Sitar Indian Restaurant

Doesn't Recommend

kplen

Joined 3 years ago

Very disappointing. Just had dinner on there on a Friday night. The restaurant was largely empty. Despite this, my friend an I were asked to move to a different booth after being seated, etc. The manager apologized, but said he needed the table because a regular customer came in and wanted his favorite table. I've never had that happen before.

They then sent the wrong appetizers and the entrees were delayed. The food was good, but hardly great. Given that their prices are higher than any other Indian restaurant in the area, I would have expected something better.

Overall: Poor management, high prices and just OK food.

This was not the first time I had eaten at Sitars, but it will be the last. Avoid them and try any of the other many Indian restaurants in the Capital Region.

Doesn't Recommend

sheebac

Joined 6 years ago

HORRIBLE SERVICE, BELOW AVERAGE FOOD. horrible experience from the getgo...we went on a busy saturday evening, the owner or manager was clearly overwhelmed, there was no one to greet us or take our name, we waited ten minutes to have our name on the list, there was one chair and a small bar area to wait in, after 30 minutes we were seated, our order was taken after ten minutes, we received our drinks (just water) after another ten minute. the waitstaff was nicer to the non-desi crowd. now on to the food, we ordered a tandoori sizzler, another tandoori dish and vegetarian thali.

the chicken kababs were tasteless, the tandoori chicken dry, the only thing that tasted good was the naan and samosa. it took half an hour for someone to bring us the check at the end of dinner, no one asked if we were happy with the food. overall, the dinner was a huge disaster and disappointment, Sitar has HORRIBLE SERVICE AND BELOW AVERAGE FOOD. don't waste your money, go to Shalimar instead. it's nothing great to look at, but the people are friendly and the food good.

Recommends

p_karanjkar

Joined 7 years ago

The best Indian food ever. I have tasted food in all the restaurants in and around Albany NY. Sitar stands out the best so far. The Food is the best quality North Indian food (for those who know what North Indian food is supposed to be). The Cost, Quality and Quantity ratio is the best. The prices look higher but the qauntity and quality beats the price. The ambience is the best and the service is very professional. You do not find may Indians around in the restaurant, because there are not many north Indians around here in Albany area who would love that kind of food and the target audience for Sitar is local Americans which best suits any restaurants business motive.

Doesn't Recommend

suttom

Joined 8 years ago

Not Recommended. The first thing that should have tipped us off when we entered this Indian restaurant was that there were no Indians dining there. My husband and I have enjoyed many Indian restaurants in New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Phoenix and St. Louis and this was the least enjoyable. Typically you are asked how spicy you want your meal. They did not ask this and the food came to us very bland and with no spice, just a lot of tang. The quantities were hefty, but the quality was quite low. We enjoyed the fried appetizers of Samosas and Pakoras, but were unable to taste any true Indian flavor in our Chana Masala and Chicken Tikka Masala dinners. Instead we recommend other numerous Indian restaurants in the capital district for true Indian flavorful dining.

Recommends

katkere

Joined 8 years ago

Best Indian food in the area!. Though costly, the food and service is good. By no count is it average.

Recommends

qtrea724

Joined 9 years ago

The Best Indian Food. My family has been going to Sitar for years. We love Sitar because even though the prices may be a bit high, it is worth every penny! The atmosphere is wonderful and the people are friendly. The food is also fantastic! The tandoori ovens make soft, buttery nans and the expert chefs prepare the most mouth- watering dishes. I recommend the chiken tikka masala.

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Set your senses on fire at Albany's oldest and best tandoori palace.. The Scene
There has been an explosion of Indian restaurants in Albany over the past few years, but Sitar remains the oldest and best among them. This restaurant may not be as adventurous as some of the newer places, but for Punjabi favorites it's terrific. White linen covered tables and stylish service increase the charm.

The Food
Twenty years ago, owner Adi Irani broke new culinary ground by installing the first tandoori ovens in the area. Tender tandoori dishes remain a specialty of the house. The menu has a great variety of meats and heat levels, from mild paneer palak, a mixture of spinach and Indian cheese, to palate-searing lamb vindaloo curry.

Dish to Die For
Can't decide? Try the Tandoori Sizzler to sample a mixture of yogurt-marinated chicken, dark chunks of chicken tikka, sweet and moist boti (lamb) kebab, and spicy sheek kebab with spices worked into the ground lamb.