Saffron Indian Bistro — Restaurant in Banff

5 stars for excelling in amazing service and exceptional food! We could smell the spices as we walked by on our way to get groceries for dinner, but we ended up eating here instead, because it just smelled SO good! Everything on the menu looked and sounded delicious, so we over-ordered and ended up trying the avocado jhalmuri, spicy lamb vindaloo, garlic naan, saffron special stuffed kulcha, saffron special chicken tikka and saffron special paneer tikka (which was brought to us by accident, but they let us keep and try)! The flavors for each dish were all very well-developed and complex. The avocado jhalmuri had a fresh, onion-y, guacamole fusion flavor and a mix of crispy textures on top with soft, smooth, pillowy textures on the bottom. The spicy lamb vindaloo had very fresh-tasting perfectly tender meat, a mouthwatering blend of spices with just the right amount of spiciness, and complimenting carrots and potato that added a touch of sweetness and extra textures to the curry. The garlic naan had a delicious grilled flavor and perfect crispy yet chewy texture. We both agreed that the chicken tikka was the best based on the freshness, presentation, and perfect mix of textures. We met the owner and let him know what a great idea it was to open up this place! He was very friendly and made our experience extra special with rasmalai for dessert! We were beyond full at this point, but finished the dessert anyway. Definitely a must-have if you love fresh cheese and don't like things too sweet. The cream sauce that it came in was perfectly smooth and light. We ended up taking a little bit of each dish home, and when we reheated it the next day, everything still tasted just as delicious as the night we got it! (Except the jhalmuri wasn't as crispy anymore, as expected.) Compliments to the chef and the rest of the team working hard here! This definitely set a higher standard for top Indian food and great...

Saffron Bistro in Banff and were pleasantly surprised by the overall experience. It turned out to be a great spot for delicious Indian food at a reasonable price point, especially considering it’s located in a busy tourist town like Banff.

Food: Every dish we ordered was flavorful and freshly prepared. The Baingan Bharta was smoky, well-spiced, and had that authentic homestyle feel to it. The Rosemary Naan was a unique and delightful twist on the classic — soft, aromatic, and a perfect accompaniment to the curry. We also tried the Jeera Rice, which was fragrant and cooked to perfection, and paired really well with both the Bharta and the other dishes.

What surprised us was the variety on the menu — they also serve Hakka-style noodles, which were tasty with a good mix of veggies and the right amount of seasoning. The chaat was tangy, crisp, and refreshing — a great starter to kick things off.

Portions & Price: The portion sizes were generous, and given the touristy location, we found the pricing very reasonable for both the quantity and quality of the food. It’s a great value-for-money option in Banff if you’re craving Indian flavors.

Ambience & Seating: The restaurant also offers patio/outdoor seating, which is a big plus, especially during warmer days. Dining with a view of the surrounding mountains added to the overall pleasant experience. The staff was friendly and service was timely.

If you’re visiting Banff and in the mood for Indian cuisine that won’t burn a hole in your wallet, Saffron Bistro is definitely worth checking out. Good food, satisfying portions, and lovely outdoor seating — it hits all the...

I’m surprised this place has this many stars as I found the food to be below average in flavor and presentation, and the service was not good. We got seated right away, but then it took over 15 mins for someone to take our orders after making multiple eye contact with staff. We ordered the AVOCADO JHALMURI to start and please look at the picture of what they have a picture of on their menu and what they served. The avocado that was somewhere mixed into this, tasted like a week’s old guacamole that was going bad! We politely sent it back! We tried getting past the unappetizing look of it, because we had just finished a 15 mile hike, but not even starving, could we force ourselves to eat. The second thing was the lambt gosht, that was overpowered with what tasted just like one seasoning, so therefore not balanced! There are two gosht on the menu and when asked what’s the difference between the two, we were told “one is with regular seasoning.” Only that’s not a good explanation of the food you are serving. We got two different naan bread, and even the naan tasted like plain flavorless naan that lacked even a pinch of salt and then sprinkled with dried rosemary on it. We ended up leaving after we also noted that in the bathroom was a used water bottle that was sitting on the sink that is clearly used as a makeshift bidet.

Banff is beautiful, with a lot of restaurants. I would not recommend here...