Sitar India Restaurant

11/19/09

Very tasty and authentic

by phillybud at Citysearch

There are a few other Indian restaurants in University City (West Philly) such as New Delhi and Desi Village which are all quite good, but I think Sitar is my favorite. I like Indian food and I visited India 4 times in the past dozen years. The service here is excellent and the prices are very reasonable. This is authentic Indian cuisine and my favorite is the Chicken Tikka. The breads are wonderful! I can't remember all the names - kulcha, naan, roti, poori (?), but they are so fresh and piping hot! I always order a few different breads on the side. Desserts are not a high point of the meal though.

• Pros: fresh flavorful dishes and amazing breads
• Cons: decor needs updating

09/22/08

pretty darn good Indian food

by climaxcontrol at Citysearch

I very much enjoy their veggie entrees and my dining mates have enjoyed the meat ones. They have a dosa app which is pretty nifty since its hard to find any south Indian food in Philly, however the accompanying sambar with the dosa was a bit too salty. Other than that, the food is very good. Not the best Indian I've ever had but very far from the worst. Have been several times and will go back, a great local place. The decor is kinda weird -- all that tile makes it feel a little like a bathroom - but the food is good and reasonably priced.

• Pros: good food, serve alcohol, good value
• Cons: weird bathroom-like tiles on walls, sometimes service can be a little slow

04/30/07

great delivery and exceptional food!

by lacature at Citysearch

this place has excellent delivery and customer service. the food is one of the best in the city. i love their spicey palak panoo. highly recommend this place to everyone.

• Pros: they call you when they are around the corner
• Cons: none

04/20/07

Solid Indian Food

by lizardqueen17 at Citysearch

I've lived in Philadelphia my whole life and I have to say that Sitar India is the restaurant people who know Indian food always recommend. There are a couple Indian restaurants in the area that are more well-known and more frequented but it seems from people who know, this is the place to go. I mention this because while I love Indian food and have always enjoyed my food thoroughly at Sitar, I am not a connoisseur of Indian Cuisine.

I am somewhat of a connoisseur of restaurants in general though so I can critique Sitar from this standpoint. The dining area is modest but I have never had to wait for seating and I have dined at Sitar at at least 5 or 6 times. It could accomodate a large-ish group if you did not mind sitting at separate tables. The waitstaff is attentive and not chatty. The atmosphere is very subdued and quiet, great for those who enjoy a peaceful dining experience free from hubbub and crowds but not good for those who want to be wowed by their surroundings or feel they are in a hot spot.

Lastly, some reviewers have mentioned the spice factor and as a spice wimp I have never had trouble finding things that I could handle in the buffet. The reverse could be said as well since many of my dining companions have been spice-lovers and they have always been satisfied as well.

• Pros: Good food, never too busy, good price
• Cons: Small dining area

02/26/06

Good venue for buffet or menu dining

by cavanagt at Citysearch

Overall the experience at Sitar is a relatively good one. Parking on the 3800 block either on Chestnut or Market is easy to find. On the few occasions I have been there at varying times of day the restaurant is usually not full, so seating is never an issue. The tables are a bit close together and parties over 4 might find it a bit too close for comfort. The menu has a vast offering and the food is tasty, while not being overpoweringly spicy. When ordering off of the menu the average price seems to be around 15 per person, including apps, drinks, and entree. The buffet is always full and the food there is worth the price (9.95 dinner buffet). One drawback is b/c so many people order the buffet, menu ordering can be a bit slow.

• Pros: Friendly Service, Moderately Priced, Easy Parking
• Cons: Service Speed Varies