Amazing food ! Great service low key.... Wasnt busy ! Everything we ate was absolutely authentic and everything was on point ! Youd be a fool not to eat here if your looking for traditional Indian food read more

Sitar - a variety of food on a table - Indian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Walking through Gastown, we rediscovered a place we went about 20 years before. The Sitar is a traditional Indian restaurant with an "old world" feel. We had the lunch special, a beef curry with rice. They also offered it as a vegetarian version. We also added naan and mango lasees. The curry was nicely spicy, with onions and peppers and the rice, delicious. The naan was a half piece and I would have liked the whole piece --it was so buttery and the perfect dipper for the thick curry sauce. The mango lasee was cold and the perfect accompaniment for the curry. Service was attentive and our food was served quickly.Would recommend! read more

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We came back twice in. Three day span. Which means the food was good. Flavor, juiciness, right Amoy of spices. Will go back again when visiting BC Vancouver read more

Sitar - Chicken tiki marsala Chicken Tandoori Rice - Indian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

We were looking for a good curry place and found Sitar. We ordered to go the first time and went in person the second. It was delicious both times. The shahi paneer was cooked perfectly, the sauce was delicious. Veggie samosas were cooked perfectly with good spice. Naan was perfect. My son had Dal Makahni and enjoyed it. My husband chose lamb vindaloo and was not disappointed. It was properly spiced for a vindaloo and the lamb was cooked perfectly. Definitely recommend. read more

Sitar is underrated based on our experience. Service was very good - super friendly and very attentive (but not too so). Food was very well prepared and every dish was a winner. Only surprise was that there was not more people on a Tuesday night. read more

I had a very nice portion of veggie samosas which were cooked perfectly. Crispy on the outside, not fatty at all and the spices inside made them the best Ive had so far. The curry, although as spicy advertised, it wasn't spicy at all but it tasted really well. The portion could have been bigger for the price, but I stick to the good taste. The wine wasn't great, but I wouldn't count it as part of the Indian experience here. Overall, good... read more

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In 30+ years of living in/near Lower Mainland, I'd never gone to Sitar. I did tonight. OMG literally best Indian meal we've EVER had (and my wife has eaten IN INDIA! :) ) and in the top 5 best meals I've ever had with samosas to die for! read more

Sitar - Indian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

My husband and I were on our vacation and happened to come across this place - and we were so glad we did. This was the BEST Indian food we have ever tried in our lives. Their lamb and goat curries were delicious. While we were finishing up our dinner, we got quite worried... because how often can we come back for this? We wish that there was a place like this back home. 4 stars were given because customer service was ok, pretty slow, and they all looked sad there. Despite that reason, we simply love their food. Give this place a try if you're in Gas Town! read more

My favourite resto for Indian food, ambiance & location. Something about gastown. Butter chicken & garlic naan bread is outstanding. Lots of garlic. Rich in flavour. The tandoori chicken is good too, lots of veggies pan fried on a stone. and serve w/ a huge, round thin 'cracker' in lieu of bread at the beginning. read more

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Brutal service. I've been to Sitar in the past (and always with just one other person) and really thought they had some decent Indian cuisine. It's nothing spectacular, but there are some good dishes. Unfortunately, these guys can not handle large groups (ours was a group of 10). Not only did it take over an hour after ordering to get our dishes, but when they arrived, half of them were luke warm! We also wanted our dishes spicy and it was borderline mild at best. Chicken wings, burnt and dry, roti, stiff and pretty much inedible. I was also not impressed at how difficult it was for them to split our bill and they tried numerous times to convince us to get our bill done on one. In the end they were magically able to do it for us. Was their initial reaction out of pure laziness? Overall the servers (one was possibly the owner or head waiter) that were handling our table seemed extremely put off that 10 hungry patrons actually wanted to eat and pay for their food at their fine establishment... read more

Sitar - Saddest appy plater in the world - Indian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I don't eat Indian food too often ( in Vancouver I only been to Vijjs and Judges). For some reason I was craving a hearty meal with some vegetable options ... and some naan! The garlic naan here was delicious. We also had the buttered chicken and vegetable curry. The restaurant staff is very kind and attentive and that was a huge plus. We sat right next to the window and it was enjoyable to people watch in gastown ( even on a rainy night , there's lots of characters). The flavors are not very strong which I like, and my favorite thing was the kulfi to finish . It's a dessert with pistachio flavor , so refreshing and delightful. There was music playing , lots of sitar =). I recommend this nice restaurant for Indian in a fun part of gastown! read more

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Paneer Tikka Masala....liked it. Naan...liked it. Sweet Lassi... Loved it, fortunately wasn't very sweet, enough to enjoy. Good restaurant, good environment. read more

Sitar - Paneer Tikka Masala and Naan - Indian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

This was one of my favorite places to eat in Vancouver. The food and service were consistently good. I have also had positive experiences with delivery. However, it will usually take an hour for delivery. My favorite dishes from Sitar are: Chicken Vindaloo - While they do not make their vindaloo super hot, it does have a nice kick and a nice blend of spices. The chicken is always cooked well and the potatoes have that nice balance between crisp and soft. I love the sauce. The Lamb Vindaloo is also very good. Chicken Masala - When I am in the mood for something a little less spicy and a little more sweet, I have their Chicken Masala. This isn't very often. But it is very good. Vegetable Samosa - I love their samosas. They are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside without being mushy. They use a great blend of spices. I could eat them all day. and dipping them into the vindaloo sauce is an extra treat. Onion Bhaji - These are fried little pieces of heaven. I have friends who do not touch fried foods but eat these. Naan - Their naan is very good. Just the right amount of garlic. It is soft without being limp. read more

Likes: location, ambiance, butter chicken, service Dislikes: tandoori platter, value Background: Went here on a Saturday night with my boyfriend at around 9:30 p.m. in April 2013 to celebrate the Times of India Film Awards (TOIFA). It was a wet evening in Vancouver, but as always, it doesn't stop Vancouverites from prancing around the streets of Gastown. Ambiance: First of all, the location is very accessible for all commuters. It was right at the heart of Gastown, guarded by Gassy Jack himself. The restaurant is a mid-size restaurant that could sit around 50 people. The atmosphere is quite romantic, overlooking the streets of Gastown. At the particular night that we arrived, we were the only diners in the restaurant -- quite odd for a Saturday night, but at the same time the rush of Indian food cravers had apparently just left, perhaps for a bar or coffee. Food: We ordered (1) butter chicken for me and (2) a tandoori platter for my boyfriend. Both meals came with Basmati rice and naan. We also ordered lassi - plain and mango. How can you really go wrong with butter chicken? It was creamy as I liked it served, not too spicy, yet the chicken portions were not very large. They were smaller cubes of chicken that what I'd usually get from other restaurants. The plate portion was quite small as well, as I would've expected -- it was half a plate. It was around $17. Yet, I savoured every bite of my favourite Indian dish so I was pretty much in butter chicken paradise. The tandoori platter, however was very bland, according to my boyfriend. Apparently he had asked for a "hot" platter, but it might as well have been mild. The platter was made up of: Tandoori chicken, lamb tikka, chicken tikka, tandoori prawns, seekh kabab, fish tandoori, naan, rice pillau, papad and chutney. Sounds like a lot, but the portion was not satisfying, especially when you are paying $24 for it. The lassis were divine. Service: The server was very polite, friendly and accommodating. Although we were the only diners in the restaurant, we didn't feel rushed to leave. The servers look photos of us (as I always request for those!) and they did it without a frown. They even played Bollywood music for me, when they found out that I was there to "celebrate" TOIFA! Value: We ended up spending $50+. There are definitely better Indian restaurants in town, but I understand that the location of this restaurant contributed to the price. The portion, however, could be bigger. Verdict: I recommend this restaurant for date night. I see that it's a better location at night than for lunchtime. I would consider returning if I'm around town. read more

Sitar - Tandoori Dinner($23.95): Tandoori chicken, lamb tikka, chicken tikka, tandoori prawns, seekh kabab, fish tandoori - Indian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Came here only because of the entertainment coupon... The decor, flies, and specs of dust and crumbs next to the windows made me not taste anything that I ate. I'm not a germaphob, but everything felt dirty or dusty. Didn't help that I came here for lunch on a weekend and it was eerily quiet. There were only the two of us for the most part, but then, as if knowing how quiet the place is, the waiter later placed a loud table of 4 right next to us, despite the rest of the restaurant being dead empty. Got the usually butter chicken and curry beef. Portion wise, it was alright. The chicken comes in huge cubes (I believe you get 4 or 5 cubes), so you have to slice it into little smaller pieces. It tasted alright, but I was distracted cus that massive fly kept flying around my face. They had one server who was a nice guy. He disappeared in the back a lot, which made me question if he might be the chef/manager/one-person-shop. Our water got refilled once the whole meal. read more

I'm conflicted about this rating: on one hand, Ye food is scrumptious! On the other hand, you get a giant bowl of... sauce. And not much else. We've had takeout probably a dozen times, but I just can't justify it anymore because the portions are ridiculous. This last time, a whole order of naan was missing. And the rest was tiny. In an order of malai kofta we only had three pieces! The rest was sauce. The whole thing was nearly cold by the time we got it. The paneer barely had any paneer in it. And the chicken karai was basically just thin sauce and a couple of small pieces of meat. It's just... disappointing. It's not like we paid nothing for the meal. The meal seemed reasonably priced - but for actual food and not for just sauce. read more

I would have to say this is hands down the best Indian in Vancouver..now that's just my opinion..but I'm pretty sure y'all would have to agree once you try it!! It's in a serious need of a makeover..it's dark..kinda dusty...and any restaurant that has carpet is just asking for trouble...luckily the food is so scrumptious that the bad decor melts away with every bite of the lamb rogan ghosh.. Apparently Sitar is a celebrity haunt as well..Bryan Adams loves the joint..if you still consider him to be a celebrity.. read more

Best naan bread!! Now, I'm happy to be shown the light if this place doesn't have the best fresh naan bread in the city. It's fluffy and wavy like Oprah's hair after a perm (does she perm?) and makes all the carbs so worthwhile. The other dishes are of course solid, but it's the naan bread that shines. Come here for a side of naan. You won't be disappointed. read more

A Gastown institution that I've walked by at least 3 times a week for the past 6 years yet it has taken me this long to get here...shamefully. I finally made it and I brought my bestie with me. It wasn't until January 18, 2017 that I actually put it on my bucket list. I did take note from the other Yelpers of the slow service and portions, however, decided to give it a try since I wanted something familiar and healthy. The waitress was very nice and sweet. I shared the tandoori chicken which was nice. read more

I had the fish vindaloo and it was fantastic. Salmon came on a wooden slab, was steaming and tender. I like the dimly lit, romantic ambience too, good place for being on a date (which I was). Next time I am in the neighborhood, I want to go back for that dish. Super! read more

Oh, delicious delicious Indian food! We've been ordering from Sitar for years! They make consistently fantastic Indian food - the butter chicken is great, the chicken korma also a favourite, and to start both the pakoras and onion bhaji are not to be missed. When in a pinch, I've even brought pakoras/bhaji to parties as a quick appetizer (ask for extra chutney for dipping!) The meals are a great value coming with papadums and a good quantity of rice included. I usually also add the garlic naan, but it can be split into two it's quite large. Great big giant important note: the quantities are substantially larger when you get takeout than when you order in. Pick it up on your way home and enjoy it with friends from the comfort of your own dining room table and you'll have leftovers to spare! read more

Cool spot, good location, good food. 10 of us dined at this restaurant - we were all first-timers. From what I gathered we all left satisfied.. We were able to enjoy a few appetizers including: -Veggie pakoras = good -Fish pakoras = ok (rather plain/bland) -Samosa = good Entrees: Lamb Vindaloo, Chicken tika masala, tandoori chicken, and some veggie dishes - all were good. Portion sizes were ok and flavour was good. We will go back, not rushing though.. read more

I am indecisive. My wife, god love her can put me to shame but there always seems to be a faithful fallback for us. Indian. So while checking out a loft for rent on water st. we "decided" to try Sitar. We were a little sceptical at first since the place was empty but the menu looked good. Not venturing to far out of our comfort zone we ordered Tikka masala, garlic naan, pakora and papadam. Comforted by the fact that the place was filling it became apparent that butter chicken was the clear choice as I could hear the words echoing around me. Everything was amazing with the naan being the star of the night. These babies were huge so unless your a big fan of bread I'd suggest parring down your order. Favorite part of the evening though would be realizing that we were surrounded by artwork depicting copulating indian couples. 4 stars for the meal and 5 for the decor. read more

I agree with the other reviewers, this gastown location has definitely seen better days but let me tell you when it comes to Indian food, it doesn't get any better. Try it for delivery, it's what I usually do now. It usually takes about an hour and they don't start delivery till 6:30 or so, but it's worth the wait nonetheless. I just can't get enough of their butter chicken, the best I've ever had. Their naan, papad, vindaloo, lamb tikka, everything here is finger lickin good. I have tried Indian restaurants all over the city and Sitar is still BY FAR my top choice for sheer tastiness. read more

We went to this restaurant for lunch today. As we entered we were "greeted" by the man behind the bar with "take that table for two", no hi how are you or even a smile. After sitting down and waiting about 5 minutes "smiler" came with the menus. Another 5 minutes passed he came back with "what can I get you to drink". Still no pleasantries. After our drinks came we ordered. The soup was very good, although, after i had finished the waiter came and SWIPED my soup plate and my side plate, which still had bread on it. Not one word was spoken. My lamb was reasonable, my wife's chicken was not bad. After eating we asked for our bill, we normally pay by debit card however after a ten minute wait for the waiter to bring the card machine we paid in cash and left. I would not recommend this restaurant to any one. The bill was $60 for two ,not good value.Think twice before going there read more

My wife loves Sitar's Malai Kofta. None of their other curries compares in her mind - she loves how they use a tomato-heavy butter chicken-style sauce and how the Koftas are not dry. I find their freshly baked Naan to be reliably tasty and enjoy their other curries as well. They also have delicious, yet expensive Chaat (samosas, etc.) Vij's has its super-tasty, unique fusion curries, but this is a great place to go for standard issue Indian food. This place tends to be on the more expensive side for the type of food it serves, but it's actually a good deal if you use one of their buy one curry get another curry free coupons which they include in the Georgia Straight read more

For a while I thought Sitar was deserving of 4 stars, but it's gone down hill. Now, I've only had delivery and takeout, but I know its fresh out of the kitchen cus I live on the same block. Each time it's gotten progressively worse: super greasy and too much sauce with not enough chicken in the vindaloo, and the spinach paneer was thick like glue... all goopy and not the nice vibrant green color it was when I first started ordering from them, now its more brown. Weird. I'm sure I'll order again from Sitar someday since it's just so darn convenient, but my love for this place has gone out the door. For the price? Go to Akbar's Own on Broadway. read more

We visited this afternoon for an hour but it looks like there are not enough server, so after a while they give us menu and water. We ordered Sitar dinner and it was ok. It is included lamb, chicken, curry cauliflower and some rice. Service is nice and the Naan was good. If you wanna try some Indian food in Gastown it is an option. read more

Sitar - Sitar dinner. The right side of the orange gravy is butter chicken. - Indian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Delicious! Chicken tikka was perfect! Beef korma was really good, too. The garlic naan was a little oppressively garlicky...but we ordered some plain naan and wow, that was delicious. We ordered medium-spicy, and it was just right. Mild would have been way too bland, and I'm not really adventurous when it comes to spice. All the food set really well in our bellies, and was very filling and tasty. The service was pretty good, and we were able to get the check and such quickly. I think the interior was really charming. Like being in someone's living room in the 70's. It felt special and quirky, and set a nice mood for dinner. Definitely worth a visit! read more

I ate here this week. I walked in the door and stood around for about 5 minutes before anyone came to deal with me. When the guy did show up, he was hoisting his pants up and doing up his pants having just come from the bathroom. The food was good and a bit expensive but tasty. The service was sort of shoddy, as noted above. The waiter seemed to have some gender issues and just couldn't figure it out. And when I asked him to wrap up my leftovers so I could have them to go, he instead brought me a beer. It's not like they have a lot of competition in the neighbourhood but if I am going to spend $30 on lunch for one person, I expect better service. read more

I went to Sitar a couple weeks ago together with a friend who recommended this restaurant. Let's just say it was ok but I experienced much better and to be honest I expected much more from an Indian Restaurant in Vancouver (well, Gastown...) but even compared to my 'hole in the wall' Indian Take-Out in Los Angeles this place lost by miles. The food was ok but not overly tasteful. I ordered mild but that the Chicken Tikka Marsala has absolutely no taste was a new thing to me. The biggest let-down was the waiter service. The Lady was nice but the guy (the owner?) was downright rude, forgot about half of the order and they did not even offer a refill on my soda that I ordered next to the Kelpi. The bill in the end was like 70$ for 2 people plus tip, which - I have to admit - was little after this experience. Will definitely try something different next time! Cheers ~S read more

Kind, efficient and gracious service. We called for take-out last week and forgot to indicate that we were going to use a coupon. They fixed the bill right away without the usual fuss you sometimes get. The food was pretty standard for classic Indian food. Tandoori chicken wings were really good and the butter chicken is excellent. The naan is not the greatest but decent. Four stars mainly for great service! I'll be back again! read more

In my travels throughout the city for work, I have sampled Indian food from many restaurants all over Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and even some on Vancouver Island. I have never yet found one to equal Sitar. The dishes here are beyond compare. So many flavours in every bite yet all of them blend perfectly to create Nirvana with every mouthful. This is one of those restaurants that we return to over and over and over and over . . . . The staff know us all by name. We usually go for dinner where we are attended to by Carey (the GM) personally and he is the most gracious host. He tells us stories, gives us good conversation, and he even entertains our daughter a lot of the time. While he is without a doubt our favourite, even when we come for lunch we are well taken care of by any of the wonderful staff. The two most common things we order here are the Mughlai or the Punjabi Dinners. These are the best value for your money even though you could spend twice what you pay here and it would still be a steal. We usually add a few meat or vegetable samosas or some vegetable pakoras to start. It doesn't matter what dish you order though, they are all excellent and in the grand "Who Has The Best Butter Chicken" competition in this city . . . well Sitar has my vote and I've tried A LOT of them. Also don't forget to try their house-made Chai. If you like a real spicy Indian Chai, you will not be disappointed. Go here. Often. EAT! read more

Had a delicious dinner here! From the moment you walk in, aromas waft through the air - making you even hungrier! We had lovely servers, who were friendly and joked with us. The butter chicken and chicken tikka (pictured) were just heavenly. Tender chicken, lots of flavour. This is an oasis in Gastown - a relaxing restaurant away from the hustle and bustle of noisy cafes and patios. Grab a window seat to people-watch! read more

Sitar - Butter chicken - Indian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Food: My wife really enjoyed her chicken tikka masala. The sauce was very good, with enough heat at 'medium' level. I ordered tandoori chicken 'spicy' (waitress kinda smirked). There was zero spice to my dish. The chicken is served on the bone, and there's lots of it. OK flavors, but I wouldn't get it again. Also, it's served sizzling w/ green peppers and onions like fajitas? This is new to me. Slow slow service. We were there ~9pm-10pm on a Saturday night. There weren't many people in the restaurant, but everyone was having trouble getting waiters to take orders, fill waters, drop off the cheques, etc. By the time we finished our meal it was ~10 minutes until the cheque came, then 10 more minutes before they picked up our card. In closing, I wouldn't go back. read more

At Sitar food is delicious, there fresh hot oven Nan, chicken ticka and tunduri fish very good. Price was very resealable too read more

With any Gastown restaurant - its hard to go wrong. And Sitar is definitely proof of that. This great Indian place has amazing food (try the palak paneer - which is spinach and cheese). The servers are pleasant and able to suggest items to the wavering mind. However, once a hot restaurant where reservations were needed, Sitar is dying down a bit. The internal decorations are a bit dated and it feels dusty; but I think if they fixed themselves up a bit - they could be busy and bustling in no time! read more

Good location, okay food This restaurant is perfectly located for tourists: right in the middle of gastown. However I would say this is on the pricier side given the small portion, which could be a good thing because Indian food is heavy. The flavour isn't the greatest. The only thing I would recommend from their menu is the fish tandoori as they use salmon. Other than that, you can easily find better Indian food if you are willing to go deeper into downtown. read more

I don't know much about Indian food but I walk by daily watching patrons through the window gobble their eye-catching dishes. After 5+ years living in the neighbourhood, I finally made it in. I really can't say much. The girl who took our order was quite cheery and friendly but I felt neutral about remaining staff. I guess, in a way, since I'm not a huge fan of strong flavours and spices, I should have enjoyed the blandness of the food. But I guess I was expecting some punch or wow factor as well. It seemed blah. Didn't love or hate it. Price point, the value is not here, in my opinion. Small portions, high $$$. Wouldn't return, unfortunately. read more

Great Indian food in the middle of Vancouver's most interesting Gastown district. Authentic Indian cuisine. Excellent service. Place appears to be very popular with the locals. Ambience is a little dated. Recommendations: Chicken Tikka, Biryani, Chai. My wife still sings praises of the Prawn Biryani! The Poppadoms are the best I've ever had in the US! read more