We were very excited looking forward to our visit to Simons and made our reservations a month in advance but when we were seated at our table we were advised that we had a limited amount of time to eat there due to other people's reservations behind us. It most certainly made our visit less than welcoming. One of our party ordered something different than what was served and our wait staff argued that that was definitely what was ordered but it was not true. I must say we will not be returning again. I can't remember ever being treated like this anywhere I've ever been. The food was good but the service made it less than enjoyable. The restaurant is very small and feels very cramped and wait lines can be very long. read more

I can comfortably say this is one of my favorite restaurants, maybe my favorite. We arrived early and waited outside in the 10 degree weather until the doors opened and still got some of the last seats at the bar- totally worth it. No corkage fee on your first bottle of wine that we will remember next time. Friendly, hard working staff. We started with drinks- my wife got a mixed red blend wine that was really good. I got a house vodka/water with a lime that was mixed well. My wife ordered the chicken parm with half white/half red sauce with mixed salad and I got the vodka sauce graziano sausage pasta (highly recommend!if you don't like spicy you can tell them mild because it's got a kick to it but soo good!) with a seafood bisque for the side (also amazing!) the seafood bisque was a smaller portion but totally worth it. The salad my wife ordered was also really good. The house dressing was like some sort of garlic parm dressing- whatever it was, was really good. The complimentary bread and butter is nothing too crazy but goes perfect with everything. The chicken parm was really good- slightly breaded with linguini noodles. Both sauces were really good-I'm more of a Alfredo kinda guy. My vodka sauce graziano sausage pasta was maybe the best dish I've had. Perfect al dente bow tie, penne, and she'll noodles. Along with graziano, vodka sauce,peppers, onions, tomatoes and garlic. We will definitely be back very soon for the delicious food and not to mention the complimentary red velvet cake! read more

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Simon's is always good. They are known for steak debergo but everyone I've taken there has always found something they like. You also get a piece of red velvet cake to share with it is home made and the best I've ever had. They make you feel welcome every time. read more

Simon greeted us immediately, seated us and checked on our table a few times. We had the onion rings and spinach artichoke dip for appetizers, both were delicious. The seafood bisque was the best I have ever had. Steak de burgo cooked medium rare melted in my mouth. My only regret is that I didn't go sooner. read more

Simon's - Steak de burgo - Italian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I just read through the past reviews for Simons. Most were very positive because Simon's is a great restaurant. I urge people with a bad experience to try Simons again. No, it's not a place for a quiet meal. Bring a better attitude. Yes the wait is long. Try going around 7:45-8:00. Wait staff can have a bad night. If you want another drink, it's quicker to go to the bar instead of across the street, they are BUSY, or did you not notice every table was full and the bar seating was as well? I have no vested interest in Simon or his restaurant but in the 20 plus years I have been going there, multiple times a month, I have never had a bad experience. read more

Enjoyed coming to Simon's. You may have to wait, but it is worth it. It's a cozy little place, and Simon is up front helping out and making sure that everything is perfect. The food is delicious. I got the house salad which has a great house dressing and the manicotti which was delicious and well portioned. I will definitely be back to try more. Don't skip on the is local find read more

Steak Deburgo was over the top.LOVED the garlic,beware Vampires.Staff is amaaaazinly attentive,and kind. Sat at the bar and met friendly folks that bought my dinner. Excellent wines to choose from.They now have a fun place to chill,INSIDE,just down from them,while you wait for a table.Simon is soo on top of it,running drinks to those waiting for a table.Not to mention,there are cards and board games to play if soo inclined.Very cozy feeling in this space,rather then the parking area GET HERE! read more

Simon's is like a restaurant owned by best friends or relatives. That's how good the service is. Simon will treat you like royalty including walking you out. The food is great - I like the stroganoff but several other great choices. Always a favorite place for us. read more

Worth the wait! I appreciated Simon and his dedication to his business and keeping people happy. The food was amazing as well as our waitress. My one complaint is that the seating in the booth was pretty uncomfortable, it's a pretty cramped room, but nothing to deter us from coming back. read more

Great food and service. Owner greats you at the table along with staff continually checking on you to make sure everything is good.

I have had Simon's Bookmarked for a while and just never got a chance to visit. Yelpers having been Yelping about this place lately and it sounded amazing. I made it a point to bring my lady here on a Friday Night. There was a little bit of a wait, but it is so worth it, besides you can grab some wine while you wait. When you walk inside it's tables in the middle and booths on both sides. There is no hostess or place to leave a name. Yeah it's a little different, but it works. Simon will take care of you and you will leave happy. We were seated at a small table close to the bar. The tables are close together. We started with onion rings. Lighting breaded and absolutely amazing start to dinner. They were perfect and I would definitely get them again. Next came the salad with House Dressing and it was phenomenal, lots of greens with perfect dressing. I choose the Beef Stroganoff which was such a comfort food. This just made me forget about everything from the week and just enjoy this delicious pasta with tender beef in a fabulous sauce. The pasta was a mixture of different types which I thought was cool with some amazing mushrooms mixed in. Wow, it was fantastic. Just when you thought it couldn't get better this delectable piece of Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting arrived. A little slice of Heaven is how it felt, just delightful and delicious. Just sad I couldn't order it to go, but that's what makes this a special place. Our waitress was wonderful and Simon just makes the place fun. I will definitely be back and this is definitely one of the best restaurants in Des Moines. read more

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Simon's is an upscale restaurant in Des Moines you may miss if you don't seek it out! But let me tell you, YOU GOTTA GO. Simon's has the best beef stroganoff I've ever had in my entire life. They give you a complimentary slice of red velvet cake after your meal as well (phenomenal). Expect to wait for awhile if you go for dinner after 5:00pm - so get there early or expect to enjoy a drink while you wait outside! Let me know if you try it! read more

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This place is a hidden gem in a busted strip mall with a parking lot that I passed multiple times because I guess I'm dumb AF or something. The owner, that looks like he only listens to Nirvana circa de 1998 came over and we had a chat about his pick of restaurants in the area, which is just the TripAdvisor top 10 (no secrets amongst friends). I kid I kid! Honestly this place is great. The food was great, the ambience, amazing, and the owner and all staff crushed it. We had a bigger party for such a small venue and we got seated right away. Go to this place for fun banter, great food, and absolutely reasonable prices. I give it a 9.5 out of 10, -.5 for the waiting room that is down the way, which really isn't a minus but I can't give 'em a 10 because I'm just a mean old man... Go here! You won't be disappointed! read more

Food was elaborate and served in a way that made it feel it was made especially for you. Service was spectacular! It was crowded but the owner took us to the bar and made us drinks himself and made us feel at home. We were far from home and wanted a local experience which we got and more. It was a loud but yet oddly a cozy atmosphere. We loved it! From upstate NY. It did not disappoint! read more

Best place to eat in Des Moines!!!! Simon is a wonderful host and the experience is amazing!!!

The food, the service, the atmosphere is all 100/10 at Simon's EVERY NIGHT! Simon's is always the right choice.

Unbelievable food and cozy atmosphere. Simon makes the rounds talking with everyone and even holding the door open when you leave. Classic feel, great service, and most of all great food. Get there early! read more

The vibrant atmosphere was such a surprising contrast from the quiet street. Wonderful live jazz music was being played. We were seated right away at a table and as soon as a booth opened the owner asked if we would like to move. We moved to the spacious booth. Our waters were consistently being filled by attentive staff. The stuffed mushroom appetizer was flavorful. The stuffed chicken and pasta was so perfect I didn't want to stop eating it. Steak de Burgo with mashed potatoes was one of the best I've tried in Des Moines. Before I could even ask for a dessert menu, the server brought out a large piece of red velvet cake that all customers get complimentary. Impressive and delicious! What a unique place with amazing service! read more

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

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Great place, go where the people go! Never a disappointing experience here. Good food choices for everyone. read more

Excellent thru and thru! You need to go! Food was delicious, service was superb, ambiance was charming, hospitality was inviting and I didn't even mind the wait. My only regret was not having been sooner. Enjoy! Best wishes for continued success to Simon! read more

This place is tiny and located on the end of a little strip mall. You can't make a reservation for less than five people. OK. My friend and I get there at 5:30 and there is an hour wait. Fine. Supposedly it's worth the wait. We were told if we wanted to get drinks at the bar and go to the waiting area our server will come get us when our table is ready. Alright cool! Where is the waiting area?? You go back outside and it's the last suite on the other end of the strip mall. We walk into this waiting area and there are 4 or 5 other couples crammed into an even smaller area. It was very awkward and uncomfortable. We ended up paying for our drinks and leaving. We wanted a relaxing evening after work and it was everything but that. We will not return. It is not worth the headache. read more

Worth the wait! I had salmon, hubby had beef stroganoff, others at table had lasagna or pizza. Everyone completely satisfied and had clean plates But still room to enjoy the complimentary red velvet cake. read more

This is one of our go to places. Simon and staff makes you feel like family. There is no one that compares to the service they give and the food is amazing. Well worth the wait to get in read more

Just a great experience overall. Delicious food - try the beef stroganoff! Atmosphere was cozy, and awesome service. Complimentary desert was wonderful. read more

Get here early. No really. We arrived at 445 for the 5 pm opening and we were 30 deep in line. Restaurant is small and intimate and the owners/chef is hands on and greets every customer. I highly recommend the steak deburgo and filet with mushrooms. read more

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Great food! Great martinis! We will be going back many times! Very reasonably priced.

Have dined there many times.Always great food and wonderful servers.Cozy atmosphere and always leave satisfied.

It's just the best restaurant in the Des Moines area. I love this place. I found it by accident, but have been back multiple times. The stuffed mushrooms are to die for. I had the Sea Food Bisque soup, my wife got the beef stew. The Bisque was awesome but the beef stew was a little too salty for our taste. I had the Vodka pasta with Grazianos. It was like heaven. My had the lamb chops. I'm not a lamb guy but I have to tell you I would order it from Simon's. Just get there early. The service is terrific. And the atmosphere is just classic neighborhood restaurant that has been there forever. read more

What amazing place. Absolutely wonderful service. Incredible food meet atmosphere. Always crowded. Always good. Highly recommended.

So yummy! It's great every time we go! They give out free red velvet cake after dinner! read more

The best. The owner is so attentive and personable and the food is great! Highly Recommended!!!

A truly unforgettable experienc. THIS is what it means to dine locally. Simon person tends the front door and is the first to greet you as he physically opens it and invites you inside! As in every. time. And believe this- the food is somehow even better than that welcome! You will try it and then return often. read more

One of the best meals I've ever had. Top 10 for sure. The staff was super cool and Simon checked in himself. The steak was beyond perfect. Absolutely loved my meal there. The wife had chicken parm and the kid had a pizza. They were both top notch as of course I sampled those. Ambience was great as well with good music. read more

My wife heard about this place second hand so we decided to try it out for our anniversary. They open at 5 so we decided to drop in about 4:50 to catch an early dinner. Glad we did. There was already a lineup. But a few minutes later and we were lucky enough to get inside to wait at the bar for a table to open up. 45 minutes later we were seated. The interesting part was while waiting we saw the interaction between staff and between staff and customers. You felt like you were at Cheers and everyone were old friends. We enjoyed the atmosphere every bit as much as the food, which was delicious. While we went Italian there were plenty of delicious dishes walking by us that we're eager to try on another occasion. (I do recommend the mushroom crostini starter) Our server, O, was fabulous. And while we did have a slight issue with our order, Simon came by and made sure everything was alright. Appreciated his kindness and concern. Will certainly go back! Maybe just a little earlier. Though even if you have to stand and wait, it's worth it. read more

Amazed by the positive reviews and the demand to dine here. It is no more than just ok. Flavorless dishes from the tenderloin to the pastas. Don't buy into the hype. Plenty much better options in Des Moines. read more

Don't look any further for a place that will wow with both beyond exceptional service and spectacular food! I enjoyed my meal at the bar with a delicious mock tail, somE cheesy bread and opted for the shrimp scampi. && the seafood bisque was the best soup I've had! The owner Simon was phenomenal and practically read my mind as things I needed came up. Great conversations with him and the patrons and wish every restaurant experience was as amazing as this one read more

Simon's - Seafood bisque and shrimp scampi - Italian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Came down from MN to visit my friend. She took me to Simon's for dinner. And WOW! Did not disappoint! The food was AMAZING! I had the steak with garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. It was done to perfection!!! Loved the ambiance and artwork!!! The service was great! Simon was such a great guy! I'm so glad I was able to meet him!!! I'll be back for sure! read more

So overrated..... don't wait over an hour for the poor service and weak food here. Really hard to believe all the rave reviews based upon the experience tonight. Soup was too salty and pasta was bland. The restaurant is so small and loud that you cannot enjoy the dining experience. Everything took forever. read more

Visited here on a busy Saturday night-- put in our names around 5:40, and were told we would need to wait until around 6:30. Around 6:40, we asked for an update, and were told we were next in line, so did get in around 6:50. This to say, with the time estimate being wrong, it was strange to not get any form of an update. Even for a restaurant that isn't lauded for it's personal and welcoming environment, we would have found this to be strange. Granted that this restaurant is in fact lauded for being personal and welcoming, we found this doubly strange. The business model of having people either wait outside before the restaurant opens or wait outside in a waiting area in of and itself isn't bad-- its execution, however, in our case was lacking. We were placed at a small table in the middle of the restaurant, which might have fueled our chief confusion, which is that we were consistently dodging servers holding plates, or other restaurant goers navigating to the bar. Food-wise, the bread was very basic and not very interesting, the complimentary salad with the house dressing (parmesan) was fairly bland, and the seafood bisque was good but salty. We then split the sausage chicken and spicy sausage vodka pasta. The sausage chicken dish was generally underwhelming but most noticeably not hot. The pasta was the best thing we ate all evening, though was slightly strange because they used 4 different pasta shapes (penne, farfalle, rotini, and shells). Lastly, as alluded to in the beginning of my review, and as was similarly previewed in our wait, the service was not good. No server addressed us in the first 10 minutes of sitting down, and pretty much the only interaction we had with any server was in ordering our food. Our water glasses were never refilled, and though neither of us had any water before they gave us cake, no server came by to refill our glasses, nor did they stay long enough for us to really ask. Again, this would have been strange even for an establishment that isn't consistently praised for its incredible service. It was an interesting and different experience, but one that, for us, was not properly executed on. That and the food was really, in all, fairly mediocre. read more

10/10 everything. The food, the atmosphere, everything was amazing. Simon was walking around talking to everyone and it just felt very welcoming. Best restaurant I've been to in Des Moines. Get there early because there will be a wait! We were there 10 minutes before they opened, and there was a line of 25 people. Well worth the wait though! read more