Having been to Café Saffron before several times, I was looking forward to my meal there and it did not disappoint.
Indeed, last year it was voted into the top 100 Asian restaurants by Asian Woman’s Magazine.
Customers are treated to a warm and friendly welcome from all the staff at the dining venue located on the second floor of 25 Hills Lane.
Conveniently situated close to the centre of town, Café Saffron is easily found and has several car parks, bars and pubs nearby.
I visited the restaurant on Saturday night with my boyfriend Rich and our friends Tom and Alice. The restaurant was already busy when we arrived with tables full of people enjoying themselves and exotic spicy smells hanging tantalisingly in the air making my stomach rumble.
We were shown to a table in the light and spacious 70 seat dining room. It is decorated in a modern and warm style with its trademark large windows giving a pleasant sunset view towards Rowley’s House Museum.
Drinks orders were taken quickly and the bar has a wide selection to choose from. Knowing how filling Indian meals are, we all decided to skip starters but I was nearly tempted by a number of tasty sounding dishes such as the vegetable samosas or king prawn on puri.
Instead, we all chose to catch up on each other’s news while chomping on papadoms with a selection of delicious piquant pickles, mango chutney, yoghurt dip and onion salad.
Like Marmite, people either love lime pickle or hate it – and I love it, so I was happy to sit and chatter away while enjoying the salty hot sourness of the limes with the crisp papadoms.
Everyone ordered a different main course from the menu cooked by Amin and Abdul, who, the website states, have cooked in some of the best hotels of Bengal. Tom went for chicken tikka dopiaza, Alice for chicken tikka bhuna, Rich had lamb rogan josh and I decided to have chicken tandoori.
Once they had arrived with pilau rice, plain naan bread and some vegetable side dishes, including a delicious chick pea and spinach one, we all tucked in greedily.
My tandoori chicken was succulent and tender as it had been cooked on the bone and came served with a crisp salad.
Rich said his Rogan Josh was also really tasty and came with generous pieces of lamb with lots of tomato and onions in a rich and flavoursome sauce.
Everyone said their meat was tender and the portions were just about right. The naan bread were freshly baked and incredibly helpful when mopping up the gorgeous sauces.
Feeling very full, we decided to skip desert but the restaurant does offer a selection of puddings and tea and coffee. I also noticed that they were advertising a gourmet offer on Sundays where people can eat six courses for £9.95 which I made a note of to try.
To book a table call 01743 246753 or 246 757.