Saffron Burlingame serves imaginative Indian dishes in an elegant, chandelier-lit setting, making it a top pick for special occasions and delightful feasts.
"Ajay Walia and Reena Miglani have reopened their award-winning restaurant Rasa in October, following a temporary closure and a shift to a second location of their casual restaurant Saffron." - Dianne de Guzman
"In the summer of 2021, Kumar departed the kitchen at Rasa, a Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in Burlingame, California, to be the opening chef at Semma."
"In a bustling tech corridor that's also home to Indian expats with high culinary standards, Rasa has managed to find the perfect middle ground. No-joke dishes that aren't toned down for Western palates cater to the likes of software execs and area couples, and though the bi-level space boasts a gorgeous, minimalist-mod décor with bright splashes of orange, sleek pendant lights, and stylish dark wood fittings, the focus here is on food. The kitchen excels in elevating the cuisine of South India with solid technique and superlative ingredients. Get the party started with dahi vada (crispy fried lentil fritters buried in smooth yogurt), before savoring a basil-chutney dosa starring a crisp rice-lentil crêpe stuffed with potato masala and served with basil chutney as well as an ultra-spicy ghost chili version-to be risked by hardcore hotheads only. Each plate is carefully composed, as shown in the complex Andhra chicken curry, enriched with coconut and bobbing with tender dark meat. Sop up the pungent sauce with a flaky Kerala paratha, and then cool down over a creamy and smooth chikku frappe, which blends the eponymous pear-like fruit with vanilla ice cream and candied rice puffs for a captivating finale." - Azimin Saini
"At Saffron, chef Ajay Walia says the restaurant’s spice-infused cocktails complement the dining experience. Recommended pairings include the For Your Eyes Only cocktail with chutney shrimp, the Rasa cocktail made with ghee-infused bourbon pairs with lamb meatballs, and the Ama Sutra with mezcal and mango is matched with Bombay sliders or spice-forward dosas." - Nandita Godbole
"Down south, Burlingame’s Saffron will offer a custom cocktail for any nightcap conversations. The Sun Also Rises, an elderflower pepper-infused gin drink with juniper gin syrup, Chambord, and prosecco, is bringing a literary spin to the holiday. To be clear, the Indian restaurant’s full menu is available on Valentine’s Day, too." - Paolo Bicchieri
