In The Press
A jewel in the crown
THE Saffron Lounge, in High Street, is taking the experience of a Friday night curry to a whole new level as KIRSTY RIGG discovered.
With uniquely designed interiors, expert chefs and mouth watering choices, The Saffron Lounge is the jewel in the crown on Crawley’s dining scene.
The new Indian cuisine offers everything from traditional Indian Masala’s to unique stir fried spices.
If Indian isn’t quite your thing, there is a variety of Chinese and Thai dishes, or just good old English fish and chips.
Food is available throughout the day, and the attractive features make it cosy enough for a lunch meeting yet jazzy enough for that special evening meal.
And it is all at surprisingly decent prices – main courses are generously served and are in the region of just £8.
Vegetarians an also eat with choice, with exotic vegetable servings and 17 non meat side dishes to choose from.
The most expensive dishes stretch to a comfortable £12 including the Jeenga Ajwaini Kohinoori, (tandoori tiger prawns in a marinade of corom seeds and mind kashmiri red chilli).
If your appetite requires something a little heavier there are a range of Tandoori grills to choose from, including Kashmiri lamp chops, Tandoori Chicken Tikka and a very satisfying Kandhari kebab platter, which combines some of Saffron Lounges’ best grills for just £11.
But a great restaurant isn’t just about food – its designer features and attractive lighting effects make the Saffron Lounge kind to the eye as well as the taste buds.
It offers a cross cultural dining experience that rivals will find it hard to top.
A very nice bit of spice
By Matt Gaw
THE INTERIOR of the Saffron Lounge was apparently created by top designer Paul Young – but it’s not just the décor that’s cool and contemporary.
The mention of curry often conjures up images of a weighty vindaloo after 8 or 9 pints.
But chefs at the classy High Street restaurant have put this myth to the sword with a modern menu of delicately spiced and fragrant cross-cultural dishes.
Walking into the eatery on a cold winter evening with a rabble of work colleagues we were quickly warmed by the thought of sampling the restaurants considerable menu.
Deciding to move straight onto the main course I plumped for a Badami Dum Pasanda – a mild and creamy chicken dish that’s served up with roasted almonds.
Kirk, feeling brave after a few drinks, opted for a spicy prawn curry – Sungta Chi Kodi – while Louise chose a Lamb Balti.
After munching our way through popodoms slathered in yogurt and mango chutney the food soon arrived.
My Pasanda was beautifully cooked with the almonds hitting just the right savoury note with the cream – all mopped up with one of the freshest peshwari naan breads I’ve ever encountered.
Louise was equally pleased with her Balti and ticked in with gusto. She said “I really enjoy spicy food and was a bit worried that the Balti would be too mild, but I wasn’t disappointed. It was expertly spiced and had just enough of a kick to keep me interested.”
“And the lamb was well cooked as well.”
Kirk, who shared a bowl of rice with Louise, was already making his way through the delicious looking keemar naan when his dish arrived.
He said: “It really was very nice. I like my food spicy, so I ordered the Goan curry. It packed a lot of heat – I had sweat rolling down my face – but it was absolutely delicious.”
“The prawns were very succulent as were just sweet enough to soak up some of the spice from the sauce.”
And although the style and quality of the food at the Saffron Lounge are far above the average curry house - you don’t have to pay over the odds for it. All of our dishes came in at about £7 or £8, which for an evening meal is defiantly reasonable.
So if you fancy a curry in a hurry, or even a leisurely evening out, the Saffron Lounge is well worth a look.