Between the butter chicken and the chicken tikka masala, it’s not unusual for visitors to Akron’s Saffron Patch in the Valley to have their usual orders ready for the waiter.
Tucked into a residential, shopping, restaurant and office complex in the Merriman Valley, Saffron Patch has been serving the Akron area through catering rentals in its event venue or an elegant sit-down dining experience for 28 years. Guests are either dining in for the family-style service, sharing plates of Saffron rice or browsing during buffet hours to get a bite of the whole lineup.
While the most popular dishes at Saffron Patch are traditional Indian appetizers like vegetable samosas (fried dumplings stuffed with potatoes and vegetables) or the chicken makhani (butter chicken) entree, Moejeder Rahaman, co-owner, said that the lamb or goat curry and tandoori lamb chops are among the less frequently ordered gems on the packed menu.
Restaurant with a family feel gets a sports bar edge
Saffron Patch mimics a traditional living room — blue carpet runs wall to wall and arm chairs are waiting for patient guests on both sides of the entryway. There are also family portraits and a Gaja (elephant), which nods to Hindu culture. Accolades dating back to the ‘90s hang on a section of the wall.
With a major move in 2013, Saffron Patch relocated to a building directly across the parking lot (the original home of Liberty Brewing Co.) from its location in the Liberty Commons complex. The new location came with a larger main dining hall, an event venue and a bar.
In three separate areas of the restaurant, including the main dining room, the co-owners have added flat-screen televisions. This addition came during the height of the World Cup, as foodies wanted their favorite Indian meals as they watched a few matches.
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It was a good add-on, but sports lovers still prefer sports bars or their home so that they can shout, Rahaman said.
Along with co-owner Mohommad Solaiman, Rahaman continues to cater and host multicultural weddings, birthday and office parties in the event hall.
1st place:
Saffron Patch in the Valley
1238 Weathervane Lane, Merriman Valley
330-836-7777
Lunch hours: Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m.
Dinner hours: Monday, 5 to 9 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 5 to 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Sunday: 5 to 9 p.m.
https://saffronpatchakron.com
2nd place:
Nepali Kitchen
399 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave.
330-631-1112
https://nepalikitchen.weebly.com
3rd place:
New Era Restaurant
10 Massillon Road
330-784-0087
https://thenewerarestaurant.com
