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The best lamb I have ever had, hands down. It was more tender and juicy than any steak, packed with more flavor than expected with such small pieces of meat. Even though they are only open on Fridays, I am definitely coming back again. ORDER THE LAMB CHOPS IT IS A MUST.
I have ordered lamb before at many other places, and none have compared.
For appetizer we had the crab dish. It was crab lump cake, with a side of delicious sauces to compliment. Let me tell you, the sauces are what makes that appetizer. The crab cake was okay, but dipping it in the sauce was what made it good.
My friend ordered the scallops. The flavor was delivered, the presentation beautiful, the aroma was on point. However, the scallops were a little chewy to my liking. Still good, but I'd probably try something else the next time I go.
If you order an alcoholic beverage get the Mango Mohito. OMG. Talk about yummy.
Many thanks to Dickey and his staff for catering my wedding a few weeks ago. Guests raved over the combination of Indian and NOLA food. The tenderloin that he pulled together was delicious, and he was very attentive to pulling in both mine and my husband's cultures (he's Pakistani and I'm Mexican and Puerto Rican). They go beyond the Indian fare! Thanks, Dickey!
I've been to Saffron Nola twice and every time my friends are forced to hear me rave about the food for the following week. While hidden in a strip mall in the West Bank, Saffron promises to please your taste buds unlike any other Indian restaurant in this city.
This is truly a family establishment that packs the love into every bit of food and sip of cocktail.
Both times I have made my Friday night reservations for our large group (only open Firdays), I have been pleasantly surprised with their patience when dealing with our large group, humor in our loud personalities, and their overall service.
As a gluten free diner, I love the options available here. My friends rave about the gumbo and lamb. I rave about every app, veggie, and chicken dish that I've had pass my lips. This is one of the only restaurants that I will order strictly vegetarian simply because the flavors of the paneer, cauliflower, potatoes, and eggplant are packed with flavor and sure to bring a smile to any face. The last time I was there I also tried the homemade praline ice cream which did not disappoint.
Oh and don't overlook their cocktails... the list on hand is quite tasty and well crafted. The cocktail special last night featured a mango chutney old fashioned with homemade mango chutney. I believe everyone at our table who was drinking drank at least three.
One of the best goat masala I have had in US. Absolutely authentic, owner couple/chefs are wonderful people...and why not, they from Amritsar.
True taste of Amritsar
One of the best goat masala I have had in US. Absolutely authentic, owner couple/chefs are wonderful people...and why not, they from Amritsar.
I had the crabmeat pudha which was sort of pancake with nice lumps of crabmeat and was made with chickpea batter, I think. Since I was with Anita M I also got to taste the amazing curry gumbo. What a perfect marriage of south Louisiana and India, subtle and delicious. E gobbled up his tomato soup before I got to try it, so it must have been good.
For entrees, I had the seared scallops mumbai which was sweet and a little bit spicy with perfectly cooked scallops surrounding a mound of spiced veggie rice. Fabulous. Anita had the tamarind shrimp which were really good. E got the vegetarian trio; you can select your own three from 7 sides, 3 of which are vegan. He had the paneer lajawab, cauliflower & potatoes ludhiana & the dal makni (thank goodness for online menus). All were tasty but we all tasted the paneer and LOVED it.
Since it would be rude to not at least look at the dessert menu, we did. And there it was...my one true love: fried sweet dough with syrup no less. So we had gulab jamun (the aforementioned fried dough...seriously I could have eaten a dozen of these without the syrup. I think the syrup does enhance but it's also there to slow you down.) and the lychee and cherry ice cream.
Really, really good and definitely worth a trip to the Wank.
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This once-weekly gem on the Westbank deserves all the stars it can handle! This tiny space in a non-desrcript strip mall (are there any standout strip malls?) takes you on a great escape into wonderful Indian cuisine with a nod to NOLA tastes. We ordered:
Tuna Chimichurri: Pepper Crusted Rare Tuna, Cilantro and Green Cayenne
Lump Crabmeat Pudha: Pan Fried Jumbo Lump Crabmeat Pancake, Fresh Mint & Mango Chutney
Curried Seafood Gumbo: A Saffron Nola Creation
Mango Salad: mangoes julienned and tossed with lime and spices
Seared Scallops Mumbai: Chili Pepper & Ginger Crusted Jumbo Scallops with Saffron Alfonso Mango Sauce
Vegetarian Trio: Lentils, Saag Paneer and Cauliflower and Potatoes Ludhiana
Raarha Masala Goat: Yoghurt Marinated Goat (Bone-in) Cooked to Perfection Served with Aged Basmati Rice
Tamarind Shrimp: Jumbo Shrimp Simmered in Our Signature Sauce
There wasn't a flaw in anything we ate. The saag paneer was velvety, the seafood absolutely fresh, the sauces were inventive and the goat fork-tender. After all that wonderful food, we were stuffed, so dessert was not ordered.
We started with the Aloo Tikkie and Paneer. simply delish. Aloo Tikkie were nice and small with a generous stuffing of amazing chutney - all homemade, I believe.
Next I had the scallops, my friends had the tamarind shrimp and the goat. Hands down the shrimp was one of the best things i've ever eaten. It is a take on bar be qued shrimp, but with this amazing tamarind sauce. The goat was tender and very good! The scallops were fabulous, you got 5 in a mango sauce, but i think it needed a side of something...
definitely worth the trip across the river to gretna blvd (right off of belle chase)
be sure to make a reservation - it was packed!
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Standards are quite high at Saffron NOLA: they use the freshest ingredients (nothing tastes like it came from Sysco), plus creative recipes with lots of flavor.
I had the crab crepe appetizer, which were thin pancakes with crabmeat and spices mixed in, served with two sauces (one was sweet like a chutney, can't remember what the other one was). I ordered this to share with my side of the table and instantly regretted it because after one taste I wanted the entire order to myself!
I had the lambchop entree, it was very spicy but it wasn't smothered in sauce, it was mostly on the side. It was served with fluffy rice.
I followed this with a nice lychee champagne cocktail that was yummy and paired well with my meal.
The owner and the staff are really nice and welcoming, I felt like they cared that we had a good dining experience. I love the atmosphere as well, it's very cozy and clean.
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OMG! We were blown away from the moment we walked in the door until we walked, umm, rolled out. Food, service, and atmosphere - all were fantastic. Between the 3 of us we covered a fair sampling of the menu and all of it was spot on. Others at the table said it rivaled Indian food they'd eaten in London & Vancouver. I would like to keep this place a secret but it's really too amazing not to share! Totally worth the trip.
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Really amazing food!
Traditional Indian dishes with a little Louisiana infusion = intense, complex flavors that your mouth will thank you for!
We tried a selection of everything including Tamarind Shrimp, Chicken Tikka, Lump Crabmeat Pudha, Paneer Pudha Dehli, Masala Goat, and Masoor Lentils! All incredibly delish...so flavorful my mouth is watering now!
Had Gulab Jamun for desert...dough balls fried perfectly and served with a sweet syrup. The perfect ending to a spice infused dinner.
Our waitress was extremely friendly and helpful. The owner came by our table to see how everything was, it is nice to have your business appreciated and to support local restaurants.
Saffron is a quick drive from the East Bank, so don't let the fact that it is on the West Bank scare you away :) They are currently only open on Friday nights but may be open on Saturdays in the near future.
Is it Friday yet?? I am ready to go back!!
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This once-weekly gem on the Westbank deserves all the stars it can handle! This tiny space in a non-desrcript strip mall (are there any standout strip malls?) takes you on a great escape into wonderful Indian cuisine with a nod to NOLA tastes. We ordered:
Tuna Chimichurri: Pepper Crusted Rare Tuna, Cilantro and Green Cayenne
Lump Crabmeat Pudha: Pan Fried Jumbo Lump Crabmeat Pancake, Fresh Mint & Mango Chutney
Curried Seafood Gumbo: A Saffron Nola Creation
Mango Salad: mangoes julienned and tossed with lime and spices
Seared Scallops Mumbai: Chili Pepper & Ginger Crusted Jumbo Scallops with Saffron Alfonso Mango Sauce
Vegetarian Trio: Lentils, Saag Paneer and Cauliflower and Potatoes Ludhiana
Raarha Masala Goat: Yoghurt Marinated Goat (Bone-in) Cooked to Perfection Served with Aged Basmati Rice
Tamarind Shrimp: Jumbo Shrimp Simmered in Our Signature Sauce
There wasn't a flaw in anything we ate. The saag paneer was velvety, the seafood absolutely fresh, the sauces were inventive and the goat fork-tender. After all that wonderful food, we were stuffed, so dessert was not ordered.
Service was attentive; the owner (husband - wife is chef, so she was in the kitchen most of the time) effortlessly moved from table to table, greeting new and long-time diners. It is a family affair,
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