Saffron by Paradise — Restaurant in Scotland

Heard about this gem from my daughter so made the trip to check it out for myself with my better half. First impressions make the difference and we had booked it using their booking system as it was a Saturday I didnt want to leave it to chance and I am glad i did as walk ins were being politely turned away. We arrived 20 mins early and rather than being turned away to come back at the allotted time (there isnt a waiting area) the host politely had a look at her booking system and temporarily sat me down at a vacant table while our table was getting ready. We ended up requesting to stay where we were and they accommodated this. This was an common theme, accommodating when clearly very busy, great work. Atmosphere and decor spot on, Iranian themed and an partially open kitchen added to the atmosphere and I forgot to mention the lovely smell of fresh cooked food when you enter the restaurant tells you that you are in for something special. Now onto the menu, simple and descriptive, one page with a not overbearing selection. We ordered for starters, Naan, trio of dips, diced potato fries, spicy tond chicken kebabs, and stick spicy aubergine. We were blown away. The food received was simply on a whole new level, fresh tasting and explosions of flavours in our mouths was consistent. The trio of dips complemented with the naan, sublime. Hard to pick out a favourite, if i had to it would be the pistachio dip as I am a nut fan and pistachios I have as of my top 3 nuts. So i was over critical and not disappointed. The fries were triple cooked and garnished to perfection, the chicken was tender and succulent, again mixing this with the dips added to the experience positively. My only criticism is the naans while lovely when received go cold a little quick but some may not mind this, it didnt bother me but did my wife, maybe if they can be presented in a way that they stay warm longer than they do could be looked at (but as this is my review no points marked down from me ☺️). The standout dish was the stick spicy aubergine, they are probably the one dish that made me think, was the 50 mile trip worth it, YES YES YES, if you like aubergines, then be prepared, actually even if you dont like aubergines or never had aubergines, please just try this dish, i thought i had died and gone to heaven. The portions are so generous for this dish and all the dishes that after this melee my wife and I were stuffed. ……and we had also ordered a main, oh dear. So for future reference all of the above was enough to make us full. So should you want to try and go for a main my advice would be to cut out 2 of the above and then share a main. We ordered the special chicken which is offered with a nan, saffron rice or fried potatoes, we asked for rice and ordered a naan also. Presented beautifully and again the meat was spot on and succulent and expertly cooked…..top points for your chefs. They provided butter for the rice and i have to say, I am not a rice fan, I’m converted, i just wish we had the room to put it, we had been interacting with the polite staff who were amazing and they provided a takeaway box to take it home. For drinks they have a good selection of wines which i could see, however as we dont drink we opted for something that caught my eye and if you blink you may miss it as its the last drink item on their menu, which is a shame because it should be front and center it was that good…..doongh (apologies if spelt incorrectly) what a drink, its a carbonated yogurt drink with walnuts and mint on the rocks, my head went as ive had plenty of yoghurt drinks but carbonated, no, we ordered one, to try, my better half took one sip and said you need to get your own haha, i did and i could see why, light, refreshing and simply amazing, best yoghurt drink I’ve had in a long while.

So in summary, book a table and go visit this fantastic restaurant in glasgow, you will be absolutely blown away. Well done. I’ll be back for sure.

Just saw some reviews around restricted table times, when booking online it tells you when its required...

I took my mother and auntie for dinner at saffron. The food certainly lived up to the reputation — from the perfectly grilled kebabs to the fragrant saffron rice and hearty stews, each bite was flavorful and satisfying. Thanks to the chef. Couldn’t fault the food.

However, what let the evening down was the overall customer service. While some staff members were attentive, others appeared disinterested or unapproachable. There was a noticeable inconsistency in how guests were treated — some tables received noticeably warmer and more personalized service, while others (including ours) were met with minimal interaction and a lack of enthusiasm. This uneven treatment affected the ambiance and made the experience feel less welcoming.

It’s a shame, as the food truly has potential to make this spot a favorite for lovers of Persian cuisine. A bit more focus on friendly, inclusive service could elevate the entire dining experience and match the quality of what’s being served on the plate.

I have noticed a huge difference in customer service declining which affects the overall mood of the outing. Particularly the Iranian lady with the high ponytail seemed very annoyed to serve us and was not friendly. Everything seemed a botheration for her. Which we noticed she was very warm and welcoming to people of other origins. And perhaps didnt like serving us being Pakistani. I didnt felt it. It was horrible feeling.

Words of advice to the manager. Welldone to the chef for creating the best dishes consistently every time. But please have a shuffle around of staff serving. Or train them in areas where they need improving on. And serve every customer with respect and integrity regardless of skin...

Can't believe I've been walking past this place for years - we took a chance on a recommendation and it was one of those meals where my partner and I kept looking at each other with wide eyes as we'd try the next thing. Everything was delicious, the range of textures and tastes was amazing and there was way more on the menu that we didn't get a chance to explore. We'll definitely be back to work our way through the dishes we missed.

We ordered a naan bread each, and with another 5 mezze, that was a really substantial lunch for two. The trio of dips was a great way of trying different dishes in smaller portions. The lamb shawarma came with salad and pickles, and was the perfect mix of juicy lamb with crusty edges. The loaded houmous was giant, piled with feta and olives, dusted with some sesame seeds for great texture. The sticky spicy aubergine was amazing, round slices of aubergine in a glassy, almost tempura-like batter, then glazed with a sweet and spicy sauce. Somehow, the batter remained crunchy under the glaze for the whole time we ate. And the unexpected star was the carrot and radish salad - we ordered it as a crunchy counter-balance to the richer stuff, but the dressing was so incredible that we were basically fighting over it by the end of the meal.

A great place for large parties, too, as the table next to us ordered a mixed grill for 4, and didn't get near to finishing it.

Worth mentioning, too, was the large selection of vegetarian offerings - we both remarked during the meal that we could have easily picked something other than the lamb shawarma and not even have realised that we had had a...