PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAThe Sitar Empire has five restaurants in the Brisbane area and this one at Albion is their Taj Mahal. With room for a feast 300 strong, it’s one of Brisbane’s largest restaurants, and on weekends it’s often at full capacity. It’s an attractive space with lots of rich timber tones and spicy colours, auspicious carved elephants guarding entrance ways and paintings of mythic Hindu characters adorning the walls.
A large menu of regional specialities offers reliably good Indian standards, along with a few interesting options inspired by local Queensland produce. For entrees, in addition to the usual vegetable samosa and chicken tikka, you can sample tuna bora patties spiked with earthy herbs and spices and a variety of Indian-style minced meat kebabs. Sitar’s tandoori meats are nicely marinated and juicy with a delicate, smoked flavour – try the mildly spiced tandoori bugs or the rich, tender lamb. Among the curries is the Ceylon, a Sri Lankan inspired coconut milk curry, and a fine Bengal masala swimming with garlic and ginger marinated prawns