This new Indian restaurant has big plans to change the SouthCoast's taste buds

FAIRHAVEN — Since the closing of the Seaport Inn Grille in December 2021, locals have been wondering what would eventually take over the restaurant space. Little did they expect a "Fairhaven first" would soon procure with an Indian restaurant like Saffron by the Sea.

"We want to introduce people to our Indian culture," said Ranjan Shinde, co-owner and pastry chef. "It's not just about the food, it's about the feeling and experience it brings to everyone."

Chicken Tikka, Coffee Marinated Lamb Chops, Tandoori Salmon, Gobhi Garlic, Szechwan Wings, Dahi Puri, Vada Pav Slider, Mutter Paneer, Chicken Korma, Chicken Vindaloo, Kerala Fish Curry, Veg Hakka Noodles and Chicken Shawarma are only a few of the several items among its 15-page menu.

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"We all are chefs and founders of this restaurant. And before coming here we were employees working somewhere, but we had a plan to start a restaurant because we had a vision that we could make it better in this industry," Shinde said, who lives locally in a house with several other staff members.

The perfect partnership looking for a restaurant

Patel was in Chicago where he met Roshan Patil, a chef with extensive knowledge in classic Indian cuisine. The two hit it off and decided to become partners.

Both are from the city of Mumbai and have a strong vision and passion for creating a better dining experience in the industry. They searched for a partner and a good location to run their restaurant, understanding that location is crucial in the restaurant business.

After a few potential opportunities fell through to start their own restaurant together, they eventually found a perfect match through a friend who happened to be working in a restaurant in Chicago where the property owner was looking for someone to run an Indian restaurant in Fairhaven.

After starting construction in January 2023, making some changes to the ambiance with Indian decorations included, they were able to open the restaurant on Sept. 1.

"We are proud to have turned this former American restaurant into a successful Indian establishment, and we couldn't have done it without the support of our team and loyal customers," said Patil, who serves as the head chef.

The staff is ready to help serve you the best options

Aside from the menu, Shinde said the bar is also a major attraction serving up a mix of popular cocktails as well as some Indian concoctions such as the non-alcoholic Mango or Sweet Lassi, which is a creamy and tropical Indian beverage, blending ripe mangoes with yogurt, sugar and a touch of caramom.

Attracting guests from the hotel as well as many members from the Fairhaven and New Bedford area, Patil said people like to come for a drink but also end up staying and trying the menu.

"Some will be amazed they've been in here for two hours," he added.

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Along with their third co-owner Ritfsh Vaze, they settled on having a large menu of offerings because they wanted people to have as many choices as possible. There are some pasta dishes, but the majority of the menu is not Americanized and showcases the fusion of cultures and cuisines.

"We don't do beef and pork here. That is because we have so many multiple religious people here so we don't want to go with that," Shinde said. "Here, when people come and they find out that so many vegetarian options, so many non-vegetarian options, they are quite happy."

In the past four months, Patil said that many guests have admitted they were trying Indian food for the first time and his has led to many customers expressing their concerns when trying the cuisine for the first time. To ease these fears, Patil said the restaurant staff is trained to explain the dishes in detail and customers are often pleasantly surprised after trying the food.

"We are here to help," adding that the menu had a red dot for non-vegetarian dishes and the green dot for vegetarian dishes, along with an option for preferred spice level.

The restaurant is planning to open a morning cafe

Inside the restaurant is a peaceful dining experience with calming music and a large fireplace. There is also a party hall and a separate area for larger groups, making it a great location for family gatherings.

The menu also offers unique desserts like an Indian-style Baked Alaska and tiramisu served with Indian sauce. In fact, Shinde is working on offering a cafe from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., before the restaurant opens at 11:30 a.m.

The focus will be on quick breakfast bites and Indian-style pastries. "Our pastries are made with refined flour and Indian spices, adding a unique and flavorful twist to traditional desserts," he said.

"Our goal is to provide a quick bite for breakfast, with pastries and something that stands out from the usual offerings of Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts."

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The shop plans to open by the end of January, depending on equipment availability. Patil also said they are eyeing a few potential places to expand to New Bedford in the near future, too.

At the end of the day, Saffron by the Sea at 110 Middle St., wants to bring Fairhaven something new to the table, something that people may not be familiar with yet.

"We have been pleasantly surprised by the response of the public so far and we are grateful for the support we have received in the last four months," Shinde added.

"Our goal is to give you a completely different feeling through our food, not just satisfy your hunger."

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Saffron By The Sea, Fairhaven first Indian restaurant opens