Sitar Review

I pride myself on being a risk taker and being open to trying new and unusual things. This is credited in large part to growing up with a mother who loves to travel. She exposed me to new places and cultures, and she encouraged me to learn more about them. Together we would find a little hole-in-the-wall store or local restaurants to try. She could always ascertain the authenticity and quality of the restaurants by seeing who else was eating there. For example, if we ate at an Italian or a Japanese restaurant, we would hope to find Italians or Japanese people dining there. Generally, you find that international restaurants in our country fall into either one of two categories, authentic or Americanized. Sitar appeared to be an authentic Indian restaurant. I was excited to try Sitar’s cuisine because I like to support local restaurants, especially ones that I have not tried before. I went in open minded, but unfortunately, I left unsatisfied and hungry.

When I think of Indian food, two things cross my mind. Overpoweringly spicy food- far too much for my palate to handle. And, fish usually prepared with sides of rice. Eating at a foreign restaurant is a constant education. A quick glance at the menu revealed a series of unfamiliar names:   Aloo Gobi Masala, Aigan ka Bharta, Dal Makhani. Thank goodness for the translation under the meal names, or else an inexperienced Indian food diner like me would have some trouble ordering. I would have had to close my eyes and pick wherever my finger fell (and hope I liked it). This unassuming restaurant is located next to the run-down bowling alley and a dry cleaner/tan/video rental place. I am also pretty sure that the “video rental” is code for adult film. The only cars in the parking lot were those of my fellow diners because we were eating after the lunch rush hour.

When I walked in the door I wasn’t surprised to see an empty room. There were only a few other diners. We were directed by the waiter/host/busboy to the back wall where the lunch buffet was located. Above the buffet, there were beautiful metallic tapestries hung on both sides of two paintings, which created an authentic ambience. I awkwardly stood at the buffet, I examined the entrees and was pleased to see a wide array of selections. I hadn’t eaten all day because I knew I was going to have a big lunch. I was trying to make my food selections, but the signs above the food were hard to read, if there were any signs at all. I just had to guess what I was putting on my plate.  I couldn’t help but load my plate up with everything fried and bread based.

My plate was full of rich and deep colors. It was stacked with red chicken wings that were cooked in a clay oven, while another chicken dish was marinated in an orange sauce with fresh spices sprinkled in top. It looked delicious, so I dove right in. My mouth instantly caught on fire. I had to balance out the spiciness of the food by chugging my Diet Coke and stuffing my face with Naan. My favorite of this food, I discovered, was Naan. The floury it bread melted in my mouth mouth. It looked just like pita bread, but it was made with white flour and baked in a clay oven. Since I didn’t know what was on my plate, I tasted everything cautiously from that point on. I try to like spicy foods, but I just can’t seem to learn to enjoy it. The chicken tasted like it was doused in spicy-sweet sauce that tasted similar to ketchup. My dining experience could have been a lot better if I was more educated about the food. It would have been helpful if they had walked us through the buffet when we came in.

After a long process of trial and error, I finally found something I liked. Of course it was dessert. For my sweet tooth, I filled a bowl up to the brim with Mango Chutney. I could barely remember to take time to breath in between bites. I would have been in heaven if it had been topped with vanilla ice cream.  At the end of our meal, I started to feel a hovering feeling from the staff. It was that uncomfortable feeling when you know that they are ready for you to leave. So we wrapped up our meal and waited in line to pay. The credit card machine was not working, so they had to write down my card number. This made me uncomfortable because I didn’t sign anything or receive a receipt.

I am not accustomed to Indian food and am not an expert food critic, but I was under whelmed and disappointed with my Sitar experience. Although I did not enjoy my food, I did enjoy experiencing new cuisine and good conversations with some friends. Sitar’s Indian Cuisine was definitely an experience, though maybe not the most positive one. I thought the lunch buffet was over-priced, especially because I didn’t eat very much. Maybe next time I will order off of the menu, so I can be sure to like what I order. I can understand why some people enjoy eating there because of its quaint charm of a family owned restaurant. It is also refreshing and unique compared to most of Tuscaloosa’s limited dining options. Although I enjoyed the learning experience and trying something new, I don’t think I will be returning in the near future.