Michael D.
Yelp
The best addition to downtown Freehold in many years.
Saffron offers fine Indian cuisine in an atmosphere that's elegantly-decorated, featuring luxurious linens and a grand setting.
More importantly than that, the food is fresh, flavorful, and provides a generous portion to meat-eaters and vegetarian patrons alike.
I've already come back and had the Madras Chicken, described as black pepper chicken, twice. Meanwhile the Tandoori Chicken appetizer blew me away with its sizzling presentation fresh out of the clay oven. I will be coming back and trying a whole chicken tandoori as an entree one night.
The naan is baked to a golden-brown perfection, served hot, and seasoned well with options including chili, garlic, and cilantro.
Asking for extra spicy on the Madras Chicken, which they obliged, I rated the spice level a 7/10 despite it being quite spicy. However, I then realized that a more moderate spice level allows the flavors of the cuisine to shine through better so I may hold back on my spice level requests going forward depending on the dish despite my potentially-egotistical love for extreme spice.
Did I mention that they serve complimentary papadam to patrons? It comes with two sauces, and I've come to really enjoy the fresh green sauce which is typically seasoned with peppermint.
Beyond that, the service is spectacular and matches the fine-dining ambiance. Everybody is so incredibly friendly, and the entire staff from the servers to the manager to the owner comes out and checks on the meal throughout. They can accommodate nearly any request, and my water jug was instantly replenished.
Value is also high, and Saffron is BYOB.
Speaking of friendly, they spoke highly of their competitor Aarzu down the street, which is Indian/American fusion. I prefer the authentic Indian cuisine at Saffron. Royal Ganesha at the mall is also good, especially for being at a mall location, but Saffron has the distinction of being significantly more elegant.
Just like that, Saffron is now the best Indian restaurant in the Freehold area and a fantastic option for fine Indian dining.