A Taste of India at Saffron

Plaza Venezia on Sand Lake Road in Dr. Phillips has your typical variety of shopping mall tenants. Among them — Publix, Walgreen’s, Barnes & Noble, two hair salons and multiple day spas (including my favorite – MC Spa & Nail Bar). It is also home to popular chain restaurants like Eddie V’s, Seasons 52 and Chima Steakhouse. According to Regency Centers, Plaza Venezia is “Orlando’s strongest concentration of restaurants,” attracting over 66 million visitors annually.

One of the great local options here is Saffron Indian Cuisine. Since opening in 2011, Saffron has been recognized with an Orlando Sentinel Foodie Award and it’s currently a TripAdvisor Top 200 Orlando Restaurant (out of 2,000+). Part of acclaimed chef Sunny Corda’s group of Indian restaurants in Orlando – which also includes Rasa, Southern Spice and Mynt – Saffron delivers an appealing mix of traditional favorites and contemporary fare.

As friendly server Vishal seated us, I noticed a mocktail menu on our table. Zero proof drinks are having a major moment right now. Saffron’s feature vibrant flavors like mango, curry leaves and Paan syrup. I loved the Lychee Blossom. It has just the right amount of refreshing sweetness, balanced with lime, strawberry and lemon lime soda.

Steve and I started off with the Saffron Mix Platter, a good way to taste some signature appetizers. Ideal for two, the sampler features Vegetable Samosa, Aloo Tikki, Onion Bhajiya and Veg Pakora. Aromatic spices and herbs elevate every bite. I especially loved the potato-filled Samosa and Aloo Tikki, both fried to crispy perfection.

It’s easy to fill up from just the platter, but we did our best to pace ourselves. In full disclosure, I’m not a fan of overly spicy foods, so I tend to stick with milder dishes that my palette can handle. The Chicken Korma here confirmed why this is one of them.

Creamy, cashew-infused sauce always pairs nicely with Basmati rice and buttery garlic Naan. Steve chose the Tandoori Platter, beautifully marinated to bring out the flavor this preparation is known for.

With great food and service in a relaxed, modern setting, Saffron offers a satisfying night out in the neighborhood. Ask for Vishal, he’ll take good care of you.