Zafron Restaurant — Restaurant in Sandy Springs

From the moment you walk in and see the lavish and gorgeous garden room adorned with a chandelier and notice the dynamic food, Zafron Restaurant turns out to be a true Persian gem in Sandy Springs that has style. From dips and starters for every taste, an extensive wine list, to tender sea bass, and the fantastic and unique experience of the Rhubarb Lamb Shank, we sipped and tasted our way around the menu. We can’t wait to share our experience any longer, let’s dive in.

Dipping into the Starters, the Dolmeh Stuffed Cabbage and Zafron Special are both highly recommended one being savory and the other spicy. First, the Zafron Special has a ton of flavor with the crunch of the palm to the sweetness of the mango, paired with a very spicy chili. This one has a flavor journey from sweet to spicy all in one bite. Just wow! Then, the stuffed cabbage is the perfect balance of savory and earthy. The cabbage was so tender and easy to eat, then perfect pair with the stewed tomatoes and the meat in the middle. It ended up being savory, earthy, and rich with the stewed tomatoes. So good.

John’s favorite ended up being the Baked Goat Milk Feta Cheese and this one is a flavor explosion! Just imagine the creamy and milky feta topped with a pistachio compote that levels out the earthiness of the cheese with an injection of sweet. It’s a one-two punch of awesome. We found out you can ask for more or less pistachio compote depending on how sweet you want it. But we liked the way it was served. Pro tip for the appetizers: get the Zafron Special and the Baked Goat Milk Feta and MIX THEM together. The Zafron Special is very spicy, but the feta is very sweet so they go together like PB&J! They compliment each other so well and the feta cools the special a little for an all-around great bite. Thanks to our server for recommending it!

Whatever you do, get the Rhubarb Lamb Shank. It’s an exclusive experience you can only have at Zafron! When the lamb comes out, it is in a bowl with a pita laying on top. What the pita does is soak up all the flavor and keeps in the heat. When you’re ready to eat, you punch the pita down into the broth. Give it a few minutes so the bread can soak up the broth and spices, then enjoy. Beyond the grand experience, the lamb comes out perfectly tender, while the broth had a so many spices and flavors. With the pita added and the addition of the fava beans and rice, this concoction becomes a hearty meal once mixed together. So many great flavors and textures, it’s a must get. On the other side of the spectrum, the other entrée we got was the Chilean Sea Bass that was so very tender and fell apart off the skewer. The just right amount of seasoning on top, side of fluffy rice, and you have a light, tender, dynamic little dish.

Now that you’re starving, what would you want...

It was aesthetically very pleasing HOWEVER, the service was AWFUL!!! Leslie was our waiter, she was very rude and unpleasant when my friend wanted to share her opinion on what was good and bad about the dish, Leslie stated that she liked the food there because she worked there and she’s never had a problem with it. My friend was trying to be very respectful and not trying to degrade the food. She simply stated that she didn’t like how everything was mixed together, the chicken and the beef were mixed in the same sauce leaving an unpleasant taste. Leslie then replied with my boyfriend is Mediterranean and said “I don’t know what to tell you I think the food here is great”. My friend was upset with the responses she was getting from Leslie and she stated “Ido not like the way you are coming at me when I want to tell you is my opinion about the food” Then Leslie stated that if we were trying to get free desert or not pay for our meal. Leslie said “you have been complaint about the food the whole time and I’m trying to give you a free dessert.” The reason I am upset is because not once did she come by our table and ask how the food was, but at the end when we stayed we didn’t eat the beef because it tasted unpleasant Leslie acted rude and snappy towards us. During the conversation Leslie said things such as “I’m sorry you are taking what I’m saying that way”. We declined the “free dessert” multiple times because that is not what we wanted, however she still came with a to go bag of what I assume was dessert. Needless to say we left whatever she put in that bag on the table as that is not what we came for. The food was good besides the beef, however the service was awful. I would recommend either asking for a different waiter or not choosing...

I've been a silent patron for years. Though I've only dined in a handful of times, my family and I have spent easily $2000 here and only now have come to regret it. Birthdays and special occasions were spent here. The food isn't life-changing, but what I pay for is their consistency.

My most recent dine-in left a taste that even their pillowy rice couldn't mask. Our server was short and condescending, as if he were impatient and stressed, but the restaurant was empty and awkwardly silent. After ordering two $40 entrees, one shrimp kebab and one mixed plate, our group was dissatisfied with a cranberry rice that was more cranberry than rice, and when we asked for a side of the plain, our server shrugged his shoulders, barely placating us as his attention was more focused on the towel drying the wet knives in his hand. He said that he told us we shouldn't have tried something new, but why would we not try the dish how it was supposed to be made? To be punished for being curious at a restaurant is enough to never go back.

When we addressed this with the manager after our server took five minutes to give a to-go box after passing by three times, the manager stated that he would talk to him but it was really busy, so we needed to be compassionate, but it wouldn't happen next time (as if).

We didn't want comped meals or free drinks, but compassion, but his tone was anything but understanding and the subtext was that he didn't care, and it showed.

My friends and I are food service workers at acclaimed restaurants, so we understand the perils of serving and customer service, but I have never received service compelling enough to leave a scathing review until this experience...