SAFFRON INDIAN RESTAURANT — Restaurant in Jackson

Disorganized, Deceptive, and Deeply Disappointing

I’ll be genuinely shocked if Saffron Indian Restaurant survives. Out of a 10-day trip filled with great meals, this was—by far—the worst dining experience of our vacation.

Chaotic and Unprofessional Setup

From the start, it was clear the restaurant is run by first-time restauranteurs who are still figuring things out: • We were told to order via a QR code on the table, but the online menu had zero descriptions—only dish names. • We managed to get printed menus to share among our group, only to have the staff come back twice within minutes to take them away. Disorganized doesn’t even begin to cover it. • The menu itself had over 10 glaring spelling errors. In 2025, with automatic spellcheck and translation tools available for free, that level of sloppiness is just inexcusable. It was an early sign that attention to detail is not this restaurants strong suit, and unfortunately, that proved true across the board.

False Advertising and Food Letdowns • We ordered the Saffron Platter appetizer, which—based on the menu description—should’ve been a selection of items. What we got was one samosa and a sad pile of fried scraps, as if they’d emptied the bottom of the fryer basket. Total bait-and-switch. See picture. • The curries were tasty—I’ll give them that—and the food came out quickly. But that’s about where the positives end. • The naan was a major disappointment. The menu claims it’s “tandoor-baked,” but based on the doughy texture and total lack of the signature char or smoky flavor, I highly doubt it ever saw the inside of a tandoor oven.

Service? What Service?

Not a single staff member came to check on us. Not once. No refills, no “how’s everything?”, no opportunity to ask for anything at all. Aside from delivering the food and taking the menus back, the service was completely nonexistent. You order and pay through an app—you’re essentially serving yourself.

The Real Scam: The Check

Here’s where the experience went from disappointing to downright shady: • We knew a mandatory gratuity was listed on the menu—No Problem. • But when we went to pay through the app, it defaulted to adding an extra 20% tip on top of the included gratuity. • Had I not caught it, we would’ve paid $32 in tips on an $82 bill—nearly 40% in gratuities for a meal with zero service. That’s dishonest and exploitative. See the picture attached. ⸻

Bottom Line

While the curries had flavor, nothing else about this experience is worth recommending. The food is misrepresented, the service is absent, the payment process feels like a scam, and even the menu is riddled with careless spelling errors. There are far better dining options in...

A soulful return to Jackson—with flavors that feel like home

First thing I did after arriving back in Jackson Hole? Walked into Saffron—and honestly, what a perfect welcome back.

Started with their crisp samosa, dove into flavorful vegetarian chowmein (especially amazing with their momo sauce), and ended with a warm gulab jamun set in pure yogurt—no added sugar, just the clean, natural finish your body thanks you for. They also brought out complimentary papad to start—classic hospitality done right.

But it’s not just the food—it’s the people. Bir Raut dai, a Jackson resident of over 10 years, runs this place with genuine care. You’ll find him walking the floor himself, checking in on guests, guiding the team. Turns out, he also runs a Saffron in Steamboat Springs, CO, and another in Cheyenne, our state capital. That experience shows in every detail.

Location-wise? Couldn’t be better. It’s one of the first restaurants you see as you enter Jackson from the north. Easy to spot—on the second floor right across from the public parking lot. Whether you’re biking or walking, it’s just a scenic stroll from the Town Square to the other end near Visitor Ranch. Very accessible, whether you’re local or just passing through.

I’m already planning to come back for brunch tomorrow and continue my full parakhi (connoisseur’s) journey, dish by dish. The energy, intention, and taste here are all exactly what...

I am pure vegetarian and here are the things I tried:

Saffron platter - comes with 2 veg fried momo as well which is not mentioned in the menu. Samosa is okay okay and bland in taste (3/5), onion pakora is good( 4/5), vegetable pakora is also fine (3.5/5), the momo in platter tasted different ( 2.5/5) Veg Fried Momo - This was fresh and different from the platter. The taste was fine. 3.5/5 Malai Kofta - the gravy was good and koftas were soft but the flavour can be improved keeping cost in the mind, weren't rich in flavour but overall it's good. 3.5/5 Dal makhani - so the taste was good and felt homely but it's not restaurant style rich in butter and cream dal makhni. For us, it was good because we like it less creamy and buttery. 4/5 Raita - the taste was really good but I just have a complaint with the quantity. That was very less = 8 dessert spoons of raita for $4.(4.5/5 Garlic naan - it was good 4/5 Aaloo prantha- not really a punjabi prantha but a more like Roti stuffed with samosa aloo filling and very bland. 2/5 Roti - it comes in 4 pieces. 2.5/5 Masala chai - it's pre-made chai. They make it in morning but it was good in taste 4/5 Mango lassi - 4/5. Not very sweet which is good.

Overall, place is bit expensive but food is good after a...