Sitara
114 S Race St, Urbana, IL, 61801
Sitara Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Urbana for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Urbana for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Urbana for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
114 S Race St
Urbana, IL, 61801 - Phone (217) 344-6440
- Website https://sitaraindian.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
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
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
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.
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Leroy L.
Yeah yeah, food and service are pretty good, but let's talk about what really needs to happen here... Sitara needs to take better advantage of the beautiful bar and their endless stock of Bollywood films. Turn this bad boy into a Bollywood discotheque after hours. HMU when that's a thing, and I'll change my rating from a 4 star to a 5.
(4)Kara B.
I was overjoyed that an Indian restaurant opening up in downtown Urbana! And I was right to be excited - this place is wonderful. The service is quick and the food was great. I was dining in for once, and ordered the Vegetarian Thali dish, and I cannot recommend it enough - it's a crazy amount of food for $7. I've heard that Sitara might be owned by or otherwise connected to Bombay Grill, and I will say the food tastes very similar. Fortunately for me I also love Bombay Grill. :)
(5)Pradeep G.
I was on a short visit to Urbana, and visited this place. There are three types of Indian restaurants: 1. The ones Indians love, because it is authentic (but is not very much liked by others) 2. The ones everyone else loves, but Indians generally do not, because the cuisine is 'westernized' to cater everyone and 3. the rare ones that is liked by everyone because the food is just plain awesome. This one belongs to the second category, and I feel is pretty over-hyped. You can visit here once!
(3)Haley J.
One of my favorite places to eat. Very reasonably priced and the food is delicious. I suggest the chicken tika masala, lamb vindaloo and the garlic naan. I highly recommend it! Service is also polite. They make sure that you always have enough to drink and are speedy.
(5)K V.
Strongly recommend most or all of the vegetarian options -- the malai kofta, paneer makhani, paneer tikka masala, paneer do pyaza are all delicious! I would actually say this is one of my favorite restaurants in CU. The only downside is that some nights of the week it can be hard to get a table. Tuesdays for some reason seem to be packed...
(5)Shiungor V.
Huge pleasant surprise! The naan was so delicious like those we find on Devon street (Indian Town) in Chicago. The rest of the dishes were a bit salty but still very tasty.
(4)Tony L.
Avoid this place. They took 45 min to get our food. Others please share your experiences
(1)Nanxi L.
Been going there two a week now. We had Curry fish, Aloo Gobi, Lamb Saag today. Curry was very rich and savory without strong scents of coconut. Aloo was unbelievable with bright reddish tomato paste. Lamb Saag, the saag still surprises me every time and it's a full bowl of lamby lamb chops today.
(4)Allan C.
It was good! A nice treat in downtown Urbana. I love the smell and the vibe of this place. The naan was a temptation, I haven't had better. The prices were cheap and they give you a standard size that was enough to fill me up. And Indian channel with non-stop music videos was playing, that added to the overall entertainment.
(4)Avinash K.
Its a new place and we went to check it out. The ambience was really good but the food was exactly opposite to that...In one word it was "horrible" and the presentation was even "worse". We ordered lamb and chicken biryani. It seems that it was more of boiled rice mixed with turmeric and cooked meat. The appetizers were also not well cooked. The lollipop chicken was so small in size that I felt sorry for the actual weak chicken. There was some $16 chicken dish with 5-6 different styled chicken dishes. I felt one of the chicken pieces tasted funny...oohhh... The food was totally bland and tasteless...worst indian food I have had in my 6 years of Champaign life. The only good thing I would say was the mango lassi and the gulab jamun. Although I am not sure if the gulab jamun was made in their kitchen or was from a tin can. The owner of this place used to work in Bombay India on Green St and the food there was good or atleast the biryani there was pretty good. His current place Sitara's food is no where compared to the Bombay's food. It is surprising. With this kind of food, I am not so sure this restaurant will survive. Probably change the cook. I am never going there again and would not recommend it to any of my friends.
(1)Chauna Anne Cherie G.
I absolutely love this place and get the same thing every time: The shrimp vendaloo spicy x2. The naan is incredible and for lunch it's around $8.00. My only complaint is that the bar is underutilized. They need to do something with the decor to make that more appealing.
(4)Tristen J.
This place is the best Indian food in the CU area. The Chicken Korma and the Naan are to die for. I can't get enough of Sitara!
(5)Aditi B.
I visited Sitara just after they had opened. There was a surprise inspection there at the same time. They had to shut off their oven ( which makes me wonder what was wrong in the first place) due to which we could not get any type of breads that we had previously ordered. This was told to us after waiting 30-40 mins for the food. They just got the curry along with rice and told us this is all they can make right now. No apologies, nothing. I heard good reviews about the food and went back to give it another shot. But the food failed to impress me. I tried a couple of different chicken dishes. The food was just average. Nothing great. I even tried a bread other than the Naan. It was nothing like what it is supposed to be ( I am from India and I know what I'm ordering)
(1)Kim S.
Solidly good Indian fare. Went with a group and had the huge booth in the back. Good ambiance. Friendly servers. Good selection of 'ethnic' beers. Friends got the Flying Horse Royal Lager which was pretty awesome (light). All the apps and breads were tasty. My chicken korma was great. Was totally full, but still squeezed in some mango and pistachio ice cream. Certain to be my Chambana Indian restaurant for both in-house and take-out.
(4)Jon R.
Went here for the first time with coworkers at lunch on 9/25. It was an excellent experience. The three of us each had samosa as appetizers (they're not on the lunch menu, but just ask for them) and we shared three entrées, along with plain and garlic naan. The samosa were excellent, with good flavor and a healthy kick - probably the tastiest samosas I've had in a while. The coriander chutney was deliciously fresh, and one coworker who accompanied me said it was reminiscent of the way she liked it back home in India. The naan (garlic and plain) was delicious, and our main courses - two chicken dishes and channa masala also met with our satisfaction. The two different chicken dishes had distinct flavors with a good level of spice and flavor. The channa masala was also delicious; we asked them to crank up the heat on this one, and they obliged. We were all pleased with our meal, and the price was fair for the quantity and quality of food. The entrées are served in brass bowls with china plates. It's hard to believe that a mere dozen years ago, we had NO Indian cuisine in Champaign-Urbana; we now have several excellent choices including Sitara, both on-campus and off. We will definitely be back. This fine Indian restaurant is a great addition to the dining options in downtown Urbana.
(5)Mary M.
Went to Sitara yesterday for the first time. What a nice surprise after having eaten at another Indian restaurant int he area a few months ago. Great service, excellent food and nice decor. Staff were friendly and attentive and service was quick. Excellent food! Will be going back.
(4)Amy D.
Sitara was a pleasant surprise in the Indian food scheme of the C-U area, with good flavors and a casual but comfortable ambience. The tandoori chicken was pleasantly tender and moist (a hit-or-miss in C-U). Prices in general are OK, at $9-12 for entrees. The only complaint is that the staff didn't cut up the naan, which made eating and sharing a bit awkward. Stop by if you're in the area, for a casual lunch or dinner experience.
(3)Wayne K.
After hearing from a friend that the Chef and manager who had previously worked at Bombay was working at this new restaurant, we had to go. My girlfriend and I had been going to Bombay almost every week for two years but noticed a gradual decline in the quality of the food. The food we were looking for was at Sitara. The food was just as great as it was before. I always get the chicken korma 2x spicy while my girlfriend gets the (Sitara) chicken aloo also 2x spicy. The naan amazing and a must-have. The only reason I am giving this a 4 is because the service is very dependent upon your server. Sometimes everything will be perfect, other times you'll be ignored from the time you get your food to when you get the check handed to you without a thing being said.
(4)Joey M.
The food here is great! Full of flavor and very fresh. The restaurant is also very nice and clean and the staff are extremely professional. I'd go here instead of Bombay, the food is better and the prices are a lot cheaper!!!
(5)Vanessa B.
Tried this place for lunch on a Saturday. The staff was nice and the vegetarian options were yummy and inexpensive ($14 for two lunch entrees and naan). It's a great addition to downtown Urbana and it's nice to have an option for Indian food outside of Bombay.
(4)Eugene K.
Update: I had previously written the bellow review with 4 stars. However, I must now change it to 1 or even less. I just called them to make an order for pickup. I am not Indian and am not the most sophisticated when it comes to Indian food. I tried asking a few questions about their Chicken Chili before making my order. The guy on the other end was extremely short with me and even hung up on me. If this is how they treat people then I will not be going back. My post can be updated again with a good response from management. Previous Post: We ate at Sitara the other night. I had one of the paneer dishes and thought it was outstanding. I also ordered two orders of naan. The naan was huge, the size of a blanket (slight exaggeration). Our waiter, Johnny Bravo, did a wonderful job. I didn't give this five stars because I decided to be more picky in my reviews. I would definitely recommend this place.
(1)Shulin J.
Should have discovered this place earlier. Best Indian restaurant in town with very reasonable prize. Awesome environment and good services. My boyfriend and I ordered sauteed shrimp as appetizer, a chicken entree, a lamb grill, plus two lasses for only a little over $30. The tandoori specialties are must-tries! I ordered seekh kabab, a lamb sausage kabab, and it tastes awesome!
(5)Ritika M.
BEWARE of this place. They do not use a calculator for some reason to add up your bill and end up charging you more. Most people wont notice it but clearly they do it more than often. I am pretty sure its not a mistake because it has happened more than twice. Also, while ordering they DO NOT specify if rice is extra or if they are trying to cross sell a product, they make it sound as if it comes with the entree. I would be careful of their practices. Finally, the quality of food is no different than bombay grill... its same old bombay grill type of food.
(1)Neil O.
The restaurant was very clean and the service was good. The food was very rich, delicious and well spiced. I also found that their menu descriptions and spiciness ratings were accurate for the dishes we tried. Overall, a great value for the money. I have eaten at a lot of Indian restaurants in the bay area and Sitara is on par with big city cuisine. I recommend trying them!
(4)Ye L.
Food was spicy even it said to be mild. But the curry tasted very good. Nan was soft and warm!
(4)Timothy T.
When it comes to Indian this is the place. I have had almost everything under the chicken menu. Never disappoints. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Prices are great and they have great deals on gift certificates too for the holiday season.
(5)Rachel F.
Food was great. Naan is huge and delicious. Would have been a 5 star rating if they had had more tables as my fiancé and I had I sit at the bar to eat dinner, which is pretty difficult when eating Indian food. We will be back again, and will most likely be our go to to-go takeout spot.
(4)Amanda K.
My favorite Indian place in town! The staff is so friendly and always knows exactly how we want our food done (even if we aren't sure how we want it done, haha!). It gets packed at dinner time, but take out is a good option too! Never been disappointed with a meal from here!
(5)Claire B.
I love this Indian restaurant! I've been to many across Central Illinois and have even been to India. Their chicken mahkani is great and can be ordered at several levels of spicyness. Naan is great, too. The service has always been excellent. They even made lamb jalfrenzi for me even though it wasn't on the menu. In addition, their prices are some (if not the most) affordable in town!
(5)Craig G.
Quite easily the best (Northern) Indian restaurant in Champaign-Urbana, and one of the best I've been to anywhere. The food is fresh, and the range of flavors broad and well balanced. Spice level is very moderate and can be increased on request for those desiring a more invigorating experience. The napkins are cloth and quite absorbent, very capable of handling a level 3 Vendaloo's worth of forehead sweat. I'd list the dishes I prefer but they have all been excellent and I have no one favorite, though I do get the fish curry and chicken do pyaza more frequently than others. I love rice but choose paratha nine times out of ten, only occasionally getting rice or garlic naan. The samosas are perfect and don't forget the tamarind sauce, which is a great highlight to the main dish also. I'm not sure how anyone could give this place one star, especially having not even tried the food. The owner Bobby is a straight shooter, by all means check your ticket but I find it difficult to believe he or his staff are cheating the totals.
(5)Tejas S.
Its alright. Good place to sit down, good decor etc. Samosas could have been better. I feel the food is kind of the same as all the other indian places in C-U.
(3)Grace T.
First time here and I had an ok experience. It's located two doors down from the Iron Post in Urbana. The restaurant looks like a bar.... A really long bar with a dozen seats....not sure what the purpose of it was....I guess they didn't bother renovating from the previous tenants. Then a bunch of booths and a few tables.... Think Black Dog but with more room. I had my 1yr old with me and figured she'd love some chicken korma and rice. She LOVES rice... But not here... korma is usually fairly mild (as stated in their menu) with lots of flavor, but this had a bit of a kick to it....my nose was running. After three bites, she was spitting it out and pushing it away. I also ordered some samosas, and they were really good, but again a bit of a kick and my daughter didn't like them. We tried ordering a mango lassi from the menu, but the waiter said that they had a mango shake....i asked what the difference was and he just shrugged his shoulders and said, "They're similar". Similar as in how? He couldn't tell me. He suggested mango juice, so I agreed and he basically sat a glass of mango concentrate in front of me.... Kind of gross. From where we were seated, i had a decent view of the kitchen....I saw them putting a lot of things in the microwave....heard lots of beeping as dish after dish finished in there...not sure what they were nuking... Kind of made me uneasy.... I've been in enough restaurants, cooking classes and seen enough food network to know that microwaves aren't really used that often or at all?! Anyway, it was ok...but I'd opt for Bombay Indian Grill any day of the week.
(2)Dionne C.
Great Indian food! Really delicious, generous portions. They have a Thali special is an amazing array of Indian favorites that is offered vegetarian or no vegetarian for $7.99 and $8.99 respectively. The also have a pretty well executed menu to choose from with a lot of traditional north Indian dishes. I love Indian food for all its complexity and flavor and this place did not leave me disappointed. Definitely try it out for a quick and delightful lunch.
(4)Sandy W.
I am definitely a fan of the food at Sitara. The quality of the food is good, and the flavors are spot on. I've done both eating in and take out, and I would suggest doing take out if you're short on time because the service can be a bit slow. I personally feel like the entrees could be just a little bit bigger, and I wish they would add onion chutney to their chutney offerings.
(5)Joy Z.
Had the thaili(not sure if I spelt the name correct. It's on the last page of the menu) lunch. It was only $8.99, but contains chicken, rice, salad, and dessert! Like their Dessert very much. It was a kind of milk dessert, and seems contains rice. Creamy but not very sweet. And the sweet yogurt drink Tassi was also very good. It could be better if they have some cooked vegetables in the chicken meal.
(4)Jay B.
Love the decor and the food is even better to me than Bombay. Nice people working there. I love the lamb vindaloo for $9 at lunch.
(5)Vendome 1.
Hands down best Indian food in the Champaign-Urbana area. Good location. Priciest of all the options but a great deal considering the quality of food. Let me start with the lassi, which they make. It is the perfect consistency not too thick- to die for. Then, their samosas and fried paneer are just perfectly done and spiced. The butter chicken curry, malai kufta, and lamb vindaloo are all amazingly mouthwatering. The flavor is done just right. The meat and vegetables are pronounced and mix subtly well with the spices. So good. The basmati rice is freshly cooked and the naan is warm and soft. But definitely try their aloo paratha- that is one decision you will never regret! My stomach is growling now... But to finish off they have a nice selection of desserts which includes mango kulfi that comes sliced like a cake! A+ for taste and presentation. So much better than Bombay Grills which tasted like a 7-11 Slushie! I would definitely go to Sitara over any other restaurant in Champaign-Urbana 100 times out of 100.
(5)Stephanie D.
Had lunch with friends and we each ordered a dish. Palak paneer, chicken tikka masala , aloo Gobi, and butter chicken all were excellent. I cannot wait to go again.
(5)Renee C.
Amazing food and service. The owner is wonderful. My favorites are dal makahni and palak paneer. Extensive vegetarian menu. I love this place!
(5)Martin P.
This place is the real deal...Had panak paneer and lamb curry with naan and it was excellent. Would highly recommend and I will definitely be back in the future.
(5)Michael B.
Really good Indian, especially enjoyed the chicken tiki marsala and the naan. The yellow dal was a little runny for my personal taste, but still very flavorful. Generally good service (I have a toddler, and they were VERY supportive and attentive to what we needed), although a couple missteps. All in all, we're headed back again!
(4)Bess W.
This is now my favorite Indian place in town. The food was hot and good, portions were a bit small as usual with most indian places but it was still plenty for leftovers with some naan & two entrees. The vegetable korma is the best in town.
(5)Professor A.
Owned by previous manager and Chef of Bombay Grill. Nice start, careful handling of customers. Maybe need to prune their menu, it is expansive. Recommended as the best option in Champaign-Urbana for Indian .....not saying much :-(
(4)Ibrahim S.
Some of the best Indian food in Champaign. But the service is definitely not good.
(4)Daniella B.
The food here is always good. I'm not Indian so I can't speak to how authentic it is but I frequently see Indian people here so I think that's a good sign. Our go to favorite is the palaak paneer which is basically Indian creamed spinach and a good thing to try if you're apprehensive about Indian food. We usually try to get something spicy to balance out the creaminess of the spinach. The beer they have is also good. They only have Indian beer which all have super cliche names like Maja Raja, Taj Mahal, and Kingfisher. I was surprised to find out their beer is nothing like anything I've tasted. They're all lagers but they have an unexpected malty sweetness and they're not super hoppy.
(5)Jody E.
the food here is quite good. came by with water frequently. take out takes them awhile...expect 40 minutes. my only complaint is that they either never have the Indian pickles, or forget to bring them out to me. the ambience is nice inside, but sit near the front for better AC. I sat in the back once and it was really hot.
(4)Phil P.
Great place. I eat here often for lunch. Why do I keep going back? Because it is really good! The naan is the star of the show here. Whoever the chef is really knows how to use the tandoori oven. For me, the rest of the meal is just a vehicle by which I can consume more naan. That being said, the jasmine rice is really good too. I've only had it once... because I absolutely cannot resist the naan. Man... I could go for some naan right now... I've tried a lot of the items on the menu, and all of them have been good. Plus, you get a lot of food for the price. I wish they would cut out about half the bar to add more seating. It sometimes gets pretty crowded at lunch (again, because it's REALLY good!). The chicken korma is probably my favorite. Really good flavor and heat. It's a perfect dish for dipping naan in. You know... because I like naan.
(5)Narender G.
I was so terribly sorry to visit this place that I decided to leave a review about it's pathetic customer service and unpalatable food. I have been here once before, and was disappointed with both the customer service and food quality. The server took forever to serve our order, and kept on messing with it. We ordered chicken and he brought something else, and so on for many other dishes. My friend was so disgusted that he left a big ZERO as the tip amount. But for whatever reason, we decided to give it a second try, assuming that it was a bad day. But what are the odds that the same incidents happened during the second visit as well. Imagine what are the odds for that. The server was arrogant. The table was full, and there wasn't enough space to keep the incoming dishes on the table. So we requested him to keep them on the nearby table for the time being, since it was empty. He insisted that we keep it on our table only. I asked him to free up space on the table if he could, and he started to stack the dirty plates one upon the other on the table itself, not to collect them but to leave them there only. The food was so horrible that I had to leave my dinner unfinished. This time I left a ZERO dollars as the tip. I am never going back to this place again.
(1)Eric B.
First off, i NEVER even attempted to try Indian food before Sitara because the one time it was forced on me it SUCKED. But, i was curious about this place and its numerous good reviews. I'm very happy to say i was not disappointed! I went with the delicious Chicken Chili and i've had it twice since my first visit! Can't wait to go back and try more food here, a great addition to Urbana.
(4)Cosmin R.
Not the best north Indian food we have ever tried, but the best in town. We ate here several times since it opened and it was consistently good. If you're like me and don't get anything that doesn't contain meat, I recommend you make an exception for the Bhindi Masala (okra curry).
(5)Kristina U.
I like the Indian food here; the vindaloo is to die for, the nan is perfect and the lassi drinks will make you want a second stomach. The service seems decent and the food comes out at a good rate; I'm not a huge fan of the inside and the Bollywood dance videos on the TV's but that's not a hard thing to get over.
(5)Zhi L.
The foods really good but mannnn its SLOW when it gets busy... 40 minutes waiting to get 2 curry.
(3)Elle J.
I came here twice within one week. We ordered lamb curry and butter chicken with naan the first time and samosas + naan + 2 orders of lamb curry the latter. The first time was a Saturday evening and it was busy, taking us close to 45 min to get our food but goodness EVERYTHING was fresh. I would wait that long again. The curry was labeled mild but had a lot of spices and seasonings which made it great. Service was nice but best of all were the prices. Amazing meal with quality and portions but won't break the bank.
(5)Alex C.
This was my first experience with Indian food and I wasn't too impressed. Sitara has the best reviews on Yelp and I even ordered a lot of food to try and get a variety of different things. I had the mixed grill which is Malai, Tikka, Garlic and Tandoori Chicken, and also comes with a lamb seekh kabob. I also got the Paneer Pakoras and the yellow Dol and rice which came with the meal. Almost all of the chicken were in boneless chunks, with the exception of 2 wings, which I believe were the Tandoori. They were all pretty dry and almost similar to each other. Maybe this is because they are grilled rather than fried? Maybe I'm just used to heavily breaded chicken? I'm not sure. I did like the flavor of the Tikka(?) though, it was a little sweet and spicy. The lamb kabab was a little more flavorful and better in consistency but still wasn't as good as I'd hoped. Now, the rice that came with my entrée was surprisingly good for being just basmati rice. I was also given what felt like at least a pound of it, so no shortage there. The yellow Dol is not something I ever had before, but that I did like. It had a really interesting herbal flavor to it and can most closely be described as a soup. I also got an appetizer of Paneer Pakoras which I'd say are similar to a mozzarella stick but not as greasy and heavy. These were good but by the time I had gotten around to eating them were inevitably cold. They were unusually tasty and came with 2 dipping sauces. One was a VERY spicy green sauce and I'm not sure about the other one, possibly a sweet berry sauce. Either way these sauces were delicious and I ended up dipping my chicken in them. Overall the portion to price ratio was pretty good, although I wasn't very happy about how expensive my meal was considering I didn't much care for the chicken which was most of my dinner. Delivery speed was really quick probably about 30 minutes but I actually think the delivery was the reason I didn't enjoy my food. Often times with delivery things sit around and get overcooked in the process. I think if I am ever to try Sitara, or any Indian food again, I will definitely go into the actual restaurant. From the pictures I've looked at, most Indian food looks very moist and saucy which is what I was hoping mine would be, but it was kind of dry.
(2)Jane X.
Order something with naan; they are really good. I ordered grilled lamb and they are delicious too.
(4)Aisha C.
The good: I used to settle for Bombay Indian until this place opened. I love their Baigan Bharta (veggie eggplant) and they have this naan with lamb that is always delicious. Service is pretty good. The bad: There isn't a ton of seating and I have gotten cold dishes sometimes. Overall, good food and decent prices (most entrees are $8-12)
(4)Noam S.
Glad to update that this place definitely deserves 5 stars. At Sitara they consistently serve delicious Indian cuisine for a great price. Service never disappoints, and we just love coming here. If you haven't been yet, what are you waiting for?
(5)Luront U.
Service was a bit slow but the food and drinks were very good. Try one of their lassis and a vindaloo dish for an amazing combination. Their naan is pretty much on-point as well.
(4)Nelson M.
Restaurant review I may have missed the sitara special non-vegetarian thali on my first visit so I may need to go back. This looks like a super chicken curry combo dish that would easily rival Aroma curry cafe's lunch special. I went with the chicken tikki masala lunch special with naan. The food was prepared quickly. One downside here is that they don't have a lunch buffet option which is always nice to pay a little more so you can have a variety. The chicken tikki masal was quite spicy. I guess it is more authentic that way. The protein serving was ample and filling. The only downside is the one large piece of naan which may not be enough for all of the curry that comes with your dish. My opinion is still mixed, anbar has a lunch and dinner buffet which allows for a large selection of indian food at a lower quality, but the lunch entrees here balance the heat of the curry along with a healthy serving of protein. I will have to come back and see if they have the lunch combo which would be your best bet if still offered Pros: spicy northern indian food, authentic Cons: parking is scarce, no buffet option Hidden deals: Lunch specials are a good deal
(4)Hillary T.
I feel like giving them a 2 star is being kind. Should of paid better attention to the health department warning outside. Food is just okay, but the overall cleanliness is not up to par. Would not recommend. Wait staff is very slow.
(2)Harshavardhan G.
Great kebabs...adequate spice...would strongly recommend...ambience is good...we ordered paneer tikka which had more gravy than expected but it turned out to be good...lassi was excellent
(4)Jessica K.
I like Sitara but it's not any different from Casablanca Kabab House. There's not a strong enough pull to leave campus for this place.
(4)Gretchen C.
My friend and I went here after I read other reviews on Yelp, and consulted another friend of mine. We had TONS of food (3 appetizers, naan, and a main course for each of us) and our total was just under $40. This was my first experience with Indian food, and I'm pleased to say that I'll be back! I had the Butter Chicken, which is Tandoori Chicken in a tomato sauce with rice. It was delicious. My friend had the Chicken Vendaloo, which was also quite tasty. The naan was soft and pillowy and great for sopping up the extra sauce. We each had a samosa (yummm) and shared the aloo tikki appetizer (so, so good with each of the provided dipping sauces). We split the chicken sekuwa appetizer as well. After being intimidated by Indian food for so long, I'm glad I finally took the plunge at Sitara. UPDATE: I visited again the other night and had the Tandoori Shrimp. Holy cow, it was amazing. It's served with rice and yellow dal and everything was so tasty. Thanks again, Sitara!
(5)Emily D.
I looooooooooove Indian food! For so many years, the only place I went in the CU area was Bombay on Green Street. Not long after Sitara opened, my mom took me for my birthday dinner when I was down from the city. So this review is a bit delayed :) Like I said I am always down for Indian, and I was happy to learn that a new restaurant had opened in downtown Urbana! I was very pleased with the service as well as the food. We came in later on a Wednesday night and were one of the only ones in the place. We shared a couple of entrees and were delighted with everything we ordered. I would definitely recommend Sitara to an Indian food veteran or novice! It is a great place to eat.
(5)Ken R.
We've been 3-4 times now. This is one of the places that my wife and I go with her family when they're in town and we've never been disappointed. It's one of our go-to spots in Urbana. The tandoori chicken is extremely good - nicely flavored and tender. Plus you get the fun presentation when it comes out on the sizzling metal platter, surrounded with onions and peppers. We have tried a variety of dishes and they've always been tasty. Some of the standouts are the lamb korma, the saag paneer, and the chicken makhani. I also had a very tasty fish curry. I like how the dishes come out in the small bowls - it also makes it easier to share and for everyone to try a little bit of everything. The sauces are very rich and filling, so we almost always end up with leftovers. The naan is fluffy and delicious. The rice is good too, but it's hard not to get the naan every time. The service has also been fairly prompt - in the past we've gone and it's been almost empty, but last time the restaurant was fairly full, so I guess the word is getting out.
(5)Max L.
Simply amazing! There are few times in my life that I've received food still steaming and crackling because it was so hot and fresh. The sampler was top notch and I would recommend it to anyone.
(5)a b.
Context: I'm a vegetarian Indian American, visiting from the Bay Area, where we have plenty of great Indian food. Summary: I was genuinely delighted with my dinner on a weekday here. I had the samosa to start, followed by dal makhani with sides of rice and yogurt. I don't usually eat this much, and I could have easily split my dinner with a friend. The food I had was great and the service was friendly. The price was roughly half of what we expect to pay in the Bay Area. Food: The samosa was done as well as some of the best I've had, appropriately portioned and well cooked with balanced texture and seasoning. The dal makhani was rich and flavorful, with a fragrant aroma that made me wonder if it was possibly made with butter. Service: They graciously accommodated my various off-menu requests. They were genuine and earnest about their work. Ambiance: I enjoyed the ambiance with sturdy wood tables.
(5)M B.
Welcome to my regular rotation, Sitara. I can't imagine another Indian restaurant in the area being better. I don't know why I waited so long to try here - the reviews are good, colleagues have recommended it, but for some reason I waited over a year. Got dinner to-go, and even tested out some items that might be questionable after the drive home. The naan was excellent (simple, but great), the veg app sampler was surprisingly good (not greasy, and the sauces added great zip), and the lamb vindaloo was still very tender. Now that I've tried out my "tester" dishes, I am ready to explore the menu. I'm hoping that they can bring a little more heat in the future.
(5)Chet A.
Tasty food, the Alloo Tiki (sp? - app for 2.99) were delicious and vibrant. Entrees, a chicken curry and a masala, were good (9.99 a 10.99) and the accompanying basmati was brightened with some saffron, shaved carrots and a hint of fennel. Service was prompt and helpful. Great addition to Urbana fare.
(4)Lara S.
Sitara is the most authentic Indian food I've ever had. I absolutely love it. Great quality for the price and quick! I would eat here every day if I could. The Na'an is fantastic!!
(5)Bo D.
It's a shame that I had to give this place only a 3 star rating, even though the food was quite good and I have recently started to really like Indian food. The problem was the service. I'm normally not picky about service, as long as I get what I ordered I'm happy. But decide for yourself whether the following is acceptable to you. They're supposed to open at 4:30, and we arrived at 4:35 to find the door closed and locked. My wife and I then walked around the block for a few minutes to wait, came back, and the place still wasn't open. I peered through the window to check if anyone was inside, and made eye contact with two of the restaurant staff. They stared at me, then went back to chatting with each other (they weren't even busy preparing tables or anything). By this time it was around 4:45. Once inside, we basically got the cold shoulder treatment, as if they were being passive-aggressive about my peering inside earlier. No smiles, no welcoming attitude, and when they came to take our order they just stood next to us without saying or asking anything. We ordered a lot so we had plenty left over, and specifically asked for TWO boxes to go, and they only brought one of the small boxes, which was clearly inadequate for how much we had left. So in summary, 4/5 for the food, 1/5 for the service, 3/5 overall.
(3)Paul V.
Place was busy waiting period for both or table was over 30 min It was 7:15 pm Saturday I should have known in Urbana IN student town! Anyway using my Hindi I got spot on Bar! Not comfortable but when you are hungry any thing goes Ordered kadai paneer - soft cheese cubes with green peppers and tomato in spicy sauce see pic of bowl Food was prepared medium hot and Nan extra rice with glass of Red wine Cabernet Delicious , good service , Place like a diner with booths
(4)Felisa R.
I am new to the area and am starting to test out restaurants. This one did not disappoint. I deducted one star because the delivery time was going to take an eternity, so I had to go pick it up. I know that doesn't sound like a huge hardship, but I was already in my PJs and parking is a little tricky there. That said, the food was great. I ordered the following: Samosas: they were crispy and soft in the perfect way. The potato filling was super tasty and they are not shy with spices. The green dipping sauce (sorry, no idea what it's called) was spicy and delicious. I could eat these all day. Probably shouldn't. Veggie curry: Fantastic! Great mix of veggies, not too much cream. Even better reheated the next day. Finishing it as I type. I look forward to eating there, it looks like a cute, laid-back space.
(4)Zaid E.
The best Indian food in the area. Period. My favorite chill spot. I have been in champaign on a small time for work. Probably around 7 months. I travel more than most and rely and the vast Internet for food and drink. The Internet didn't provide me this spot. The locals praise it and directed me towards it. It has not only the friendliest staff but it has amazing Indian food for the area. It had amazing Indian food for all the places I've been to. Need a place to decompress? Have a beer at their bar and order something amazing.
(5)Sudeep B.
Fairly disappointed with the food..seeing so many good reviews we decided to try this one out - we ordered the masala papad, aloo tiki, chicken biryani and a new dish garlic masala chicken but almost all the dishes were just about average..there are many other better Indian restaurants in this area - try them out first!
(3)Joe R.
Very clean and attractive place in a former bar. They've kept the bar, but it could benefit from adding more booths. It's the same management and menu as Bombay Indian Grill (at Green & 6th St., Champaign). There's more room to spread out at Sitara, and fewer students. I've come here for dinner several times since it opened. The food is awesome. service is great. prices are reasonable. The beer selection is limited to domestic macro and Indian malt liquor, all pretty gross. Stick with water.
(4)Erin C.
Lunch special Thalis offer a nice variety. Otherwise, the rice dishes, e.g number 37, is another great option for people who enjoy tasting a little bit of everything, and want to avoid the stress of deciding which curries and rice or naan to order a la carte. Fair prices, tasty food, and comfortable location.
(4)Ashley B.
We live in Chicago and have some pretty amazing Indian food up there. But since we come to Champaign/Urbana often I was so pumped to hear about this place opening. We came in and we were literally the only other people in there which was kind of a bummer. There was also no real signage out front and no real decoration inside. I've been to that space when it was the pizza place, and then when it was Red Star before that and not much has changed besides the fact that there were Bollywood movies playing. The service was fine, maybe a touch slow given that there was no one else there, but everyone was pleasant. The food was good too, perfectly spicy (and like spicy). I would surely come back. The only thing that worries me is the fact that they've failed health inspections. So what would've been a four star spot is now at two.
(2)Shim A.
Friendly attentive service, serving tasty Indian cuisine. I've had their biryani and lamb vindaloo. Both dishes were beautifully prepared and came piping hot from the kitchen. The naan is very good here as well. I've had the garlic and cheese varieties (so far). I like my food spicy and they had no problem making my order spicier than usual. The Bollywood shows they have on the TVs provided good entertainment during the meal as well. Overall I'd say this place is deserving of the good ratings it has received so far.
(5)Robin S.
Came in for lunch and had the chicken vindaloo. The curry was good, had good flavor and the right amount of spiciness. I have tried all but 1 other of the Indian restaurants in the CU area and this is at the top of the list so far. 1 star deducted for 2 reasons: 1. Service was subpar. The glass of water I got was lukewarm. Had maybe 1 sip of water left in the glass and the server looked at my table, walked by a few times without refilling, went back behind the bar and was on his phone. About the 4th time he finally came back and finally refilled the water....with more lukewarm water. 2. The vindaloo had broccoli in it. I've had vindaloo plenty of times and have had different places add a variety of veggies, but never crunchy broccoli. It was kind of random and kind of seemed like it was a random vegetable added to the dish to stay true to the menu that said "a curry with assorted veggies". Honestly it took away from the dish. I would most probably come back here and try another dish and hope that service is a little better.
(4)Stacey G.
Consistently good with fast, attentive service. Spicy available upon request!
(4)Michael K.
My wife and I ate here for the first time this Father's Day (2014). The restaurant is small and can easily be missed if you drive by in the car. There is no street parking, but there is ample parking in the structure immediately behind Sitara (and parking in the structure currently is free on weekends and on weekday evenings). Inside it is clearly a former bar. Lots of wood, a beautiful bar; a few booths and small tables line the South side of Sitara. Service was excellent. We were greeted as soon as we walked in, and seated immediately. The lunch menu is extensive, with sections for appetizers, vegetable dishes, lamb dishes, fish dishes, chicken dishes, bread dishes, and rice dishes (each with as few as 10 or as many as 20 listings). When we visited the prices began at 7.99, with most at 9.99. Meals include either naan or rice and an entree. We tried a lamb and a fish dish, and we both liked both of them. We also had an appetizer of vegetables prepared tempura-like with delicious sauces. Our water and drink glasses were never less than half full and both our waiter and other employees checked on us several times during the meal, making sure the food was good, hot, spiced properly, etc. There were several tables with children, but there doesn't appear to be a children's menu. (They may have one, but we didn't see it.) The tables are small and close together, so it may be difficult for a person in a wheelchair or walker. The naan was freshly made when we ordered it, and it was delicious. Just a slight puff, but still dense; you could taste the char-grill on it, just right, as should be the case. The lamb was tender and plentiful in the sauce. The fish was excellent too, though to my taste the sauce overwhelmed the fish flavor a little too much. Tasty, but I prefered the lamb because the balance of meat and sauce flavors let the best of both come through. There were several flat screen televisions playing Indian music videos. They were not unpleasant-- not too loud and one could easily talk and be heard. All in all I like Sitara a lot and recommend it highly. Everything is freshly made and delicious. We will definitely return to try other menu items!
(4)Jamie L.
I'm here on a weekly basis, often multiple times a week to get my fix. I've finally had a less than ideal experience and I'm so happy that the owner handled it perfectly. I would hate to lose my delicious Indian food because of one unpleasant experience! As soon as the owner heard of my displeasure, he handled it immediately and appropriately. I still love, love, love this place!
(5)Ricky H.
Took wife here 03/27/15. Great food and service. I received all kinds of husband points and wife rewards later.
(5)Theresa B.
I've been to Sitara three or four times now and the food is really good - especially the chicken tikka masala and the palak paneer. The naan bread is very fresh and tasty. The service is great and they deliver too, promptly and cheerfully. So glad they opened up in downtown Urbana.
(4)Ahmad B.
Food was great but their service was bad. My party having called in, in advance, was made to wait 20 minutes until we got a table. Then we ordered food and it took a moderately long time for it to arrive. I understand they were busy so I am not basing my review off the time for the food to arrive to our table, but the fact that they didn't have our spots ready by the time we arrived. Going back to the food, I grew up in an indian household having eaten indian food everyday and their food was amazing. Compared to all the other indian restaurants I've tried in the Chambana area (Bombay Indian Grill, Amber Indian etc.) This place had the best food. The food itself kind of made up for the service so it bumbed up my review from 3 to 4 stars. I recommend the Fish Makini with Garlic Naan or over just plain white rice. If your looking for a restaurant with great food and are in the mood for indian cuisine I really recommend you check this place out if they are not busy.
(4)David B.
Went back again for take out. Portions were great and the flavor was above average. Ordered the lamb vindaloo, and got a heaping container of vindaloo and another good sized container for rice. And the garlic naan was very very good. When I stopped by to pick it up I asked one of the staff members why Somosa wasn't on the menu, he said "it's on the dinner menu, you can ask for it any time" Very helpful and friendly staff. Food is still good and at a fair price.
(4)Thomas B.
Sitara opened on Tuesday, September 3, 2013. The owner used to be the counterman at Bombay at 4th & Green in campus. Unlike Bombay, Sitara serves on china plates with metal flatware, waiter service and nicer digs all around. I had the spicy fish chili for $7.99 at lunch. The Fish Chili has large chucks of whitefish and green peppers in a hot brown sauce. Excellent, with a nice kick to it. This place will be a regular lunch stop for Downtown Urbana folks. Prices are reasonable, about the same as the Bombay at 4th & Green, but not eating off of styrofoam with plastic forks. Lunch entrees were $5.99, $6.99 and $7.99. Sitara is in the space formerly occupied by the Embassy, The Red Star Liquors, and Black Rock Pizza; all across the street from Busey Bank's parking lot on Race Street between Elm and Main.
(5)Jennifer S.
I love Sitara. I always get the same thing, but it's because it is so good that I don't want to try anything else. (I probably should, I am sure that everything they cook is delicious). I usually got samosa chaat and chicken vendaloo. Samosa chat is so delicious, so fresh and full of glavor! And vindaloo is perfectly spicy and chicken is so tender that it really melts in your mouth. Service is very attentive when I dine there and I order for delivery frequently as well.
(5)Matthis H.
Chicken Vindaloo and Tandori Chicken... (yeah, I like chicken!) was had today for lunch. It was way good. The naan was massive. The staff was on top of things. one star off for making me ask for Raita for my Tandori chicken.. come on! Overall it was great. i'll be back. ps. thanks for not being an Indian Buffet spot, there is a time and a place for that, but not in downtown Urbana. Make us order dishes, and not have to waddle out big american style.
(4)Susie K.
Clean and nice atmosphere. Waiters were attentive and gave refills when needed. Lunch was garlic nan, chicken tikka masala, and side of rice. Food was pretty good in comparison to the authentic foods I had in India.
(4)Eric M.
I'm not sure what kind of drugs they're putting in their food but I am seriously addicted. I struggle not to eat there more than once a week. It's not just some of the best Indian/curry around, it's some of the best food of any genre I have found in C-U. I am so thankful my coworkers took me here as I am from Colorado and have been struggling to find good restaurants around the area. Highly recommend the chicken tikka masala with rice and naan. I haven't even ordered it with any spice but I hear good things. Check em out!
(5)P B.
Great Indian food, in such an obscure location. Much better than the inflated fare one gets in New Jersey. We ended up here on our college trip & took a chance, were pleasantly surprised. The Sheek kebab was very fine, chilly mutton gravy was tasty. Biryani though was not the usual hyderabadi style, more of a fried rice version. Beware the portions, its tuned towards hungry students trying to stock up.
(4)