Saffron - San Carlos

Another favorite of ours, the paneer tikka, was also disappointing. It used to consist of large, moist, and flavorful chunks of paneer, but the recent serving was nearly unrecognizable. The portion was much smaller, and the quality was nowhere near what we had come to expect. It felt like a completely different dish, almost as if it was prepared by a different chef entirely! It genuinely saddens me to say this, but our recent experiences at Saffron have not lived up to the high standards we've always associated with one of our favorite local Indian restaurants.

The restaurant is slightly upscale, but the food is delicious and flavorful, with a bit of spiciness. However, they do offer milder options as well. Overall, the taste is excellent for those with a lighter palate.

My experience can be summed up as "premium prices for poorly prepared food." I ordered a thali, but the rice I received was burnt, as it came from the bottom of the rice cooker. When I raised the issue with the server, he mentioned that another staff member had served the dish and that it wasn't his responsibility. Although I appreciated the offer for a second serving of rice, I chose to decline. I was surprised that no one offered an apology; given the $24 price for the thali, I expected a higher level of attentiveness. Good quality food should be the standard. As for my drink, I ordered a masala Thums Up, but it was so frosty with ice that it lost its flavor. It might be better to serve it chilled without ice. Overall, I left feeling disappointed with the experience. On a positive note, there is free 2-hour street parking available.

Nice upscale Indian restaurant that has withstood the test of time. Simple ambiance inside and outside, and good service. The Amrood thanda was nice and unique. The chicken biryani was extremely flavorful and delicious. The dahi puri was ok. The gulab jamun and chai were both delicious.

The best Indian food we have had in the bay area. We went twice with two groups of friends and all of us liked it. Food is really tasty and unlike in many other Indian restaurants, not overwhelmed with chilly, therefore not spicy (hot) but spicy in the proper way. Excellent balance of the taste and relatively quick service. Price wise the dishes cost above average but not overly pricey. This is now our go to place whenever friends visit us and want to taste Indian foods.