Star of India Restaurant — Restaurant in Little Rock

I really would have rather not written this at all, but given the unfortunate experience that I had here I feel obliged.

TL;DR: I was lied to by the employees over some tea.

On my way back to Dallas, my wife and I stopped here and got lunch from the buffet. Everything was going fine until we asked for some masala chai to finish out our lunch.

Our waiter (who had actually been quite cordial and diligent throughout service) brought us what was simply some plain black tea and a small cup of heavy cream.

Ok. Cool. Maybe a miscommunication, but it was definitely not what we asked for. I get it, they’re probably not used to being asked for masala chai specifically in this part of the US, so we signaled our waiter and kindly tried to reconcile what I thought might just have been a little mistake. No big deal… smiles, laughs, whatever. He acknowledges the grievance, I acknowledge that it’s no big deal, and I am assured that masala chai is coming. Great!

Well, my wife and I are just sitting and chatting and then 12-15 minutes go by and it occurs to us that no one has checked in on us since we asked to correct the mistake… a little weird since they are acknowledging just about everyone else in the restaurant accept us at this point. Finally about 10 more minutes go by and one of the older waiters comes out with the same exact plain black tea and heavy cream saying nothing and seeming quite frustrated. As I ask him whether or not this is actually masala chai, he simply took the cup of heavy cream, pours it into the tea and gestures to the mixture and says “yes, you see stirring the drink, masala chai” and leaves the table without giving me a chance to get a word out.

My wife and I, at this point, are more awestruck than anything and kinda just laughing it off as this London Fog we obviously did not ask for goes cold in front of us for the next 30 minutes as they close down the restaurant. No one, not even the owner/manager, say another word to us until 3:00PM rolls around and they ask us if we need anything else and that they are closing for dinner and that we need to leave. I proceed to tell them the mistake, and that I want it taken off my bill. They very begrudgingly take the tea off my bill. To cap this experience, as we are paying, the older waiter that brought the second batch of black tea and lied to us about what it was very rudely body checks me on his way to the card reader.

The main take away here is that 2 employees tried to get me and my wife to believe that what was in front of me was masala chai when it OBVIOUSLY wasn’t and tried to make us feel like we were in the wrong…

Other than that: -decent food, not quite “authentic”, they are obviously playing to the demographic in Little Rock -do not expect anything mind blowing -the service will be great as long as you don’t make them feel as though they have made a mistake -owner/manager acted quite cowardly throughout this...

Rake the coals over me won't ever come back...charges me 62$ for 3 sauce dishes some rice and Naan. Make sure to ask for the prices rip off kings.

How the experience went...we were seated with menus I told them I liked chicken Tikka masala and Veggie Korma. My friend at the time that had never been said he didn't know he had never tried indian food before. The owner takes our menus and say don't worry I'll take care of you. Mind you we are looking at the lunch menu which is 11.99. Owner says chicken Tikka masala, veggie Korma and have you tried some kind of lamb dish. We said no he say don't worry I'll take care of you. He brings chicken, veggie, and some lamb dish I figured we was getting the hook up. Figured I'd be paying 30 bucks because maybe a lil more for the Naan because it was garlic Naan that he said he was gonna bring us! We didn't order Naan, the owner explicitly stated don't worry I'm gonna take care of you. He sure as heck did he took advantage of the situation and with lil communication.

Besides all that let's talk the food. It was the most bland Indian food I have eaten. I had to ask for chili powder which come to find out, thanks to the owner here informed me it is bad for my health(which is true straight chili powder is bad) He does have a chili hot sauce he gave us. The vegetables really aren't fresh they are frozen bag peas and carrots, I think the broccoli was from a frozen bag too. The potatoes I think are the only fresh vegetable in the veggie korma. The lamb kofta wasn't that great idk if they make lamb meat balls in bags like meatballs but it sure tasted like they came from a bag. The sauce wasn't that great. The chicken Tikka masala sauce was super bland with lil flavor. I have had more flavor out of a frozen food box of chicken tikka. The garlic Naan was excellent pretty not gonna lie that was great rice is rice and still had frozen peas and carrots not fresh as the menu claims.

All in all I could have bought 5 lunch plates for the price I was charged and the lunches would have had soup and everything I asked for plus chutney and ice cream ect. The owner should be ashamed of himself for treating a new customer like this.

Finally it just sucked that my best friends experience of Indian food was this place. The food is sub par, the quality is sub par, and the hospitality was sub par. The prices are gouging. I would never recommend...

I had the pleasure of dining at an incredible Indian restaurant recently, and I must say, it was an experience beyond words. We stumbled upon this hidden gem while passing through the city, and boy, were we in for a treat!

From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with such warmth and hospitality that it felt like we were stepping into our own home. The staff went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable, constantly checking in on us and ensuring that we had everything we needed. It was a level of care and attentiveness that you rarely find in restaurants.

Now, let's talk about the food. Oh my goodness, the flavors were absolutely mind-blowing! We've tried Indian cuisine all over America, but nothing could compare to the authentic taste we experienced here. Every dish was perfectly balanced with just the right amount of spices, and the "papdi chat" stole the show for me. It was a burst of flavors that left me in awe.

And if you're planning to visit, I highly recommend trying their "kheer." It was the perfect ending to our meal, a creamy and delicious rice pudding that left us wanting more.

But it's not just the food that deserves recognition. The ambiance and atmosphere of the restaurant were so inviting and cozy, it truly felt like a home away from home. And when it comes to the price, it was more than reasonable for the quality and quantity of food we received.

In conclusion, I can confidently say that this Indian restaurant deserves a five-star rating in every aspect - from the food to the hospitality, the atmosphere, and the price. It was an unforgettable dining experience that I would highly recommend to anyone seeking an authentic and memorable Indian...