Came here on a Wednesday afternoon for lunch. Their pastry selection looked amazing inside, and the restaurant itself is very home-y and inviting. The ratings of this place had me a bit worried but the more ratings you get, the higher number of negative reviews you'll have. I will say, service was the most people reviewed about this place and I will have to agree. Firstly, we were seated outside but it was a bit of an awkward interaction between us and the hostess upon walking in. Maybe the hostess was clocking in/out or about to go on break? Idk but when we walked in, she saw us and didn't say anything, she continued to grab her stuff from the hostess stand. A manager walked over and then the hostess spoke to us, "Someone will be with you shortly," and right after said something along the lines of, "I guess I'll do it." She wasn't rude, but it was an odd thing to say out loud in ear shot. I'd rate our server's service as a 6/10, she was okay, not bad but not the kind of service I'd offer if I was working here. She made my chai latte hot instead of iced and didn't offer any recommendations. Our food took a bit to come out despite the place being slow but it was worth the wait. Our food is was really made our experience good, our chicken and beef kabob plates were amazing and our side of fries was seasoned and fried perfectly, we'd come back just for the fries! We'd rate food 8.5/10. We'll need to come back to try their pastries/desserts, cuz they looked fantastic! This is a solid spot in downtown. read more

Saffron - Beef kabob - Bakeries Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Being taken to brunch by my former broke bestie, my oldest daughter, is always a 10 out of 10! We were looking for a close spot for brunch since one of my youngest daughters had to work and Saffron was the closest. There is outdoor seating that's really cute. I've been a few times and try to look away from the pasties and other baked goodies but they ALWAYS draw me in. I had a burger, no bun, so good! They had pancakes and our brunch sponsor ie my oldest daughter had shrimp and grits AND a breakfast sandwich ( she's the tiniest thing but eats like a big back ) My only complaint was the wait, the restaurant wasn't packed in the least but we waited for more than 20 minutes before our server came, she apologized. read more

Came for a sweet treat while in port in Charleston. We just stumbled on to this bakery and decided we o take a peek inside. It was a quick 5-7 minute walk from the port area. When we entered, we were first met with a large glass window to the side which gave a great open view into the baking area where a worker was churning out giant chocolate chip cookies ready for sale. Saffron has a variety of bakery items: homemade breads, assorted pastries, decadent cakes and pies, and of course cookies among other things. They also had a limited food menu as well with plenty of seating available. The ambiance was filled with the scent of fresh baked goodness, perfect as a cozy spot to grab a seat and indulge in a sweet treat. After perusing the extensive pastry windows, I settled on a mini carrot cake. I packed that cake right up to take with me back onboard the ship. The carrot cake was SO moist with flavors of carrot, spices and pineapple topped off with slivered almonds used to decorate the sides. I love a good carrot cake and this was one of the best I have had in a long time. All in all, a great local bakery to visit and grab a sweet treat when visiting the Charleston area. read more

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For authentic Persian cuisine it's a huge NO. The rice was inedible. It was old, hard, oily, and not a hint of real saffron. A true embarrassment for Persian rice. Persians take great pride in their rice and he is Iranian born and bred and neither of us could get over how bad it was. The chicken kabob was bland. Tasted almost metallic. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't good either. Not a hint of authentic Persian in that either. Neither of us would consider trying any of the Persian dishes. The coconuts cream cake was a bit gritty. He said it tasted ok but the cake itself consistency was odd. Staff is very friendly. Parking is small lot and limited spaces. I got a spoon that wasn't clean. Totally sticky was food affixed. The interior itself wasn't bad. Very causal atmosphere. We were hoping for authentic Persian and French pastries and both were a miss. Don't get me wrong, it's not terrible (except the rice) but not in any way shape or form persian or middle eastern. If that's what you're after, Saffron isn't the place. read more

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I have been to Saffron before and have not had perfect experiences, but my experiences have been far superior to today's. We were a group of 5 and all placed our orders. After 40 minutes, we realized that at least 5 tables who ordered after us had already been served. We tracked the server down and she said it was almost done. We then requested our food to go. There was no apology and no explanation for why our food took so long. I ordered the Southern avocado toast and it was disappointing. It was basically 2 pieces of white bread (supposedly sourdough) with a small amount of avocado on one side and a small amount of feta. This meal was not worth $17 and I would not order it again. After having this experience, coupled with mediocre food, I have no desire to return to Saffron. read more

Saffron - Southern Avocado Toast - Bakeries Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

The food was good, service was good. For me the downside is the ambience. I realize it's not a fine dining restaurant but it seemed dark and in need of some artwork or something to make it more appealing. I would probably go back because of the delicious bakery items! read more

My girlfriend and I had a late lunch at Saffron. It is a beautiful place. Very spacious with lots of indoor and outdoor seating available. They offer food, delicious pastries and have a full bar. I had the turkey club sandwich. It was served on freshly made sour dough bread. There was thick turkey breast and lots of bacon. Sandwiches are served with your choice of a side dish. I had the garden salad. The food was very fresh and delicious. The service was very good. The prices are consistent with other restaurants in the downtown area. I highly recommend. read more

Had lunch outside. Service was very good. Food was also very good. My wife had the Mediterranean salad with salmon and I ordered the turkey club with fries. We also visited the bakery, but had a difficult time getting a definitive answer on what was dairy free. We visited the next evening and I purchased a piece of New York style cheesecake. It wasn't as thick and heavy as I would have hoped. I would get something else if I went back. Overall a good experience and I would recommend it. read more

We only enjoyed a latte and decaf here with a large slice of their gluten free daily offering. So first and foremost- that pear almond gluten free tart was perfection. Cravavable and servable to everyone- not just the gluten free peep who have lowered our standards. Chai Latte was standard make w Tazo mix. Wanted a decaf espresso but they were out- decaf wasn't hot. Next time I'd try the samovar tea onsite maybe! Looked cool. Service was quick and friendly. Parking and patio both available. read more

Saffron - To go Chai Tea Latte and Pear Torte (gluten free!) - Bakeries Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

The wife and I have been wanting to try this for breakfast for some time now. We finally had the chance today. Wife had the Saffron Omelet and I had a cheese one. Mine was good, nothing special. Wife enjoyed hers very much. She had the wheat toast and I had a biscuit. Both were good. we both had home fries that were also good, but nothing to write home about. The most troubling thing about our breakfast is we saw around 5 people working and I don't think I saw a smile the whole time we were there from anyone. Not sure if we will go back from breakfast, but definitely will for desserts. read more

Amazing service. Great food and omg the desserts. Just one of those Charleston places. Been around for years. New owner new staff you can feal the vibe. read more

We recently look home a box of pastries and sweets to try and most of it was pretty great. I know already I love their croissants because they supply Lodi and I order them often. The croissants are massive and one could fed a small family. We had the chocolate which is a favorite and also tried the strawberry which I really enjoyed. For the desserts, there were a couple I wasn't a huge fan of and mostly because they were drier than expected. Those were the triple chocolate cake with shavings on top and the eclair. As a chocolate lover, I expected the cake to be my favorite, but we both agreed it was dry and definitely a miss. The brownie with frosting and the cream puff were both very tasty, but the stars of the show ere the chocolate cheesecake and the strawberry shortcake. Combining chocolate and cheesecake is always a win for me, but we were shocked by how good the strawberry short cake was. Especially after not enjoying the chocolate cake, the strawberry one was moist and delicious. We'll definitely be getting those two items next time. read more

Saffron - Bakeries Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Can't believe I've lived in Charleston my entire life without having really eaten here! I've popped into the Bakery to pick up a cake (which was very reasonably priced for the quality and size) and noticed that they have a deli grab section and a counter with nice bread options (not GF) but didn't even fathom what I was missing. I have even passed by this restaurant for years never knowing that they also serve dinner. That being said this little GEM didn't disappoint on the price point being downtown nor the portion size... Not to mention the flavor sensations of the Middle Eastern flare. The ambiance is that of a welcoming deli-cum dining establishment with some various art prints along the wall and ample seating inside and out back on their patio. The service was relatively quick considering we had a show right next door at the Gailkard and were able to order, eat, grab a drink and make it to the concert prior to downbeat! I'd definitely try the food at least once even if you think that ME eats aren't for you! I know I'll be back for sure. The dolmados were tender and flavorful and the tatziki was a welcomed touch stop a bed of lettuce served with a lemon. The Chicken Fehsenjoon was served as 2l3 boneless chicken thighs atop a generous portion of basmati rice prepared with saffron, carrots, dried cherries, chickpeas (a slightly sweet flavor to it) and the chargeilled veggies were a nice touch (though I found it interesting that the onions were both flash charred yet not quite cooked enough for me at the same time). The Chicken and shrimp kabob skewers were another hit at the table as well. All in all the menu is fairly extensive and I can't wait to go back and try more! Also, free parking in their front lot (AND back lot after 6)! read more

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You can order and eat your food in the restaurant before you can order one dessert. They need to hire someone quicker, it's crazy how slow they are! read more

This shop on the edge of Charleston's downtown has a casual vibe. I got takeout; there wasn't much in the way of free parking in the immediate vicinity but I snuck in and out quickly. The place clearly emphasizes desserts, and my block of chocolate-y goodness was about as indulgent as it looks. On the other hand, this place offers a vegan menu, and I picked up a falafel wrap, which I ended up eating later. It had an appealing flavor mix, but with a bit too much salt. It wasn't a big wrap for the price, but a vegan searching for food in this area may find it worthwhile. The first time I tried ordering online from here, the app broke for some reason. read more

Saffron - Chocolate Marquis - Bakeries Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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It's a cool enough spot with a lot of options. Unfortunately, the coffee and the lattes were terrible. Visiting about a dozen awesome places around the area, I will not get coffee here again. The pastries look really good though. read more

Saffron Restaurant and Bakery is located downtown Charleston across the street from the Gaillard Center. The food is tasty, served freshly cooked and hot. They have a large range of bake goods which is displayed nicely for customers to see. They have a nice variety of choice in bake goods and menu items from breakfast, lunch and dinner. The potion sizes are large and worth the price. They offer indoor and outdoor covered seat areas. The staff is friendly and helpful. I enjoy eating at Saffrons. Always leave satisfied read more

Saffron - Ham and Cheese Omelette with a bagel and hashbrowns - Bakeries Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

We went to Saffron to pick up some pastries & coffee before heading back home. When we got inside, there was a line to order at the front. We waited for a bit, but they were so busy. It looked like there was a conference going on and the whole conference chose to eat there lol. Servers were going back and forth from the tables through the line we were waiting in to get to the kitchen. Service was timely and the person at the cashier was nice. I just ordered the Strawberry Croissant and Cheese Croissant. Both pastries were fantastic. Both were flaky and not too sweet. The filling in the strawberry croissant was great. Once I started, I finished them quick lol. My friend got some of the day old pastries too and those still tasted great. I was impressed at what we got and if I'm ever in the area again, I'd come back. read more

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Came here to get a quick bite to eat while on the way to the African American museum. Inside is very relaxed, there are tables if you want to sit and eat and also little bar chairs for if you want to just order at the register. I got there around 1130am and they let me know that breakfast ended at 11am, so I ended up getting them ham and cheese croissant and the strawberry shortcake from the case. For the ham and cheese croissant I asked the lady at the register to warm it up, and she warmed it up for me but it was hot in some places and freezing cold in others. When I requested for her to warm it up again she said that she wouldn't recommend it because it would get really greasy...so I just ate the croissant the way it was. It was okay, not really sure how it's the most popular item here though. The star of the show was the strawberry shortcake! The strawberries were so fresh, the icing and cake were both so light and fluffy!!! I should've gotten one to go!! If you're in the area definitely go grab that!! read more

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When the cook tells the server, "That's the way I cook it!" I have an issue. What brings this up is that I prefer to have my sausage cooked on the griddle, and not deep fried. I mean, isn't there enough grease in sausage as it is? The chef said, "That's how we do it." I asked for bacon instead. See the pic. The chef didn't bother to warm it up. No surprise. My understanding is that this is the attitude of the chef. It's his way or no way. So, everyone, when you eat here, be sure to ask that your sausage be grilled and not deep fried. Then be sure to lodge your complaint over your servers head. read more

Saffron - Bakeries Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Food was okay although the server didn't listen to us (or the kitchen didn't pay attention to the order). Order was wrong and it also took a long time for the complete order to arrive - even though there was a lite crowd at the time we dined for (an early) lunch. It had been recommended - and we cannot do the same - ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN. It was clean and the folks were friendly enough - and seemed somewhat distracted enough that they forgot our table and were late with food (not all delivered together - some parties finished before other members of the party got their food). read more

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The food at this place is pretty terrible. Server recommended the shrimp and grits- awful! Frozen bag shrimp with tomato soup poured over it! Menu said it had bacon- no bacon tried to say it didn't come with bacon then they brought out three strips When weIt was near disgusting. Tried to overcharge for the carafe of mimosas. read more

EVERYTHING is AMAZING! We came here every morning for breakfast on our vacation. Servers were fun and friendly. The food is exceptional! AND the bakery is out of this world delicious! Looking forward to coming bac read more

Saffron - Southern Avocado toast - Bakeries Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

We came to Saffron Bakery for dessert and were lucky to grab a parking spot in the front. I came here on my roommate's recommendation for their cakes and I was blown away by their pastry selection! They have rows and rows of so many different cakes, cheesecakes, tarts, cookies - SO MANY GOODIES! The hardest part of my day was trying to figure out which dessert to get while waiting in line. The service was friendly and quick. I ended up getting their tiramisu and chocolate praline cheesecake. The tiramisu was pretty big with the cream layer being a bit too much for me, but the dessert itself is so light and fluffy that it doesn't feel heavy. It has the perfect amount of coffee flavor and isn't too sweet - great for a dessert after a heavy meal. The chocolate praline cheesecake on the other hand, is so decadent and delicious! Thick, creamy, chocolatey - perfect for a treat-yourself sweet treat. Both of these huge slices of cake were under $12!!! In this day, that price was crazy to me - a great deal for the amount of dessert we got. The best place to grab dessert with friends. There is so much variety that you will all definitely leave very happy and satisfied! I can't wait to come back to try their red velvet cheesecake. read more

Saffron - Bakeries Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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As excited as I was to try this place, as disappointing it ended up! 1st of all, cleanliness is a concern! Bathrooms are literally filthy! Add to that, no soap! Think about employees using the bathroom with no soap (both men and women's stalls!). The waiter is not friendly! No smiles, not engaged etc.. above all, this place needs a serious cleaning read more

When I visit my aunt in Charleston, she likes to come here for lunch. It is always a great experience. Yesterday, I had a Caprese sandwich, while she and her friend had salads. The friend took 3 desserts home; I had a cookie croissant. My sandwich was very fresh, with lots of mozzarella. The croissant, which I took home, was huge; fresh and flaky. I should have eaten it where I could enjoy it with a cup of coffee. read more

Excellent service. Great menu options and all very good. The bakery options are to die for! We had lunch on a Friday and there was no wait. They have breakfast options as well. read more

4 star food - Easily some of the best pastries in Charleston. I always love coming here and grabbing a sweet treat but the coffee isn't my favorite. 3 star service - Generally speaking the counter service is always great but on a recent visit I had table service. No one spoke to me for a couple of minutes while I waited to be sat, once I was seated I was told the server would be right over, but it took a really long time and people who were sat after me had gotten service first so I was a bit frustrated by the interaction, then it took awhile for my server to acknowledge me and finally come take my order. Once that happened the service improved but while I was waiting a man did get up and ask for his food to be boxed up because it was taking so long. It could have been an off day but since it was my first experience sitting down I was very turned off. read more

Saffron - Croissant Sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

When we entered, another customer was ahead of us to order coffee/pastries. He had to request someone to take his order even though several people working had seen him as well as our group. When we got our order, the drinks were not made to our expectations, and staff was not accommodating. There are many other better shops to go to. read more

I was rather disappointed to show up a little after 11 on a Sunday morning and find out breakfast stops at 11. That's on me to have not checked in advance, but it is something to be aware of. Saffron is kind of two businesses under one roof. One is a little bakery with cookies, cakes, etc. and some coffees, the other is a sit down restaurant, with Mediterranean food. A few nights ago I stopped in and got a few excellent cookies, so I thought to take the kids and girlfriend in today for breakfast. Since we missed breakfast, I ended up ordering a Koobideh Kabob, my daughter got a fried chicken sandwich, my son got a burger, and the girlfriend got shrimp and grits. My kabob was nothing to write home about, it was lightly seasoned, but the rice and grilled vegetables were good. If someone told me the kabob was from a package I would not be surprised, it looked and tasted exactly the same as a dozen others I have had over the years. The kids liked their food but they are not too discerning. Girlfriend had three bites of her food and disliked it so much she didn't have anymore. We also had coffee drinks, my latte was perfectly fine. The tzatziki sauce was a real standout with fresh mint flavor and chunks of cucumber. Service really wasn't great; it took a while to get our drinks (both the waters and the coffees), food was slow despite the lack of customers there, but it wasn't bad either. Just had the hallmarks of being understaffed even though there seemed to be plenty of staff for the tables, but I am not an expert. I definitely would stop back in for the bakery and I am still wanting to try their breakfast, but dragging myself in to beat an 11 AM deadline isn't appealing. J.Ja read more

Wonderful cuisine and excellent service. Great, convenient location with an open, welcoming feel. Wait until you see the deserts!

Amazing bakery with a wide variety of pastries and desserts. We went for breakfast and it was wonderful. Our omelette breakfasts were very generously potions. read more

Saffron - Breakfast menu - Bakeries Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

We stopped by here after visiting the aquarium for lunch. I was a little iffy about this place based on the reviews but decided to give it a chance because we were starving. The first thing that stood out was the lack of customer service. The service was very slow, despite there being at least 3 servers. Our server was friendly when we interacted but not very attentive to the basics. It took awhile to get our water and we weren't given straws. I asked another server when we finally got our food. I asked for tzatziki sauce when we did see her again but never got it. Our server only came back once we were almost done with our food to check us out. The family next to us actually left the restaurant because of the long wait to be served so I guess we got better service than some? The last thing that stood out was of course the food. I've had mediterranean food before so I was very excited to try this cafe as it appeared very authentic. However, I was disappointed as one of their signature dishes, saffron chicken, really lacked flavor. I had to add a lot of salt and pepper. It was also why I asked for the tzatziki sauce. I will say that the food was kinda pricy for lunch, which I wouldn't have mind if it was good and worth it, but sadly it wasn't for me. Overall ok experience but not something I would come back to try again. read more

Would give this 3.75/4. We came in before the afternoon/evening rush and immediately ordered some she crab soup which came out very quickly. I could already tell that the soup was good but could be better at other places (not a lot of crab but very creamy). My pearl couscous salad was nice and refreshing--tho I didn't care for the vinaigrettes. read more

Saffron - She Crab Soup - Cup - Bakeries Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Stopped in for lunch and was seated right away. The waitress was nice but everything just seemed to take a while. The chicken gyro with fries did taste good and the reason for the 4 stars. The restaurant itself just felt dated and nothing super fresh about it. They were quite busy and when I left they told the table next to me in it would be about a 25 min wait. read more

Saffron - Lamb or Chicken Gyro - Bakeries Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

We always get an amazing meal at Saffron. If you can get out without tasting their desserts, you are a super hero. They are so tempting.

I was so hungry and the place I wanted to order from would not deliver. So I fell across this place and this was so good! The wrap was juicy and the meat was tender! Well done falafel was tasty, but a little spicy. The hummus was nice and creamy. Will order again from this spot! read more

Saffron - Chicken wrap and salad - Bakeries Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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We went to Saffron for lunch today and were really disappointed. My dinner (chicken alfredo) was pretty good but my wife ordered the shrimp salad roll and when it arrived it was all egg salad with a few small pieces of shrimp mixed in with the egg salad. The slice of tomato that was in the roll was a tomato top with part of the stem still intact. My wife took only a few bites and left it on the plate. When our waiter (Coy) came back to the table we showed him the disgusting tomato top and all of the egg salad mixed in with the shrimp salad, which the menu advertised as shrimp salad with no mention of it containing egg salad.. We requested he take the roll (3/4s of which was uneaten) back to the kitchen and credit us with the cost of it. When he came back he said the management offered us a free dessert but would not credit us with the cost of the so-called shrimp salad. We advised Coy that we were not interested in a dessert and to please reiterate our request for a credit for the shrimp roll to the management. When he came back the second time with the check it was for the full amount and he said the owner told him there would be no credit. At this time were thoroughly disgusted so we paid the bill and left. We have been Saffron patrons for many years and have always been very satisfied. with our dining experience under the previous ownership. Apparently the new owner/management team is not up to the standards of the previous one so we are voting with our feet and not going back. read more

Good food and pastries. The coffee is southern style with chicory, but it grows on you. I had an omelet breakfast. Great food, and it filled me up. The wait staff is fun and friendly. This was recommended by a local. I'm not a local, but I recommend it to you. read more

Amazing bakery and restaurant, fine Mediterranean food, and great service. We went with a large group of 6 families. The service was excellent we were seated right away as a group. Food came out really quick. The lamb gyro, and the the Cornish hen kabob were the two items to die for. So tasty and well cooked with the right amount of spices. They also serve coffee, tee and deserts we did buy some of the pastries and brought them back home. Prices are reasonable added with great service. Highly recommended if you are in the Charleston SC area. read more