saffronnj

actually... i'm named after the restaurant's website ;) so you see, I'm a dedicated web designer... hehe

I'm not an expert on the restaurant business, but the reason for offering coupons for a restaurant is probably the same reason for doing it in any other industry. For example, suppose I own a toothpaste company. Most people are very brand loyal to their toothpastes, and if my company hoped to attract new customers, I would have to give them some incentive to try my product. I might therefore offer a coupon or discount for a period of a couple of months and undercut the competition. The discount might mean that I'm making little if any money off of my product for that period of time (perhaps even a loss), but hopefully new people are trying the toothpaste and liking it. Then when the discount period is over, the people who liked my toothpaste better than the one they were using, would continue to use my product. It's the same type of a situation with restaurants. People get comfortable going to the same restaurants over and over again. They are comfortable there because they know they like the restaurant, the food, its service, prices, etc. When given the choice between going to their favorite restaurant and a new one, many people opt for the one they know they like. It's less risky for them. So the coupons act as an incentive to overcome this, and like dflylilkid mentioned, to encourage them to try something new, whether it be a new restaurant or even a different ethnicity of food, such as Indian. I hope this helps.

I just wanted to let everyone know that Saffron's website is now offering coupons. You can find them at http://www.saffronnj.com/coupons.php. Thanks again!

Hi Rossie, Nope. I have no financial interest in the restaurant, and in fact I've already been paid for the website. Not really sure why I do all that I do. I guess I'm just dedicated. I wouldn't go online and tell people about it if the food wasn't good though. I don't think that's right. I've eaten there many times, the owner is friendly, and the food is always very good. That's always a nice situation for me when I work with a client, and in a situation like that I like to go the extra mile to help them out.

I also recommend takeout for accommodating your requests for spices if that is what you are looking for. Takeout is available for both lunch and dinner, and the website provides a place for you to specify any "Special Instructions." This field is available for each dish, and you can use it to specify how spicy you like your food, how you want it cooked, any ingredients you want left out, etc. Depending on what you order, takeout can typically be less costly than dine-in. Saffron offers some great deals during lunch for instance (their "Lunch Box To Go" specials).

Do not worry. The reviewer from the Star Ledger loved the food. Saffron had a glowing review where food is concerned. I have eaten there recently and can attest to the fact that the food has remained unchanged by the review. The owner has focused his efforts on improving the service.

I think what Rosie suggested is the case. I have heard that the owner has taken some very substantial steps to improve his restaurant's service following the Star Ledger review. His New York City restaurants are well known for their service, and this is something he prides himself on.

Yup. The buffet lunch is available 7 days a week. I think it costs $1 more on weekends, because they put out more food.

Hi Everyone, I spoke with the restaurant today. The descriptions on the menu for those two dishes are correct. The difference between Murgh Methi and Chicken Saag is the type of spinach (Chicken Saag is a creamy spinach, Murgh Methi is dry spinach) and the amount of fenugreek leaves used. Murgh Methi has more fenugreek leaves and has more of a bitter taste to it. I will update the website later today with this new information. Thanks again and keep the suggestions coming. I agree with Rachel. Please try to keep this thread (and the whole message board system) as polite as possible. Thanks.

mongo_jones, The website menu is an exact copy of the printed takeout menu. I apologize for your confusion regarding the names of dishes. I will check with the restaurant and see if I can clarify the descriptions of those two dishes for you. My guess is that it has something to do with the preparation or the type of sauce. I think Chicken Saag may be a creamy spinach sauce, but I am not sure, so I will check. If you have any other suggestions for Saffron or its website (saffronnj.com) please email feedback@saffronnj.com. The restaurant and the web designer (me) are open to suggestions. Thanks again.

Wow... I didn't really expect such a flurry of replies about this. I'm a little biased because I'm the website designer, but I can say this. I've eaten there many many times (probably 8 or so), and the service has always been fantastic. I will however bring this topic up with the owner. I'm sure he would love to hear any feedback people have. He has a couple of restaurants and cannot be at both restaurants at all times, and he may be unaware of some of what goes on. If anyone has any other suggestions for Saffron, please email feedback@saffronnj.com. I will bring up anything you have to say with the owner. I am sure he would be very grateful for your feedback. Please note this however, not everyone has had bad experiences with the service, but everyone does seem to agree that the food is some of the best around. Thanks again!

Hi Everyone, I am the website designer for an Indian restaurant (Saffron Indian Cuisine) that openned recently on Rt. 10 East in East Hanover (Morris County). I just wanted to take a couple of minutes to tell you about the restaurant's new website. The restaurant's website offers Online Takeout Orders and Online Reservations. You can just visit the website (http://www.saffronnj.com or http://www.saffronnj.com/takeoutMenu.php to go directly to the order page) and place your order from there. It makes ordering takeout super easy, especially from work. It's especially helpful if you have difficulty pronouncing the names of the dishes, or you're concerned about the restaurant getting all the details of your order right. You don't have to worry about reading an order over the phone. Just click off the things you want, fill in any special requests (spiciness, etc), confirm your order, and submit. Off it goes. Give it a try. I'm curious to hear thoughts on online takeout ordering in general. Especially for the local restaurant market. Let me know what you think. Thank you for your time everyone. P.S. Saffron's food is really really good. I know I have some affiliation with the restaurant, being that I am the website designer, but I'm being completely honest here. The food is great. If you love Indian food, give this place a try. If you've never had Indian food before, they have a lunch buffet, which is a great way to get familiar with the dishes. Thanks again.