Saffron Indian Bistro- San Carlos
By
Carol & Joe Davis
Dining Detectives
We
are big fans of authentic Northern Indian Cuisine and
also enjoy local neighborhood restaurants, so we ventured to the
cute hamlet of San Carlos on the Peninsula, where we found Saffron
Indian Bistro. We were told that they had just hired
a new Executive Chef, Parveen Sharma, who is
an acclaimed Indian Chef from New Delhi. Chef Sharma is quite
accomplished and has even prepared dinners for Indian Prime Ministers
and England's Prince Charles
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We
were seated at a table by the window where we could see the pleasant
interior décor and the comings and goings on the street
including the Holiday lights. The Starters that we tried were
excellent.
The
Saffron Sampler included perfectly prepared
Vegetable Samosas and Vegetable Pakoras. They
were crispy and lightly spiced. We really enjoyed the dipping
sauces which added nice dimension to our dinner and included a
spicy Mint Sauce, Cucumber Raita which is yoghurt
and cucumber sauce and the Mango Chutney. Next we enjoyed
the Dal Shorba which is traditional yellow lentil soup topped
with cilantro which was delicious. Be sure to have an assortment
of their Clay Oven baked Naan breads which were the best we've
ever had! The Pesto Naan was unique, perfectly seasoned
and quite delicious.
The
Entrees were all served piping hot. We loved the Chicken Korma
which is chicken cooked with curry spices, garlic and yogurt
in a coconut based sauce. This dish has a rich creamy sauce with
tender pieces of chicken. It is served mild but you can ask for
it to be spiced up to medium or hot. What a great new addition
to the menu! We enjoyed the Saag Paneer which is creamy spinach
cooked in an exotic blend of spices with bite size pieces of paneer
cheese. It was served as an entree this evening and we have also
enjoyed it as a side dish. You must have the sweet, tender and
delicious Butter Chicken which is their signature dish. Roasted
Chicken is folded into a tomato and fenugreek based sauce. This
is a delightful entree and a favorite of their customers.
The
Wine List features California wines and is very affordable. We
liked that wines by the glass were served in carafes which allows
the wine to breathe and portion control. The Pacific Oasis
Chardonnay and the Rancho Sisquoc Riesling paired
well with our starters and the Harlow Ridge Pinot Noir paired
well with our entrees.
The
Desserts were also excellent and perfect portions. We loved the
Gajar ka Halwa which is grated carrots cooked with milk
and sugar until caramelized then garnished with nuts and served
hot. The Gulab Jarmun is hot cheese dumplings simmered
in sugar syrup sauce then garnished with coconut and pistachios.
This was fun, fabulous and quite unique. The Kheer Badami is a
creamy rice dessert with cardamom and almonds. Anyone who loves
rice pudding will be wild about this Indian interpretation.
Saffron
Indian Bistro serves their full menu dinner on Monday
and Wednesday through Saturday and a Prix Fixe buffet for Daily
Lunch and Dinner on Sunday and Tuesday. They offer Catering, Delivery
and have their own Indian Mobile Kitchen Saffron Food Truck which
they use for catering and special events. They use no trans-fat
and 100% cholesterol free oil and can accommodate vegan, gluten
free, dairy free or nut free, as well as hot and spicy requests.
Congratulations to Restaurateur Ajay Walia on Saffron Indian Bistro's
10th Anniversary. He is passionate about flavors, the dining experience
and service and has created a family friendly neighborhood Indian
Bistro with great cuisine that pleases the senses and warms the
soul. We looked forward to our next visit to try other menu items
from Chef Sharma.
Saffron
Indian Bistro
1143 San Carlos Avenue
San Carlos, CA. 94070
650-593-4269
www.SaffronIndianBistro.com
Sidewalk Seating Weather Permitting