Simon's is one of Des Moines' finest. We highly recommend this place for a date night or a nice dinner with a small group. The menu has a ton of options, but the Steak De Burgo is the way to go. Complimentary red velvet cake for dessert will make you want to come back ASAP. Simon stopping around to every table is a reminder that exceptional customer service still exists, and that eating out isn't just about a meal but an experience. read more

Simon's - Italian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Love this restaurant! Small and intimate. Amazing food and no corkage. The steaks and seafoods are delicious! My husband loves the manicotti. Homemade salad dressing. read more

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Man steak deburgo is always delish and the red velvet cake complimentary at the end of the meal.. is so good.

My cousin & I decided to try this place for dinner. We arrived about 30 minutes after they opened & they were already packed. We sat down & ordered a half order of cheese bread & onion rings. We snaked on the complementary french bread, wished it was warmed. This was my only gripe here. The appetizers came out & were great. I loved the onion rings as the onions melted in your mouth! We decided to split a cheese pizza. It had a different taste to it that I couldn't quite pinpoint, but none the less I liked it as well. Definitely saw more on the menu that will bring us back again. read more

Simon's - Cheese bread & some of the most tender onion rings I've ever had! Half orders on both. - Italian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Great food, atmosphere and the red velvet cake was moist and bomb! ( I didn't get a photo of the cake because it was too good) love that it's a complimentary desert. And Simon is great and friendly. read more

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We went to Simon's for my boyfriends birthday and it was pretty good. We got there a little after 5pm on a Wednesday and waited about an hour for a table. We grabbed some drinks and stayed cool in their waiting room playing chess. The owner was extremely kind and remembered everyone's place in line. He was very personable, going around to each table and chatting. Our waitress was alright. We said we had never been there before, which seemed to annoy her as she had to explain the menu. After explaining what items get what sides, she said the kitchen can make changes, "just don't be a pain in my ass". This threw us off a bit. My boyfriend and I ordered the chicken parm, but asked if we could switch the sauce out for the vodka sauce. Apparently this was a big deal and we thought it would be an easy swap. We felt bad but it all ended up working out. The food was pretty good, decent vodka sauce but the chicken cutlet was too thick for my liking. The salad it came with was nothing special, but the house dressing was good. The red velvet cake was a nice touch and tasted great. It is a small space and some people were just hanging out in the door way, which was a bit awkward. At the end, Simon thanked us for coming and shook our hands. read more

My favorite place in all of Des Moines. This is an absolute hidden gem. I'd recommend being there before 6 and keeping your group to 4 or less if you want to be seated quickly as it fills up fast. No reservations but you can call ahead to check the wait. Order anything. It's all amazing. This place is truly top notch. Try it yourself. read more

Hands down the best restaurant in Des Moines! It truly never disappoints. From the food, to the service, to Simon himself. A DSM GEM

I checked out Simon's based upon the reviews here as well as the recommendation of a colleague. It didn't disappoint. I arrived a few minutes past five as many prior reviews talked about the place filling up fast and having to wait. I was seated immediately but the place was already nearly full about ten minutes after opening and shortly thereafter was packed with a bunch of people waiting. The service was attentive and friendly with the owner even stopping by my table twice to check in. The seafood chowder was tasty and I enjoyed the stuffed chicken. The complimentary carrot cake to top things off was great. And, you can't beat the prices. Definitely recommend checking this place out! read more

This is a local gem with an unassuming exterior, but great food and really comfortable atmosphere. As most other people have said, the food is excellent and the service is top-notch. Simon himself is normally there most evenings until close greeting guests and making everyone feel comfortable. If you are looking for a great date restaurant, or just want a casual night out with your friends, I really recommend checking out Simon's. It gets busy between 6:30 and 8:30, but it's actually worth it. If you get stuck waiting, grab a spot at the bar and enjoy some cocktails and bruschetta - it won't take very long to get seated. Don't bother trying to get a reservation unless you have a big group, they don't do call ahead either. I think some other reviews have mentioned it, but it bears repeating, no corkage fees, Simon is awesome, this place is cozy and welcoming, and the food is awesome. Check it out - you'll love it. read more

Simons was amazing! The atmosphere in such a quaint and intimate place was so relaxing and was the perfect place for having a wonderful meal. We ordered the bruschetta, chicken Parm, and vodka pasta . It was all delicious with the complimentary red velvet. As a bonus, their moscato was so good! Lastly I have to comment on the staff's amazing service! It wasn't until half way through our meal that we realized the owner (Simon) himself had seated us and checked in on us multiple times. The whole experience was so personal and rare. Highly recommend. read more

Service, food, ambience all SUPERB! The owner is especially nice and personable. Just a great experience and worth the wait to get seated.

As much as I want to dock the stars on this place because of how long I have to wait every single time I go, I just can't do it because this place is THAT amazing! First things first, it's all first come first serve. They do NOT take reservations for parties less than 6 and they do NOT take call ahead seating. This place is great for a date night, but be prepared to wait. The whole place can probably seat about 60 comfortably. The booths have very high backs which is nice because it gives the parties a sense of privacy (especially the daters!). They food is phenomenal every time I've gone. Pasta, steak, fried mushrooms, bruschetta, etc. And dessert! FREE slice of red velvet cake for every 3-4 people after dinner! AMAZING! It's just a perfect addition to an already amazing meal! I absolutely love this place and it will always be worth the wait! read more

Ooh this pains me to do this, because it doesn't have anything to do with the food, just bad service I received. My first experience was amazing, the place is small and intimate but it has a homey cozy feel to it and the owner is very interactive with the customers. I sat at the bar because really it was the only set in the place left. My waitress that night was fabulous. She walked through the menu and her service was great. I got spicy chicken vodka pasta, it was amazing also came with the choice of soup or salad I got the seafood bisque. To my surprise they gave you red velvet cake....OMG it is so good. The second time I came, learn my lesson came in when they open at 5pm sat at the bar at the time there is only about four or five other people in there so I expect it to be in and out very quickly. I ordered cocktail that came out just fine I ordered my entree and it comes with the super salad I asked for the soup the same as last time the the waitress came back around about 3 to 4 minutes later and then ask what dressing I wanted on my salad, I didn't order salad I ordered the seafood bisque soup about five minutes later she drops off a salad with ranch dressing and a side of hair. My waitress then disappears for a good 10 mins no were to be found I had to ask another waitress if I can get my soup and if she can take back the salad that have hair in it also because I didn't order it, she's kind enough to replace it, from there I received sausage chicken amazing it was so good, it's probably been a good 15 minutes since I last seen the waitress she asked if I wanted to know other drink I told her yes and then gave her my order I also asked for the food menu again because my husband daughter now want something to go and I wanted to place an order she left and said she was going to grab a menu and grab my drink, kid you not 25 minutes later I still have no drink and no menu. At this time I have been there since 5:50 and the place was getting crazy busy and now am just over it am over with waiting am ready to go , 5:55 she comes back and ask if there is anything else I like to order, I said no because I didn't want to be sitting around for an other hour opening to get something that was never going to get order, I asked for my cake and my check, 6:10 finally got both 6:20 i finally left, the girl never game back and picked up my check. The owner Simon did come by and ask me how was everything and how I was doing but at that time it was so loud so busy and I was so frustrated with the service I was ready to leave and I ddnt want any discount for my meal, my girl was extremely forgetful and super Spacey could not retain information. If I did come back I would ask for her not to be my waitress. read more

The service is amazing and the food is even better! Steak DeBurgo was out of this world and Chicken Florentine was phenomenal! read more

Simon's - Chicken Florentine - Italian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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When you walk in and the owner welcomes you to his restaurant you know you are in for a truly spectacular experience. The food was by far the best I have ever had. Scallops were tender and steak was cooked to perfection. The complimentary red velvet cake was incredible. Simon- you outdid yourself. If I could give your restaurant 6 stars, I would. read more

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Great food for sure. Unfortunately you can't order food to go because the phone goes unanswered. Bummer...

Love this place! Now that I moved back to the neighborhood, I will be enjoying "Simons" frequently. Artichoke dip, the best ever!! Love the steak, love the shrimp scampi, love it all. BUT, no one will answer the phones after 8pm!!! read more

What a pleasurable experience! Simons received high praise from a group of friends and I began reading the reviews - they seemed to be all 5's! So met a friend for dinner at 4:50P.M. on a Monday evening... sure enough people were lining up for the doors to open at 5:00....and on Monday.... Food was exceptional - grilled salmon with dill sauce - mashed potatoes - asparagus -lemon.... delicious salad with a unique house dressing - and a lovely piece of cake! All for $18.95! Service was outstanding and the owner stopped twice to make sure everything was perfect! It doesn't get better than this treasure of a restaurant. Who would have thought - right there on the corner of Merle Hay and Franklin. read more

Always amazing food. Any go wrong with anything you order. Very cozy but worth the wait.

I could never understand why people were always lined up outside either in extreme heat and cold, now I know. Just like finding a seat at the family table, when someone leaves, your table is ready when you walk in. The menu is very diverse, savory food, impeccable service, warm and gracious host. And the Red Velvet cake! A must try! read more

Went to Simon's Saturday to celebrate an anniversary. Loved the cozy atmosphere of the restaurant. We were advised to get there at 5pm if we didn't want to wait. We were promptly seated at the last booth at 5:10pm. They were busy and our service was good. I ordered a Peach Mule and my boyfriend ordered a Des Moines IPA. Unfortunately, their draft beers were not cold and our waitress advised getting a bottled beer. We thought that was a bit odd that their draft beers weren't getting or keeping cold enough. But we appreciated the heads up. For a starter, we ordered the Spicy Three Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms. Cheesy goodness! For the main course, I ordered the Chicken Florentine which came with soup or salad. I opted for the Seafood Bisque. Boyfriend ordered the Manicotti. For the side, he got the Cheesy Potato Soup. We each tried each other's soups and dishes and everything was delicious! Simon, the owner, stopped by the table to make sure everything was good. As we left, he even ran out the door to say 'Thank you for coming.' This place did not disappoint and we would definitely go back. *On a side note, my only complaint wasn't the food or service, it was two customers. The place is small and cozy. There is no waiting/seating area. Many customers came in, put in their name and went outside to wait for their table. A couple came in, put in their name and stood next to our table the entire time. Every time I looked up, he was looking down - staring at our table. It definitely took the intimacy away with him and his girlfriend hovering over us. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in ALL of DM area. Small place, great food, local owner usually there, free red velvet cake....what else could you want! Only issue is it's always busy after 6pm, so we usually go with 6+ people which allows us to get a reservation. read more

It was pricey but I got some really good food. The quality was on par with the price. I hope they can one day expand their restaurant size. But maybe they don't need to with the quality of their food. People clearly like to wait for it and I can't blame them. The staff also seemed really dedicated to making the wait a good experience by offering services while you wait. read more

Superb food and exceptional service. Tonight I had lollipop lamb chops with salad and mashed potatoes and it was the best food I've ever had. Lamb chops were juicy and filled with flavor previously I had Mac and cheese pizza and steak and it was all great. We always try something new because the food is excellent regardless of what you try on the menu. I certainly can't say that this restaurant can compare to anything else in Des Moines!! read more

Simon's - Lamb chops - Italian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Outstanding food all around. We came here after having Italian at many other DSM staples and loved the food. Everything from appetizers, entrees, desserts were fantastic. Service was also great- servers were kind and accommodating! I would highly recommend coming! read more

We took the advice of other reviews and arrived at 4:45. There was already a line of about 8-10 people, even though it was 30 degrees outside. When we entered the restaurant, we were told to seat ourselves and chose a booth near the door. This is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner or date. It's a little dim, a little sexy, and cozy. The booths are a little stiff and not super comfortable, but they look nice! Our waitress gave us water, and took my drink order. Overall, our service was really good. No complaints at all. Simon stopped at our table several times, sometimes just for a quick check in and other times to refill our waters. He seemed personable, and I liked that he was out and about helping his staff and team. A great leader leads by example! I had two cocktails. Unfortunately, I can't remember the names of them and they are aren't listed on the website. The first one I had was a raspberry-based drink served in a martini glass. It was luscious, slightly sweet, with a little of the sour tang that raspberries can have. It was great! The second drink was one of their mules, which was very good as well. Baked Artichoke Dip ($7.95) - I'll be honest, when this came out, I was a little disappointed. I had heard so many good things about it, but it came out looking greasy. I WAS WRONG. This dip is uh-MAZE-ing. It was creamy, cheesy, fatty and we could not stop eating it. The toast rounds that came with it were great, and I wanted to lick the dish clean. I would highly recommend this dish! A must have! Seafood Bisque - I haven't smelled seafood this good since we were in New Orleans. It took us straight back to the Big Easy. Another highly recommended dish that definitely lived up to the hype. I want to order gallons of this soup and bath in it. My husband is not a soup fan and he raved about it all weekend. Steak DeBurgo ($24.95) - This was the only part of our meal that didn't quiet hit the mark. However, we had never had a DeBurgo ever, and I think that it's just a dish that neither my husband nor I care for. We liked the garlic and it was cooked perfectly. We were just not a fan of the other spices. If you like DeBurgos, give this one a try, as others have said it's really good. We just apparently don't care much for the dish. Chicken Florentine ($15.95) - The cream sauce on the chicken was delicious. It was velvety and blended well with the mashed potatoes I had on the side. The chicken was moist and seasoned well, and there was a good ratio of spinach and capicola on top. Red Velvet Cake (complimentary) - I am PICKY when it comes to cake. I will pass every time on a normal, every day cake. This cake though was very good! The icing wasn't overly sweet and married the flavors well. Overall, we had a really good 1st experience at Simon's. We are really excited to come back and try some more of their foods, but I also know that we will be ordering the baked artichoke dip again! read more

Delicious every single time. Definitely a hidden gem in Des Moines. Great local place.

Best in the Metro, loved the food, the cocktails and the staff. And don't forget about the cake!!

We go here so my husband can get the seafood bisque, and I can get the fettuccine. Simon always puts mushrooms on it when I ask, which isn't even on the menu. You get a free dessert, homemade even! This is a very friendly neighborhood place. You need to get there a little bit before it opens and get in line though, because any day Of the week there is a line! read more

If you come to Simon's - it will ruin your experience at every restaurant going forward. The ambience, the intricate attention to detail, the cozy atmosphere, the enticing menu list is simple yet will satisfy all who come in to dine here. For me, coming to Simon's was first a goal and now seems more like a gift. There are the Des Moines rumors of this restaurant heralding a title of the "best." No one does it like, Simon's. So what have you been waiting for? My friend and I decided to get a little bit of everything here. We tried the tender steak filet and lasagna. I found the steak to be of high quality and very tender. But it was really small. So if it is the best filet you have ever tasted, does size matter? Next time I am ordering two. The lasagna, was full of textures shaped by tender clashes of Italian sausage, waves of ricotta cheese that melt in your mouth. The sauce was not excessive and their seemed to be some kick to this lasagna. Overall I felt the prices were very reasonable for what you really pay for. You are treated like royalty here, and the atmosphere is unlike anything I have ever felt elsewhere. This is the place you go when you feel like celebrating life. read more

I have to say, I was really prepared to be underwhelmed because of all the hype around this place. Fortunately, it was as good as everyone says! Had about a 40 min wait on a Friday night. Grabbed a glass of wine and chatted by the bar. The place is tiny so it was a small puzzle to stay out of the way but the vibe was infectious. We had stuffed mushrooms (amazing, cheesy), salads (fresh mozzarella, can't go wrong), and the manicotti and a steak de burgo. Flawless presentation, taste and preparation. For the price (versus other steak staples such as Iowa Beef Steakhouse) I would've appreciated a bit more on the side like the mashed potatoes or asparagus but only because the flavor left me craving more! The dinner was finished by the red velvet cake which I'm not typically a fan of but this was moist and also prepared so well. The wait makes it a hard repeat spot, but I am so glad I took the time to give it a try! read more

This is the perfect place for a delicious intimate dinner. Sea food is some of the best in the city. They also have 5 star service. It's no wonder a line stretches down the sidewalk 30 minutes before they open. read more

It is always about the taste for me. I went with 2 other people a few weeks ago and everything had the same flavor and I didn't like it. I feel like I might be the only person in Des Moines that will never go back. Food was prepared well, good service, but no thanks on the flavor. I don't even like red velvet cake! read more

Amazing ambiance and food. Delicious but not fancy, just intimate. Take your favorite people

A-MAZ-ING. I'll start off by saying that the owner is a rare breed. There was a bit of a wait, so we waited outside. He was very apologetic and attentive, taking drink orders, bringing them to us, and checking in on us with updates frequently. Our service inside was just as great. Our waiter answered all of our questions throughly and gave us his recommendations. We both got the Seafood Bisque which was out of this world and very creamy. I ordered the Seafood Cioppino and it was done just right. Love the kick of spice! It was a hefty portion size, so I had enough to take home for a second meal. My boyfriend got the Steak De Burgo and let's just say I had to beg for one tiny bite. To top it off, after our meal the owner brought over some chocolate cake on the house since it was our first time there. I'm not even a chocolate fan or a cake fan but it was great. We WILL be back! read more

Simon's - Seafood Cioppino - Italian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Perfect local Italian spot. Exceptional personal and friendly service The group I was with loved our dishes. The pasta was outstanding. Menu is large with something for everyone. I am excited to go back for lunch to try the meatball sandwich and pizza. I would recommend making a reservation for a group of 4 or more on a Friday or Saturday evening. .We were treated with cake from a local bakery, Fancy Breads, to end our meal. The red velvet cake was delicious. read more

Best food and customer service! Such a cool environment and friendly staff. And amazing complementary red velvet cake. Get there 15 mins. before it opens (around 4:45) if you want to get in right away. read more

Amazing food and staff! Worth the wait for this gem, and grab a glass of their great wine!

For the last several years, I ask my wife where she would like me to take her for our anniversary and the answer is always the same... Simon's. This little "hole in the wall" place is absolutely perfect for those intimate nights out. The food is amazing (try the spicy vodka chicken), the staff is on the ball; professional, yet personable. Simon, himself, is the consummate restaurateur - at the door, making the rounds on the floor, in and out of the kitchen making sure everything is meeting his guests approval. Seriously, I can't speak highly enough of this place. With so many really good restaurants in Des Moines, Simon's really rises to the top. Side note: I often wish this place was bigger, but then I remember what it is that makes it so special... old school romantic, intimate charm. Bravo, Simon. read more