Sitar Indian Cuisine

This is by far my FAVORITE Indian restaurant!! Their buffet is PHENOMENAL with a wide selection of sinfully delicious dishes!!! I do have a FAVORITE dish, but I don't know the name of it!? It's fish cooked in a delectable creamy coconut sauce!!😋 Even with everything else to choose from, this dish, along with the fragrant basmati rice is always my go-to!! My sister took me there yesterday for my birthday lunch and it was a great way to celebrate my day!! It was worth the 50 minute drive/ride!! If you're in the Durham/Chapel Hill area, please do yourself a favor and check out Sitar Indian Cuisine!! You're Welcome!!!😁

Indian food for non-Indian - that's my one line review. I recently had the dinner buffet at Sitar and I won't recommend to those who is looking for real tasty and spicy authentic Indian food. There were lot of items and many sweets. Most of the items like dal, dal makhani (questionable to call it a dal makhani), paneer makhani, many items were like boiled veggies, no taste of Indian flavor or spices at all. The Samosa was good, tandoori chicken,and chicken roast masala was okay but nothing exceptional. It has good ambience and service but that's all.

My boyfriend and I have never had Indian food before. We decided to give Sitar a try and had a great experience. We figured a buffet was a great start because we weren't sure what we would and wouldn't like. The food and the staff were amazing. Ram was our waiter and did a great job navigating our experience. I highly recommend this restaurant.

My husband had been talking about bringing me here as he really enjoys Indian food and they did not disappoint. We were greeted promptly by a very pleasant hostess, where she suggested the buffet. The buffet offered a great variety of foods and even offered mint cucumber mojita ( which I've never had before tonight). We had a fantastic server Ram. I will definitely be back.

The best Indian buffet I ever ate in North Carolina.. 7 days lunch and dinner buffet with 20plus items. Customer service is spot on. Very clean and tidy. Will be back again and again

Hey Travelers! I want to share my experience at Sita Restaurant, it was my first time eating Indian so here is my recommendation hope it helps you to decide if you are traveling around Northe Caroline. This Restaurant with no doubt has one of the best costumer service , since we entered they greeted us in a very kind and friendly way, during the whole time we were there Ram the Manager was making sure everything everything was going smoothly. The food was delicious, well prepared and with all the Indian flavor. The place has an amazing indian atmosphere with a lot of elements from the Indian culture. Since we entered until we got out of the place we received such as amazing costumer service! This is a must visit place!

Delicious buffet style food with lots of selections and great service! Would come again. Arrived at around 6:45pm and left an hour later with full bellies.

My husband and I checked out this restaurant for Saturday dinner. Ram (host) and staff were all wonderful! This is one of the best Indian buffets we’ve been to in the area. A lot of variety for both vegetarian and meat lovers. A lot of dessert options, too! What I really liked is that there’s chai tea and beet juice as part of the buffet. Most buffets don’t even offer that. Tons of families with children. There’s also a sports bar in the front where you can watch the games.

My wife, a large circle of friends & I have been going to the Sitar Restaurant since it opened here, at its current location, for the past 18 years. When it comes to Indian Cuisine we've eaten at many restaurants across the world -- some excellent and some not so. The Sitar sits at the excellent end of this spectrum. They've changed ownership in the last couple of years, but I'm pleased to say that the high standards of the previous owners and their chefs/staff continue. In fact most of the staff continue to work on under the new ownership of Faris & Benny who make you feel so very welcome as a customer from the minute you walk in the door. One thing they've changed recently in their marketing is that they now offer an extensive and very high quality buffet for lunch & dinner 7 days a week. We think this is an excellent idea as it allows those who are not familiar with the cuisine to try a wide variety of different dishes which folks weren't able to previously at a dinner setting when you are reliant on others sharing their dishes at the table with you and of course the inexperienced diner not really knowing what to order. Actually seeing the different dishes on the buffet certainly helps people choose better than just looking at a menu or relying on others descriptions of various dishes. For the sheer variety of high quality dishes, competitive pricing & and warm & inviting staff and ambiance I highly recommend that you give the Sitar a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed .

Absolutely fantastic buffet- my family went here and loved it. Everyone thought the food was delicious and I ordered a mango lassi which was a great balance of sweetness as well. The staff was very friendly and came to check on us. The only thing I will say is it does get crowded so prepare for that. Overall fantastic!

Have been here twice now, once for a regular dinner and once for the vegan buffet. Both times have been WONDERFUL. The staff is very friendly, the food is delicious, and there are clearly labeled vegan options. It's also a nice cozy place that feels almost like a hotel restaurant vs a casual eatery. Will definitely be coming back again and again

This is our favorite Indian restaurant. Delicious food with many choices on the buffet and a spice level that everyone can agree on. The wait staff are wonderful. So gracious, polite and helpful. I would like to notice Nabi who is always so welcoming and thoughtful.

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.

came w 5 friends Food was great , lots of choices Ram, our server is a great person to meet and chat with it was a good evening

I hadn't had Indian in a while and really wanted to try this place while we were in town. There were five of us. Three of us got the buffet. I was a little disappointed not to see Saag Paneer, Butter Chicken or even Pakora, as those are staples at my favorite buffet at home. The naan was dry and hard but later fresh naan brought out but I was too full to eat more. The other two got dishes, a spicy vindaloo which was happily devoured and something I'd never seen: bright green chicken kabobs with veggies, kinda like fajitas. The meat was tasty and different...soaked in mint and cilantro I think....Haryali Kabab-it was uniquely delicious. The food that was there was good-tikki masala, vegetarian meatballs, tandoori chicken, lentils soup, tomato soup some creamy coconut vegetables, etc. oh and these fried balls with aloo (potatoes) in them, like samosas -those were delicious. There was fruit and desserts too but I had no room for any. I'm sorry to say I couldn't understand 95% of what the waiter said, but he was attentive and efficient. The dinner buffet was 17$ which isn't bad. Usually Indian food tears up my tummy, but this didn't. I was surprised!

Best Indian buffet in the area. So pleased they do vegan Indian buffet every other Thursday. So many dishes, and plenty to enjoy even if you you're not vegan.

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.

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.

a really lovely experience! i'd never been inside sitar before coming here for lunch yesterday, but i did have a long-standing tradition with my best friend in college to get sitar from the unc dining hall and eat together on wednesdays. sitar is now no longer at unc and neither are we, so we decided to have a final "sitar wednesday" before i move next week. at lunchtime there's only a buffet option, but there were lots of choices and i stuffed myself. everything tasted amazing and i really liked the drink that came with it, the strawberry mojito. service to clean up was great too. i would definitely return!

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

I enjoyed the buffet lunch with some work colleagues. Two in our group had been here before, so we decided to go for it, and we enjoyed the food a lot! The buffet had a nice variety. Some dishes were spicier than others. The desserts looked yummy, but I didn't try any.

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.

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.

Awesome Indian restaurant and they now serve a buffet daily for lunch and dinner. They also offer a bi weekly vegan buffet. It is great for vegans, vegetarians and foodie. Everything is top notch quality and Francis goes above and beyond to meet one's every need. Highly recommended.

I went with my family during their lunch buffet and was not disappointed! This Indian restaurant in Durham, NC, is truly a gem. The restaurant was relatively quiet, which made the experience all the more enjoyable. But the real star of the show was the food. There was a shocking amount of curry options, from vegetarian curries to chicken tiki masala, they had a wide array of selections to choose from. The best part was that the food was fresh and constantly refilled. The service was friendly, and the staff made sure we were well taken care of. I would absolutely go back again, and highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an authentic Indian buffet experience. P.s.: Unlike other Indian "buffets" on Yelp in the area that are no longer buffets, this place is the real deal. In fact, this might be the ONLY Indian buffet in the area which makes it even more special. And, it was clean - which is always a plus. Overall, an amazing experience that left us feeling satisfied and happy.

We always love coming to Sitar! Not only is the food absolutely amazing, but Ram and the rest of the staff make us feel welcome and appreciated. Even our small son loves coming here for buffet lunch and visiting his friends. Wonderful food and atmosphere! Edit to add my 5 year old's enthusiastic review: "I call it a wonderful place where angels give me food!"

The service is outstanding, they are always so kind and do such a great job. The food of course is great, so delicious and worth it. Thank you sitar staff for making your restaurant experience so good.

worst Indian food in triangle.. absolutely terrible tasting buffet and from the menu...

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.

Tonight we had a craving for Indian food for dinner and I remembered that Sitar has a dinner buffet on Friday nights and it really hit the spot. All of the food was delicious. They have a wide variety of dishes on the buffet - both meat and vegetarian. I will also note that everything on the buffet was full flavored but not hot at all. Thus making this a good place to try if you want to introduce yourself to Indian cuisine for the first time but you are nervous about things being spicy. The service was great too - especially Ram who personally introduced himself - but all of the servers were equally excellent checking on us multiple times throughout the meal. Please give them a try and support your local restaurants!

First time dining here and it won't be the last! The staff are all so kind and welcoming. Overall the vibe here is low key, which is nice if you're wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of life any time of the year. I specifically came here for the lunch buffet, which I've heard so much about. Everything is labeled clearly and there's quite an array to choose from. There wasn't a single thing that I tried that wasn't delicious. There's a few items that have some heat, but for myself who can't tolerate much of that it was very doable. I highly recommend giving it a try if you haven't yet!

One of the best indian restaurants ive ever been too. Our waiter was the biggest sweetheart ever and really took care of us. Me and my friends are strictly vegan AND gluten free and he made sure everything was perfect. The food was seriously delicious... i personally didnt love the vada donuts but we got all the other vegan appetizers and they were phenomenal. Everything tasted very fresh and homemade. The restaurant was very big and open with lots of space to breathe. Very clean and well kept my recommendations : baigan bartha - the best baigan bartha ive ever had. explosion of flavors Aloo bonda - little fried potato balls, could eat a million of them gobi pakora - cauliflower pakora, so good

My favorite Indian restaurant in Durham for many years now! I was disappointed when they took away their dinner buffet after Covid but it's now back and as good as ever. We recently went and had a great experience with a waiter (Ram) who gave us good advice on food combinations and sauces. If you want to try Indian and not sure what to get, go to Sitar buffet. You can't go wrong!

Your pandering to Covid. Just because your staff is vaccinated. Does not mean they can't catch it. I'll pass on your food. Thanks.

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.

This was my first time eating at Sitar. I had the buffet, allowing me to try the delicious and appetizing selection. I'm a vegetarian and I enjoyed the many options. The food was amazing! The staff were friendly and helpful especially Ram. Ram came by to make sure we had what we needed and ensured we were satisfied. The food was fresh and delicious. If I only had room for more! I will come back when I'm in Durham. The deserts and drinks were refreshing. A great experience. The ambiance was classy. I am a happy customer!

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.

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.

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.

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!

I recommend Sitar for vegans because they always have tasty vegan options and clearly label items which have dairy, meat etc. Every other Thursday is "all vegan" so check ahead to make sure before you go. They post the vegan dates on their facebook page. Some of the food is proper spicy so you were warned! ;)

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!

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.

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.

Came here to eat burgers with my friends but I couldn't find them. The food was still good tho would definitely recommend the donuts

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 .

My partner and I moved out of state this past summer and frequently find ourselves saying, "I miss Sitar!" No Indian restaurant in our new area has it matched in terms of quality, portion size/value, and consistency. Amazing vegetarian and non-vegetarian options to suit a wide variety of preferences. We always ordered through DoorDash, preferring to eat in rather than going out, but I did pick up a couple of times and thought the service and ambiance of the restaurant seemed great. If I'm ever in Durham again, this is the first place I'll eat!

very good food and staff was very co-operative. Chicken tikka is so good. Overall, it was a good experience....

Monday, September 11 (2023) was the last time that I visited Sitar for lunch, and I do not plan to return to the restaurant for a meal. A long-time customer of Sitar, the service under the new management has been not only disappointing, but also insulting. On 9/11 nobody came to replenish my glass with water even though there were four attendants walking about near my table. Unfortunately, this has been a recurrent experience under the current new management.

Ram is the best host I ever seeing . I am from Miami and went to very high end restaurants and I have never received this service that Ram offer us.

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

Great buffet and terrific service by Ram. Chicken tikka is the best around. Best Indian in Durham.

This is one of my mom's and my favorite places to have lunch together. We've been several times and really enjoy the food with so many vegetarian options, and the fish curry is so tender and good. My mom likes the meat dishes as well. Today we showed up towards the end of the buffet at 2:10 and our server Ram took very good care of us. He got us a seat outside and brought everything we needed, came back and checked on us several times even though it was after their lunch hours! Such a sweetheart. I was sorry we couldn't enjoy the sweet incense and calming music and relaxing, arty decor inside as usual but really I can't complain. The staff have their lives too. Next time we'll try to get there earlier so we can sit inside. Love this place.

My favorite lunch buffet in the Triangle. Everyone is so attentive and the food selection is phenomenal. I love going there at least once a week :)

This place deserves 5 stars. We went for weekend lunch buffet with 2 toddlers. Really great service and super friendly staff. Great variety of food. Not every item was exactly to my preference - flavors a bit mild and sauces not the richest for the creamy dishes. But the wide variety and freshness made this a really great experience. We will be back.

Every food is amazing, it's hard to find something you won't enjoy here, especially the Mango Lassi

The food has always been really good here and I love the setting. They have new management and he's really into executing elevated service. The whole team is awesome and the food is as good as always. My gf and I were there a couple weeks ago and ordered off the menu and then the manager (I cannot recall his name. Hopefully he sees this and comments with it) told us he was starting a dinner buffet Friday-Sunday so we just went to that. Everything was fresh, the correct temperature, and was carefully tended to. The flavors made me happy dance in my chair. Don't picture your average buffet with Americanized stuff sitting in tepid liquid. This is thoughtfully prepared authentic recipes and I'm pretty sure they've lowered the spice level but they're very happy to accommodate more spice for you. It's still got some kick, but if you can't handle spice, you should be fine. Ram was our primary server today and he was great. Present but expressed our time is important to us and he wanted us to enjoy our time together. We never sat there needing something (either time we went). I went back to grab a spoon and he kindly said, "no no take your seat, I'll get it for you. Whatever you need, we're here." They're all so warm and welcoming. Happy to chat or happy to let you enjoy your dining company. The food is so good. They do a lunch buffet Monday-Friday and a dinner one Friday-Sunday and they're doing a vegan dinner buffet July 20th that's primarily gluten free. They generally care about the food and providing vegan stuff. To recap, they do menu/table service as well as an eclectic spread of authentic recipes in their buffet.