Saffron owner and manager Rose Sorathia oversees a tight ship — great food and friendly service.

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Saffron Fine Indian Takeout

It’s a particularly chilly Saturday night and my boyfriend and I have no desire to schlep around town looking for dinner. After a rousing round of rock, paper, scissors, I am tasked with picking up takeout. I’d heard mumblings of an amazing Indian spot in the city’s northwest, so after googling the location and discovering the trip would only take me 12 minutes, I make my way to Saffron Fine Indian Take Out.

Saffron’s friendly and informative staff are awesome. Calling ahead (highly recommended), I speak with a woman (presumably the owner) who guides me through the daily features and helps me determine how much food to order (dishes are available in small and regular sizes). Saffron prepares its signature butter chicken and a featured daal daily, in addition to two vegetarian and two non-vegetarian dishes culled from an impressive list of options.

A half-hour later, I go to pick up our food. Upon arrival, the owner’s daughters warmly greet me and let me know they’re just waiting on the naan. Having a seat amongst a full house of smiling patrons, I have a feeling we’re in for a treat.

Emerging from the kitchen with our order of fresh naan, the girl’s mother lets me know that the featured daal is fantastic today. I’m excited to get home.

Mom wasn’t lying. The dhaal makhani ($10.95) is beautiful. Creamy and smooth, the thick stew of black lentils is perfectly prepared with an abundance of fresh flavours. Popping with spicy notes of garam masala and coriander, we scrape up every last morsel in our bowls.

Next up, we try the veggie pakoras ($4.95) along with a fresh green chile and coriander chutney ($1.25). Light and crisp, the chickpea-battered veggies are lovely. The batter isn’t heavy, and the veggies have a pleasant crunch.

Moving on, we load our plates with butter chicken ($12.95), karai ghosht ($12.95), aloo gobhi ($10.95) and basmati rice with cardamom, cinnamon sticks and saffron ($3).

The butter chicken is excellent, with a rich and creamy sauce that avoids the trappings of being greasy. The diced cubes of chicken are tender and the portion size is very generous.

The aloo gobhi is also good. Prepared with fresh spices in a tomato and coriander base, the cauliflower and potatoes aren’t overcooked or too soft, retaining a pleasant crunch.

The tender cubes of beef in the karai ghosht dish are also prepared in a spicy, tomato-based sauce loaded with garlic, ginger and green chilies. This dish has a vibrant kick and the sauce has a wonderful stew-like consistency.

You can’t miss with Saffron’s super fresh and buttery naan bread ($1.95 per person). The leavened flatbread (freshly baked per order) has a slight char to it, and is ideal for sopping up all the delicious flavours and textures of these wonderful dishes.

I can’t say enough good things about Saffron. It’s a great takeout experience from start to finish, and the prices are reasonable, too. Our meal came to $49.51 for seven items, with plenty of leftovers. Speaking of leftovers, Saffron’s dishes are just as good, if not better, the next day.

The next time you have a hankering for fresh Indian, make the trek to Saffron’s amazing family-run spot for awesome dishes and equally great service. Thanks Mom.

Saffron $

403-441-7700

136, 3604 – 52 Avenue N.W., Calgary