For nearly thirty years, Star of India has been serving up authentic Punjab cuisine in Midtown Fort Collins. This international staple has one of the best lunch buffets in town and is family friendly. Guests can expect to be treated like family from the moment they step into the front door. Not sure what to order? The staff is happy to guide you through the menu, make recommendations, and even order for you if you desire! Star of India is a can't miss Midtown restaurant.
We spoke with Lavi, COO of Star of India, to learn more about what makes Star of India special.
What do you love about Fort Collins?
What I love most about Fort Collins is its sense of community. It's a city that continues to grow and evolve, yet somehow holds on to that small-town feeling where relationships still matter. Our family has spent 29 years welcoming guests at Star of India, having had the privilege of watching families grow, celebrating milestones with our regulars, and seeing familiar faces return year after year. Some guests first visited us as children and now bring their own families.
There's something incredibly special about living and working in a community where people genuinely support local businesses and the people behind them. Fort Collins has given us a place to share our culture, our food, and our hospitality, and in return, it's made us feel like family.
What are your top 3 favorite activities to do in Fort Collins?
On my days off, one of my favorite things to do is explore and support the incredible locally owned businesses that make Fort Collins so special.
First, I love enjoying our local coffee culture. Harbinger Coffee on Harmony is a favorite for a beautifully crafted cup of coffee, and Bread Fellow is wonderful for their creative toast & soup.
Second, I love exploring our independent food scene. The Welsh Rabbit is one of my favorite places to unwind over wine and cheese, and Persimmon is another gem for Mediterranean-inspired mezze.
And third, I love a good cocktail! Naturally, I have a soft spot for our sister restaurant, Choice City, in Old Town. We've poured so much love, creativity, and care into that space, and there's something incredibly rewarding about sitting down, enjoying a thoughtfully crafted cocktail, and watching guests experience what we've created.
Being in hospitality myself, I have a deep appreciation for the passion and hard work that goes into these businesses. Supporting one another is part of what makes Fort Collins such a wonderful community.
What "can't miss" activity/restaurant/place would you tell a first-time visitor to go?
I always encourage first-time visitors to explore Old Town Fort Collins. It has so much character, with its historic architecture, charming storefronts, independent restaurants, and wonderful local businesses. I'd recommend spending an afternoon wandering through the shops, stopping for a coffee, discovering somewhere new for a bite to eat, and ending the evening with a great cocktail or glass of wine.
What makes Fort Collins special isn't necessarily one destination - it's the collection of small, memorable experiences and the passionate people behind them. That's what gives our city its personality.
What makes Star of India unique?
At Star of India, we believe extraordinary food takes time, patience, and a deep respect for tradition. Nearly everything we serve is made from scratch, using techniques that have been passed down and perfected in our kitchen over the past 29 years.
Our chef and sous chef have been with us since we opened in 1997, and their dedication to their craft is truly the soul of our restaurant. We make our own paneer, culture our own yogurt for our freshly prepared lassi, and grind our spices in-house rather than relying on prepackaged blends that lose their fragrance and potency over time.
Our signature garam masala is a carefully balanced blend of 22 spices, bringing the warmth and complexity of Punjab to Colorado. Our saag combines collard greens, spinach, mustard greens, broccoli, and fresh ginger, creating layers of flavor that go far beyond a traditional spinach curry.
Some preparations take days. Our chef dedicates nearly two days to developing the flavors of our Madras preparations and house-made chutneys, including our tamarind chutney. Even our desserts are a labor of love. Every Gulab Jamun is individually rolled by hand, fried until golden, and soaked in a fragrant rose-infused syrup. We have two full-size traditional tandoors, where our breads are baked against the hot clay walls and our meats, marinated for 48 hours, are cooked over charcoal for that unmistakable smoky flavor.
What makes all of this even more special is that Star of India has remained in the Cheema family since the very beginning. Our recipes, our culinary team, and our commitment to genuine Punjabi hospitality have stood the test of time. For us, these aren't simply cooking methods. They're an expression of our heritage, our craftsmanship, and the love we put into every dish. We want our guests to taste the difference that time, care, and tradition make.
How did Star of India get its start?
Star of India's story began in 1997, when the Cheema family opened its doors in Fort Collins with a vision of sharing the rich culinary traditions and genuine hospitality of Punjab. Nearly three decades later, Star of India remains proudly owned by the same family. Even more remarkably, our original chef and sous chef are still in the kitchen today, carrying forward the flavors, recipes, and craftsmanship that have defined us since the very beginning.
While Fort Collins has grown and changed around us, we've remained rooted in the traditions that brought us here. What began as a family restaurant has become a place where generations gather, milestones are celebrated, and guests become familiar faces. I've had the privilege of being part of that journey for 19 years, building relationships with guests who have become an extension of our restaurant family.
That same passion for food and hospitality has grown beyond Star of India into our sister restaurant, Choice City, in Old Town Fort Collins. While Star of India honors our Punjabi heritage, Choice City allows us to express our creativity through American-Indian fusion, imaginative cocktails, and a contemporary dining experience. We've poured our hearts into both restaurants, each with its own personality but the same commitment to thoughtful food and genuine hospitality. As we approach our 30th anniversary in 2027, we're proud not only of how far we've come but also of what has remained unchanged: our family, our culinary traditions, and our gratitude to the Fort Collins family.
What do you want visitors to experience at Star of India?
We want every guest who walks through our doors to experience more than just a meal. We want them to feel the warmth, generosity, and genuine hospitality that are so deeply rooted in Punjabi culture. In our culture, food is an expression of love. It's how we welcome people, celebrate life's moments, and bring families and friends together. At Star of India, we carry that philosophy into everything we do, from the care that goes into our cooking to the way we greet our guests and make them feel at home.
We want visitors to slow down, explore unfamiliar flavors, share dishes around the table, and experience the beautiful diversity of Punjabi cuisine. Whether it's someone's first introduction to Indian food or a familiar favorite they've enjoyed for decades, we hope every visit brings a little discovery, comfort, and joy. After nearly 30 years in Fort Collins, some of our most meaningful memories aren't just about the food we've served, but the people we've shared it with. We've watched children grow up, celebrated anniversaries and birthdays, and welcomed generations of families back to our tables. Those relationships are what make Star of India so special to us.
Ultimately, we want our guests to leave with more than a memorable meal. We want them to feel that they've experienced a little piece of Punjab, right here in Fort Collins. Because to us, hospitality isn't simply about serving someone. It's about making them feel they belong.
(Photos provided by Star of India)
Star of India
Address: 2900 Harvard Street, Fort Collins, CO 80525
Hours: Wednesday through Monday - Lunch from 11am to 2:30pm. Dinner from 5pm to 9pm. Closed on Tuesday.
Phone: (970) 225-1740
Website: https://starofindiafc.com/
Instagram: @starofindiafc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starftco/
