Worst customer service i have ever recieved. The hostess was extremely rude, and the owner was even worse! This is the first time I ever went to an Indian restaurant where u have to pay for the normally complimentary chai tea......and $4 too, what a rip off! It's bad enough that the food is way over-priced....we payed $55 for a meal for 2.....they charged us $12 just for extra sauce....absolutely ridiculous!! I dont ever recommend this place to anyone. You can definitely recieve better tasting food for a much better price, and without being completely disrespected by the staff, at another Indian restaurant. read more

My gf is always trying to get me to go eat indian food so when i read about this place, i decided..hey! maybe i should take her here...thinking i would get major points! negative.. When we first arrived here, they just finished setting up for dinner so we were the first ones there. The waiter who waited us was rude. I felt like he didnt even want to ask us what we wanted to order. We were starving so we didnt let that bother us. Then another waiter came and i asked for 3 straws that took him 2o mintues to get....and he only came back with one. last time i checked, when you ask for 3 u get 3? or am i on drugs? when the food came it, it did look delicious. the aroma was making me salivate all over the place. When we actually started eating, there was nothing special about it. Ive been to another indian place that was way more attentive, less expensive, and closer and it didnt taste any better. Maybe the rudeness spoiled the meal. This is the last time i drive that far to get rude service. read more

We've eaten as Saffron once, but they used to cater work for us occasionally. I've definitely had better Indian food, but frankly it wasn't "single-star'-bad. What prompts me to give the single star is that my husband asked for a vegetarian suggestion the one and only time we went to eat there and was offered a spinach meat dish by the owner who happened to be there at lunch. When my husband realized the mistake after trying the dish, the owner was non-chalant and unapologetic. Having been in the customer service industry myself for years, it always amazes me when customer service so completely escapes someone in the industry who should know better. read more

Oh, my God!! I think the worst feeling I've felt in an Indian restaurant. We were visiting with a friend with his two young daughters, and the waiter, recorded our visit as six guests, when we were total five, and that included two girls, nine and four!! The aloo tikki (potato cakes) and spinach with mushroom curry were too salty. The other foods that I tasted were fine. At one point I motioned to a waiter and a manager, both who ignored me completely!!! The manager, I think told the waiter that I needed something, but the waiter never came to me! I finally went to an another waiter, and explained what happened, and he complied with my request, but, did not compensate me for the drink, (a mango lassi). We were overcharged for the buffet and my husband later had to call and explain what happened. The staff ruined my appetite completely, and I left so downtrodden!!! Such horrible behavior!!! I will never go to this place again, no matter what good others have said about it!!! read more

My husband & I go to the farmer's market every Thursday. I would love to buy some rice from Saffron but get this -- they charge EXTRA (actually TWICE AS MUCH) just to put some sauce on it!!! I don't want the chicken, just a little sauce on my rice. For that - he wants to charge $5! When the rice is only $2!! WTF??? For that reason alone, they will never get my business. SHADY OPERATION -- BEWARE! read more

Awesome buffet on Sunday. Always a good selection. Freshly baked naan too. Service is attentive too.

Tasty Food. Ambience is ok. Quantity is a little less. No choice of cocktails and not enough menu items. Overall not worth the price. A better ambience might command the prices they demand. read more

Long gone are the days of good Indian buffet on the penninsula. Just had lunch here and I didn't like the food.

The food here is really good but I don't ever feel welcome. The staff who does the dirty work like pull plates have been nice but up front could be much better. read more

Much like the others on here. The food is very good. Some of the dishes are excellent. The service is some of the worst I can remember. I can't imagine why a waiter would think it is acceptable to treat people the way we were treated. I'll never eat inside this restaurant again. read more

The Sunday buffet was delicious. We took our 2 year old and she enjoyed eating the fruit (under 4s eat free). She especially liked the endless naan. The buffet selection was great. I really liked the butter chicken and tandoori chicken. Wine was not bad, but you are probably better off with the beer. Definitely comparable to any of the UK Indians I've been too. read more

I'm giving this restaurant one star because it is impossible to give them 0 stars. I came here a week ago with a friend, wait staff was so unfriendly. They made us sit without Menu's :( and when we asked for Menu's then got a rude reply, "If you will order from Menu, Food will take 25 minutes, you can try Buffet." The items i Buffet were limited just Alloo Tikki and some Mix Veg for appetizer and that was cold too. We just got appetizer and the waiter showed up with Naan, we told him nicely we will like to have Naan with our main course but he keep on insisting to have naan now otherwise it will be LATE. We got our main course dishes, there was no Paneer in there Paneer Sabji it was just cream and Bell Peppers. Daal and Palak Makki was cold :( Then we asked the waiter for naan and it took 15 minutes to get 1 naan restaurant was not that Busy. We asked for Coke and they just give us Soda without Gas and then waiter and manager tried to make Soda from Machine and gave us. Which was not even close to Taste like Coke no Gas. It was Worst experience i ever had with an Indian Restaurant. Items are Overpriced. Will like to suggest Management to work on Quality Stay far far away! read more

Went there for the Sunday night buffet ($13.95) w/ a friend tonight. Despite arriving relatively later (8:30) the food was reasonably fresh, and they didn't run out of anythng. Service was attentive, and the food was good. Definitely a contender for my Tuesday and Sunday night gluttony. read more

A new lunchtime experience. Great buffet, great service. Great vegetarian fare, loved the naan. I really like the mango custard for dessert. Definitely try this place. read more

this is a beautifully decorated place with friendly staff. it's not cheap, but the quality of the food is good. i love their vegetarian dishes, especially the spinach. their chicken tikka is very good, too. sometimes they have a buffet with a great selection of food. read more

We love the wide variety this menu provides. The meat here is succulent. We especially like the Masala Winglets and the chicken tikka kabob and the okra (Amchuri Bhindi Masala). Eating at the restaurant is relaxing and good ambiance. Also great for takeout. Definitely with a try - the girlfriend grew up in India (Hyderabad) so I can also say it's a crowd pleaser even for folks with a discerning palette. read more

I dined here yesterday with my uncle after running many arr ends around San Carlos. The food is to die for; we did the buffet and at $15.00 per person, its plentiful. Tender mixed tekamasala with that perfect spiciness, tender tandoori chicken legs that pack a punch not too much so but enough for you to know, sag paneer, bean salad, bean dish, fish pacora, mmmmmmmmm. Oh, the nan is so light and fluffy; my uncle and I went through two baskets and they serve you just the right amount so you do not overdo it. The service is friendly and atmosphere casual yet classy. I love the Indian music as it is not loud or intense. So, for wonderful Indian cuisine at reasonable prices with friendly service in a casual yet classy atmosphere, Saffron cannot be beat. Keep up the good work guys.! read more

I love Saffron as much as I love my Mom's cooking. Every time we order from there we are reminded that they truly have the best Indian food in the Bay Area. Try any of their tandoori dishes, chilli chicken, paneer, lamb vindaloo..it's all yummy. Be prepared by wearing stretchy pants when you order take out or dine in. Their customer service is great too! read more

Great food. Little on expensive side but everything was tasty. Our parents were here and they loved it.

Well Saffron certainly isn't what it used to be. My wife and I tried Saffron again since they changed their menu and what a disappointment! Imagine soul-less Indian food, as if you were in the mid west where nobody knows any better and that is what you can expect. Except, they aren't charging mid west prices...We'll NEVER go there again. read more

The food here is awesome! We love the variety. I would also like to add that they are great with handling allergies. We used them for catering over the weekend but wanted to make sure most of the food was both gluten and dairy free. The manager/owner of the restaurant was used to handling these kinds of requests and knew exactly which dishes we should/shouldn't order. It can be so frustrating to go to restaurants that aren't sure what is in their own food. But this place gets it. No doubt we will be returning again and again here. read more

Overpriced buffet. Food I had during lunch buffet was mediocre at best. Fish curry and Mango Pudding items were flavorful. Naan was too chewy, cutlets were stiff and oily as if reheated in oil, plates are way too heavy - partly to discourage people from overloading but there are other ways to do this than make guest get a carpal tunnel. read more

Their buffet can't be beat! It's a little pricey but the flavor and quality is superior to any other Indian joint in the area.

Chicken Nazimi Curry and Butter Chicken was what was ordered, along with Plain naan and Roti. Loved the good. Service was outstanding. Cute little spot with nice interior and great food. read more

Confusing. I called to place an order and the man on the phone told me there was new ownership, and that's why the prices were higher. A lot higher on some items, less so on others. Then I got a comment from the existing owner saying no change of ownership, just a new menu with prices rised by 5-7% in line with cost of living, cost of doing business etc. That sounds reasonable, plus he's trying to introduce some new dishes, go all-organic etc. The website intro sounds very inviting. If only fine dining service accompanied the prices that are, I have my calculator out and I'm looking at the most recent pre-change take-out menu vs. the prices on the website, more typically north of 20% higher than before with the exception of a few. Look, it's great to want to raise the locals' culinary sensibility. I'm open to trying new dishes - sure. But right off the bat we noticed that the Murgh Makhani/Butter Chicken was very sweet (like ketchupy sweet), had zero spice or kick. It wasn't at all good. Other dishes, like the much increased in price Saag Paneer was arguably nicer, but 25% higher in price for a dollop of ginger, hmm... I see that here on Yelp some other diners are also complaining that dinner prices are very high and service is (still) apparently not at all "fine dining." So that feels a bit out of sync. Best to own up to the prices being substantially higher so you can pursue a new concept. We all understand that restaurants aren't easy money makers, but this shift is a big one. It's much pricier for non-banquet diners, that's for sure, and there doesn't appear to be any commensurate change in service quality (my previous gripes about dining in), so.... where to go with that. It was always pricy to order from Saffron, more so than other places on the peninsula. Now it's *super* pricy to order from Saffon, and the old stand-by wasn't remotely good. Not "new," just not good. I guess the jury's out until I'm swept off my feet by a new dish or something. read more

This place is amazing. We tried methi chicken and it was spicy and delicious. The naans are soft. The saag paneer was great too.

I really enjoyed the tandoori fish! I would prefer a little more spicy since it was a tad bit bland (even after asking to make it spicy). Another thing that I love about this restaurant is that it's not super heavy (no cream). I will definitely be coming back! read more

Phenomenal food every single time! We have two babies, so we love to order takeout from here on occasion. They never disappoint! They are always prompt & the food is always fresh & delicious. The lunch buffet is really fantastic as well. This is THE Indian restaurant I would recommend you check out the next time you are near San Carlos! read more

Based on the reviews, I took an Indian guest there and boy, was I embarrassed! We had the Saffron sampler for the appetizer and the samosas were average, nothing exceptional but not bad either. The pakoras were awful - the batter was actually raw from inside, so once you bit into it, you could taste the liquid batter - it was GROSS. The main course was sub-par too. The food had no real flavor, just a ton of spices. The only thing that was actually good were the beverages. For the quality of food we got, this place is extremely over-priced and the food is just terrible, period. Oh, and about an hour later, we both had a terrible stomach ache. This was my first and last visit to this crappy restaurant. read more

Service was pretty good. saag paneer was creamy and good. The chicken tikka marsala was average. Rieta(sp?) was good. Shrimp marsala was good. Samosa's were fantastic. Plenty left over to take home. With a crap ton of indian places around not sure if I would go back to this particular spot, but it's worth checking out. read more

One of my favorite Indian Food places! Their buffet is always yummy. If you go when there is not a buffet their butter chicken and tikka masala are delicious. When their portions come they don't seem huge but they are definitely filling when eaten with rice and naan. read more

Liked the malai kofta here. Butter chicken was kind of okay. Tried a starter chilli paneer which was not good at all. For the price, definitely not worth the visit read more

I ordered carry out and while everything tasted okay (butter chicken and garlic naan) the food was way overpriced. Also, an order of bread was over $3 and they only gave us one piece that probably cost them ten cents. Won' t be back. read more

Maybe we hit Saffron on a bad night. (A really bad night.) Last night we went there for dinner. We were seated immediately. After 10 minutes there was no sign of a waiter, so we took it upon ourselves to go to the buffet. We had almost finished our meal when the waiter finally made an appearance - only to say that our bread was on it's way - and disappear before we could ask for something to drink. Our bread arrived as I was finishing my dinner and my better half was starting dessert. A shame, as it looked good, but due to the timing, went untouched. I had to physically stop the waiter from running off again to ask about drinks. Everyone else in the place was drinking water, so I imagine no one offered them anything either. You'd think with the mark-up on beer and wine it would be in their best interest to at least OFFER it to you! We were seated near the host, who watched us being ignored, and did nothing about it. The food was fine, but not good enough to compensate for the complete lack of service. read more

Great food horrible service. Waited and waited for the waiter to come and and finally had to ask a different waiter to get us a beer. sat with empty plates for 20 minutes before the waiter came by so I could finally ask for the check. read more

I loved this place, but I'm coming from an unsophisticated palate. It was a great introductory buffet for a couple who had no intention of ever eating Indian food: we stumbled in on whim and left with a new appreciation for this cuisine. Novices need to give this place a try. read more

BE WARNED !! We visited this place last week. Buffet for a party of six. Saffron Bistro seems to sneak in 15% tip automatically . I have seen something like this for the first time in 25 years odd of dining. My wife paid the bill and she did not look carefully and added a tip from her own side. I noticed this only after getting home. Saffron Bistro happily took both the original tip and what my wife added by mistake !!! We were obviously not that happy with them to tip them twice.. One refill of water thru the entire meal was not deserving of this.. The food was ok, nothing special and not bad either. The do charge 16 dollars and the spread is not big (limited space). All this has left a bad taste in my mouth. I am unlikely to visit these guys again. Posting this so others are more careful. read more

The place is an average Indian restuarant (nothing extrordinary), but quite expensive. Food is not authentic, and the service is so-so. I gave it a 2 because nothing bad really struck out at this place. An OK option in the Midpeninsula if you don't want to drive all the way to Mountain View/Sunnyvale for yummy Indian food. read more

Saffron has been our 'go to' place for an Indian lunch buffet for a while now, simply because the food tastes so good! Each dish is meticulously prepared and tastes the way it is supposed to, unlike some other lunch buffets where they use the same base sauce in every dish. What prompted me to write this review was our wonderful experience catering from this restaurant. We ordered over the phone, the staff was friendly as always, helped us pick out a menu to satisy both the meat eaters and the vegetarians. The food looked freash, tasted great and was ready for pick up right on time. And there were plenty of leftovers. The gulab jamuns although small, were very yummy, I would have doubled my order if I had known how good these would be!! read more

Food was Okie... Not that good. In the website they announced 15% and in yelp 20% discount but when we asked the owner to our surprise we got reply from him that "i am not aware of it". We will never go back again since we felt cheated. read more