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| - We have mixed feelings about Sitara.
The food is often quite good (though not spectacular) and enough of a value to bring us back (dinner for two with the trimmings but without alcohol runs in the mid $30s). We love the onion kulcha, garlic naan, lamb "vendaloo," lamb korma, and veg assorted appetizers. The green chili side sauce (served in a pot next to the standard tamarind sauce) is five stars for flavor and heat. The portions are decent (not too much or too little). The side of basmati rice is fluffy (you can ask for naan instead if you like). The masala tea is good, too, if not quite as hot (temperature) or fragrant (spiced) as I would prefer. Only real sugar is available and must be requested. Water is provided automatically but is room temp.
The biggest problem with Sitara is the poor service. We have experienced delays in getting seated, delays in having our order taken, incorrect amounts of items brought out, and so on. We've had the same older male server twice, and he's lacking in the graces of good service. He gives the impression that service is the last thing he'd like to be doing for a living. There are others on staff who do a better job from what we've seen, but we have rarely had the luck to interact with them.
The other problem with Sitara is that it's an awkwardly designed space, long and narrow with a bar dominating the main dining area (leaving just a narrow aisle between tables and barstools). The outside door in the front (main entrance) opens up into this aisle and does not have a screen (so in summer flies enter readily, as well as heat and noise). The table nearest the door is literally right to the side of people entering. The tables in the back are near the noisome restrooms, which are directly across from the busy kitchen entrance. Not ideal. We do find the Indian music videos that play soundlessly on a couple of mounted flat screen TVs to be amusing to watch.
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