Sitar Indian Cuisine
Indian restaurant · Elliston Place ·

Sitar Indian Cuisine

Indian restaurant · Elliston Place ·

Indian & Pakistani cuisine, featuring scallop patia & saag paneer

Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null
Sitar Indian Cuisine by null

Information

116 21st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203 Get directions

$$$$

See Menu
takeout
delivery

Information

Static Map

116 21st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203 Get directions

+1 615 321 8889
nashvillesitarindian.com

$$$$ · Menu

Features

dine in
takeout
delivery
payment credit card
reservations
wifi

Last updated

Dec 14, 2025

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14 Essential Indian Restaurants In and Around Nashville

"Sitar Indian Restaurant is located within walking distance of Vanderbilt University in the heart of Midtown, serving Indian and Pakistani cuisine for lunch and dinner in a warm, relaxing space. Don’t miss the scallop patia or chili pakora." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones

https://nashville.eater.com/maps/best-indian-food-nashville
Sitar Indian Cuisine

Daniel C.

SerpAPI
I was craving some Indian food and after researching a few places, the reviews led me to Sitar and I have to say it did not disappoint a bit. Everything from the samosas to the main course was delicious. The samosas were crisp as one would expect and the filling was just so amazing. It has pears in it if I remember correctly and it is just very flavorful. The sauce that accompanies it is also really good. Didn’t care much for the green sauce though. The garlic naan is a staple and it was very flavorful as well. The chicken Tandoori was also good. Very juicy and tender and I had jasmine rice with it and it needs no explanation, because it is just delicious. All in all I highly recommend this place and will definitely order again.

DANNYDOORMAN28

SerpAPI
Number one place for Indian food. Pictures speak for themselves. Dined in and service was excellent. Speedy service with a smile. Most of the dishes are shareable so have someone get one meal and the other order another meal. Looked like there carry out was pretty busy with people coming in and out at a very fast rate. They do have plenty of complimentary parking in the rear of the restaurant. If you get a chance look into Groupon, it can actually save you some money.

Love L.

SerpAPI
This place was very disappointing. The food had no flavor. The server was definitely not a people person. Service was mediocre at best. Not rude but borderline. Entrees are too pricey for lunch time. Food came out pretty fast. Buffet is advertised, however buffet was not offered that day. The place has not been updated since 1986. There are more flavorful Indian food restaurants in and around Nashville I will not return.

Stephanie Long C.

SerpAPI
I placed a lunch order as typically at the place I normally order from has a substantial lunch entree size for the same price, but they were closed. I had to order a side of rice when typically rice comes standard with the dish I ordered.So imagine my surprise when I get my order and the $13 entree is the side of a side dish, and the side of rice is 3 times bigger. It isn't even 8 Oz. Per my photo, the white container is the rice and the tiny container is the pathetic excuse for an entree.

Casie S.

SerpAPI
Easily my favorite Indian restaurant. Was visiting nashville after living there for a while and had to hit Sitar twice. The saag paneer is the best I’ve ever had. I miss u sitar.

Natalie W.

SerpAPI
Great customer service. Our order was prepared quickly and everything was piping hot and fresh.

Leon G.

SerpAPI
My wife and I were visiting from Florida and found this place to be open for a late lunch. This place was A+. The service was outstanding. In reading some of the past (poor) reviews all I can say is that they were over critical to say the least. Next time we are in Nashville this will be our #1 spot to visit.

Luke B.

SerpAPI
Recommended to me by an Indian friend. Excellent food. Great service. Even gave us free rice. It's a bit tight inside but the food and service more than make up for it. 5 stars!
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Amy M.

Yelp
I just recently moved to Nashville from Phoenix and had to task myself with finding a new favorite Indian restaurant. I believe I have found it. I am a basic white girl and I'm not afraid to admit it. I need my takeout chicken tikka Marsala and garlic naan and I need it good and often. The first time i ordered from here I got exactly that. And it was good. It was really good. But part of being a good Indian place is consistency. The second time I went I was feeling adventurous and decided to try the non-vegetarian Thali. I came with Mulligatwali Soup, Chicken Tikka Masala, Vegetable Korma, Dal, Rice, Raita, Papadum, and Naan. Absolute yum. A little veg, a little bread, a little soup, a little sauce plus my fix of chicken masala? Brings a tear to my eye. I always write my preferred spice level (med spice for my man, spicy for me ) in the comments but other than that ordering online is smooth and easy but also had good vibes inside when I went to pick it up. Excited to try the lunch buffet one day and will be getting take out again for sure.
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Bill R.

Yelp
Staying at the Hyatt House and decided to have a some Indian food. Walked out the front door and there is was Sitar Indian Cuisine. It was overcast with rain expected and we were the first customers for the dinner hour. Immediately seated by Pasha at a great table in the main seating area. Within a half hour the place was packed with internationals. Get it. The place was humming. Pasha and his dad were working the floor. They had given the staff the night off. Superb service with a smile and forethought. We ordered Chicken Curry medium and Lamb Mango mild. Meals came with cracker starter and supporting mint sauce and an onion tomato relish. Basmati rice and a garlic naan bread rounded out the cast. Food came to the table hot, just like we like it. Servings were generous and service was exceptional. And, more people just kept coming thru the front door In addition to the Uber pick up orders. Just as we were finishing our meals, the heavens opened up and there was a down pour. Heavy rain and lightening made for a pretty romantic setting. Figured we better stick around until the rain ended. In our boredom, we asked Pasha what they had for dessert. We were stuffed but were looking for something help us fill in the time. He recommended their homemade ice cream - pistachio or mango. We decided on one of each to split. Great decision. That ice cream was a great finishing touch and worth the price of admission. Superb ! We had a great experience. This is a 5+ star restaurant. Highly recommend without any reservations. Servings were generous and flavors were exemplary. Can't wait to return.
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Mae R.

Yelp
Sitar is still one of my favorite eats in all of Nashville. I was SO excited to go today to enjoy their lunch buffet which has been paused for the last several years. Food was incredible per usual and I am excited for this to be a regular lunch spot again!
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Candace W.

Yelp
Came here a couple days ago and enjoyed a great, tasty, (spicy) meal! The service was great, we were seated quickly, our drinks were always filled, and the servers came anytime we motioned immediately. The restaurant was clean and a little plain inside, but what is more important is the food. I got the butter chicken at the medium spicy level and it was delicious!! Lots of chicken but much spicier than I anticipated. My friend got butter naan and the lamb sag and both were AMAZING. Again, the lamb was pretty spicy. The food portions were very large, lots of rice, and we had a good bit of food left over for to-go boxes. Overall: reasonably priced Indian food near Vanderbilt campus with big portions and tasty menu items; runs very spicy though!!
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Tarek H.

Yelp
Been eating here for years, never fail to disappoint! A tad expensive for the amount of food, but super convenient spot, so yes, take my money, and fill my belly with ur goodness! Very nice staff, and decent atmosphere. The food is beyond good tho! Like i have eaten here without a doubt over 50 times . And i never had a bad meal.
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Charles P.

Yelp
Today after having tests run at the hospital, we decided to eat Indian. It is one of our culinary delights. So we decided to stop at Sitar. I used to eat there some time ago but, since moving to the south burbs, I haven't been there in years. The food was good but, the service was exceptional. We came during lunch and our server, I wish I had asked for his name went out of his way to offer suggestions and even when leaving, brought us a couple of specials to go. But, most importantly it was none of this which made me take a step back and say again, how good the service was. I am battling some cancer and have been wheelchair bound. I have gotten a whole new respect for obstacles and ADA. They were set up for wheel chairs but, he took control of the wheel chair and wheeled me in to a great table. Then as we were leaving, did the same and wheeled me all the way to the car and gave me a hug. This entire lunch made my week. The compassion and friendship showed me something you don't see often. He and Sitar is a special place. Thank you!
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Steven B.

Yelp
They finally bring back the buffet but is it too late. Nothing special here. It's the same old same every time. And would it kill the wait staff to smile every now and then. Need to find some where new.
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Qui B.

Yelp
Food is 10/10! They aren't that friendly, seemed annoyed while I was ordering but food was fresh and full of seasoning
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Lauren M.

Yelp
chicken korma: 9.5/10 garlic naan: 7/10 chicken tikka biryani: 7/10 veggie samosa: 9/10 free appetizer: 8 we super duper recommend the chicken korma and the veggie samosas. tbh the somosas are mid if you don't use the sauce. chicken tikka biryani was very yummy but i'd prob try something else next time. super quick service! also super nice inside i loved the decor and it smelled really good bathroom: 9/10 loved this bathroom. there were two single bathrooms and the women's was very spacious and relaxing. love it! parking: free parking in the back and the front. we went when there were only like 3 other tables so it was easy to find parking for us. but it's a relatively small lot for how many tables are inside. if ur going at peak hours u might have a hard time finding a spot

Donald H.

Yelp
The food is always so fresh and extremely tasty. Staff are very friendly and the buffet is amazing

Ishmael L.

Yelp
When I lived in Hillsboro, I was here at least 3 times a month, usually for the buffet. It was always great, and a Nashville original. Many years have passed, I no longer I've near midtown, and the buffet is gone. But, the food at Sitar is still great. Their shrimp Saag is the best I've ever had. It's lost a bit of shine, and the staff isn't always the friendliest, but the food is still great. It's worth a lunchtime visit for sure.

Vashni A.

Yelp
Amazing food and hospitality! Such a beautiful atmosphere! They let me try their buffet before purchasing to make sure I'd like it. Rinku and Namit were great help. I'm very pleased!
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Deepti A.

Yelp
Good food and affordable!! Service is nice too!! Would come again!! Ambience is okay could be better!!
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Hiral P.

Yelp
Nothing amazing, just the typical food you get at an Indian restaurant. Most dishes were good except the tandoori chicken. Service was mediocre at best. I'm giving a 3 star mainly because of the tandoori chicken. Every other dish was fine. They didn't bring out the tandoori until we reminded them. And when they did bring it out the chicken tasted undercooked probably because they rushed to make it after forgetting. It was the worst tandoori chicken I've ever had, and honestly a food safety hazard. Other minor complaints: - They brought out a "clean" plate with a piece of food stuck to it, which was gross. - We ordered 4 curry's, and when they brought out the dishes, the waiter didn't know which curry was which. So that was frustrating because there were some vegetarian dishes and we didn't know where on the table to place them for the vegetarians until we tried them. Would not recommend or go back solely due to the undercooked tandoori chicken, everything else I would've been able to overlook
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Hasti M.

Yelp
Take out: I called on Sunday to place an order for takeout and I was hella impressed! - food was ready exactly on their estimated time. It was waiting for me when I walked in. - food was so tasty! I ordered lamb curry and lamb fraziee and they were both amazing! You choose the heat from 1-10 and 7 had a good kick! - tip: if you call in and order/pick up prices will be about $5 less per entree compared to ordering on a delivery app.
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Andrew R.

Yelp
Sitars has the best Indian food in Nashville! The service is always excellent, they really make the customer feel like a King. The restaurant is clean and has great music playing in the background. I highly recommend Sitars..all the food is delicious..I recommend the whole menu.
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Ellie G.

Yelp
Last minute stop for dinner. We were the only people in there. Food was good. Unassuming place.
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James M.

Yelp
Great place. Super food nice staff. And the sitar is cool. I have been there twice. It's the best Indian food I've had in a long time
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Lynndel F.

Yelp
We went for a much needed special lunch. The food was very tasty. It was bursting with flavor and not overly hot. The service was good. They filled our water and the food was fast. The bread appetizer was delicious. It was great to go into an air conditioned place. Well decorated too. I'm not sure about parking because we walked over. We brought our leftovers home and I can't wait until tomorrow to eat them.

Neal S.

Yelp
Namit's service was excellent, very nice food, great service. Live music was great! Loved the food it.
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Samantha V.

Yelp
I have become a regular here. Their food is absolutely delicious and packed with flavor. The service is very straightforward and efficient. If you prefer a more lowkey, laid back and homey atmosphere this is definitely the place for you.
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Gabe P.

Yelp
Had a concert down @ Bridgestone for the evening and wanted to grab something to eat before hand on this date night / birthday evening for my wife! She's lives good Indian and we have only been to one other place in the nash metro area so it was time to test another! Ambiance: Traditional Indian ambiance with linens on the table and traditional artwork hung inside. The outside was not much to look at as it's in midtown between buildings. Parking was fairly easy and free which is always a great find! Service: This is where the stars take a tumble in combination with the food to give it only a 3 star rating. The host / maybe owner or manager was just super business like and stern asking party size taking us to the table with no greeting and then just tossing the menus on the table and abruptly leaving. As we were deciding what to order I noticed his service to the take out folks - same stern and stand offish attitude...now maybe that's his personality but did not make for a comfortable nor welcoming experience. Food: Very good menu selections, the traditional chicken, fish, entree and appetizers with many combinations as typical of most Indian restaurants. We selected the chicken tikka masala my wife's favorite and go to, some garlic naan, and then my chicken tikka. She mentioned that the sauce was just ok, did not have that creamy tangy mild spice she really enjoys but did not find it bad. My dish was well spiced for a dry tikka however the quality of chicken was not what I typically find at these places...they are typically more discerning and choose better or maybe just fresher cuts of chicken. The cubes were huge but the chicken was tender but chewy and some rib meat noticed when this should be breast only. Naan was good but the rice also was not very well done, a bit crunchy with an almost stale flavor. Price: Average for the dishes selected. Naan was overpriced as we only got 2 pieces however the wine and beer prices were fairly low considering what lost other places charge these days! Not quite enough to bring it another star but if your hankering for a beverage the prices here are good. Summary: a solid 3 which could easily be a 4-5 star experience with more friendly and happy staff as well as some tiding up of quality meats and rice. You will find it's a descent meal but you won't be wowed out of your socks nor feel warm and cozy.... Keep Munching y'all!!

D. D.

Yelp
Super friendly, GREAT food; I was sending pics to my co-workers to make them jealous! Good causal date place, not romantic date place. Colors bright, are like your favorite neighborhood taco place.
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Kayla C.

Yelp
The food was delicious and and the service was quick. The restaurant had a full of enticing aromas. It's intimate and the ambiance was nice and my friends and I throughly enjoyed our dinner.

Andrew N.

Yelp
The service was excellent. The staff was incredibly polite and welcoming. the food was full of flavor and very very good. I will be going again!

Ellen M.

Yelp
We've been coming to Sitar for over 15 years. The food is always great, very consistent. Our server (either the owner or manager's son, I unfortunately forgot his name) was efficient and very personable. My kids really liked him, too, and they loved their food. He said he made the mango ice cream which was very good. They have the best malai kofta in town. They also do a robust take-out service which we've utilized many times.
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Lisa W.

Yelp
So I was trying to find a place that I had eaten before but sadly I was half a mile off. Well we decided to eat here anyway since online and in big letters on the building they advertise a lunch buffet which they did not have. The chips tasted like dead fish and the onion chutney type stuff was assaulting plus the mint sauce was full of cilantro which I can't eat. The tea was so full of lemon that I couldn't even drink it. They weren't even nice enough to explain things so we got the chicken tiki masala. My chicken was hard pieces that I ended up spitting out. I ordered mild but I left with my mouth on fire and the sauce was really thick and not creamy at all. Thank goodness for naan. The decor was okay but the water glasses were not clean and when I got up to pay the $50.00 check for two lunch plates a COCKROACH crawled out onto the counter. SKIP this place and go to the Bombay Palace
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Hannah M.

Yelp
FYI: Medium is spicy but it's so good!!! I had the Chicken Tikka masala with garlic naan. Service was a little short spoken and not overly friendly but it was a quick dinner. Again, the food was legit and I would recommend if in Nashville and craving Indian food.

Carly J.

Yelp
Consistently consistent for at least two decades. Don't miss out!! They really have the best deals in town for Indian, too!

Toni P.

Yelp
Amazing food and atmosphere 10/10 recommend the chicken masala was great super flavorful
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Bonnie N.

Yelp
Highly recommend the vegetarian combo platter! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Kimberly H.

Yelp
The food is okay. Service during the lunch rush is understandably under staffed. Today 12/9/22 I made an order from a link on the website that took me to BeyondMenu to place my order. It submitted at 12:07. So far so good right? Nope. Sixty seconds later I get a bogus text with a link in it or my account will be permanently locked! I contacted my bank without "visiting" the link on the text. My transaction was processed and the money removed. I got info from my bank to report this phishing attempt and then proceeded to the restaurant 20 minutes later to pick up my order. On arrival there was one pick up order ahead of me. I mentioned to the employee I had an order and he waived me off to wait. Okay, it's lunchtime they are busy and he is the only one doing front of the house. Someone walked in after me to place a take out order. Next a guy from Grub Hub arrives picks up his order (placed at 12:12). I finally get the attention of the front of house person and turns out they didn't get my order. The poor staff had to scramble to get my order started. Meanwhile I'm going to be late to my next appointment after finally getting my order in hand at 12:45. Moral of the story is: don't order through the BeyondMenu link. Use grub hub or walk in because the walk in order got their food 10 minutes before I got mine! This is my 2nd visit and it will be my last because of the rude front of house dude and after seeing many other complaints about the poor service (looks like it's an issue for 4 years running) Oh the owners don't care? I believe that and there's many other options for Indian food from restaurants who want return customers. The reviews seem to be mixed like when their rating dips low all of a sudden some ***** reviews appear about how "great" the service is and the reviewers don't have a lot of reviews so they look hella recruited in my opinion.
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Derek B.

Yelp
Horrible. The garlic naan was fine, but this Saag is one of the worst I've ever had. When I saw that it was ninja turtle green, I immediately knew we were doomed.
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Drake K.

Yelp
Me and my aunt had to stay 3 nights in Nashville because she was having eye surgery so we stayed and ate something different everyday for an adventure. Our second night for dinner we decided to eat Indian so we found sitar. I went and ordered a bunch of different kinds of dishes off the menu to try different things and surprisingly all the food I ordered was only $50 which was great! While I was waiting I walked around and the ambience was great! The service was great, Got the food back to the hotel and we chowed down and it was absolutely incredible food! I will definitely eat there again!

Rag P.

Yelp
Well... based on the previous experience went back here today. Ordered Bhindi Masala and a Tandoori roti. No change in service or attitude... no smile, no thank you, no how's the food.... It was like here's the stuff you wanted, eat if you want otherwise get the heck out, we don't care. Now to the item I ordered... it was drier than I expected. Of course there's no description on the menu.. none was offered by the waiter. It would've still been acceptable if the okras were actually selected to be edible. About a quarter of the okra pieces were woody and inedible. Unless eating woody pieces of okra is your idea of increasing fiber in your diet, do not ever get bhindi masala at this place.

Edward R.

Yelp
A very good 3. I really like both eating there and picking up because I think it is really high quality Indian food. However, I'd say the lack of ambiance and high prices hold back my rating. Quick service is huge but a necessity in a restaurant like this.
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Bailey P.

Yelp
I'm still relatively new to Indian cuisine but this place was good! I came on a Sunday night and it was pretty empty which also meant the service was pretty fast. I ordered a vegetarian combination dinner that came with three different curries, naan bread and rice. It was plenty for two meals. I asked for the mild spice which was not spicy at all (perfect for my weak taste buds). My friend got the medium spice level and I could definitely taste the difference.
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Robert T.

Yelp
Practically the staple Indian Restaurant in Nashville, Sitar has been at the same location for as long as I can remember, which is decades. Proof that good things can last. The food here is great, and tonights dinner didn't disappoint. If you are in the mood for Indian food, this is always a great choice. Parking was easy at night. Accessible for disabled, bathrooms were nice and clean. Service was exceptional.
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Thomas K.

Yelp
Fantastic Baigan Bhartha! It was surprisingly cheap considering the order we had! Big recommend
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R.T. D.

Yelp
No buffet as listed They haven't bothered to post this on Yelp and not waste people's time

Jeremiah A.

Yelp
Ordered the combo platter for 1 with garlic naan substitute. The service was bad. Ignored when I got there. One guy comes over and then it's obv he speaks 0 English he looks at the bag there that is my order then leaves and 5 minutes later I am helped by someone else and handed the same bag when it has just been getting cold - like wtf. I said why does he not give it to me or get someone else to help me? Anybody is hired nowadays... The garlic naan was literally raw, mushy dough, not cooked. Food was pretty bad. The chicken was pretty bad. Never going back. Would recommend this place to my worst enemy! DO NOT EAT HERE. Much better Indian food within 3 minute drive.

Shibu B.

Yelp
They have a lunch buffet advertised but it was not available when we went on July 31. Having a native taste for Indian food, I found this mediocre. I will not come back. However, I came because a couple of random people referred me here. So you may find it flavorful.
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Lauren C.

Yelp
I LOVE it here! I wish I could give an extra star. Hands down the best Indian restaurant I have ever been to. The portion sizes are very large, and the rice here hits different. Definitely try their garlic naan as well! I especially appreciate the fact that they accept customers true to their opened hours. The staff here also works very fast and are quick to bring out your food.
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Marlo I.

Yelp
Got turned me away before closing. I will say I came pretty late, but I've worked in the restaurant industry for years, and come from a family who has also before me, and closing time is usually last seating. They also did not allow me to order anything to go. The man was not outwardly rude, he just looked at at the clock and back at me with a kind of "oh it's too bad you're obviously too late" look while shaking his head. I am giving an extra star because I didn't actually get a chance to try the food, so I don't know if it's actually good or not. Just coming from the restaurant industry, I've always found it unprofessional to turn people away before you're closed. Oh well. I tried.
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Maureen W.

Yelp
Lots of flavor and spices used in the authentic dishes, exactly what I was looking for.
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Kitrena S.

Yelp
Originally chosen for its proximity to my midtown hotel, this was a pleasant surprise. The Vegetarian Special was a good deal and it was all good. The naan was perfect and the three curries were delicious. Nabil was attentive and helpful. I would return if I lived in Nashville.

Percy I.

Yelp
We picked up food here in our last night to Nashville. Expecting a solid Indian food experience. The samosas were overly greasy and lacked flavor. The naan did not seem to be freshly made but reheated. The biryani was actually okay. Overall I was not impressed.
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Chanda J.

Yelp
Good food, fast service, fair prices. I had garlic naan and malai kofta. It was fresh, hot and tasty.
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Maddie C.

Yelp
We ordered chicken tikka masala and it was delicious. The naan was very subpar and very expensive. We assumed when we ordered garlic naan for ~$7 that it would be more than 2 pieces. The four stars are because the prices are really high. Food was delicious though.