Great place I felt like I was in London.The interior has a cool retro vibe.Very nice place

The Sitar Indian Cuisine buffet offers a wide range of choices for all tastes and diets, including vegetarian offers, seafood, chicken and lamb. The dishes are well prepared and full of flavor. I was with a larger group, but the service was attentive and prompt for all of our needs. read more

We always enjoy Sitar Indian Cuisine. I can't think of anything we have ordered for which we had negative opinions. Mostly we like the midday buffet. Sanitary, well stocked and supervised, which is important. I especially enjoy vegetarian selections and would like to see more . The chicken masala is a very popular dish for many people. Prices a good, staff are welcoming and the decor/ambiance is good enough. Good enough to me means most of their attention(money) is placed in the quality of the food and well trained staff. read more

In just a couple of words, the food was very disappointing! We had high expectations due to the great reviews but boy the disappointment was evident on everyone's face. The chicken was old and tasted bad, the rest of the food had no flavor. The 3 stars are for the people working there, the majority of them were very nice and welcoming. read more

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I visit Sitar every time I visit Durham. It has a great variety of menu choices, including vegetarian, and last night they accommodated my brother's request for a mild curry. My only "complaint" is that their portions are too big (and I am a big eater). Our server, Rakesh, was very attentive. When we dropped our naan he quickly brought us a fresh basket. read more

We happened upon this restaurant while in Durham one weekend and are glad we stopped and gave it a try. All the staff were very nice and the buffet was delicious. We got to try all sorts of new dishes that we'd never even heard of (plus enjoyed some of our favorites). Since I have a sweet tooth, I was especially excited about all of the desserts on the buffet! They even had hot chai and two fruit drinks, which was extra special. I've never seen drinks on a buffet before. We enjoyed a relaxing meal and when we paid, the cashier gave us a small box and wished us a Merry Christmas. Inside was a loaf of bread and a coupon for our next visit. It's nice that they treat their customers so well. I was impressed. We will definitely be back! read more

Coming into sitar, I noticed how quickly we were seated. The service was great. Everyone working was wearing a mask. We came in for the lunch buffet. I really appreciate how covid conscious the staff was. Hand sanitizer was in every corner. And before grabbing your plate and food, customers are required to wear gloves. The food wasn't bad. It felt more catered towards a more un-authentic audience. There's hot sauce on the side for those who need a kick. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options. The labels did a great job on specifying that. We paid 12.99 for all you can eat. I wasn't disappointed, but definitely have had better Indian food. The kheer was the best. I was saddened they didn't have galub jamun. I'd recommend for price, cleanliness, and service. Food was always hot! read more

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Sitar has a decent Indian buffet. I went for lunch and liked the Basmati Rice, tandoori chicken, and samosas. The buffet isn't huge but does offer a nice amount of different offerings so it is a good way to try different Indian cuisine. I wish they had more dessert offerings. I only saw rice pudding on the day I went for lunch. The price for the buffet is currently $15 without a drink (except water). I would probably go back again at some point. read more

I've been going to Sitar for almost 25 years and even though their buffet has had its high and low points it's been pretty much solid the past few years. Went back for the first time since the pandemic started today for the buffet -- not really a 'buffet' in the traditional sense because you cannot pick out your own food so it's more of an all you can eat steam table. Still lots of options and the gentleman serving was very willing to heap on whatever you wanted. I don't eat meat at Indian places so I enjoyed their plentiful vegetarian options -- kofta, aloo gobi, bhindi fry (cut okra stewed with onion and garlic), saag paneer, cabbage thoren and naan. Also had a veggie biryani but didn't try it. Still have their excellent hot sauce and as much condiments as you can eat so easy to get your money's worth here. Glad they made it through Covid and will definitely return read more

Sitar Indian Cuisine - Vegetarian plate from buffet -- cabbage thoren, bhindi fry, aloo gobi and saag paneer. Mixed pickles, onion chutney and hot sauce behind - Indian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We got takeout for the first time recently and loved it! The portions were large and the food was flavorful. I had the tikka masala with garlic naan which is always my go to. It filled me up for two meals! When my husband picked up the food he said everyone was very helpful and fast! Next time we will have to dine in! read more

Excellent buffet. Everything tasted fresh and there was an impressive variety. I hadn't been to Sitar in a few years but had always enjoyed it. It seems that the food is better than ever. The service is courteous and professional. read more

We were really missing Indian buffet and found this place to try. They really make an effort to keep patrons safe while still getting to do a buffet where you can sample new dishes. Everyone must wear a mask unless at your table eating. Gloves and hand sanitizer are provided at buffet line to safely scoop items to your very hot clean plate. Food was pretty good, the curry fish dish was amazing and unexpected. Service was good, water and extra pitcher left at table and dirty dishes taken away timely. read more

I really wanted to like Sitar. But I'm gonna keep it real with you, if you want good Indian food, this is not it. I opted for the dinner buffet on a Friday night. I was greeted promptly and offered a table. Things inside the restaurant were fairly clean, and there were plenty of staff to clear away plates, refill water, etc. That's where the positives end, for the most part. Nothing in the buffet was hot, other than the naan and the masala chai. I have to give them credit for those two items, as they were both very fresh. The veggie pakoras and samosas were...fine. Lukewarm, a little dry, but had the expected flavors. The baingan bharta was weird. Super sour and really thin in consistency. Not the smoky, creamy, and luxurious dish that I was expecting. And I have no idea why it was so sour. There were no paneer dishes - seriously? Instead of paneer makhani/paneer tikka masala, there was tofu tikka masala as the vegetarian complement to the chicken tikka masala that they also had out. A cost-cutting measure to be sure, and one that makes me question the $22 price for the weekend dinner buffet. It was lukewarm and tasted like it had never seen or heard of cream or yogurt. It was thin, thin, thin. Like only water had been used to create the gravy. It was so so bland, and that lack of flavor was exacerbated by the use of tofu as a protein. The basmati rice was fine. Again, not hot, but it served its purpose. I peeked into the couple of soup containers, supposedly a lentil soup and a vegetable soup. There was no aroma from either of them, and honestly the 'vegetable' one just looked like it was mostly water with a few veggies floating around. I had a gulab jamun, and it was average. Nothing to complain about, but not memorable either. I will say, I left feeling rather full from all the random stuff I ate, but not satisfied. I get that Indian restaurants are not claiming to or trying to serve the kind of food that a lot of us Indian Americans grew up eating at home. But, there are so many restaurants here in Durham that are serving up their own style of delicious Indian food that really hits the spot. Food that doesn't cut corners, isn't watered down, and is hot, fresh, and flavorful. Unfortunately, that was not to be found here at Sitar. I gave it a fair try, but I won't be back. read more

My family liked this place a lot so they would probably give it 4 stars. It was a 3-star experience for me. When we arrived for dinner, no one greeted us. We waited and waited. Then we decided to just get the buffet because they seemed to be encouraging the buffet by not providing any service. As I feared, the buffet food was somewhat bland and missing the spice I enjoy in Indian food. I understand that buffets have to appeal to the masses and most people seem to like bland food (compared to me). And that is why I would have appreciated the chance to order off the menu. My family enjoyed the mild food. My father and I had to flag down several people before someone would bring him a mango lassi. Really poor service. I will not return unless my father insists on eating here. read more

I have had their buffet 3-4 times. I would not say it's the excellent option out there but it's not bad either. One of the main reason for me to choose the restaurant is that they offer dinner buffet. read more

What an amazing place for indian food. As Indian food lovers, we try Indian food everywhere we go in the world, that includes India as well. My wife and I were in Durham for business from Miami and we happened to be in the neighborhood. What a pleasant surprise that this place had buffet dinner. Usually we find buffets at lunch only. This buffet has vegetarian and non-vegetarian selections that were absolutely superb. We tried the chicken tikka masala, paneer makhani, saag chicken and other choices from the ample selection available. Everything tasted great. This food was prepared at the right spice level so don't be afraid to try. The dessert choices were many as well. Gulab Jamun, rice and milk, ladoos, fresh fruit, etc. and to drink they have masala chai and fruit juices... all for a great price! The service was excellent. Our waiter Nabi was exceptional. Super attentive to our table and so pleasant in his demeanor. We will keep Sitar in our minds for the next trip to the area. This is one of the best places for indian food we have been to in a long time. read more

We where in the mood for Japanese but the wait time was too long. We decided to try something different and head across the parking lot. Such a good idea! The restaurant is absolutely beautiful. Customer service was amazing, swift and pleasant. The food was buffet but it was fresh, hot, full of flavor and fulfilling. We will come back for more read more

Sitar Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Buffet is amazing and very extensive. I personally ordered from the menu as I like my food Spicy. If mild to medium is your spice level, one can always go for the buffet as it covers up everything in an Indian cuisine. Talk to the service team they are ready for any possible customisation. Will recommend everyone. Thanks. read more

The only incentive for my wife to join my business trips to Durham is the excellent food quality, service and variety. No other Indian restaurant in the US has so much to choose from. Perhaps the only restaurant with buffet for lunch and buffet for dinner. This gives the options to choose and also relish different Southern and Northern Indian traditional and non traditional blend of spice flavors and food choices. The spread of dessert every day for lunch and dinner is amazing. Ample parking space and best in hospitality. If you've missed Sitar Indian Cuisine, you are missing some best moments of life. read more

The food was phenomenal and the owners were delightful. Plan your next night out here.

The food is authentic and amazing, AND THE SERVICE. IS. INCREDIBLE. The workers are so incredibly sweet and nice, theyre so generous and they really do all they can to ensure you have the most amazing experience. It helps if you befriend the workers, they will remember your face, and they will love you. This place is great, worth every penny. read more

Sitar Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The food has always been good over the many years we've been coming to Sitar. The restaurant is comfortable with a relaxed atmosphere even when crowded, and the staff here are efficient and friendly without being overbearing. Ram, our usual and favorite server does a great job. Thanks Ram! I've found it hard to find a place that delivers consistently good quality, authentic and flavorful Indian cuisine, but thankfully, Sitar nails it! In general, I've never bean a fan of buffets, but the buffet at Sitar is fantastic, always offering a variety of freshly cooked dishes which are regularly replenished. There seems to be something there for everyone. The prices are great too. Give it a try. You'll be glad you did. read more

Very bland and disappointing. I've had more flavorful Indian food from frozen Indian entrees at the grocery store.

Wow, absolutely frickin' nuts that this place has an average of 3.9 stars. It is arguably the best Indian food in the entire Triangle, especially when it comes to the buffet. I'm a buffet connoisseur, I literally spend half my free time eating, or doing things like working out so that I can eat lol. This place is a bedrock of Durham, do not trust the reviews OR the reviewers that say otherwise. One thing to note in addition to my previous reviews on this place is this place has been bought and is under new ownership. I was super worried at first because I loved the food and the buffet so much, but...it's better than it ever has been. These are the moments you realize things can keep getting even better in life when they're already amazing lol. As I've stated in my previous reviews, everything is fresh, deliciously and intensely seasoned (no watered down curry or food), and the variety is fantastic. You literally also can't beat the value. You get the most extensive variety of Indian food at any Indian buffet I've ever been to all for around what you would pay for just one dish anywhere else. With the change in ownership, there have been even more options, more variety, and more days that this great buffet is available. They even have a regular, all-vegan buffet going now for all my grass eating compadres out there. And there's no better naturally vegan food than Indian food, unless you enjoy those processed burgers, etc. elsewhere. Table service has gotten better as well. I would say the only con I can think of is somethings the food is a little inconsistent, but that's been much less so with new ownership AND it's still delicious by most standards. Also, I do wish the allergens were better labeled. They're very accommodating when going to ask, but they did used to be better labeled. They still are though and you can get an answer either way. Anyway, HIGHLY recommend you come here. read more

My mom lives in Durham and stopped by Sitar the other day. She doesn't do social media or have any accounts of any kind, but she was so impressed that she asked me to leave a review on yelp. I have personally dined at sitar and I can say that it is my favorite Indian restaurant in all of the city. The food is always delicious and always fresh. I've eaten at other Indian restaurants in the area, but this is my favorite by far! Here is what my mom had to say: I stopped by Sitar Indian today and wow am I glad I did. I was beyond impressed! This place was always excellent, but now it far surpasses its always exceptional quality. Deliciousness from one end of their newly expanded massive buffet to the other; and a menu with even more delicious options. The staff was so friendly and eager to make sure I enjoyed my visit. The manager was incredibly kind and welcoming. They have a new beverage option -- included with the buffet! Today's was a totally fantastic, refreshing strawberry mint drink that was outrageously good and perfect for a summer day. The meat samosas and my vindaloo entree: also perfection, spectacular. I can't say enough about how pleased I was. I can't wait to visit again with friends. I loved loved loved it! Five big stars and a round of applause for the service and food. Thank you Sitar! read more

I enjoy Sitar. I try to eat there at least once a week. Buffet items fish Malabar, cabbage thoran and garlic naan are my favorites.

Stale food. Please avoid. The staff are courteous and friendly. Management needs to put more effort in serving customer with good quality food or risk losing business. Went there twice, first was the buffet, it was not stellar, they do have good selection of desserts, but poor quality curries. Second time ordered garlic chicken towards closing, but it was served chilli chicken that was stale. So pls be careful. read more

special free desert for my birthday ! very friendly, great buffet food. nice vegan options !! read more

Our little family of four is so happy to have Sitar as our neighborhood restaurant. This place thanks to their attention to customer has simply become one of our top three in the area. Whether you enjoy all type of indian food, or are more specific like our vegan family, you will find something that you like thanks to their enormous buffet and extensive menu. I have fallen in love with the Cabbage Thoran since I like spicy vegetable dishes, and discovered cooked curry leaves in the same process. Their Idlis are delicious, but honestly I still have to taste something I would not enjoy. But what makes this place special are the management and service. They go out of their way to help us every single time we go there. We have been so happy that my wife organized my birthday party there in their massive private room and we all had a blast, kids and adults alike. The atmosphere is laid back, unpretentious, and very welcoming to families and kids. If you don't like pretentious places, enjoy honest management and service, love delicious tasty food, enjoy healthy options (they regularly have vegan nights!) and the friendliest service around, this may become just like it is now for us, your regular place to go for a relaxing dinner. This place has that homey feeling that is so rare to find in a restaurant. Highly recommend. read more

It is the best Indian food in town, the rise was delicious the chicken, vegetables and sauces are so good we definitely love and recommend and there is a mango drink that omg is the best. the service is awesome we love Sitar Indian Cuisine. read more

Our family has frequented Sitar for over 20 years but this was my first time going since Anthony and his family left as we had only ordered takeout in the Covid era . The service was attentive . They have really stepped up the variety in their Sunday buffet which always included masala dosa, biriyani and the usual fare but today also included fruit, juice, chai, and multiple desserts other than typical rice pudding and gulab Jamen. The place was full with a large party in the back room but despite the large crowd the staff were hustling to keep the buffet well stocked so I never got to the dosa plate and found it empty . We will definitely be coming back again soon . read more

Super good food and awesome cost. Will be back, the staff was super friendly, very helpful and service was great.

Man the buffet - is crazy Ram - was the best made my experience unbelievable. read more

I am a huge fan of Sitar's lunch buffet -- always fresh and flavorful with favorites but also some rotating dishes. It's reasonably priced and I'm glad the buffet (at both lunch and dinner) is now available every day. The staff are super friendly and appreciative of my business. I will always have a soft spot for them bc they kept me fed during lockdown! I was not aware they are under new management, and continue to have a pleasurable experience. read more

Super friendly staff. I can't stress that enough, very accommodating. Food was hot and fresh. We just did the Buffet. There's even options for us American wusses who can't handle the heat. :) I was able to try some new dishes on the Buffet. I would like to come back when they have live music. Awesome spot give them a try. read more

came hr like a year ago and we got scammed bc they charged us for a extra Buffett and drinks we did not order food was kinda good .

I've been coming to Sitar for years and it never disappoints! I'm a big fan of the lunch and dinner buffets. The variation and the quality of the food is excellent, the service is fantastic, and the ambiance is great. I would highly recommend trying this place out if you are in the durham area! read more

Really hit the spot for all my Indian cravings. Plenty of options available at the buffet.

This is absolutely THE best food I have encountered The variety is astounding Their spices are so combining it is a pleasure to taste Saturday is my favorite day to go I drive 35 miles just to indulge myself for this experience DONOT for go this restaurant Service is outstanding as well as the ambiance read more

Great food, and love the new labels they have regarding allergens, gluten, vegan, etc for each item on the buffet!