We celebrated my wife's birthday at Saffron Social, and the entire evening was exceptional. The food was outstanding from beginning to end. The steak was excellent, the lobster ceviche was creative and delicious, the carpaccio was beautifully prepared, and the scallops were truly extraordinary. The bread pudding dessert was the perfect finish to an already remarkable meal. A special shout-out to the manager, Mike, who was incredibly gracious and welcoming, and to our waiter, Adrian, who was absolutely wonderful. Adrian was attentive, charming, knowledgeable, and a great conversationalist. He made us feel genuinely special and was a big part of what made the evening so memorable. I lived in Los Angeles for more than 40 years and have been fortunate enough to dine at many highly regarded restaurants in the U.S. and around the world. Saffron Social deserves to be noticed in that company. This was not simply a very good meal for Central Illinois, it was an exceptional dining experience by any standard. Most importantly, my wife had a wonderful birthday, and we talked about the meal the entire drive home. Saffron Social is absolutely a restaurant worth seeking out, and we are already looking forward to returning. read more

Food was all delicious. Great conversation over shared appetizers, plates, cocktails, and desserts. read more

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I came here for a birthday dinner and had an excellent experience in the party room. I tried the fish and chips and my husband tried their Caesar salad with chicken. Both pretty good! We came back for a date night and the dining room is so beautiful and romantic at night. My photo of the Chicken Saltimbocca isn't good but the food was! My husband had their burger and lobster bisque with a smoked old fashioned. Excellent portions and food quality. read more

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This place was great! My boyfriend & I went here and made a reservation day-of for 7:30. The reservation asked what the occasion was and we said it was a date. I am unsure if they actually see that on their end but the table they gave us was very romantic. We immediately noticed it and appreciated that small detail! We loved this as a date spot! The staff were all so extremely nice. The server we had was so friendly! He was smiley, joking with us and gave us great recommendations based on the palate of food we told him we liked. All the dishes we got MELTED in our mouths. The plating was beautiful and the portions (specifically for the Eggplant Curry) were very big! We couldn't finish it all and took basically 40% of everything home in boxes. Speaking of, our wonderful server offered to box our stuff for us and did a very professional job. The overall look of the place inside is very intimate and low light with blacked out walls, plush booths and metal accents. There was various different types of groups there too; big and small! People were drinking and eating with their families, coworkers, friend, groups, and dates! We only ate and didnt drink anything since I forgot my ID at home...but id imagine the drinks were also good. We would definitely eat here againn read more

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Great food. Perfect ambience to celebrate any occasions. Love to come back all the time. read more

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Holy cow! Peoria of all places! None of us had a clue how good this would be. Setup a table for my birthday dinner, randomly picked Saffron seeing the sushi in photos. Noticed a large corner space downtown, walked in and quickly had our reserved corner table setup, this is the place for all places. Dark and rich, snobby and cozy, over the top and addicting all in one setting, I'm a big fan of the dark academia gothic atmosphere. Whatever it's called it is working. So many people here too, obviously word has gotten around in the last two years, but wasn't noisy or awkward during our time. We tried some drinks right away, thankful the prices aren't silly and got us doing a second round. The steaks, well those prices were silly. We avoided half the menu noticing the ounces and dollars didn't correlate to typical restaurants we familiar. Probably a smart decision given our prowess with a Target, seafood Pasta, the burger, and a massive sushi roll became our mains. But hold on, those drinks! Beyond phenomenal, Chai Me to the Moon, happiness in cocktail form, my spicy marg, hilariously the Buffalo Wild Wings Mango Habanera Marg with a bachelors. Yet that Eitlewidl, o my, sweet tingly taste buds, whatever the bar tender did that first drink made a simple ginger, St Germaine, and gin mix so magnificent we dreamed about it the rest of the weekend. Oddly my other friend getting his own in the second round found it differently made. Oh well, the sushi had spectacular flavor. Sides were typical expensive and small, corn Brulee was fun! Steak tartar wildly amazin. We had no shame ordering excessive plates while smashing through bread rolls. Took home five boxes, convinced them to add a sixth doing bread pudding. And again, the charm, magic, chef skills from Eleventh heaven pulled it all together for that dessert. I'm quite quick to throw a one star for below expectations, overpriced, and difficult places but I wish I could nominate Saffron for a rare sixth star! read more

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Saffron Social is a great new addition to Peoria. It brings more life and upscale dining to downtown. Parking was easy as there was plenty of street parking however there are also parking garages nearby. I ordered the fish and chips and upgraded to the duck fat fries. Highly recommend. Others at the table enjoyed the pad thai (very tasty but not spicy at all), the 6oz steak (very flavorful and wonderfully cooked), orechetti bolognese (also tasty), and the wagyu (fabulous). Portions for the entrees (not steaks) were very large and most had leftovers. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful and service was lovely. read more

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Had a very nice lunch. Lovely decor, and friendly staff! Tried their crunchy roll, French onion soup and short rib sandwich with duck fat fries. All dishes hit home! I left my credit card at the table and our wonderful host called me to let me know! Thank you so much Saffron social! Next time we are in town we are definitely coming back read more

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Excellent food and really good service- we are off to it again tonight- hope it was as good as it was a couple of months ago Good atmosphere, food, definitely better than any restaurant in Bloomington, IL read more

As a vegan... cauliflower steak is absolutely delicious! If you want a fancy date night and you have a non-meat eater I would recommend coming here. It's beautiful inside, staff is very attentive, and wonderful food. read more

What an amazing meal and experience we had last night at Saffron Social. No doubt, it's probably the best restaurant within 100 miles of our home. We were there to celebrate my wife's birthday and everything from the great food to the outstanding service made for a wonderful evening. Cannot wait to come back. Thank you again read more

I have been to this restaurant twice for dinner with colleagues It is very hyped in Peoria and the restraint itself is very beautiful, nicely decorated and has a very nice ambiance The food is just not that good. The first time I went I got the fish and chips and the fish didn't seem super fresh, the batter was just so so and the fries were pretty good. Also got the crab tots and they were very salty along with some sushi that was also just ok. The second time I got the salmon meal and subed the potato got the corn brûlée that was very creamy and sweet with a crunchy top and the salmon was cooked well. We got edamame this time which was nice with a little spice and the peppers that are just also ok a little on the salty side For the price of the items I do not think the food is justifiable. I wish they'd focus more on flavor and variety For ambiance and appetizers it seems like a good spot read more

Headed to concert. We had chairs. They made us feel bad about that. The food was very good. read more

Service, and food hasn't been good the last few times we have gone there, specially during lunch hours. Empty place, very few tables and food takes forever to arrive. We use to love it, but unfortunately, the standard has gone down and the price is salty. Hit or miss but I won't take another chance. Ambience is lovely though. read more

If I can give this place 0 stars I would! The fact that I wanted to reheat some leftovers and found a BLACK LONG HAIR in my sushi is INSANE. I lost my appetite! I don't have black hair, I have blonde hair and it's short. I would much rather pack my own food in restaurant than have it be "sent in the back." I'm quite grossed out. read more

Saffron Social - Seafood Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Service was friendly and informative. Steaks were great-sides were okay. Would not recommend the Mac and cheese. Good date night spot but not comparable to places in STL/Chicago in taste or experience read more

The food was good, pork chop was undercooked but they put it back on and took it off the bill for us. They even offered us a free dessert, which was nice. Our server wasn't super attentive but it was busy. The lighting was nice, pretty peaceful. read more

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This was definitely a amazing experience dinner more than a every day thing because meals were pricey! Always wanted to try waygu beef steak and it was buttery and delicious! My friends duck fries were delicious and fatty! The crab tots were delicious! Bone marrow I would never get again it wasn't gamey but it was a acquired taste I would never do again its fatty but has a odd flavor. My cherry glazed salmon was good but could have been better! The French onion soup was great! I had the black heart havana drink was not good very bitter! Also had the berry sangria was alittle sweet but also wished it was alittle sweeter. The magaritas were tasty and my husbands old fashion he said he liked! The bread with the sweet butter was great! Ambience inside was super nice! read more

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We saw other Yelp reviews and decided to give this place a try. It was excellent! Started with the crab tots- delicious crab cakes with a very tasty remoulade sauce. I had mahi mahi tacos that had a salad included. Very generous portions of fish with a seasoning with the perfect amount of kick. Enough to get the flavor but not fire breathing dragon. Homemade salad dressing was a basil vinaigrette that was very very nice. Husband had a coconut shrimp roll. It was excellent too. He even had to take a few pieces home it was such a nice sized portion. read more

I think Saffron is good but I regret my order. I should have passed on the crab tots and crème brûlée and just gotten a better cut of steak but that's on me; I wanted to sample the place. Service and decor were top notch. Also, the garden salad was surprisingly good. read more

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Ordered seafood pasta with no mussels, to go. Got home and saw that I got a very spicy pasta dish with mussels and no scallops. No sauce on the pasta. Also got crab tots. Very spicy. Never again! read more

Saffron Social - Seafood Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Food was delicious.. great atmosphere, good service and a good location. Traveling here in business.

Saffron Social has good food, service and especially atmosphere but it is simply not a good value. Everything is ala carte where most other restaurants include side dish like baked potato and salad with their steak. Saffron does none of that and is literally THREE times the cost of Longhorns with no side dishes and more expensive drinks. On my birthday no free dessert or drink Simply a cheap happy birthday note Love the atmosphere but simply can't deal with the lack of value read more

Delicious food for lunch. Our server was attentive and helpful. The vibe is amazing. We will be back for dinner. read more

Saffron Social - Crème Brûlée - Seafood Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Loved this restaurant so much already planning my next visit. Food was delicious, ambiance was perfect and Nikki (our server) was AMAZING!! read more

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Great spot for date night. If you are looking for a more upscale spot in Peoria this is it. Atmosphere is elevated. This would be a fun dress up night with friends or your partner. Food was very good. The presentation was spot on. We ordered the rib eye cooked medium and that is just what we received. The side of mashed potatoes were massive so the price is justified. Oysters were great. I would highly recommend the lobster bisque, so yummy! I was told from others in the group the smash burger, chicken, and vegetarian dishes were also great. We ended with the crème brûlée which was also enough for 6 people. Drinks were very pretty and delicious. Loved my mezcal drink! Service was great! Our waiter was very attentive and gave great suggestions. Parking is on the street or next door in the parking deck. read more

Saffron Social - Lobster bisque - Seafood Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Our second time here, We ordered the pork belly sliders, bolognese pasta, and short rib sandwich with crème brûlée for dessert (bread pudding to go, she likes sweets) All in all was good quality food, a little over priced for the basic items but they do the simple well. Atmosphere is always a chill vibe with their wondering building and Robert was attentive and informative read more

First time here. We were seated at some weird booth that was too far for my wife and I to sit across from each other and then we tried on same side of the North and we were too close, just weird. Got the crabs tots and duck fries for appetizers. Crab tots were all bread, no crab. Duck fries were cold and soggy with no taste. We both got sushi rolls and they were ok, not worth $40 per roll. Lobster bisque had no lobster, tasted like cream tomato soup. Got the bread pudding for dessert. Huge lump of grandmas fruit cake, terrible. The waitress didn't even ask why we took only one bite out of it and just asked if we were done and brought our check. Will not be back. Disappointed.forgot also about the plastic cafeteria carts they deliver your food on, just cheapens the place. read more

A new and exciting restaurant in Peoria! This is my second time going, and I definitely enjoy the new and upscale dining in Peoria. The cocktails were delicious! The alchemy margarita has a great presentation, but it is not the best margarita I ever had. The Mezcal cocktail was delicious and spicy but not too spicy. We also got Shishido peppers which were delicious and I would definitely get them again. The duck fat fries. Very well with the steak and mushrooms. If you are looking for a new place in town with great service and ambience, check out this location. read more

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Definitely still one of my favorite restaurants in Peoria! Thank you for your attention to detail and making all of us welcome. The vibe feels metropolitan and elegant and sets the stage for the quality of the food that consistently delivers. Worth a visit! read more

Upscale, very pricey for the Peoria area, more like California cuisine. Limited menu with sushi and selection of steak or seafood, and a la carte sides and salads. Dark and some tables can be secluded while other areas are more open. Very attentive service. read more

Wife and I came here for our 3 year anniversary. I got the alchemy margarita and she got the water because she is pregnant. The margarita was so so good. We both got the side salad, I got the ribeye, she got the New York strip. Our sides were asparagus and mac and cheese. Typically I don't like salads from fancier places like this but this was very good! The steaks were cooked to perfection and very tender and flavorful. I've never had a steak cooked this good! I am very picky with asparagus but this, very good. The mac and cheese was very good as well, so cheesy, loved the bread crumbs on it. The portions for the sides are very big, which it says in the menu. Absolutely did not have room for desert. Service was exceptional, always keeping drinks filled and making sure food was good and had what we needed. Beautiful restaurant, good view of the Caterpillar building and the Riverfront Museum. It wasn't too loud inside, we had good conversations and didn't have to talk loud. Will 100% be back! read more

Saffron Social - 14 oz Ribeye and Mac and Cheese! - Seafood Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Food & service were great! Definitely recommend. Stopped here for dinner as we were passing through. Four in our group, I got 6oz filet with brussel sprouts, so good! My husband got scallops, they were delicious too! Drinks, food, service, all excellent! read more

My Seared Ahi Tuna was the best I have had, same with the Lobster bisque. I would pass on the drinks next time and opt for wine.. I had the margarita and it was super salty. Overall we all loved our food and will definitely be back! read more

Saffron Social - Seared Tuna & Lobster Bisque - Seafood Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

We are back in Peoria visiting family and friends and are happy to have experienced great food, great service, great atmosphere!

I love this restaurant! If you are at all sensitive to spicy foods, please enquire which menu items are spicy. The edamame is spicy, the bolognese orriechette is spicy too. I do ok with spicy foods but not everyone does. My favorite is the scallops on cheesy grits. Chicken saltimbuca is great too. Expect a hefty check when you are done. Two people $227.03 with a tip. This is the only downside of Safron Social. Imagine my surprise to see a group of high schoolers there for Homecoming dinner. . Also saw Darin LaHood dining there. read more

I have been to this restaurant a few times for dinner. It has a sleek interior, nice lighting and generally good ambiance but don't let the decoration deceive you. The food here is awful often being overly cooked, dry and entirely flavorless. Honestly, it's popularity is entirely a mystery to me and seems to be just for show. There are many other alternatives around Peoria that are way better. So, if you are a business executive and need somewhere nice looking to go out to drink or have a snack its fine but anything past the superficial look this restaurant falls short. read more

The following review is for the service and food, not the bar. My friends and I decided to have a birthday dinner here. Unfortunately, it was a terrible experience. The following were the issues we ran into the entire night. For reference, we sat at a high table beside the bar. I would not recommend this place for food. -Our host did not issue us menus -Our waitress consistently walked by our table without acknowledging us, after 20 plus minutes she finally asked us if we wanted drinks -Our food took over 45 minutes -We never received our sides with our entrees. Soups and salads -Our Salmon, Halibut, and shrimp were all overcooked and tasted like rubber -Our waitress had to be reminded constantly for our check, and napkins at which point we had to ask other workers. read more

Amazing restaurant, meets standard of any fine dining you would find in a bigger city. Staff was extremely professional and attentional. Kudos to Justin for being amazing server. Drinks were not watered down and impressive wine list. Food was amazing with the Asian flare. Was celebrating an occasion they could have added a special touch of small dessert as courtesy - as any major city would. But overall still very happy with service, food and drinks. Would recommend for business meets, special date nite. Amazing ambiance and food. read more

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Very nice inside and bigger than I expected judging from the outside. Definitely only a special occasion type place for us. Had the Rockefellers as an appetizer. The tiny bottle of hot sauce was so cute! They were good but if I had to choose I'd prefer the ones at Jonah's as they have more flavor. French onion soup was good but the creamed corn brûlée was not what I expected. Would not order it again. It was way too sweet with a sugar glaze on top. My husbands entree the chicken saltimbocca was very good and huge portion size. Our friend had the scallops with risotto and they looked amazing too. Would go back but only for a special occasion. read more

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