Reigate restaurant showcase for Indian haute cuisine
Saffron Summer, a sister restaurant to the award-winning eponymous Indian fine dining restaurant in Chessington, is to open in Reigate in Surrey on Tuesday 14th July.
The restaurant which occupies the site of the former Clove restaurant at 15 Church Street in Reigate, had originally been due to open in March, before the Covid-19 lockdown.
The kitchen will be led by Executive Head Chef Awanish Roy, who transfers from the Chessington branch. Roy trained at the internationally renowned Oberoi Hotels in India, before moving to London to work in the famous Cinnamon Club, Roti Chai and Chai Ki restaurants in London.
The menu will feature Saffron Summer signature dishes, such as its authentic Goan wild boar vindaloo – which bears no comparison to the fiery curry house staple – Chingri Malai from Calcutta, Keralan Seafood Moily
The restaurant, which will have to operate at 50 percent capacity, to maintain social distancing, had planned an extensive marketing campaign with a special VIP launch dinner for. But with such a drop in local footfall, and most office workers working from home, those plans have had to be shelved until the future becomes clear.
A rigorous sanitising regime is in place. Staff will wear masks and gloves. Customers will be offered hand sanitisers on arrival.
Instead the restaurant will offer customers a 20 percent discount on all eat in and takeaway food orders, Monday to Thursday, until the end of August.
Owner Ralph Sousa, now lives in Surrey having owned restaurants and hotels in Portugal and Goa for 20 years, reported that many Chessington customers travelling from Reigate had implored us to open in the town – even alerting him to potential sites.
“I came and researched the area, loved the vibe and am convinced the locals will appreciate our unique modern take on classic regional dishes from the Sub Continent,” said Sousa, adding, “Although we’ve had a long delay, as a country we cannot all stay in lockdown forever and we all need to help kick start the economy and support our suppliers,
The original Saffron Summer in Chessington, is ranked No.1 Indian Restaurant on Trip Advisor*. In 2018 it was named ‘Newcomer of the Year’ at the Asian Curry Awards, when chairman of judges Pat Chapman, Editor of the Cobra Good Curry Guide said of Saffron Summer, “You won’t find better Indian food anywhere.” It also won “Best Asian Restaurant in 2019″ – London Suburbs.
Listed among the Best UK Restaurants in the UK in the authoritative Harden’s Guide 2020, Saffron Summer top scored a 5 out of 5 for its “classic Indian dishes … with a modern fine dining twist … all at suburban prices.”
Opening times: 12 : 00 to 14:30 and 17:30 to 22:00, 7 days a week.
