Safran

Safran was suggested by HB, who lives in the area, when LTS and I were hungry after a long day of shopping (see: Sapporo, La Maison du Chocolat).  A short but brisk walk from Union Square, Safran is located on 7th Avenue between 15th and 16th Street.  The partial menu can be seen here.  HB had mentioned really liking their summer rolls, so when LTS and I saw a lobster summer roll and a duck summer roll, we jumped on it.  Hey- we were hungry!!!

(lobster roll up top; duck roll on the bottom)

The lobster roll was delicious, with tender pieces of lobster, mango, and great dipping sauces- a wasabi ginger and I’m not sure what the orange one was.  The duck roll was also yummy, with the same sauces plus a hoisin sauce that went great with the meaty duck.  I was very happy with both our choices, and would definitely order both of these again.  Though they’re not listed on the menu from MenuPages, I found these a bit pricy at $11-12 each, but well worth it when you take into consideration the ingredients- there’s roe on the lobster one!  Here’s a clearer picture of the insides:

You can’t tell really, but the plates were also very unique, wavy glass that each had its own slightly different shape, with a sauce portion of the plate.  They were made for the dish, it seems.

LTS ordered the seafood risotto, though when it came, she noted that it was much more like paella, being wetter than risotto normally is, but she loves paella so for her, all the better.  LTS enjoyed her dish, as you can see there was no lack of seafood.  I didn’t try it because I was busy with my monster huge dish.

It might look like it, but that is one huge plate of noodles!  I ordered the beef satay noodles, which was delicious.  Essentially the peanut sauce from eating satay but beef slathered in it, cooked then ladled generously over a heaping mound of white noodles (ho fun, but thin/linguine width ones, not the broad ones), this was absolutely yummy except for two teeny problems: it got progressively spicier, which for me is a big turn off (I was pouring sweat towards the end, but really liked the noodles so I kept eating), and my peanut allergy (which is NOT the restaurant’s fault; clearly, I ordered this dish knowing full well what was in it) started acting up.  The spicy was combatted nicely with the cucumber slices and slivers of mango interspersed throughout the dish, but eventually I drank about 4 big glasses of water and still felt the effects.  Unfortunately, I caught a sick allergy headache from eating that many peanuts and it wouldn’t go away, but again, that is my fault entirely and didn’t make me enjoy my meal less (just made me want to go home after dinner is all). 

We were both so stuffed afterwards- and if you know us, this is a most unusual occurrence- that we declined seeing dessert menus.  We ALWAYS eat dessert together.  ALWAYS.  But this time, it was not to be; did I regret it?  Not one bit.  The summer rolls were truly innovative and delicious, while the entrees were filling and yummy as well. 

Yvo says: Yummm!  I would definitely go back for more summer rolls, though this time I’ll avoid the slightly greasy, super peanutty and progressively spicier satay noodles.  The service was attentive, the prices were about average for this kind of restaurant in this location (our total tab for all the food pictured was $80, including tax and a generous tip), and the food was simply yummy. 
recommended