were shouting at them.. also I told them... you are selling spoiled stored old food... and came out... Also, for proof... I have paid my bill and took for proof... I am going to food control of Chattanooga and complaint.... After I came home, I also vomited. .. I will never go to that Sitar to buy sick for money.. Please AVOID.
(1)
Carter F.
This is truly a great place. You really have to understand the basis of what true Indian cuisine is built around to adequately appreciate a traditional restaurant such as this. The staff is very kind, helpful, and respectful. The menu offers a wide variety of very tasty dishes and has wonderful vegetarian options as well. The price is perfect in my humble opinion, with a large appetizer and veggie fritter costing only $3 you can't really beat it. We got an entire table of food, easily enough to feed 4-5 people, delicious Indian style teas (no not chai), appetizers, and a good amount of naan for $30. Do yourself a favor and go enjoy this place.
(5)
Bradley B.
Good buffet, well priced. Very friendly service. I especially appreciated the naan and chicken tikka.
(4)
Luke T.
Very decent Indian Buffet. No korma, which is a big let down, but that's one of my only complaints. The lady and I come here at last once every time I'm in town. The glasses of lassi are quite large, so while I love the bottomless lassi at my fave Indian spot in cbus, I don't feel ripped off here either. The paneer is good, the dal is better, those perfectly round donut thingies are amazing. I wish there were a few more options at the buffet table, but only for variety reasons. I always leave stuffed. It's one buffet cart, with about half dedicated to vegetarian dishes and half chicken. Then there is a smaller cold cart with the chutney (tamarind is best), rice pudding, some fruit, and other cold items...I think some salad here too. The service has been as attentive as you'd expect in the past, except for this last visit, when the server forgot to bring out my lassi for a little bit. He did bring it before I felt the need to say something though. The lunch buffet is $8. I assume it would be a buck or two more at dinner.
(3)
Siranjeevi M.
please don't here. they served very late . they made us to wait for 1+ hours. no quality in the food. wrongly detected more money from my account. I would recommend not to go to this restaurant.
(1)
Bob J.
The food was overall good and you have to try the daal. The only thing is that there are too many onions in the food and the bathroom flush was broken. The restaurant is in a nice location and there is a lot of variety.
(2)
Sherene A.
So, on Tuesday I ran out of gas in my car (In Texas) bc I'm an idiot and that's what idiots do. Now, unfortunately it was 6am in the morning, 39 degrees outside, and I was soaking wet bc I'd just gotten out of the gym. That's right fellas---woman don't just glisten...we sweat. So, sitting in those conditions for an hour, pretty much guaranteed that I'd get a bad chest cold. Which ... OF COURSE I got one. Because every time, you're suppose to leave on a vacation...the Gods of Work and No Fun No Play, rain down sickness and pestilence to ward you off of ever trying to take a break EVER AGAIN. That said...I still got in my car and took the 15 hour road trip to Chatanooga to visit some dear friends who'd relocated here recently. Of course I over did it and went on a 5 mile hike, dunked myself into a waterfall, stayed up much later than I should have---and generally did everything to flip off my sickness. By Sunday night, I was a hot mess. I was congested and coughing, and completely useless. Which is when my genes set in and said...LISTEN UP KIND WHITE FOLKS WHO I HAVE COME TO VISIT...I HAVE ADORED YOUR DELICIOUS FOOD THAT YOU HAVE LOVINGLY PREPARED...HOWEVER MY SINUSES ARE BLOCKED AND NEED THE FLOODGATES TO BE UNLOCKED, SO GET ME TO AN INDIAN RESTAURANT WHERE THEY KNOW HOW TO RATCHET UP THE SPICE LEVEL AND OPEN UP ALL MY SENSES!!! Now this isn't what I actually said outside of the sinuses needing to be opened....it was my friend's birthday and I wanted to take the family out for dinner. So, we all piled into the car (Myself, my friend, his wife, and their 7 month old son who is cuter than every other baby on the planet. Fact.) We roll up to Sitar, park on the side of the street where the meters have stopped running. We'd called ahead to see what time they closed and they said, "9:30pm, but we take the last orders at 9pm). Word. WE got there at 8:50pm. The servers were SO kind. On our way to the table, my friend's wife saw a high chair and she grabbed it so that they waiter wouldn't have to get another one...and the waiter almost tripped over himself trying to wrangle it out of her hand so that she didn't have to carry it and balance her baby. IT was really sweet. Every single person that came to the table played with the baby, talked to the baby---even though it was past 9pm and it was his bedtime and he was woefully sad. :/ I helped my friends decide what they wanted to eat by explaining the menu to them and they made their selections. We started with the veggie samosa and the pakora. The samosa was mediocre as far as samosas go...but the pakora was perfect!! I LOVED that their selection of chutneys included mint, tamarind AND an amazing Mango pickle. SO good! The mango was everyone's favorite. My friend ordered the Vegetarian Thali that comes with rice and naan and saag paneer, another veggie dish and channa masala. His favorite was the channa masala and he loved it. His amazing wife ordered the vegetarian biryani and she REALLY loved it and the flavors. She's not a leftover girl---and she doggy bagged her HUGE serving so that she could have it the next day! And I ordered my old standard. Malai Kofta---without the Malai. Which basically means, take out the cream and just give me my spicy curry. I told them to go ahead and blow me away with the spice level. Which ended up being---for me who eats fire essentially, a decent amount of spice. The chef came around and talked to us and EVERYONE was so sweet, kind and friendly. And my friends left REALLY happy, and saying that Sitar was going to become one of their regular spots. :) Loved it. Great little restaurant. Great people. And Indian citizen approved Indian food. :)
(5)
Jeff B.
I'm not what you'd call a "buffet afficionado" -- that's a tough gig for a longtime vegetarian -- but the buffet at Sitar is excellent. About 3/8 of the available fare is vegeterian-friendly,; all of it is fresh and of good quality. In fact, so far everything I've tried here has been tasty enough that I'd eat it again. The buffet price is excellent and so far the lunchtime crowds haven't been too bad. the staff is very friendly and the location is convenient if you work anywhere downtown or on the North Shore. Good Indian food, as with most ethnic foods, is difficult to find in the south. Sitar stands up to Indian restaurants in much more food-friendly cities; this one is a keeper.
(4)
Will R.
Throughly enjoyed my visit here while I was visiting Chattanooga. Indian food, in general, is a favorite of mine. It's right in downtown Chattanooga with a buffet and decent selection. Great service. I have no complaints.
(4)
Lucinda R.
Very good Indian food and friendly staff. Whenever I am in Chatanooga I eat at sitar at least once. I have tried many of the entrees and breads and they are all delicious. The combination dinners are a great value.
(4)
Sara K.
Okay quality of non-vegitarian food - they had chicken korma, curry chicken and some other kind, the meat tasted warmed up though. That's why i hate buffets. Not that much vegetarian quantity or variation but good quality of vegetarian dishes. It was great to see that good naan was available for buffet and not have to order it and one good thing is that all you can eat and gulag jamun.
(3)
Tara R.
Sitar is alright which is better than I expected. Chattanooga's foreign food selection is usually pretty weak, so I'm glad that I can get a decent Indian fix here. If you like spice they'll bring the burn and you don't even need a sworn affadavit (take note, Sewasdee). Everything I've tried was at least okay. You can generally expect some simply cooked meats and veggies in salty sauces. The Malai Kofta is my standout favorite. Cheesy fried vegetable balls in a thick, creamy sauce - yes, please! Restaurant service and atmosphere are very pleasant. We usually do take-out or Dinner Delivered and have never had a problem with either. Portions are plentiful, so you should be able to get a couple meals out of it.
(3)
Christine M.
We went here for a Sunday lunch during a break between exhibits at the Aquarium. Sitar is just across the street from the aquarium and is open on Easter. We had the buffet, and it was excellent. They have both veggie and meat dishes, rice and naan, and salad and desserts. I particularly liked the egg curry, because I don't see it often. I also loved the kheer dessert. My husband likes the saag paneer best, and he was happy. They also had eggplant curry, vegetable korma, chicken vindaloo, and many other dishes. I would be very happy to go back! Service was efficient and friendly without being the least bit intrusive. The customers were a very diverse bunch of locals, tourists, and post-church crowd.
(4)
Dhwani S.
Stay away....anything better then this place and we love Indian food!
(1)
Dennis A.
First Impressions: We weren't really sure what to expect from an Indian restaurant in Chattanooga, but decided to give this a try on a weeknight, avoiding the buffet crowds. It's a clean room with widely spaced tables and minimal decoration. The buffet looked pretty small, but we were there to order off the menu. Food Impressions: In additional to all the standard favorites, the menu sported some unique offerings. The chutneys appeared to be prepared fresh; I've had a lot of cookie-cutter (probably from jars) chutneys and I found theirs to be uniquely delicious. Our veggie samosas came out of the kitchen quite quickly and were quite flavorful. I ordered the channa masala and my wife had a chicken preparation with ginger I was unfamiliar with. My channa masa had a more gravy than I was accustomed to, but was perfectly spiced and the chickpeas were tender enough to know they weren't canned. My wife enjoyed her dish and we also shared a sweet naan that was very nicely done. I was hoping for some mango ice cream to finish, but unfortunately they didn't have any. Final Thoughts: On par with some of the better Indian food I've eaten; I'm eager to return to try more of their preparations, perhaps during the buffet to try out several items.
(4)
Eddie D.
This is a solid Indian restaurant in downtown Chattanooga. I had the lunch buffet and it was good. There were a few dishes not as clean as they should have been and I hope this does not reflect the overall cleanliness of the restaurant. The staff was friendly and service was good. I'll be back when I'm in town!
(3)
Mike B.
I got takeout from here while staying at a local hotel. The food was excellent and appropriately HOT. The servings were standard for an Indian restaurant. Gralic Naan is very good. Chicken Tikka Misala was great. Walking distance to most downtown hotels, easy to miss though so keep an eye out. Server was very friendly...
(5)
Hidbigo S.
Wednesday night about 8:30 with 5 of the about 25 tables occupied by 2-3 a table. Got chutney and pappadam served right away but then it took about 5 minutes for someone to take a drink and dinner order and only because I made eye contact to have a waiter come over. The combination meal I ordered had mediocre dal (lentils) but a pretty decent Chicken Tikka Masala. The Vegetable Korma was so, so. Lots of rice. I wouldn't come back.
(2)
Stephen M.
I have not been to the new location but, I'm sure the food is the same. The Lamb Bhuna is awesome. I'm talking dinner, the lunch buffet I don't like. I think it's less flavor and not as spicy. But, after lunch it's fine.
(4)
Ashok K.
We went for a trip and looking for an Indian restaurant and we found this one , there was a buffet which had many varieties both veg and non-veg to our surprise all of them were good that too buffet is very cheap 8$
(5)
Jess J.
Great spot!!! Love it! In town for the night and so excited to see that there is an Indian restaurant. Excellent food, on par with what we're used to back home in NYC. We eat a lot of Indian food to know what's good and what's not, this was great, service was wonderful as well!! We had the Chicken Tikka Masala and the Paneer Makhni with some naan. Ordered some mango lassi and Taj Majal beer which I still think is one of the best beers I've ever had! Authentic place with excellent food and service! You won't regret it!!! I posted some pix, check them out.
(5)
Steve K.
Went to dinner while passing through town. We were rather unadventurous due to time constraints so we ordered two ordinary dishes: chicken biryani and tikka masala. Both were done very nicely. Serving sizes were good too; there were leftovers of the biryani left. The dessert rice pudding was pretty good, and the mango lassi was very good (B, A respectively). Their service is also friendly. If I come back through Chattanooga I'd come here again.
(4)
Rory W.
Fresh authentic North Indian Food. Service was exceptional!! Had a great meal with my family. My daughters spent 9 months in Punjab region and said this food was authentic!! Thanks for a great meal out.
Food was ok, it was buffet style. Atmosphere was weird just because it was very generic looking. Plain tables and plain chairs. Not much decor. Service was friendly.
(3)
Aishwarya V.
Was here for lunch. Food was very salty and not flavorful as one would expect Indian food to be. Buffet had many varieties though for $8.
(3)
Morgan H.
We've eaten here twice for dinner. First time I'd give it 3 stars second 0. Combination for two was different both times. Second time was dry. Naan was cold. Didn't finish our meal...barely took two bites. Expensive for what you get. Lamb is served dry on a bed of lettuce?!
(2)
Stephanie M.
We came to Chattanooga for the aquarium but this was a treat!! Friendly staff, excellent food, and it was across from the aquarium!
(5)
R W.
We went here for their 8.99 lunch buffet and the choices were incredible, with authentic dishes and many vegetarian options as well as a lovely kefir. Everything we had was delicious! Can't wait to go again, staff were friendly too!
(5)
Sarah K.
Boyfriend and I were in Chattanooga on vacation and parked a little up the street from this restaurant. Walking downhill, we smelled that lovely aroma that seems to permeate the air near every Indian restaurant; we looked at each other, and it was decided: this was where we were going for dinner. I'm so glad we did. The waiter was very patient with us while we (playfully) argued over how many entrees the two of us could eat after a long day of walking all over down, and which particular entrees we should order. Eventually we decided to go classic and settled on two chicken tikka masalas, the aloo gobi, and plenty of naan. The waiter made sure to ask how spicy we would like our food and didn't react when we shamefully said "not very". The food was wonderful. We've tried many times to make chicken tikka masala ourselves at home and it never quite comes out right. After only a few bites, Boyfriend declared this the best Indian food that he had had in the last five years, easily. I think I would agree. Little conversation happened during dinner as we were both too busy stuffing our faces. The same waiter offered to bring us another plate of rice before ours even ran out, which was much appreciated, and made sure our water glasses were always filled. Definitely some of the best service I've had in a restaurant in a long time. For this establishment alone I was a little sad to leave Chattanooga! If we lived here, I have no doubt that we'd be here every single week. Would have loved to try their lunch buffet, but alas, had to head home the next day.
(5)
Carl S.
My wife and I have a favorite Indian restaurant near our home, and we frequent it fairly often. This week we are on vacation in Chattanooga with our son. We talked him into the very reasonably priced lunch buffet here, telling him that he can get a good sampling of the Indian flavors and food this way. I expected an average buffet, but we were all very pleasantly surprised at the variety. Several vegetarian dishes, a couple types of rice, and about eight meat dishes. Even better, they were on the ball with restocking the food with fresh, new entrees. There was plenty of Naan bread, which I love. Over on the salad buffet, I found sort of an onion chutney, the likes of which I have never tasted before... that was just fantastic. My son drinks his water fast, he drains a glass in a minute! One of the servers noticed this and brought him over an extra big glass and kept both of his glasses filled. That was a very thoughtful touch, and I tipped him specifically and well. If I lived here, I would visit at least once a week... it was just that good.
(5)
Marisol L.
Great place! Great for vegans. Great food while visiting Chattanooga. Good prices and big portions. Friendly staff. Food was delish!
(5)
Zach L.
Enjoyed the dinner here. Obviously because of location dinner prices are little high but everything is tasty and the wait staff is very attentive.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
Marie D.
If you don't usually have Indian food I guess you'll find this place satisfying. However, compared to the real stuff, Sitar's food is not good at all. Their curries are bland, their gulab jamun often tastes burnt, and they cannot make proper matter paneer to save their lives. Their bathrooms smell really nasty too. Dosa Hut (formerly The Curry Pot) out east is a little better for the same price. I am not affiliated with either restaurant, I'm just an Indian food connoisseur.
(2)Miana H.
Hit and miss - like someone else mentioned, one dish overcooked while the others were nice. The staff was friendly and the prices were decent. We'd eat there again.
(4)Ryan M.
I don't eat Indian food often so take this with a grain of salt. The lunch buffet here is very good. I would say this place is a bit "mild" compared to most Indian places I've been to (the chicken curry didn't have an overly spicy or "curry-y" taste to it) so it was right up my alley, but may disappoint some more seasoned veterans of Indian food. The chicken korma and deserts on the lunch bar in particular were extremely good.
(4)Eddie P.
If you like Indian food you will love this place. The menu has great variety and the plates are a hardy size. Plus they do ask you before hand how spicy you want your plate which is great for me and my girlfriend since I like it very spicy and she likes it mild.
(5)Chris M.
The food was good for the price. I want to say very good, but one dish seemed like it was a little over cooked. We got two chicken dishes. One was very good and tender, cooked perfectly. The other was slightly overcooked, but not bad. I though maybe it sat in a warming pan a little too long? Still good though. Service was good and friendly My only real complaint would be the decor. The place badly needs a remodel. It looks like a long time ago it was painted with flat paint so there are marks all over the walls and overall it just looks a little run down. I have a pet peeve of bathrooms in restaurants. This one could use some work. It was just old I guess. Fixtures and things worn out and old. Smooth black marble tile was used in the bathroom and I think that was a mistake as it shows every drop of water and everything else (bits of paper etc). There was water on the floor from people using the sink and reaching for a towel and it looked gross. It was a single person bathroom and I had trouble locking the door as it was an old worn out doorknob. I think some fresh paint, possibly carpet and a remodel of the bathrooms would greatly improve this place. The food is very good and the decor while not the worst I've seen is probably losing them business and freshining it up would probably pay for itself quickly.
(4)Melanie -.
Most highly recommended local Indian for sure. Go during lunch and get the $10 buffet. They rotate the platters frequently so everything's fresh and there's always good variety. Their naan is amazing, as are the mango lassi and chai. It's QUIET, which I love. Very serene.
(5)Sunita M.
On a Saturday night this place was packed with Indians. That's a great sign right? I realized after it may have been an event. :-) Ordered mango lassi, garlic naan, chicken tikka masala, bhengan, saag paneer, and tandoori chicken tikka and seekh kabob. Mango lassi was as a mango lassi should be - not too thick and not too sweet, as some restaurants will serve - perfect for a hot day. Tandoori chicken tikka was not served as boti kabobs but as sliced pieces of chicken. It tasted dry - it even looked dry - we didn't eat it. Bhengan was delicious - had a smoky flavor (they smoke the Bhengan in the tandoor first). Saag paneer is my staple and it was also delicious - the paneer was soft. Chicken tikka masala was flavorful - and the pieces of chicken were moist. Garlic naan also good. Seekh kabob was ok - slightly dry. I am not sure why their tandoori items came out dry - otherwise good call on items ordered and a great Indian meal.
(4)Gregg H.
I love Indian food and there is none near where I live so I search when I travel... Sitar is the best I have found in my travels so far. The food is much like what I remember of my friends mom's cooking.... the service is great, the room clean and has never been crowed when we ate.
(5)Steve P.
Best Indian food in Chattanooga and best customer service in town. Out of the five restaurants we ate at while in Chattanooga Sitar had the best customer service. The food was authentic, spicy and delicious.
(5)Jessica Y.
Went here for lunch today for the all you can eat buffet, which was only $7.99, bargain! I like to think of my self as a bit if a curry monster, it being one of my favourite foods, due to a lack of abundance of Indian restaurants in the US compared to what I am use to in the UK this is this first time I have been for a curry since moving to the states. I wasn't dissapointed. Although not the best curry I've had, most things were tasty and there was a reasonable selection of choice. The price tag also means this is very good value for money. The service was also excellent , we were seated straight and given water by some very friendly waiters. TIPS: Don't bother with the toilets there not the nicest, go in whatever tourist attraction you are visiting. Make sure you try the cheese balls in syrup for dessert, sounds gross but they are delicious :-)
(3)Trilce M.
Food Was great, service really good. My husband and I love Indian food and this restaurant met our expectations. Prices are good. We really recommend this place.
(5)Clayton F.
I came here with a friend for Thanksgiving dinner. We called first to make sure they would be open and they assured us that they would open at five and they would not be busy at all. They must do this every year because it was just us and two other tables. Like many Indian restaurants, their buffet is for lunch only so this isn't a buffet review. Their menu looks more like the one on the Nashville website, as opposed to the Knoxville one. We had the appetizer sampler, goat curry halal, and lamb korma. The goat was good but the lamb korma was excellent, the sauce was outstanding with the perfect amount of spice. Thanks to Sitar, we really enjoyed our Thanksgiving in Chattanooga.
(4)B. W.
Sitar served as my introduction to Indian cuisine. My girlfriend and I visited on a Friday evening and found the restaurant almost empty -- only because, I suspect, it's tucked away and not particularly visible from the street. We were greeted at once and a rotating group of servers, all of them very friendly, waited on us throughout the meal. Granted that I had nothing to compare this particular Indian food to, but still I found it of high quality. The seasoned rice was the best rice dish I've ever eaten, while my girlfriend let me sample her lamb and veggies, both of which were also fine. Additionally, it all emerged from the kitchen piping hot, which is not always the case at restaurants. The prices are a tad high, but the portions are also above-average: both of us had a full meal's worth for the next day. The only downside to Sitar is, as suggested above, its obscure location. It sits in the bottom story of a building just before the Market St. Bridge, and its street-front sign is easy to miss; even though we were looking for it specifically, we drove around the block before spotting it. But once you're inside, you'll enjoy this place. It's clean, classy without being too formal, the staff is prompt and courteous, and the menu very good.
(5)V K.
Amazing food. Went for the lunch buffet. Great variety of dishes.
(4)Dave S.
Definitely the best Indian I've had in Chattanooga. Samosas were great with a nice dipping sauce. Had a wonderful pea, potato and carrot dish in coconut milk, curry and cream. Nann was good, which is a must for me. If you are in the mood for Indian and you're in Downtown Chattanooga, Sitar is a very fine choice. It is casual, good for kids. You can ask for mild or spicy of anywhere in between.
(4)boopathi s.
Horrible food and rude service peoples... The foods are stored OLD foods.... When me and wife ate.. she vomited in the dining desk itself.... They have asked us to clean.. we were shouting at them.. also I told them... you are selling spoiled stored old food... and came out... Also, for proof... I have paid my bill and took for proof... I am going to food control of Chattanooga and complaint.... After I came home, I also vomited. .. I will never go to that Sitar to buy sick for money.. Please AVOID.
(1)Carter F.
This is truly a great place. You really have to understand the basis of what true Indian cuisine is built around to adequately appreciate a traditional restaurant such as this. The staff is very kind, helpful, and respectful. The menu offers a wide variety of very tasty dishes and has wonderful vegetarian options as well. The price is perfect in my humble opinion, with a large appetizer and veggie fritter costing only $3 you can't really beat it. We got an entire table of food, easily enough to feed 4-5 people, delicious Indian style teas (no not chai), appetizers, and a good amount of naan for $30. Do yourself a favor and go enjoy this place.
(5)Bradley B.
Good buffet, well priced. Very friendly service. I especially appreciated the naan and chicken tikka.
(4)Luke T.
Very decent Indian Buffet. No korma, which is a big let down, but that's one of my only complaints. The lady and I come here at last once every time I'm in town. The glasses of lassi are quite large, so while I love the bottomless lassi at my fave Indian spot in cbus, I don't feel ripped off here either. The paneer is good, the dal is better, those perfectly round donut thingies are amazing. I wish there were a few more options at the buffet table, but only for variety reasons. I always leave stuffed. It's one buffet cart, with about half dedicated to vegetarian dishes and half chicken. Then there is a smaller cold cart with the chutney (tamarind is best), rice pudding, some fruit, and other cold items...I think some salad here too. The service has been as attentive as you'd expect in the past, except for this last visit, when the server forgot to bring out my lassi for a little bit. He did bring it before I felt the need to say something though. The lunch buffet is $8. I assume it would be a buck or two more at dinner.
(3)Siranjeevi M.
please don't here. they served very late . they made us to wait for 1+ hours. no quality in the food. wrongly detected more money from my account. I would recommend not to go to this restaurant.
(1)Bob J.
The food was overall good and you have to try the daal. The only thing is that there are too many onions in the food and the bathroom flush was broken. The restaurant is in a nice location and there is a lot of variety.
(2)Sherene A.
So, on Tuesday I ran out of gas in my car (In Texas) bc I'm an idiot and that's what idiots do. Now, unfortunately it was 6am in the morning, 39 degrees outside, and I was soaking wet bc I'd just gotten out of the gym. That's right fellas---woman don't just glisten...we sweat. So, sitting in those conditions for an hour, pretty much guaranteed that I'd get a bad chest cold. Which ... OF COURSE I got one. Because every time, you're suppose to leave on a vacation...the Gods of Work and No Fun No Play, rain down sickness and pestilence to ward you off of ever trying to take a break EVER AGAIN. That said...I still got in my car and took the 15 hour road trip to Chatanooga to visit some dear friends who'd relocated here recently. Of course I over did it and went on a 5 mile hike, dunked myself into a waterfall, stayed up much later than I should have---and generally did everything to flip off my sickness. By Sunday night, I was a hot mess. I was congested and coughing, and completely useless. Which is when my genes set in and said...LISTEN UP KIND WHITE FOLKS WHO I HAVE COME TO VISIT...I HAVE ADORED YOUR DELICIOUS FOOD THAT YOU HAVE LOVINGLY PREPARED...HOWEVER MY SINUSES ARE BLOCKED AND NEED THE FLOODGATES TO BE UNLOCKED, SO GET ME TO AN INDIAN RESTAURANT WHERE THEY KNOW HOW TO RATCHET UP THE SPICE LEVEL AND OPEN UP ALL MY SENSES!!! Now this isn't what I actually said outside of the sinuses needing to be opened....it was my friend's birthday and I wanted to take the family out for dinner. So, we all piled into the car (Myself, my friend, his wife, and their 7 month old son who is cuter than every other baby on the planet. Fact.) We roll up to Sitar, park on the side of the street where the meters have stopped running. We'd called ahead to see what time they closed and they said, "9:30pm, but we take the last orders at 9pm). Word. WE got there at 8:50pm. The servers were SO kind. On our way to the table, my friend's wife saw a high chair and she grabbed it so that they waiter wouldn't have to get another one...and the waiter almost tripped over himself trying to wrangle it out of her hand so that she didn't have to carry it and balance her baby. IT was really sweet. Every single person that came to the table played with the baby, talked to the baby---even though it was past 9pm and it was his bedtime and he was woefully sad. :/ I helped my friends decide what they wanted to eat by explaining the menu to them and they made their selections. We started with the veggie samosa and the pakora. The samosa was mediocre as far as samosas go...but the pakora was perfect!! I LOVED that their selection of chutneys included mint, tamarind AND an amazing Mango pickle. SO good! The mango was everyone's favorite. My friend ordered the Vegetarian Thali that comes with rice and naan and saag paneer, another veggie dish and channa masala. His favorite was the channa masala and he loved it. His amazing wife ordered the vegetarian biryani and she REALLY loved it and the flavors. She's not a leftover girl---and she doggy bagged her HUGE serving so that she could have it the next day! And I ordered my old standard. Malai Kofta---without the Malai. Which basically means, take out the cream and just give me my spicy curry. I told them to go ahead and blow me away with the spice level. Which ended up being---for me who eats fire essentially, a decent amount of spice. The chef came around and talked to us and EVERYONE was so sweet, kind and friendly. And my friends left REALLY happy, and saying that Sitar was going to become one of their regular spots. :) Loved it. Great little restaurant. Great people. And Indian citizen approved Indian food. :)
(5)Jeff B.
I'm not what you'd call a "buffet afficionado" -- that's a tough gig for a longtime vegetarian -- but the buffet at Sitar is excellent. About 3/8 of the available fare is vegeterian-friendly,; all of it is fresh and of good quality. In fact, so far everything I've tried here has been tasty enough that I'd eat it again. The buffet price is excellent and so far the lunchtime crowds haven't been too bad. the staff is very friendly and the location is convenient if you work anywhere downtown or on the North Shore. Good Indian food, as with most ethnic foods, is difficult to find in the south. Sitar stands up to Indian restaurants in much more food-friendly cities; this one is a keeper.
(4)Will R.
Throughly enjoyed my visit here while I was visiting Chattanooga. Indian food, in general, is a favorite of mine. It's right in downtown Chattanooga with a buffet and decent selection. Great service. I have no complaints.
(4)Lucinda R.
Very good Indian food and friendly staff. Whenever I am in Chatanooga I eat at sitar at least once. I have tried many of the entrees and breads and they are all delicious. The combination dinners are a great value.
(4)Sara K.
Okay quality of non-vegitarian food - they had chicken korma, curry chicken and some other kind, the meat tasted warmed up though. That's why i hate buffets. Not that much vegetarian quantity or variation but good quality of vegetarian dishes. It was great to see that good naan was available for buffet and not have to order it and one good thing is that all you can eat and gulag jamun.
(3)Tara R.
Sitar is alright which is better than I expected. Chattanooga's foreign food selection is usually pretty weak, so I'm glad that I can get a decent Indian fix here. If you like spice they'll bring the burn and you don't even need a sworn affadavit (take note, Sewasdee). Everything I've tried was at least okay. You can generally expect some simply cooked meats and veggies in salty sauces. The Malai Kofta is my standout favorite. Cheesy fried vegetable balls in a thick, creamy sauce - yes, please! Restaurant service and atmosphere are very pleasant. We usually do take-out or Dinner Delivered and have never had a problem with either. Portions are plentiful, so you should be able to get a couple meals out of it.
(3)Christine M.
We went here for a Sunday lunch during a break between exhibits at the Aquarium. Sitar is just across the street from the aquarium and is open on Easter. We had the buffet, and it was excellent. They have both veggie and meat dishes, rice and naan, and salad and desserts. I particularly liked the egg curry, because I don't see it often. I also loved the kheer dessert. My husband likes the saag paneer best, and he was happy. They also had eggplant curry, vegetable korma, chicken vindaloo, and many other dishes. I would be very happy to go back! Service was efficient and friendly without being the least bit intrusive. The customers were a very diverse bunch of locals, tourists, and post-church crowd.
(4)Dhwani S.
Stay away....anything better then this place and we love Indian food!
(1)Dennis A.
First Impressions: We weren't really sure what to expect from an Indian restaurant in Chattanooga, but decided to give this a try on a weeknight, avoiding the buffet crowds. It's a clean room with widely spaced tables and minimal decoration. The buffet looked pretty small, but we were there to order off the menu. Food Impressions: In additional to all the standard favorites, the menu sported some unique offerings. The chutneys appeared to be prepared fresh; I've had a lot of cookie-cutter (probably from jars) chutneys and I found theirs to be uniquely delicious. Our veggie samosas came out of the kitchen quite quickly and were quite flavorful. I ordered the channa masala and my wife had a chicken preparation with ginger I was unfamiliar with. My channa masa had a more gravy than I was accustomed to, but was perfectly spiced and the chickpeas were tender enough to know they weren't canned. My wife enjoyed her dish and we also shared a sweet naan that was very nicely done. I was hoping for some mango ice cream to finish, but unfortunately they didn't have any. Final Thoughts: On par with some of the better Indian food I've eaten; I'm eager to return to try more of their preparations, perhaps during the buffet to try out several items.
(4)Eddie D.
This is a solid Indian restaurant in downtown Chattanooga. I had the lunch buffet and it was good. There were a few dishes not as clean as they should have been and I hope this does not reflect the overall cleanliness of the restaurant. The staff was friendly and service was good. I'll be back when I'm in town!
(3)Mike B.
I got takeout from here while staying at a local hotel. The food was excellent and appropriately HOT. The servings were standard for an Indian restaurant. Gralic Naan is very good. Chicken Tikka Misala was great. Walking distance to most downtown hotels, easy to miss though so keep an eye out. Server was very friendly...
(5)Hidbigo S.
Wednesday night about 8:30 with 5 of the about 25 tables occupied by 2-3 a table. Got chutney and pappadam served right away but then it took about 5 minutes for someone to take a drink and dinner order and only because I made eye contact to have a waiter come over. The combination meal I ordered had mediocre dal (lentils) but a pretty decent Chicken Tikka Masala. The Vegetable Korma was so, so. Lots of rice. I wouldn't come back.
(2)Stephen M.
I have not been to the new location but, I'm sure the food is the same. The Lamb Bhuna is awesome. I'm talking dinner, the lunch buffet I don't like. I think it's less flavor and not as spicy. But, after lunch it's fine.
(4)Ashok K.
We went for a trip and looking for an Indian restaurant and we found this one , there was a buffet which had many varieties both veg and non-veg to our surprise all of them were good that too buffet is very cheap 8$
(5)Jess J.
Great spot!!! Love it! In town for the night and so excited to see that there is an Indian restaurant. Excellent food, on par with what we're used to back home in NYC. We eat a lot of Indian food to know what's good and what's not, this was great, service was wonderful as well!! We had the Chicken Tikka Masala and the Paneer Makhni with some naan. Ordered some mango lassi and Taj Majal beer which I still think is one of the best beers I've ever had! Authentic place with excellent food and service! You won't regret it!!! I posted some pix, check them out.
(5)Steve K.
Went to dinner while passing through town. We were rather unadventurous due to time constraints so we ordered two ordinary dishes: chicken biryani and tikka masala. Both were done very nicely. Serving sizes were good too; there were leftovers of the biryani left. The dessert rice pudding was pretty good, and the mango lassi was very good (B, A respectively). Their service is also friendly. If I come back through Chattanooga I'd come here again.
(4)Rory W.
Fresh authentic North Indian Food. Service was exceptional!! Had a great meal with my family. My daughters spent 9 months in Punjab region and said this food was authentic!! Thanks for a great meal out.
(5)Stephanie T.
I love Indian food and this is one of the better places in town. I've tried a few others and this by far is what I would recommend. Met up with a couple of girlfriends here on Saturday night. Service is always great. Very attentive but not hovering. I am not a fan of pappadum, but they bring you some along with mint chutney and onion chutney, kinda like chips & salsa at a Mexican place. I always order some garlic Naan for my fix. The menu selections are plenty, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. I normally get a curry or biryani with lamb. This time I got the potato and cauliflower vegetarian entrée and another order of Naan, this one filled with ground lamb and spices. It was very good, but not entrée worthy for me, it's a side dish. It is a tad pricey here so if you're interested in trying different things, go for the lunch buffet so you can find what you like. My one complaint were the restrooms. They had too much of a urine smell and the floors were sticky. My friends each got the Vegetarian Thali plate which gives you several different items, again a tad pricey. #13.95 and you really only get about a big spoonful of each item. I also ordered some mango chutney and raita, the yogurt/cucumber dip that helps cool off any spicy things. They ask you if you want non-spicy, medium spicy, spicy, extra spicy etc. I asked for medium plus spicy and it really wasn't very spicy at all. At least not what I'm used to. The place was pretty full most of the evening but never too crowded. They have a great corner location downtown, across from Cheeburger Cheeburger, next to Market 212. If you've never had Indian food, don't be scared, go try some. They will help you order something that's not "too weird" and get you acclimated to Indian food. My suggestion, Chicken Tikka Masala. It's creamy and a little spicy. You can't go wrong with that as a beginner.
(4)Maria S.
Food was ok, it was buffet style. Atmosphere was weird just because it was very generic looking. Plain tables and plain chairs. Not much decor. Service was friendly.
(3)Aishwarya V.
Was here for lunch. Food was very salty and not flavorful as one would expect Indian food to be. Buffet had many varieties though for $8.
(3)Morgan H.
We've eaten here twice for dinner. First time I'd give it 3 stars second 0. Combination for two was different both times. Second time was dry. Naan was cold. Didn't finish our meal...barely took two bites. Expensive for what you get. Lamb is served dry on a bed of lettuce?!
(2)Stephanie M.
We came to Chattanooga for the aquarium but this was a treat!! Friendly staff, excellent food, and it was across from the aquarium!
(5)R W.
We went here for their 8.99 lunch buffet and the choices were incredible, with authentic dishes and many vegetarian options as well as a lovely kefir. Everything we had was delicious! Can't wait to go again, staff were friendly too!
(5)Sarah K.
Boyfriend and I were in Chattanooga on vacation and parked a little up the street from this restaurant. Walking downhill, we smelled that lovely aroma that seems to permeate the air near every Indian restaurant; we looked at each other, and it was decided: this was where we were going for dinner. I'm so glad we did. The waiter was very patient with us while we (playfully) argued over how many entrees the two of us could eat after a long day of walking all over down, and which particular entrees we should order. Eventually we decided to go classic and settled on two chicken tikka masalas, the aloo gobi, and plenty of naan. The waiter made sure to ask how spicy we would like our food and didn't react when we shamefully said "not very". The food was wonderful. We've tried many times to make chicken tikka masala ourselves at home and it never quite comes out right. After only a few bites, Boyfriend declared this the best Indian food that he had had in the last five years, easily. I think I would agree. Little conversation happened during dinner as we were both too busy stuffing our faces. The same waiter offered to bring us another plate of rice before ours even ran out, which was much appreciated, and made sure our water glasses were always filled. Definitely some of the best service I've had in a restaurant in a long time. For this establishment alone I was a little sad to leave Chattanooga! If we lived here, I have no doubt that we'd be here every single week. Would have loved to try their lunch buffet, but alas, had to head home the next day.
(5)Carl S.
My wife and I have a favorite Indian restaurant near our home, and we frequent it fairly often. This week we are on vacation in Chattanooga with our son. We talked him into the very reasonably priced lunch buffet here, telling him that he can get a good sampling of the Indian flavors and food this way. I expected an average buffet, but we were all very pleasantly surprised at the variety. Several vegetarian dishes, a couple types of rice, and about eight meat dishes. Even better, they were on the ball with restocking the food with fresh, new entrees. There was plenty of Naan bread, which I love. Over on the salad buffet, I found sort of an onion chutney, the likes of which I have never tasted before... that was just fantastic. My son drinks his water fast, he drains a glass in a minute! One of the servers noticed this and brought him over an extra big glass and kept both of his glasses filled. That was a very thoughtful touch, and I tipped him specifically and well. If I lived here, I would visit at least once a week... it was just that good.
(5)Marisol L.
Great place! Great for vegans. Great food while visiting Chattanooga. Good prices and big portions. Friendly staff. Food was delish!
(5)Zach L.
Enjoyed the dinner here. Obviously because of location dinner prices are little high but everything is tasty and the wait staff is very attentive.
(5)