Saffron Grill
2132 N Northgate Way, Seattle, WA, 98133
Saffron Grill Menu
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Address :
2132 N Northgate Way
Seattle, WA, 98133 - Phone (206) 417-0707
- Website https://www.saffrongrillseattle.com/saffrongrill/index.html
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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Courtney S.
Saffron Grill truly is upscale Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. From the moment you walk through the door you feel like you have come some place special. The servers are friendly and knowledgable. If you order chai tea, your cup will runneth over -- free and constant refills! The water glasses never have a chance to empty, and if you want a salt lassi, they'll make it for you! My favorite dish of the evening would have to be the lamb biriyani. Big tender pieces of lamb with saffron basmati rice, nuts, and raisins. The dish came with the tastiest raita. If you have people to impress and have a craving for Indian cuisine Saffron Grill is the place to be!
(4)Kristin F.
Delicious!!! A bit pricey, but kind of what I expect for a small family owned restaurant. BBQ chicken was devine.
(5)Su S.
Very nice ambience. Service was great. Foods were delicious. Unlimited Chai!! What else can I ask for!!
(5)Amy M.
One of my favorite restaurants for Indian food. We always have wonderful service! I love their naan bread, it's huge piece, it's hot and delicious. I'm a fan of the buttery chicken! Can't wait to go back and explore their menu.
(4)Frenk L.
They have never ending chai here made with whole milk and sugar which makes it so delicious! The wait staff makes sure your cup willl never go empty! The server, Brandon, was very attentive and friendly. The food was fresh and tasty. We ordered the Mazza appetizer sampler which was more than enough for two people. For entrees we ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala, medium hot and the Lamb Karahi Gosht, medium hot. The Tikka Masala was creamy and perfect. The Lamb Karahi Gosht was tender, succulent and paired perfectly with the rice and warm, soft Naan. We took most of the entrees home because the Mazza filled us up so much. Their dessert menu looked good but we were too full to try anything. Good food, reasonable prices, nice atmosphere, friendly and attentive waitstaff. We will be back!
(5)Jenny C.
The best Indian food I have ever had! We have been here three days in a row. I wish we could eat here everyday!! Everything is delicious! I get the chai tea over ice, palak aloo, the deserts are amazing! Omg the donut thing in sugar sauce- to die for!! The food not only looks amazing the smells and taste are incredible! The owner/manager and staff are so incredibly sweet!!! Great service great food ! Love! I can't say enough love!
(5)KaeRae Art C.
Ate at the Saffron Grill in the Northgate area of Seattle. Absolutely wonderful food. Shared a meal with a lady from Alaska - she was eating by herself, so I asked if I could join her. I ordered the Butter Chicken. And she had already ordered a French dip sandwich with an order of garlic Naan. BUTTER SPECIALTY A deliciously smooth butter, tomato, and cream sauce, spiced with ginger and garlic. The butter chicken was delicious, and soaking the naan in the butter chicken sauce was a great taste combination. I highly recommend this restaurant and the butter chicken with garlic naan. The mango pistachio ice cream is also a winner.
(4)Rossana Y.
Saffron Grill is one of my favorite Indian/Mediterranean restaurants! This is my go-to spot since it's conveniently located in Northgate and close to my apartment. I believe the owner has a connection with Taste of India because their menus are very similar. The restaurant itself is surprisingly romantic. There are many booths along the walls along with tables in the middle. The noise level is rather low so I can easily have a conversation with my dining partner. They serve their naan in large portions and you can always expect to have some left over. I've tried their butter chicken, palak masala with paneer (similar to saab paneer), tandoori chicken and royal biryani. Everything is fantastic. Their spicy levels have also been very consistent in my experience. I normally go for medium hot. I also enjoy their unlimited chai but I tend to find the flavor to be a little milker and less sweet than the chai at Taste of India. If that's what you prefer then you would like it, but I prefer mine more sweet. The service has always been excellent, and fortunately they don't refill your chai with every 2 sips like they do at Taste of India, which I find a little bothersome. I appreciate that they are not very intrusive while I'm trying to have a conversation with someone. Tip: You can usually find Valpak coupons for buy one entree and 2 drinks, and get $10 off on the 2nd entree for dinner. Not a bad deal!
(4)Julia P.
The BEST Indian happy hour in Seattle! *** updated *** nothing has changed!!
(5)Edsel M.
Great food and great service. Has the Kofta dumplings. I'm a vegetarian and they have a great vegetarian menu.
(5)Chris M.
Excellent experience. Our server was attentive and friendly as was all th staff we interacted with. The food was incredible. We will be back!
(5)Sal A.
I've been coming here since they first opened. It's been improving over time, little by little. They do have good customer service because the owner is constantly present. I like their chicken biryani and chicken tandoori. The butter chicken is tasty as well but has room for improvement. The chai is super good so is the naan. I usually order to go but I've noticed that if you eat in they don't give you very much rice. They've also increased the prices substantially. The salad isn't good, unfortunately. :/ in general, I just order one of my few favorite dishes and I'm happy with those. I try to minimize my visits because the waiters are always buzzing around like bees, they make you dizzy. Really, they're just overdoing it.
(3)Maddy O.
I visited here again and it was a lot tastier! Must have just had an off night
(4)Juliene W.
Absolutely THEE best Indian food we've had in twenty years. My mother and I have been searching for excellent East Indian food since our favorite restaurant shut down when I was 9, and today.... We finally found it! The tandoori chicken tikka was the juiciest and most flavorable I've ever had and both the Korma (chicken) and butter chicken were packed with mouthwatering taste and the perfect amount of spice. The service was absolutely impeccable, my water glass never reached half empty and there was always someone within eye contact to serve us. Every worker we saw or helped us was extremely pleasant and quick with a smile. Even offering recommendations on their personal favorites when our eyes enlarged to see the multitude of options on the menu! The very well priced food came out quickly and in large portions. The Gulab Jaman came out perfectly warm and deliciously sweet. We could not have loved this restaurant more had it been owned and operated by our own family. The owner, who both greeted and thanked us before we left, very clearly takes extreme pride in his restaurant; it shows in every possible aspect.
(5)Jason T.
Excellent atmosphere, service, and the naan was amazing! Maybe I'm just not a fan of Indian food. The chicken was cooked perfectly but the flavors seemed bland.
(3)Ted M.
Great food, and great service. Large selection of vegetarian dishes, and a really nice atmosphere.
(4)Angie H.
My first time visiting this establishment. Prepare to indulge! This place is pretty clean with friendly service. My wife and I went and we didn't feel out of place. So, I guess you could say it's LGBT friendly. Started off the meal with some sort of cream based tea with unlimited refills (super caffeinated and fattening, I'm sure of it) and paneer naan that was so yummy that we almost filled up on it before my meal arrived! My wife and I split the mango curry with cod and it was pretty delicious. Topped off the meal with a slice of cheesecake. Sad thing was, they use some not-so good strawberry sauce with NO strawberries. What gives? The cost was average and the parking lot is shared with a hotel, right off a busy street.
(4)Jessica H.
The best garlic naan I've ever had. Pakoras were excellent. Tandoori surprise was just amazing. As was the chicken tikka masala. My mom had a tea that was hot I forget the name but it smelled and tasted amazing. Will be back! Mmmmm leftovers still in my fridge ....mmmmmn not for long.
(5)Jacob T.
Shish tawook best thing I've ever eaten. I want some right meow! Nice comfortable place. They prices are decent, but it's worth it.
(5)Alrick F.
The absolute BEST Indian food. What makes me happier is that my Indian friends (who came to the US for college) LOVE this place and will drive from Issaquah/Sammamish to eat here. The manager is a very sweet man, who takes great care of his customers' happiness. Our first time here, I was ordering take out and he gave me a cup of warm chai to apologize for the wait. it wasn't even a long or irregular wait time! So sweet. And this is the BEST chai I've ever tasted. not too sweet, homemade, not powder mix. This is the one restaurant that we go to together and find excuses to drive up to Northgate just for the food. We've only had dinner here and we have quite the feast. For 2 people, we always order: - Garlic naan - HUGE piece, very fluffy, perfectly seasoned and not burnt - Butter chicken - does not taste like other butter chicken where all you can taste is butter; more like tikka masala to me but scrumptious. Our favorite sauce to soak up the rice and bread with - Tandoori Tikka Masala chicken - delicious and perfectly cooked; always juicy! Comes with a green and pink sauce (cilantro and cranberry?) that is very good to dip the chicken in - Chai - PERFECT! - Mango Lassi - very mango flavored Then we rotate another curry dish around - lamb vindaloo, keema, aloo gab, etc. We always have enough leftovers for 2 people to bring for lunch. I tell everyone to go here when they crave Indian food. And having just returned from London (Veeraswarmy and Meli) this is STILL our favorite Indian spot!
(5)Adam B.
Had the chicken tikka masala and it was good. Been to lots of indian restaurants so have had some that were better and many that were worse. Enjoyable.
(4)B H.
I don't claim to know how authentic Indian food tastes, but I know what I crave when I hear or think of Indian food! Saffron Grill is where I just had my birthday dinner. It's also where my colleagues and I meet after work for happy hour. This is where I would take my dates to a nice dinner... Must order the garlic naan- trust me when I say don't order 2 until you see the generous size of each order. I always alternate between the butter chicken and the chicken tikka masala. Both always taste as expected (delicious) and are amazing for dipping the [2nd order of] garlic naan into. I have seen a review somewhere calling the owner a thief- this disgusts me. Although not the most personable gentleman, the owner has always treated me in a genuinely kind manner and although I am a picky (somewhat needy) customer I have never left feeling cheated or neglected. If you want a bargain price, check their website for a coupon. Don't try to use a gift card you bought on Craigslist and pretend to be the victim. Final thought- be careful with the hot chai tea. Hear my warning: you won't be able to stop after the first cup! It's addicting! Luckily refills are free so no need to panic. Eat and be merry. (I apologize for any typos; review posted from a cell phone.)
(5)Preeti K.
We have been wanting to go to this restaurant from quiet sometime and we finally went last weekend. The food and the service both were awesome!! We being vegetarians had few options in most of the restaurants, but found quiet a lot of options here! We are happy to have found a great Indian restaurant and will be visiting more often!
(4)Rob C.
This place is awesome. We had the Mazza plate appetizer which had the best hummus ever. Everything on the plate was good. For dinner I had a sweet curry dish (don't remember the name). This was good but the rice was especially good. My girlfriend had the butter specialty which was also tasty. The food here is high quality, I don't think it matters which dish is picked. I am excited to come back.
(5)Lisa D.
I have one word for you: NAAN. It is palindromically amazing. Delicious any way you eat it. Hot and fluffy with a light brush of butter, it's hard to resist filling up on the naan alone before your entrees arrive. I tried the regular and the spinach paneer and I'll just say that for those who like stuffed naan, the spinach paneer is some of the best I've ever had. It is perfectly spiced and more spinach than paneer so it isn't too heavy. In terms of entrees, the chicken tikka masala is a classic. Nothing that makes it stand out from other restaurants though. I'd say it was a very good on a scale of good to amazing. The lamb boti kabab was much better. Tender lamb seasoned to perfection served with chutneys and some vegetables. The portions aren't huge, but definitely filling, especially if you ordered an appetizer or naan as well. Finally, for dessert we tried the Gulab Jamun. I was expecting more out of it after the recommendation from my waiter but they are basically two hot doughnut holes soaked in sugary syrup. Not worth it. I think I'll try the mango ice cream next time around. All in all a great place for nicer Indian food. On the pricier side but the quality and the ambiance is good so it's worth it in my opinion. TLDR; slightly pricier but good indian food. Get the NaaN.
(4)Heba A.
We've been friends with the owner and his family for as long as I can remember. Their food is absolutely amazing and so filling. I've never had Indian food anywhere else, and probably never will. This is the place to go if you want to enjoy your meal with great taste and fair pricing. I recommend it to all!!
(5)Margareth R.
This place is awesome for happy hour. Small portion but filling. Came here with 3 other friend of mine and it was awesome. We stayed for three hours chatting up and drinking unlimited chai. Haha. Well one friend probably had 12 cups. We got the garlic naan, shrimp, garlic fries with blue cheese, rendition chicken, and a lot more from the happy hour menu.
(4)Maureen E.
A gem in northgate. Coconut chicken curry and garlic naan was delicious. Great service.
(4)Pani F.
Wonderful, loved the decoration and handmade artworks on the walls, the food was great too, highly recommended!
(5)Michelle S.
We had our first and last experience at Saffron Grill last night. Here's what was wrong with our order: -They were 17 minutes late preparing our pick-up order, which would not have been a big deal except for the fact that we were on a tight schedule and had to wait around in a busy restaurant while our Car2Go was racking up minutes. -The Chicken Tikka Masala (which was FIFTEEN dollars for a pint-sized amount with pathetic bits of chicken) was flavorless and had way too much cream in it. You are better off ordering from one of the great half-dozen other Indian food places near Northgate. -The $11 falafel plate was soggy with tahini dressing and did not include the cucumber and tomato salad - only soggy lettuce and shaved carrots. The falafel was good but you only get four small falafel balls. -The Mediterranean soggy salad was DRENCHED in dressing that was supposed to come on the side. AGAIN, WHO PUTS DRESSING ON A TAKE-OUT ORDER OF SALAD? You too can order all of this for $45 and wish you had spared the hour wait and cooked at home.
(2)Melissa W.
Wow, I didn't realize how weird my last review for this place was. I've been back multiple times and It's definitely one of my favorite Indian places in the area. Tandoori is good, so is the Biryani. I love the mulligatawny soup and naan. Highly recommend!! :)
(5)Rob S.
Yummy! I'm a fan!
(4)Chris A.
I absolutely love this place. I love their butter chicken SO much that it's the only thing I've ever ordered, and I've ordered from there at least 10 times in the past 2 years. I have, however, tried other items from their menu when family members or friends have ordered them. The meals include so much flavor its unbelievable. I would eat my entire plate of food if they didn't give me enough for 2 meals. I've never experienced poor service in this restaurant when eating in. I've eaten there with large groups and small groups and always get good service. When picking up a to-go order, they offer me free chai while I wait. And that chai is amazing, never had anything like it. The atmosphere is nice, very clean and modern with nice decor, halogen lights, fancy bar, and more.
(4)Mike L.
My wife and I ate here with 2 of our good friends and the food and service were both incredible. Although they serve Medi food on the menu, something I want to eventually try at Saffron, all four of us ate Indian food. I admit that I was not a big fan of Indian food before going here but after this experience I look at Indian food in a whole new light. I am already looking forward to my next visit!
(5)Pma e.
decided to try this place out for lunch one day w/a girlfriend b/c we didn't want to eat at the food court in northgate. the butter chicken is very tasty and the garlic naan is awesome. we were pretty impressed w/the place and the customer service. they even gave us free desert! we'll definitely return!
(4)Whitney C.
I kept driving by this place on my way to Target, the mall, and the freeway, and I brushed it off as a "mall restaurant." But then someone told me it was good and reasonably priced, so we thought we'd try it out. Glad we did--wow. Great Indian food, and they also have Greek/Mediterranean on the menu as well, and burgers and fish and chips for people who are boring. Good specialty cocktails and lovely atomsphere. We will be back for sure. The decor inside makes up for the crappy next-to-the-freeway-onramp location. Great service. Love the booths and the hot pink curtains. I was going to give them four stars but then the waitress brought us a complimentary homemade bakalava that was still warm with our check and that bumped it right up to five stars. Lots of things on the menu--looking forward to trying them out.
(5)Tina M.
tasty food, wide selections, nice ambiance, friendly waiters, lot of parking available... all in all , a great place to dine out.
(5)Maelani Q.
So I've tried this place when they had their Grand Re-opening thing, yeah food was okay so was the bottomless chai, but I'm more disappointed now because its like restrurants are only good when they just changed management or owners or menus...Man its only good to keep going to a place that has just been open for less than three months because the establishment is looking for people to be regulars but afterwards things start slacking off, like how they trick you for their happy hour, drinks are not include only the food and its the food they leave out waiting because when we got it it was dry, services was okay, my bullshit cocktail was more like rubbing alcohol with pink lemonade, heavy hand bartender, but what can you expect....so ehhhhh its okay, its just what you pay for thirty dollars or less...Like a hooker, don't expect such a great job or outstanding results when you pay so cheaply...
(3)Haven S.
I met my sister at Northgate, and we were trying to figure out somewhere to go for dinner. It was 7pm, and my food for the day had consisted of popcorn and a banana. She had a bagel at 6:30. In the morning. So we were both pretty hungry and wanted to go someplace really good. She mentioned Saffron. I thought I remembered reading bad reviews, but wasn't sure. Yelp mobile to the rescue. Why don't I have an iphone yet? I saw a few good reviews, so I agreed Saffron was the way to go. Appetizer: pakoras with tamarind/cilantro chutneys. Deeelicious. Hot, fresh, and very tasty. Best pakoras I've had. Entrees: Her - lamb shahi korma. I'm not a fan of lamb, but I tried a bite and it was tender and flavorful. Me - butter chicken. My favorite, and this was one of the best if not the best I've had. It was piping hot and perfectly spiced. Plenty of rice for the sauce, also. We shared an order of garlic naan, which was served in one large, bubbly, crispy, garlicky piece. The check took a while to arrive (which I later realized was probably because my sister was nursing her wine) and while we waited, we discussed the meal and agreed that it ranked among the top Indian places we had been - equating it with Cedars, but in a nicer setting. I didn't realize until I went back to Yelp that it had the same owner. A lot closer to home, too. We had already decided we would be back when three of my favorite words arrived at the table: free... warm... baklava! This is also something we enjoyed at Cedars. I'm very happy to have found an ideal butter chicken in a relatively convenient location. My own review is making me hungry now. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Vivienne L.
i love this place, and the only reason i rate it at four stars is because it isn't fancy food. however, the food here is excellent. i prefer it to any other indian restaurant that i have tried in the seattle area. the meats are succulent, unlike some of the other dry and overly salty meats that i've had at other places. my favorite dish is the slightly sweet and tangy mango curry with chicken. my next favorite is the lamb rogan josh. i also like the butter chicken, tikka masala (creamy tomato based sauce), and coconut curry. for dishes that aren't as fattening, i usually get the aloo gobi (cauliflower and peas), the shimla paneer (yogurt cheese), or the dal marharani (lentil soup). all are good. if you have room in your stomach, i highly recommend their bottomless chai, their nan or flat bread (my fav is the spinach, but most people prefer garlic nan), and their house salad. and if you like appetizers, i have tried them all on the sampler plate, and you can't go wrong. for desserts, their kheer (rice pudding) and pistachio mango ice cream are great. i haven't tried all the others. as mentioned, their decorations are fairly nice. nice enough to go on a date. prices are also reasonable. i like that you can quickly get a table.
(4)T E.
There arent that many nice restaurants in North Seattle - this one definitely fits the bill. Full bar, great beer and wine selection, nice atmosphere, great service, great Indian food - better than Cedars.
(4)Heather S.
Owner of Taste of India and former owner of Cedars owns and runs Saffron Grill. It's more upscale and a nicer atmosphere than Cedars, with most of the favorite menu items, plus some odd additions. I had what I always have: extra spicy fish tikka masala. It was delicious, but different than the Cedars version, with a notable amount of clove and a creamier texture. The pander naan was the same as always, as was the chutnies and excellent hospitality. I'll be coming back!
(5)Heidi A.
Never-ending chai's - that's all I need! Don't come if u r in a hurry, though. It took maybe 30 min for my food to arrive.
(4)Minna U.
I read that restaurnt, Saffron Bar and Grill are associated in friends/family of the restaurant Taste of India in Seattle. Taste of India is much better in my opinion (located 5517 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 98105). I believe this mainly because of the service I received yesterday at Saffron. I have worked at Northwest Hospital for 10 years and when I was told last month that we will be having a "Perks Card" I was quite excited. One of the "perks" was discounts to restaurants. In my e-mail from the perks card they listed certain restaurants and the one restaurant which is very close to the hospital was Saffron Grill. I checked the address on the e-mail and decided to go. After having dinner on Jan. 15. 2009 I gave the perks card to my server whose name was "Pasang." He told me they do not accept it, I asked him to please check because I went there with impression that I would have a discount on my meal from the perks card and it was stated on the website of the Perks card. In reply, he said that there was other discounts available that I could use. He told me to get it from the newspaper or other methods. I said I do not have anything else with a discount just the perks card that I was given. He said no so I said thank you, paid, and went on home. I called today and spoke to the same person, Pasang, and asked to speak to the manager. He inquired why and I told him it was in regards to the perks card that I was not able to use. His tone changed on the phone and he said I can not speak to him. I asked why and he said call another time and I could sense he was irritated. I asked him when would a good time be to call and rather than reply he hung up on me. There was no effort made and he was quite rude, rather than getting information on my card that Saffron gives discounts to he chose to ignore and not acknowledge me. All the other Indian restaurants I've been to are respectful and friendly, I wish I could say the same for this place.
(1)M S.
We just had a great dinner experience at this place. My husband lived in England for 9 years and knows a good curry. He had the Chicken Rogan Josh and I had the Butter Chicken. Both were YUM. And the Naan was awesome and the Samosas were awesome. I had a Mango Martini and he had a Pear Martini and both were very tasty. The staff was extremely friendly, our waitress could not have been nicer. And they brought us a free dessert. Good ambiance. NO complaints and as this is very close to my house we'll be going back!
(5)K. K.
this is a great all around restaurant. great service + great food = great time. watch out for overeating, that was my only problem.
(5)Angel I.
Saffron Grill is owned by the same family as Taste of India, the father runs this location while the son runs Taste of India. You won't get the freebies or the constant chai refills like Taste of India, but Saffron Grill is just as good. I like coming to Saffron Grill because of the ambiance. This location gets busy and there is often a wait, but they do somewhat take reservations. If you have a Passport or Microsoft Prime card, you can get buy one, get one on your entrees for lunch and dinner. It's either Saffron Grill or Taste of India when I'm going out for Indian food in Seattle!
(5)Katherine O.
I came here because it was located in the same plaza as the hotel I was staying at. As my friend and I walked in, I thought to myself, "this place is fancy shmancy!" The decor makes it look very upscale and I was a little scared for how much dinner was going to cost. To my surprise, everything was decently priced. We both ordered the Butter Chicken ($15) and a side of garlic naan ($3). Their spicy level is from 1-5, I got a 3 to be on the safe side. The garlic naan came out first and it was a lot bigger than I had imagined it would be. It was fresh from the oven and had a nice hint of garlic. The butter chicken came out shortly after and I was surprised with the sizing. For the price we paid, it was more than enough food. The butter chicken was the most amazing thing I have ever eaten. It was buttery, creamy, tomatoe-y and had just enough spice to kick it up a notch. It also came with a mound of basmati rice, but I prefer to eat with naan. They also did not skimp on the chicken, there was about 12 medium sized pieces in my dish and they were all very tender and juicy. I thought I would take about half of it home, but it was soo good that I devoured the whole thing. If I ever come back to Seattle, I will find myself coming back for the amazing food.
(5)Sandie L.
Who doesn't like a restaurant that serves up great food and customer service?! Definitely, other people feel the same way because this restaurant gets PACKED! Expect a wait, but it seems like the wait time goes quickly. Plenty of menu items to choose from, and if you are like me and have a difficult time choosing, I find the service staff are very helpful and accomodating to help you choose your dish. On a recent visit, I was pleasantly surprised a service staff offered to take back a dish with no cost that wasn't what I anticipated. I really appreciate the offer and the suggestions. Great options for intimate dining or for a group. Lots of space and staff to accomodate your needs. Great seasoning, average prices, prompt service with a smile and suggestions if you like.
(4)Ale R.
Best Indian food in town. The service and food as always top level. I have been eating here for a year and it's the only place I go to for Indian food. My favorite dish is the butter chicken!!
(5)Aurora P.
This place is wonderful! I have been coming here for about 3 years now and the service and food are always exemplary. I just hosted my birthday party there last night and they went above and beyond to make it extra special. They had our table waiting for us when we arrived, service was excellent (thank you Vincent!) food was even better. The owner Mohamed even took us back into the kitchens and showed us how the tandori ovens worked! Then they arrived with Baklava, not only for me but for my guests and they sang me happy birthday. The whole experience (and all of my previous ones) have been wonderful. I will continue to come here as often as possible!
(5)Sandy S.
Definitely the best Indian/Mediterranean food we have had in the Seattle Area! We tried another similar style restaurant and the food could not compare. The atmosphere is lovely, and the staff are always to welcoming, and friendly. If you have to wait for a to go order they bring your complimentary chai tea!
(5)Lucy L.
This place has one of my favorite happy hours in North Seattle. The HH hours are convenient for working professionals, the food is delicious and varied, prices are reasonable, they can accommodate large groups of people,and lay but not least, MEAT-STUFFED NAAN is a revelation. You simply must try it.
(5)Victoria S.
There was a strong, perfume smell all through-out the restaurant that triggered my allergies and clashed with the food. Our drinks were poured so heavy, we might as well have ordered straight up shots - but I can see how this might be considered a good thing for others.
(3)Rohan K.
Meehhh... The place has a nice decor and awesome music, the service it pretty good too. It's the food that bugs me. We went here as a group of 6 and ordered many different items on the menu. They were all just about average. The veg cutlets were kind of bland. The tandoori delight had really nice lamb seekh kebabs but the other things on the plate were again, bland and overcooked. On to entrées, one again, you guessed it, BLAND. The chicken coconut curry was okish and the butter chicken was just like their other restaurants, overly creamy with so much food coloring that it makes your throat hurt. This is NOT what butter chicken is like back in India. Also, they ask you how spicy but I don't think it matters because even the dishes we specified as spicy were literally sweet. The vegetable vindaloo is a mix veg dish but is definitely not vindaloo which is a dish I grew up eating. It tastes nothing like the real thing. Also, the navratan korma is a weird interpretation of the original dish which is supposed to be rich, white and fruity. This was brown, had mushrooms and tasted like some random curry. The chili naan was really good but the garlic naan, the onion kulcha and the pesto naan were all below average. The only high points of the entire meal were the drinks and desserts. The chai, gingerale, rasmalai, gulab jamun and kheer were all really good. The mango lassi was not bad. Overall, this place has a nice ambiance and service, very average food and ridiculously small portions for horrendously high prices. If you like the american version of Indian food, then you might find this worth going to but if you are looking for real Indian food, this really disappoints just like their other restaurant "Taste of India". I probably won't go back here anytime soon.
(3)Jen W.
Haven't had a bad experience yet. And they do well with my toddler--such great service. Nice, clean and yummy.
(5)Ravi S.
In spite of all of the high reviews for the Saffron Grill, I was a bit skeptical about trying it when I saw that they served Indian AND Mediterranean food. Generally, when places try to cook several types of cuisine, it is because they cannot cook a single one well. This is not the case with the Saffron Grill though. Every part of our meal was excellent. To start with, they have a very large selection of wine, beer, and cocktails. They even have 12 beers on tap. Even more impressive is that it is a rotating selection, and that all of the servers can recite the 12 beers from memory. I ordered a glass of Kingfisher, and my girlfriend ordered a Mac & Jack's. For an appetizer, we shared the Bombay tandoori chicken wings. The wings were cooked perfectly and we really enjoyed the spicy seasoning on them. For dinner, we shared the chicken tikka masala (spice level 4 out of 5). The seasoning in the tikka masala sauce was incredible. It was very earthy and had just the right amount of spice to it. Also, I liked that the sauce wasn't overly creamy. The dish came with basmati rice, and we also had some naan with it. We were enjoying our food so much that we decided to order dessert. We got the chocolate lava cake, which I don't really need to describe. It was a chocolate lava cake. Of course it was amazing. And as if that wasn't enough, our server brought out a complimentary piece of baklava for us. We were pretty full by then, so they just boxed it up for us. During my trips up to Seattle I've had some really wonderful Indian food, but I think this place might be my new favorite.
(5)Chanele B.
I was really excited to try this restaurant after the reviews, but with two experiences, it has left me terribly underwhelmed. In short: Do not order take out. The first experience was during happy hour, and the service was unbearably slow. I gave them a pass on that because of the volume of people. The second experience was take out, which seems difficult to screw up, but not the case. We ordered two meals and one order of naan, and we were told it would be "15-20 minutes." We showed up after 20, and when we walked in, the guy we spoke with clearly had no record at all of our take out order. Rather than admitting the mistake (it happen, but his response to it all is what rubs me the wrong way), he eventually started to pretend that he remembered. We were forced to wait another 10-15 minutes while they "packaged it up" in the backroom. We both ordered medium spice, but the food was entirely bland. On a scale of 1-5, it was perhaps a .5. I assume that rather than admitting his mistake and asking for clarification of the order, he simply just erred on the side of caution and gave us mild food since he had no clue what we had originally ordered. So, we lost an extra 30 minutes of our day and had incredibly bland food. My co-worker liked her coconut curry, but my tikka masala was entirely forgettable. And to add insult to injury? It was horribly overpriced. Perhaps they are wonderful for regular sit-down meals not at happy hour. But don't bother with take out.
(2)Ashley F.
Beyond thrilled. My husband and I just celebrated our 7 year anniversary, and several friends recommended Saffron Grill. We were greeted by the owner when we walked in the door, and we were quite taken with the warm, classy ambience of the restaurant. We are vegetarians, and sometimes it can be difficult to justify going out to dinner when there are one or two vegetarian options on a menu. Not the case at Saffron Grill. We were overwhelmed with choices. Our incredibly sweet, attentive and absolutely charming waiter Min helped us narrow down our choices, and we ended up with a Vegetable Korma to which we also added tofu as well as a vegetable Rogan Josh. In addition to the main dishes, we also ordered garlic naan and cocktails at happy hour prices. The cilantro chutney with the naan was made in house and was out of this world, and the naan was huge. When our main dishes arrived, we were so excited to have two incredibly flavorful dishes full of spice. We ordered our food "hot", the second highest rating. The food was hot enough to just get the sinuses working, but not so hot that we couldn't enjoy it. It was the perfect amount of spice for two people who love heat and flavor but also appreciate their taste buds. The basmati rice on its own was divine, but combined with our two dishes it was to die for. Our cocktails were the only things that weren't incredible, and at happy hour prices, we weren't about to complain. That being said, my husband's non-happy hour mojito was fantastic, and it more than made up for the so-so manhattans and lemon drop from earlier in the evening. Min discovered that it was our anniversary and treated us with complimentary baklava, and we were just blown away by our evening in general. Overall: Delicious food, outstanding service, great ambience and reasonable prices for a classy dinner. We will absolutely be coming back to this restaurant. They made an already special night even more wonderful. My tummy and my heart are both full, and we are so grateful to Min and the rest of the Saffron Grill crew for making tonight so wonderful. Bravo.
(5)Mo A.
This place seems very busy most of the time. The first impression is that we came in and waited for 10mins without been acknowledged by anyone. We finally got the chance to get the hostess attention. We told her that we are ok with sitting at the bar. She found a place for us there and had us seated. We sat for a while and the bar tender asked us if we wanted anything to drink. We got Chai, which was very good, I had about 4 cups of it (it is free refills). For food, we got Chicken Shahi Korma. Generally i order Tikka Masala, but this time i wanted to try something new. For me Chicken Shahi Korma has a better taste and more flavor to it. I would give this place three stars for service and four for food.
(4)Ziad H.
This place is overrated. The Mediterranean Menu is tasteless and unrelated to real Mediterranean or Middle-Eastern food. We had my daughter's birthday. We ordered some hummus, baba ghanouj, falafel, tabbouli and dolmas. All tasted like coming from a can and not even close to the original taste. Pretty much they are tricking people in when saying they serve real Mediterranean food. We also had some Meat Kabob plate which was okay but was not related to Mediterranean meat kabob spices. We had also some indian tikka masala which wasn't so special, especially that there weren't enough chicken. We had also Lamb Biryani also was nothing special. I just don't feel like this is a special place; there are much better places in Seattle. Update: My wife suggested 1 star instead.
(1)Jesse J.
Great Indian food! I miss the old Cedars restaurant where they started, but this place is still delicious. Great atmosphere for kids or a romantic dinner for two. My favorite things on the menu are the buttered chicken, butter masala with paneer, vegetable pakora's, any naan, tandoori chicken, and chai tea. Yum!
(5)Angie H.
Um...Oh yeah...YUM!!! Do you like HOT? 4 stars is exactly what you want to order. Serious. We ordered the Tikka Masala, and the Coconut Curry...with Onion Kulcha - and HELLO...it's the best! This place is CLEAN, and I mean CLEAN...they take pride in their restaurant, and their wait staff is not only friendly, but also VERY knowledgeable, and helpful!! Why are you looking at this review, and not buckling your seat belt? You gotta come here!! Promise.
(5)Anna Z.
Great setting, it's very warm and vibrant! Service is awesome, the chai hot tea is amazing delicious and they constantly come and refill it, mango lassi was yummy! My husband ordered the lamb tandoori which was super tender and juicy! I ordered the buttered chicken! The rice was moist and soft, the garlic nann was tasty and fluffy! Everything was fresh, also at the end we got a complimentary baklava! Yummmmmmmmm! Glad we came here randomly, we were headed to blue fin, but we passed the light to make the turn, and then we saw this place, the lighting is what caught our attention! Ready for some photos :)??? I'll be posting now!
(5)Lauren F.
I adore this restaurant. The staff is amazing. The food is very tasty. The best Indian in Seattle. I have never been disappointed with any of the dishes. I've never had to wait for long even if I didn't have a reservation. This place is clean and classy. The bar is nice too. I would recommend this to anyone. I have been to many Indian restaurants in Seattle and this is the best, hands down!
(5)Marcus W.
For me, this is the BEST Indian food in the area. I have tried many others, but this is the only one where I would happily wait for a table. Owner Mohammed Bhatti used to own Cedars at 50th & Brooklyn in the U-District, but sold it sometime in 2007, I think. To that point, Cedars had been my go-to restaurant for all things Indian, so I was quite distressed when it changed ownership. Luckily, I was aware of its sister establishment, Taste of India, which is run by Mohammed's son. I learned of it one evening at Cedars...the line of people waiting to dine was rather intimidating (a testament to the quality of the food!), but Mohammed (who always recognizes his regular patrons and takes great care of them) handed me a business card and said "You go here...it's a few blocks away. My other restaurant. They have available seating." I went and have continued to frequent it to this day, depending on whether I want to stay close to home or if I don't mind driving over to Northgate. The décor at Saffron is spacious, warm and inviting. The beautiful bar area is comfortable, appealing, and an improvement over Cedars, which did not offer a full-scale bar. It was a converted home after all, so it tended to feel a bit cramped, not that anyone really cared...they were there for the food. Saffron Grill offers the best chai tea, period...it's also bottomless refills. Favorite dishes at this restaurant include: Appetizers - Paneer Pakoras, Samosas, Garlic or Spinach-Paneer Nan Main Entrée - Butter Chicken, Lamb Tikka Masala, Royal Biryani with Beef, Tandoori Chicken Tikka Drink - Peach-Raspberry Sangria, Iced Chakra Chai Dessert - Gulab Jamun, Kulfi, Cardamom, Chai or Coconut-Almond ice cream This is the restaurant I bring all friends and out-of-town guests to, and it has never disappointed me.
(5)Corinne P.
Very good food! The location is easy to get to- but doesn't necessarily draw you in from the outside. The inside of the restaurant is quite nice. We had great customer service and the food was very tasty! I am so glad we gave this a try- I will definitely return!
(4)Thao N.
I lost my Indian food virginity here and I must say I wasn't disappointed at all. Great first Indian food experience, I walked in thinking this place was going to be super Americanize with overpriced food since it is nicely decored, but even my Indian friend was impressed with the food. The bill came out to be around 18 each person before tip & after tax, but we did had 3 entrees and an appetizer between 3 people so that's decently priced to me. I can't remember every single thing we ordered because I'm so new to Indian food and just had my Indian friends order for me assuming they know what's good to get. I do remember getting 2 order to the butter chicken and that was magically delicious! I do also remember getting the garlic nan which to me looked like an elephant ear, but with garlic flavor instead of sweet sugary flavor. Give this place a try if you're ever in the Northgate area, I'm so glad I got exposed to a whole new world of ethnic food because I've always though Indian food only consist of curry. Ahaha.
(4)Magdalena B.
Saffron is my favorite Indian restaurant. This is the place where I first tried Indian cuisine, and I never disappointed. I love all the food and service. THey served us chai tea for free! that day I order tikka masala, the indian bread, and tandori chicken. those food are super good!
(5)Pepper P.
I visited Saffron Grill this afternoon for hh. I was impressed with their tasty food and friendly staff. We sat in the little bar area, it was quiet at 3:30 pm. I asked the waitress what beers they had on tap and she rattled off all 12, impressive, but she had me at Mack and Jack's. My friend ordered a fru fru cocktail, which at $9 I thought was kinda pricey for hh. Especially since she had two. For food we ordered the tandoori chicken, vegetable samosas and the spinach naan. My surprise love was the spinach naan, it was SO GOOD! And everything was super filling. We asked the waiter if we could order food to go at hh prices and he said sure, then brought us complementary baklava! Can't beat that service, and five hours later, I'm still stuffed! I will definitely be back. Oh the owner was super nice, bonus!
(4)Serina M.
Awesome delicious curry and nann. I Always get the lamb butter curry :)) it comes with rice with spices and the nann is big enough to satisfy three people. And servers will keep your chai tea always filled :))
(5)Mrs. A.
This is a very good restaurant and is one of those "experience" restaurants. Waiters are always super friendly and I appreciate that. Quality of food is great, love the rice and the naan. Make sure you try the chai tea! You don't want to miss that. Always clean and organized, I am glad to have found this place. Friend of mine loves the spinach naan though I am not into it but thought I would put that out there, she gets it every time. Curries are great so I would go that route.
(5)Kylie S.
We did something crazy today, and cheated on Taste of India. Which was a mistake. The food was mediocre as was the service. We got Shahi Korma and Rogan Josh, the Shahi Korma seemed to be a little fishy which is odd because we got beef. The chai tea was not nearly as good, and they didn't do as good of a job at keeping our cups full. All in all, we didn't have that great of an experience and we won't be venturing away from our favorite Indian place again.
(2)Sylvie H.
ordered chili masala & madras masala, w/ two garlic nanns, everything is perfect! oh if you love spicy food rmd to ask for extra spicy which can goes up to 11, 5-6 is good for me. PS: mango Lassi is really nice to have, esp when the food is spicy.
(4)Samara S.
The decor is bright and colorful, elegant and fun! The service has been perfect each time I've been there (3 times for lunch, once for happy hour). The food is delicious and there is so much variety! Don't pass up the jarred relish on the table - salty and piquant! I thought the happy hour was a very good deal, as were the lunches - generous portions, skillfully prepared.
(4)Hillel E.
This place is always good. The chai is ridiculously good and they just keep refilling your cup :) I enjoy every time I go in.
(5)Meghann M.
The food here is tasty. My husband and I shared the Coconut Curry with Tofu, and we ordered a Butter Specialty with Chicken for the kids. We also ordered plain naan and the veggie pakoras for appetizers. The tofu in our coconut curry practically melted in my mouth. It was one of the highlights of our meal. For this dish, we ordered medium-hot spice level, and I found it to be extremely mild. Next time, I would order one or two spice levels above what I would typically choose in other Indian restaurants. We also found the veggie pakoras to be delicious; a nice curry flavor. The atmosphere of this restaurant is really warm. Nice decor, and everything is very clean. It is especially nice for the neighborhood, which is next to I-5 and within walking distance of Northgate mall. I think this restaurant is a little on the pricey side (per entree about $1 - $3 over what I would expect). It is easy to find other equally good Indian restaurants in Seattle, priced lower than this one. Overall we were very happy with our visit here, with one big exception. The dining room is overstaffed, and the wait staff checked on our table CONSTANTLY. We couldn't get more then four sips into our water without someone coming and topping off our glass. Our own waiter asked us a half a dozen times how everything was, and then we had several other members of the dining staff do the same. At one point my husband excused himself to use the restroom, and every single member of the waiting staff approached the table and asked if they should take his plate. I had to inform each of them that he wasn't done eating. When it was time to pay, my husband took my kids to the car, while I waited for our credit card transaction to complete. Although I was alone at the table, I was still seated signing my receipt, while a member of the staff came and started sponging the table around me. My parents ate at this restaurant on a separate occasion, and told me one of the wait staff started vacuuming around their table, immediately next to them while they were dining. Overall, everyone is very cordial. However, patrons may expected to have their meal frequently disrupted, and cleaning to occur before they have left their table.
(2)William L.
FULL RECOMMENDATION. Like its sister restaurants, Taste of India and Cedars, this restaurant has an excellent selection of Indian and Mediterranean dishes. My Biryani Fish and my wife's Paneer Coconut Curry & Kashmiri Nan were well cooked and, at 3 stars, not too hot. We were attended by our main waitperson, James, and 3 others who brought dishes, kept our water glasses & chai cups full and cleared quickly. We have never had better service and the lunch bill, under $30 w/coupon, was very reasonable. PLUSES. The owner, Mr. Bhatti, was conducting business at a table by the door. The carpets, even the one inside the entryway on a rainy day, were spotless. The menu was clean and new; the interior was very well appointed, quiet and well-lit. At one end of the full bar was a case containing an assortment of teas, imported chutneys and candies for purchase. Happy Hour begins at 2:00pm and the menu contains more than 30 items. The ADA compliant stall in the men's room, although chilly, had its own washstand and changing table. The parking lot is large and convenient to both I-5 and Northgate Way.
(4)Sarah G.
Food was amazing and full of flavor, prices were great and the servings were generous. I love coming to eat here.
(5)Komal R.
Encountered heavy traffic on our way to Canada so my mother and I decided to wait out the traffic at this critically acclaimed restaurant. It was quite pleasant to see the owner so engaged with his customers! He truly seems passionate about his restaurant. However, I was disappointed at the service. Starting off with off with our server, Natara. Upon seating us she did not introduce herself nor did she greet us even though the booths besides us were graced by that experience. (Overheard her name when we she was seating another party). This was not enough for me to write a review but I just had to come on here to share that the food took over 25 minutes and arrived with a lovely piece of hair in our chutney. During our meal we would constantly be interrupted with bus boys asking us if we were finished so the could take away plates. So annoying! To top it all off someone showed with a sponge and was wiping down the table while we were waiting for the check. Couldn't they have waited 2 minutes for us to leave before making us feel uncomfortable?! I mean if you want the tables to be cleared faster maybe you should focus on bringing the food faster. Oh and my favorite, seeing 2 adorable chubby rodents scurrying in the parking lot.
(1)Achal P.
It seems very popular and has a good ambience...but man that is not Indian good as I know it. Sub par and I'd go so far as calling it fake indian. Please get a handle on what food in India is before you call yourself an Indian food establishment. It's not that hard!!!
(1)Chris B.
Saffron Grill is a quality Indian restaurant in the Punjab style seemingly run and owned by the former (current?) owner of Cedars ( I recognized him). I wanted indian but also wanted a fancier restaurant it being my Birthday. Aesthetically inside it is light years ahead of any Indian restaurant in Seattle. A tastefully appointed bar is sectioned off by glass from the main dining area. The service I have to say, was possibly the best I've had ever. Anywhere. Cedars had a rep for servers not getting tips, and service was spotty. But no problems here! We were a little impatient that we were on time for an 8 o'clock reservation, yet waited for 15/20 minutes, but it was a Saturday night after all. We decided to sit at a bar table, which was totally fine. I cannot express how good our waiter and all of the staff were, refilling glasses at the moment they needed it, checking to make sure we weren't missing bread which we didn't order (on purpose). Dinosaurs were found in Wyoming by the way. But the fact that they were so on top of our every need was impressive. Any restaurant in Seattle could learn from this place. Food came fast, and it was definitely hot and good. Spice level was perfect. Best Paneer Masala I've had. The bad? A giant rat walked in front of us in the parking lot on our way to our car. But to fair this could happen anywhere. Sheesh, at least they have actual parking!
(4)Aarthi R.
Great location and excellent service. The quality of food is great and very close to authentic Indian food. Definitely one of the best Indian places around Seattle.
(4)Richard P.
I was over in north gate and i looked in the window at this place when it wasn't open and from the decor and also looking at pictures on yelp it looks really really good. please don't take my star rating seriously yelp makes you declare. I will re post a new updated review when i get a chance to try this place i am pretty psyched. if i had to guess/speculate i would say this looks like a borderline excellent place for this category of food/experience. PS. I always find that Indian/ Mediterranean restaurants have the best comfortable atmosphere and truly friendly calm staff. for me the up tightness/ waters/waitress not noticing when you flag them down for the 3time in a row is a huge deal breaker i don't like uptight places that pretend like it proves something by making a hoop-law over medeocker/service food and high customer expectation(Ie we expect you to spend alot on drinks and appetizers for an experience that isit that great just because you are sitting in a chair that isitn comfortable with a napkin on your lap). for me when i remember back to actually being relaxed at a restaurant's usually it is Mediterranean/Indian places thus I am pretty psyched to try this one.
(5)Nina H.
Yummy! I don't have to go down to the U-District for great Indian food anymore! Saffron also has excellent happy hour times which pretty much crossover into prime dinner time. The portions are a great size and very delicious. I would say that the prices are in line with typical Indian cuisine too. The butter chicken and tikka masala fish were my two favorites. The garlic naan was unexpectedly a little disappointing... but that's OK, the basmatic rice made up for those carbs anyway. Our server, Malia, was SUPER amazing. She was just so caring and very helpful. The restaurant itself was pretty too, I liked the decor and appreciated the design with all the colors as well. I will be back!!!
(4)Diana C.
Unlimited chai tea!!! Unlimited!!! This is the most authentic chai tea I've had aside from the one my Indian friend made me. They are really on top of refilling your tea and water, so A+ for service! I haven't tried that many Indian places, so the food doesn't taste much different to the other places I've been. Nevertheless, I thought the food was really good! I decided to be adventurous and try something new so I had the pesto naan and chicken kasimiri curry. I think I still enjoy garlic naan the best, but kashimiri curry is now added to my list! I even know how to pronounce it since the waiter made me pronounce it correctly before he would leave. It has a sweet taste to it. Make sure you use the 10% off coupon they have posted on their website when you go! And get the chai!!
(5)Rana M.
I love Saffron, I really do. Specially their tomato basil soup ... yummy (I never tasted a better one). Their main courses are amazing I usually order a mix of all (chicken , beef & shrimp), but can't remember the dish name. Anyway it's a nice restaurant to enjoy a delicious meal.
(5)Serina C.
Let me start off by saying this is my favorite Indian restaurant. I mean to be honest I've only tried like 3 Indian restaurants, but none of them came close to this. Our experience here was overall pretty great. When we entered, the owner was standing there happily greeting customers. We were directed to our table immediately which was great. Our server was very nice; he constantly checked up on us and told us not to rush. Our food came out pretty quickly despite it being pretty busy. I was kind of surprised though to find only 1 plate of rice given when we ordered 3 curries. I've been to Saffron Grill before and have received the same amount of rice when I ordered 2 curries. Anyways, our water was constantly refilled and that's definitely a plus. Their food here though is amazing. Our garlic naan was snatched up so quickly that we had to order another one. We ordered the coconut, butter, and shahi korma curries and they are soo yummy. This was our first time trying the shahi korma and we definitely weren't disappointed. Oh and their meats in the curry (we got chicken and fish) are so tender. The only reason i'm giving 4 stars is because we felt really rushed near the end. Our server wasn't the one rushing us. It was the person that kept coming around, trying to clean our plates. When it seemed like were we about finished, our server came up to us asking if we were done. We replied saying we were still finishing up and he said to take our time. About 1 minute later another person came up asking us the same thing. We replied the same, but he still decided to reach for my plate. I told him I was still eating and he just left. 1 minute later, the same person returns, and instead of asking, he just decides to start collecting our plates. At that point we were basically done, but I think he should've asked again before deciding to clean up. When he returned again, he brought some take out boxes with him. We were about to finish off the few bites of rice left on the plate, but he chose to just add that plate to his dirty dishes he was piling up before asking us. All in all this place is great. You won't be disappointed here. A little annoyed with the man cleaning up our plate, but that won't stop me from returning here.
(4)Duane H.
Even when the restaurant was packed, when we arrived at the reserved time a booth was waiting for us. Mohammed runs an excellent restaurant where attention to the guests, food and drink are elegantly supervised and prepared. My last visit I ordered one of my favorites, baingan bharta and it was the best I ever ate. All of the prepared dishes are equally great. I highly recommend Saffron Grill.
(5)ShmoHaw K.
Just ok. The pakoras were good but too greasy. The samosas were fine but ordinary (mostly potato and a few peas). The falafel wrap was too dry. Using thick naan-like bread for the wrap (instead of pita, lavash bread, or another thin flatbread) just doesn't work: too dry, too bready, too thick. The waitress was nice and attentive. The bus boys and water people were overbearing and over attentive, clearing plates when we were still eating, refilling water every time it was 3/4 full. I won't be returning. I'd rather go to Cedars or numerous other options.
(3)Nini G.
Very good service! Really nice ambiance for nice family or romantic dinner. They offer few Jain options so that's a plus.
(5)Carina M.
I come back for the BOTTOMLESS CHAI. I don't care that I am allergic to milk and that I break out in hives, I'll take some claritin and keep on chuggin the chai. I love their chai because it's authentic. How do I know? Because the taste has varied from time to time (I've been here 3 times) and each time has been wonderful. I love that I can taste the cardamom one day and then the star anise the next. This place is *pricey*. I'm not used to paying so much for Prawn Coconut curry, but the amount of prawns you get and the size they are make up for it -- I sometimes get 7 or 8 pieces, but it's never been less than that. You also get rice with your curry, it's inclusive so I fully appreciate that (unlike Naan n Curry out in Renton). The rice portion is also incredibly generous and if I'm super hungry, I finish it all. If not, then I take it home and make a fried rice out of it the next day. I've also tasted their tikka masala - it's really sweet. I don't like my tikka masala sweet. :( I have flashbacks to sugary Indian food when we lived in Sweden. I love the idea of huge naan and they excel in this. I haven't seen naan this huge since I lived in Scotland! This is like UFO HUUUUUUUGE. It's like 3 average sized naans were put together and tossed in the tandoori oven. While I love the idea and the presentation, they use highly bleached flour and I can taste it. Every bite of naan tastes like bleach -- so off putting, it throws off your entire dinner. I've also had their parathas. It's like 2 frisbees mated and had a super frisbee. It's also friggin huge like their naan. Best part about the parathas? They don't taste as bleach-y as the naan because it's a flat bread vs the fluffiness of the naan. Parking lot is shared with the hotel it's located next to (what is it with yummy indian restaurants that I like and their proximity to hotels?!), so it can either be easy to find parking or circling for a bit. When I want Indian food and I'm starving, this is the best bet because it's easy to get to and service has been A+ all the way each time we've been here.
(4)Erica Y.
Always great service when you come to Saffron Grill. You are first greeted by a really friendly hostess or even the manager/owner?. Throughout your time at the Saffron Grill, the service is complete, your glass is always full and waiters are walking around for questions. It is a great place to meet up with friends for lunch or even a group for a celebration. I really enjoy their chai tea (iced or hot) - depending on the Seattle weather :) My favorite is the chicken tikka masala and ordering the spinach garlic nan for an appetizer. The tikka masala is creamy and smooth, with just enough kick. I love the spinach nan because it gives some extra flavor and spice. It is really good with the plum sauce! *When I lived in the Northgate area this place was great for take out! *Check the Seattle Times for coupons! They often have a coupon :)
(5)Jess B.
Great spot to get a bite after some shopping or pedicures. If you go during the week, you can hit the lunch buffet. Service was prompt and the food was good! This was the perfect ending to a day of Christmas shopping!
(3)Alison G.
I wanted to try this restaurant for a date night with friends. We went around 5/5:30pm and were able to be seated and order before the 6pm rush hit! My boyfriend and I ordered the chai tea (hot), butter specialty $14.99, & jalfrazie with prawns $16.99. We also shared a couple orders of garlic naan & spinach naan (stuffed). You can choose how spicy you want your dish (1-5). Boy was everything good. Everything came out hot, decently portioned, & cooked to perfection. Both of the dishes we ordered had a lot of gravy/sauce/curry which is served separate from the rice. I also want to mention that prawns were decently sized (you get about 6?). The butter specialty wasn't neon red (which usually turns me off) and is one of their most popular dishes. My chai tea was even refilled more frequently than the water! The overall layout of the restaurant is cozy yet spacious. I didn't check out the bathroom but from what I was able to observe, they kept everything really clean. Service is great and the staff is really friendly. The dishes did take a while to come out but I think they wanted everyone's meal to come out all at once. The parking is okay. May want to arrive early if you're meeting a large group. Definitely going back soon.
(5)Megan R.
I have lived in the Northgate area for years now and have passed by Saffron Grill almost everyday since I moved here. Saffron Grill has always caught my eye, but because I have never really eaten Indian food before, I never had the guts to try it. Now that I have tried authentic Indian food (and love it!), my girlfriend and I decided to go for a supper date. The setting was beautiful with lovely Indian inspired art and the colors were warm and pleasing. I did not see the bathroom myself, but my girlfriend says that it was expertly decorated (a detail which I always appreciate). She was also fascinated with their napkin display. Upon entering we were quickly seated and waters were brought to us immediately. Our waitress was quiet, but also very nice, and was quick to bring us our beverages and take our order. I ordered the butter specialty with paneer and garlic naan, my girlfriend had the butter specialty with chicken and plain naan. The food was just fantastic! The next time we go here we'll put a little more kick in our food because (for fear of spice level) we ordered our food with no stars at all, which wasn't a mistake but I believe it would be good with some kick. The serving size was perfect for the price (we had to ask for to-go boxes). After we were done with our meal our waitress brought over a complimentary dessert, baklava, much to our delight! I have not had a lot of baklava in my life but the dish was great, not too sugary and sweet, just right. I would most definitely recommend this place to my friends (even my picky Indian ones). My girlfriend and I have already planned to go here again sometime in the near future.
(5)Natalie F.
I love this place! I guiltily come here almost once a week...and I always order the same thing! Butter chicken, chai, and garlic naan...soooo delicious! I have had the appetizers here as well, samosas, paneer tikka masala, and the service is wonderful! My favorite server is John...yes, I come here enough to know the servers name. :-) always delicious, fresh food, and friendly service, what more do you need?
(5)Carolyn C.
Lunchtime and our first visit: We shared a chicken korma and a shahi (lamb) masala, We ordered medium heat and both dishes were delicious, however, we both felt we would order hot the next time. The korma was well sauced with a generous amount of plump chicken pieces, and the lamb masala was a particularly pleasant surprise: the flavor was excellent and the meat was tender and plentiful. Our third dish , palek paneer, was very good with a fine balance of spinach and cheese,( and not too garlicky). Our waiter strongly suggested some naan, which we were not going to order, but were very glad we did. This is the best naan I've had since moving to Seattle. Freshly baked with a sightly resilient texture, finished with a glazing of butter. Our experience was enhanced by the excellent service from the moment we walked in the door. Can't wait to go back. By the way, if you are eating with people who would rather stick to American fare, the restaurant serves hamburgers, steaks, etc.
(5)Elise W.
I love this place!! Very tasty! If you want to try curry for the first time, or it's one of your favorite dishes this is the place to go. There is also a nice selection of other Mediterranean foods to choose from if your not a Indian food fan. The service is also quite nice here. If there was a Saffron Grill closer to where I lived I'd probably go once every weekend. It's definitely one of my favorite restaurants.
(5)Matthew B.
There used to be an unnamed Indian restaurant in the University district that had absolutely bomb Indian food. No one in town could hold a candle to their food and service. Sadly the owner sold the restaurant and the quality went way down hill. Now for the good news... the owner purchased Saffron Bar and Grill and turned it into a primarily Indian restaurant (with all the old dishes) and the occasional odd American dish. The Indian food is amazing... seriously it is. If you come here to get a burger I would question your sanity. Go somewhere famous for burgers and stick with Indian food here. Oh - do yourself a favor and order chai. It tastes amazing and you get unlimited refills.
(5)Allie S.
Cedar's was my first Indian restaurant... so when I think of Indian food, I think of Cedar's. Knowing that the family that originally owned Cedar's runs the Saffron Grill, I finally made it in to check them out. My lunch companion and I opted to split a portion of chicken tikka masala with a side half-order of vegetables and an order of garlic naan. My friend doesn't have the same spice tolerance I do, so I wasn't able to order my standard, "as hot as the kitchen will make it," coconut curry -- that's definitely what I'll be ordering on my next visit! Regardless, this was an awesome option because I got to keep our leftovers -- I went home with nearly half a serving of curry loaded with veggies and half an order of naan. The portions are really reasonable and the amount of food I left with kept me full for two additional meals. Crazy! The only downside was that the naan was very chewy compared to what I remember. The flavors were still spot on, though. The service was very nostalgic of old Cedar's -- from the instantaneous chai refills to the wiping off the table as you wait for your check. When I'm in Northgate, I generally opt for Masala, but when I need a kick of nostalgia, I'll be certain to hit up Saffron Grill.
(4)Marie L.
My friend and I came for happy hour, and service was slow, the gyro and falafel wrap were terrible, and they accidentally overcharged our happy hour well drinks (which he quickly fixed). However, we ordered the Vegetable Pakoras to share and they were delicious. Based on the reviews of others and our experience I recommend ordering exclusively from the Indian section of the menu and skip everything "Mediterranean."
(2)Sarah M.
I randomly drove down this place and bookmarked it as a place to try with one of my friends who lives nearby. While it looks like an Edmonds casino from the outside, inside it is surprisingly nice, open, with a great ambiance. Everyone here is super friendly and I must say that I have not seen such an attentive wait staff in quite some time. We were immediately greeted by a host, were brought water in less than a minute, and then our server came by quickly to take our order. Our water was refilled constantly but not to the point of annoyance. We were checked on when it was appropriate to be checked on. I was impressed. The food was really good! The portions were large and I definitely wasn't able to finish my entree. I had the butter chicken and shared garlic naan with my friend. The garlic naan was HUGE...I don't think we ate even a quarter of it and we picked at it for a while. I had the butter chicken which I really liked a lot! It came with a HUGE plate of rice and a decent portion of chicken with the creamy sauce. My friend had the tikki masala with lamb and seemed to really like it, too. It was about $15 without tip for just my entree which seems a little high for Indian food in my opinion but the quality was really good and worth it. The only thing that I can think worth mentioning is that parking looks like it can be challenging. We were lucky and found a spot but come early! Great little spot halfway between the North and Seattle. Definitely a must try!
(4)V V.
Probably the best Indian restaurant in Seattle area overall. food is pretty tasty and service is pretty good. Can't go wrong with this place!
(5)Yumiko K.
This restaurant was recommended by Indian friends/co-workers of my Indian friend, so we all had a high hope for our holiday dinner. Well, the service was efficient and courteous; however, the quality of food was not as good as our favourite restaurants on the eastside. We ordered a couple of appetizers (paneer tikka and fish tikka kabob), 3 curry dishes ( Baigan Bhartha, madras chili masala with prawns, and something else with lamb), tandoori roti, onion kulcha, and Ashmiri naan), and 5 types of dessert (kheer, kulfi, mango kulfi, rasmalai, and baklava on the house) along with ice tea, diet coke, and hot chai (all came with free refill!!). Paneer tikka marinated in spices had a nice texture and tasted pretty good with cilantro and tamarind chutneys. The fish tikka kabob was a bit bland, so it really needed the help of the chutneys. All 3 curries (accompanied with rice) we ordered turned out to be similar in flavour. Also, we did ask for spicy (4+ stars), but everything we got was mild at best. Knowing the roti was supposed to be "unleavening" according to the menu, I felt that it had the texture of over-kneaded dough. The naan and kulcha were chewy, hot, and delicious (even as leftover). As for the dessert, I ordered kheer (rice pudding) for myself, but I got to try everyone else's as well. The kheer tasted good, but it was way too soupy to my liking. I liked both mango and regular kulfis (Indian ice cream).The rasmalai (cheese patties in an almond sweetened milk and cardamom sauce) had a cottage cheese-like texture with chopped up nuts. Unfortunately, the baklava we got for free was sub-par. (We all did appreciate the gesture though.) Although we could have had better Indian food somewhere else, we did have a great time thanks to great and friendly waitstaff!
(3)MamaRed P.
Oops! They did it again, dinner tonight with the family was simply delicious. Foods made hot just the way we like it. The restaurant is clean and warm, very inviting and make it a great place to be for large party and special occasions. We top ourself off with coconut almond ice cream. It was one the best decision to do that night. Try it and you'll love it.
(5)Lisha T.
Twice in one week, YEP its that good. The paneer shahi so damn yummy. Also the garlic naan paired with the pickled mango sauce is just....I mean....its just, JUST go oder it ok. Clean restaurant, fast friendly service. I usually prefer an adult beverage ;), but I opted for the bottomless chai tea. It was authentic, and they definitely KEPT it coming. My friend and I actually had to decline after the 100th time they came by to refill lol. Overall this place is a solid 4, I'll be back for sure.
(4)Hingdi B.
Quickie review: The Indian equivalent of Olive Garden - in style and food . Butter chicken - good flavor - tender pieces of chicken - on the sweet side - very rich sauce Veggie pakora - average Coconut curry beef - pieces of beef pretty good - nothing special to the curry though - sauce not really rich. Not the best - but if you've guests who don't know anything about Indian food - this is a good introduction
(4)Ed H.
I am very excited for this review. That is because this is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. Saffron Grill is hands-down an amazing place to eat. The service staff are friendly, the ambiance is nice, and the food is great! I think Mel knows how much I like this place because she suggests it every time I am on the fence about eating out...then bam! I say yes! Saffron Grill is self labelled as an "Indian and Mediterranean Fusion Restaurant." Now I can not honestly testify about the Mediterranean aspect of the restaurant because I get the same thing every time I go there. And that same thing is Indian style dishes. I always start off with some Chai Tea. The best part is it is unlimited, so pace yourself! It is warm and delectable, with just enough spice to make you perk up when you take a sip. Then we ordered a couple servings of Naan. This is so good, some of the best I have had. Still warm when it comes to the table, it is hard not to eat it all before the main course arrives. It also comes with an excellent dipping sauce (which i forget what it is called, may update when I go back there soon). Mel ordered the "Shahi Korma" which is a cream based dish with paneer and almonds. I ordered my all-time favorite and the only dish I get (not out of the fear of trying new things but for the love of the it) "Palak Masala" with paneer. Palak masala is a creamy spinach dish that is very tasty on a bed of rice. Yet again during this visit Saffron Grill did not disappoint. We even got a complimentary piece of Baklava. I was so stuffed I had to take it home with my left overs to try later in the night. It was a sweet little dessert, that left me wanting more (at about 11). I would say if you have yet to try Indian, take your significant other out on a date night, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Della T.
This is officially my favorite Indian restaurant in the Seattle area. Delicious food, attentive service and very inviting, warm decor inside. Pros: -complimentary bottomless chai tea -Naan breads are all fresh and amazing -12+ different curries all with lamb, chicken, beef, veggie, tofu options -excellent service, polite and friendly -booth seating to left of restaurant is cozy and intimate Cons: -you will definitely eat too much, in a good way We will be back often.
(5)Philip S.
This place is INCREDIBLE! My girlfriend and I have been searching for Indian food of this caliber since moving to the area and the saffron grill never disappoints! Their coconut curry is great as well as the tikka masala, the decor is festive and the staff are always friendly.
(5)A R.
My boyfriend and I had never tried Indian food before so we bought the Groupon for Saffron Grill and headed out for a adventure! This food was absolutely DELICIOUS! I can honestly say that I was impressed with everything we ordered. The server Jeremy was one of the best servers we've had in ages and we fine dine often. He was attentive, friendly and refilled our diet cokes before they were even fully empty. Thanks Jeremy! One thing to note is that the plates are pretty small. We ordered the Curry Specialty, Chicken Tiki Masala, Tandoori Chicken and the garlic Naan and were able to finish most all of it between the two of us. The only thing I was disappointed in was that we didn't order enough food to cover the $50 Groupon bill so it was as if we didn't use a Groupon.. oh well!
(5)Michelle W.
I was staying nearby here when I was in Seattle for a few weeks for a class and had Saffron Grill twice. Once dine in and once carry out. I thought the food was really good & the portions are ginormous! You can get 2-3 meals from each, 3 if you partake in any appetizers & naan. The veggie samosas are really good & the channa masala was so good I got it both times (once plain and once with potato). So delicious, you should get that here... yum. The naan is also HUGE, one is enough to share. The time I got carryout it was pretty burned so I had to knock a star off... not a fan of blackened naan. Super good Indian if you're up in Northgate. Server were also very nice and attentive. You can order carryout online.
(4)R G.
Their veg biryani was decent but the quantity was too little . The search for authentic biryani continues .
(3)Oremo O.
Went to Saffron for dinner with a friend and we decide to share some different dishes to get a feel for the place. We split Hummus, the Mediterranean combo plate, and cherry and almond naan bread. The hummus was good but they sprinkle olive oil on it. The olive oil tasted really olivee. Im really don't like olives so wasn't a fan but if you were really into olives that then you will love this and add one star to this review. Mediterranean combo plate was great. Loved the rice, lamb, chicken shrimp and veggies. I give this dish an A. The Naan was OK but not great. I have certainly had better at some of the other Indian restaurants in Seattle. The service was great, everyone was attentive and our drinks were constantly being refilled. Overall I would say that Saffron is worth going to but not up to the level as say Cedars in the U district.
(3)Josh W.
This place is a great place to eat great food great service great atmosphere for the location I was very surprised on how nice it was 4 people ate for $50 and it was very filling by the time I set my glass down of water they were refilling it.
(5)Opal D.
Garlic Naan could use more flavour but my coconut curry was very tasty. The never ending Chai is dangerous! Overall I was happy with my meal and service - they even gave us a complementary dessert at the end of our meal!
(4)Chris F.
This place is excellent in every way! Outstanding food and lovely service. I can't wait to come back. Quite possibly the best hummus I have ever had in my life, period.
(5)Cami G.
Getting a little sick of Masala down the street, I opted to try something a little outside of my comfort zone. Indian AND Mediterranean food? Quite the juxtaposition of ethnic cuisine. Sure, why not. I was seated promptly, and my server was exceptionally helpful. I had a lot of questions - "where's the bathroom?" "what's your cheapest bottle of white wine?" "Indian or Mediterranean?" I ended up ordering the chicken coconut curry with a side of garlic naan. Yeah, a bottle of the house wine, too, I won't front. I was pleasantly surprised! The portions are large, the naan is some of the best I've ever had, and the curry was delicious. The prices seemed just right, but I hear they raise them every year. The menu may seem overwhelming but stick to their specialties and you'll be okay. I used my own bathroom, by the way.
(4)Andrijana J.
You can't go wrong here. Both the Indian and the Mediterranean food is amazing! My go to dish that I won't even dare not to order is the Mezza appetizer plate. Everything on it tastes delicious, even the baba ganoush, which has to be next to perfect for me to even try. My sister always gets the chicken tikka masala, and it has not failed us to date. Also, the garlic naan is very good, and it is HUGE! Just order one for your table of four to start. If you conquer it, then order the next one mid way through your meal. Lastly, the drink menu. I'm the type of person that usually sticks to the water that they serve, but a friend of mine ordered the hot chai tea, of which I took a sip....INCREDIBLE! Slightly on the addictive side because it is so good. And to add icing to the cake....there are endless refills on it. You don't even have to ask. Before you finish, there is someone already pouring you another cup. I have also had a few sips of my sister's mango lassi, also delicious.
(5)Andew H.
Food is good, but not 30 minutes into a 10 minute wait for a table. Not acceptable customer service.
(2)Colin D.
This is my favorite Indian restaurant in Seattle. The food is always amazing and the service is great. It just feels small and homey even though it's kind of upscale and a reasonably big restaurant. My wife *loves* the chicken tikka masala here, but they do everything well and I tend to prefer the more traditional dishes like korma and vindaloo. They also do an amazing job with both the samosas and pakora which are some of my absolute favorite Indian food. The only drawback is that it's not cheap and winds up being about $15-20 per person. Still, if you have a hankering for Indian, there's no better place.
(5)Tabitha L.
The staff provided excellent service, but I can't say the same for the food. I ordered a biriyani and it was quite bland. The beef vindaloo was not bad (juicy and tender), but also quite bland overall. I'm wondering if it would taste better if I had asked for "medium" instead of "mild". It was also very pricey, so I wouldn't come back again. It seems like a once in 6 months type of restaurant on my budget.
(3)Akshay S.
Good decor. Delicious tandoori chicken! The main course dish rogan josh was ok not so tasty. In all a nice place if you are in northgate area and want to have close to indian food, but nothing special to drive till there.
(3)Brian L.
Some of the absolute best Indian food I have ever had. This place will make you think twice about going to cheap Indian restaurants again (kind of like how a good burger place makes you think twice about McDonalds). My favorite main dish is the the tandoori chicken tikka and my favorite naan is the keema naan. I highly recommend trying out this place.
(5)Allison T.
One of my go to indian restraunts. I love the ambiance, service, and food. Best spinach naan ive ever had out. The curries are consistently delicious, the appetizers crispy and authentic. I'd try their chai. It tastes like that of what i've had at my aunty's over seas. Order anything with lamb, and you'll be in heaven.
(5)Emi S.
Had an overall nice experience here. The entire meal from sit down all the way to the free baklava took about an hour and 15 minutes, a little on the slow side but that is the only fault I could find with this place. Food was AMAZING. Chicken Cesar salad was fresh, crunchy, not too salty, and the chicken was obviously fresh out the oven. Naan was delicious and just the perfect amount of greasy. Boyfriend had the Gyro plate which he devoured most of after filling up on 3 Mediterranean margaritas. YES they are that good. I ordered the chicken tika appetizer which was perfect size for me and sooo tender and succulent and perfectly paired with the dipping sauce. Perfect pricing for a delicious meal. I should also mention that the staff is EXTREMELY attentive and will refill your drinks every 2 seconds. They also keep this place squeaky clean. Even the bathroom smells nice. Love this place! Would come every night if it wasn't so packed on weekends.
(4)Ruby P.
Horrible got sick fr 2 days after eating. All curries look like they are watered down No flavor really bland Closed up the kitchen with asking fr last call N literally pushed us out no tip
(1)Rosa O.
I came here with a group of 12 last week and was impressed with the ease that they have for large groups. All orders taken, nothing messed up/left out, and checks split wonderfully. The food is good but not great, but service makes up for it. With a menu that spans mediterranean and Indian, there's a little something for everyone. Portions are very large. I tried the shimla paneer (mild white cheese, sauteed peppers and onions, rice) and it was very tasty. A solid indian choice.
(3)Dan K.
Been to a lot of Indian restaurants on the Eastside. Tried Saffron while nearby in Seattle. Great service. Great food. Lamb biryani was the favorite. We'll be making the trip back; worth the drive.
(5)Melody P.
My friend and I went for Happy Hour. We had garlic and keema naan and calamari. Food was great! I saw Cosmo Lemon Drop on the cocktail menu. (I am not an expert when it comes with cocktail) I ordered it! But, it ended up they missed a coma when they printed the menu. I was a little embarrassed right there. They bartender did explain to me and told me he could make me one if I wanted :-) I got a lemon drop. Somehow, the sugar made the drinking glass really sticky. I really don't like it! My friend got a beer and I wanted one. And, the bartender recommended me a light beer. And, I actually liked it. It was a good recommendation. Unfortunately, I didn't remember the name of the beer. I only remember it was from Colorado. Here are the good things about Saffron: 1) they have their own parking and the location is right off I-5 2) happy hour is from 2-7PM I believe 3) staff is nice 4) good for groups and family - I had my sister's birthday party there in July. It was good for at least 10 people.
(3)Arahcni S.
This place is great for big groups especially . The naans are super huge (one naan would be equivalent to two normal naans in other places). The entrees are rather of a smaller quantity than you'd expect. Probably three entrees per table with four people would do if you're having it family style. We had the malai kofta and it's yummy!
(5)Marie B.
Convenient location right off of I-5 Northgate area - can't miss it, located by the Chevron and Nexus Hotel. First time to visit, however, I heard that the former owner from UDistrict restaurant Ceders runs this now. Visited on a Saturday evening around 8PM, no reservations but only had a 15-20 minute wait. The bar and restaurant was packed - couples, groups, families, folks celebrating birthdays. Saw at least three desserts with candles brought over with restaurant staff singing Happy Birthday. Menu is vast - Indian, Mediterranean, and American dishes are offered. I can see the attraction - location, ample parking, longer hours, full bar, large refrigerated case visibly full of beer and wine, plus so many dishes to choose from. Note: Saffron has well trained staff to keep you hydrated with the ice water and bottomless hot chai. Don't overdo it or you'll not have room to fully enjoy your entrée and maybe get to dessert. Actually, you'll get a complimentary dessert at the end which was a pleasant surprise. Mulligatawny soup was huge - very flavorful. Just wish there was a smaller portion, cup size would have been perfect. Hummus and pita - nice balanced flavor and smooth Garlic naan - gigantic and overall tasty, with accompanying chutneys Chicken Kasmiri - very tender chicken and an immense amount of basmati rice Lamb Curry - again very tender lamb and ditto regarding the basmati rice Lamb Roti from the tandoor - just okay, not as tender or flavorful as I've had at other establishments. However, I did appreciate the smaller portion of basmati rice and sautéed vegetables. Had I skipped the soup, most likely I would have made a better dent in my entrée. Just about everyone leaving, and including our table, leaves with a bag full of takeout boxes. Yes, you will leave with plenty of leftovers to take home to savor for another meal. Best idea is to split entrees and still leave satiated. Service and restaurant organization is down pat here. The only miscues were the eagerness to take your plates away when you're still eating, cleaning the table and bagging your takeout boxes again even before the original wait person asks you about dessert or your check, and then the long wait to even get the check. Clearly Saffron Grill is a very popular restaurant, but if I return I will make sure to be hungrier, don't overdo the ice water and chai, make room to try some apps and dessert offerings too. Raise the flavor profile more by asking for entrees higher on the hot scale and actually using the chutneys from the little dishes or the bottle of Patek placed at each table. It's a given you will be taking home portions of your entrée anyways. Ideal place if you want to have a drink and watch the game in the bar, celebrate a special occasion as a couple or large group, to just have a late night dessert and coffee, or dining with a mixed group due to the vast menu offerings. Guests who stay at the nearby Nexus Hotel are fortunate to have Saffron Grill next door, sure beats the ubiquitous Denny's or IHOP.
(3)Brandi W.
Very appealing and great atmosphere but not so authentic. It's fair to say its like the olive garden for Italian food.
(2)Naznin U.
My fiance and I love this place! The staff is friendly, great service, delicious food, and overall a lovely restaurant! They have unlimited YUMMY chai!
(5)Vivi R.
It was me and my boyfriend's first time visiting here and wow! I really loved the food I ordered. I didn't expect my order to taste the good. We came back from our Canada trip and I ate this seasoned chicken and it really helped me wide awake, same with my boyfriend. He really enjoyed his coconut curry and I enjoyed my Shish Taouk. We would give it 5/5 review plus we also got a complimentary dessert, that was delicious as well. I really loved the inside restaurant very much as well like the interior. I was very pleased with their interior, I never knew it was this amazing. Outside is just bland, but inside is very comforting, it feels like I'm in India even though I have never visited there.
(5)Ryan A.
Have to add my positivity to the list. We've been here multiple times, and everything we've tried is the bomb. But since that's a bit of a vague food review, I'll get specific on the service. It's apparent the owner has made service a priority. We always end up with a complimentary dessert though we've never asked. They give you a cup of their awesome chai when you wait for a pick up order. I would come here just for the service, if I had nothing better to do with my life. Luv. It.
(5)Shanti M.
An update, based on my last 2 very different, but very awesome visits. The first, several months ago, I was by myself, and ordered nothing but (bottomless!) chai and samosas. I was treated royally, and sat in a sunny, stellar booth, taking pictures to add to my review. The second time, my sweet friend Dan and I came on a Friday night and stayed for over 3 1/2 hrs. That's right; where can you do that? (There was always at least one table available somewhere, so we didn't feel guilty.) And again, we were treated spectacularly well. The food was perfect. What can I say, other than "Yay! 5 stars!" Dan is still talking about it.
(5)Nicholas L.
The staff know how to make you feel welcome. The food is amazing. Never been let down by these folks.
(5)Emmalee D.
The food here is excellent! Service is superb. This is me and my husbands favorite place to go to. Happy hour is pretty reasonable and the rice is to die for. We have even experience a night where they were so incredibly busy and had to wait really long and they comped our meal because they know how to treat customers.
(5)Jeranel J.
Just a fun place with a lovely warm staff. I will be back and I will bring my friends. The owner was a sweet and kind gentleman and our server was funny and helpful. I couldn't tell you if it was the most authentic or best Indian food in Seattle because I don't go out for Indian food all that much. But it was delicious food nonetheless and I had fun, it was a great evening. Loved the mixed tandoori platter with the naan and basmati rice is always a treat.
(4)Kristine H.
Hey wait. You're telling me that this place is half the distance that Taste of India is AND run by the same family? Oh hells yeah! We've come here more times than I'd care to admit and have enjoyed every single item right down to the finger-licking dregs of the dish. And believe me... there's been contemplation by people on what is the best way to covertly clean that plates without breaking out the tongue and losing all decorum. The tandoori dishes are excellent. My perfect meal to split with someone is the tandoori cod, a four-star curry and garlic naan. Or if there's three of you, order one of the tandoori breads (there's twelve to choose from), a pair of curries (go 4-star or higher, don't be a wuss) and the tandoori delight from the appetizers. For less than $10.00, you get chicken pakora, chicken Tikka, Keema kabob and tandoori chicken! It's a lovely tandoori sampler that can also be enough for dinner if you love your protein! Once, a friend of ours had never had Indian food before and left ordering to us. After tasting everything, he proclaimed that he could have eaten the butter chicken completely on his own despite its richness. He also loved the chai - something that I wish I could have but damn my Asian heritage and its hate for lactose! If you can, save room for the mango lassi, it's quite good. Or go for a hot (or iced) a chai, which is bottomless. Truly I dare you to get to the bottom of your cup. It doesn't happen. By the way, don't let the exterior fool you. Saffron is housed in a re-purposed restaurant styled for different cuisine. Mr. Bhatti made it his own and did so tastefully. Sharing the same parking lot as the Hotel Nexus off I-5, the menu does have a small handful of items for those reticent to try something new. Their loss though... we can just spot you picky eaters easily now when you have a burger here! We always get something complimentary when we arrive. Sometimes it's samosas or pakoras, sometimes it's dessert. Parking is plentiful and free but on the weekends during dinner service, you might end up traversing the lot. We go there so much, they know us by name. I think that says a lot about the yumminess of their food.
(5)Jared K.
I'm thoroughly confused by the reviews that say this food is bland. I'm Pakistani so I grew up eating Pakistani / Indian food and I have to say this place has the best Indian food I've had in the general Seattle area. I come here at least once a month so I know my good experiences weren't flukes. That being said here is my review - The food 4.5/5 It's absolutely fantastic! Everything I've ordered here came out amazing! The only thing I could complain about is that the dishes are probably a dollar or two more than one would expect to pay for Indian food. The chai tea here is extremely good and is bottomless! If you come here please please order the goolab jamin dessert, it's one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. The service 5/5 - Extremely attentive, polite and efficent. The atmosphere 4/5 - It's nice but nothing you haven't seen before Over all - I love this place!
(5)Biftu M.
I have eaten there several times but with this experience I think I'll start going to TASTE OF INDIA! After our meal they offered the guest behind us a complimentary Baklava dessert and not to us! Which is rude, then when I asked why they did not do it for us they claimed because we were using a coupon which we wasnt. I just think you should treat all your customers the same and equally. That is lame! They lost my business
(2)SilkSam R.
Another mediocre Indian place. I think Seattle needs a real place. I find myself very motivated to facilitate just that. 3 stars are for service and ambiance. I guess if you get drunk enough the food will be acceptable.
(3)Lisa E. L.
The curry lamb was very yummy! Big pieces of meat served with a plate of spices rice. I'm a total fan of their desserts too!
(4)Riddhi S.
Bad experience ... Had to wait for half an hr for our table inspite of having reserved a table... Food was below average... Some food was raw...never going back...
(1)Kristine K.
The butter chicken is fabulous! Great service and food every time!
(5)Orlene C.
So happy to have found out that this place is owned by the same owners that used to own Cedars years ago. My husband is a huge Taste of India fan and never experienced the good old days at Cedars, so he was not particularly excited to try Saffron out. However, he was pleasantly surprised, and said it was just as good as Taste of India (he always gets butter chicken), and I concluded that it is my favorite Indian spot. It is also the most elegant Indian restaurant I have experienced. Besides their excellent curries, I also remember enjoying their rice dish - Royal Biryani in their old location. A classic Mughlai dish of Basmati rice cooked with curry, raisins, cashew nuts, and saffron. Served with Raita.
(5)Kristie T.
Soo good...I've been craving Indian food, but all the places by me have really sketchy ratings. I'm house sitting and found Saffron Grill. Happy that I did! The portions are big and everything is seriously tasty. I wish I woulda ordered it a tad spicer, but since it was my first time I didn't want to go to hot. That's obviously on me and not the restaurant. Oh and the naan was huge! I only wish they were closer to where I actually lived. Nom nom!
(5)Mizah M.
Got the Shish Kabob and Garlic Naan for take out. They didn't include any plasticware (I was staying at a hotel, so I actually needed it). I was initially disappointed with the amount of meat, normally when a dish at a Mediterranean restaurant is $18 I get two skewers, this place only gives one. The veggies on the side were pretty much just your store bought microwave veggies. There was barely any saffron rice on top of the white rice, I mean you could almost count the yellow grains of rice. The naan was not that good. I was still looking forward to the kabob though after all the reviews I read. Sure, it was actually pretty tender, but so dry that it didn't even matter how tender. It was over seasoned so you couldn't really taste the meat, which makes me wonder if it was truly lamb. If the price wasn't so high I probably would have rated it 3 stars, but I expected quality for that price.
(2)Amit K.
The owner is really nice. Always remembers you. The customer service is really good. The food is good and always consistent in taste.
(5)K I.
Great ambiance, great beer.. Yes, they have veltins Pilsner on draft.. And the food is just delicious.
(5)Seattle R.
Yay! I'm a fan- here's why, when they had really flopped on their service the first time I went there, they totally made up for it on my next return. The food is great and the staff was great too.
(4)Curt N.
Very good Indian restaurant. We followed the Yelp reviewers recommendations and every thing was great. The Chai tea was perfect. The Butter Chicken was terrific and the curry was wonderful. The service was also very prompt and friendly and the atmosphere was head and shoulders above many of the Indian restaurants in the area. All this at a good price too (for lunch anyway) means we'll be back!
(5)Julie M.
I am a huge fan of Indian food. I am also very pick about Indian food. This place is my favorite. The naan is fabulous and the butter chicken is just to die for. My boyfriend and I went here on a whim one night and we weren't disappointed. The atmosphere is great and our waiter was very attentive. All in all I'm a big fan of this place.
(4)Jennifer S.
I have been wanting to try this place for years but never got around to it. I moved away for awhile but now back in the area sort of. Well, the other day, out of the blue (at the Woodinville Costco while someone saw I was buying lentil and spinach naan/nan in my shopping cart) that person recommended I try the Saffron Grill in Northgate and that I should order their spinach naan. I knew exactly this place they were talking about and made it a point to finally go there! Everything we ordered was AMAZING! We ordered 4 dishes total: -SPINACH NAAN -BABA GHANNOJ -CHICKEN BUTTER (curry) SPECIALTY and dessert: GULAB JAMUN ...and lots of chai (free refills, hot or iced! Heck, try both like we did) We can't wait to come back to this place! The service was fantastic too!
(5)Emily D.
delicious food...very friendly staff...nice, comfortable atmosphere...my favorite indian food in seattle!
(4)Kim G.
Tried this place for the first time on August 26th. The menu is extensive; Indian, Mediterranean & American. In light of getting back to conversation as opposed to spending 1/2 our time deciding on food (and annoying the server) we went with Mediterranean. We shared the combination plate which had: hummus, baba ghannoj, grape leaves and falafel served with pita and the lamb kabobs which were amazingly tender, that came with onions and tomatoes and a large side of rice and fresh veggies that were cooked al dente (the way they should be). Portions weren't super large, but these two dishes filled us up fine, mostly because of the pita I'm sure. The drink special was .50 off the regular price...not sure how that was a special, but given the time to have 10 more I guess we could've saved a few bucks? Anyway, the food was really good for being in close proximity to a mall which somehow always reduces the quality -- this place managed to dodge that bullet.
(4)Tarah D.
I try not to give 5-stars; it just seems like grade inflation, but this is the best Indian food I've had in Seattle (not counting Cedars *before* the management change many-moons-ago... may you rest in peace, old Cedars; you were the best). Every dish I have ever eaten here has been fantastic. Some highlights: Palak Paneer is some of the most consistent and flavorful you will find anywhere. I have to say that my heart breaks every time I have bad Palak Paneer, but here, it leaps for joy... or maybe that's my taste-buds. The paneer (cheese) is firm and flavorful; the palak (spinach) is really flavorful without being runny, oily, or blended in some gross way. Aloo Ghobi: this is a highly underrated dish... when it's done well. And it is done *extremely* well here. The potatoes are just the right firm/softness and the cauliflower and potatoes are seasoned so well that at no point will you say "wait, is this shit vegan?!". Mali Kofta: I'm not spelling that right, but it might be because my brain just shut down thinking about how freaking good it is. Creamy (bot not heavy), savory and sweet, de-freaking-licious. Get this dish. Now. Naans are great, pakora is great, chai tea is even great. The only thing I don't like here is that they serve you your rice on your plate itself (so they come out with a big plate of rice that is YOUR dinner plate). The rice is good, don't get me wrong, I just want to choose my own rice portions. Also, when they say "never-ending Chai," they MEAN never-ending. They just keep pouring and pouring and pouring and pouring and eventually you think: "oh shit, it's 8pm and I've had approximately 47 glasses of tea and will never fall asleep". Now, if I exercised some self control, this wouldn't be a problem, but clearly that is not in the cards for me. Saffron Grill: please stop being so delicious; I can't control myself when I'm there...
(5)Chelsea J.
I had my birthday lunch here with my family of about 15 people. The owner and the staff did a great job accommodating us and making sure we were happy. The food was delicious! There was something for everyone to enjoy and the restaurant itself is very pleasant. The owner gave me a complimentary baklava for my birthday and put some sweet dessert bites (not sure what they were called) on the table for other people to share. They also sang to me which was a bit embarrassing. They went out of their way to make sure we were happy! The only downside of the meal was my uncle's lunch order was forgotten about! He had to wait about 20-25 minutes beyond the rest of the group receiving their food. They did not say they forgot about the dish but I don't see another explanation because it took so much longer to arrive. Other than that mishap the meal was good and it was a great place to have a group lunch. Entrees I've had and enjoyed are the chicken butter specialty, vegetable kofta, royal biryani, and the rogan josh. They are also great about refilling the chai. Your cup will never get too low!
(4)JackieandAngel H.
best gyro plate ever!
(5)Alison E.
Yum! Outstanding service and great food. The nan is ginormous and tasty. Will definitely be back!
(5)Wayne L.
Went for Happy Hour. Good varied menu of both Indian and Middle Eastern items. Had a decent vodka Martini. Vegetable pakoras were crisp and tasty. Will definitely come back.
(4)Colleen C.
Like a few other reviewers, we came here while staying at the Nexus hotel. I thought the combo menu (Indian/Mediterranean) was a strange idea at first, but it worked in the end and offered more choices for our family dining experience. Both times we dined here, the service was very good to excellent. The restaurant serves a diverse clientele - young, old, local and international - and they seem to do a good job meeting everyone's expectations judging how full the place was. We mainly dined from the Mediterranean side of the menu (what we were in the mood for) and we were deliciously stuffed both times we left. Felafel on our combo plate were especially good as they can sometimes be dry, but these were really yummy.
(5)Anthony A.
We just ate here for the first time tonight. The service was outstanding and the food was delicious, which is saying a lot considering I don't normally like Indian food. We'll definitely be back!!
(5)George C.
I don't know much about traditional Indian food but the spinach nan was ok. I had a problem with my salad but our server took care of it and sent the manager over. They handled it very professionally and were very nice. The service was good and they seem to really care about the customer experience. I will come back next time I'm in the mood for Indian food.
(3)Mrknowso T.
Awesome food great atmosphere great bartenders and servers The owners kind of a grumpy old man but overall Saffron is a great place to eat and awesome happy hour... If you do decide to eat there make sure you request of brown haired girl named Dominique the greatest server in there and she's really cute
(5)Larry R.
This is a large beautiful restaurant with a vast menu of Indian, American and Meditteranean food. The Indian section had more options than I have ever seen and I've been to a lot of Indian restaurants. Our salmon tandoori was done perfectly and came with rice and veggies. The veggies were not over cooked and the rice was full of flavor. The naan was huge and very tasty. Service was excellent and helpful. All the staff not just our server paid attention to us which was very nice. They have a full bar and interesting cocktails. Its not cheap - kind of mid range, but we thought it was well worth the cost. We will go back for sure!
(4)Malee B.
I went here due to the yelp rating. However, I am disapointed. The naan was really "bready" I personally like the authentic naan that is super flat/deflated. The Tikka Masala was okay. Besides the atmosphere, this restaurant is nothing special. I prefer Royal India in Kirkland. They got it goin' on!!
(3)E V.
Indian is my favorite food and this is the BEST! I can't wait to come back. If you like chai tea (I'm not talking about Starbucks) then you will fall in love with Saffron Grill. I judge a place by the chai. Sounds simple but there are a lot of places that can't get it right. The chai here was perfect and free refills sealed the deal. I always order vegetable kofta, & hubby gets chicken korma. Both were amazing. I'm sure everything is good (except that mango relish not my thing). Overall great ambiance, great food, great service...I wish all Indian restaurants were this good.
(5)Kevin C.
Free, unlimited refills of hot Chai tea? Praise the lord and pass the biscuits! Or in the case of Saffron, the naan would be more appropriate. The naan is crisp and light, complemented perfectly with the tart but cool yogurt sauce. The main entrees were lovely, but the portions a little small. And i'm a growing boy. Actually, I'm just a fatty. But regardless, I could've used a little more love with my paneer entree, just saying. The free refills of Chai tea are nice, but it felt a little bit like I was drinking my dinner. Which I'm not opposed to, just saying.
(4)Yah Babo D.
Between the two bar tenders during happy hour we were treated like family. They took good care of our drinks; professional and quick. As soon as our drinks were around a 1/6th left in the glasses they'd jump right over and ask what we would want next. They were really chill and allowed us to be obnoxious college students and joined in with the fun and witty comments we thru their way. With four of us there from 2-530pm we had numerous happy hour items between us. Nothing was terrible. Everything had good flavor and fit in with what we were drinking. Evening class that night was the best...I should have HH before every class! It's right up the street from school and apt so I see myself going there a lot more now! PS the baklava is excellent there especially when it comes out fresh and hot!
(4)Laura L.
Large portions of rice and bread, small portions of main dishes. This is a favorite of a few friends of mine, and my toddler son loves Indian food, so we thought we'd give it a try. We went on a Saturday night, and it was busy! The wait wasn't too bad, though, so we stuck around for 20 minutes and were seated. Initially, service was prompt, and our drinks and appetizers came at a reasonable pace. The mains, however, took quite a bit of time, and when they did show up, I was honestly disappointed. These were rather small portions, which had I known, I would have ordered another dish. Most distressing was the Mutter Masala with paneer. There had to be less than half a cup of peas in the whole dish! Maybe even less than a quarter cup! It was mostly a tomato sauce, and large chunks of paneer. We ordered our food three stars, which they said was spicy. The spice level, they told us, goes to four, but that they'll go higher if you really want it. We found the three stars to be barely spiced. I will give this place another try with a group of people, so I can taste a variety of things and really get a feel for the place. However, this visit I was not impressed. The staff was nice, the place was clean, kid friendly, and had an extensive menu. I was just disappointed with the timing of our food, and the lack of peas in the Mutter Masala. For reference, they do take reservations, so it may be in your best interest to call ahead on a busy night.
(3)Mindy K.
Indian + a bit of Greek food! Positives: Our water glasses were filled without delay, food tasted pretty good, the waiters paid attention to our needs really well. Negatives: A bit pricey, the waiters almost seemed too persistent in trying to get our orders, the organization of which waiter got which table seemed a little off, the road to exit the restaurant was cray...so location is a bit eh. Overall, I had a nice time at the restaurant (because of the people I were with), but I don't know if I'd be coming back.
(3)Aaron B.
I ordered the Karahi Gosht (Lamb) at 'Spicy+1'. They have a spicy scale of mild-hot and then I think 1-5 stars (Indian hot). So I had spiciness 6 of 9. It was hot enough to make me sweat (which is what I wanted). It's hard to imagine what their hottest curry would be like. This was a pretty tasty and flavorful dish, though the price is a little high for me. I also ordered a gyro wrap (it was a special I think) - I can't speak highly of this. It had so much cucumber that the flavor of cucumber kept coming up for a full day afterwards, and not enough ingredients of substance. So I'd have to say - skip the Mediterranean, just go for the Indian if you eat here. It's a pretty big place, nice ambiance (I was here at an off time when there were only a few so couldn't tell how loud it gets) - date worthy..if you're a fan of the food at the price.
(3)Karen A.
We had been wanting to try this place since moving to Lake City and driving by. We finally stopped there last night and I must say we where not disappointed at all. The place has a great atmosphere. Comfy while still having a bit of elegance to it.We started by getting a garlic naan. This thing was huge. More than enough for the 2 of us to split. The mint and tamarind sauce they brought with it was very good as well. I then ordered the Jalfrazi. They ask how much heat you want on a scale of 1-5. I went for 3 and it came out with the perfect balance of heat that didn't over power the amazing flavor of the dish. My wife had the gyro plate and said that it was very good. As the food was very good the service was even better. I like the way that the entire wait staff worked together to ensure our needs where met while it still remained obvious who the main server was. I think it is important to know who the main server is. To sum it up. We will definetly be back to this establishment.
(5)Dennis D.
Good food, good naan (yes, I know that's food too... but it deserves a call out). Just... steer clear if they're busy. When I went there was a 10 minute wait time (that turned into 20 minutes), because they were serving 30 high-school kids. Overall they did a decent job, but they served the naan 10 minutes before the rest of the meal arrived. When you're eating Indian, you want the naan WITH the entree... not American style (as a bread appetizer). By the time the entrees came the naan was cold and not as soft. This reflects poorly either on the speed of their service (perhaps normally the food is made shortly after the naan is available?) or poorly on the service planning of the wait-staff (hold dishes so all appropriate food items are delivered at the same time). Or...perhaps both. :-( Either way... go only when they're not busy... so you don't have to have your server's attention divided among so many people. :-/
(3)Michelle K.
I was hesitant to try Saffron as any place that offers multiple cuisines (american, indian, greek) often disappoints. But it is just down the road from my house and I heard that it is owned by the Cedars folks, so I gave it a try. Delicious! It is the only Indian restaurant that I've had where I've asked for a "mild" spice and actually gotten a mild spice. No mouth burning with one star rating. Great service, prompt and friendly. The bottomless Chai is to die for. Hot or Cold. Atmosphere is romantic, dimly-lit, and the booths are comfy. I haven't been disappointed yet. Try it!! My favorite dish is the Potato Channa Masala. With some regular Naan bread on the side.
(5)Lisa L.
My fiance and I adore this place! I have been going here since it opened and followed the owner from his previous restaurant. The never ending chai is so delicious that you will leave jittery and sloshing and not mind in the slightest. The nan (garlic, or spinach, or paner are some of my favorites) and veggie pakoras are great starters, and for some one unfamiliar with this cuisine the Butter Specialty is a great place to start! I have never ordered anything that I felt wasn't at least decent. Even if I didn't like a dish, it was never because it was poorly made or served, it is always because it is just not a flavor or style that I like. The weekend are crazy crowded so call ahead, and if you are there with a group, tell them before you order how you want the bill split to make things easier.
(5)Kelly B.
The best restaurant in the northgate area, hands down. Great Indian fusion with a very nice decor. Excellent service too. Stop by for the happy hour daily from 2-7pm! Good for large parties too.
(5)Elle D.
I am not a fan of this place. The decor of this place is a lot more fancier than other Indian restaurants I ventured but the food was lacking in standards. I had a paneer saag. Tasted like plastic? I couldn't even eat more than a couple of bites. What a waste of money and food. The chai, on the other hand, was the best I have tasted.
(3)Randi R.
Completely unexpected as to how wonderful this place is. My partner and I both recommend it highly. Went there last night. We always drive by it and the parking lots is ALWAYS crowded. Neither of us are big fans of Indian food, but we wanted to give it a try. We wanted to sit at the bar and were there at happy hour. Our drinks were great and Alex the bartender took our food order and was great waiting on us. I had the Gyros Platter and my partner had the Shrimp and we ordered the Garlic Naan. Yum! Yum! and more Yum! Everything was hot and fresh and served quickly. The prices are excellent and you get a tremendous amount of food. As we left we noted the large number of people waiting for tables in this full restaurant - on a Wednesday night! A good sign!! We will be back again.
(4)Kathy W.
I usually get the sampler plate of chicken tikka, fish, tikka, lamb, and beef. It's an appetizer but there's enough food to make it a meal. I call it the protein platter! The cod is delicious, and the chicken is super moist. They also have great happy hour selections and prices that last until 7pm. I tried the veggie pakora and fried shrimp. Both were tasty. Very attentive service as well, my water glass was refilled every 10 minutes. Entree prices are fairly high, $15-19, but the portions are big enough that one can easily make two meals out of it.
(4)Eve K.
We came here for dinner and were pleasantly surprised. I had the Baigan Bhartha (eggplant dish) & Older Daughter had fries and a side of steamed broccoli. It was all great. The seasoning was just right, rice and broccoli were perfectly cooked, and the portion size was good. The Husband had the Shish Taouk (chicken) and he said it tasted very good. He usually complains about the portion size as there is a black hole inside his stomach, however, he had plenty here. On the service, the waitress easily helped us find GF and egg/dairy-free options, and was friendly. The guy bussing our table was a tad overattentive, but everyone saying "thank you" as we walked out was a nice touch. Can't wait to try their other dishes!
(5)Kris P.
We went to Saffron on Sun, Dec 9th.... to have a celebration dinner, after attending a wedding, with a group of friends. The restaurant was very well decorated, clean, and gave off a nice setting for dinner. Our group was immediately seated and our drink orders were taken. Our waitress was quite helpful with answering many questions and quick on service. My wife and I order two salads..... the Saffron and the Greek. Both delicious. For our dinner, I got their Vegetable Butter Specialty (spice number a 3, and could have enjoyed the 4 without issue). My meal was pure bliss. The butter sauce is to die for. Creamy and spicy and just perfect. The vegetable (ordered without mushrooms) were cooked to perfection and tasted great with the sauce. And the saffron rice is something that I am still dreaming about. My wife got their Tandoori Delight. I tried a bite of the chicken, and it was wonderful. And I know that she absolutely loved her meal. We will, without a doubt, be going back here... on a really special occasion, to enjoy a romantic meal, together.
(5)Chris G.
Random pick on the way home ended up being much more than i expected in terms of quality service, decor and food. The waitresses were great and the timeliness of the orders was impressive considering we were a party of four.
(4)Gretchen F.
Beautiful environment with a solely a la carte menu. High class although the owner is a tad abrupt. I believe that's a cultural thing. I tried the chicken tikka masala with basmati rice. It was delicious although I think having dinner prices at lunch is a tad off. People are in a hurry midday and need more quickly. I'm much more likely to pay more and have complimentary cocktails in the evening. Nice service and good choices...I'll be back if in the area.
(4)Peter S.
I'm going to rate this restaurant on food quality alone because I've had a couple run-ins with some extremely horrible service stories. I've been here a handful of times, and for the most part, the service is great and the management is ultra-kind, but two instances of waiters losing their minds left a bad taste in my mouth. Anyway, I digress, the food here is excellent. All the go-tos such as the curries, naans, and meat dishes are delicious and satisfying. The HH menu is big and the servings are filling. The price is a tad bit steep but for the overall experience, this place is up there for great Indian cuisine.
(4)Danny L.
Wonderful food! Really fantastic, and the waitress was about as good as I've ever had anywhere.
(5)Chris C.
Best Indian I've had in Seattle, period. Place is often quite busy, parking lot is insane, it's a little unclear why they have Mediterranean food intruding on the already extensive menu, but the service is warm, the food is wonderful (and they have no problem turning up the heat), and it's always a good experience. Pros: Works well with takeout, which can be a godsend during busy times or, for that matter, when catering with decent numbers of guests. They certainly remembered me after about 3 orders. Chai is good. Spice is good (you can certainly ask for more than level 4, and they've taken "7" seriously, even from non-Indians). Warm atmosphere, good people. Bar, if you like that sort of thing. Cons: Busyness, which leads to some confusion at the front. Shared parking lot with hotel is very difficult to maneuver around and quite often very full. Sometimes a wait (though rarely for long). No delivery. Bloody mary I had was meh. Tip: Never leave via Northgate Way. Go around the back of the parking lot to Meridian. It will save your sanity.
(5)Joni G.
LOVE this place. Their food is excellent! Their butter chicken is perfect and tasty. Their naan is the best I have had and extremely large (about the size of an elephant ear dessert). They have a stellar happy hour menu which goes till 7pm. Everything I have ate here has been excellent and their service is great also!
(4)Ninette C.
My boyfriend and I came here for dinner yesterday on a whim and craving for Indian food. As Brett L pointed out, there were many signs that it shouldn't be a good place. On top of everything he pointed out (across from hotel, serves multiple cuisines etc.), it looks really Americanized from the outside. Is this a chain? If not, it looks like it. The American food section was also a roar. I thought it was so funny. They also serve margaritas and a lot of beers if you're wondering how traditional it is. haha. Upon entering, the host had me wait almost 10 minutes for a table in a half empty restaurant which was kind of strange. I think he had some question or something because he said he had to get his manager. He did end up seating me and told me he would let my boyfriend know where I was seated when he arrived. He got his name and everything, which was nice. Someone came pretty quickly for waters and to take our orders. I had the tandoori fish (cod) and my boyfriend ordered the karai gosht with lamb and a beer. We also had the spinach naan. The food arrived quickly. First up was the naan which was a spinach mush mess. I wouldn't order it again. We both liked our entrees. I have never had tandoori before because I usually order the creamy Indian dishes, but I liked the flavor. The portion didn't look big, but it was filling. I probably will stick to the creamier dishes in the future though. Even though I liked it, when I crave Indian, I usually want something with a real punch of flavor. Overall, we enjoyed our food and the service was good. The prices were a little higher than I expected. (My tandoori fish was $17.) If you are looking for a super authentic experience with a small intimate restaurant and an all-Indian staff, this isn't it. Otherwise, it was fun.
(4)Victoria C.
We came here for a surprise birthday dinner for a friend and though we enjoyed our food, the service was a little less than optimal. PROS: 1. Delicious food. I ordered the lamb biryani. Tender lamb chunks baked into basmati rice with raisins, cashews, peas, herbs and spices. Just as good as home-made. Everyone enjoyed their meals. 2. Average prices. $14 for most entrees. 3. Nice manager/owner--he clearly loves his restaurant and played an active role in wandering the restaurant, making sure everything was running up to par. 4. Free birthday baklava for the birthday boy and singing wait staff. 5. Spicy means spicy! My bf LOVES spicy food and always complains about how lame the spicyness ratings are in Seattle. At Saffron, his spicy cravings were def fulfilled. CONS: 1. Two of the dishes came out way late. We had to remind the waitress maybe ten minutes after we all had our dishes and when we did, she said, "Oh, why didn't you say anything?!" And I wanted to say to her, "Oh, well why didn't you do your duties and look at the table to see who was still waiting on food? Moreover, why didn't you make sure everyone had what they needed?" I felt sorry for the two guys who were hungrily waiting for their meals. She wasn't very humble about it. Overall, great food. Kinda lame waitress(es).
(4)A I.
This place is awesome for happy hour! My husband and I come here at least once a week on average. The owner always greets us and is very friendly and inviting. The bartender is great as well. They have nice small plates at great happy hour prices that you can't beat!
(4)Rob T.
We planned a large group dinner here for 8 people. While there was about a 10 minute delay past our reservation, the manager (owner?) was very sympathetic and kept letting us know it would only be a few more minutes. The fact that the place was extremely busy was a great sign, and after we got our first round of na'an bread, it became clear that our meal would likely be delicious. We did family style around the table, trying one of just about everything. While all of the dishes were good, the coconut curry was the one that stood out to me. We'll definitely be returning
(5)Tom S.
First time here, will not be the last! I think we found our first favorite restaurant since moving here a couple months ago.
(5)Rebecca W.
The garlic naan is amazing. The food was ok. My friends got the curry and they loved it. Their kebabs aren't really kebabs, so don't be fooled.
(3)Karen Anne B.
This restaurant was located just outside our hotel. We were super starving so we headed over despite the fact that we honestly expected to to be something like TGI Friday's or Chili's. It was yummy! The ambiance was nice, fun glass lights, bright but not obnoxious, clean, fairly quiet (though we were there at an odd time). We each picked someting out and ordered. I ordered the Mutter Paneer. The food was delivered quickly and was excellent. The servings seemed maybe just a little small - or I'm just an American with a huge appetite and was super hungry... We were happy with our choices and very glad we decided to check it out. If I lived closer, it might be one of my new favorite restaurants.
(4)Raihan A.
Oh my God, why did I decide to order take out from this place 15 minutes in advance on a Friday evening, right after a 12 hour work day? Their seating and take out service is atrocious when they get even some medium traffic flow. Today they literally sucked and looked like it was their first day on the job; not taking names, just saying "One minute please.", disorganized, and scrambling. There were so many tables available, but their seating system sucks so bad that 2 tops and 4 tops were left waiting longer than they should have, causing a big old bottleneck in the lobby. While I was there, they lost so much business, from people walking in, seeing the crowded lobby, and walking out. No wonder their food is sort of pricey...they need to do so to stay in business. The only reason this place gets 2 stars is because they hosts and waiters were really nice. And the old Indian grandpa looking owner reminded me of one of my jolly Bengali relatives, all happy go lucky and all. But seriously, these guys have got to improve their hosting/take out system. They could make so much more money if they were just a little bit more efficient! I'd like to think I'm a patient dude, but seriously, having to wait 45 minutes for some chicken korma...really? Speaking of which, I'm starving!...maybe I'll re-review this place and give it a third star if the food is good. Re-review: Nope. I don't know how there are such high reviews on Saffron's food. It is so bland. And the spice is nonexistent. I can't believe I paid that much for that little flavor. For those of you who think this is amazing Indian food, you guys need to treat your taste buds by befriending an Indian or Bengali person and ask their mom to cook you some food.
(2)Andrea M.
What!? I've been eating here for four years and have never reviewed it? That can't be... I *love* this place. My sister and I have started coming here at least once a month. They've got a good happy hour, never-ending chai [I probably consumed 8+ cups one night and didn't sleep a wink!], and the garlic fries are taaasty. The naan tastes like a giant fantastic pancake--I could just eat naan all night. I usually get chana masala, but enjoy almost everything else I've tried. Oh, but not the okra dish [I kept finding hard bits of okra] and I'd skip the baklava [it's warmed up and isn't chock-full of honey]. Service is great. We're usually seated promptly, though we avoid coming around times when they're slammed. The only thing I've ever disliked is having our booth completely cleared and wiped down while we were still sitting there. It's super awkward and happens almost every time. Imagine someone reaching/leaning between you and the person on the other side... clearing off all the bits of rice, chai rings, and napkins, while you just stare around because it's strange gossiping about your other friend's moles in front of someone. Anyway... Seriously, bottomless chai. Check it out.
(5)Emma M.
By far the best service I have ever had. It's pretty un believable HOW good they are. So helpful and nice with ordering, repeats everything, fills sodas and drinks without asking. Food was hot, delicious and affordable. Very clean restaurant. Dessert was on the house. Easy to give this place 5 stars!
(5)Robyn A.
Chain, Chain, Chain, Chain of fools. The Hostess was super, but the waiter was cheesy. The food was mediocre, and the prices a bit steep. Middle Eastern food was just okay, but the Indian food was flavorless. Menu looks great but they just didn't deliver.
(3)Abigail C.
Although I don't look brown, my husband is & therefore I am... Having said that, kudos to the owner for creating a hip atmosphere with authentic Indian food to boot. Five Indian people (my husband & in laws) + me were pleasantly surprised. The owner even comp'd us some appetizers AND deserts. Thanks man! PS - The pesto naan is one of the few successes of fusion cuisine! Amazing.
(5)Trish R.
There have been quite a few failing businesses located in this building, but I hope Saffron Bar & Grill is a keeper. I was among a group of ten coworkers who hit up Saffron for an early dinner/informal meeting. The physical restaurant environment hasn't changed very much, but the Indian- and Mediterranean-inspired fare was much improved over the mediocre pub grub offered in the same space through previous owners. The group ordered a few appetizers. I spent a good 15-20 minutes cursing my gluten intolerance as everyone ooh-ed and aah-ed over the spinach naan. For dinner I ordered the Saffron Salad while others ordered larger plates including the Tandoori Chicken, Seafood Trio, and Tandoori Scallops. Although the tomatoes in my salad were nothing to write home about, ingredients as a whole appeared and tasted fresh. I enjoyed my mango lemonade, but others who like zip to their ade should know this beverage is very sweet. Everyone at the table seemed very happy with their orders, and plates were large enough that several boxes went home with folks. Service was very attentive, extraordinarily polite, and hard working. I believe it was the owner who circulated around the establishment, checking in to ask about people's dining experiences. We gave him our thumbs up, and those thumbs went way, way up when we received a couple orders of rasmalai, compliments of the house. The cheese with cardamom and sweet milk tasted delicious, and so was the Kheer (rice pudding) I ordered. I'm definitely a fan of the Saffron.
(4)Patrick C.
The chai server is johnny on the spot. You can't take three sips without a top up. Ask the server for help about the different types of sauces, get the plain nan, it's not quite as plain as you'd think. Tandoori salmon, ridiculously good and big portions, tender and moist. The curry dishes can be a bit small and all taste too similar. So get both curry and tandoori, rice and naan bread. Oh and don't forget the Chai. holy crap.
(4)Mary F.
Never judge a book by it's cover. And never judge a restaurant by the fact that it's in a motel parking lot, I guess. I've been wanting to try this restaurant for a while, but my husband was dubious. Indian and Mediterranean food both? But we went last night and we will definitely be back. We had Indian food and it was very good. The naan with spinach and paneer was excellent. And the Indian Bloody Mary was lovely -- it had cucumber, cilantro, ginger and some other things. It was somehow a very refreshing combination. I think I'll enjoy trying out their cocktail menu. Service was excellent, and the decor was festive yet upscale. We didn't take our kids, but I'm guessing they are not terribly kid friendly (i.e. having a kid menu, etc.). This seems like more of a grown-up, date-night place.
(4)Brett L.
If you are a restaurant, here are four "red flags" that typically spell disaster: 1. Your restaurant is conveniently located adjacent to a motel. 2. Your restaurant serves both Indian AND Mediterranean Cuisine. 3. Your restaurant specializes in ethnic cuisine, but offers a limited selection of "American" entrees including fish & chips. 4. Your restaurant displays a "happy hour" banner next to the sign that reads "authentic" Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. If it wasn't for our Entertainment card discount and the fact they're located next door to Family Donut (yum), we probably would have continued driving by and written the place off as not being worth the risk. Yet with all its "red flags," Saffron Grill managed to defy expectations and delivered. We enjoy both Indian and Mediterranean cuisine, so being able to choose dishes from both seemed fun and wrong at the same time, but we went with it. We tried the royal biryani with lamb and the kafta kebab. The biryani had a generous serving of Basmati rice cooked with tender pieces of lamb, curry, raisins, and cashews. Both savory and sweet, this was nicely balanced. The kafta avoided the common problem of being too dry. More often than not, I find myself needing to dunk it in yogurt just to add a little moisture, but not here. Saffron's version was actually perfectly tender, juicy, and very flavorful--remarkably one of the better kafta kebabs that I've had. It came with a good portion of Basmati rice and fresh vegetables. We don't usually like to fill up on pita or other bread, but had heard great things about their naan, so thought we'd give the spinach naan a try. We chose wisely. Filled with spinach and some addictive cheese, the naan was so soft and easy to pull apart. Before we knew it, the entire basket was gone halfway through our meal (we had to take the rest of our entrees home). I'm sure all their naan is great, but you definitely can't go wrong with the spinach. I topped things off with their "Mediterranean Margarita," with pieces of fresh cucumber. Yes, I know. I've lost all credibility with some of you out there, but it was a long day and I deserved a margarita with my Indian food! Indulge me here. Besides, who knew tequila with a hint of cucumber could be so refreshing? To round things out, the décor was bright, inviting, and fun without being too gaudy. The service was fantastic. Our server was a young woman who was friendly, attentive, and conveyed that rare feeling that she was actually happy to see us. I won't claim that Saffron Grill is the pinnacle of authenticity, but our meals certainly rivaled many of the other "authentic" Indian and Mediterranean places that we've been to. Their prices are reasonable, and where else can you ask the server for biryani, kafta, and a good margarita and not have them glare at you?
(4)Francesca S.
I've been eating at Mohammeds place for over 11 years. He used to own Cedars on Brooklyn and his flavors are like no other Indian I have tried. I've tried other places just to see and they've all fell very flat and always end up going back to his place. The chicken tikka is so very moist I've never been disappointed. Went there with some friends a couple weeks ago and one got lamb tikka and being a big lover of lamb I was surprised at how moist and delish it was! If you haven't checked this place out and you love Indian venture in and let me know if you agree!
(4)Just Y.
I have to admit that my reason for not trying this place was completely due to its location: that small stretch of Northgate Way west of I5 that most think of as that extra part to the on and off ramps. That, plus it being in the middle of a hotel parking lot. But I got over my fear and gave it a whirl, and I'm glad I did. I can't remember what was here before they took over and revamped the place, but the inside is now so nice and bright and welcoming. We found the service to be good as well, friendly with correct timing. Did I mention they carry 75 different types of bottled beer? Our party of four stuck to the Indian offerings, and everyone was incredibly happy with the warm, home-made naan. I'm still in shock we only got two. We followed that with four vegetarian dishes, including Okra Masala and Baigan Bhartha, and (of course) rice. All the plates were warm, spiced to our liking, and otherwise flavorful. My only disappointment was the presentation and color pallet: four plates of all like-looking orange stuff. If the server had not specifically told us what each was, I would never have figured out one from the other. I've been to quite a few Indian places that manage to incorporate visually pleasing colors and textures, so I am always a bit befuddled when everything served looks about the same.
(3)Shachee G.
Went there tonight with the group. I was 15 minutes early. Our table was not ready. I had called before hand to make the reservation. The food arrived 45 minutes late. I was not impressed with the Indian food we had ordered. Everything had tomato sauce in it. Aloo Gobi, roganjosh, paneer. Though the lamb biryani turned out to be okay. our server was very nice and efficient. our glasses of water and chai cups were never empty.
(2)john b.
The setting was great from the atmosphere, the décor, the layout of the restaurant, but actually is a great setup. I came here on Saturday afternoon for lunch during my training session that I agreed to while having lunch on Wednesday. After 4 hours of training, myself and 3 others walked outside and looked around to see what was around and noticed this establishment and decided to have lunch here. It was either Saffron or McD's and I don't do fast food. Walked in got a warm welcome like any other Indian restaurant that I have been to from the south end to the eastside, now I can add the north end to my list of Indian restaurants I have narrowed down to going no matter which part of town I'm in So we got sat down, looked at the menu, which took about 10 minutes. I ordered the Lamb Boti Kaab, which was great and as always lamb was tender and juicy. I think that dried type rice has grown on me. At first when I tried Indian food I was not at all fond of the dried rice, but now that I have eaten as often as I do it has grown on and I don't mind it at all anymore. This place is great and will come back when I'm around the north end.
(4)Christin M.
My husband and I went here once before and he wasn't crazy about his dish. Mainly because he likes white meat chicken and he was served dark meat. Although he didn't specify....he didn't care about the dish. The older man who looks like he runs the place is always at the front greeting people and walking around the restaurant making sure his customer's are happy caught wind that my husband wasn't happy about his dish. We didn't make a fuss about it, it was more like "eh" The older gentleman was persistent in making it right and even though we were stuffed, he made the chef cook my husbands dish to his liking and didn't charge us for it. Of course we didn't ask for it and it wouldn't have compromised us coming back but it was humbling that they cared so much for their customers. Not to mention they gave us a complimentary Baklava. Which I think they do anyways from time to time. The gesture was nice. We didn't return for sometime, just because. One night we got a hankering for some good Indian cuisine. We went in and I had my 1 month old baby with me....we waited for a bit but to no dismay :)) The server's checked on us a few times and were letting us know every few minutes what was going on with the tables. We were finally seated. I ordered a Summer Garden drink, which is gin infused with basil, cucumber, and strawberry puree, among other spices. It was delish. If you like that sort of thing. Very refreshing and just the exact spices I was hungering for. My hubby ordered the Tandoori Chicken and he made sure to tell them white meat! We ordered the Mediterranean Salad that had lovely sliced apples, blue cheese in a Mediterranean dressing, tomatoes and basil. It was refreshing and plentiful. We also got the Paneer Nan which is a lovely unleavened bread with a nice feta baked inside with basil on top. The served a lovely sweet and herbie type dip for the bread! It was SOOOO yummy. I had the Mango Curry....YUM! YUM! Perfectly stewed with chicken. Proper spices and tomato blend. I was so full but couldn't stop eating! We were well taken care of by our waiter and the older gentleman checked in also. My second opinion is set, I love this place. Great food, great care for the customers, and divine appearance and decoration! Truly feels like you're enjoying a part of India! Keep up the good customer service guys!!!
(5)Tim R.
Believe me, I've had Indian food in many countries and this is as good as you can get in the Seattle area.
(5)J D.
This is a HORRIBLE BUSINESS. UNLESS you want to have someone steal from you, do NOT go there. The manager Mohammed stole 2500 from me. I gave him a gift card which he said was declined but in fact they stole the money off of it. Its horrible food, and DEFINETLY not worth the price or hassle of trying to get your money back. Mohammed said that he did not steal but SOMEONE did, and he was not willing to make up for it. the food is mediocre and the staff are good, but perhaps not dependable. who knows? if you got extra money to give away and an iron gut, by all means eat there!
(1)sreeja s.
I have been here just once and I must say I really liked it! Its very nicely done up has very friendly staff and especially the owner is very pleasant too. Not much of a Chai person but the one they serve here is out of this world! I liked the Naan and Butter chicken too. Will definitely go back to try more! How can i forget the Mango Lassi is too yummy !!
(4)Tori M.
Great Happy Hour! Stiff Drinks. Good food on specials. Great Service! Sometimes it seems a little chauvenistic, maybe even a bit formal, but it's always pretty fast and never surly. Great Food! I love it! Beautiful Decor. Kind of swank and artsy. I want my house decorated by their designer! This was the first "Indian food" I ate in a restaurant. Previously, every Indian Restaurant I'd gone into, I'd turned around and left because there was something about the aroma that I didn't care for. I'm one of those people who's got a very very sensitive nose. (and food servers should never wear cologne or perfume!) Now, I've figured out that there are probably a few different kinds of Indian Cusines and this is the kind I really really like. I got hooked on the Palaak Paneer and Tikka Masala and Naan here. My friends suggested those dishes for novices and I'd say they were right. I've experimented with some of the other dishes, and I like them too, but I know I can count on those things. If they ever have a buffet here I'll look forward to trying some other new things.
(5)Cristy P.
I agree with Chase A., the food is totally mediocre. Medium hot was mild, the masala sauce lacked complexity, the beer was flat, and it has the ambience of a restaurant at a mall. The server was hit and miss, think he have been new, so no big deal. The tandoori chicken was very moist and delicious, but otherwise an unremarkable meal. I'll stick to Maharaja in West Sea or Laadla downtown.
(2)Blizz M.
I don't see why others are rating this as highly as they are, maybe they've never had Indian food before. Everything tasted a bit bland, seemed more like bottled Indian sauces than freshly made. The Lamb Bhoti tasted like the meat was starting to go get rancid. Also, the service leaved a lot to be desired. At one point, the waitress took our food to the wrong table, placed it on the table, than when the people at that table said it wasn't theirs, she picked it up and than put it at our table. Maybe it's just me, but I think that is a bit unsanitary. I saw the entire thing, and she denied that she put it down on the other table. I'm not going back.
(2)Red e.
Amazing food.....AWESOME service. Not sure what happened with the couple of whiners below complaining but believe me when I say this place has it together. Don't expect Fast Food type of quickness with the food. Some of it is made when you order. Also....beer is always going to be marked up from what you see at the grocery store...c'mon people. The owner of this place has run 2 different TOP indian rest. in seattle...Cedars, Taste of India. This one will soon be known as one of the best by everyone too. Great prices too..my girlfriend and I went there..had 3 entres and both a LARGE 22 once beer..the tab us under $40! AND we both had leftovers for lunch the next day. If you want fast food go to an Indian Buffet if you want a great meal go here.
(5)Sadler P.
To be honest I had never tried Indian food before and I didn't really think I was going to be trying it anytime soon, but was curious to see what had bumped The Berkshire Grill out; and the company I worked for was going there for lunch. I've now been there 2 or 3 times probably. Walking in I was amazed at how much they had changed this place. They brought in so much more light by removing some of the high walls and adding some different fixtures. It really looks like a different restaurant than what was once there. We were all greeted promptly with a smile and were seated quickly. I enjoyed seeing all the different selections on the menu, I figured there's got to be something on this menu that I'll like. I found the butter chicken with jasmine rice. The chicken was great! Juicy, moist, and full of flavor. The almonds that were in it really hit it home for me. The jasmine rice was a perfect accompaniment to the chicken with sauce. We also got the spinach naan bread. It was stuffed full of seasoned spinach. I am not a spinach person really but this was definitely a treat. I have gotten a burger here too and was not impressed. The burger patty seemed water logged, not juicy. Like it had been frozen prior to cooking. The fries were good but nothing special. Other than that, everything that I've spied on other tables looks great. I have not heard any complaints from this place either. Just stick to the Indian food here and you will have a great experience. It is very clean, comfortable, and the staff are all pleasant. I will be going back!
(4)Fred C.
Love this restaurant!!!! My wife and I have eaten at Saffron Grill many times, and the experience is alway 5-star. Owner Mohammed Bhatti is a most congenial host and has staffed this little slice of heaven with some amazing people. I have a food allergy (onions) and had all but given up on finding Indian cuisine... unless I made it myself. Now I'm a pretty cook, but I have to say I have never been able to get the spices quite right. No matter what I order at Saffron, I always get exactly what I want - awesome Indian food without my most dreaded adversary, the onion. Service is exceptional, especially in the bar, where my new friend, Ky not only satisfied my quest for Irish Whisky and Lisa's perfect Cosmo, but he knew the menu back to front! Speaking of the menu, options abound in a wide of dishes from India (that's a given), the Mediterranean and the good ol' USA. My favorite is the Chicken Madras Masala, Lisa's is the Chicken Shish Taouk. Can't wait to go again, just wish they'd open on this side of the lake! Don't forget to try the Spinach and Paneer Naan bread...
(5)Mariel L.
We started off with spinach naan! So delish! Freshly baked from their oven! The tamarind sauce & mint/cilantro sauce that goes with it blends well to the palate! I give this dish a 4star We ordered tofu madras masala & lamb coconut curry - both are excellent! Can't complain!
(4)Eu M.
Good food, good service. Pretty consistent experience. Love the naan, of course! Parking could be better, but usually we can get a spot. Very good leftovers. :)
(4)Chadd B.
Enjoyed a dinner reminiscent of our favorite dishes at Taste of India. Very enthusiastic and friendly server and host; even the guy bussing tge table had a smile. Will return.
(4)Tanya D.
We just tried Saffron for the first time this evening as it's so conveniently located by our house. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, but you can amusingly tell it used to be a Denny's or perhaps Olive Garden. The food is pretty good. The flavors are rich but fall short on the heat factor. We are no heat dare devils, but expected medium to be a little more than the very mild we were presented. We ordered the coconut curry prawns, rogan josh and garlic naan. Its not up there with the greatest Indian cuisine, but it will hit the spot on a cold autumn evening. We were rather impressed with it's large selection of local and imported beers, which is rather unusual for an Indian restaurant. That was a nice touch. The downfall lies in the long wait and slowness of service. We arrived on a Saturday evening at 5:45 and were seated at 6:30. We almost missed our table when they wrote down and called the wrong name. Are server was very nice, but we didn't see him or the food again until after 7pm. I understand popular restaurants will have longer waits, but they also don't seem particularly organized.... and it would help if they provided some kind of snack to hold you over while you wait 20 to 30 minutes for dinner. Overall, I would come back on a weekday, but dinner wasn't fantastic enough to warrant a 2.5 hour experience.
(3)Ron H.
BAM!! This place nails it again. Rewind to February 2013, we came up to Seattle to watch the Supercross race which led us to getting a room at the nexxus hotel. After several hours behind the wheel I was reluctant to drive elsewhere so we chose a restaurant basically in the parking lot. .....and have judged all other Indian restaurants since. Back to current day. For valentine's day I decided to treat my better half to a memorable dinner. After driving 196 miles to get here we were NOT disappointed. Valentines day crowds aside, it was all we expected and then some.
(5)Ryan C.
Great food. Great atmosphere. Diverse beer, wine, liquor selection. I would definitely come here again!
(5)Chris R.
Was looking for a nice place to eat right off the freeway. Saffron Grill looked like a good choice, and it was! Both the mediterranean food and greek food was delicious. Fast and polite service - will be back again.
(4)LaDella B.
Service amazing, food great, owner awful. My sister and I were not allowed to sit and talk with one another after we were done eating as the owner kept trying to push us out. Yes, I get it, it's a busy night, however both of us drove over an hour to try this place and spend some time together catching up. If you like peace and time with your family do not go there. If you're going to be in and out then yes again great service, good food.
(2)Monica B.
Saffron Grill is conveniently located right off the freeway at Northgate. There's always been plenty of parking all around the building. The last time I was there, we had coconut curry lamb, karahi gosht beef, caesar salad, plain naan, bottomless iced chai, and a chocolate milkshake. That day, I had a coupon for buy one entree, get the second one free with the purchase of two drinks. I loved the coconut curry lamb! The lamb was nice and tender and the sauce was well balanced. I didn't like the karahi gosht beef as much. Luckily, someone else was eating that. The beef was cooked well but I wasn't a fan of the flavors. The naan was a good size and flavored well. The caesar salad came with two anchovies and the dressing was really good. Bottomless chai? Yes. I can drink a lot of chai, I'm just sayin'. Customer service was amazing! We were pretty much greeted immediately upon entering the restaurant. Servers were readily available and checked on a us often. My chai glass never ran dry. Lunch was good but I must say that I wasn't quite full after it was all over. With the coupon it was $36.63 before tip. For a meal over $40, I would like to be full. The food was great! I just wish I had more of it.
(3)Asel I.
The food is great, definitely a place to come back to just for that. The service is good, even though it seems like they are a little over -staffed sometimes and some of the waiters linger around awkwardly. I almost want to give one star less for cleanliness, but that would only be in the hopes that restaurant management would take action. It's not dirty, but the cleaning supplies they are working with just don't do it.
(4)Naresh C.
My wife and I have been to this restaurant in Seattle many many times in the past couple years and many times for special celebrations like birthdays, valentines day and anniversaries. The food, service and ambience - makes us come back here again and again. We are Indians and we love spicy Indian food. This place caters well for variety of customers with their menu items ranging from American, Meditteranean and of course Indian. Some tips for new customers : 1. You can adjust the spice level beyond their normal range of 1-5. We usually order our Indian vegetarian curries at spice level "Indian spice level 6". 2. They usually do not cut their breads (roti, naan etc). We usually ask the chef to cut the breads into 4 or 8 pieces. 3. Also their Naans are a bit thicker. You can ask them to make it crispy/thin if you like them so. 4. They accept Prime card for one free entrée when you buy another entrée.
(4)Michelle Y.
I love the food here. I have been here for dinner 3 times now. I really enjoy the chai here - I have even stopped on my way home from work to pick it up to go. Last night I had chicken saag and the chicken was divinely tender. I love to try new places but this is somewhere I come back to when I want to take a friend to yummy Indian food.
(5)Cynthia L.
Saffron is bright and cheery inside. I really like that about it! Another Indian place with the never-ending chai, they make sure that your cup rarely goes empty. Our waiter, while very friendly, was definitely overselling to us a little bit. It was humorous, actually. We're big tippers, buddy. No need to continue to try and get us to buy more stuff *chuckle* For dinner, we had a few different things: to drink, I had the mango lemonade. It's not a free refill-drink, so don't go crazy ;) It was really delicious, but the small glass was not worth $3.99 to me. I ordered the chicken naan too, and would say to pass on it. The naan part was good, but the crumbly chicken was kind of bland and uninteresting. I will definitely try their other stuffed naans next time. For dinner, I had the chicken Jalfrazie, which is like a reddish-brown curry with vegetables. I didn't care for it, although I do like Jalfrazie, it didn't really impress me. The basmati rice was good! But the Tandoor Surprise (sounds like Turkey Surprise--Tasmanian Devil-style) was outstanding! It came with chicken (moist, flavorful), lamb, beef, and salmon. The salmon was shockingly good. I'm sure I'll go back, since my fella is a fan of this place, when we're back in the Northgate area ^_^
(3)Nithin A.
We were close to the Northgate mall and i had been to this place before with a decent experience, so we decided to head here for lunch. We first ordered pakoras as appetizers which came with lettuce dressings. The pakoras were fine but after we finished them we noticed there was a green insect in the dressings. We told the waiter and he promptly took away the food called the manager. The manager instead of apologizing tried to question us about our findings. After explaining to him, he mentioned that it could be from the wine bottle we ordered. Haven't heard that story before, but we were hungry and decided ignore to continue. We ordered chicken biriyani among other things for the main course. In the midst of eating my friend noticed that there was a dead fly in the salad that came with the biriyani. We called the waiter again. He agreed that it was disgusting and again called the manager. This time a different person came to us I assume it was a senior manager. Again, Instead of apologizing about it, he tried to reason us with silly excuses. He mentioned that it is summer and these things do happen. Really?? We asked to take away the remaining food as were too disgusted to eat. The waiter took away the food and brought the bill. They billed us for everything except the pakoras and biriyani even though we couldn't finish our lunch. This really showed that the don't value their customers. I would suggest to skip this place if bugs in your food is not your thing.
(1)Carmela G.
Nice ambiance (the decor & the music). They have friendly staff. It was my birthday when my bf brought me here and our waitress was very welcoming. Though she sold me to getting a cocktail which we thought was "free". i swear she told us that because she said it's my bday. But when we got the check, we were charge for the cocktail. We didn't complain anymore coz i didn't want the rest of my day to be ruined. Oh well! Food was good.
(4)Darcy N.
I've eaten here probably ten times. As in, it's so good that when I'm up in North Seattle each year for work, I eat here at least three nights in a row. Authentic, huge menu with lots of variety, very decently priced, full bar and superb service. I don't even generally like rice, but their basmati is SO GOOD. I crave it. I love this place.
(5)Adriana D.
UPDATE: my boyfriend and I had to come back for a second time because our last experience was great. Yet again, the place was full; and it probably has a lot to do with the amazing food but I personally think it has even more to do with the incredible service from every single staff member. Our waiter was so friendly and, although it was obviously very busy, we were treated as if we were the only two people there. It is definitely one of our new favorite date night spots.
(5)Colin B.
The experience in this restaurant was exceptional, the food was downright amazing, the service was great, and they even gave us a dessert on the house! I cannot recommend this restaurant enough!
(5)Alen K.
Food was amazing, we had the garlic naan - and butter chicken as well as appetizer (assortment of meats) as well as the hummus. I highly recommend this place. Keep an eye out on groupon sometimes there's is a deal
(5)Isabel B.
Just try it. You will be hooked. I have tried everything on the menu. My go to favorites are the tandoori cod and the lentils with a side of pesto naan (the best!) and washed down with their homemade chai. And don't miss the sweet baklava! Warm and nutty!
(5)Kalie M.
The reviews were all amazing and wanted to come here for so long but this place is incomparable to any other Indian or Mediterranean place I have ever been to. First, they put a jar of sauce they say is "Indian salsa". It is not house made, they bought it from the store and put it there for you to use. Weird. You'd think they'd make their own sauce and not something I can buy from the store. The gyros were crunchy and tasteless. The grape leaves were way too strong with spices. The curry I got was not even a creamy texture. It was vegetables with a sauce mixed in and dry. My boyfriends curry had a beautiful color but the taste was bland and chicken was not tender. The naan was the worst part. Pick it up and everything fell out all over the place. Waste of money.
(2)Jenny H.
Amazing! The service was superb. It was so nice to see true fine dining and staff that moved like a well oiled attentive machine! All the food was absolutely fantastic. We had stuffed grape leaves, mulligatawny soup, coconut prawn curry, paneer mango curry, chicken madras masala, basmati rice, garlic naan, coconut ice cream, baklava and cheesecake. Everything was incredible. A new favorite for sure and the right place to take out of town friends!
(5)K C.
My wife and I have been coming here since it opened and before that we patronized Cedars in the U District when Saffron's owner used to run that place. He is a great guy and always personally greets us when we come in. The food here is superb and is our favorite Indian restaurant in the Puget Sound area. The curries and tandoori plates are amazing. Their beer and wine selection is fantastic, much better than most restaurants I've seen.
(5)Pam L.
My good friend suggested this place to eat out for my birthday. I was so excited at the thought of Indian cuisine, because very few of my friends really like Indian food. The restaurant is situated next to the Northgate mall, and a somewhat unappealing hotel. When you first walk in, you notice it is a large and open. It seems like a restaurant where they remodeled it from a previous chain, and did a wonderful job. Organized and clean smelling. The bathrooms are beautiful and are clean and pristine. The waiter we had was very soft spoken, and attentive. He always had a smile on his face, and never left our glasses empty. Great service is always good in my book. When thumbing through the menu, I was at first skeptical because of the extensive meal choices and different cuisines they had (American, Indian, Mediterranean) But I didn't let that detract me by the experience there. My friend highly suggested to get the spinach garlic naan. When I tried it, I was completely hooked! A creamy, spinach and paneer filling with great fresh, garlic flavor. It is the best filled naan I have ever eaten!! I highly recommend it for an appetizer to anyone. I ended up getting the biryani with chicken, and my friend got the butter lamb. Both was excellent. Well seasoned, and not dry, and both had a wonderful creamy and flavorful sauce. They give pretty good portions, so you will be taking leftovers home. At least we did. I also ordered the chai masala. Creamy, sweet, and beautifully spiced. Free refills are definitely a win! I would recommend this restaurant to anybody who loves Indian food! I will be returning.
(4)Teresa D.
The food was so delicious . My husband took me and my daughter here for my birthday and it was just great. The portions are a little small for the prices and it didn't really seem like a family friendly place we got placed in a corner without any room to really be comfortable eating at with a baby but other than that the service and food was good. I would go back but probably next time maybe just as a date night or dinner with my girls.
(4)Jennifer L.
Meeehhhh. It was alright. Nice decor. Service was good, but not anything I would remember. Food was mediocre and overpriced. I always always order biryani and ... This version of biryani was a disappointment. This time I decided to try out lamb, and it was incredibly dry. Was completely looking forward to Indian food and now wish that I would have just went to the mom & pop place down the street!
(3)Carlos P.
I don't eat much Indian food, so this was a treat when I went for my wife's birthday. The service was very impressive. They found us a nice spot to sit and provided a chair to support my baby son's car seat. My wife had flowers so they even brough a vase to put on the table, though we later moved it off the table when the food arrived. They have a large menu to choose from and have stuff for people that's non spicy and also if they rather not have Indian food too. They also had a extensive selection of wines and beers. For starters we had Tandoori chicken and garlic and spinach naan, which was addictive, but it's always like that! The curries contain tomato which I can't eat, so I ordered SHISH TAOUK, and that was a great choice: chicken on skewers with rice and veggies, perfect for my palette. I also tried my wife's potato dish which was also very tasty. At the end they brought out a little dessert for my wife and embarrassed her by singing happy birthday. Very good service and food.
(4)Lilly A.
Food was great! However, that was the end of my good experience. There's something to be said when as a female you walk into a restaurant and ask for a table for two. They ignored us for a long time... seated the people that came in 5 minutes after us... Then oh "table for two?", ignored me and deferred to my boyfriend who is blocked from view (Oh you called me Sir, thanks, I'm feeling really mannish today..). Then when putting in our order, I ordered the naan and my plate and I left my boyfriend to order whatever he wanted (hey I was paying!). The waiter then leaned over to my boyfriend and asked him if the order was correct without making any eye contact with me. My time here was just filled with moments like these. Even my boyfriend staring back at me with the 'WHAT is going on here' look... It feels like a silly thing to react to but when you are completely ignored.. it feels insulting.
(2)Susan S.
I stayed in Seattle over the weekend because my husband is in rehab after open heart surgery. Hotel Nexus is in the same parking lot as this restaurant so I walked there for dinner. I ordered a vegetarian meal and it was delicious. I truly didn't know what it would taste like since I'm not familiar with Indian cuisine, but it was wonderful! The wait staff is efficient and courteous, but the water pouring staff were a bit annoying as they came around too often (like every 2 min.) and I didn't need them refilling my glass every time I took a sip. You can order your meal in mild, medium, or very spicy. I will definitely be back to try another dish on the menu. The restaurant was packed and that usually means they're doing something right!
(5)Singaravelan V.
This is hands down one of the best Indian restaurants in the area in terms of awesome ambiance, pretty good service and the best food. We got the bottomless Chai tea which was hot and comforting for the cold winter weather. We ordered the Chicken tikka for appetizer which was well done and the flavor was awesome. For entrees, we had the Vegetable Rogan Josh with Garlic Naan. The Rogan Josh was good and the saffron basmati rice that came with it looked like plain rice but had a good flavor to it. The Naan bread is huge and they serve it without cutting like a medium size pizza. The side of Raita we ordered was good. The service was pretty darn good as they constantly refilled our chai tea and water glasses and also checked whether we were happy with the food. We couldn;t finish up our Naan bread as it was huge and the when the waiter was cleaning up the table he noticed that the Naan was burnt and asked if we didn't like it as it was burnt.We actually didnt feel it was burnt and told him that we were too full to finish it up.He was nice enough to ask if he could bring a new one, which we could take it along with our leftovers. I would have never expected this kind of service at any restaurant. Hats off to the waiter who went above and beyond to make sure we were happy with the food. The good things about this place has not come to an end yet :) When we got the check, we came to know that they offer Gulab Jamun as a complimentary dessert for everyone. What more could i ask for from this place. I would definitely come back when visiting Seattle.
(5)Kris M.
Called in order 35 min ago. Was told it would take 20 min. Still waiting!!!! Welcome to Indian time
(3)Monique L.
New and improved experience at Saffron Grill. I liked their Garlic Naan and Prawn Curry during lunch. Definitely enjoyed the lunches here. I also really liked their Saffron salad: great portion and very fresh leafy greens. Loved it!
(5)Kristina F.
The most delicious Indian food ever! The coconut curry with tofu tastes buttery and creamy, yet still light! The restaurant is in top shape with beautiful Indian decor. The owner is always there, smiling and welcoming! All the staff are genuine and kind. We appreciate the unlimited chai and excellent service.
(5)Megan J.
We cannot fully express our delight in words. The Tikki Masala, Coconut Curry and huge piece of nan was exceptional, the bottomless chai and baklava were delicious and the service was outstanding. Malik, our server, was incredibly attentive, friendly, polite and charming. His suggestions regarding entrees, wine and dessert were flawless. Our chai was constantly full without ever needing to ask. Empty plates were immediately removed from the table and the atmosphere was peaceful and homey. An absolutely wonderful experience in every way.
(5)Krystin T.
I came here with fellow Yelper Sarah M. I'd driven by before and never paid much attention, so I'm glad she suggested it. It's a little odd that their menu is Indian AND Mediterranean, but hey, I'll go with it! They have a huge selection of both, plus some random American dishes thrown in. We started off with garlic naan, which was fresh out of the oven and delicious. It's huge - we probably finished 3/4 of it and there was still a fair amount left! For my entree, after much deliberation, I went with the Channa Masala. You can choose from three options: plain, potato, or paneer. The paneer was a bit more expensive but that's what I picked and it was a good choice. I'm kind of intrigued by the potato option, though. You're able to choose the level of spice, so I asked for the mildest level. Sometimes that ends up not having much of a kick to it at all, but this was a good amount of spice without burning my mouth to death. The dishes come with basmati rice on its own dish. It was a surprising amount of food! Overall I think my total before tip was about $15 which included a soda. That might be a little pricey but since it was a lot of food I can't be too upset!
(4)Tim M.
Very convenient location, somewhat minimal parking, but the restaurant has as very inviting ambiance. The food looked and tasted great. I was a bit disappointed in the wait staff. Everyone at my table received their food except me and nobody noticed for nearly 10 minutes. By the time another waiter noticed, I had already asked about my order and it was handled quickly. My water glass was always full and the food was extremely tasty. I just can't give them 5 stars, but overall it was a good dining experience.
(4)Ian R.
Saffron Grill - why do you have to be located all the way in Northgate? Heading to Saffron Grill was a very nostalgic experience, bringing me back to the days of Cedars on Brooklyn Ave. in the U District. Eating here while in college was an enjoyable escape from the moldy, rotten "treats" I had in my apartment refrigerator. Everyone deserves to have a meal that won't induce vomiting. Much of the old Cedars transferred directly over to Saffron, from the owner to many of the wait staff. In addition, the very impressive beer selection has grown by quite a factor. Included in the impressive lineup include some chocolate stouts and various belgian brews. While on the topic of alcohol, check out the large bar that is a new addition that wasn't at Cedars. From the cocktail list, Saffron does some of the classics with an Indian twist (e.g. the Indian Bloody Mary or Mango Martini), and some unique concoctions like the Bangalor Rose or Calcutta Pear. But if you are like me and prefer your poison straight up, well...there's no shortage of liquor bottles around. Scotch & whiskey, vodka, and gin fans can take comfort in knowing that they'll be well taken care of with Saffron's large inventory of spirits. Now onto the most important factor of the experience: the food. And what an experience the food creates. My favorite dish stemming from Cedars is the fish madras masala, a dish that has a chili, tomato, garlic, and spice base. Total excellence. The food is tasty, fiery, and well seasoned. The fish definitely does not taste like it came from the Gorton's fishermen. Alongside my dish, I ordered the keema naan bread- which takes a nice spin on the normally plain naan. Inside the bread, you will find a nice ground meat stuffing. The naan is light, easy to handle, and crispy. Other notable breads include the spinach naan and the aloo paratha. When I'm not eating the Madras Masala greatness, other items I am happy to eat are the keema kabobs, tandoori fish, rogan gosh, and karahi gosht. While I'm at it, why don't I just recite the whole menu? TIP: Saffron Grill, for its heat/spiciness rating, uses the 1 - 5 star system. However, they have a secret 1 - 8 star system available if you desire the heat level to go up to borderline illegal.
(5)Kelz K.
First impression of the decor was great. However I was a little disappointed that the hostess seated my boyfriend and I right next to the restroom, seeing as there were plenty of other available booths. A tip on restaurant etiquette; the restroom is the last place you should seat a guest by. Our waitress had a great timely manner when it came to taking our order, checking for refills, and making sure we were well taken care of. Food was exceptional; the naan bread was a huge portion in which I was pleased with. My boyfriend had the chicken curry specialty, while I had the baigan bharta. We both ordered our spice level at a 3. the chicken curry was pretty good, good sized portion. My bharta could have been better. It was semi plain in flavor. Staff cleaned off our table to set us up with desert. To finish off we devoured a chocolate lava cake in which I have no complaints. All together I would give this place a 2.5
(2)Lacey H.
This is my favorite Indian restaurant in Seattle!! I have never been disappointed when I come here. Service is wonderful and food is amazing!!
(5)A.J. S.
I struggle with Indian food in Seattle. -One place charges extra for instant-tasting brown rice, and skimps on the chicken. -One place I worked at in college, and this by default forces me to never eat there ever again. -One place is vegetarian and 35 minutes away, making one of us cranky, and one of us still hungry. -One place is so damn delicious I found myself slam-nomming tikka masala sauced garlic naan into my piehole faster than I could chew. The last place was Saffron Grill. What was my struggle then, other than forcing my body to rapidly digest spicy chicken tikka masala loaded naan hunks between mutterings of "sweet baby jeebus this ishz the bomb?" For two entrees, a side of rice, and one order of aforementioned garlic naan, was $37 dollars. Was there indeed crack in there? Was this garlic naan later going to give me a foot rub? No. Two entrees, two sides, almost $40. I got take out, yes. Perhaps in the lavishly decorated restaurant atmosphere, or perhaps with the Valu-Pack coupon sent in the mail, it would have been a little easier to digest. But for a last minute take out order, it was surprisingly pricy.
(4)Daren D.
I venture out to the traffic-cluster season of North Seattle every so often and decided to finally-FINALLY come out to Saffron. I parked my compact car right there in the only open slot in front on the sidewalk... and entered... Busy, wut!? I asked about the wait and the brown-haired lady said it was about an 1-hour; ding on both of us for not getting my name down on the ginormous waiting list... Zzzz.... I hang a bit and eventually someone got me. I like the interior pretty good but the waiting area could've been better during initial design. At the table, service was sufficient and nice. I had some type of less-common naan and I think the chicken pakoras (CP)... not sure what's up but they were just okay. The naan was crumbly-flaky (not fluffy in a good way) and rather bland. The CP's were alright; they weren't quite the type I'd expect as other places I've tried (bite-sized lightly fried bundles of goodness). Although, anything like that still is good with yummy sauces like chutney, mint and tamarind(?). Chai: smooth, warm, soothing, lovely omgahgosh chai...! I love it and endless chai?! Heck-freaking-yes! I'd come here just for that and pay whatever just so I can have a nice sit-down session enjoying cups of it. This is one of my favorites up there with Juba's cooked chai tea (1 of 2 silver thermos). [[Side note: 90% I prefer cooked chai & 10% brewed/tea bag chai.]] It was a nice visit and if you like chai like I do, I'm so ready. =D
(4)Travis W.
Great Indian food and great service. I usually get butter chicken cuz I fear change but I've had a lot of other stuff and it's good.
(4)John S.
Can't speak to the authenticity (probably not that great, given the multiple cuisines it caters to) but great naan, great tzatziki sauce, and good food all around. Didn't like the cocktails much, but that's not why I went. Definitely beats out most of the places that deliver indian or greek in the area.
(5)Tyler R.
I'd seen that Saffron had higher ratings than most eating establishments near the Northgate Mall, so I decided to give it a try. While a little apprehensive that Saffron Grill felt like walking into an Indian themed Chili's or Applebee's, I was immediately comforted by the kindness and hospitality of the staff as they sat me at my table. As I was dining alone, my experience of evaluating the menu, ordering, and going through the meal can generally be pretty quick, and the staff accommodated this well. Alexis, my server, was very polite and efficient. I ordered the Chicken Kashmiri Specialty (hot) and an order of garlic naan, with a mango lemonade to drink. My first taste was the mango lemonade and it was delightful. It was a little thicker than I expected, almost somewhere in texture between a lemonade and a lassi, but it was definitely tasty and I savored it through the meal. Next, my entree and naan arrived (Alexis gave me the option of having the naan before the meal.) The first thing I noticed was the size of the naan. It is HUGE. Alexis said their specialty is to do the "elephant ear" sized naan. The naan was enough for three or four people, easily, and was very tasty. As for the entree, I enjoyed the spices of the Kashmiri specialty. The chicken could potentially have been of a little higher quality, but it was still seasoned well and not overly dry. The Basmati rice actually had more flavor than I generally experience in rices at Indian restaurants, so it didn't need so much extra flavor from the sauce. The one thing I would note is that I ordered the entree "hot" style, as I love spicy food. I might have tried the "xhot" option, as the spices were still a little mild for my palate. After closing up the bill, the server delivered me a piece of baklava complimentary, and it was a nice finish to the meal. Definitely glad I tried Saffron and I am excited to return to sample some other offerings on the menu.
(4)lee k.
Dahl bean soup is hot and tasty, Saffron salad green is fresh w plenty of blue cheese and walnut, oven fresh garlic naan is fluffy and big, cilantro and tamarind chutney compliment perfectly, then a hearty entrées of chilli chicken with Bastimi rice, finished with a rice pudding dessert, served non stop refill of chai tea .......and attentive service, deserves 6 stars!
(5)Roman M.
My wife and I are absolutely in love with this place! We go there once a month, on average. Inside: The decor is very authentic, comparing to most Indian restaurants around Seattle area. The Indian artifacts are everywhere. The ambiance is pleasant and relaxing. Clean tables/bathrooms. Service: Waitstaff are very attentive yet discreet. They are always around to fill up my favorite masala chai. Food: I never thought of myself as a huge fan of Indian food. But Saffron is the place I keep coming back because its food is so delightful and flavorful. We've tried various dishes, but our favorite is the chicken tikki masala. It is very delicious and goes perfect with the garlic nan. Highly recommended
(5)Natasha J.
The food at Saffron Grill was great, no complaints really. I have a very picky Indian food palette, as having lived in India for sometime, and they did a good job. Not my favorite Indian restaurant by far, but not at the bottom either. The ambience was nice and clean, but parking can be a bit of an issue, but just be patient. For 2 people, we shared the butter chicken, mango chicken and the bhaigan bhartha (the eggplant). They were all very yummy. We also had the garlic naan and plenty of rice to go around. The meal was very filling and enough for left overs the next day. We also took part in cocktails and had the Bangalore Rose Martini and the Lychee Martini. Both were extremely strong even though we asked for them to be not as strong, so we didn't finish them completely. The servers were very professional and timely and answered all of our questions. They also honored a coupon I printed from their website and served us complimentary baklava at the end.
(3)Sean R.
This place is truly amazing! I usually don't like foods with a lot of spices, but this place is an exception. Try the butter chicken curry and the tandoori chicken here. It is by far the best Mediterranean food I've ever had in my life! The servers were very kind and constantly checking to refill my water that it never went below the half. It is not only the food that is outstanding, but also great service.
(5)Elexis O.
I hate to leave such a bad review as I have been here several times and always had great service. This evening however I received the worst service ever the waiter (Maurice) was impolite and seemed bothered that we were in his section. He took our order and then never came back to our table to check on us, our drinks were empty and he walked past our table and checked on all three tables next to us, even when I stared at him and smiled in an attempt to get some service he continued past our table, when I called out to him he went to the table next to us and checked on them again. I had to ask a busser and another waiter before he brought our check. By that time we'd already been sitting with our table cleared and had our leftovers boxed and ready to go. . . I'll still give two stars as this is my favorite naan of all time.
(2)Jim J.
We decided to try SG based on Yelp reviews. The food was amazing. My family of six tried a variety of Indian dishes and no one was disappointed. After I was way full from the great pits, hummus, nan, and my main dish,... I still wanted to keep eating! The service was exceptional. We did not lack for attention and our water was never below 2/3 full. This is a great date place or family destination. My five stars are for real. We will be back!!
(5)Leah M.
Amazing best Indian food I've ever had! The owner is actively involved at making sure everything is a great experience. The garlic nan and butter vegetables and it prawns are my favorite dishes amongst several more just can't go wrong. I brought my 5 year old niece and she is a very picky eater. They offered to accommodate her and offered her spaghetti and she said it was the best!!:)
(5)Brandon C.
Gf and I ate here when we stayed at the Hotel Nexus, which shares a parking lot with the restaurant. I wasn't expecting much since we chose this place basically due to proximity alone. We were pleasantly surprised to find a great restaurant. Their menu is huge with many dishes, and multiple filling options, including lamb, chicken, beef, potatoes, shrimp, pakora, etc. There are 5 levels of spicy (7 if you are truly brave) so they can accommodate any palate. We ate here twice and both times the food was great. They also gave us a complimentary baklava for dessert both times, not sure if this is a regular thing but it was delicious. Also, we had a server named Alysha (sp?) and she was incredible! To the owner: give her all of the hours you can, she is worth it.
(4)Sheila H.
Great food, great service! Will definitely have to try this place again. We went for lunch with friends but it could be a date night kinda place.
(5)Travis N.
This is just a review of the mango ice cream... which is amazing!
(4)Christina S.
This place was great! I've heard many great things about it so I was glad I was finally able to try it. The happy hour menu is wicked good! Lots of good food and cheap drinks! That's what hh is all about right?!? The service was impeccable. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Jeff F.
Takeout was ok - may be a lot better in person. Run down: - mango chicken - interesting - tandoori - good - naans - ginormous I recommend you try Saffron since I'm the outlier - my buddy loves this place as do many other people on Yelp.
(3)Thom W.
What a great place. Excellent service and terrific food. We will definitely be back.
(4)Jen L.
Not the most authentic indian food around but it is good food, maybe slightly overpriced than I would like, averaging probably $14 a plate. You can eat for less but it gets pricey once you have ordered an appetizer meal and a drink. The top thing about it is it has something for everyone including American meals for those who don't know if they like indian
(3)Lisa D.
How have I not reviewed this place yet? Anyway, I was a huge fan of Taste of India when I lived further south, so I was very happy to discover the same family opened this restaurant further north. I have not had one bad dish here, although they tend to spice things American-style. If you want your food really spicy you need to stress that to the server. The curries are all quite good and the naan is fabulous. This location has a full bar and a very extensive beer selection. They also have a few standard American dishes like hamburgers; I'm guessing to cater to the clientele they get from the hotel next door. The wait staff are very attentive and drinks are always filled - whether you want them to be or not! The chai is addictive and free flowing; be careful lest you fill up on that alone. If you ever have room for dessert, which is unlikely, try the Gulab Jamun - lovely balls of fried dough in sweet saffron syrup.
(5)Jeffrey S.
Yes, the food here is the best Indian food in the PNW; but you pay dearly for the privilege. Whereas Taste Of India held the #1 slot for years, after eating here I was shocked at the supremacy this place yields. Even the Basmati Rice was perfect. The Coconut Fish Curry -I've never had cfc this good (even in Kerala India where the dish originated). In short, I've never had Indian cuisine this fresh, and subtlety delightful in my life. Anywhere. And I eat A LOT of Indian food on a monthly basis. It is, without doubt, true "haute" Indian cuisine. My only complaints are: 1.) their locale in a strip-mall type Sanford's architecture of a building (think ex-Mexican restaurant), and 2.) my confusion as to why they offer an American + Middle-Eastern sub menu. My advice would be to leave it 100% Indian. Later, I come to find that the owner(s) of Saffron B&G also own: Chutney's, Taste Of India and Cedars and a few others -go figure. Definitely the place to visit if you crave top Indian cuisine. Definitely the best Indian place in the greater Seattle area, quite surprisingly.
(4)Robin T.
Tried Saffron for the first time last night and it was wonderful! Everything on the menu looked delicious...took forever to decide what to order. They were crowded at 5:00 on a Saturday and packed by 5:30 which means we're not the only ones who think this place is great. We ordered a vegetarian appetizer plate to share (yum!) and 2 other vegetarian dishes. Everything was delicious. The service was fantastic, too. No complaints at all! We will return!
(5)Steve S.
They really went out of their way to provide a safe meal for my nut allergic daughter, and the food was delicious too! Excellent service, great food, and a nice atmosphere - we'll definitely go back. P.S. they have no peanuts in the restaurant and were very accommodating in avoiding cross-contamination with tree nuts.
(5)Dan B.
Fantastic dinner, the staff are attentive and friendly. A bonus, the chai tea is unlimited. Certainly one of the best Indian and Mediterranean restaurants I've eaten at
(5)Tim D.
I love the Saffron Grill. I'm a fan of Indian food in general, but the fact that they'll make the same dishes as other places with beef makes me really happy. They also have gone above and beyond the call of duty when I ask them to make my dish 8 stars (One the 1-5 star scale.). The endless cup of chai is awesome. The wait staff have all been very pleasant and attentive.
(5)Marti R.
Okay, this is now my goto place for when I'm visiting friends or family at NW Hospital! TOTALLY FAB FOOD. Excellent service. And it's so packed. People love this place
(5)Marie P.
This place is great! It's got all my favorite Americanized Indian food, and they have this super awesome bottomless Chai that is soooo yummy! I can't wait to go back to drink endless amounts of Chai.
(5)Alice C.
I went to Saffron Grill Monday, 8/23/2010 with a friend. Our bill was 40 dollars, and we split it. I checked with my bank today to discover Saffron charged me the cost of the original bill, and then swiped my card again for the nineteen dollars and some odd cents that was my half. When I called the owner, he told me that their computer system was overly sensitive and that all I had to do was wait three days and it should work itself out before hanging up on me. I realize everything will likely work out, but I do not like being talked down to by a restaurant employee, especially the owner. I realize it will take a few days to straighten out, but I DO NOT want to be charged 60 dollars for a meal that was worth 10. If/when my account is returned the originally charged 40 dollars, I will update this review. If not, Bank of America's fraudulent charges department can have some fun here. EDIT/UPDATE: 8/26/2010 So, my bank statement did even out. I still wouldn't go out of my way to come here- food just isnt that good for what you're shelling out- but if I had no other option, I guess I would. And I would pay with cash. No way I'm handing over my card to these guys again. 2.5 stars.
(2)Hgames R.
we have been there so many times and the quality of their food has consistently been nothing less than spectacular.
(5)Eel S.
Terrible wait, bias seating and hrs of waiting for food that never came. Another family had same experience next to us. Title of their menu should read: How to never get first time customers to return back, as they have it down
(1)Elizabeth T.
Good happy hour dishes. I really liked their calamari, keema naan, and garlic naan. They have a new bartender that is starting. Such a cutie and very attentive. He humors you when you're drunk with your girlfriends and joins in on some of the boy bashing. Best part is their happy hour is from 2-7.
(3)Morgan L.
Dinner couldn't have gone better. Excellent service, wonderful food, and comfortable ambiance. Not too expensive either. This is a great place for a mixed group of omnivores and herbivores.
(5)Frances L.
Super yummy! I had the Butter Chicken curry and it was so good. I ate the whole thing. The decor was nice. It was convenient to the hotel we ate staying at. Nicer than I thought it would be.
(4)Morgan S.
I just had the most amazing family dinner here. We easily ordered half of the Indian dinner menu and a couple of appetizers. Everything was amazing, & their chai tea (which is bottomless) is one of my all-time favorite teas. Our waitress, Nicole, was so great. She was very attentive and pleasant. At the end we were too full to even think about dessert, but then came Nicole ... She brought us a complimentary dessert, freshly made kheer (I think that's how it's spelled on the menu), a rice pudding made with almonds. Delicious. I'll be back, a lot I hope.
(5)Youngseok J.
I went to try this place with my girlfriend last weekend. We were simply tired of looking for food in my fridge and decided to try Indian food. I am not very sold on Indian food in general because I know my stomach can't handle it sometimes. Then, came Saffron Bar. The location is a havoc coming from Aurora, with small parking lot that looks like the nearby hotel's parking lot. The store seems run down, until you enter it. It's actually larger than what it looks like, and for the most part, clean and well decorated. The first thing that gets anybody is the smell of good food. We ordered lamb tikka masala and tandoori chicken tikka. What impressed me the most, besides food, was the waiter's knowledge. My girlfriend is one who likes to throw ALOT of questions, and seeing as how neither of us is anywhere close to knowledgeable in Indian and Mediterranean terms, a lot of questions were asked. And the waiter nailed almost all of them with ease. It was almost as if he's been doing his job for decades. Now the food: tikka masala was like curry but better. I liked the texture, my girlfriend liked the taste, and somewhere in between both of us were soon swiping every bit of the masala sauce with our naan bread. The lamb was cooked in that perfect medium where a bite takes off tender chunks like it's been shredded. Tandoori Chicken was also cooked great and I enjoyed the rice especially. Billing came out high as we would have expected, but as my ratings show, Saffron Grill is where paying a lot for exquisite food pays off. We WILL be here again soon.
(5)Martin K.
Don't understand comments about bland dishes. Saffron does Indian food right (don't know about the American or Mediterr. menu). Apart from being a very attractive restaurant, the busy waitstaff - just watch them clear and set up tables - the bonus is the maitre d'/owner who treats every guest with respect. Their naan is simply outstanding, and my previous visits all have been a delight. I selected the Karani (sp) Gosht with chicken and plenty of spice. Great choice! My wife wanted less stew and more vegies, so the waitress pointed her to Chili Masala (my pick would have been a Tandoor dish). Both were well-received, and the fenugreek-flecked rice was ample and tasty. Remembering last time, I had a mango lassi: it was thick and rich. Haven't tried their chai, but I will do so next time. The solicitous host came around to ask how everything went and then surprised us with a complimentary baklava! This is a great place to take guests, but be aware that it can be busy around dinnertime. Only one critique - wait staff should not be too quick to clear a table while guests are still sitting. I know turnover is key, but it makes a pleasant stay seem rushed, and we all know what happens when full bellies are rushed out of a restaurant.
(5)Lauren T.
Best Indian I have ever had! The naan was incredible as well. They gave us complimentary baklava and it was amazing! The service was excellent.
(5)Chase A.
I'm totally -- I mean really, thoroughly -- perplexed by all these high reviews. Overpriced bland food. After a delightful experience in the Yelp express line at tonight's free screening of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (which was phenomenal, btw! -- I can't remember when I enjoyed a movie that much!), I was jonesin' for some Indian food. It was after 9, so my friend and I settled on this place, largely because of its illuminated "open" sign. Well that put a damper on the evening. For $44 before tip, we got the following: Chicken Korma (bland) with basmati rice (good, but can't screw that up) Hummus (bland) Naan with fruit and nuts (good and interesting, but expected more flavors to leap out) 1 Mac & Jacks, 1 glass of wine If it wasn't Indian food I was after, I'd probably rate it a bit higher. But I didn't detect a hint of Indian spices in anything. How is that possible? The unique spice is kinda the whole point. At some point I looked around and realized something that might explain it: I'm 99% sure that not a single person working there tonight was Indian. In my view, this is a place that tries to do way too many things and doesn't do them well. Their menu is huge. Gordon Ramsay would have a fit at that menu (a reference to a frequent Kitchen Nightmares problem there) -- and, more importantly, with the execution, I'd hope. Whatever this is, Indian food it is not. Won't make that mistake again. Service was friendly enough, setting was nice enough (but oddly huge and empty). It's the food and the price I have the problems with, and those are both key.
(1)Catherine C.
Very nice, classy ambiance and food is very good! The restaurant is very clean as well. Staff is very personable and respectful. Staff always checked on us and we appreciated it. Decent Happy Hour menu. Great for families and out of town guests. Affordable too. The butter Chicken and chicken vindaloo are fantastic with tender chicken pieces... yum!
(4)Gretchen S.
Let's say you accidentally spent 8.56% of the household budget on a super-cute outfit at Northgate Mall this month... That's bad, right? So you need a distraction that will improve the mood without adding any kind of big expense... You need the Spinach and Paneer Naan at Saffron Grill. It's yummy, huge -- practically a meal in itself -- and it only costs $5. Couple that with a nice entree to share, and a coupon from the website to show that you're trying, and you can easily divert the attention away from the transgression. Plus, the Saffron Grill feels nice, with a nice atmosphere and good service that doesn't make you feel like you're making any sacrifices. Bottom line: A delicious and affordable meal at Saffron Grill will divert attention -- until the power bill arrives.
(4)Ram A.
I would give them 4 stars & probably the only Indian restaurant at Seattle that deserves a 4 stars IMO. Their menu is pretty wide, lots of options both Indian & Mediterranean. The waitress are very attentive & the ambience is very clean & comfortable. Any Indian curry is good, especially the paneer ones... I love their Mango pistachio ice cream, really good.
(4)Jay H.
I didn't really know what to expect from this establishment when my friend recommended it. It was spaztacular! We started off with some chai tea. I don't know much about chai (that's a lie... I don't know anything about it) but it was tasty. It was endless chai... that means it never ends. NEVER! I'd get two drinks into the cup and the cheerful chai man would be at the table topping me off. He needed a cape and a description of his super powers because he was a friggin' chai super hero. Needless to say I drank my weight in liters of chai. To start off my feast of deliciousness I got the keema nam. It has some mint sauce of some mystical design. I don't do leftovers... ever. I brought home the leftovers of that stuff. I may need to go back for lunch tomorrow just for that. I followed that up with some chicken curray. I did the second to top spiciness... and will do the top next time. I think the top will be just enough spice to be hot without ruining the flavor. I've never been a heat over taste guy. The chicken was ever so slightly dry which I'll forgive because everything else was spot on and tasted great... and chai man was on point with the refills. I enjoyed the decor and the servers and wait staff were all cheery, helpful and rad. I'm glad I discovered this place and will be coming here frequently. I'm a fan!
(4)Dein D.
I live in San Diego and when I go to Seattle I ALWAYS go to Saffron. The food is amazing, they have millions of different types of beer and cocktails, they have very nice service staff, the restaurant is very clean and has a great atmosphere. One particular note is that each time my wife and I have been there the owner has come up to our table and personally welcomed us. We thought that was a very nice touch on top of what is always an amazing dining experience.
(5)Corinne R.
Heard a lot of great reviews from this place and finally went here to check it out after being somewhat disappointed with another local Indian restaurant (see my review for Masala of India). The ambiance was great, very romantic, great decor, and our server Eric was very knowledgeable and made several great suggestions regarding drinks, appetizers, and the main course (something I believe as a great server is a MUST). The food was divine, I couldn't get enough of the butter chicken curry sauce! We'll worth the money spent in terms of the quality of the food and the professionalism by the staff. We will defiantly find an excuse to return.
(4)Stacey S.
Stopped in for lunch today after running some errands. I ordered the Veggie Pakora's, Coconut Chicken curry and some Garlic Naan.. SOOOO yummy. The waiter brought me out a complimentary dessert, even though I had declined ordering a dessert. I'll be back again soon!
(4)Abraxas A.
Cute wait staff. A bit pricey.
(3)J W.
I love this place, I typically get a lamb dish. I have always enjoyed their food, and i have never waited long either, but I also will go eat in the bar. Happy hour is overpriced. They do every once in awhile give you a free taste of a dessert, which is nice. Service is 50:50 tho, sometimes they are good and others are intrusive. I have unfortunately heard one waiter make fun of a customer...which I was surprised he was joking like that on the floor.
(4)Ann W.
My Indian food boycott is officially over! I previously lived in San Jose where Indian restaurants are pretty much on every block, and I just got sick of Indian food tasting the same everywhere. I am definitely not an expert but I really like the food that we ordered at Saffron Grill. We got garlic naan that came with a yummy yummy dip, tandoori surprise which was a tandoori combo with seafood and meats, and butter chicken with a huge plate of basmati rice. They also gave us baklavah on the house (thank you!). Everything on the tandoori surprise was well-cooked and the squirt of lemon on top makes it even better. The butter chicken was very mouth watering and creamy. The baklava was super syrupy sweet though... but I feel bad for complaining since it was free. ;) I do think it's a little on the pricey side. I thought the butter chicken was a little bit small for $14. Like I said, I am not an expert and an Indian person might be reading this and thinking that I have no idea what I am talking about (I imagine it is similar to when I read people's raving reviews of P.F. Changs or Panda Express). But I will definitely be back to try more from the menu! So good...
(4)Michelle P.
The saffron grill has quickly become one of my favorite places to relax and enjoy a great meal. The atmosphere is elegant but comfortable. the owner is usually walking the dinning area checking in with the customers to ensure they are having a pleasant experience. We love the butter chicken!!
(4)Sybel C.
Best Indian dishes I've had in a long time. Butter chicken was so tender. Waiter was super friendly as well. Will visit here next time I'm down this way!
(4)Ms. Seattle M.
This is my FAV Indian restaurant!! I'm super picky especially when it comes to salt and they know what they are doing. The food is flavorful with amazing spices and not hidden behind salt. No matter where I go I always get curry, this place THE BEST coconut curry. Saffron Grill can add up - but totally worth it. I just got back from vacation and don't want to cook (or get ready to go out to dinner,) so I just placed an order for pick up :)
(5)J.J. B.
This is very mediocre Indian food. It's nice that they have an extended happy hour, but the food is only worth the price during happy hour. I think the best thing about this restaurant is the service. My girlfriend ordered a cup of chai tea and every time it was almost empty, someone came around to refill her cup. With all of the great Indian food options in our city, I see no reason to come back here. The size of the restaurant confuses me because I cannot imagine them drawing enough customers to ever fill all those tables.
(2)Roxy Z.
Good service and pretty good food! I was impressed by the number of vegetarian options available! It was pretty busy the night we went and we were seated quickly and our food came out relatively fast. I liked the unlimited chai (really good chai here compared to other Indian restaurants I have been to.) and how you can choose how spicy you want the food. And the restaurant seems well maintained! Only down side is the price, which seemed a little higher for the amount of food you get... But I guess that's what's paying for the upkeep of the restaurant appearance and waiting staff!
(4)Sophia L.
I had my first introduction to Indian food at Cedars in the U-District when I was going to school. It was near my boyfriend's place, they had $4 pita sandwiches at lunch, and it was nice enough to go to as a date night for dinner. I've been back there as an adult, and the vibe just wasn't the same. I figured that I needed to grow up, and moved on to other places that 1) had probably more authentic food (I mean this is the place that you could also get falafel if you wanted), and 2) didn't have the shitty parking situation that is the U-District. Enter Saffron Grill, which I've driven by tons of times, but never went in (I knew it as the Berkshire Grill way back when, and it just struck me as weird that an Indian place had moved in). Sick of my usual Indian options, me and the husband (Same boyfriend as in college), went and were pleasantly surprised to find it was our beloved Cedars - but the more classed up and adult version. Despite the fact that it was a Friday night, they expedited like champs, filled our water glasses and chai mugs at an admirable speed, and gave us the jar of mango pickles that my husband loves so much (But never gets unlimited amounts of when he goes to other Indian joints). The food tastes the same - I'm a fan of the Palak Paneer; husband is a fan of the Vindaloo, and the garlic naan is still buttery, warm, and the size of a large pizza. And yes, they do carry Mediterranean food - and sometimes a girl is not in the mood for Indian (Pst - the Veggie Plate is pretty solid). If you have endless amounts of nostalgia for Cedar's, you will love Saffron Grill. If you are looking for the best and most authentic Indian food in Seattle, it's probably somewhere else...but you will get good (enough) food and great service at Saffron Grill.
(5)Stacey M.
Average. Good in a pinch but wasn't "wow'd".
(3)Amanda J.
Such great food!! The naan is very good here. We loved the coconut curry as well! Many great choices, lots of variety, and the service was outstanding. I would recommend the baklava! Yum :)
(5)Dean L.
I thought this place was pretty darn good. The prices were a bit much, but the food was excellent. We ordered two curries, both with the veggies, and they were excellent. The Naan is massive, so one fed the two of us. Between the naan and two entrees, we had plenty for dinner and lunch the next day. The service was great. Would totally go back.
(4)Alina P.
For all you cedars fans hot tip the guy that owned cedars back when it was really good sold it and opened the Saffron. Now you're in the know and the tandoor scallops Rock not to mention the chai.
(5)Nio S.
Just like Taste of India on Roosevelt, this place has amazing Indian food thats because the original owner of Taste of India is now the proud owner of Saffron Bar and Grill while his son took over Taste of India. I simply love this family and the food they have served for decades. Not only is their food amazing but the service with the waiters and the owner have been very welcoming....as always, we will be coming back for dinner and special events!!!
(5)Evan A.
Yesterday (1/1/14) I happened to be craving some Indian cuisine as I wanted to eat before I left Seattle today. My buddies wanted Starbucks and gas as well. And what do you know? There's a Starbucks and a gas station across the street! So I knew I would be trying out this location. When I entered the restaurant I was shocked to see how impressive the interior of the restaurant was. The interior of the restaurants where I come from that serve Indian cuisine weighed out to be far inferior to Saffron. The waitress was very polite. I scanned through the menu and I knew I wanted aloo ghobi- a vegetarian dish. However I was craving meat. I requested lamb in my dish and the waitress was happy to have it added. My goodness was it so great. I felt like my family friends had cooked it for me. Now that's authentic cuisine. I also had the chicken tikka for an appetizer. It was great as well. The customer service was exceptional. will definitely be back again for some more amazing Indian cuisine!
(4)Nick P.
Saffron is my favorite Indian restaurant; they also include several Mediterranean dishes as well. Every time I've gone there, I have received excellent service, delicious, strongly flavored dishes, and a fantastic bottomless iced chai which I can't help but work through several of. The tandoor naan is excellent, and the chutney it is served with is quite addictive. My personal favorite dish is the Aloo Mutter Mushroom, however, I have not been disappointed in anything I've ordered yet. The location of the restaurant is deceiving of the quality of dining experience that you will receive. I can't recommend this place any more highly.
(5)Wendy L.
I always get paneer. I thought the butter sauce was the way to go, but love the shahi paneer (it tastes like yummy tomato creme sauce). i don't know if it's the most authentic, but the sauce is great. The garlic naan is pretty standard, but tasty. I guess i give it three stars because I'm not wowed by it. I go when I'm in the area or friends suggest it, but it's not a place I would normally think of to eat. But I will say it's reliable- things are tasty, service is good...it's lacks a wow factor for me. i think it's because while everything is a good portion and the sauces are well flavored, I'm still craving something at the end of my meal!
(3)Melissa B.
The naan was very good, but overall the service was terrible and the main dishes were average in taste. The main server placed my friend and I in the corner and I litterally had to get up three seperate times to ask for service. Next time I will try somewhere else
(2)Jayant G.
The best north indian style food in Seattle region. I have been going to this restaurant every week since I discovered it 6 months ago. It is very cheap for the kind of food it offers. I would be willing to pay much higher prices for the same food. I would go even more often than weekly but the place is too far from my home and I have to use the 520 toll bridge. Hope they open a branch on the eastside. Love their spinach & paneer naan, the softest naan I have ever had. Their butter chicken is also one of the best I ever had.
(5)C Y.
Saffron is among many restaurants we've wanted to try but have never got around to doing so. Perhaps the wide menu offering of Indian, Mediterranean and American put us off. Our concerns were unfounded. Upon entering the place, we were warming greeted by the owner who despite the full house told us it would be only 10 minutes. Under 10 it was and we were seated. I commented it seemed like an Olive Garden for Indian Cuisine but meaning it in a good way, in that the place was full of activity, clean, offered an expansive menu and excellent service. We tried some of our favorite Indian dishes to see how they stacked up, a lamb vindaloo and a chicken tikka masala. Both were very good. Prices were a bit more than in other places, the portions maybe a bit smaller, but rice was included which is not always the case. Their Tandoor oven turns out a variety of different breads in addition to standard naan. We'll be back.
(4)kevin s.
The food here is delicious. I especially love the rice. There is something about really good basmati rice, its really good! Everytime I have been here everyone I was with loved the food. Now after saying that you probably wonder why I only gave them 3 stars. The reason is the service. My experience with the wait staff here has been strange. Last time I went they started clearing the table before they brought the check and while members of my group were still eating. At one point they asked us to pass several knifes down so they could bus them. Then after finishing clearing our table they began to wip it down. Again this was with us all still seated, no check, and one person still eating. It felt like a hint for us to leave, very weird.
(3)Michael A.
inexperienced wait staff. spice rating is mellow. food is average.
(2)Michelle M.
Went for the first time for birthday on 4/11 and overall, very impressed! We were a party of 12 and the customer service was top notch. There was several of them helping with our table and they were quick to take our order and get refills on drinks without anyone having to ask- especially the chai tea. Had the Chicken Butter Specialty, Baba Ghanouj, Garlic Naan and it was all delicious! The butter specialty reminded me of a tomato bisque with added spices...a very rich, creamy flavor. Others who werent having the same as me, had the Vindaloo, Lamb Curry Special, and Palak Paneer. Overall no complaints. Definitely worth it for myself to go back and try the rest.
(5)Olivia S.
it's a love and hate relationship coming to saffron. We love the food.. everything about it. We always over order because everything sounds so good. The chicken tikka masala is yum, and the tandoori fish. It's on the pricey side but SO SO good. Small parking lot but I've never had any trouble finding a spot. The hate part of the restaurant is seeing the owner I suppose micromanaging his employees, and it's SO obvious that it made eating our meal almost uncomfortable at times. Other than that, delish food!
(4)Rebecca H.
I liked the Berkshire, where I once got drunk on their "1/2 bottle wine night", got a bottle of way too sweet wine, and puked in the bathroom. Fond memories. But now it's a somewhat confused restaurant, serving Indian, Mediterranean, and American food. The meza platter was fine, nothing spectacular, but nothing horrific either. The usual dolmas, tahini, babaganoush, tabouli, falafels, etc. Not the best I've had, but certainly not terrible. The tandoori mix, that was just shameful. The fish was rubbery and overcooked, as was the lamb, and the ground lamb grilled skewer was raw. I don't mean a medium rare, I mean brown on the outside and red and uncooked on the inside. We let the waitress know, and she comped us a piece of baklava, which was the best part of the meal. I wouldn't go back, there is so much better food to be had in Seattle. The service was lovely, the decor is lovely and soothing, but the food just isn't very good. I think they would do better to focus on one cuisine and do it really well. Mediterranean and Indian aren't easily compatible, and mixing them didn't yield good results. And I totally agree with another review about the neon green sponge table wiping while we were still seated at the table. Don't do that. It's completely tacky and gross, plus it reeks of, "You've finished your meal, get the hell out." Wipe the table after people leave.
(2)Kay R.
New favorite happy hour!! Only annoyance was having to ask for the happy hour menu "by request only" according to server. Veggie pakoras crisp and full of flavor, hummous nice and smoky (and they were kind enough to serve with veggies instead of pita to accomodate my gluten intolerance), kickin' $6 martini and perfectly textured rice pudding.
(4)Quinn D.
My stomach is always hesitant on trying Indian food because of the cream sauces and curries. BUT I jumped in...and glad I did. We ordered the vegetarian appetizer plate, vegetarian tiki masala, and the eggplant specialty. Two mango lemonades. AND a pesto garlic naan. Dishes were beautifully presented. Plenty o carbs! No complaints on the food, The decor is warm and inviting. The space is large. Unfortunately, from the time we ordered to are exit, no other patrons arrived to dine. The waitstaff overvisited our table. We up business picks up as the word gets out because Saffron is worth the visit.
(4)Melissa L.
This is one of my favorite Indian restaurants in the area. Best chicken tikka I've ever had, and the rice that comes with the meal is amazing. I'm also a big fan of the royal biryani. (And the breading on the calamari appetizer is nice and light.) The tandoori dishes are also generally tasty -- with the exception of the fish, which is a bit bland and disappointing. However, the chicken and shrimp tandoori are fantastic.
(5)Robyn F.
I don't want to over sell it, but this is the BEST Indian food that i have had since my friends from India cooked for me. The vegetable Pakora is phenomenal- it's fried but not heavy, tasty with the two dipping sauces that complement it wonderfully. The Channa Marsala is spicy with out being overpowering and the spices play a samba in my mouth. It isn't oily, greasy or heavy. Everything is made in house even the nan bread. Speaking of, I also ordered garlic Nan, it was the size of a terrier. Seriously. Then they gave me a free desert, that was like a donut hole in a cumin sauce. It made my mouth happy. Dave the bar tender was adorable, and he let me know that the President of Pakistan has dined there... Well, if it is good enough for the president of Pakistan.... Saffron, I heart you.
(5)Mandy F.
By far my favorite restaurant! The food is amazing & the service is awesome. Make sure you order the chai tea, it is the best. You will never have to worry about it getting cold either because by the time you are half done with it the staff is there to give you a top off.
(5)K B.
We've gotten into the habit of joining our son here for happy hour (he works right down the street) and the food is unlike any other happy hour food I've ever had. Best ever hummus, samosas, chicken tikka and many more excellent small plates. The service is excellent -- almost old world and so gracious -- and the owner almost always stops by and says hello, not to mention occasionally sending over a little complimentary dessert. Almost worried to post this review, because I don't want to fight the crowds to get in here!
(5)John M.
I remember the old Cedars and Safron is run by the same guy. The food is really good, an the place is usually pretty packed. Service is quick and attentive. This isn't generally a place to hang for a leisurely dinner. Some of the best chai anywhere.
(4)Lydia B.
The Saffron Bar and Grill serves up the best of several cuisine traditions under one roof. I ate lunch here prior to boarding the bus for my return home some thirty miles to the north. I ordered the Chicken Tikka - tender, very tender chunks of chicken cooked in the tandoori oven. They landed on my plate glowing the tandoor oven red color with tiny rings of onion and a bit of cilantro for garnish. The mixed veggies were tender-crisp and the bastmanti rice tasty. What I liked about my lunch is that it did not have the heavy quality much Indian cuisine has. The chicken was not besotted with heavy sauce the way it is usually served in Indian lunch buffets. Wonderful! I could enjoy a tasty Indian lunch and not fear dropping through the seat on the bus from the heavy gravy! Oh, and you are treated to a bottomless cup when you order hot chai! Their chai tea is nice, but a bit too sweet for my tastes. I had several cups.....it was a cold and rainy day and need the extra warmth the chai provided! My waitress was a lovely grad student who made sure my cup of chai never emptied or got cold! Next time I'm down by Northgate I'll try something from the Mediterranean side of the menu!
(5)J K.
Not bad. The menu is standard. Good stuff. But the thing that sets this Indian joint apart from the rest is that it's comfortable in that American Denny's sort of way. I think that's a strength and a weakness.
(3)Larena H.
I'm really not sure why this place has such a following. I think it has something to do with it being located so close to undiscerning college students. I've had good Indian food before, and this was not it. We stopped by here with a coupon from the entertainment book. The decorations inside were welcoming, and it was quite crowded. It looked promising. After all, usually if a restaurant has a crowd, it's a good sign that they have something going right. In this case, I think the "right" part has to be mind control or food apathy. One of the appetizers we ordered never showed up (on the bill or otherwise). The sauce from the Tikka Masala I ordered tasted like it came straight out of a jar - and not in a good way. The one good thing I can say about this place was that the grape leaf wraps. Those were some of the best I've had in a while. Would I return just for those? Probably not. One drink I ordered was unpalatable. They did take it off the tab and offered me a replacement. Everybody keeps saying this is the best Indian food in Seattle, but I sincerely hope they are joking.
(2)April L.
The garlic naan was very good. Our meals were tasty. The baklava was mediocre. It was dry. The service was excellent! Overall, it was a very enjoyable meal.
(4)Katie M.
Best Indian food I have EVER had. Well worth the wait on crowded weekends! The staff is always attentive, kind, and they pay attention to detail. We've never had anything made incorrectly in the dozens of times we've been. Check it out!
(5)Crystal D.
Amazing Happy Hour. Owned by the same owner as Cedar's in the U-District. Try their gyros if going to happy hour. The Keema naan is nummy! Our bartender and server were so personable. I come here weekly now for my Saffron fix!
(5)Josh W.
This is, without a doubt, some of the best Indian food I have had in Washington state (well, in the country for that matter) I ordered a side of Tandoori Roti that came with a sensational tamarind chutney sauce and cilantro. The chutney complimented the unleavened bread so well. For dinner, I ordered the Channa Masala Paneer. Whoa. I...I'm not sure if I can even put it into words just how delicious this really was, you'll just have to order some for yourself and see what I am talking about. The service was relatively speedy and friendly, considering it was a saturday evening. The atmosphere was warm and friendly, yet a bit fast paced (maybe that is because of the amount of guests in at the time) The ONLY thing that got me to take this review from a 5 to a 4 is the service. Although our waitstaff was friendly, there were a few times when I had to flag her down just to get some water. Even then, I think it should only take it down to 4.5 stars. Go to saffron grill. You could probably close your eyes and just point to something on the menu and find a meal fit for a selective tongue.
(4)Shauna R.
I used to be a die-hard fan of Cedars Restaurant in Seattle. I refused to eat Indian food anywhere else in Seattle, because it just never compared. Well, within the last couple of years, I found out that Cedars was sold, and the old owner started up a new place in Northgate. How excited was I to find out that I now had a viable option for Indian food that was less than 15 minutes from my house! VERY, to say the least! So my husband and I stopped by Saffron Grill one night to check it out. Same guy (Mohammed) to greet you at the door, same fantastic menu, same impeccable service, same yummy chai tea, same delicious food. The only difference between Saffron Grill and the old Cedars is the fact that the space is so much larger, allowing for much more elbow room, and much less of a feeling of being rushed through your meal and out the door. (Remember how the wait staff would hover, ready to refill your glass, take your plate, bus/wipe down your table, bring your check all before you even knew you were ready for them to do those things?) The wait staff is still very attentive, but in a much less pushy, more pleasant way. I have tried at least half of the menu items, and none of them have let me down. My favorites are the Royal Biryani, Shahi Khorma, Veggie Pakoras, and garlic naan. My hubby's favorite is the Tandoori Salmon. But you can't really go wrong, no matter what you order, so be adventurous! This is hands-down the best Indian food in the greater Seattle area. If you are ever in the Northgate area, check it out. Or if you aren't ever in the Northgate area, go out of your way to check it out. You won't be sorry!
(5)Michelle F.
Yummy food. Good curries, great chicken tikka, and their baba ganoush is wonderful. If I weren't so allergic to eggplant, I'd order two plates... it didn't stop me from ordering one though. Too good to pass up. They have killer happy hour eats, too, which is nice.
(4)Eytan H.
Good food, great service. Easily one of the best Indian restaurants in Seattle. The only reason they didn't get five stars is because my standards were first set by epic restaurants on Davan Street in Chicago, which are pretty much the national gold standard when it comes to cuisine from the subcontinent.
(4)Sonya L.
This place rocks my world and gets all the thumbs up in the world. The staff was able to accommodate a huge group of 12 for my birthday. Orders were accurate, checks were properly split, wait time was minimal, food was fantastic, and our waitress was a dream. A big thanks goes out to these guys for helping me have a memorable birthday celebration!
(5)Lejla M.
This is a great place for an excellent happy hour. They have a great selection of good Mediterranean, Indian, and Lebanese foods. I love their garlic nan, it could feed a family of four, it is so big. It is fluffy, comes in a basket, dripping of its sides, warm with little garlic bits on top of it. I love their combo dipping sauces, cilantro and chutney. Their samosa are fried, but not greasy at all. There are a lot of servers so service was never slow. Bartenders are good, and happy to help you. I
(4)Andrew L.
Better than expected, solid Indian food. I like places where we, as a group, can go and enjoy good conversations, and just relax, and suddenly the food isn't bad either. I had heard mixed review about this restaurant, and was slightly hesitant to go, but after just going with the flow, we ended up here. We were promptly seated, the server was polite, and not bad looking either. Anyway, she was attentive, came by as we seemed to need her. Perfect. The food was good, the flavors didn't stand out as much as I would like, I like strong spices, however, the Chicken Curry plate which I ordered was perfectly cooked, and not to mention the Naan, which if anything, they have made even more tasty, ours had what I believe was spinach or some other green leafed vegetable which was cooked just right. Okay, it isn't amazing, but then again, it's solid. I would come back again, if I was looking for a good Indian restaurant, and for the beers on tap and the cooler which showcased the many varieties which were available in bottle form, it was a good experience. If you are looking for a good place, we had a good experience in a group of 7, so it happens. I read some less than perfect reviews, but we all have different experiences, and ours was good.
(4)Roy Y.
it was an order to go, I ordered their vegetable pakora and lam biryani. It was pretty good. I have tasted better biryani but they aren't too bad. The lamb was tender and done well. Overall atmosphere, very nicely decorated, bright and inviting. Even though my order was to go, they served me a cup of spiced chai tea, which was very thoughtful of them and tasted exquisite.
(4)Bharath M.
This is a delightful combination of Indian and Mediterranean. Fabulous ambience and great service. Love the owner (asked for kudos and critiques while we were leaving). Great place to take the family, but chic enough for a date night and/or drinks at the bar area. Definitely make it part of the rotation.
(4)Craig R.
Love the Gyros Plate
(5)Jessica V.
Please don't get me wrong, the food and the staffs are GREAT!! the manager is the issue and we are never coming back because of him!! We work close by and always come by for lunch at least once a week, one time we forgot the free lunch coupon which is right on the internet, we asked if it's okay we can bring the coupon back later in the day. The way he refused was really rude, he raised his voice while my coworker was trying to talk to tell her to shush so he can talk, then as soon as he finished, he walked away while she was still trying to talk...blew us away by the rudeness!!! we will never be back ever again!!!
(1)Randy C.
I have no idea how this has so many positive reviews. It's a huge, confused menu that desperately needs to be simplified. The service is slow and unenthusiastic. The food is bland and EXTREMELY overpriced. No thanks.
(2)Dennis J.
I've had the opportunity to visit Saffron on several occasions during the past couple years...never disappointed in any of the menu items we've selected, and it's become one of the stops I look forward to on Seattle visits. The quality and selection of naans is especially gratifying. Only (minor) negative is that there seems to be a lot of staff turnover. We've never seen the same waitperson twice. This may be because the owner (Mohammed) is a stern task master, or (more likely) because the place employs a lot of college students. Service is usually quite good and the food is authentic and excellent in my experience.
(4)Liv L.
Expensive & ignored. We were seated a moment behind another couple, in the next booth...they were waited on immediately - they got their drinks, ordered an app, the watier came back and brought them some soup, took their order...and we were still waiting.......... No one ever came over. The other couple (and a couple seated behind us) were both being waited on.......but not us! We waited approx. 1/2 hour before being approached by a waitress - who said 'I guess you're in my section now'... Food was good - but for $15 I expect more than THREE falafel balls. I won't be back here.
(1)Roz H.
I like the enviroment more so than anything. Good location. Good Food = Good Times!
(4)Shannon C.
The food is fresh, beautiful, and delicious every time. The staff is friendly and competent, and the owner takes the time to get to know his customers. And, the prices are very reasonable.
(5)Marietta P.
Food is ok, can't top Moghul Palace and Cedar they're much better. Maxx
(2)Eric D.
Pretty cool place, GF and I went for HH. Nice prices on food, got the Garlic Naan for $2.50 which I find to be a steal. Calamari was okay, don't order the chicken wings, they're not worth it. Hummus was fairly nice and my water was well filled all the time. Great place, can't wait to try other foods from there!
(4)Suzy S.
Decent - better than I was expecting when my friend said she was taking me to a restaurant in Northgate (no offense!). I was told this is the sister restaurant to Cedars in the U-District, which I much prefer. Also- I was a bit turned off by the American food on the menu - cheeseburgers and fettuccini alfredo DO NOT belong in an Indian restaurant!!! Had the vegetable chili masala, which was pretty good, no complaints but also nothing that was really stand-out. It was absolutely dead there (lunchtime, on a Sunday) which I always hate, but the server was attentive without being overbearing.
(3)Yvette B.
Awesome, I'm not very familiar with Indian food but waitress was very helpful. The garlic Nan 2.99 with cilantro chutney is the bomb!!Entrees are a but pricey, but at least service is perfect and food is great . Wish is tried it earlier, I'll be back!!
(5)Delilah R.
When I read the reviews on this place, then realized it was less then 3 miles from my house, it got book marked! I sort of paid attention to how many stars it was rated but not too much. I mean, it's THAT close to home. Really, I could walk there and back (kinda). NICE! When my friend Tara came over a little later than expected, we decided to ditch our plan to pic nic at Golden Gardens. It was getting dark and well, to be honest we're kind of lazy sometimes. Our discussion was based around getting some ethnic food and that's when the realization that Saffron Grill was right around the corner kicked in, you know the lazy tick. Arriving, there was plenty of parking and although they're located right on Northgate Way, it was truly a cinch to get in and out of the lot. Walking in we were greeted politely and seated right away. The layout of this place is open but still intimate, with candlelight in the evenings. The ambiance is set with a mellow volume of Indian music playing lightly. Upon ordering, I found myself asking for any recommendations and got a sort of awkward 'everything is wonderful' type of reply. That's great and I'm not a disbeliever but I really do like to know the favorite dishes of the people who are employed at the establishment I'm dining at. We went ahead with some garlic naan, the chicken tandoori, some sort of boneless chicken appetizer and the beef gyro plate. Ensuring that our intent to share the dishes was apparent to our server, we were pleased to find our server splitting the courses and making sure we had everything we needed from sauces to refills throughout our experience. The food itself was very good. On the side, they serve a tasty sweet red sauce on one side of a small dish with a green paste (I think it has cilantro in it), on the other. It was delicious and complimented the Tandoori very well. Our Gyro plate came with a well blended hummus, a great light rice with tasty veggies sprinkled with heavenly seasonings. This meal resulting with a $29 tab (less tip), left me even more satisfied than I had imagined. I'm loving the idea to come here for lunch to check out the afternoon vibe! Good food and great staff leave me wanting to come back badly.
(4)Terry T.
We were starving and hungry for some Indian food. I met a few people who had heard of Saffron Grill and said that it was really good. Also, we had an Entertainment Card for a 2 for 1, so if it lived up to it's reputation, than that would even make the deal sweeter. So a 15 minute drive from Mill Creek and we were there. We were greeted right away and sat in an OK table in the back. The place was packed so we knew that it must be pretty good. The atmosphere was really nice and everyone was friendly. Now for the good stuff, we ordered a Lamb Boti Kabob and SHISH TAOUK. While both were really yummy with a healthy portion of rice and vegetables, the Shish Taouk with chicken was amazing and so tender. There was plenty of food with left overs since we usually tend to split. I would definitely come back again.
(4)Amandeep K.
I've been to quite a few Indian restaurants in Seattle and in Northern California. This one rates amongst the best as far as food, service as well ambience goes. The butter chicken was one of the best I've had. I didn't like the Dal Maharani much though. The biryani was good. The service and ambience is very good. The owner himself takes care of the guests and makes sure everything is done well. He greeted us personally and gave us complementary pakoras. The personal touch he added to the entire experience makes me give this restaurant 5 stars. Overall, I would give a strong recommendation.
(5)Brian H.
It's rare to find a place that does Indian and Mediterranean food equally well. Saffron grill does just that. The Gyro's and kabobs are awesome, and the Indian dishes like the Buttered Chicken are full of flavor and spices. Their N'aan bread goes great with everything as well. I highly recommend this place to family and friends.
(5)Chester M.
I have been follow the owner since he has owned Cedar's in the U District. The food here is awesome. Pick anything off the menu and you will not be disappointed. The best dish by far is the Butter Chicken.
(5)Linzy N.
HANDS DOWN!! BEST INDIAN & MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE I HAVE EVER BEEN TO ! for unique tasty flavorful food. I ordered coconut curry with fish, Mediterranean margarita with cucumbers and my friend ordered tandoori chicken tikka. The serving portions are huge so be prepared to doggie bag it!. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!
(5)Dante M.
YES!!! Cedar's restaurant owners moved across the street from where I live. If anyone has been to Cedar's U-District location, the food is AWESOME!! And this place is exactly the same, except the building is in good shape, and the inside is very posh. The bar looked really nice and the lighting/music was perfect. This place offers Indian/Tandoori cuisine, but also has Mediterranean and continental choices. I had the chicken tikka masala and the Goyu coconut curry, complete with garlic naan and hummus (I came here with my girlfriend and we shared). But everything was DELICIOUS. The masala sauce was very rich and creamy, and the same with the coconut curry. All in all, the combination of exquisite food, awesome location, friendly service, and a great reputation makes this place definitely deserving of 5 stars. Plus, all of the above mentioned items we ordered came out to 27 dollars!
(5)Whitney J.
I was pleasantly surprised dining at Saffron. My boyfriend and I went for a date night. The atmosphere was warm and intimate. We decided to split a couple of dishes. We ordered the coconut curry with lamb and the tandori chicken tikki. The curry was good, but the chicken tikki was AMAZING. I have never had such flavorful and juicy chicken before. It was absolutely delicious. While we were there we checked out their happy hour menu. They have a spectacular happy hour that I look forward to trying in the future. This will be my go-to restaurant when we are looking for a new place to show friends.
(5)alicia w.
My husband and I had lunch at this place a few days ago and it was a bit of a disappointment. First off, there is were no lunch specials so you order lunch for dinner prices. We ordered vegetable pakoras, lamb jalfrazy, and butter chicken. These are two of our favorite dishes and I am particularly keen on vegetable pakoras. The pakoras came with a tiny little bowl of chutney. It had both tamarind and cilantro chutney in the same bowl poured on either side of the bowl so it was mixing along the center of it. There was about enough of both for two good dips and it was exceptional chutney. That didn't make any sense to me. Can I have more chutney? The pakoras were flavorful but not as crispy as I like. Enjoyable nonetheless. The butter chicken was average. I've had better. The chicken seemed a little dry and the sauce had a stronger tomato flavor than I expected. I think it probably would have been better had I ordered it 2 stars of heat instead of 1. The lamb jalfrazy had a really nice cut of lamb in it but it just didn't have much flavor. We weren't impressed at all with that dish. Also, the servings of both were rather tiny especially for the price. The whole time we were eating we were interrupted by staff over and over. It got really old. We were hardly able to carry on a conversation. They kept asking if everything was ok and then they came by asking, "Can I take your plate?" every time they had a chance. At one point I fought the guy for a plate he was trying to take. I wonder if they were short on dishes in the kitchen. I would say up until now they would have got 3 stars... After they had given us just enough time to finish our food and all of our dishes were removed from our table the over eager waiter came over to our table with a neon-green sponge and proceeded to wipe the table WHILE WE WERE SITTING AT IT!!!! The sponge reeked of cleaner and sour sponge smell. Did I mention we were still sitting at the table when he did this? Oh and oddly enough there wasn't a line of people waiting at the door to sit at our table, oh no! Mediocre food, constant interruptions, and oh right that neon-green sponge. *shudder* I don't think my husband and I will be heading back here any time soon.
(2)Allie S.
Good Indian Food. "American" Menu for the less adventurous members of your group Menu is outdated, a member of our group ordered "mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce" which came out with sweet and sour sauce. When we asked for marinara sauce they looked at us funny and said they didn't have any...odd. Decorated well and classier than you'd expect. Nice place to have dinner before seeing at movie at Northgate. Overall a good experience
(4)pam h.
I have eaten Indian food in Asia and different cities in the US. SAFFRON is a stand-out dining experience! From the moment our group of 6 hit the door, we were treated with warm hospitality and attentiveness. When we told the waitstaff we were from Portland and in town for a conference, they alerted the owner who immediately introduced himself to us and welcomed us. Then, to our delight, the owner had extra orders of naan sent to our table as well as dessert after our meal. The wait staff were amazing and gracious. I often read the atmosphere of a restaurant by how the staff are behaving when they think no one is watching. They truly seemed fully engaged with the needs of the diners and with each other as a team of servers. I was impressed. The Food: omg. That's my review. OH MY GOD. Amazing, amazing delicious, elegant presentation, flavors exploding all over the place. Every single person in my group was in awe of their dish. We had tandoori, butter chicken, chicken korma, biryani with lamb....we all overate because it was so good and the portions very generous. I wish SAFFRON was in Portland! We have great Indian restaurants in this city, but Saffron was more than good food. It was a wonderful dining experience.
(5)Kyla C.
We were starving and out of food ideas so we stopped in here for dinner the other night. I'm not a huge fan of Indian food but decided to try a few things since it's been a while (never order "American" options when at an ethnic restaurant, just saying). We got the spinach and cheese nan and I liked it. The sauce that comes with it made it even better. I got the tabbouleh salad with chicken for dinner and it was ok. The chicken was juicy and was the best part of the dish. I thought tabbouleh was supposed to be more of the bulgar wheat but this was mostly herbs. The chai ice cream was definitely the highlight of the meal. It was an ok place but I'm no expert on the cuisine so take my review with a grain of salt. The host was overly friendly to the point of being weird - tone it down a bit guy!
(3)Pam D.
We recently ate here when visiting Seattle - "we" being 21 of us! The food was excellent and the service was great. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Howard K.
The food was great, tasty and fast. The service was meh. Staff were programmed to do their job and not one inch beyond it, so it was adequate, but not exceptional, so meh.
(4)House G.
Good food, pretty good service. I will go back. I'd like to try the lunch buffet. We went there for dinner late. The bottomless chai tea is fantastic! And there is a really nice server who does nothing but cruise the restaurant filling tea cups to the brim.
(4)John S.
Excellent Indian food if a bit Americanized. A bit too much cream added for my taste but still excellent food. Their naan is among the best I've eaten.
(3)Connie C.
This is our most frequented Indian-food joint. We used to go to the U-District Cedars, but we heard the owners moved here, and followed (good for us, since this location has better parking). The curries are all awesome (I usually end up with the Chicken Tikka, Butter Chicken, or Mango Lamb). And the Naan is a big, delicious serving (garlic, spinach, plain - all are good).
(4)Stephanie S.
As long as the naan and the curry that goes with my well-seasoned basmati rice is delicious, I've got no complaints. Went with a large party (of 10) and they got us seated quick enough, took our orders when we needed them and fed us with speed and deliberation. Someone might've mentioned that Saffron has the same owners as Cedars so I was expecting goodness all around; expectations fulfilled. Their naan and its sauces are the right amount of sweet and tang, their pita and hummus could be better (maybe grill/toast the pita?), their veggie curry (forgive me, I forget the name but it had a tomato base) contained just the right amount of spice and was generous enough to feed me for dinner and lunch the next day. Whenever I have craving for Indian food, Saffron is where I'll be... since it's only a 3 minute drive away.
(4)Richard A.
Partner and I had dinner here at 9:00 pm on a Saturday night. Waiter was very serious, quick and efficient. We made the mistake of ordering Chicken Tikka Massala and then a vegetable dish but it had a similar sauce. The food was hot and tasty, the appetizer came our very quickly and was hot and fresh tasting. We were served a complimentary desert, which was very nice and flavorful. We would probably go back again, good but not outstanding.
(3)Timothy C.
Before Saffron Grill I never frequented any Indian establishment. This place has changed my mind about East Indian flavor altogether. The owner is very personable and staff friendly. I recommend the Tandoori Surprise!
(5)Danielle H.
Their falafel wrap is HUGE and has the best flavor. I really like the tamarind and mint chutney sauce in it with lettuce, tomato and cucumber. The pita it is wrapped in is nice and thick and buttery tasting. They offer happy hour special from 2-7pm EVERY day. It is fantastic. Gorgeous environment, friendly staff and great selection of indian and mediterranean food. I will definitely be back to try some more goodies and take advantage of the happy hour specials as well.
(4)Brian P.
This place is simply not good. Maybe it was the time we were there, but the food was meh at best and the Naan was so hard that it was inedible.
(2)Alisha R.
This food is awesome and the service is perfect. I deffinately going to be a regular!
(5)Rey M.
First time for this place. Was very curious how the food would be like seeing Mediterranean and Indian in the same name. Was it Fusion or just separate menu's. Well I came for Indian and I was glad it had its own section. The place had a very warm and relaxing feel. With nice spa like music playing in the background. This by far is the cleanest and prettiest Indian Restaurant I've ever been in. Decor was true to it culture while a full pledge bar showing off its wine selection sat towards the back. Even the TV that was there didn't take away the feel that you where in a nice exotic restaurant. Now for the food. First I must say from seeing the Hummus and Ganoush along side a menu with Tandoori and Masala just didn't seem right. I could never imagine eating both type of cuisine in the same sitting. It would just throw my taste buds off. That's why I try to stay away from International Buffets. At least its not Tacos and Sushi :) First off we started with the Garlic Naan. OMG this was probably the best one I have ever had. So fresh, nice and warm with a nice side of Tamarind sauce to dip it in. Sorry Naan Curry, this place got you beat in the bread department. But that's about it As far as the two dishes that we ordered. The Kebab and the Masala Chicken, it was just OK. First off the Kebab was just a little on the salty side. But its was still good. The Masala just didn't taste right. The waiter actually recommended this and mention that its the most ordered dish in London. From it taste, it was one spice less of being Tomato Pasta sauce. It wasn't good at all. Give me some Linguine noodles and I might have given this place 4 stars. Guess London loves it Italian. The rice was good though :) At the end of the day, you just can't seem to shake the thought of as to why such a beautiful establishment with excellent service can provide a very disappointing meal. The price of the dishes are mostly around 8-12$ with some lunch Pita specials that goes for 5$. Aside from the bread and rice, I just don't know if we will come back again. There are many really good Indian restaurants out there more me to decide not to come back. Even in hoping that there other dishes might fare better. I sure would hope so. Maybe its really a Mediterranean restaurant at heart. But from the looks of the host and waiter, its not. Do try to enjoy. Hope your meal is much better.
(3)Heather J.
First visit since this restaurant took over the location. Very impressed with the snazzy insides and the plethora of parking. I also am very happy about the consistent refilling of my water. The mango chutney jar on the table was also a nice touch. I also really appreciate that they have both indian and mediterranean. I like to have options, it might be fun to mix and match. Today I had indian, my friend had meditteranean. My aloo gobi was very good, but a bit too much rice for my lack of sauce. My only minor complaint was that my waiter was a tad confused by my entertainment book printable coupon, but it all worked out. Will defintely be back as I drive by here so often.
(4)Ross W.
The food tasted good, but not necessarily better than other Indian restaurants I have tried. The naan bread is humongous; it can probably feed a village. Try the hot chai tea. It's addictive. It made a believer out of me as I had vowed never to have chai tea again. What's most impressive about this place is their service. The servers kept refilling the chai tea, even after a few sips, very generous.
(4)sonja jo k.
Good points: The Butter Chicken is delicious. The Garlic Naan is wonderful, some of the best I've ever had. The place was clean and the tables didn't feel crowded together. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Bad points: The Ras Malai was terrible. Ras Malai is a paneer in a delightfully aromatic cream sauce. What I got seemed to be pieces of white bread soaked in the sauce (which was good). It really tasted like and had the texture of soggy white bread. What a disappointment after the tasty Butter Chicken. I had gotten it to go or I would have sent it back. The entree came within minutes of my appetizer which was annoying. Also, the amount charged to my card was not what I had written on the receipt. A small discrepancy and, since I'd already tossed my receipt, not enough to bother disputing but a little bothersome. All that being said, I will return because the Butter Chicken is just too good to pass up. (hmmmm, maybe I will go there today.)
(3)Katy B.
Eat here. its really good and the server we has was great. i will for sure go back
(5)Elizabeth A.
indian food is soooo good! love Saffron , good service , good food and good drink. Prices are ok.
(5)Lea D.
Love it. The bar is super cute with the right atmosphere for an afterwork drink. The Pakora appetizer is amazing, perfectly fried with a deliciously amazing sauce to dip. YUM!
(4)Nina N.
I got it... it's the owners of cedars, and he is trying the "franchising route" but seriously.. it was garbage.. sorry dude, but I love cedars; love taste of India, but hate saffron.. I kind of feel like I am at an Indian denny's..really? seriously? how can it be by the same people, and taste like dog threw up on my tikka masala? not sure? and the falafal.. don't make me get started hahaha it pretty much tasted like an overdue ball of crap............................. sorry dude but any place that sells alfredo and french fries at an Indian restaurant should get shot...... stick to classics dude!! that's why you were popular from the beginning....
(1)Aviv G.
Attentive service. Large portions. The spinach naan is fantastic!
(4)Jamie S.
This trip to Seattle was the first time I had been to Saffron as opposed to Cedars, and I'm thrilled that my favourite dishes haven't skipped a beat. Even better, the dining room is spacious and the waiting area isn't breaking the laws of physics. Parking is such an improvement, and the service (and the CHAI!!!) are still as good as ever. For the last five years I've been getting a naan, chicken shahi korma, and all the chai I can drink, and I recommend it as the highest form of therapy.
(5)siutou s.
Pretty good food but a little pricey. Most dishes are about $14 (includes rice) that serves about 1.25 people. The naan was pretty good, and they have a variety of types: I tried the regular, garlic (how can you not try garlic?), and pesto. I tried the chicken tikka masala and the chicken pineapple curry. I also enjoyed mango pistachio ice cream, gulab jamun, and kulfi for dessert (ranked from yummiest to least). The restaurant was clean an the service was friendly. They were great about filling up water, but could be a little more attentive about filling up iced tea (which tasted like a cardamom black tea). I would go again if I lived in the area and was craving Indian food.
(4)NANCY H.
Eh. Not amazing. Yes, they have a nicely decorated interior and the servers always attentive. With all this hype, I was not pleased with their prices. This is not worth it, unless you don't mind spending over $25 for lunch. They gave us a lunch menu and I did not see any lunch menu prices. More like dinner at a more reputable restaurant. Food is mediocre. I thought it was lacking in robust flavor. I would probably stick to my fav. Kanishka in Redmond.
(3)Michelle N.
I haven't been inside the restaurant, but Saffron Bar catered an event at my work yesterday. The food was fantastic! I had the opportunity to try so many things off the menu. My favorite was the little grape leaf wraps with rice & spices inside, followed by the tandoori chicken (sooo moist & yummy), the naan was also fantastic. Actually there wasn't a single item that I tried that I didn't enjoy, I was even surprised that I liked the tamarind chutney, normally I am not a fan of tamarind, but they obviously know how to prepare it right. I can't wait to actually go inside the restaurant for a sit-down meal, probably this weekend!
(4)Jose V.
On our way to Family Fun Center in Tukwila, we stopped at this restaurant for lunch. I was not expecting anything great as we were just trying to get some food in our stomachs. To my surprise and my wife's, this place was great and the food was DELICIOUS. It was so good that I have been craving it since then.
(4)Rosie R.
Everytime I drove near enough to this place to see it's sign, I'd invariably say out loud to myself or my carmate, "Oooh! Iwant to try that Saffron Grill place sometimes, looks good!" How in the world I could tell from a neon sign that this place would have good food, I can only chalk up to diner's intuition. So, while passing this place on my way to another establishment on my bookmarks list, I remembered that I wanted to eat here and abruptly turned in. Saffron Grill has a GENEROUS Happy Hour that runs from 3 to 7 p.m.! We ordered the baba gannoj, the tandoori chicken, and each ordered the Famous Wrap, which was a choice of meats with veggies and a mix of sauces wrapped in tandoori bread. The baba gannoj was delicious and smoky, with some fresh pita wedges to dip, the tandoori chiecken was succulent and well-seasoned. And the Famous Wrap was tasty and ginormous. I had to take half of it home. This happy hour is certainly recession-friendly, and the food is incredible. I look forward to coming back and enjoying dishes form the regular menu as well. The prices there seem reasonable, and the selection is broad. I've got a lot to learn about Indian and Mediterranean fusion food, and this is the perfect place to study!
(4)Kit S.
Our car broke down on our way back home to Vancouver, BC and we were towed to a shop across from this place. We went in to kill some time and get in one last Seattle meal. Excellent plain naan - the burger was great too, but the butter chicken was my favourite out of any restaurant I've had it in. Mainly I can't eat any spicy food, so the fact it was sweet was fabulous for me. I also ordered a rosewater lassi, and it was hands down the best lassi I've had. Service was super polite and accomadating to us sitting there for an hour and a half, plus they put us in a place where I could plug in my laptop to get some work done. Super pretty atmosphere, with large swaths of fuscia curtains and gorgeous paint job. Our server was bar manager Damien and he was great at his job!
(3)Tina P.
This is one of my favorite Indian restaurants in the area. They have consistently good food at a good price. I really like their palak paneer and royale biryani. Their chai is bottomless and standardly very good. This is also a great place for a larger group as they always seem to make the seating work.
(5)Abby H.
Saffron Grill, yet another project in the family of restauranteers who own Taste of India and formerly Cedars. You can tell that Saffron Grill will be a bit more pricey because it is more Americanized than the rest. How can you tell it's more Americanized? Well, it's not the hamburgers on the menu, no, nor the cocktails. It's the lack of traditional blankets spanning the walls or creating doorways. Also, there is much elbow room and fewer icons. The fewer the blankets, the more you pay. Just remember that. But, otherwise, the menu is very much the same, similar portions and flavor, which is always spicy and tasty. I'm a big daal maharani fan and the naan is always GINORMOUS and bubbly. As usual, about 17 waiters have been dispatched to be running around, filling water glasses and collecting dishes. The tea was Bigelow. But there were less blankets on the walls.
(3)Stephanie K.
I LOVED this place! My boyfriend and I went there for Valentine's day and it did not disappoint. I believe the owner also owns Cedars, which is my other favorite Indian restaurant. The decor is beautiful and the lighting is dim enough to make it seem intimate. My ONLY complaint (which really isn't the restaurant's fault- it was a holiday after all) was that we were sat at an extremely tiny table literally right in between two other couples (one couple was extremely obnoxious and drunk- but at least they were having fun!). Luckily, they left and the owner came over and put two of these tiny tables together for us so we'd have more private space. So nice! Also, even though it was extremely busy, the waiter was still pretty on top of things and the food came pretty fast. The food! Perfect. Absolutely delicious. I got the chicken korma like I usually do when I go to this guy's restaurants, and the boyfriend got the tandoori chicken. Awesome, awesome, awesome. After we finished, the owner brought over some cold wine and a chocolate, just for the Valentine's day experience. Wonderful! I highly recommend this place. I will definitely be back, though maybe on a quieter day :). VERY pleased!
(5)Jennifer K.
We walked into a warm, inviting, clean, stylish restaurant. They get points for that, and now let's see about the service and the food. The staff were all friendly, prompt, and attentive. They checked on us just the right amount so we felt taken care of, yet not continuously interrupted. I loved the chai tea. It was $3 for chai and I am glad to report that it included several refills (I LOVE chai). We ordered vegetable royal biryani and chicken coconut curry. We asked for it to be 2 stars, and it was an accurate American style 2 stars. When I go back (that's a when, not an if), I'll get 3 or 4 stars. Anyways, both entrees were still quite tasty. The biryani had delectable saffron overtones and the curry spices complemented the coconut or the chicken. The waitress later remarked that we had chosen two of her favorite dishes. I look forward to returning to sample some Mediterranean dishes or other Indian dishes.
(4)Mel S.
Not overly spiced ...Tandoori style with everything ..... Including naan..perfection... Appetizer plates generous... Deserts to die for...had a fried dough in honey sauce which was wonderful...prices VERY reasonable for the quality. I'm from out of state but know my dishes... This place is a keeper if you are lucky enough to live nearby!
(5)Brian S.
Good mix of food. Love the tandoori chicken and rice. Gets pretty crowded during.happy hour..
(4)Dan L.
This food is gooood! I went to this location when it was the steakhouse and the new owners have really redecorated nicely. It is an upscale Indian dining experience. The servers were right on top of filling up my chai tea and water. We had the Garlic Naan, that stuff is tasty! The Saffron rice that comes with the dishes was very fresh and light. The Butter chicken is going to keep me coming back again and again. I would bet this will be a frequent stop for take out when passing through Northgate.
(4)David S.
The Saffron Grill was recommended highly by friends who live in Seattle, so when I made a visit with my fiancee, we decided to check it out. We had the mango chicken curry and the vegetarian Vindaloo. We also had a side of naan and Kingfisher (Indian lager beer) from the tap. Our server was very kind and friendly. The place had a nice ambiance and an impressive bar. It's a little removed from downtown Seattle but not bad at all. The food was good, but not great. I've had better Indian food in the States, and the Saffron Grill definitely didn't remind me of the food I had while traveling in India. The highlight was the fact that they had Kingfisher on tap.
(3)Zach K.
As a long time loyal customer of Taste of India, I had high expectations for Saffron, and was pleased by what I found there. The menu is nearly identical to that of Taste of India, and the dishes we tried were just as delicious as we are used to. The interior of the restaurant is much more polished, and the addition of a full bar is great - to paraphrase David Lister, you really need a beer to go with a good hot vindaloo.
(5)Heidi P.
WOW! What a great revamp. What once had a dark and definite "hotel restaurant" feel, is now a warm and colorful restaurant with an open floor plan. I was so surprised how different the revamp left the same exact space. Walls have been knocked out, the bar remodeled, and new modern fixtures and lighting really made an immense difference. The menu is huge! I'm not very knowledgeable in the area of Indian food, so I think I am just have to keep returning to try new things. Prices are really good, and range from approximately $8.99 to $13.99. My boyfriend doesn't like curry, and isn't very keen on Indian cuisine, however he loved his gambled choice of Shahi Korma. Shahi Korma is described on the menu as "a traditional dish that is prepared with exotic spices, herbs, and a cream sauce." It was served with a good sized portion of basmati rice. The sauce was orange in color and had hints of perhaps cinnamon, cardamom, and coriander. It also had slivered almonds in it. It was almost like an Indian version of a Mexican mole. It was very flavorful and the chicken moist and tender. My choice was an $8.99 Mediterranean Combination plate that featured: Hummus, Baba Ghanouj, and three pieces of falafel. The falafel sat on a bed of lettuce and served with 4 pita bread halves. The flavors of the falafel and baba ganouj were very mild and delicious. The falafel had a bright coriander flavor. I stuffed a mixture of everything in the pita pockets. I could only eat about half of everything. Our total bill came to $24.00 before tip. In addition to our two dishes, my boyfriend ordered an iced tea. If you want to get an idea of the dishes served, check out the Cedars restaurant menu: cedarsseattle.com . I can't wait to check out the happy hour served from 3-6. If you're in the Northgate area, treat yourself to the beautiful ambiance and tasty food of the Saffron Grill!
(4)Gwen B.
I was a big Cedars fan, and lately it hadn't been up to its old standard, so I was happy to hear that it was an ownership change and Saffron's owned by the Cedars fella. Off I went to Saffron last night. Had a very nice meal--delicious Palak Paneer (asked for "medium hot" and it could've been spicier but still delish), the vegetarian combo (not exciting but tasty and satisfying), garlic naan (yumm) and endless chai (yes, yes, YES!!) that got refilled about every other sip. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. She reminded me of a preschool teacher, smiley and enthusiastic to an almost comical extent but very endearing. Chatty but not overbearingly so. The place itself is pleasant. I'll definitely go back.
(4)Sarah C.
I like Cedars. So this place is pretty much a replica upon hearing the former owner of Cedars runs this restaurant. It's spacious & has the fine dining decor. Offers happy hour in the bar with discounted naan, calamari, chicken tikka, etc. and drink specials. They are fast. Our order came in pretty quickly. Garlic naan & my tandoori chicken tikka was delicious. Same taste & same touch as Cedars. So if your frolicking around Northgate mall and craving some good Indian food. Know this place is here, open for just a few months so far and I believe they are doing great.
(4)Steve H.
The food is very good here. In case you didn't already know, the owner is the old owner of Cedar's down on Brooklyn in the U-District. Apparently, he and his partner split and he took over the old Berkshire Grill here. The food here is hard to beat and their chai tea is excellent and ever flowing. Quality Indian food in a much friendlier and roomier environment than Cedar's...even if it does feel a little like a cross between a sports bar and an IHOP inside.
(4)Alex D.
Love the unlimited chai tea. Drink 6 cups to get the shakes and ability to stay up for three nights in a row. Make sure to post your win to this list!
(5)Chris D.
Saffron is to Indian food what PF Chang's is to Asian food- it's very good, the restaurant itself is very nice, you know you're not eating anything authentic, but it is very, very good so you don't really care. And to clarify- this place seems like it could be authentic, but it makes no excuses- it is not making food for their Indian countrymen- they are making their food for the easily offended palates and the tourists at the Hotel Nexus and the Mall...spices and heat are at a minimum for sure. Saffron is a cross between Indian and Mediterranean restaurant- I have NO idea how those two things go together, but the menu doesn't stop there either- there is a full "American" section on the menu for the folks that aren't adventurous featuring such favorites as burgers, steaks and Fettuccine Alfredo... I had Lamb Tikka Masala and it was very polite- very good. It didn't make a scene- no runny noses, no pungency- but it was good. The Saffron rice was particularly good and this was the best Na'an I have ever had. The Girl had a plate full of Mediterranean favorites and she was pretty happy with it. The hummus was great (still not as good as The Owl n' Thistle's Hummus...how is the best hummus in Seattle made at an Irish Bar?) The restaurant itself is very very nice- very date night- looks kind of like an Olive Garden with better personality. The waitstaff and the hostess in particular were all very accommodating and attentive. I would absolutely recommend Saffron to Indian Food lovers and non lovers alike-this might be the spot to start out your friends that are unwilling to try new things- but be prepared- this was not a cheap night out- three people with 2 apps, 3 entrees, no desserts and no booze cost us nearly a hundred bucks- but if you were looking to impress a date in a nice joint with good people and good food- this place fits the bill.
(4)Alice R.
I had to update my review after a few more visits. This is a great place for lunch with many different offerings to have something for everyone in your group. But, the biggest plus of all was the bottomless cup of chai tea. I could have sat there all afternoon enjoying cup after cup. Delicious!
(5)Katie B.
I've been here probably ten times with lots of people. We have all enjoyed our food each time. Chowder was good, not the best, but the lentil soup was fantastic. The house salad is my favorite. The Mediterranean dressing is bomb. The only thing I've had that wasn't so great was the tandoori surprise... The fish and lamb portions were the size of a silver dollar, there were TWO shrimp, and there were three huge pieces of chicken. Not recommended. All the dinners I've tried other than that have been great, plus they have great beers to choose from!
(4)Culinary D.
The food is cooked to perfection. Service was good. Lots of vegan options. AND they have the "American" heat scale (1-4) and the "International" heat scale (5-8)! The hotter the better!
(5)Alexandra P.
I had never dared to try Indian food, until my boyfriend told me about this place. Let's just say, I've been hooked since then! The place is very well decorated, and very in tune with the culture. I have never had one bad experience here with either the staff, or the quality of my meal. The staff is very attentive to your needs, and not to mention the owner is awesome! Very nice guy, always making sure his customers are happy. I love the butter chicken, and the berry mojitos are delicious!! Not to mention you can get any kind of naan they have and you'll be happy. I've taken many friends here and they rave about it as well...if you're in the area and want a great meal you've got to stop here, you won't regret it!!
(5)Ajay K.
Every time I go this restaurant I like more than the previous visit. Love the food, ambiance, hospitality. Lots of vegetarian options.
(5)Ema C.
While I totally appreciate that they have a menu in which you can ask about vegan options (they don't have a separate menu, but it says the server can tell you more about it) , they could probably: - tell you more about your options rather than "well, its a matter of what can we NOT make that isn't vegan" and leave it at that despite my asking numerous questions. - not mix mint chutney (which has dairy in it) in the same dipping plate as the tamarind chutney. I've got severe allergies and am lactose intolerant so new restaurants are always kind of a test for me and I always eat vegan meals for the first time. While the staff were totally awesome, they can probably improve on being a bit more conscious about what they serve when they offer vegan options.. like not mixing dairy with non-dairy sauces (and yes, that will cause me to run to the bathroom in 2 minutes!). Other than that, it was roughly $41 for 2 curries, 1 vegetable sampler and 1 garlic naan (I couldn't taste the garlic in it). I had more than enough to take home for left over lunch but had to ask for take out containers for tamarind sauce and an extra bag to put my left over naan in. Pretty good food though!
(3)Matt C.
Good happy hour wraps. Can't go wrong with the garlic naan. Service can be hit or miss. Always friendly but often slow.
(4)Jennifer P.
If you have been to the old Cedars, this was the reincarnation by the original owner. I was looking forward to going to have my all-you-can-drink chai, fabulous naan and great Indian food and reminiscing about the past when the owner used to run the restaurant in the U-District. Back in the day, it was vibrant, packed with people and THE place to go for good Indian food. Things have certainly gone downhill. Maybe my nostalgia is clouding my judgment, but I get a little concerned when an Indian restaurant also serves burgers, fettuccine alfredo, chicken tenders, and baklava. The Naan is still good, but the curries were only OK. (We all ordered different curries, but they all tasted very similar). The chai was still unlimited, but now $3 per order instead of $1.25. The prices definitely are much more than what I was used to at their old location. The liveliness and bustle of the old location got lost on its way to Northgate and the food was not outstanding. It makes me sad to say that I probably won't be back.
(2)Jackie K.
I want to make a snuggie out of their Garlic Naan. Is that wrong? Chicken Mango curry was also delicious, but then they wiped the table off with a sour stinky sponge and that just ruined the whole experience for me. Service was timely and friendly. The bar looks well-stocked and prices across the board are very reasonable considering the amount of food you get. Now if they'd just buy some Clorox disinfecting wipes and toss out those gross sponges...
(3)Eleanor K.
Outstanding food and service. Some of the best Mediterranean food we've ever eaten, anywhere in the country! Mr. Bhatti (owner) is SO gracious . . . helped make the dining experience fabulous! Order the Nan with garlic and try it with tabbouleh on top . . . delish! The falafal was the best we've tasted. Thanks!!
(5)Chris R.
Very american feel for an Indian restaurant. Good flavors, not very spicy. Kind of expensive, but the portions are big. You might be able to split one plate and some naan between two people.
(3)Steven M.
Saffron is an Indian and Mediterranean restaurant located directly in the front of the The Nexus hotel. The Saffron's Mr. Mohammad catered our event at the hotel and did a very good job. Serving staff was efficient and friendly. After some misunderstanding over bar charges was pleasantly resolved we enjoyed a very good assortment of Middle Eastern dishes, all done in a traditional fashion, very nice. We had a brunch there the following day and had a terrific meal, dolma were delicious, as was my gyro platter. Several complimentary dishes came our way, very hospitable, staff was friendly and sufficiently attentive.
(4)Eric B.
Very good food. Prices are reasonable, not great but reasonable. I had the rack of lamb and it was quite tender and flavorful. I will definitely go back.
(4)Tarah M.
Maybe they were having another "off" night, but sheesh! How many times must my expectations of this place not be met before I just throw my hands in the air and give up the ghost? The ghost, of course, being great food? Went here again for happy hour recently and was disappointed in their food. Fries looked and tasted as though they were purchased from a generic bag of processed fries from a grocery store. Spinach naan was incredibly salty. Veggie wrap, or gyro, was decent, but curry was underwhelming. Service was good this time although either I was insanely hungry or thought that the wait to receive our food was a little too long. Aesthetically, place is nice but I just don't think I'll be back here unless Masala closes shop and/or Saffron receives a culinary overhaul.
(2)Sarah B.
The food was absolutely positively delish. A group of friends and i poured into there shortly before closing (without realizing) and they stayed open for us until we were done. They were friendly.
(4)Cortney L.
The place was gorgeous, but the food and price didn't measure up to it. I understand that people try to be tolerable to the gay community. & I'm just sorry that it upsets people, but I felt like they were looking at us like trash, & I felt it. By the way there's a better Indian cuisine restaurant just down the road and under the I-5 bridge called , Indo Cafe we went there to find a buffet and excellent people that work there, & as well as tolerance, they didn't seem to care that we were gay just the fact that were people.
(1)Food E.
i haven't been here for quite awhile but i used to come here often, and here is my first review for them. I love their Chicken Tikka Masalla, it was delicious and service was great. And i even tried his son's other restaurant called Taste of India, they are amazing.
(4)Keriche C.
I am writing this as I eat my leftovers from Saffron. The atmoshpere here was not very intimate. We sat in the bar so the bartender was our server. I asked for recommendations and he told me that he doesn't eat there. NOT a great thing to tell your customers. I ordered the mango chicken curry with 2 stars of heat. It was edible but there is NO heat in it at all. Maybe I'm used to Thai where 2 stars will give you a good bite. I also do not taste even a hint of mango. I would go back and give this place another shot but I would order something different.
(3)Brad A.
Indian food=thumbs up!!! Good lamb kabob. The owner met my bud & me at the door and recognized me from going to Cedars in the U-District. He sold Cedars a yr ago. He brought us a free appetizer plate. (Don't ask me what it was...I think it was some sort of deep fried mushrooms with a dip. Very good.) They have their own parking lot. Located across the freeway on the West side from the Northgate Mall. I had no idea it was an Indian restaurant. Now they have me interested in Indian food. Of course, I had to have the Lamb Kabob, that had veges and Basmati rice. Yum...fluffy. Not the lamb (maybe at one time it was fluffy, but now, cooked nicely). But the rice was fluffy. And we had Naan bread. Thumbs up, bro! I got lit on the rum n coke. Don't get the foo foo drinks...they're too sweet. Had to send mine back (which they did easily) and brought me my familiar rum. Good one!
(5)Mike T.
It's like Mediterranean/Indian version of Olive Garden. We were in the neighborhood and decided to try out the happy hour. They advertise "Indian Tapas"... and I was thinking to myself...uh ok let's give it a try. While perusing the menu I noticed the standards like chicken tikka, "fill in the blank" naan, and tandoori chicken. Further down the menu they had "Indian style chicken wings", battered onion rings and mushrooms, garlic fries, and hummus. As we sipped in our $3 happy hour beer and wine, Mrs. T and I were both amused and confused by the "Indian Tapas" selection so we decided on a a diverse selection. At $3-5 each what the heck right? Our food came out our wonderment continued. The chicken tikka and garlic naan was what you would suspect. Succulent spiced chicken and light garlicky flat bread. The chicken wings were well...I could have closed my eyes and been at the Wing Dome. Just because you have the chutney on the side, doesn't make standard buffalo wings "Indian". On a whim I ordered the onion rings and mushrooms thinking they would be some sort of Mediterranean/Indian take on my favorite fried bar food, but yet again I was disappointed. Helloo Kidd Valley. I shouldn't give this place such a hard time. I've only heard good things about the food and after perusing the dinner menu, it all looked pretty good. Let's just keep the 3 stars for the happy hour and "Indian Tapas"
(3)Cruz O.
Good Indian food, above par happy hour. My girlfriend's not too adventurous, so she always gets the Tikka Masala with no stars. I've tried a few other things here. the madras curry standing out the most. They have nice and crispy pakoras and juicy tandoori chicken. But I can get better Indian somewhere else for the same price. At Happy Hour, the situation's a little different. There are some places that pretty serve large heapings of food with lower overhead at half price, and there are places that create a menu of smaller plates with more sensical, money-making prices. This place is the latter, and I prefer the former. Who doesn't? I mean, I paid 7 bucks for 6 fried shrimp, which tasted just fine, but they were on the small side. They do wraps (like greek gyros in concept, but naan-like bread instead of pita), which are delicious, but priced pretty much accurately. So maybe it depends on your expectations.
(3)Camille B.
My boyfriend and I ate here a couple days ago and I am never going here again. The atmosphere was modern and clean. I ordered the butter chicken and my boyfriend ordered the tandoori surprise. Although the presentation was inviting, I was disappointed when the food arrived luke warm and i thought it was odd that my boyfriend had a log of hamburger meat in his indian inspired dish.. hmm... anyways my butter chicken was more sweet than anything, i ordered it at level 3 spicy-ness (out of 5) and there wasn't a trace of spice. To top it all off the waitresses vibe was very stoic. The only good thing we had was the garlic naan, which you can't really screw up. Overall we didn't have a great experience at Saffron even though it wasn't the worse, compared to Masala I have no reason to go there again.
(2)Garrett W.
Good food and good happy hour prices. Check it out after work from some garlic naan and cheap draft beer. There's always room, the staff are friendly and attentive, and the food gets the job done and a reasonable price. Definitely a fan of the Saffron.
(4)Janice W.
Saffron Grill is a really cute restaurant with really run of the mill food. Not much memorable about our meal here. Much of it tasted pre-packaged, including the mango relish that was pre-used by other customers and placed on our table to serve ourselves with a spoon from the jar it's sold in. The coconut curry I had tasted only vaguely like coconut, the mango curry my husband had tasted like it was made with mango jelly (quite sweet). The garlic naan was devoid of real garlic and tasted like garlic powder on Pillsbury dough. On the up-side, though, the Fish Tikka appetizer we had was really good, as was their iced tea. The service was slow despite the number of roving servers. I would try it again if a friend wanted to go there but would not choose it again myself. Sorry to say but I have not found a really outstanding Indian restaurant in the Seattle area and Saffron Grill is just one of the ho-hum crowd of Indian restaurants in the area the serves meat, veg or cheese in some variety of indistinguishable sauce.
(2)Aayo Gorkhali K.
This is one of those hi - end restaurant for Indian food. Everything here is excellent. The place is highly decorated with nice and clean environment. The service here is also excellent unlike other Indian restaurants. The only disappointing part was the food. I didnt find any difference in their food Vs any other average Indian restaurant. Along with that the portion of the food was really small for that price. Anyway, if you wants some Indian food with fancy surroundings, this might be the place in whole Seattle.
(3)Nimmi O.
Pretty decent place .. The food is good and the so is the service. The veg jalfrezi was good, the naan is also amazing. The chicken tikka , veg platter were also good.We got complimentary gulab jamun which was amazing.
(3)Lucy L.
I stopped in the Saffron Bar & Grill for lunch by myself on a weekday. I went flying solo, so I stopped in because it said "Bar." I was thinking there was a bar I could hang out on & not feel like eating alone was weird. I didn't see one & they put me in a booth. Good thing I had a book so I wouldn't look too strange!! So, the service was just okay. Nothing memorable really. The food was really good. I ordered tikka masala with chicken and it was yummy! I also love me some naan, so I ordered the garlic naan. Everything was nice & yummy with enough leftovers for lunch the next day. Ans as a strange side note, I usually avoid Indian food when dining out because it always hits my tummy wrong. But not here. I did not end up speeding home sweating this time!!! Definitely a reason to reaturn : )
(4)Jennifer K.
the food was OK...it was good, but it wasn't AMAZING. i've had better curry, but i love having theoption of having lamb. the portions are small, but fill you up with nothing to take home. the bartenders were really nice and fun to talk to...however, even while sitting at the bar, they never filled my water!
(3)Angela S.
In short, this place is basically a nicer & more expensive version of Cedars on Brooklyn (which is no surprise, given that the owner used to also own Cedars). The decor is beautiful; it's really a nice atmosphere. The service was good, as well. The restaurant wasn't particularly crowded, and the layout definitely had a more open feel than at Cedars (which can feel a little claustrophobic when it's full). The food was very tasty--perhaps even better than Cedars. The paneer tikka was definitely more flavorful. The kofta was great, the naan was good... Everything was tasty. Also--unlimited chai tea! Yesssss! It was, however, definitely more expensive than Cedars. Worth it, though, at least on occasion.
(4)Sarah K.
Okay, Seattlites, think back to late July, the 103 degree day? That was my first and only experience at Saffron Grill. It was my boyfriend's big brother's birthday, and the only condition of his for where we ate was air conditioning. Saffron Grill had it, and it was nearby, so off we went. There were six of us, total. Myself, my boyfriend, his big brother, his brother's girlfriend, their newborn, and the boys' mom. The place was packed, but they sat us within 8 or so minutes of arriving. I thought that was a good sign. We sat at a booth, and they watered us immediately, except there were only four glasses and five adults, and it took them ten or so minutes to bring the fifth water glass. A nice waiter took our drink/appetizer order. The drinks came speedily enough, the appetizers, however, came 25 minutes later. (Disclaimer: I'm a server, and I know it's hard to please every guest, but what happens after this...there's no excuse for) The appetizers were delicious, we got the garlic Naan, raita, a vegetarian sampler platter, and beef samosas. Every one was mouthwatering. We gobbled and gobbled and they were gone in under five minutes. Then, this young, wispy girl comes over to our table and says there's been a change in floorplan and she will be attending to us now. So she finally takes our dinner order and skitters off. 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 minutes go by and she hasn't come back once to check on us, refill our empty water glasses, offer another glass of wine, or tea. Nothing, nada, zip. So we spend another ten minutes trying to flag this joke of a waitress down to track our food order, but she sees us and avoids eye contact. We are all hungry, angry, hot, and exhausted. Especially the new mother at the table. "EXCUSE ME!" she yells as she slaps her hand on the table (mind you, the girl is across the room from us) "Yes, you. Come here. Now." as she beckons with her pointer finger. "Uh, uh, yes? Wh-wha-what can I do for you?" "Well, I was just thinking it's been an hour since you took our dinner order. Are we eating tonight or next week?" "Uh, I don't know, it should be out soon...I'll um, go check with the chef" And she scuttles back to whatever useless cave she came from. Finally, she arrives back at our table - "Chef says ten more minutes." "I'd like to see your manager NOW." (We'd already asked several other support staff members to get the manager, but I guess he just didn't care) She disappears again. Only to come back with another lame excuse. "The, uh, manager is busy, but I can have him cancel your order if you like." So we get up and head for the door. Now, for the silver lining: there was a very large Indian family sitting adjacent to us, and my boyfriend's mom, and the mother at that table had gotten into small conversations here and there, because the lady's four-year-old was fascinated with the baby at our table. When we stood up, the lady and the two men at the head of the table immediately asked us what was wrong. We explained that we'd waited almost two hours for dinner and it was ridiculous. The men both yanked their cell phones out . The lady then told us that they were the owners/landlords of the restaurant. I then remembered back to when we first sat down, and as the evening progressed, I heard every table of hers having the same problem. There were two tables that had kids under 10 who should have been in bed by the time she finally dragged her limp noodle self over to bring them the bad news. I don't usually bear ill-will towards others, but she obviously forgot to ring in all of her orders and I hope she at least got into a whole pile of trouble. I will never ever eat there again, and I will tell people I care about how bad my experience was. It was a waste of money and time. And it's the cardinal rule of the hospitality industry: Good news travels fast, but bad news travels faster. So make sure to treat your customers better, Saffron!
(1)Kevin T.
It is time for another 1 star review: This place has some serious issues with pleasing customers. After we were seated and had ordered some food, I inquired about happy hour. This was around 3:30pm in the afternoon, their happy hour is 2-7pm. But, for some odd reason we were not given happy hour menus, not informed it was even happy hour. Had this been offered to us as we were being seated, this would had been a much better experience altogether. Two of the dishes we ordered were offered as happy hour portions. The happy hour options were much more suitable for us. Less food would have been just right. Unfortunately, we didn't hear about this until our orders had already arrived. When we asked why we hadn't been told about this, we heard a series of one lame excuse after the other: "Someone else should have given the menus to you", or "I was not trained to give out happy hour menus". This is what our server said. The manager on duty continued with lines like: "you should have known it was happy hour, if you asked we would have given the menus to you." and "there are signs all over about our happy hour." also "We get a lot of families and we don't give the happy hour menus out to these groups, blah blah blah" Ok, well they didn't have a sign displayed facing out from the front entrance of the restaurant, so we did not see an advertisement. This was our first visit too. Either way, this should have been offered, regardless. So, no apologies, no accountability, no ownership. Just one excuse after the next. I do understand that they want to avoid admitting fault at all costs, but this decision is very near-sighted. Basically, we came here to order a $60 meal between two people, have a nice argument with the manager, and leave very unhappy. My advice: Perhaps you should change your policy on happy hour menu distribution. While happy hour is on, you should always offer this to the guests arriving within the 2-7pm time slot. You really have no reason not to. And, if you think you do, I'm sure you would want to avoid another situation like this one. This is reason enough, don't you think? Being part of the service industry(and restaurants are no exception), you should do whatever it takes to make your guests happy. This is good business practice and will retain business for you. Unhappy customers happen. That just comes with the territory. But what you don't do is argue with them and let them leave fuming. See, this way you run the risk of allowing them to give you a crap review on Yelp.com for anyone with an internet connection to see and use for their own reference when deciding upon dinner options. You lose a hell of a lot more than just one customer. Consider that next time.
(1)Bert S.
I've driven by here often, been curious but never ended up eating here - until a couple days ago. I was pleasantly surprised - in my opinion it is hard to find Indian food done well. The vegetable samosas for an appetizer were quite good. Mango martini yummy. I went for the Tandoori Surprise, which was a bunch of items cooked the Tandoori way - Chicken (good), Lamb (really yummy), Beef (good), Cod (ok). Boy it was a lot and I'm not a big eater, so my leftovers fed me the next night also. My wife got their fish & chips, which she said was better than average (and average isn't very good). I didn't have any room for desert unfortunately, but the server brought a complimentary baklava...so I had to eat that...it was yummy and now I was really full. Next time I come I'll try the butter chicken based on other reviewers comments and hopefully have room for a desert and some chai.
(4)K G.
I had to try this place twice before I gave it a review because the I thought the first time was just an off night. After seeing all the positive reviews, and being a huge indian food fan, I had to be fair. But even with two times, this place is a no-go. The decor is better than most indian restaurants, which is a plus. But the food lacks in quality versus most indian restaurants. We started with overly-fried samosas -- that had too much batter and oil. Just wasn't good. Then the dinner came -- we had chicken tikka which is tough to mess up since its just a lot of whipping cream and other bad stuff - but man the stuff is good. But really wasn't here. The chicken was really dark and seemed like end pieces from a bad part of a chicken - it was abnormally black-ish. Not very good. We also ordered the lamb vindaloo which was not very spicy or flavorful and extremely hard to chew. The bread was good though. The service wasn't great, wasn't bad - just nothing to really talk about. Food was edible, but there are too many other options around for better food so I won't be going back for a third time. I tried though my fellow yelpers -- you usually don't steer me wrong!
(2)Jacklyn T.
Great Food/Drinks. I love the 2pm-7pm happy hour. The service is wonderful. Lovely atmosphere. It is my favorite place to take friends. Thanks Mohammed!
(5)Scot K.
This was my first visit and the food was good. I'll have to eat there a couple of more times to determine if it rates a higher score. They didn't make too many changes to the interior from the previous restaurant (Berkshire Grill) so, the atmosphere wasn't really traditional Indian. The spinach naan was great, excellent flavor and fresh spinach gave it a good mix. I had the butter chicken (my favorite) which had an excellent texture to the sauce. Some places make this on the oily side, which is disappointing. The portions were perfect and filling, which was probably bad, since it didn't give me an opportunity to try anything else. I'll return and try a different item and add on to this review.
(3)Jami S.
Amazing Happy Hour menu! Great prices, great atmosphere, great service, and food!! Happy hour is from like 2-7 everyday. LOVE THAT!!
(4)Amanda S.
Food in Northgate is generally on the "just OK" end of the rating spectrum for me. When we want to go out to dinner, the boyfriend and I generally end up elsewhere, even though we live in Northgate. Saffron is totally different! The restaurant is beautiful. All of the service we've had there has been fantastic. We've tried several different menu items and have been pleased with every single one of them, though we've become absolutely obsessed with their Royal Biryani. My boyfriend's mother travels out here from Ohio quite frequently for business (as well as to visit!) and has started requesting Saffron every time she's here. The last time she and I went to lunch there, the service was exceptional and they even treated us to some baklava, on the house. I'm generally not a baklava fan, but even that was amazing. The prices are really reasonable for the quality and quantity of food you get. On their website right now is a buy one, get one free coupon for dinner, which you should totally print out and use it if you haven't tried them yet. The only thing I wish they had were some drink specials. The boyfriend and I are going there tonight but we won't be doing any drinking. The drink prices are rather steep, but it says something that Saffron is the only restaurant in the Northgate area that we've eaten at more than once.
(5)Tina S.
I have been a huge fan since 2004! I followed this family-owned restaurant called Cedars in the U-district to their current location by Northgate Mall (now called Saffron) because I cannot find a more delicious butter chicken or mango curry dish. Their pesto naan is also fantastic and you HAVE to order their amazing chai tea with unlimited refills! Oh, I am sure they have many other tasty items on their massive menu, but why get anything else when I haven't found anything better than their butter chicken? P.S. the owner often gives out little free desserts and the wait staff is very attentive.
(5)Talulah M.
This place has all the greatness of the food at the old Cedars plus plenty of free parking and you can get to your table without shimmying around other people. It has lost it's ramshackle charm but I'm usually too busy looking at the food, glorious food. The food is fantastic and the service is over the top. They are polite and efficient and I've never seen the bottom of a cup of tea while I've been there. You almost always get a little something sweet on the house after your meal, too. I don't know about the authenticness of the food - I've eaten at a dozen local Indian places and Cedars is among my favorites. Is that because the place is too Americanized? I don't know, but I love it and I regularly take people there who have never tried Indian food and they love it, too. I don't think their naan can be beat. I have dreams about their butter chicken.
(5)Todd L.
This restaurant is misclassified as a tapas bar on Yelp. I can see why as it is hard for me to classify it. Indian, Greek, Mediterranean, Persian? Big emphasis on saffron everywhere ( and even a cool blurb about it on the front inside of the menu) Had the appetizer sample tray and was very disconcerted at the overblown sauced falalfels it overpowered the taste. Good panera nan (Indian cheese), though.. Nice selection of local beers and waitress (Mary) was very knowledgeable.
(3)Colin F.
Absolutely love this place! I would eat here everyday if I could afford to. They have a huge menu. As a matter of fact, their menu is the only reason they get 4 stars instead of 5 because its a little difficult to sort through. However, the waitstaff is awesome and will patiently answer any of your questions. Everything we have ordered has been amazing from appetizers to desserts. Last time we were there, they comped us a dessert and extra sauce for our Nan that we ordered to take home after our meal. And for no reason! We didn't have a long wait for anything. There was nothing negative about the experience at all. They just gave it to us to be nice. Everyone that works there is super nice. When we were arriving last time, we were having trouble finding a parking spot. One of the kitchen staff noticed this, came out the back door and walked us over to parking space. As you can tell, I can't say enough good things about this place. You get the quality, service and ambience that you would expect from a much more expensive restaurant without the high price tag. Bottom line, go here, you'll love it.
(4)Marnie R.
This is my favorite Indian food! It's great to be greeted by the same friendly faces I used to see at Cedars in the U District while I was in college. I once had a party of 9 for my birthday there and the owner brought over a free appetizer because he thought we waited too long for our table. They serve the best chai tea for free while you wait for your take out food. It's the best!
(5)Rachel P.
If you had been here before, you'll know the re-vamp- new place is an improvement on that crusty old place. The food was good, a bit spendy for my taste. Service is a bit...over done. Too many people asking about things- the owner, the water guy, the server...or maybe it was just the night I was there. Family style was good. Menu is overwhelming so know what you like before you get there. Overall, I'll be back.
(4)Greg L.
Love the service! Love the food! Prices are fair and the butter chicken will make you a fan for life. For Indian fair this holds it's own. Great place to take a date or a large party.
(4)Tamora S.
Not impressed. I eat a lot of Indian food and I mean A LOT! Since moving here from Chicago, I've been on the search for some comparable or even better tasting Indian food. Of all the places I've been to in Seattle, this one had the blandest Indian food I've tasted. I didn't even think it was possible to have bland Indian food, but they surpassed the bar in blandness. The other caveat about this place is that the guy who kind of greeted us never stopped his conversation on the phone to acknowledge us properly. With a few hand gestures and walking away from us (while still in conversation on the phone) we followed him to a booth where he tossed our menus on the table and walked away. Bad service. Very bad service. I wouldn't recommend anyone go there and I would never go back. You would expect something named after such a great spice would offer a passable pleasant experience. It did not. I gave it two stars because I could never totally one star Indian food!
(2)Darth V.
*Waves hand* This is not the Indian-slash-Mediterranean you are looking for. What? It worked for Obi-Wan. Sheesh, cut me a break. That old man is always trying to one-up me. Anyhow, as to the restaurant. I see the reviews here on Yelp, and honestly, I don't get it. The only thing I could figure is that it's getting the positive reviews because it's so close to the college, and thus has a lot of clients that are 20 years old and broke - which is a bad combination when discussing matters of taste. Or it could just be that the Lady Vader and I happened to pick the only naan (mint) on the menu that sucked, the only 2 bad entrees on the menu (The Rogan Josh and the Prawns Tikka Masala), and were given the world's only invisible mango pickle, and the restaurant's only questionable appetizer (the Kibby....the grape leaf wraps were awesome, but the meatballs were merely mediocre). But it seems more likely that the mediocre food was indicative of a larger problem, and that we just never actually got the mango pickle we ordered. It's not that the food was awful, it was just spectacularly mediocre. In a city where you can't swing a dead cat without smacking the walls of 10 Indian restaurants, that's unacceptable. The drinks were hit and miss, as well. The blueberry whatever (think it was a cosmo) was vile, the passionfruit whatever was quite tasty. And why is it that when it's 50 degrees outside, it's only 52 degrees inside? Seriously, Lady Vader fired up my lightsaber just for warmth while we were there. You have no idea how awkward it was to have someone pass by and complement her on the size of her schwartz, whatever that meant. I give Saffron's a middling 3 Deathstars, though that's only because I can't give it 2.5.
(3)Mingo T.
Pros: staff everywhere, very attentive. Nice atmosphere and facilities. Most of the food we had was not bad. Cons: disappointed in the rogan josh I ordered. Very average and not a really well developed depth of flavor. Seemed a little pricy for what was delivered.
(3)Kellie C.
Good food and drinks. Service was pretty slow. Try their tabbouleh and garlic nan.
(4)Rob Y.
This place and their sister store are the only places we will eat India Food at. Super nice, and they have no problem cooking our food to order. This place rocks. They do have Wi-Fi, but the password appears to be a mystery at this time, I am sure the next time we go they will have it fixed.
(5)Jessica F.
My boyfriend and I LOVE indian food, well any food, so we thought we would try this place out because of the good reviews. Our waiter was nice, but the owner was there scolding his employees right in front of us, even taking into to consideration that his 'podium' was in a few steps from our booth it still made the expierence quite uncomfortable. The owner even came to our table and asked us why we didn't get naan, like this would have been the only thing good. The boyfriend wasn't much impressed with his food either. We both just had the most awkward dinner expierence ever. It was the first time I have ever sent food back, only because they gave me the wrong dish. The food was decent but was lacking some flavor I thought and the meat was too soft like mush. It was the most uncomfortable dinner ever. (the repeat is necessary!) Advice: if your gonna scold your employees, do it in the back where customers can't see it!!!
(1)Jackie T.
Average Indian. Maybe their Mediterranean dishes are superior. They seem to have a bit of a problem with seasoning. We were served salty??? rice and a spinach curry without spinach flavor. Thankfully the rice they brought out to replace it was fine. My butter chicken was okay, just not spectacular. I recommend ordering one spice stronger than you typically do. The onion kulcha was fairly tasty, as was the mango lemonade.
(2)Seen A.
Unlimited chai! Happy hour 2-7~ Chicken tikka on happy hour menu is delicious!!!! Garlic naan is a must. Curry chicken tikka is ok... Butter curry is better! But the portions are not as big. One curry per person.
(4)Xibee M.
I finally went on a Friday evening (super packed house). The service was a bit scattered due to being busy (we had to ask to see dessert menu a few times), but it was VERY worth it. Just go when they're not swamped. We had a chicken tikka masala (very rich, yummy, just as I'd remembered); a rogan josh that was savory and deep; a palak paneer (perfectly spiced, not heavily so); and spinach/paneer naan (aMAZing.). But the real surprise was when my Philistine husband ordered cheese fries (which have sprinklings of feta). It has now been a week, and oddly it's those FRIES I'm craving... Wow, they were good. I mean addictive good: like the Why-is-my-hand-still-stuck-in-this-bag-of-cheetos? good. Dessert was rasmalai (pretty good) and mango-pistachio ice cream. It's a bit pricier than we would normally do, but SO good, all-around.
(5)David M.
" Good Food and Great Drinks " My wife and I visited the The Saffron Grill in Seattle three weeks ago, and had a great time. We sat at the Bar as the restaurant was packed with people enjoying the authentic Indian & Mediterranean cuisine, Kyle the bartender made our visit very enjoyable as he mixed some awesome drinks for us, and made us laugh with his great personality. Owner Muhammed Bhatti was also very nice as we spoke with him about the restaurant. The Saffron Grill should be on your list to visit when you are in Seattle.
(4)Volha A.
Back here for happy hour after a long time. Got a bit too much meat! The chicken tikka is always on point! The hummus was great but a tad too salty today. As for the tandoori mix appetizer, the chicken and beef were great, but the fish was too salty, and lamb kabob was too dry/overlooked/salty. Could have gone without them. The service is always prompt and attentive. Lots of servers and bussers making rounds.
(4)Jennifer N.
My husband and I have started frequenting this place because they have Indian food (which I like) and oddly enough a small American food menu with a burger and other American type food - which my husband eats! My favorite things on the menu so far is the garlic naan and the butter chicken. SO GOOD! Will definitely continue returning and eating these items. They lose 1 star because of the service. While the waiters are nice, there are a few issues: - We were there with our friends last night and one of them ordered an iced tea. It never got refilled - We asked for a garlic naan to be brought with dinner, because I knew we wouldn't be able to not eat it if it was brought earlier. It was brought out like 20 min before the rest of our food, and of course was gone by then. - They started bussing the table with a giant gross looking sponge before we even paid for our meal. - It takes longer than it does at most restaurants from ordering to food ready. I still plan to return cause the menu options are perfect for us and the food is really delicious, but I do think they could improve their service.
(4)Brittney W.
It's just amazing here. I always get the coconut curry signature Indian dish, it's to die for! Also try the chai tea, it's so creamy and delicious! It's smart to make a reservation because you will find that the restraint of full even in a Monday night. Eat here and enjoy!!!
(5)Cleo R.
Everything was amazing; the service, food, wine, everything! By far the best Indian restaurant I've been to!
(5)Kenneth K.
This is by far my favorite Indian Cuisine in Seattle. It's prices are decent and the food is great, service is wonderful and the bathroom....yes the bathroom is always clean. Here are my Favorite Dishes: - Samosa Two crispy pastries filled with your choice of fresh mixed vegetables or delicately spiced lean ground beef.$4.99 -Coconut Curry Rich curry cooked with coconuts, ginger, garlic and our special blend of spices and a touch of cream. $11.99 -Curry Specialties A traditional brown curry prepared with tomatoes, onions and fresh herbs.$11.99 The best part is that they also serve vegetarian, Mediterranean and american dishes. I would definately recommend this place to anyone looking for an Indian place in Seattle.
(5)Lee A.
Busy place, good food. The place was packed on a Saturday night at 8pm and there were a lot of people waiting. There were a few seats at the bar so we were able to get seated right away. The bartender had his hands full but he did a good job. Service was a little slow but that was to be expected since the place was packed. The food came really quickly after we ordered though which I was really surprised about. We ordered the Shahi korma with chicken which was something I've never tried. We usually go with chicken tikka masala but I've found that at some places the flavor is a little lacking so I wanted to try something else. This was definitely a very good choice. Lots of flavor. I'll definitely come back but if on a Saturday night I'll wait until at least 9 which is when it had started to slow down.
(4)Shanna H.
This place is amazing. One of my favorite places, hands down. I come here frequently with my boyfriend and family and have never had a bad experience. First, the food is delicious. We always get at least one order of the garlic naan and devour it with their tasty chutney. Their drinks are also amazing, and if you get the chai tea they refill it for you as much as you want. Which brings me to my next point. The staff is wonderful. They are constantly refilling your water and tea, so you are never left wondering if you're going to be thirsty. The waiters/waitresses always do a marvelous job, especially Vincent last night. On top of that, they keep the whole restaurant incredibly clean. The whole place runs like a fine-tuned machine. Almost every time I have been there, I see the owner walking around making sure the business is running smoothly. I can just tell he takes pride in having a great business, and it shows in the quality food and service. I love going here because I know I am going to have a wonderful experience.
(5)Mojdeh S.
How I heard of this place: It's been in Northgate for at least a handful of years, noticeable, as it sits immediately off of the main road, yet it took a good friend's (who was born and grew up in India) recommendation for us to venture a visit. Type of cuisine: A mild, lackluster flavor fusion of Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. Ambiance: "At Saffron Grill, you will find a restaurant with a delightful balance of atmosphere and hospitality, along with authentic dishes prepared using the highest quality spices and ingredients." A slightly corporate feel with the whimsy and color palate of an extensive Indian home. What I ordered: We started with one order of the Vegetable Samosas ($4.99), two crispy pastries filled with mixed vegetables, one order of Tabbouleh ($6.99): a salad made of chopped parsley leaves, tomatoes, green onions, fresh mint, bulgar wheat and a house-made dressing made with virgin olive oil, served with pita bread, and a bowl of Dal Soup ($5.99): homemade lentil soup prepared in an old Indian tradition. Our main entrées included garlic náan ($3.25), a leavened bread topped with garlic, Butter Chicken ($15.99) for me: a deliciously smooth butter, tomato, and cream sauce, spiced with ginger and garlic, and Tandoori Chicken ($14.99): juicy spring chicken on the bone, marinated in yogurt, fresh ground spices and saffron, served with sliced onions, lemons and rice. What I loved: The dal soup and creamy butter chicken. Why I loved it: Simple and effective for the American audience, lacking spice and tons of Indian flavor that I'm used to, but acceptable and tasty, overall. Cost: Average ($10 - $20 per dinner entrée)
(3)Max Z.
Saffron Grill has become THE place to grab drinks with friends and family. With a full bar that rivals the best places in downtown Seattle, the bartenders at Saffron provide a knowledgeable and uplifted spin on favorites such as the Tequila Sunrise, Manhattan, and Old-Fashioneds. The food is tasty and provides a kick anywhere from 0 to 10, with my personal favorite being the creamy Specialty Butter Chicken. Grab yourself a plate of that, a regular naan, and prepare for a wonderful journey into Indian bliss!
(5)Kathleen C.
Most Indian places are all the same to me. This one was good too but just like all the other ones I've been to. I probably only eat Indian food few times a year though. Notes: We had reservations on a Saturday night but still waited around 20 mins for our table. I will say that the owner/mgr guy was really nice and attentive! Parking kinda sucks here too! There's a parking lot, but too many people go here to fit everyone. Food: We didn't do family style. So weird. I suggest you do. Got the butter chicken ($15). It was good/normal. One order of naan is huge! ($2.50) I feel like it could feed 4-5 people granted we already have rice that comes with our entrees. Also unlimited refills on chai! The chai was good :) ($3)
(4)Peiying P.
nice ambiance. friendly service. pretty tasty food.
(4)Jannie L.
I have been wanting to try this place for years. I used to work near the area and drove by it almost every day. And finally this evening I got to try it. I had the lamb biyirani. The rice was beautifully seasoned and was very satisfied with the amount of lamb. Also was a large size portion with I was not expecting. I got a bite of whole cardamom pods that was not so pleasant and unexpected service was great and someone always came quickly to fill my water. I will definitely come back to try something else.
(4)Arti N.
Came here for dinner years ago, and thought it solid. The same owner used to own Cedar's on Brooklyn in the U District, which I frequented in the mid-90s as a UW student. This past Saturday, I again returned.. this time to pick up a few extra items to serve with an Indian dinner I was making at home. The naan (2 plain, 2 garlic), vegetarian pakoras, and tamarind chutney were all decent but I wouldn't say a standout from any other local North Indian restaurant. (We've come a long way from when my family moved to the area in 1981 and there was only the one lone Indian restaurant in the entire state of Washington! Called India House for many years, on Roosevelt between 45th and 50th. Now good Indian food is a local staple with many establishments to chose from) The tamarind chutney was oddly bright red, not dark brown as I would expect and I'm still unsure what accounted for the color difference. For what I got, I sit my rating solidly on 3 stars, as I'd have to try some of their entrees to really judge SG more accurately.
(3)Marlyn D.
This is MY SPOT! My go to when I have a craving for Butter Lamb I've been a customer for years and have always had a wonderful and enjoyable experience! The food, the taste and quality is exceptional! The staff is friendly and ATTENTIVE!!! I try to order something different every time I visit but my go to dishes are: samosas (to start), butter lamb curry (served with rice), panner nann and always their house CHAI TEA! I always have room for dessert! My go to dessert is their rice pudding.
(5)Matt B.
This is one of our favorite restaurants hands-down. The food is very high quality. We usually order dishes such as Mango Curry, Tandoori Chicken Tikka, Kashmiri Chicken, Spinach Naan, Saag Paneer, all of which are excellent. Portions are good-sized, the Naan breads are huge. The Chai is very sweet and if you order Chai you will get the full customer experience. They come buy and refill your chai and water before you ever get near the bottom of either. The servers are well trained and attentive without being pests. Overall a great dining experience, this owner runs a tight ship. Make sure you bring a coupon either from their website or from valpack. With the coupon the prices are very reasonable. Without the coupon the prices might feel a bit high.
(5)Anna L.
I came here for a birthday dinner for a friend and was a solid Indian restaurant with nice staff. I studied abroad in India and ate butter chicken for months.
(5)Hanna G.
Bringing my toddler it's pretty hard to a restaurant it can get real messy but all I can say is Excellent service, the server was on top of his job! Thank u for being so sweet while my little life was running around the whole place! Naan bread is HUGE and came out hot, perfect for two to share the curries are out-standing just amazing .... Nice atmosphere/location and a lot of parking...
(5)Hannah W.
Amazing! My boyfriend and I went out to dinner here. As a young couple it is really nice to have a waitress that not only didn't ignore us but provide great survive. The food was amazing and there was free refills on chai! Honestly my drink didn't get half empty the whole night. Would go again in a heartbeat.
(5)Fernando F.
This place is the shit!!!!!! The food is excellent, service is excellent,pricing is not bad at all, is not overpriced, everytime i go to this place i have a good experience.
(5)Joe S.
I pass this place every time I go to a friends place and this place is always packed and now I know why. They have great food and great service. My brother and I both love Indian food and always have a hard time finding a place that will satisfy us. The only complain I would have is that they have poor parking but as mention above they have great food and great service.
(4)Jonathan Y.
Not the best, or worst butter chicken. Solidly middling. The garlic naan was huge, spongy, crispy on the edges...but lacked garlic taste. The service was friendly and prompt, but it's way overpriced. Around $16-18 per meal. I won't be back, there's better Indian for much cheaper in other places.
(2)Grace W.
I've seen coupons/advertisements for this place ever since we moved to this area. We've probably passed by the restaurant almost every week. I never bother to go because I thought, if you have to advertise that much, it must not be that good. I was totally proven wrong. This restaurant is totally a hidden gem in the Northgate area. Yes, it maybe hard to get to because the roads are always undergoing construction on Northgate Way but it is totally worth stopping by. I totally enjoyed eating at this restaurant. 1st, there was plenty of parking on a weekday evening even though the restaurant was bustling with lots of customers. 2nd, the service is excellent where our server was super attentive in bringing us hot water and refills on the Chai tea. In fact, he stopped by twice to check on us. He just casually checked in. Even after they closed, they didn't shoo us out but instead waited patiently for us to finish our conversation since they were cleaning up the restaurant anyways. 3rd, food was excellent. I ordered the tikka chicken appetizer because I wasn't too hungry. It was delicious! The chicken was cooked to perfection where it was moist and delicious. I hate overcooked chicken and it was made just right. My husband got the beef coconut curry and it was delicious too. I liked the curry sauce a lot. Finally, the garlic and spinach naan was scrumptious. They provide this yummy green dipping sauce that perfectly complimented the naan. I highly recommend getting the naan even though it is an extra cost 4, I thought the food was on the pricier side for Indian food, hence why only 4 stars instead of 5. The place wasn't inexpensive and was on the moderately to expensive side. I think the coconut curry was about $15.99. My appetizer was about $8. Though it was delicious and they offered 5 star service, it was still expensive for us. However, I would definitely come back again and recommend this restaurant to friends and family.
(4)M J.
The food was delicious, but the atmosphere and service left us thinking that this would be a great takeout place. To the management's credit they righted a service challenge, but between the decor, the mid-nineties Olive Garden-esque atmosphere, we were longing for somewhere a little more upscale with more mature waitstaff.
(3)Kathy V.
I visited Seattle for the first time, and was disappointed with the food. We came here before heading to the airport to return to LA... And it was really good!!! Really happy that we found this place while getting gas, and it did not disappoint. The ambiance, food, service, prices... Everything was great! I def will recommend to friends and stop by on my next visit!
(5)Clara H.
Love, Love, Love Saffron Grill! I would give out 6 star rating if I could. I've been here many many times and Saffron Grill never disappointed me even once. So far, the best restaurant in town! Expect the long wait line if you decided to go here on the weekends. I recommend Chicken Tikka Masala and Tandoori Chicken Tikka (With the Garlic Naan, party in my mouth!) Oh, one more thing also impressed me was that the owner seems to care a lot about this restaurant. He was always there day and night. He would greet and try to take care of every single customers. Try Saffron Grill now! You won't regret it.
(5)Sean C.
Oh no! With great anticipation, I put in a pretty big family take-out order, thinking we'd get a couple of meals out of it. The person on the phone was great, and the lady that checked us out was super sweet and helpful. Unfortunately, the food had no resemblance to our last order. It must be a different chef. It wasn't bad by any means, but it sure didn't stand out like previous orders. Our Aloo Mutter Mushroom was bland. The Vindaloo curry was hardly different. I'm quite disappointed, and will look elsewhere for Indian in the future.
(2)Claire R.
I love it here, and I come back all the time. The food is great and the service is impeccable. I am always particularly excited when I have Ky as a server. He is a delight! My favorites are the paneer naan and the Chai tea - and you basically can't go wrong in terms of entrée . What we always do is buy the mazza platter and two entrées with a naan. Yum yum!
(5)Natasha K.
My husband and I have been coming to Saffron Grill since they opened and Taste of India before that. We often come just the two of us or with a pair of friends but a few Sundays back we came with about 10 people from my family. First off they take reservations, which is hugely helpful with such a large party coming in on a weekend. I arrived with my husband and sister about 10 minuets prior to the rest of my family who has limited experience with Indian cuisine. I notified our server, Min (I think is how it is spelled) that we had some people who were new to trying Indian cuisine and that they would likely have a lot of questions, he assured me that he would be able to help with any and all inquiries. My family came and was seated and we ordered and he explained various types of foods to the family and EVERYONE was happy with what they had ordered. My sister who can eat things that are so spicy a normal person would cry mentioned hers (5 of 5 stars) wasn't spicy enough, and when we asked if he had extra spice we could add he removed her plate and got her the spiciest they could make (8* on the "Indian spice level" he said ). My family even had some questions on the art they had hung and our server asked the owner and they both came over and had a conversation about it. My family can be a difficult group to accommodate on occasion and he was hands down one of the best waiters we as a group have ever experienced. He kept our drinks full, our food came promptly, he checked on the group consistently and made great conversations, if I could give him a higher than 5 star rating I would not hesitate to. I now feel safe and secure bringing any type of a party to this establishment. Also endless chai tea and delicious food is always what we get when we come here. Thank you Min.
(5)Maneesh U.
Been here multiple times. Great food and service.
(5)Benjamin P.
Oh dear, this dining experience was such a pleasant surprise. Hospitality (5): Seriously, some of the best service I've received in Seattle in a bit. I think, due to Seattle being full of renowned restaurants because of its large foodie population (or is it vice versa?), service can be quite stuffy. This was not so here, despite it being a restaurant worthy of notoriety, "imo." I was immediately greeted by a friendly manager, who just as promptly sat me in the bar, only after asking. I agreed, but minutes later, realized my guest (who hadn't arrived) was not yet of age, so I asked a passing server for another table, specifically, a booth. With a big (genuine) smile, he says of course, checks with his manager, and takes me to the next available booth. If I had to make up a statistic, I'd say 70% of all bad service reviews are due to the first 5 or 10 minutes of interaction with the restaurant staff (sounds reasonable?). With that said, to avoid producing a short novel, I'll say I knew the service would be great from then on, and indeed it was, being neither too absent nor present, too condescendingly nice nor stuffy, and above all, completely genuine. In fact, service was perfect, including that of the bussers, so thank you Edgar (our server) for leading that charge. Food (4.5): A restaurant with great service and not great food might as well be your friends mom's house, so I'll have to brag on the food as well. Shall I say, Scrumptious? Yes, capital 'S', as in, the epitome of scrumption (the noun form, of course). It was certainly the best Indian food I've had. Edgar recommended the Tandoori Delight to begin, which was basically a sampler platter of different meat preparations (including one piece of fish). We had that along with their MASSIVE garlic naan, which was large enough for my friend and I to share throughout the meal. The Butter Lamb (indeed, lamb, and it was done well) and the Madras Masala were also very good, though, I admit, my friend didn't like the Masala that much. Well, to each her own is what I have to say about that! Anyhow, we both loved the Butter Lamb and the dishes came with plenty of rice and sauce to sop up with that delicious naan. The portions are very large, and I'm always the type of person that likes a 3AM snack, given the opportunity. I was happy. Last note: Full bar! I did not drink though; it was Tuesday at 7PM, and I'm a student. That's why I probably SHOULD be drinking, but I digress. The decor was nice: modern/western with a touch of Mediterranean flair, I suppose. The menu, apart from my choices, was extensive. It had Indian, Tandoori, Mediterranean, and even American fare. The dessert menu was also pretty large as well. Try the Lassi for a drink, it is tasty and refreshing. Finally, it was not too expensive either. I hope everyone has as pleasant an experience here as I. Try it out!!
(5)NW R.
We were staying at the Nexus and got our Seattle friends to join us. I love all Indian but my friend is picky-picky so excited that she loved it too. Wide beer selections with porters, my favorite Mac and Jack as well as the required Indian beers. SO many great dishes - we shared salmon, cod, tofu and eggplant dishes. Service was excellent and quick. Highly recommend.
(5)Scott B.
I stopped for a quiet lunch at noon on a Saturday. The Saffron is more elegant than expected, from the outside a brick block building with happy-hour signs; on the inside a beautifully appointed restaurant. Yes, the bar is a showcase, backdropped in crystal-lit bottles floor to ceiling and very subtily separated from the dining area by see-through glass and brick columns (very very nice). Dining tables are glass-topped linen, walls decorated in wood carved panels, chairs tall backed with upholstered seats...and yes, a quiet atmosphere with attentive staff, mostly male. My Mediterranean salad was generous in content and beautifully presented, the Chicken Masala on Basmati rice was perfectly done. The best part: constant refills on lightly spiced Indian Tea with milk... Oh Lord that was good ! I'm coming back here. My wife will be so impressed and she will compliment me and I will feel so cool for finding this restaurant (right across the freeway from Northgate Mall). (FYI: No, I've never been here before and I'm not affiliated with the staff or business in any way, just appreciate affordable good food and class dining. - Scott)
(5)Rob M.
Just went through the criteria for a 5-star rating with my wife, as we don't want to give them except when deserved. Well, Saffron Grill deserves it. Excellent food, atmosphere and service. Bottomless Chai, huge naan, wonderful vegetarian plate (mazza) and very balanced tikka masala flavors. Two thumbs up! I only wish we could try more of their extensive menu. Don't be in a huge rush, as food this good takes time (but it's reasonable). And save room for the warm baklava at the end- what a nice way to end an excellent meal.
(5)Ian K.
Not too long ago we noticed that the Berkshire Grill changed names. Took a mental note at the time but didn't investigate further. Now I am kicking myself because it means that for the past few months I've had amazing food just up the road that I wasn't enjoying! On the recommendation of a friend we went in for lunch a couple of weeks ago. Upon walking in we were met with sweet smells and a prompt table. Menu was an interesting mix of Indian and Mediterranean. There are also some other interesting item, such as burgers, fettuccine, fish and chips and even Steak! Suffice to say there is something for everyone. In the past week we ended up there three times! Definitely a place for groups. This last weekend we were met at the door by the owner, who is the past owner of Cedars! He recognized one of our party and as soon as we were seated an order of pakoras showed up on the table, with his compliments! In fact every time I have been there we were given a little something special, whether a free dessert or a fun waiter to talk with! We never expect anything, and are just thankful for having a great place to eat just a hop away!
(4)Meghan K.
Tasty, tasty Indian food! I had the mango curry and it did not disappoint. The garlic naan was delicious as well. I can't wait to come back here and try more items from the menu. The only thing holding me back is as far as Indian restaurants go, this one is a bit more expensive than many. Although the atmosphere is much nicer than many Indian restaurants so I guess it's a trade-off. The wait staff here are very friendly and attentive, my water glass was never empty. Good food, good service ... I will be back.
(4)Danielle G.
This place is owned by the former owner of Cedars in the U-district which is unfortunate because, I like the butter specialty here, but the service and the constant over-the-shoulder peaking from the owner is a little disconcerting. It seemed like it flustered a lot of the employees as well. I'm sure if he wasn't constantly ordering his staff around in front of the customers, it would have been a much more pleasant experience. The food seems a bit overpriced as well for the quality.
(2)Laura B.
Me and my boyfriend wanted to eat out at a restaurant that was not too fancy yet not too casual. We looked on yelp and found the grill xpress and decided to go there. When we drove by it wasn't what we were looking to eat in at so on our way home we saw the Saffron Bar & Grill. By looking at the outer decor I thought it was going to be expensive. Yet, even though the prices are higher (ranging from 12-30), the food was DEFINITELY worth it! I ordered a chicken takka appetizer and was very satisfied and looking forward to my main meal. The food was delicious! For the price I got a good amount and had plenty for left overs. The service was great! Very friendly, and we even got a complimentary appetizer from the manager. I definitely recommend this place to anyone who is willing to get their moneys worth.
(5)Joel G.
Like everyone else said, it actually is Cedar's (although I forgot to ask whether the chai was similarly bottomless), with even the same owner-guy (or maybe a slightly friendlier version of him), but with incredibly attentive service, a more spacious and more modern design, a nice-looking bar, a few token American dishes on the menu, and higher prices. (Whatever happened to the days when "Northgate Prices" meant "cheap"? I blame you, Stanford's!)
(5)Pearl D.
We eat here a couple of times a month. We like to meet various friends for happy hour and share appetizers along with a drink. The bar area is cozy and we have really enjoyed our wait staff. The decor is pleasant and clean. The food tasty and appealing looking. We'll keep going back.....
(4)Amanda Y.
Ooooh ho, ho. I decided to snag a chicken gyro to-go for my dinner tonight after my work happy hour here, and I am soooooo glad I did. It was fresh, flavorful, and just plain delicious. It was seriously one of the best gyros I've ever had, it was pretty big, and it came in at a whopping $4.99 plus tax. Can't be beat, and even though I'm kind of full, I'm still craving my next one.
(5)John N.
The older man who was sitting people (assuming the manger) is racist. My wife and I went there for dinner and he told us there was a 10 minute wait. After waiting 20 minutes an Indian couple walks in without reservations and gets seated immediately. Disgusting, will never step foot in that restaurant again.
(1)Tristan P.
My girlfriend has been wanting to try this place for a while now. So finally broke down and decided to go when we were both hungry and it was close. We walked in around 9pm about an hour before they closed. I usually hate doing that. We got seated promptly and wait staff was friendly. Food was delicious. Girlfriend was happy. I haven't been that pleased with a meal in a long time. Food : 5 Starts Atmosphere: 5 Stars. Nice lighting and good place to take a date. When the check came they brought a dessert sample that was a doughnut in rose water. It was different but good. One of those things you would never try unless they brought it to you. I will be visiting again and frequently.
(5)Ken A.
Never had a bad experience here yet. One of my favorites. Great service and great food!
(5)Nunya B.
Love the food! Love the service! Happy hour prices are great! I know this isn't an eloquent review, but there you have it in a nutshell! I LOVE SAFFRON!
(5)Gomer K.
Why is this place open here?? What happened to the Berkshire Grill?? I have to stay at the Hotel Nexus a lot for work and I was so disappointed to see the Berkshire gone and in its place... another frickin' Indian food place?? Gah!! The service is nice, correction, the servers are nice. Like I said, I stay at the Nexus a lot and so I tend to wander around that neighborhood in my jammies in search of lunch sometimes. Nothing inappropriate but when I stopped in there to make a to go order I was completely ignored by the owner who was greeting people at the door that day. I'm sorry, when did rice and sauce = evening attire. Anyways, I'd rather take a bus to the U-district for cheap food and friendly service. Or if you're looking for just falafel, head to the place next to 7-11 around the corner.
(2)Jennifer S.
Like the ambiance, but everything we tried lacked flavor and spice. Bombay Hot Wings were vinegary and not at all spicy. Same with the chicken tikka. Spinach naan looked great, but was disappointing as it had neither salt nor any of the masalas that would make it wonderful. Clearly caters to non-Indians, which is fine. But if you like real Indian food, go to Roti (lower Queen Anne), Pabla (downtown or Renton), or one of the many good options on the East Side.
(3)Corey G.
This restaurant rocks! This was our first visit here and Brandon had recommendations that were outstanding. We got seated right away at 6:45 on a Friday night, just in time to snag some Happy Hour drinks and apps. Their nan is awesome, and their hummus is pretty good, too. We had a great dinner experience! We were encouraged to order a dessert but we declined, and we got a free serving of their baklava, anyway, to try because we'd never had it before. Nice touch!
(5)Jill S.
I would not consider myself an Indian food expert. But having grown up in the Bay Area back in the day when Thai and Vietnamese restaurants were scarce, and "fusion" cuisine had yet to be invented, a good alternate to Chinese, Japanese and Mexican was Indian food. So I've had my share. I've been to Saffron twice now and ordered the same thing both times: Tandoori Surprise. The service was great: attentive, friendly and prompt. And the food was delicious. I think my favorite was the cod and the butter chicken. The garlic nan was also delicious. I would agree with some of the other reviewers--the food is tasty, spicy but not so much that it burns your mouth or makes your nose run. The combination of menu options with the great service makes this place a definite "go to" for me.
(4)Steve C.
This is one of our favorite restaurants in the North Seattle area. The menu is extensive, dishes are well-prepared and well-presented, the atmosphere is comfortable for family dining, the service is outstanding and the prices are reasonable. Also, the wait staff is knowledgeable about flavors and seasoning of the Indian dishes to offer suggestions. That combination has brought me with my family back for more as a regular at Saffron Bar & Grill.
(5)Tristyn T.
The food is pretty good if not a little spendy. The service is always great. I would highly recommend the butter specialty.
(4)shaylynn t.
I love this place. The foods great, atmospheres great, and the service is usually awesome. I'm sad to see some people weren't totally satisfied with this restaurant. It's off the hook in my eyes. Try the butter chicken, scrum-diddly-umptious. As long as I'm in seattle and have a bit of money in my pocket, I will be coming back as much as I can.
(5)Vinay D.
Went there because of good reviews on yelp.. But the experience was really bad.. Service was poor.. We went as a party of 12-13 people. the waiter asked for drinks to just 3-4 people sitting in one corner. We had to call him again and again to order drinks for others. The food was pathetic too.. Super-dooper hot.. We had ordered spice level 3, since most of people in our group were indian. But none of us were able to eat anything, because it was just too hot and spicy! I wonder how a non-indian can tolerate that much spicy food! We complained about it. The only thing they gave us was couple of deserts (for the table of 13 people). Possibly the worst Indian food I have ever had! I will never ever go there again!
(1)Anthony L.
Mixed review here based on food quality, portion size, and prices. Really wanted to love this place seeing as the owner/chef was from Cedars in the U-District which I love. But the portions for there dishes were small and the flavors not as cohesive as Cedars. We ordered the Butter Chicken which was very tasty and a veggie (onion, cauliflower, potato) dish which was forgettable. The naan bread was the star of the show, thin chewy and super tasty. Pricing was not appropriate for the location or portion sizes. $50 for two entrees and salad (plus tax and tip). Overall not bad but not worth the price.
(3)G. G.
This review is based on ONE visit. I went here after reading some good reviews and after a friend said it was so good that "we didn't even talk while we ate." Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. We ordered the grape leave thingies w/rice in them. They were pretty good. Then I got the hummus with Nan. The hummus was kind of bland. The funny part: The hummus came on this huge flat plate with ONE kalamata olive in the center. Come on, chef, you can't spare another so that each of us could have one? I put like 5 on my salad every night. At the Saffron Grill I guess kalamata olives are made of saffron gold! Even though the menu has seemingly endless options, we apparently ordered the wrong things. Both of our dishes were lackluster and looked very similar to each other. I didn't finish mine, but the server was so nice and concerned that I just asked him to box it up for me. Then I "forgot" the box at the table. Other than the bland taste of the food, which may have been due to not knowing what to order on our part, only one other complaint: I watched the server take one of our plates and empty the food off of it into the trash next to the bar. Not something I want to watch from my table. Go into the kitchen! I might try them again, but they won't be springing to mind next time we want Indian or Mediterranean food.
(2)Kathy S.
The Happy Hour is the opposite of generous. A little tad of hummus about the size of a very small pancake and just as thin....and you'll be paying extra for the bread. I ordered a microbrewed bottle of beer for $11, was so sad to see it the next day at my local PCC for $3.50. I understand the mark up on bottles of wine but beer?? I could let that go except for the owner's tirade on a waiter. Because she showed up 5 minutes late he told her to go home--she wasn't needed. I don't like bad ju-ju with my happy hour. Then it sort of becomes...an unhappy hour.
(2)Gina M.
Best Indian Food in Seattle! My favorites: Palaak Paneer, Tikka Masala, Hummus, Spinach Naan, and Hot Chi, to name a few. Delicious, authentic, superior food! The owners used to own Cedar's on Brooklyn in the U-Dist for many years and I frequented there as well.
(5)Robert H.
The food here is excellent! The service is okay and the portions are very small considering the price. I had the Basil Tomato Soup and Garlic Naan to start. Both were delicious and I thought the meal was off to a good start. When I got my food I got a small bowl with six bite size pieces of chicken. The whole table shares the rice and in the end I had what seemed like a snack. I was still hungry after a meal that cost me about $25. I really did enjoy the food, but I don't think I will be returning to Saffron. Maybe I am just too hungry....
(2)krisztina g.
I always used to pass by this place and it looked so generic so i never gave it the time of day but then my grandpa told me it was good so i tried it with my boyfriend and its the best indian food i have ever had. the naan is amazing and the butter chicken is delicious, definitely is a must!
(5)Al T.
A fancy place, nicely decorated with a semiformal-ish feeling in it. I don't expect to find a restaurant like this in the neighborhood, so my friends and I was quite surprised when we first tried this place. I am not an expert on Indian cuisine nor I eat a lot of em, but I must say that their food are delicious. All of us ordered curry and we share Roti for our bread and a chicken-based appetizer (I forgot the name) and all are delicious. I love their bread dipping sauce, it tasted really exotic, fresh, and matches the bread so well that we asked the waiter for 2 extra sauce on that day. The curry was excellent, too. It is really flavorful and the basmati rice is so well cooked. I will surely come back sometimes for more curry and some bread.
(4)Rolfe B.
Overall, very enjoyable. Great ambiance and decor, this place feels very upscale and fancy, but doesn't cost as much as most places with this much class. The happy hour deals on appetizers and wraps were really good, it's a little more pricey at other times of day. Free bottomless chai tea. That was amazing, and will often make the difference when deciding where to go. I must have drank a gallon of the stuff last time we were there. The food was good, but probably just four stars. The fifth star is the environment and the tea. I actually prefer the food at Kalia's over on Greenwood, but this place has the more polished presentation, so Saffron gets the five stars for the total package.
(5)Cdulce O.
Customer service is beyond good. If you want Indian food, come here! We order so much food there's no room on the table. I swear we look like starving people when we eat here. That's how good it is. We drive from Port Orchard just for dinner and then drive back. The only bummer is the parking. Don't get me wrong. There's lots of it but they share it with the hotel next door. There have been times we went around and around.
(5)Tobi R.
We loved Cedars when Muhammed Bhatti owned it (not since he left), and now that he's has Saffron Grill, we love this restaurant even more - less crowding, more ambience. The decor and ambience is delightful, the food is delicious, and the wait staff is, by and large, professional and gracious (keeping in mind that they are human beings and not robots, the quality and dedication of their work will vary). Mr. Bhatti knows his business and how to take care of customers. I am surprised by the negative reviews and have some thoughts on these. As a customer, certainty about heat levels in spicy foods is hard to achieve until you get to know a restaurant's practices - there is no hard and fast way of guaranteeing that a certain number of stars will have a measurable amount of heat - it's largely a subjective experience. I am unable to tolerate much heat in food, but I love and can tolerate spiciness, so when I am at a restaurant for the first time, I consult with my waitperson about that particular restaurant uses heat. I definitely have never found the food at Saffron Grill to be bland and heartily recommend the Grill.
(5)Allie S.
Wow, amazing butter chicken. Saffron's butter chicken is second best to Mayuri in Bellevue and so much closer to where I live. I keep wanting to try other items on their menu but as I said.. butter chicken rox! I love their fresh naan which is much better than Mayuri. I am also addicted to their Hummus. Happy hour is a really good deal for the basics and they have a buy one get one free entree coupon on their website. I am very happy I stopped by to give this place a try!
(5)Ari Y.
I had an amazing meal at Saffron last night. The atmosphere is very pleasant - soft lighting, Indian and Middle Eastern music playing softly, the light smell of incense. The restaurant describes itself as "fusion" and serves Middle Eastern, Greek and Indian food. I ordered a combination plate of hummus, baba ghannoj and filafil with raita and garlic naan. Everything was delicious, nicely seasoned (you can request different levels of hotness) and in generous portions. I was given a free sample of gulab jamun, a dessert made from a ball of milk batter deep fried and served with a saffron and rose water sauce. It was yummy (not something I would have ordered from the menu description). I was stuffed but took some baklava to go. The service was excellent, waiters very attentive, water glasses refilled continually and food came promptly from the kitchen. I will go back often.
(4)Meredith S.
I went here tonight with a friend. We ended up getting wine, two orders of garlic naan, I had the lamb kabab and he had a beef dish (I can't remember the name). It was amazing!!! All of the food was really good and the service was great as well. I had a million questions and everyone answered them completely! I will definitely be back!!!
(5)Laura K.
Everything I have had here was good but the tandori chicken is the best I've had anywhere. The butter chicken is suppose to be a specialty but it didn't stand out but its not my favorite Indian dish either. I have had a few different lamb dishes and they were tasty but they all looked the same. I think presentation could be much improved. The decor is nicer than any other Indian restaurant but it is a generic corporate design style. I understand why the food costs more here because their overhead is higher but I usually pass this place up for the Indian buffet lunch down the street.
(3)Tiare G.
This place is really great. I wasn't sure what to expect as they have a lot of different genres of food including American. The spinach naan was really great highly recommend. Also the Tikka Masala was delish as well. I would defiantly go back.
(5)Amanda E.
This place is pretty fantastic. I went here with a friend a few nights ago. The service was great, fast, friendly, and the food was warm when it arrived, just the way it should be. We had both ordered naan with our meals. FYI: the naan is a very large piece, and can feed two-three just fine. I wanted them to make my food a spicy as they could, when the waited came back, I jokingly said it wasn't spicy enough, and he brought out a small pile of spices, I poured it all on and boy was it good. The prices are fine for dinner prices, and there is a 10 dollar off coupon on their website. No real complaints.
(5)Jenny F.
This restaurant is like walking into a different country, either India or Greece, and having a fabulous meal. I've been there many times, and they always hit the nail on the head. Phenomenal food, and service.
(5)Steven B.
Was treatedly rudely by the managment after I noticed him demeaning his staff.. walked out..
(1)Michael F.
Located in a peculair situation, situated like a Denny's or a Marie Callender's in the parking lot of a cheap motel on a busy road close by a big shopping mall. In fact, we've had friends say they haven't gone there due to the odd location wrongly thinking it was some sort of cheap chain restaurant. It isn't. Our friends are wrong. Thank heaven enough people have ventured out of their cars to keep Saffron Bar & Grill in business. This is the best Indian restaurant in Seattle. The BEST. We're grateful for the absence of the perpetually lousy all you can eat Indian buffet. Everything here is made to order, expertly spiced, presented and served. One reviewer commented about how fancy the place is. Not so fancy families would be uncomfortable. Yet nice enough to feel like you are in for a special evening. Saffrom Bar & Grill provides all of the extras that make a meal memorable: the naan, the raita, the owners attention to diners, the chai and occasional free dessert offerings add up to the most pleasant time you will ever have with Indian food in a motel parking lot.
(4)Bran S.
Decent portions for the price, and tasty to boot. I'm usually leery of food places right off the freeway, but you really can't go wrong here. I've been here twice and plan to go back, although the last visit seemed to go a bit awry as it took a rather long time for my friends and I to get our food. Solid four nonetheless.
(4)Michelle W.
Very good food. The flavors are insane. Service is typically okay--soemtimes over the top, other times a little light. The bill is somewhat pricey, but for an occasional treat, this is a good choice in the north end.
(4)Keri A.
If I find an Indian food place that is not expensive it will get a 5 star rating. My son is vegetarian and Indian food has such great vegetarian fare. We all like/love Indian food and this is convenient, has good food, good service and good variety. There has never been a wait. My daughter loves their mango shakes.
(4)Amanda S.
The 5 stars is just for the Iced Chai alone!! I love that I could get several refills and it was sweetened just right :). I would kill for the recipe (not really, but it sounds cool). The Aloo Palak Masala dish I ordered was just spicy for me and tasted hella good going down with garlic naan :). Our table also ordered meat samosas, which were really yummy and had a crispy shell and soft center, mmm... And the owner was really sweet by giving us complimentary rice pudding. Will definitely come back when I am back in this 'hood.
(5)Joy M.
Like Cedars but a little nicer and a little more pricey. Right new our house so we've been a couple times, mainly with a coupon (although we'll go to Taste of India or Cedars if we're closer or have a coupon for them). Lots of guests from the Nexus Hotel, sometimes you can hear the traffic from Northgate Way outside. The lassis taste overwhelmingly rose-y and the mango lemonade is tasty ($4). Chicken tikka and veggie dishes are our common meals.
(4)Renee B.
My husband and I are frequent visitors of The Saffron Bar & Grill. They definately had a few problems when they first opened. Calamari that was over-cooked, butter chicken that was so-so. We kept coming, because the owner used to have Cedars, which was a great place, so we felt confident things would improve. They improved very quickly and now we love every dish we order. My favorite are the tandoori dishes. The tandoori fish is the best! The staff is knowledgeable and quite friendly. The atmosphere is comfortable,and I think it's actually better than Cedars ever was. Good for families and groups of friends.
(5)T M.
I've been here three times since this restaurant changed from the Berkshire Grill to Saffron. The new decor is impressive, the new dining room is airy and elegant. Happy hour is worth the trip. The bar is a really nice space, the selection of food is good and nicely priced, and there is decent beer on tap. Lunch was nice, albeit more expensive than I'm used to shelling out for a midday meal, but the food was tasty, and the service was wonderful. I didn't notice until later that they offer lower priced sandwiches, which I'll probably get next time I visit for lunch. I really enjoyed the baba ghannoj, it was pleasantly smoky and went well with our order of plain naan. All the staff is attentive and gracious. I love the never ending chai as well. I had some take out last night. I'm a big fan of the Channa Masala, a dish I cook at home from time to time. The Saffron version was flavorful, and the portion was generous. It went with a side of spinach naan, which tasted even better reheated for breakfast the next morning. Saffron is a great place to go for post-Northgate shopping, and a much more interesting and flavorful alternative to the dull offerings at the mall.
(4)Ivo H.
This is where the old owner of Cedars in the U-District (Seattle) moved after the restaurant switched hands a few years back. Tasty and satisfying food, refills on chai without even asking, and a *huge* set of Indian and Mediterranean options on their menu. They even have a selection of American food if anyone isn't feeling adventurous. The owner is very friendly, and often has time to answer questions or take constructive feedback. I've been going to Saffron Grill and it's predecessor for a long time, and their quality and excellent service hasn't wavered. Their spice level runs a little mild, but they will stoke it up if you ask for extra (or extra extra) hot.
(5)Jenny S.
Can't remember what we had but it was wonderful and I totally recommend this!
(4)Liz B.
Okay so the food was fine. I really can't say it was better or worse than most Indian restaurants in Seattle, not as good as most on the East side in the Microsoft corridor. But the service was so . . . strange! I can sum it up thusly-- during the meal, right in the middle of the dinner rush on a Friday night, a server came out with a vaccuum cleaner and VACCUUMED the whole dining room while people were eating. I have never in my 37 years seen that before. It was noisy and disruptive to everyone's conversations and just plain strange. I wouldn't refuse to go there again, but there are plenty of other places I'd go for Indian food before I'd choose Saffron again.
(2)Angel S.
This place has got to be my favorite Indian Restaurant in Seattle! I've been here more than 10x and will keep coming back. They have great customer service and awesome food. Also, if you like Taste of Indian on Roosevelt, you will like this restaurant. The owners of both restaurant are related (Son owns the Taste of India, dad owns Saffron Grill) and very friendly. Great Indian food. Love it! I highly recommend the restaurant. :) Very authentic! :). They also have awesome happy hour! :)
(5)Phil S.
I was really excited for some Indian-Mediterranean fusion, however there was really no fusion about it. Don't get me wrong, the food was quite good, but they pretty much have an Indian menu and a Mediterranean menu. It is not as if there are Indian dishes with some Mediterranean flair. Perhaps I was under the wrong impression and should not have expected this type of fusion. I had an Indian dish and the vegetarian delight appetizer. It was all quite good Indian food.
(3)Rob B.
Went went here knowing it was new. Berkshires was not bad. Friend and I didn't know what this place was and went in! I noticed right away it better be good with how nice it looked! They assured us there is everything we want on the menu. They were right! I even gave 30% tip. We will go back for nice dinner and treat!
(4)Keith S.
Same great food that I have come to expect from the owner of this series of restaurants. Additionally I think it's nice I can take people here who do not like indian food, or are in the mood for something else. Sometimes grandma doesn't want to try something new, but I'd still like palak masala paneer. Here she can have herself a caesar and I can still enjoy some of the best indian cuisine in town.
(5)Chani B.
As soon as we walked in the owner of Cedars gave me a big hug,sat us down and gave us some free food! Awesome. I love this place. Much more open than Cedars with a better ambiance. Finally a nice place to eat Indian food in Northgate state. We pretty much ordered the same food we ordered at Cedars. Yes there is that bottomless cup of chai and water. Also from what I witnessed a very nice bar area. I hope this place does just as well as the former Cedars.
(5)M H.
I was so sad when I learned that Cedars in the U-District changed ownership, then was so happy to learn that the new owners had opened Saffron Grill - just a couple of blocks from where we live! The food is amazing - Mr. Bhatti's team makes the best Indian food in Seattle so far as I'm concerned. I also love the happy hour 2 pm - 7 pm 7 days a week. The happy hour menu isn't huge but there's certainly plenty to choose from and the drink prices are great! Quite often there's a wait for a table, but I've never had to wait for a place at the bar. Finally, I've always gotten exceptional service here (as well as at Cedars when it was owned by Mr. Bhatti). The servers and bartenders are unfailingly courteous and helpful. When I've ordered take-out and had to wait any amount of time for it to be ready, I've been offered a cup of delicious chai while I wait.
(5)jim w.
Operated by the former owner of Cedars, that's right they sold Cedars. So if you went to Cedars for the food and not the location this is the new place to go. Everything that was great about Cedars with a more upscaled dinning area, a full bar and less first year UW students (my apologies to the ones that aren't douches). They have Guinness on tap which goes very well with Indian cuisine. And did I mention a full bar! Cocktails and a plate of deep fried Indian yummies, I am in heaven!
(5)Rebecca B.
i don't know why this place has 4 stars!!! if you are looking for real indian food go elswehere! my friend was told by a waiter if you wanted real indian food then why did you come here?? LOL ok, so ya it was bland and not very good at all! there are much better indian plances in the area.
(2)Richard B.
This is GREAT Indian food. I loved Cedar's, but this place is even better -- great atmosphere, wonderful food, nice wait staff. And the owner is very gracious and welcoming every time I'm there.
(5)Paul F.
Saffron Bar & Grill is owned by the former owner of Cedars, and regular patrons of either Cedars or Taste of India (owned by his son) will find the bulk of their menu familiar. I suspect at least the American menu additions come about in their role as on-site restaurant for the adjacent Hotel Nexus; regardless, I visit for the Indian food I've enjoyed for years. My personal favorite at all locations is the Tandoori Chicken Tikka. As a regular of Taste of India, I noticed that Saffron's prices are slightly higher, but I find the better atmosphere is well worth it. The decor is a bit more upscale and nicely done, and the combination of the more spacious layout and the lack of crowds waiting to be seated is a welcome change compared to both Cedars and Taste of India. I also appreciate that the staff doesn't rush things; I'm left with the impression that if I wanted dinner to last for a few hours, the staff would be entirely accommodating. Even after the main course, when they wipe down the table (which, yes, I admit is a little odd), they then ask about dessert, often offering a free sample of something from their dessert menu if we decline when they bring the check. A few months ago, after having been to Saffron a few times, I brought a group of roughly 15 people over including one young child; Saffron handled our group wonderfully, despite some minor confusion about the reservation.
(4)Richy M.
I have been back many times since my first visit and will continue to return. The food is in my opinion the best indian in N seattle. The service is always excellent. It even seems like they give bigger portions for takeout. All of the curries are outstanding. Plus the drinks are well priced for the size.
(5)Tai T.
Think Cedars, but with an upscale atmosphere. The menu and people are the same as Cedars. I stopped in because they have a happy hour menu. It's not that great, so don't make a trip for that. I'm a big fan of the curries and naan, but not a fan of the other stuff. I found instances of the food being too dry/ over cooked. Not sure if I'd go out of my way to go here, but maybe if I'm in the neighborhood.
(3)Donna T.
Their food is wonderful. The service is wonderful. If you order chai tea, they refill it free. The naan is....OMG its so good! They have kheer, homemade there.
(5)Ivy H.
Wow, I am one happy gal! I loved Cedars food but was not all the keen on the dining environment, the restaurant was always crowded with way too many tables and their was always a long wait for a table. So...when we discovered that Saffron in Northgate is operated by the former owners of Cedars I was beyond ecstatic and couldn't wait to check it out. When we arrived, my husband and I were greeted and promptly seated. Our table was by the door and I although I wish that we would have been seated further into the dining area, we were still impressed with the presentation of our place settings. The decor of the restaurant is definitely more upscale than cedars and they play very soft music in the background which made it a more memorable experience than listening to a bunch of college students. The service, like Cedars is fast and almost too attentive, I don't think my water glass ever got below half before a server was there refilling. Our food was excellent, a bit more expensive than Cedars but in my opinion it's totally worth the calm dining experience. Our only real complaint is that they wouldn't honor an offer from their website to mention the site and get 20 percent off or something. Overall, this is our new "go-to" place for Indian food.
(5)Jenn S.
Everything was delicious. Got paneer tikka for an appetizer-highly recommend it, so good. Had chicken tikka masala for dinner, so good. There was an entire cardamom seed shell in the sauce, which means that the chefs are roasting and grinding the spices themselves. Even the basmati rice was so exquisite that I was practically eating it with my hands. It was crazy busy, but we were seated and served quickly and with wonderful service. Our waiter Min was a sweetheart. Will come back next time we're in Seattle for sure.
(5)Gavin P.
My favorite Middle Eastern/Indian restaurant in town!!! The owner Muhammed started Cedars in the U District and a Taste of India on Roosevelt, and now operates this restaurant near Northgate. The venue is massive, modern and professional. It has a full bar, a private booth area, open seating, and a small area for a semi private group meal. THE BUTTER CHICKEN CAN NOT BE BEAT! BEST FOOD HERE! Anything tandoori is made perfectly! Chai tea is addictive! I usually get 4 cups. Love the spice on the food, I cry every time because of how hot it is and love every bit of it. you must go here!
(5)