Eat Arkansas

I wish we had more choices for Indian food in LR. I like Star, but Indian naives tell me the hoices are limited. I had the opportunity to eat local home made Indian, and it was far better than Star, but it was cooked w/ love.

Every time I go to Star (when it's not lunch), I HAVE to get the vegetarian sampler. I just can't bear to give up any of the other dishes to get just one. Yes, I've heard that it's not "authentic enough" and yes, I've had other Indian that maybe was better. But I still love Star, it's still what's here. I can make at least 3 meals of the beautiful plate above.

Star is one of my favorite places to eat.

Ideally you go in a group and everyone shares entrees so you get some of most anything you want. There's always ample delicate rice presentation to go around.

I like to dip garlic naan into Sami's answer to volcano sauce, which for all I know is an unsophisticated practice. The pickled onions and cucumber salad (with chat masala) are other favorite sides.

My all-Star plate would have fish masala, saag paneer, chicken tika masala, shrimp curry, and lamb vindaloo. (Apologies to vegetarians, vegans, and lovers of cute animals.)

I love the rice pudding but I can't handle the gulab jamun. Too sweet for me.

Everything should be washed down with one or more fine Indian beers.

Star is one of the finest Indian places anywhere. I have eaten at the Clay Pit in Austin, Texas, which is highly regarded as one of the best Indian restaurants in the U.S., and star is on par with them. Not in ambiance, but in food. And Star's Naan bread is the best anywhere, bar none. I live in deep South Arkansas and make a trip to Star at least once a month. Chicken Tika Korma and Masala are my favorites.

ARK. BLOG: I'm with you on the naan. We're all members of Naan-Anon in our family. The Star's is soft and addictive.

The food generally is great and comparable in many respects to food I've had at a number of famous Indian restaurants in London -- Veeraswamy, Chutney Mary's, Shezan among them. But, should you be fortunate enough to get to London, given the weak dollar on top of an already expensive city, go to the Red Fort for the pre-theater dinner. It's in Soho. It's attractive. It's amazingly good. And, by London standards, the early dinner is a bargain -- 16 pounds for a starter, a main course, a side of spinach, a basket of bread and some nibbles. There's an all-you-can-eat lunch for 12 pounds. Check it out and dream.

http://www.redfort.co.uk/welcome.htm

I agree on the reviews of Star of India. I'm looking forward to going back there when it cools off, as it's too heavy in this heat for me. I do disagree with the review of the Indian food shop. The few times I've been in there I did not feel welcome and basically got the willies. Maybe it's cultural, but most people seem to like me. I've also heard the same thing from a couple of other folks. Hey Indian store owners, I don't know much about your food, so I may spend some time trying to figure ingredients out. Luckily, Stinky Sam's Oriental has some Indian food, so I can at least get the tandori mix.

I love Star of India and I love Sami and his super-hospitable waitstaff! I can't imagine a friendlier or more genuine place to sit down for a tasty meal. The idea that the options are "limited" is absurd, at least to me. The food is fantastic, the service the same, and the comfort of Sami's warm reception puts it waaaay on top of my Favorties list. I'll support Star of India as long as I live here. No doubt about it.

Big fan of Star of India here, and I'm only sorry I don't get there as often as I'd like. There is certainly enough variety for me, and Sami will spice your dish up or down, according to your preference. However, I, too, have been told by some Indian acquaintances that it's not up their preferences.

One, from extreme southern India (Trivandrum) said Sami's best efforts to spice "up" just did not satisfy him. This man also kept his office at 85-90 degrees all year round.

India is a fairly large country, with broad extremes of climate, elevation, resources and cultures, so it's not suprising that an individual Indian restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas, might not be able to cover all the bases.

Consider the many regional variations in the cuisines of Mexico compared to what is generally available here, although I must say that the options are growing.