Okay. Small. Not the cleanest place. The red velvet cake was amazing! Wanted one all to myself!

Great food, great service! The owner walks around and makes you wheel very welcome. He gave us free red velvet cake for dessert which is incredibly good. Prices are kinda high, but definitely recommend. read more

I will preface this review by saying the food was very good. Well cooked, flavorful and overall delicious. HOWEVER, my experience with picking up my food was not very good. Upon placing my order I was told to pick it up in 30 mins. To give it some time I went to pickup in 40 mins. I ended up waiting almost an hour for my food. I wouldn't be as upset about it if the lady on the phone had been upfront or more realistic with the wait times. My food was also cold as well. Delicious, but cold. I wonder if it was sitting back there? My salads were forgotten as well. Overall not impressed with the service. read more

Our first time there for our 1 year anniversary. We got to the door and Simon was holding it open for us. We had a 30 min wait but everything was perfect. Food and atmosphere top notch. Will be back read more

Ate here back in January. Sat at the bar and told the owner to bring me whatever he recommends. He brought the Beef Stroganoff, which is something I would not have ordered. I am SO GLAD he did as it was amazing. I then treated myself to some carrot cake. I get down to Des Moines about once a quarter and will absolutely be back here for dinner. A nice hidden gem!! read more

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

Wow! Des Moines best kept secret. You might have to wait a bit - so expect it! It's totally worth it! Food was excellent and staff is very hospitable!! read more

The service was perfect, the food was amazing and I felt 100% comfortable because being a Celiac I have to eat gluten free and the chef's wife also has celiac disease and he knows exactly how to handle the food! I will be back!! read more

The create your own lasagna is my husbands favorite. The vibe is wonderful. You feel so special as you are granted/allowed in. Bring a jacket because there is always a line out the door! Not sure what drugs our waitress was on but she about flew across the room out of her excitement to serve us. Incredible red velvet cake too! read more

Came in here a few nights ago after months of hearing about it. We were hoping that we would get there as the first wave of people were finishing up their meal, but alas that was not the case. We ended up waiting about an hour, this can be pretty uncomfortable because the bar gets packed quickly and there isn't a lot of space near the door to stand. Luckily Simon himself was quick to greet us and grab us a few drinks. Once we were seated everything we had was great. The stuffed mushrooms were amazing, they don't skimp on the bread at the table, and both of our pasta dishes were *chefs kiss* perfection. An absolute must-go spot in the Des Moines area. read more

The food was spectacular and the service was great. We had my daughters birthday dinner there and we could not have been happier.

There's a reason there is a wait. Small cramped space. But the food and customer service more then makes up for it. This our second time there. The first time I let Simon order for me. He brought out the lasagna. It has to be the most lasagna i have ever had in my life. Tonight I had the steak de Burgo. It had to be the most tender piece if steak I have ever had. The staff is always doin the best they can to make sure you are taken care of. But keep in mind they are running around frantically but with purpose. I highly recommend going in spring summer. Where its not so cold to wait or be seated by the door. As much as I didn't want to go there for the wait...the wait is well worth it. read more

Maybe one of the best steaks I have ever had. I am a real person in Des Moines Iowa. I have only been there once, but I will definitely be trying it again. Not a lot of space though. read more

The food is amazing and the service is second to none. I would suggest getting there early as there will be a wait after they open. I can assure you it is well worth the wait though. read more

A staple in our neighborhood and service you just don't see elsewhere. Owner is very welcoming and genuinely cares for your satisfaction. The food: even better! You can't get a better debergo in the area. read more

Sadly did not live up to the hype. They gave a friendly vibe until we were seated. We felt unwelcome and rushed, they are very understaffed. Our food was all undercooked, and lacked the pizzazz. I would say go to elsewhere. Lots of amazing Italian in the Des Moines metro.. sadly this isn't one of them! read more

The power of Yelp led me to Simon's. Literally. Every Monday I drive past this humble establishment intrigued by the sign, while questioning the outside ambience of the restaurant. Or the lack there of. I have yet to come across a bad Yelp review on this place so I asked a close friend if he would venture into the "unknown" with me at ... Simon's. Because the majority of you have strongly hinted at showing up... I was there a half hour before doors opened. I was literally first in line. The few long time patrons gathering were proud of me. Kept basking in the glow of Simon's trying to verbally prepare me for the journey I was to embark on. I truly had no idea what was about to happen. Once the doors opened I was surrounded by smells that make children dream and smile, and salivate... alot. The whole restaurant had this wonderful comfortable warmth to it... that made me want to enter and never leave. We got a booth and Sarah got our drinks immediately, yet I never felt rushed here. I felt as though I had stepped into a dear friend's house - who I had never met. This restaurant's decor was modern, dark and felt almost bohemian. You tend to lose a sense of time and space here or even that you are in... Iowa. I felt at one point I was in Key West for the carefree vibe of this place while other moments I felt I was in San Francisco for the high class treatment we received. While reviewing their menu I was surprised they had more than the normal Italian dishes I thought were shown on Yelp. Their lasagna looked irresistible but the Surf & Turf could not be ignored. My friend and I got each and shared. Pretty novel idea considering I wanted to try the entire menu out but no way could I afford it. We ordered the crab stuffed mushrooms which were served promptly and hot. These were delicious, but with a hint of heat-which I enjoyed. The lasagna when it arrived was steaming hot and melted in my mouth. The right amount of ricotta cheese and the perfectly placed Graziano sausage made every bite seem divine and helped me understand what perfect Italian tastes like. We didnt receive obnoxious proportions and was impressed by how filling this high quality lasagna was. Next up was the filet medalion. Albeit it was small and Id wished there was an additonal 10 more ounces to it, every bite was mind blowing. A hint of char on the outer realm of the steak yet an ember of tender meat within. I would probably order two steaks next time. They are no bigger than the small of your hand. The price seemed a tad high for such a small portion, but when you are eating food prepared this insanely great you hardly care about price. The potatoes were equal in splendor and quality like everything else. I can't imagine what this place makes that is mediocre. This restaurant obviously is devoid of knowing such terms as bland, average, boring and the like. This restaurant is truly the greatest hidden gem in all of Des Moines. While leaving I was glad the outside looked bland and maybe a bit unviting. I want this place all to myself. It was perfection in every sense. The only thing missing was Simon. I would have liked to have shaked his hand and thank him personally for giving Iowa something so beautiful. read more

We were in from out of town and someone recommended Simon's. Best recommendation ever! Wonderful neighborhood bistro where the place was filled with regulars. Great atmosphere, great staff, and Simon makes everyone welcome. I'm sure the pizza is good, but we had pasta and the filet in mushroom sauce and both were outstanding! And free red velvet cake for dessert! If you get the chance, don't miss out! read more

We had an absolutely wonderful experience here. We came in at about 6:30 pm and it was already quite busy which is a great sign. While there's not a lot of room to wait, please don't let that deter you. Simon, the owner, was so warm and welcoming and stopped by frequently to make sure everyone was okay and if we needed anything to drink which made the wait much more bearable. Once seated, we were able to enjoy the atmosphere fully. The lighting is great, the seating is comfortable, the servers are nice and attentive. If you come on the right night you can catch some live music even! Now, onto the part you're probably reading this review for: the food. Oh. My. Goodness. I had the duck (on special), my husband had the lamb. I think if that's all I had to eat for every dinner for the rest of my life I could die happy. The food was seasoned well and cooked to perfection. I can't wait to make this a regular dinner spot! read more

Stopped in on a Saturday shortly after they opened and we were seated promptly by the owner. One of my best friends was in town visiting and this was both of our first time trying Simon's. The drinks were great and so was the bread. We ended up ordering the cheese bread as an appetizer and loved it with the marinara sauce for dipping. I ordered the stroganoff which was made perfectly. Tender cuts of beef and the noodles were cooked just right with a well seasoned sauce I didn't need to add anything to my dish. My friend ordered the lasagna which she loved as well especially the fresh basil throughout. The owner was very attentive and stopped by our table periodically. He then surprised us when a complimentary slice of red velvet was delivered to our table. I typically don't care for red velvet but this cake was so moist and delicious I had to partake! Our server told us his parents make the cakes which adds a nice family touch to the restaurant. Our server was just okay in the beginning but her service did improve throughout our dining experience. This is a restaurant I will be returning to in the future I look forward to trying other items from their menu. read more

See all

After reading so many great comments about Simons we decided to check it out last night- and are glad we did! Arrived around 6:00, had about 15 minutes to wait at the bar before we could be seated in a cozy booth. Within a few minutes the place was completely packed and a small line was out the door! This place is small,dark,cozy and equipped with a fabulous, friendly waitstaff. The menu has a nice assortment of entrees from pizza(it looked really good) and sandwiches to steak and shrimp. We each ordered steak. I had the DeBurgo and my hubby had the New York strip- both came with a nice crisp salad, Yummy mashed potatoes and asparagus . the steaks were perfection. The strip had a wonderful sauce on it and the DeBurgo was fork-tender and luscious. And at the end we were gifted with a slice of red velvet cake to share"( I ate most of it-and it was heaven!!) Simons is only a few blocks from our house and I don't know why it took us this long to eat here but we will be back very soon and very often!! Went back to Simons tonight. I honestly don't know why I go anywhere else. Besides the food Always being excellent- as are the drinks and apps- having the owner, Simon- come to your table more than once to make sure everything is like you want it( when he's not bussing tables or bar tending or any of the other jobs he does) is just amazing. He takes time to stop at every table and checks on every person there. Then when you leave hes right there opening the door and thanking you for coming. Simon is unique for a restaurant owner. I've eaten all over Des Moines- lots of times- and no where else has an owner that is This invested in his restaurant. He's a breath of fresh air and we're so lucky that it's only a few blocks away from home! read more

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

TL;DR - Best value dining experience in the metro. Perfect for a small group or special occasion. We just finished dining at Simon's for New Years Eve. We made our reservations 10 days ago and snagged a table for 6. I couldn't be more pleased with our decision. We got lucky with parking and were right outside the door. It was -15F tonight so that was a godsend in itself. This small, cozy restaurant was bustling. We arrived 15 minutes early for our reservation. There were just a few seats at the bar for us to get drinks started while we waited for tables to clear. I had a Ginger and Blue mule. We were seated in a booth along the east wall. The booths are not large and are a bit dated, so not the most comfortable. If I would improve one thing, that would be it. However the booths definitely fit the artistic vibe. You can even take the art home with you if you find a piece that is suitable... for a price of course. Our orders were taken after plenty of time to review the menu. I appreciate the ability to review it before being pushed to order. Our appetizers came out quickly. We had the baked artichoke dip and spicy stuffed mushrooms. I have to say that I will be going back for this dip. Easily the best artichoke dip I've ever had. Love it. The mushrooms were solid, but personally didn't find them very spicy. There was a nice, light jalapeño flavor to them. Spicy depends on your palate a bit. They paled in comparison to the dip, but were still solid. The sides came right as we wrapped up the apps. I had the seafood bisque. It had nice creamy texture to it. It wasn't overly fishy. I didn't get much seafood substance in mine, but others in my party had nice chunks. If I had to critique, it was on the salty side for sure. Totally fine given it's seafood. We all cleaned our dishes of it. As a proper Des Moines denizen, I went with a medium Steak de Burgo. It fulfilled all of my expectations. It was creamy garlicky goodness. The steak was closer to well done, but I'd prefer that over rare. Not at all disappointed in it. I savored every bite. It had a nicely seasoned sear to it. The vegetables were cooked well. The grilled asparagus was slightly al dente as it should be. Every one of us cleared our plates and could've had another course. We never ran out of water and had drinks refilled regularly. I'd be happy to sit through a large prix fixe tasting menu here. A nice surprise was red velvet cake was included. The biggest problem was expecting us all to share it. We basically inhaled it. The frosting alone... I want just a bowl of that! Next time I'm not sharing. The most amazing part? This upscale experience was very affordable. I've had inferior meals at chain steakhouses that cost more. I've been less satisfied for triple the price at the most upscale joints in Des Moines. For a couple, you can easily dine for under $100. read more

Simon's has always been good. I haven't been here a ton of times because it is always so busy but the times I have been there the food was always very good. They truly care about your dining experience. read more

Amazing food and wonderful service i recommend coming here I would also like to thank the staff for being respectful and polite I definitely will be coming here again. read more

Probably my wife and my favorite place to eat. Small, friendly and amazing food. I can't count how many times we've been here and have never had a bad meal. We enjoy taking our out of town family and friends here because we know that it's always consistent and friendly. read more

We love this hidden treasure! The owner usually is there to greet you personally. The manicotti is my favorite. The salad dressing is homemade and delicious. My wife loves the New York strip or scallops. Lots of pasta and pizza options also. They get crowded so go early! If you have a group make a reservation. The place is small, dark and intimate. Also there is no corkage fee! read more

Simon's is a favorite of ours when in Des Moines. It is one place I can eat, even if it's just their beef stroganoff. With an allergy to soy finding anything other than salad to eat when we travel can be very tricky, yet year after year their beef stroganoff doesn't change (I know because I call every year to check.) The dimly lit atmosphere boast Edison light bulbs, and puts you in mind of a mafia movie where the Don is in the corner ordering a cannoli. Thankfully there's no drama, but plenty of good food, beer, and a fully stocked bar. read more

Lovely neighborhood spot. The booths are nice, if a little shallow, which ensures good posture -- and tables are available if you want a roomier dining experience. I liked the booth. The food is good to amazing, depending on what you order. I had the Maddie's Pasta, which was amazing: chicken, shallots, asparagus, mushrooms and roasted red peppers in a sherry wine sauce. Wow. Friends praised the shrimp scampi and chicken florentine. The pizza was complimented as "good." The staff are friendly and as accommodating as if it was their home. We are going back on a Wednesday night soon when they have a live jazz musician. read more

Simon's is a favorite for us. We take out-of-town guests there any time we can. There is always a warm welcome, and after the meal, a hearty piece of red velvet cake. read more

Wonderful, Nostalgic and Scrumptious. I was in Des Moines for a visit and my friends son (who is a chef) suggested we try Simon's for dinner. I was so surprised when we pulled up to the building, as it used to be a small grocery store that I would walk to as a child. Opening the doors we were greeted by the owner Simon. He found us a nice booth in an already busy room. On the menu he recognized the previous owners of the Franklin Food Store. I appreciated that acknowledgement. When Simon came back for our order, he took time to chat with us about the buildings history and his experience owning and operating the restaurant. We ordered a nice Malbec and a Moscow mule. My friend ordered the beef stroganoff and I ordered Maddie's pasta. Both of our meals came with a cold crisp green salad topped with a creamy parmesan dressing. Our meals were delivered hot and quickly. Both of the dinners were yummy and flavorful. Simon surprised us by treating us to a piece of homemade carrot cake. This is an outstanding restaurant with a hands on owner. He really takes care of his customers. If you want to be spoiled, then visit Simon! read more

See all

Came on a busy Friday night, had to wait a little bit but the owner was extremely generous and a great host. He checked in on us while we were waiting. The wine was fantastic and they weren't shy when pouring! Food was delicious and came out fast. The service was great. It felt like they actually knew you. read more

My first time visit and I can't wait to go back! It was adults night out. We arrived 5:30 and we had to wait. :( Next time, we will be outside lined up to go in at 5! We sat at the bar and enjoyed a glass of wine. The owner came by to say hi, when we were seating and eating, he came back again to ask if we were enjoying the night. When we were leaving, he came OUT and thanked us for coming. We loved the atmosphere, the food, and the owner. read more

Always spot on. This place is a must. Great food and service. Wish I could give it more stars. Staff always makes you feeling like family.

Best in Des Moines! On a Saturday night you have to get in line outside at 4:30 to get in right away, but it's worth the wait. The staff is awesome and the food is awesome. read more

Arrived on a busy Saturday and was met at the door by the owner. Maybe a 15 minute wait with a glass of wine, no problem. Seated in a cozy booth with my wife and daughter which was perfect. Had cheese bread with marinara which was amazing!!!! I knew what my pasta sauce was going to taste like!!!! Had seafood bisque which was piping hot and full of seafood! Salads had homemade dressing which was delicious. I had build your own pasta and it didn't disappoint! My daughter had tomato gnocchi which was delicious but the crème de la crème was the J Ben's pizza!!! The crust was cooked to perfection and perfect brown on top. Staff was very attentive but not over bearing and we were met at the door by the owner, Simon, who made us feel like family!!! A must go too!!!! read more

Stopped in a couple weeks ago on a friday. place was so packed I decided to try another night. I slid right in last night, and wow. The food was great and the service was perfect. We ordered three different types of pizza and they were all equally great! I can't wait to stop in again. read more

My cousin took us here when were recently on a trip to Des Moines. From the outside, you really wouldn't think it was much, but we were really impressed with the food and the service. I had the seafood chowder, followed by lasagna that I shared with my partner. Both were excellent and we'd definitely be regulars here if we lived in Des Moines. Note to Yelpers from out of town: apparently Simon's and J. Benjamin's are the same place, so don't be confused. I never did get the story as to why it seems to go by both names. If someone knows, please post an explanation. read more

Just had dinner here 9/22. When we first arrived we were told it will be an 1hr 15min, our wait ended being 2hrs not once did we have a courtesy check to let us know about the delay. During our 2hr wait we were only offered beverages twice, had to go across the street to the gas station to get a beverage. Once we got seated we didn't get a booth like we were told we would get we sat at the bar. Once we ordered food and drinks our bartender forgot a lime for my beer(not a big deal but it was just one thing after another), bartender had to come back 15min later to confirm how I liked my steak cooked and what size, another mishap. Then the couple next to us complained that there lamb chop was under cooked, I interpreted this as inconsistent service. The food was good but not worth a 2hr wait, this was my first and last time here, I'd rather go to a chain restaurant before coming here again. Nothing special just a tight over crowded room. read more

Had a very enjoyable dinner just a short wait and the food quality is excellent the flavors are excellent and the attention to Service and enjoyment during dinner was very nice read more

Perfect. I highly recommend Simons. Tonight was our first visit and we were not disappointed. The lasagna was delicious. The steaks were so tender. My husband had the beef stroganoff and could not get enough. I recommend making a reservation if you have 6 or more people as this place fills up fast. We were waited on by Simon himself and he was so nice and personable. I just can't say enough good things about this restaurant and the experience. Don't overlook the appetizers. We had the onion rings (homemade) and bruschetta. I honestly could have made a meal out of it. Also, if you like a seafood soup, don't pass on their house special seafood bisque. Thank you for a wonderful night Simon. We will be back. Oh, did I mention that there is complimentary red velvet cake at the end of the meal? read more

My husband and I swung by Simons/J Benjamins/whatever this place is called last night to use up a gift card that had been given to us a few months back. I have to admit, the few pictures of this restaurant's exterior that exist online are a bit off-putting so we hesitated going at all. Like many others, I was pleasantly surprised with the food and service. We went at around 6:30 on a Thursday night and got a table right away. Yeah, the place is a bit dark and it's about as unpretentious as you can get... but after dinning at my fair share of all-style, no-substance places in bigger cities, its occasionally refreshing to eat at a place where people don't take themselves too seriously (and know how to make a good pizza). I had the bianca pizza which was pretty tasty and my husband had a make-your-own mac and cheese dish (which he loved). Drinks were decently priced and we got a free piece of chocolate cake at the end of it all (which appears to be their schtick). But hey, if some one wants to give me free dessert, I'm on board. It's safe to say we'll be back. Too bad this place doesn't have a patio for summertime drinks... that could turn it into a real neighborhood gem. read more