It's a solid meh. The kitchen could learn to use salt We literally waited 40 mins for our food My salmon was very dry My husbands steak was burnt to a crisp on the outside ( not an intentional blackening- just novice cooking skills) and then cut into chunks like it was being served to a 5 year old. The beverage list is not great- not a good variety of items, no REAL, dark beer. Everything we had was "meh"- it was odd how "water like" everything tasted The potato bravas were not those classic-fried-crispy-on-the-outside-soft-o- the-inside gems you find elsewhere , but rather pasty raw spice seasoned baked potatoes. Again, salt would have been nice. If I was at a cafe having a quick bite it would have been fine, and I did eat it because I was hungry, but I would never eat there again for this price. read more

The server was extremely knowledgeable, and walked us through popular dishes. The food was unbelievable--we will be back again to try the dishes we couldn't squeeze in. Everything exceeded expectations. It was the best meal we've had in a long time, and we eat out quite often. read more

You are a fool not to eat here. Fresh ingredients, so many flavors. Brown butter Turkish hummus? Cardamom spiced cocktails? Crispy potatoes? The most wonderful keftedes flat bread. Ambiance? Perfection. Service? Also, perfection Go here. Eat it all. read more

We've been dining here for over ten years. Saffron is consistent with their food quality and taste. We had several appetizers, the favorite of which was the grilled octopus. We ordered every pasta, the mushroom flat bread and the lamb leg. The rigatoni was the stand out dinner dish. For dessert we really enjoyed both the pistachio mousse and the fruit charlotta. I've never had the latter before so no frame for comparison but it was pleasing to the palate. Great cocktails and wine, too. Reservations required. read more

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We were very disappointed in the service from reservations to seating to service. Everyone we encountered were snooty and elitist for what was a mediocre, overpriced meal. Our drinks were small and the wine list was nothing special for a restaurant catering to visitors coming to the area for wine tastings. No vegan options and few vegetarian ones. The pasta plates were okay but again, nothing special. There are much better options for a nice dinner near downtown Walla Walla. read more

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Granted, a lot has changed since our last visit, not least of all Saffron moved to a new, larger space. Unfortunately, the food is not as creative and interesting as it was.... Started with the calamari with yu choi. The yu choi was like a cross between rapini and mustard greens. The many stems were tough. There was a good amount of this in the small wooden bowl it was served in. There wasn't much calamari, and what there was, wasn't very flavorful. The entrees were adequate to off base, well below what we had come to expect. The paella had a burnt flavor throughout. It was too moist and that detracted from the the rice crust - which is a key component of a good paella. The chicken and sausage were flavorful and good. The seafood component was indeterminate. The halibut entree, was okay, but lacking in interest. It was served with peas and fava beans - very spring like, but lacking in much flavor depth or interest. The wines by the glass were surprisingly limited and not particularly good or memorable. The menu was very limited, so if things don't work out, there are little other options. I realize they recognize the majority of their customers are tourists so there is little incentive to produce top notch meals. If that's the case, it's so dispiriting because formerly, they were so good. read more

This place knows what they are doing. The mixology is precise, the wings are the second best I have ever had, the pasta was cooked perfectly.... I love it read more

Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen - Open Kitchen . You know it's done right - Mediterranean Near Me - Walla Walla, Washington

We took a chance walking in for dinner on a Saturday, while the website and sign out front recommended reservations, we called ahead and we're advised to walk in. Upon arrival (~6pm on a Saturday), we had the option of sitting on the patio or the bar counter - they were able to seat us with no issue and we were greeted promptly by a a very attentive waiter that was 100% on it all evening. The lamb and beef tartare (kebbeh nayyeh) was a fantastic (and nicely portioned) appetizer. Perfectly seasoned with an optional garnish (for those who can eat cilantro). We had the hanger steak and the lamb, both were cooked to perfection. The steak was a little rare for medium rare (which actually isn't bad at all), and the lamb was perfectly seasoned, fork tender. The spices were just right and we cleaned our plates. Ended the evening with the Mozza Budino (butterscotch pudding with caramel and whipped cream), delicious. 100% great service, wouldn't hesitate to come back next time we're in town. read more

This restaurant nails it when it comes to flavor and service. They still respect safety guidelines asking you to call before entering. They open the doors immediately for you and welcome you in politely. The staff if very professional and has high standards for service. They all dress and groom well, with clear communication, you can tell they train well here. The food came quickly and temperature was perfect. I had the Porchetta and family hade the Pide. The flavors were out of this world delicious. The pork was slow roasted and the mushrooms were to die for. I tried the Pide and was a blown away by the Amazing flavors. Im no Connoisseur but this place has it together on the menu. Oh, I can't forget the homemade bread it soo delicious. Don't hesitate to try this local restaurant out. They are bars above the competition! read more

Nice ambiance, reasonable service.. food was very disappointing. Salad was ok.. small portions for the price point. Calamari with chickpeas was odd..not much calamari or flavor. Hanger steak was ok, but olive and caper berry topping way too tart and not wine friendly. Lamb dish over cooked and very very salty.. we returned this dish.. diner who had ordered this dish and tried to eat it was up all night with abdominal discomfort. Dish was replaced by lasagna, which took a long time and was also quite salty. Overall a big disappointment for a place with challenging reservation system and many high ratings. Although upon reviewing yelp,, it's interesting to see how many poor reviews they receive.. read more

Great food and service! Reservations is a must. Always booked. We thought we were going to miss the chance to dine here as we were late coming from the airport. We called to cancel. They didn't have any other open slots that night. We stopped by anyways, when we finally got to town. Half hour prior to closing, they graciously took us in! We were tickled pink and stomachs were extremely satisfied! read more

What can I say, but wow. Great flavors, and gourmet food. Better than Northern California or Napa. Thank you. read more

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My dining experience here was divine! A gift from the heavens! Sublime! Nirvana-esque!!! The space is gorgeous - airy lattice work, beautiful lanterns, and lots of booths. My husband and I ordered most of their appetizers and shared. We enjoyed EVERYTHING, though I was particularly impressed with the grilled romaine, the taztiki (best I've ever had), and how tender the octopus was. It was one of the best food experiences I've EVER had. Everything was that delicious and thoughtfully prepared! We also enjoyed their cocktails and finished with some dessert wine. An impressive wine, aperitif, and digestif listing! Our server, Bryant, is a national treasure and must be preserved at all costs! I am a picky ass bitch when it comes to hospitality and he blew me away. We made reservations and I told the host I can't eat cow dairy. Bryant and the BOH scoured the menu for everything I could eat and what could easily be modified or replaced (Bryant I ate that damned delicious taztiki and I did get a SMALL cyst - totally worth it). He was pleasant to the extreme - infectious good mood, excellent singing voice, food nerd, and corny jokester. The only downside is I live out of state and won't be eating here every week Thank you Saffron for an incredible dining experience! read more

Absolutely amazing! The staff are attentive and friendly. Cocktails are served quickly and are delicious! I started my evening with a perfect Manhattan and their Carne Cruda as a starter. Then their Porcetta as my entré. Followed by Ricotta Torte. Ross was always quick to clear and check on my satisfaction of the dinner. I will definitely be returning!! read more

Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen - Menu QR code - Mediterranean Near Me - Walla Walla, Washington

I used to LOVE coming to this restaurant. I have a good family friend whom I see about once a year, and we always choose this spot. Unfortunately, we had to skip our 2020 visit for covid reasons, made even more serious by my status as an immunocompromised individual. For 2021, having been vaccinated, we were finally going to be able to meet again. Yay! Back to saffron, something I always look forward to. Here's the hitch: I'm on a special diet due to my condition, and it basically means I can't eat meat or dairy. I shorthand this to vegan, because it's simpler that way. I'm also on doctors orders to not spend time indoors, given the delta variant and my personal risk of severe illness if I were to get a breakthrough infection. No worries, I figured. Saffron has always been so accommodating in the past, so I'd do my usual of calling ahead to let them know we'd be in and need a vegan option. Unfortunately, saffron doesn't take reservations for outside. That's totally fine with us; we were happy to wait for a table, we just wanted to make sure there would be a meat and dairy free option on the menu once we got a table. I called to ask the restaurant to note this, explaining the situation and why I unfortunately cannot make a reservation for inside, but making sure they knew we'd be there and didn't mind if there was a wait. The owner was unwilling to accommodate. She indicated that while she'd be happy to accommodate either my dietary restrictions or my inability to eat inside, she would not note that someone sitting outside needed a specific diet--regardless of the fact that both are related to my disability. I tried to be very kind and ask that they please make this very simple reasonable accommodation, but she refused. And she was not nice about it. Imagine this: a restaurant has two floors--a first floor that's wheelchair accessible and a second floor that's not. They only take reservations for the second floor. And only with reservations will they accommodate dietary restrictions. A wheelchair bound person with a dairy allergy would like to eat at this restaurant, and with a simple accommodation--allow a dietary accommodation on the wheelchair-accessible first floor--they could serve this person. The restaurant refuses. The ADA is clear: this would be discriminatory and unlawful. This is exactly what is happening here, just substitute dairy allergy for medically mandated diet and wheelchair-bound for immunocompromised. If you want to patronize ethical businesses, avoid this one. read more

Rude hostess.. apparently the co-owner. No change implies the both owners (a couple) are rude or one is too weak to fix it. Check the 1 star reviews on TripAdvisor and Google... it was not an isolated incident. I am not going into details as many have already commented. read more

Always delicious with fantastic service! I especially like their falafel. Yum!! The happy hour is a great deal.

The words we used to describe our interaction with the hostess last night: immature, aggressive, unnecessary. We were so excited to come here, and were even looking at the menus ahead time and talking about what we'd order. I regret not reading the negative service reviews more closely, as there are many. Add us to the count. We were so disappointed to be greeted by a major problem as a hostess. Incredibly rude and she lied. We left and went to FU burger instead and it was amazing. read more

One the best meals I've had in a long time . Everything we ordered was amazing . Clocked to perfection. We will be returning .

Food was very good, although portions were small for the $$. Preparation is not what I expected but it was a nice surprise.

This spot was absolutely fantastic. On a visit to town we ate here for our anniversary dinner. Inside decor is simple and clean. Bartender was friendly and cocktails were great. The wine menu looked awesome too but we had been out tasting all day and needed to switch it up! On to the best part - the food. All I can say is wow. The appetizers we got might have been my favorite of the whole meal. Started with the beef cheek, so tender and juicy; and my ultimate favorite, the lahmacun flatbread. It was paper thin and so packed with flavor! Our server explained how it's meant to be rolled up and eaten that way, so we did exactly that. I would come back every day for that flatbread!! For the main course we ordered the linguini zafferano y nero, a pasta dish with mussels and sausage. That was great. Also the leg of lamb dish which our server highly recommended. Delicious like everything else! Tender meat and so many flavorful spices. We were absolutely stuffed at the end of our meal! We will most definitely be back here on our next time in Washington and I would highly recommend it to anyone remotely nearby! It's worth the drive! read more

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First time at Saffron and we LOVED it. The service was awesome ... friendly, experienced, and attentive. The space was beautiful and creatively designed. The ambiance was relaxed and not noisy. The food was excellent from start to finish. For mains we had the Lumache pasta dish and the Black Pepper Fettuccini dish. A memorable dinner, and we'll definitely return on next trip to Walla Walla. read more

What a joke. Walk into the place as a vegetarian and you may as well just stay outside and look for twigs. The cook(s) are not real chef's because they will not accommodate people who are vegetarians other than omitting the meat and even state we won't do substitutions. That tells me the meals are pre-made and/or frozen dinners. Also, this isn't Mediterranean food. We have traveled, for years, through Italy, France, Greece, and have never seen food prepared like this. It should be categorized as "what the chef thinks Mediterranean food should be". No resemblance to real Mediterranean food here, no authenticity at all. One other thing, why require reservations? There were all of nine people in the entire restaurant all night! Not too popular I guess. Update #1: Either the cook (notice I didn't use the term Chef), the owner or another employee sent me a Yelp message insulting me. I read the first sentence and removed the message, then blocked the sender after reporting them. How about asking me what they can do to improve? Why was I not satisfied? Or how about "Thanks for the feedback"? Proves my point. read more

What a wonderful restaurant!! The food, service and the restaurant itself were outstanding. From the moment we were greeted we just knew it would be a wonderful dinner. Covid precautions were in place with socially distanced tables and all employees in masks. Our Mezze appetizer with the 3 unique dips were so incredibly flavorful. Our entrees of halibut and lamb were both the best entrees we have ever had!! We finished with a strawberry mint sorbet that was just perfect. The price point was excellent for the quality of the food and service. We can't wait to go back. read more

The best restaurant in Walla Walla, they excel in nearly every category. The atmosphere is understated and sophisticated, with comfortable seating and blinds which seal off the brunt of dusk while still keeping the dining room well lit. The cocktail program is on point...highlighted by an old fashioned which uses Moroccan mint tea for normal muddled mint. The food is extraordinary.... highlighted by homemade pasta that provides robust taste without overwhelming sauces. Finally, the staff is well educated on the menu, attentive without being suffocating and extremely welcoming (my wife and I really were thankful Kimmy was our waitress). Just a wonderful place that we look forward to getting back to. read more

Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen - saffron campanelle (essentially carbonara) and black pepper gemelli (essentially Cacio e Pepe)..classic Roman pastas done extremely well. - Mediterranean Near Me - Walla Walla, Washington

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The food was fresh and the spices perfectly balanced. Romantic ambience with rustic decor. The French white wine was chilled and tasty. The meal truly exceeded our expectations and we are very grateful to get reservations on the same day ! The highlight of our Anniversary dinner was Ross. Wow! Our waiter/host was above and beyond attentive, graceful and humorous. He really created a feeling of being well taken cared of. He answered all our questions and was the most charming lovely man that I have ever met! I wish we could clone him so we could enjoy such upscale service whenever we dine out. Ross is the epitome of being a true gentleman.. with class and sass combined! I plan to dine at Saffron again and of course ask for Ross;) read more

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Delicious, interestingly seasoned, exciting food! Four of us shared. Highly recommended to taste more things. Skilled waitstaff guided us through ordering and pacing the meal. We started with shishito peppers and merguez sausage with chickpeas - which was so flavorful we wanted to lick the dish. The beautiful pita pieces served with it were perfect. Crispy, thin and well seasoned. We wanted to try a flatbread and picked the greek one. Very bright, with lots of mint and parsley. The hand rolled pasta might have been my fav dish, with lots of pepper and parm. We enjoyed the hanger steak and accompaniments. The smoked s'mores ice cream was well received. As was the halva brownie which was rich and dense, quite lovely. I'm not a fan of the orange blossom water flavor in the ice cream served with it. But that's just my taste. If I lived in town I'd be here regularly to enjoy the current and changing menu. A stellar meal! read more

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I've heard such great things about this restaurant, and then the Yelp reviews have been, well ... you can read those yourself. Being a local, sometimes we have to rush to a new restaurant before it goes out of business, but that hasn't been the case here, and I've just been too lazy to make a reservation until I had the hubby call at 4 and was able to secure a 7:30 p.m. table the same night, a Saturday night no less. Maybe the construction out front in the street is chasing people away. Lucky me. Upon arriving, the restaurant has one of those Wizard of Oz curtains that screens off patrons from the rest of the place when you first walk in. We were left behind the curtain for a nano second before the waiter seated us, and we scored a side table and not one in the middle (personal preference). The inside of the restaurant reminded me of the Moroccan pavilion at Epcot, and it certainly is different from other restaurants in Walla Walla. I had a hard time deciding on my meal as the menu is rather limited, but I finally decided on the tortelli, and I'm so glad I did. The pasta had butternut, sage, brown sugar and butter and was very, very good. I highly recommend this entree. Our waiter seemed pleasant but not necessarily friendly, and he did make sure that we knew that the bread yeast was 87 years old. Maybe I should be scared or impressed? A decent experience with decent food, but nothing that I haven't experienced in a big city (PHX, MIA, LHR, just to name a few). read more

Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen - Behind the curtain, great and powerful Oz - Mediterranean Near Me - Walla Walla, Washington

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A lovely outpost of Mediterranean cuisine in eastern Washington, the Kitchen is hopping and reservations well in advance are recommended. Both drinks - the barrel-aged Old Fashioned and the Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy, were 100%. Hats off to the bartender. We ordered the beet mezze for a starter, and were asked if we wanted to add pita to accompany that. Well, yes, we did, because how else does one eat mezze? The Lahmacun flat bread was delicious, and our server rolled it for us. The lamb was tender and delicious, and the tagine glorious. The chicken fell off the bone and the date melted into the couscous. The service was amazing, but our dining enjoyment was diminished by the very hard seats on the chairs, with little back support. By the end of the meal, we were aching to leave. Would definitely return, but with hopes of a softer landing! read more

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After many years we decided that it was time to try out this restaurant. Everyone who has eaten there says that it is wonderful, so we had to put it to the test. We made reservations for 7:30 p.m. and we arrived promptly at 7:23 p.m. The restaurant was almost completely full when we arrived yet our table was already waiting for us. The lighting is subdued but not too dark. Each table has a candle that emits quite a lot of heat as well as a little light. The waiter was very knowledgeable about both the food and the wine. He explained the one special and asked us whether we had any questions. We decided to order the curried potatoes to share as a starter. They had a yogurt and pesto sauce with curry flavor. They were good, but once the initial flavor of the sauce was lost, the potatoes were rather bland. They needed more flavor infused in them. The waiter also brought some sourdough bread and dipping oil to go with the starter. The oil was not the most flavorful as it reminded me of paint. I had the hanger steak, cooked rare with (more) potatoes. The steak was very flavorful and the peppers that smothered the steak were a great addition. I also had a glass of excellent Malbec from the El Corazon vineyard. Dessert was skipped as was coffee. One side of the restaurant was filled with a party of about 20 people. They were obviously enjoying their meal and they were not disturbing the quiet atmosphere. I left feeling well fed without being overly stuffed. Dessert may have overdone it so I am glad I chose not to eat any. The whole meal experience lasted about one hour and thirty minutes from start to finish. read more

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Over priced. Pomace and derogatory. The wait staff was good but food completely different story...but overall will never go back.

This restaurant was a recommendation from one of our traveling companion's business colleague. It's supposed to be one of the nicer, fancier, and popular restaurants in Walla Walla. I had my reservations about this place only because I'm not a fan of Mediterranean cuisine. I don't like pungent food or overly strong flavors. Upon arrival, we were greeted and seated immediately as we had reservations. The space was modern and spacious with tall ceilings and big glass windows. Their cocktail offerings were limited as they only served one that evening. Majority of their menu selections were strong flavored dishes, so I felt my food choices were limited. Our group ordered: - Flatbreads: Italian Sausage - Flatbreads: Pacific Razor Clam - Oyster Special: Shigokus with Harissa Sauce - Moroccan Fried Chicken - Paella Negra - Gemelli Pasta - Creste de Gallo Pasta - Green Garlic Pappardelle Pasta Their pastas were all house-made but the only one that wasn't heavily seasoned was the Gemelli. The other two pasta dishes I sampled were very strong in flavor, not a fan of them. The squid ink paella has a nice subtle flavor and very tasty, but not so easy on the eyes. The fried chicken was tender and juicy. It was really good, but I didn't care for the couscous that came with the dish. Not really worth the $35, in my opinion. The Pacific Razor Clam flatbread was tasty and a good shareable starter. Service was terrific here. Our server was informative, attentive, and very friendly. I personally wouldn't come back only because Mediterranean cuisine isn't my cup of tea but if you are wild for it, this is a great restaurant to visit. read more

This restaurant came with good recommendations. And because of this, making reservations was quite a challenge. We eventually was able to get one, calling about 2 months in advance. We were not disappointed. The restaurant itself was cozy. The staff were friendly. The food was delightful! There were 6 of us and we ended up with 3 appetizers and 3 entrees shared among ourselves. They were all so good but our favorites were the beef cheeks, wood grilled octopus, paella negra and black pepper gemelli. We enjoyed the dinner experience so much that we came back to try their afternoon offerings. The menu was not quite as extensive but it was still a good experience. read more

Wow! What a great place. Food is great and service is exceptional! Highly recommend!

Super disappointed. A few years ago this was a very good restaurant. Tonight was disastrous. Not only was the waiter arrogant but the manager was equally disinterested in our satisfaction. We accidentally ordered a dish with octopus described as potatoes on the menu. When we asked for a replacement it was met with disdain and were told we should know the word for octopus. The staff offered nothing, no apology nor understanding of the issue. We will not return as the food was really just ok and the staff well below par. There are far better restaurants in Walla Walla. Skip this one. read more

Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen - Mediterranean Near Me - Walla Walla, Washington

Good and quality food but service levels were weak - took long for the server to respond to us

Small portions but tasty entrees await you. During COVID have reservations or risk it and arrive early. No Gluten Free menu, but found several good options. Attention to detail in flavors. Good atmosphere and small but tasty cocktail menu. Entrees we're $34-$46. Service was attentive. -thanks Ross. read more

Amazing food, staff and ambiance. My husband and I were in town for the weekend and the first night I walked in and ordered to go. As we wouldn't be able to eat until after 10pm. The food was delicious even cold. Ordered the oxtail pasta, a flatbread, potatoes and kibbeh. It was amazing. The staff were great and friendly. Ended up coming back the next night and ordered beef cheeks, kibbeh, the truffle Mac dish, the ribeye dish. Again ALL EXCELLENT. I loved the kibbeh itself so much that we ordered another to take back to our AirBnB as a snack. Definitely check this place out. You won't regret it. read more

TEMPORARILY CLOSING as of APRIL 8 to relocate from their current space on Alder to the location they have been remodeling / renovating at 330 W Main Street. Opening date at the new location estimated late April. Check their FB page and Web page for updates. read more

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My husband and I heard about Saffron from several locals and took a chance to walk in and lucked out with an outdoor table. We were each talking about our meal there now days later it was so good. We had been wine tasting all day so were in the mood for just one course so he picked the tuna pasta which went beyond expectations with homemade noodles in a red sauce with flakes of tuna. I had the chicken on orzo and the presentation was beautiful. The flavors just burst through and this was an elevated chicken experience. Moist, flavorful and complex. We did not feel rushed, enjoyed every last morsel, a perfect night. read more