Out with the old, in with the new; Sitara has replaced a longstanding Indian restaurant Downtown.
Sitara Fine Indian Cuisine opened Oct. 2 at 427 E. Main St., formerly Indian Oven, which closed in September for a planned relocation to Delaware.
The restaurant offers weekend lunch buffets and weekday lunch thalis, a multi-course meal served on a large platter. Featured main dishes like Saag Paneer, Butter Chicken and Paneer Tikka Masala are priced around $20.
Some available appetizers include samosas, pakora and chaat. Desserts can also be found on the menu, like Rice Kheer (Indian rice pudding) and Gulab Jamun (milk dumplings).
This is owner Mandeep Singh’s second Indian restaurant in the Central Ohio area. He and his family opened Ammar India Restaurant in Zanesville in 2024.
The restaurant can seat 68 people inside, with additional seating outside. A staff member said they plan to renovate the patio space next year.
Indian Oven announced its departure from the Downtown space in September. The restaurant started in 1996 in the Old North neighborhood and relocated to the East Main Street location in 2001.
“Saying goodbye is never easy, and while today is bittersweet as our final day here after 26 years of serving Columbus Ohio, this isn’t the end of our journey,” according to a post from Sept. 1 on Indian Oven’s Facebook. “Thank you for all the wonderful memories — we can’t wait to welcome you again very soon!”
The business has not announced the exact address, but it did state it will be located in Delaware.
Sitara is located at 427 E. Main St. and is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.
More information can be found at sitaracolumbus.com.
Photos by Ashley Kimmel
Dining and Cooking