The Sitara

stantoncarlisle

Fingerpoppin' food and Jazzy music 17th April 2009

1 found this helpful

Food here is scrumptious, well-prepared and presented and nicely flavoured by London Indian restuarant standards(which are lower than a limbo-ing love snake ) - if theres somewhere better I'd like to know about it. Portions are small-ish and well-priced. The jazzy joint is clean, not spotless - my shoes did a velco like stick to the floor - overall it looks shiny and fresh. Red walls with a skew-whiff assortment of Jazz photos and posters from the Rat-Pack to John Coltrane everything is covered. Music wise the background sounds need a little fine tuning - they veer from lounge to pedestrian bop. A great place that could be a world class noshery if the music matched the munchies.

aeroplane

My New Favourite Restaurant 29th November 2007

4 found this helpful

I actually registered on this site solely to say I had the best Indian meal I've ever had prepared for me.

I love the esoteric combination of soothing 30s jazz with contemporary Indian cuisine. That said, I guess the fact I love jazz to be a huge bonus factor. If you hate jazz, then maybe this restaurant's décor and atmosphere isn't for you.

However, the food is excellent, so don't let the jazz put you off! I'll be seeing a lot more of this place. The waiter was dead friendly and down-to-earth; the vast array of curries were very good value for money: around £6 for a mains.

Also, something I was surprised with was the portion size. It was exactly the right size! I'm not a gorger or a nibbler; I like to think I eat a standard portion at mealtimes, and when the curry came out it looked a little on the small side. However, by the time I was finished I realised it was the exact amount: enough to fill me up and leave me (very) satisfied, but not too much so I would end up overindulging or leaving a lot on my plate.

Next time I'm going to be way more adventurous. We both had lamb curries; my date's was deliciously tender and mine was firm and juicy.

This place was an excellent experience, and if it makes me want to go there every time I'm around Archway, then it must be doing something right.

foxie

Excellent Indian 22nd November 2007

5 found this helpful

Really wonderful find, just down the street from Archway station. The mix of jazz and Indian food isn't the most obvious, but it works really well. The jazz are old standards and the decor is exactly what you would expect - but the food is great! All obviously freshly made and well tended. Good staff and a great menu, this is a real gem in an otherwise blah North London neighborhood.

rpieris

Cool, Atmospheric and the best Indian Food 26th June 2007

4 found this helpful

You really cant add much to Pixeldivas comments. The first time I saw it I laughed at the idea of an indian Jazz restaurant. To begin with it was this strange mix that got me to open the door and step it and am I glad I did.

The Atmosphere at the Sitara is excellent. You have Jazz music playing away (sometimes a bit loud but this just adds to the atmosphere). The lights are dim so you can settle in and feel quite cosy and settle into a great meal.

The food in The Sitara isn't prepared in advance so it could take a bit longer but when it does arrive it is quite incredible. Unlike most other indian restaurants the food isn't oily and tastes very fresh. I am a big fan of spicy food and the Phaal is the hottest dish Ive ever tasted but still it manages to be one of the tastiest as well.

If you decide to go to Archway one day try to visit this place. You will not regret it.

pixeldiva

Jazz-tastic Curry 25th February 2007

8 found this helpful

This is one of those "word of mouth" places that nobody's heard of, and pretty much nobody would travel out of their way to go to.

Unless you've been before and know how amazing the food is.

It's tiny (only 8 tables) and it's never going to win any prizes for decor (yellow formica tables and red walls) but it's got bags of character and atmosphere.

The owner is crazy about Jazz, and there's really no mistaking how much - the walls are covered in pictures of the greats, and the music is all jazz, all the time - so if jazz isn't your kind of music, it's probably not the place for you.

That said, even if you're not so keen on it, and think that it's a funny kind of music to go with curry, then give it a go. The food is amazing. Everything's freshly prepared on the premises and you really can taste the herbs and spices in your food. Their Chicken Korma is particularly good - it's not just bland, it's got actual flavour.

Also recommended is their Chicken Pakora (covered in a fabulously light thin batter, not wodges of stodge) and their Mango Lassi.

Price wise, it's pretty reasonable too.

I'm really sad this isn't my local curry house any more.

sue at 18/05/07

Jazz and curry sounds like a great combination to me!

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