Sitar Brings a Generous Indian Buffet to Durham

A plate at Sitar can start with chicken tikka masala and chana masala, take a turn through biryani and paneer curry, then end with gulab jamun or rice pudding. The Durham restaurant makes a strong case for the buffet as a way to eat Indian food: take a little of several things, find a favorite, and go back for the dish that deserves a second spoonful.

The spread commonly runs to 20 or more dishes across lunch and dinner service, with appetizers, soups, salads, curries, dals, rice, breads, meat dishes, vegetarian choices, vegan selections and sweets sharing the line. Individual offerings change, but the point is breadth rather than one fixed lineup.

That breadth also makes Sitar an easy choice for a mixed table. Someone craving tandoori chicken can build a very different plate from the diner working through potato curry, dal, paneer and rice.

Chicken 65, fried fish, Malabar fish curry, chicken tikka masala and tandoori chicken have all appeared among the buffet’s meat and seafood choices. Beef and lamb dishes may also be in the mix, so the line can offer more range than the usual one-curry lunch stop.

On the vegetarian side, chole or chana masala, paneer curry and potato curry provide satisfying anchors rather than token side dishes. Vegan tofu preparations have also been part of the selection.

Rice deserves more than a supporting role here. Along with plain white rice, the buffet has included a rice pilaf with spinach and onions, a good companion for saucier curries and dals. Biryani gives the rice portion of the meal a more fragrant, substantial direction.

For diners still learning the difference between a creamy paneer curry and a hotter tomato-based dish, the buffet labels do useful work. They identify heat levels and note meat, dairy and vegan status; allergy information has also appeared on the labeling.

That straightforward setup lets newcomers make informed choices without turning lunch into a guessing game. Start mild, add a more assertive curry beside it, and use the labels to keep track of what is on the plate.

Take the heat warnings seriously. Some items marked hot have real fire behind them, while the buffet overall gives diners room to stay mild or work their way upward. Current labels and staff guidance are the best guide for dietary needs and spice tolerance.

Sitar’s everyday buffet includes substantial vegetarian and vegan choices, not merely a lone vegetable dish set beside the meat curries. That matters when a family or group includes diners with different eating habits: one person can sample tandoori chicken while another has a full plate of plant-based options to choose from.

The restaurant has also held fully vegan buffet events, turning the entire spread toward savory plant-based dishes, drinks and desserts. Tofu Manchurian and Tofu-65 have been among the more memorable offerings, alongside potato dishes and rotating sweets.

These vegan events have been held on a recurring schedule, though dates can change. It is worth confirming the current calendar before planning a visit around one.

The meal need not stop at the main buffet line. A chili sauce and a green cardamom sauce have accompanied dishes at Sitar; the cardamom sauce is the one to approach with respect, since it has been notably hot.

Desserts are included with the buffet and rotate. Gulab jamun, rice pudding and carrot cake have all been served, along with other sweets. The gulab jamun has had a dark exterior with a tender, fluffy center—small, syrupy and difficult to pass up after a second round of curry.

For drinks, there is masala tea, chai and mango lassi, the last of which offers a cooling counterpoint to hotter dishes. Sitar also has a full bar, Indian beers and signature cocktails, with selections varying by service.

The regular menu remains available for diners who prefer to settle on a single dish rather than sample across the room. Curries and kebabs are among the à la carte choices, useful when a buffet visit has already helped establish a favorite.

A weekend dinner buffet has at times included an optional beer-or-wine add-on. As with the buffet lineup itself, alcohol offerings and add-ons can change, so treat that as a pleasant possibility rather than a standing guarantee.

Occasionally, diners waiting for dinner have received small complimentary samples. It is a nice extra when it happens, but the larger appeal is the steady usefulness of having both a broad buffet and a full menu available.

Sitar’s dining room is casual, clean and relaxed, with enough quiet for conversation to carry easily across the table. Music has accompanied vegan-buffet service, adding some energy without changing the restaurant’s easygoing tone.

The staff are warm and helpful with first-time diners, families and larger groups. That is particularly welcome at a buffet, where a little guidance on spice and dietary labels can help everyone begin comfortably.

Indoor seating is joined by reported patio or terrace seating, and a private dining room has been used for gatherings. Family celebrations and larger shared meals fit naturally here: buffet service gives a group freedom to eat at its own pace instead of negotiating a single shared order.

Sitar also handles takeout and catering, extending the restaurant’s generous, varied approach to meals at home and group events. Catering portions have been notably generous, with enough menu range to accommodate a crowd with different tastes.

For dining in, a free parking lot has provided ample space on many visits. Reservations have not always been necessary, though availability can naturally depend on the day, service and size of the party.