SAFFRON INDIAN GRILL & BAR — Restaurant in Eagan

Decent, but could use more personality..

I stopped by this place recently out of curiosity. From the start, I appreciated how clean and organized the space was it’s definitely well-maintained. That said, the atmosphere felt pretty bare. There was minimal signage, no clear branding, and not much decor to give it a unique identity. It honestly felt like a space still in transition, maybe newly opened or waiting to be finished.

The vibe was more sterile than cozy, and it didn’t give off the kind of energy that makes you excited to sit down and stay a while. A little artwork, some warmer lighting, or even a menu board could help bring some life into the place. Right now, it just feels like it’s missing something that welcoming spark that draws people in.

As for the food, I’d rate it a solid 3 out of 5 stars. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t stand out either. The portions were decent, and the presentation was clean, but the flavor lacked that extra kick. Everything was just okay enough to satisfy hunger, but not enough to make me eager to come back specifically for the food.

One thing that did leave a sour note, though, was the service near closing time. I understand staff are ready to wrap up after a long day, but during the last hour of operation, it was pretty obvious we were being rushed out. Lights were dimmed early, chairs were being stacked, and the overall vibe shifted from “welcome” to “please leave.” It made the end of the visit feel awkward and a bit unprofessional.

Overall, it’s a place with potential clean space, decent food but it still has some work to do when it comes to creating a warm atmosphere and improving customer service, especially...

Saffron does not disappoint, deserves all the high praise it's been getting.

Vegetable Samosas - My boyfriend doesn't usually enjoy samosas, but he said these were perfect and he would come back specifically for these. The accompanying sauces that come with were also tastier than I had tried previously at other restaurants. Chicken Malabar - everyone recommends the Tikka Masala, but that's because they are boring. Everyone gets Tikka Masala but I shared the Chicken Malabar with my boyfriend and it was delicious!! Delicious coconut flavor, tender chicken. You can choose your own spice level (if you enjoy spicy foods, order a level higher than you usually would, we ordered hot and found it to be a bit milder than prefered) plus the portions are quite large. As I mentioned I shared this dish with my boyfriend and we still had enough to take home! Naan - we got the plain Naan, it smelled so good when it arrived, warm and soft, not much more I can say. Great naan. Mango Lassi - classic, everyone loves a Mango Lassi, theirs was great. There was a slight delay, no big deal, they were on top of it once I brought it to their attention, they more than made up for it with a free dessert. Gulab Jamun - we got this for free to compensate the wait on the Mango Lassi, which was very kind. I may be biased because it was free but this is the best Gulab Jamun I've had. Most other places serve it in the hot syrup it's soaked in, but here they do not serve it with the syrup. Much less soggy and wasn't as sweet as other places, who usually make it too sweet. It was nice and fresh too, piping hot! Not an understatement when I say my eyes teared...

I was excited to see that Saffron (Eagan, Vikings Pkwy) had opened, I had been keeping my eye on the progress of the location as there isn't a close option for Indian cuisine in our neighborhood. The restaurant ambiance is clean and really inviting and the people working were friendly and very welcoming. I reviewed the menu to see if there would be anything gluten free and dairy free that my kids could order and was delighted to see multiple options that were clearly marked on the menu. It's next level wonderful when a restaurant has the awareness to take the extra step for their customers that need the ingredient clarity without the need to ask and rely on server awareness. We ordered several gf and vegan appetizer options and several entrees as well. There wasn't anything we ordered that wasn't excellent in taste, quality and portion size. It is mouth watering delicious Indian cuisine and we are really blessed to have such a quality option in our area. We will definitely be ordering again...and again....and again....and...again! Thank you Saffron! Items ordered for the gf/df team: Aloo Tikki, Mixed Pakora, Coconut Bell Pepper Soup, Dal Soup, Papadum, Mango Chutney, Aloo Gobi, Kadai Tofu Other items ordered not gf/df: Vegetable Samosa, Chicken Korma, Raita I would have ordered Naan, but didn't want to see sad faces from my gf teens that cannot have bread. I assume the Naan is quality and excellent tasting just like all the other dishes we tried. I'll be stopping back...