Saffron Cafe

Name: Saffron Cafe
Address: 621 Fort Wayne Ave, Indianapolis, IN, United States, 46204-1306
Telephone: (317) 917-0131
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.1

4.1

64 Reviews

$31 to $50

Moroccan

Top Tags:

Saffron Caf� is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and serves Moroccan style cuisine. The interior d�cor of the Saffron Caf� has been carefully selected and brought in straight from Morocco, in order to give diners an authentic experience. The restaurant offers cooking lessons in Moroccan cuisine and a belly dancer as entertainment for private events. The menu featured at Saffron Caf� includes appetizers of hummus, taktouka shrimp, saffron mussels and falafels. Entr�es include paella, ahi tuna with charmoula, chicken parmigiana, lamb honey and tanjiya. Dinners pasta and couscous include saffron fettuccini alfredo, couscous royale and coconut shrimp pasta. Wine list and lunch menus are also available.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 26, 2022

June 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

11:30 PM

Booked 2 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Delivery

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Moroccan, Mediterranean
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(317) 917-0131
Website
http://www.saffroncafe-indy.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Chef Sentissi

Location
621 Fort Wayne Ave Indianapolis, IN 46204-1306
Neighborhood
Downtown Indy
Parking details
Street Parking

Hummus$5.95
topped with tomatoes and kalamata olives
Zaalouk$6.95
moroccan style eggplant spread
Bakoula$5.95
classic moroccan spinach spread
Antipasto Plate$10.95
a sampling of hummus, zaalouk, & bakoula served with feta cheese, kalamata olives, tomato, cucumber, & artichoke hearts
Taktouka Shrimp$10.95
with fresh cucumber, tomato, artichoke hearts & kalamata olives
Falafel$5.95
crispy chickpea & sesame balls served with cucumber yogurt sauce
Bastilla$11.95
crisp honeyed phyllo dough stuffed with chicken & cinnamon roasted almonds
Saffron Musssels$12.95
fresh steamed mussels in a creamy white wine & garlic sauce
Pilpil$11.95
stewed shrimp & scallops in a cilantro pesto. scallops are not always available. extra shrimp will be given if there are no scallops
Mozzarella Plate$9.95
fresh mozzarella slices drizzled with olive oil & balsamic vinegar and served with artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, finished with capers

Soups

Harrira$5.95
cilantro soup with tomatoes, saffron rice & chickpeas
Soup Du Jour
traditional moroccan soups, ask your server for today's selections
Bissara
fava bean puree with garlic, cumin & a drizzle of olive oil. carrot ginger - fresh pureed carrots with ginger & a hint of brown sugar lentil soup - with fresh tomatoes & cilantro shorba - a seasonal selection of fresh vegetables with chicken

Salads

Salad Nicoise$11.95
crisp romaine lettuce & basil leaves topped with tomato, cucumber, red bell pepper, broccoli, black olives, hard-boiled eggs, carrots & tuna. served with dijon mustard dressing
- Add Grilled Ahi Tuna$8.95
Greek Salad$7.95
tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese & kalamata olives atop a bed of fresh romaine lettuce, served with lemon-oregano dressing
Shrimp, Avocado & Citrus Salad$8.95
fresh sliced avocado topped with shrimp & kalamata olives, drizzled with olive oil and fresh squeezed citrus, then garnished with a lime wedge
House Salad & Soup$10.95

Kabbabs

all kabbabs are served with saffron rice or roasted potatoes and vegetables

Lamb Kabbabs$14.95
marinated in garlic, parsley & cilantro
Chicken Kabbabs$12.95
marinated in garlic, parsley & cilantro
Fish Kabbab$25.95
halibut, swordfish, mahi mahi & sea bass. served with charmoula
Kafta Kabbab$12.95
a traditional moroccan favorite! ground beef, onions & garlic seasoned with parsley, cilantro, ginger, paprika, cumin & a dash of cinnamon

Pasta & Couscous

Saffron Fettuccini Alfredo$11.95
our savory saffron alfredo sauce served atop fettuccini pasta
- Add Chicken$3.50
- Add Shrimp$4.50
Eggplant Parmagiana$13.95
lightly breaded and fried seasoned eggplant, completed with fettuccini pasta and our homemade marinara sauce
Penne Royale$13.95
penne pasta topped with a sauce of fresh sauteed vegetables and finished with parmesan cheese
- Add Kafta$4.50
Couscous Royale$13.95
a medley of carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, green peppers, turnips, red potatoes, cabbage, herbs & spices tossed with couscous
Couscous Tfaya$12.95
sauteed onions, raisins & chickpeas in a lightly sweetened saffron broth over couscous
Coconut Shrimp Pasta$18.95
grilled shrimp in a creamy coconut basil sauce over fettuccini pasta finished with pecorino romano & parmesan cheeses

Tajines

tajines are traditional moroccan stews, slow cooked in decorative conical ceramic pots for which they are named. the lid captures the steam and juices from all of the simmering ingredients to produce a tasty sauce perfect for dipping warm bread

Ginger Chicken Tajine$16.95
a roasted half chicken with ginger, garlic, onions, peas & carrots in saffron sauce then garnished with pickled lemon
Almond Chicken Tajine$17.95
a roasted half chicken with almonds, onions and raisins in saffron sauce
Cumin Chicken Tajine$16.95
a roasted half chicken with tomatoes & roasted potatoes in cumin sauce
Moroccan Cornish Hen Tajine$21.95
a whole roasted cornish hen with prunes, pear halves & apricots spiced with cinnamon in saffron sauce
Lamb Tagine$19.95
leg of lamb slow cooked with peas & artichoke hearts, garnished with pickled lemon
Tajine Lamberel$19.95
slow roasted leg of lamb with lightly breaded eggplant in saffron sauce & garnished with a slice of pickled lemon
Kafta Tajine$13.95
traditional moroccan seasoned beef with peas, potatoes & eggs, topped with a slice of pickled lemon
Tilapia Tajine$19.95
baked tilapia with roasted potatoes, tomatoes & carrots, topped with charmoula, a classic moroccan cilantro pesto sauce

Entrees

Paella$26.95
a classic moroccan dish of saffron rice with shrimp, salmon, mussels, chicken, peas & carrots
Shawarma$12.95
gyros served with pita bread, onions and tomato accompanied by spicy harrissa and cucumber yogurt sauce
Atlantic Salmon With Charmoula$23.95
wild salmon, oven baked and topped with cilantro pesto, served with couscous & vegetables
Ahi Tuna With Charmoula$23.95
ahi tuna seared rare and drizzled with cilantro pesto, served with seasonal vegetables, and your choice of saffron rice or couscous
Chicken Marsala$15.95
a roasted half chicken simmered in marsala wine sauce with rosemary & fresh mushrooms served over saffron rice with seasonal vegetables
Chicken Parmagiana$13.95
lightly breaded chicken breast with freshly grated parmesan cheese over fettuccini with our homemade marinara sauce
Lamb Honey$19.95
roasted honey-glazed leg of lamb with pear halves, prunes & apricots then covered with cumin sauce and garnished with toasted sesame seeds, served with roasted potatoes
Tanjiya$19.95
leg of lamb, slow roasted with seven herbs and accompanied by roasted potatoes

Sides

House Salad$5.50
Couscous$3.50
Saffron Rice$3.50
Roasted Red Potatoes$2.50
Sauteed Mixed Vegetables$3.50
Kalamata Olives$2.50
Feta Cheese$2.50
Grilled Kafta$4.50
Grilled Shrimp$4.50
Slow-stewed Quarter Chicken$5.50
Grilled Chicken Strips$4.50
Grilled Chicken Kabbab$6.50
Slow-stewed Lamb$9.50
Grilled Lamb Kabbab$8.50

Desserts

Homemade Tiramisu$7.95
the best in town!
Homemade Baklava$4.50
made with almonds, pistachios, and honey

What 64 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.1

4.1 based on recent ratings

4.1Food
4.2Service
4.2Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Indiana
Romantic
Indianapolis
Romantic

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OT
OpenTable Diner
Indiana
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
overall2food1service3ambience3
The Tagine Lamberel is advertised as one of the top dishes in Indianapolis and I was looking forward to trying it. I was disappointed with the tough meat and the dish overall lacking in flavor. It was just okay, nothing to write home about. I was also disappointed it came with French baguette on the side. I was expecting a more authentic experience with flat bread or something.
DC
DollyC
Indiana
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 11, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience5
Reunion of 12 women who rode cross country together in 2013.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Hands down the best tajines! The coffee and mint tea was great as well.
DD
DallasDTDiner
Dallas
8 reviews
vip
1.0
8 reviews
Dined on May 28, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience4
This place has gone downhill since I moved away eight years ago. This was a favorite - the owner/chef would come out and greet tables, service was spectacular, the food full of flavor. Fast forward to 2022: This experience had extremely slow and inattentive service, food lacked most flavor with some tasting like it had been microwaved, and overall presentation from dirty menus to chipped wine glasses made an Indy favorite an Indy disaster. The previous owner must have left - the love for food, unique flavors, passion for service were non-existent. I feel embarrassed I recommended this restaurant and made my party suffer through a truly forgettable meal.
R
Rhubarbgal
Indiana
16 reviews
3.0
16 reviews
Dined on May 28, 2022
overall3food3service2ambience4
The beautiful exterior murals were marred by an unkept enclosed patio. The floor and tables needed attention; some window panels were slashed and so rain-spotted it was difficult to see through them. While the interior ambiance was warm and colorful, fixtures and surfaces needed dusting. We were greeted with a smile and promptly seated. Thereafter, service was painfully slow--even though the dining room was relatively empty during most of our visit. Almond Chicken Tangine was piping hot, but relatively bland and overwhelmed by nearly 3/4 cup of raisins. The divinely-scented Lamb Honey Tangine was well-cooked but cloyingly sweet; further, there was little flesh on the bone. We split Tiramisu for dessert--the best part of our meal, but an unexpectedly small portion given the nearly $9 price. Having read impressive reviews, we were somewhat disappointed with the value of our meal. We are uncertain we will return.
LU
LegUpSolutions
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always excellent. My only regret is that we missed Annie and Chef during our visit.
JS
JohnS
Indiana
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2022
overall2food3service2ambience2
Only one server so we waited for everything—menus, drinks, appetizers and dinner. They were out of multiple wines and several menu items requiring us to re-adjust after ordering apps and entrees. When we finally got our entrees, the kitchen staff started cleaning up and it was so loud it continually interrupted our conversation. Food was tasty except for the hummus.
AA
AmmarA
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and service. Fancy restaurant without the fancy restaurant price.
WB
WilliamB
Indiana
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 12, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience5
Saffron always delivers, whether it's a kebab, a tangine or pasta.
R
Robi
St. Louis
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall3food4service4ambience4
Walk into a quiet ambience that's located in a quirky little building. Don't expect a signature cocktail or a big wine selection. The food makes up for the drinks though. Freshly prepared with lovely flavors. Top it off with their Moroccan coffee and dessert.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Indiana
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very friendly staff. Authentic Moroccan food that was delicious. That’s tiramisu I have ever had. There was only one chef that evening and our food still came out perfect.
DO
DOCTORDINK
Indiana
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Spend a very nice dinner with my husband!
KE
KatherineE
Indiana
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on April 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was fabulous, and the ambiance is charming. Be sure to make reservations as the place is rather small and fills quickly. Be sure to order dessert - the marscapone cake is amazing!
RM
RobM
Indiana
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on April 1, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience3
Delicious and well-flavored dishes. Courteous and attentive staff.
DS
DianeS
Indiana
14 reviews
3.0
14 reviews
Dined on March 20, 2022
overall3food3service5ambience4
The people were lovely and very cool ambiance but the food was not that great. A bit bland in my opinion.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Indiana
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on March 19, 2022
overall1food2service1ambience1
We’ve enjoyed this restaurant multiple time pre COVID. Our recent experience was not favorable. First there was minimal heat. The majority of guests were eating in winter coats! Second the food was sub pair… with very poor use of typical N African spices. The service was extremely poor… but this has become expected in many restaurants with difficulty finding staff. Very disappointing!
VB
VickieB
Indiana
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, great service, & great ambiance. Large portions. Parking is in the back which I wasn’t aware of so would be nice to know the first time showing up.
R
Ricoop
Indiana
99 reviews
vip
4.0
99 reviews
Dined on March 5, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience2
This was our third trip to the restaurant and we were both looking forward to the food. We enjoyed the food and the service provided by Amelia. We were a bit disappointed that the restaurant was out of all of the red wines on the menu. I hope that isn't the case the next time we visit.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on March 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Took our family for dinner. Absolutely fantastic from start to finish. Best desserts and Moroccan mint tea to top it off. We left so full and pleased with every delicious bite. Also the staff are so kind and wonderful. Service is excellent. We will be back soon
OT
OpenTable Diner
Indiana
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
For only two people working in the entire establishment they took good care of us. They were slow but that’s understandable when you literally have one waitress/hostess and one cook/dishwasher. They did very well and the food was amazing as always
KC
KyleC
Indiana
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on February 14, 2022
overall1food1service3ambience1
Nasty food, service was poor, there card readers where broke
LS
LukeSaysMoo
Indiana
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on February 13, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
The tajines are amazing.
SD
SavvyDiner
Indiana
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on February 12, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
The Moroccan paella was absolutely outstanding!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on February 12, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience3
Very good. Portions were shareable, and we still took home a box. Limited though on wine selections.
NB
NancyB
Indiana
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was outstanding. Quiet cozy environment. Server knew menu really well and made excellent suggestions.
D
Djkindy
Indiana
16 reviews
vip
4.0
16 reviews
Dined on January 30, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience5
As always the food at Saffron is magnificent! Albeit you have to wait a LOOOONG time to get it. Was approximately 45 mins from ordering to food being set on table .
H
Harvey
Indiana
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food unique environment one of my favorite spots
g
gmccuen
Indiana
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We loved our experience. Great food. Friendly service. Comfortable chairs. Warm atmosphere.
AT
AndrewT
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is the only legitimate Moroccan restaurant I’ve found in the Midwest and it is fantastic. If anyone has never tried Moroccan food and wants to this is the place to go. Chicken that falls off the bone, vegetables cooked to perfection, and exquisite flavors are just a few of the things that make it special. It is also incredibly affordable. A meal for one is quite massive but will only cost $15-25. There is also convenient and cheap parking ($5 for the day) since it is a bit away from the middle of downtown. There is no better place in Indianapolis that covers all the bases.
P
Pammadryden
Indiana
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 22, 2021
overall5food5service4ambience4
Birthday request. Great meal
BB
BobB
Indiana
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 18, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience4
This is a small intimate place. You should make a reservation. It may look empty, but it fills quickly once reservations arrive. Food is robust in flavor and there is a nice variety. We had mussel appetizer and almond tanjine. Both were wonderful. Waitress was knowledgeable and attentive. Adult beverages are just wine and 2 beers. We can't wait to go back and try something else.
JM
JimM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 19, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was excellent, and the service and ambiance outstanding. We WILL be back. Thank you, Saffron.
M
Michele
Indiana
13 reviews
1.0
13 reviews
Dined on October 30, 2021
overall1food1service1ambience1
Arrived for our reservation and dinner and the restaurant was closed. No sign on the door, no mention of closure on their website.
p
pgybnk
Indiana
52 reviews
vip
2.0
52 reviews
Dined on October 23, 2021
overall2food2service2ambience2
They were closed . No note or sign . might be closed permanently???
OT
OpenTable Diner
Richmond
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on October 22, 2021
overall1food1service1ambience1
The restaurant was not open but I was still able to make a reservation on Open Table and then later change it to a later time. We walked over a mile to find it closed. It looked nice though.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Raleigh
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on October 19, 2021
overall1food1service1ambience1
The restaurant was not open.
t
thesinglegourmand
Indiana
6 reviews
1.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 17, 2021
overall1food1service1ambience1
It was closed for good. It was closed for good. It was closed for good.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Indiana
4 reviews
vip
1.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 16, 2021
overall1food1service1ambience1
This restaurant is closed- what looks like permanently
R
Ricoop
Indiana
99 reviews
vip
1.0
99 reviews
Dined on October 15, 2021
overall1food1service1ambience1
When we arrived at the restaurant there were other people trying to enter the building for dinner but the doors were locked and all the lights were off. So obviously we were unable to eat at the restaurant as it appeared to be closed.
V
Veronica
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on September 24, 2021
overall1food1service1ambience1
This restaurant is closed. Would have been nice if Saffron Café notified OpenTable about this so people will stop making reservations to a restaurant you can't eat at.

FAQs

Saffron Cafe does offer delivery in partnership with Postmates.

Saffron Cafe is rated 4.1 stars by 64 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 26, 2022

June 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

11:30 PM

Booked 2 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Delivery

621 Fort Wayne Ave Indianapolis, IN 46204-1306

Additional information

Neighborhood
Downtown Indy
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Cuisines
Moroccan, Mediterranean
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Chef Sentissi

Website
http://www.saffroncafe-indy.com/
Phone number
(317) 917-0131

Saffron Cafe

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Delivery

Additional information

Appetizers

Hummus$5.95

Zaalouk$6.95

Bakoula$5.95

Antipasto Plate$10.95

Taktouka Shrimp$10.95

Falafel$5.95

Bastilla$11.95

Saffron Musssels$12.95

Pilpil$11.95

Mozzarella Plate$9.95

Soups

Harrira$5.95

Soup Du Jour

Bissara

Salads

Salad Nicoise$11.95

Greek Salad$7.95

Shrimp, Avocado & Citrus Salad$8.95

House Salad & Soup$10.95

Kabbabs

Lamb Kabbabs$14.95

Chicken Kabbabs$12.95

Fish Kabbab$25.95

Kafta Kabbab$12.95

Pasta & Couscous

Saffron Fettuccini Alfredo$11.95

Eggplant Parmagiana$13.95

Penne Royale$13.95

Couscous Royale$13.95

Couscous Tfaya$12.95

Coconut Shrimp Pasta$18.95

Tajines

Ginger Chicken Tajine$16.95

Almond Chicken Tajine$17.95

Cumin Chicken Tajine$16.95

Moroccan Cornish Hen Tajine$21.95

Lamb Tagine$19.95

Tajine Lamberel$19.95

Kafta Tajine$13.95

Tilapia Tajine$19.95

Entrees

Paella$26.95

Shawarma$12.95

Atlantic Salmon With Charmoula$23.95

Ahi Tuna With Charmoula$23.95

Chicken Marsala$15.95

Chicken Parmagiana$13.95

Lamb Honey$19.95

Tanjiya$19.95

Sides

House Salad$5.50

Couscous$3.50

Saffron Rice$3.50

Roasted Red Potatoes$2.50

Sauteed Mixed Vegetables$3.50

Kalamata Olives$2.50

Feta Cheese$2.50

Grilled Kafta$4.50

Grilled Shrimp$4.50

Slow-stewed Quarter Chicken$5.50

Grilled Chicken Strips$4.50

Grilled Chicken Kabbab$6.50

Slow-stewed Lamb$9.50

Grilled Lamb Kabbab$8.50

Desserts

Homemade Tiramisu$7.95

Homemade Baklava$4.50

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

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FAQs

Does Saffron Cafe offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Saffron Cafe restaurant rated?