"Tucked away on the ground floor of one of UAB's large parking decks, Sitar is a welcome hub of spicy culinary delight in downtown Birmingham. I have passed Sitar many times and always wanted to sample it. Parking is a challenge. If you're not lucky enough to find a parallel parking space on the street, then you may have to park in the deck and walk down. Both options involving paying for parking unless it's after hours for the parking meters. located in the heart of the UAB Medical Center with Children's nearby, Sitar's main clientele are all the pedestrians who flock there during their lunch breaks. With the parking deck's elevators right outside, there is not outdoor seating with about 8 to 10 four top tables inside. You can pickup your to-go orders at the small register by the door or be seated and a server will take your orders. The decor is simple and unassuming with Nepal and Indian artwork. We arrived late on a Wednesday night with no one else in the dining room, but there were still others arriving for pick-up. Our server quickly took our drink orders and then our meal requests. Paul, Austin and I ate family style. The basmati rice was flaky and delicious. The buttered naan bread dusted with cilantro was SO good. Even better were the samosas. Oversized, filled with seasoned potato, onion, peas and herbs, the samosas were to die for. Dip it in the mint chutney... Yom Yom Yom! The chicken korma was delicious. Paul ordered it a level 3 out of 6 spicy and it had a little kick! The small slices of chicken were cooked perfectly, but what I loved most was the creaminess of the coconut curry sauce. Yom Yom Yom. I ordered the Sheek Kabab. The seasoned sections of ground beef are grilled, placed onto a bed of sliced cabbage and grilled onions then sprinkled with cilantro all served on a hot sizzling plate like Mexican fajitas. With a spice level of 3 out of 6, they were spot on! The dish is accompanied with a nice bowl of tikka masala that you may use as a garnish or dipping sauce. Yom Yom Yom. Even with people coming and going to pickup orders, Sitar has a very laid back atmosphere that's comfortable and inviting. Our server was wonderful and checked on us often. He was very friendly and eager to please us. If it wasn't for the parking, I would dine there regularly. But not to worry, I plan to return."
