Afshin Afshar-Ghasemlou
In Crepuscule, Roman Payne writes: “People wonder why so many writers come to live in Paris… Just like Italy, Spain, or Iran are the best places to pick saffron.”
Well, I can’t comment on Paris or the search for novel ideas, but I can confidently say this: you don’t need to travel to Italy, Spain, or Iran to find saffron. All you need to do is drive to Novato.
Saffron Grill & Market is a small, unassuming spot that serves a dual purpose, as both a Middle Eastern grocery store and a casual grill, and it does both surprisingly well. If you enjoy exploring spices, dried goods, and specialty ingredients, the shelves alone are worth the stop. I certainly got a kick out of browsing them.
And if you’re hungry, just walk to the back of the store, look up at the menu, and order whatever catches your eye. The food is solid, comforting Persian cuisine, prepared simply and priced very reasonably. It’s the kind of place where you don’t overthink the order, you just pick something and enjoy it. The owner-operator is friendly and genuinely happy to answer questions, whether you’re curious about the food, the spices, or what pairs well together.
It’s not flashy, and it doesn’t try to be. But if you’re looking for authentic flavors, good value, and a warm, local feel, Saffron Grill & Market delivers, all without leaving Marin County.
… moreCourtney Wright
Great food and great service! The only odd part has nothing to do with this restaurant itself, but with the business next door. They have a strange sign saying that customers from Saffron can’t use their restroom, which gives off a discriminatory vibe. Still, Saffron itself is fantastic, and I’d definitely recommend the food and staff here.
… moreV Wilson
Only place in the area I could find ketaifi (spelling?) and pistachio cream. Good selection of Middle Eastern foods; planning on coming back so I can get some fun new ingredients to try out. Halloumi cheese, pomegranate syrup, kebabs, etc. Local business which is nice. The baklava and other baked goods in the case at the front of the shop look very tempting.
… moreWai-Yun Tam
Omg! This is a hidden gem, the food were delicious, rice were flavorful and meat were tender and juicy. The owner was very nice and accommodating. We ended our meal with a Turkish coffee, which was amazing. I would definitely return again. Beware, this is little place is a hole in a wall, or should i say, a hole in a mom and pop grocery store. Prices are slightly high, however, it’s definitely worth it.
… moreMae Kalbassi
Mike’s food made my family sick with diarrhea for 2 weeks – the rice and stew tasted and looked several days old but we were hungry so we ate it to not waste it. Another time, his prepared yogurt had mold in it. He does not have sell-by dates on foods he prepares himself. We have since stopped eating his prepared foods because we can’t trust it. As far as his groceries theya are very overpriced and on two different visits he recommended and sold canned goods to us that were expired (2023 sold in 2025). We gave him a chance because he seemed nice. But he has no quality control. The health department should investigate! We will never go there again.
… moreSusan McCabe
Delicious! My daughter brought home a big tin with all kinds of stuff, grilled chicken, rice, cucumber salad, some kind of beef but it was like a sausage kind of and a sauce that was made out of yogurt I think. Will definitely come again.
… moreMax Herr
This is an amazing little market — excellent variety of spices, blends, mixes, snack foods, smallwares, refrigerated and frozen foods & treats, and limited selection of fresh veggies — plus a nicely-stocked deli case and grill . . . all at very reasonable prices (as good as similar larger stores in the L.A. region where I live) . For $12, you can’t beat the Koobideh plate with two large skewers of meat, a generous serving of basmati rice, pickled onion, and a grilled tomato, plus some pieces of lavash, fresh onion, and cilantro. Don’t forget the pomegranate & dark chocolate chip ice cream (or your personal favorite Golnazar ice cream)
… moreDP
Ordered the koobideh and it was delicious, generous portion of rice and their shallot yogurt sauce was so tasty. They only had a partial menu because they were under construction. We can t wait to go back when they have everything. The owner was so friendly and accommodating.
… moreJeannie Thomas
The staff seemed quite friendly and I was delighted to learn how to make Turkish coffee at home. However, That being said, I spent $7 on a very small package of specialty rice. When I went to cook it, I was disappointed to learn it had expired 4 years earlier. (My bad for not noticing this at the store)
… moreEli
This place is one of a kind. It sells unique Persian, Moroccan, and other MENA foods that are rarely sold anywhere else. The owner is fun to talk to. I love the Persian canned eggplant dishes in particular.
… more