Saffron Kitchen

A Magical Evening at Saffron KitchenSaffron Kitchen truly exceeded my expectations and delivered the most top-notch dining experience I've had in quite a while. From the moment I approached the entrance, standing outside in the chilly night air and light rain while waiting for my dining companion, a kind and welcoming gentleman invited me inside to wait in the warm, cozy, and spacious dining area. As I entered, I noticed my dining companion was already seated at a lovely window-facing table for two, beautifully adorned with fresh linens, utensils, and a carafe of water.The service throughout the evening was consistently friendly and attentive, with at least four different staff members seamlessly working the dining room as an efficient and cheerful team. They were engaging and accommodating without hovering or making us feel rushed, even though it was a pretty full house. Making reservations for a Friday night was definitely the right call (thanks to my dining companion who made them that very afternoon).The staff was incredible, and the food was equally amazing. I ordered the vegetarian combo, which included deliciously prepared vegetables--perfectly seasoned butternut squash, spinach, and eggplant--each served as separate helpings alongside fluffy basmati rice and delectable naan bread. My dining companion opted for the king salmon kebabs, which were infused with an incredible grill flavor and served with a different type of seasoned basmati rice and naan bread. Alongside our meals, we received condiments of mint, a tangy tzatziki-like sauce, and a spicy sauce--perfect for dipping our bread or adding a delightful kick to our dishes.We started our meal with their house-made red sangria, which was fresh, delicious, and beautifully complex with notes of citrus, brandy, and triple sec. We lingered over dessert, savoring the Firni, a creamy, fresh, and delicately sweet pudding with a satisfying crunch from almonds and a sprinkle of chopped pistachios on top. Everything was fantastic, and the impeccable service only elevated the experience.We were so impressed that we've already made plans to return later this month with our spouses for a double date! If you're looking for an extraordinary dining experience, with lovely staff, a clean, warm, relaxing vibe and delicious, freshly prepared Mediterranean dishes, Saffron Kitchen is the place.

This place was actually amazing and so happy I came across it as it's so close and just a little further down College Ave. The atmosphere was warm and calming w/ great service! We came in towards the end of the night and the staff were still supper accommodating. Every dish was amazing and so flavorful. I got the Qabuli Pallaw which was so flavorful w/ the fragrant rice & perfectly cooked chicken. The dumpling appetizer was so good and the potato app was like a deconstructed samosa that was flaky & buttery. The pistachio ice cream was also super good so definitely get that if you have room for dessert! I will definitely be back

Enjoyed a pleasant lunch with 6 of us at table, sharing dishes amongst ourselves. Each dish was delicious and beautifully presented. Mocktails were fun to watch being prepared and tasty too. Service professionals were helpful, kind, joyful and non-intrusive. I appreciated eating on a white tablecloth with cloth napkins. The chef or manager (?) visited our table a few times, first to make recommendations and answer questions, then to check on our reactions. Charming comfortable ambience. Prices were good value.

I ordered here a few times and it's off the list. Just regular Indian fare and a little off. Don't remember anything being special but the saag was boring. Honestly the Indian food in the bay area is horrid. The only places I go to are 1. Naan and Curry in San leandro 2. Guru curry house (but it's a mix with Himalayan). 3. Pippal.... this is another league and simply unbelievable... it's on the pricey side but nothing compares to this place.

My previous review was for the bar and happy hour. Since, we've Doordashed SK several times and the food is phenomenal. The quality of the lamb, chicken and salmon was fantastic and the char, perfect. Portions were generous and the sauces they provide made the meal. Our next goal is to make it in to the dining room!

What a wonderful dining experience! The outdoor seating / patio is nice especially when the weather outside is sunny and warm. (The entire surrounding neighborhood is nice tbh) We ordered the eggplant pakora as an appetizer and the chicken/beef combination to share. Overall the food was good. A step up above other local spots perhaps. The presentation is a nice touch. The sauces (ranging from mild to spicier) is also a nice to have. Food wise, the pakora was the star of the show: crunchy, not dry, saucy .. Overall I would say this is a good and peaceful date spot or a place you can take your friends / family. Then you can go to the Trader Joe's / Philz / or Boba Guys after :)

THIS... is miyeeeee plaaaace! Oh. Em. Gee. Lemme tell ya, lemme tell ya! Saffron Kitchen impresses like no other! I'm so incredibly excited to have Saffron's uniqueness in this neighborhood. Rockridge really needed something like this. Something fresh, hip, and authentic. I love it to pieces, bay-bee! First things first; the happy hour is the bomb.com! I'll admit that this is what got mehooked initially. The cocktails are strong, delicious, and made with love. The FOOD... dear Lordt. Mm hmm... Lord with that added T at the end. The food is the most flavorful. The seasonings, the spices, the consistency; all perfecto. You can get a nice sampling of some of their specialties from their happy hour menu. But, you mustn't miss out on having dinner here. The beef kabobs are my favorite item on their menu right now. The beef is just so tender and juicy. I love when they take them off of the hot skewer and put them on the plate. It doesn't get any fresher than that, baby! They are so damn flavorful and delicious. But, I could literally go on about several items on their menu. Their mantus are top tier. I'm talking melting in your mouth goodness. The house made middle eastern naan is to die for, especially when dipped in their chutneys. The samosas, the salmon, the shrimp skewers... I mean Geezus. Every single that I've put in mouth here has been sensational.Aside from the food and drink, the SERVICE is absolutely phenomenal! The staff is so amazing! Akbar and Abdul are so kind! They certainly run the place with passion and great direction. You will always find one of them there holding down the fort and making sure that everything is operating smoothly. My favorite bartenders Risa and Jargie are exceptional! They are so sweet and observant. I love chatting with them and they both know how to make a mean cocktail. The vibe is so awesome here. Low key but also elegant. I often come on week nights to wind down after work, and I always leave feeling so good and happy that I came. Yeeeaaah. This is my place. My local little gem. I am so grateful to have them in the neighborhood and I hope they stay around for many years to come! Thank YOU Saffron for being amazing! MUAH!

I got the charbroiled chicken kabob plate and my friend got the mantu and butternut squash with meat sauce. I realized I'm not a huge fan of charbroiled chicken because it tasted a bit burnt but that's just a personal preference. My dish was a little dry, but the sauces on the side helped with that. The mantu was delicious and I would highly recommend it. The lamb dumplings paired with this yogurt sauce were amazing--I don't think I've ever had anything like that before. I'm not particularly into butternut squash, so I didn't enjoy that dish as much, but I liked how creamy it was.

We ate at Saffron Kitchen on Valentine's Day. Though the staff was a bit overwhelmed & tables were kind of smushed together, the food & experience were still great. The waitress didn't seem super familiar with the cuisine (didn't know ingredients or how to pronounce dishes) but was friendly, helpful & attentive. Lamb shank was served off the bone which was a first for us, but the flavors were good. We also ordered the chicken skewers. The meat was tender and moist. The staff gave my wife a rose. That was a classy, thoughtful gift. We had an enjoyable experience and look forward to returning.

Fantastic staff, Great Happy hour and yummy food. Try their special cocktail by master mixologist, Jesse. We will definitely be back.