Sitar — Restaurant in New Haven

The familiar aromas of cumin, cardamom and clove greet you upon entering Sitar Restaurant in New Haven, where northern Indian cuisine has found a comfortable home amid contemporary décor. Exposed brick walls contrast with white pillars and ceiling, while caramel-toned chairs and navy upholstered booths create a modern yet inviting atmosphere.

On a recent visit, the lamb vindaloo arrived in a traditional metal bowl, its reddish-brown sauce glistening under the restaurant's soft lighting. Each spoonful delivered the dish's signature heat, tempered by tender chunks of lamb and brightened with fresh cilantro. The accompanying basmati rice, adorned simply with carrot slivers and herbs, provided the necessary counterpoint to the robust curry.

The garlic naan deserves special mention. Pulled from the tandoor at the precise moment, it arrives with the ideal balance of char and chew, its surface bubbled and glistening with a whisper of butter and garlic.

Sitar's menu extends beyond these standards to include chicken tikka masala, lamb rogan josh and saag paneer, all prepared with an eye toward authenticity rather than adaptation. Vegetarian and gluten-free options appear throughout the offerings, reflecting a thoughtful consideration for diverse dietary needs.

The service strikes that delicate balance between attentiveness and restraint. Water glasses remain filled, empty plates disappear promptly, and questions about spice levels receive honest answers rather than default reassurances.

Some diners have noted occasional delays during peak hours, though the quality of the food generally compensates for any wait. Others praise the restaurant's delivery service, which reportedly arrives with food still steaming in secured packaging.

Sitar operates daily during lunch and dinner hours, with a brief afternoon closure. Prices remain reasonable for the portion size, with most entrees allowing for tomorrow's lunch — a value proposition that, like the restaurant itself, satisfies without...

Last week: While dining in, asked if dal makhani could be made vegan. Was told 'yes'. We enjoyed it - it tasted fresh and nice! The other things we ordered also tasted great. We went again a week later.......... Today: Ordered dal makhani (vegan). The waiter came back to ask if any of us was allergic to butter and we said no. She said, 'it is already made with butter, but very little is used'. I was curious to know what we were served last week (and I still don't know). Waiter #2 came to ask how everything was while we were eating. I said this is so thick, there is tons of butter and isn't like last time at all. His response: it is a different chef. He did say he would replace it, but we felt bad to have him re-do it and packed it to bring with us to give it to someone else. Then, soon after came waiter #3 who tried to act smart by claiming that it was the same chef etc. and several other things that was just the opposite of what the other waiter said

Bottom line: (i) No consistency (ii) Ingredients and restrictions seem to be adjusted according to the chef and not according to the customer. (iii) Each of the waiters has a different take and story and it is hard to tell which one is right

I feel bad writing this because everything else was good. But I need to let them know that when a customer has dietary restrictions/choices, they should flat out say 'no' if they cannot accommodate those, and not give inconsistent explanations - we still don't know what we ate last time! To them, as long as we were not allergic to butter, and they knew that it wouldn't become a medical issue, our choices/restrictions didn't seem to matter - and THAT is sad!

The owner, Inderjit Singh, was very much there and could have helped resolve this, but he didn't. I was hoping to suggest this place for once-a-week lunch catering to my office, but is out of the...

This was our first time visiting the restaurant, and unfortunately it will be our last. My husband and I sat down and started eating, and just as we were getting into our meal, I saw a mouse run out from underneath the couch right next to our table.

We immediately told a staff member, and while they did apologize, it didn’t seem sincere at all. Instead, the waiter told us the restaurant was up to code, that they do monthly cleaning, and that exterminators come regularly. I understand that things can happen, but I actually saw a live mouse while I was eating, and it felt like they didn’t take it seriously.

After that, my husband got down on his hands and knees several times trying to see where it went, and he discovered that there were multiple mouse traps placed underneath the very couch we were sitting on. That tells me this wasn’t a random occurrence—they’re clearly aware there’s an issue.

Before we left, we told another waitress about what happened and she didn’t seem to care either. I asked for a manager and was told there wasn’t one available. No one showed real concern, and it was honestly pretty upsetting.

We both returned our food and barely ate any of it. The waiter offered to make us new food, but I declined. If there’s one mouse, there are likely more, and I just wasn’t comfortable eating anything else. Despite that, we were still charged the full $60. I told the server that if this happened at my own restaurant, I wouldn’t charge a customer at all. He told me he would make sure I got a refund by the end of the night. That still hasn’t happened.

I even left a $10 tip because I was trying to be respectful, but the way this situation was handled from start to finish was completely unprofessional.

We won’t be back. If you care about food safety, cleanliness, and basic customer service, I recommend going...