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Simon's

4.6 (358 reviews)
ModerateItalian
Closed • Closed

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SIMON'S ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Intimate
Dogs allowed
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Simon's

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Signage.
Dan T.

Good morning! Good afternoon! Good evening! Whenever you are reading this...! Owned by and operated by Simon Goheen. I've eaten at Simon's before, but not in quite a while. The last time may have even been before I started writing reviews... And I don't know why. If I had to pick a metro restaurant to label as magical.... Akin to how a child sees Disney... Simon's would be that spot for me. Let's start with the basics. When you arrive at Simon's you will find a small parking lot to the West of the property. There is also some street parking available on adjacent streets and in front of the restaurant. At open there will often be a line waiting outside to get into Simon's as they unlock the doors. Reservations are available for groups of 6+. Seating inside the main restaurant is booths, low top tables, and chairs, and seats at the bar. There is a waiting area one door to the West of the main restaurant... If you like photo ops the furniture and art in the waiting area are going to be right up your alley...! I love the vibe in both the restaurant and the waiting area! Dimly lit and a very relaxed feel to both spaces. It's one of those spots where you feel comfortable in shorts and polo or in a three piece suit. This time at Simon's was with a party of nine with 530 PM reservations on a Thursday evening. I was greeted right away as I walked in and two of us were already seated. I took my seat and our server introduced herself and took drink orders as we waited for the rest of our group. Two of my friends were greeted with hugs and handshakes from Simon and our server. Say you're a regualr without saying you're a regular...! I'm not going to remember everything ordered, but here's what I can remember seeing at the table... 1x Old fashioned (mine) 1x Baked artichoke dip 2x Spicy three cheese stuffed mushrooms (I'd ordered one of these) 2x Mushroom crostini 1x Garlic cheese bread 1x Vodka pasta w/ Grazianos sausage (seafood bisque on the side) 1x Chicken parmesan 1x Pork DeBurgo 1x Cordon Bleu 1x Seafood Cioppino and side salad with the house dressing (mine) 1x Shrimp & scallops 3x I have no idea... Lol Complimentary Red Velvet Cake The appetizers hit the table. It didn't seem like much time had passed after ordering, but that's how it is when you're in great company. We'd all worked together for over a decade or more and still keep in touch. Everything was spot on! I was particularly impressed with the mushroom crostini. So savory and then the contrast of the textures between the mushroom spread itself and the toast points... So good! I enjoyed my salad with the house parmesan ranch too. Soon it was on to the main show. I can only speak to my meal and a couple of shared bites. Service throughout the meal was perfect. We couldn't have asked for better. Both our server and Simon checked on us regularly and other staff was dropping by with refills and whatever else may have been needed during the course of our meal. I hadn't had a good Seafood Cioppino since Irina's took it off their menu and I was hesitant to order it knowing how good some of the other available items are at Simon's... It didn't dissapoint. Not in the slightest... The noodles were cooked perfectly and so was the shrimp and scallops. The spicy white wine and red cream sauce had a little kick, my forehead may have glistened a little, but it wasn't overwhelming. I really enjoyed this dish. My friend seated next to me offered me a bit of his Pork DeBurgo. Served in three medallions. I could have sworn it was filet mignon... Melt in your mouth tender. I would have never expected that from a pork dish! And of course I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the red velvet cake. Offered as a complimentary end to our meal. I grew up with a great red velvet cake. My mom used to make it for every birthday in our house. Hers was moist (and yes I know some people hate that word...) and the frosting was sweet. She used more of a whipped marshmallow creme frosting instead of a traditional cream cheese base, but the idea is the same. So many people dry out red velvet cake... One bite of this dessert done well brings back SO many memories. Simply said Simon's does it right. After as close to a perfect meal as I've ever had... Some of us said our goodbyes and a few of us reconvened in the waiting area to visit a little more before taking off. Simon stopped in and chatted with us. We talked about the meal, the art on the walls, the recent changes to the waiting area itself... He was the perfect host and is everything you want to see in a business owner! Personable, attentive, and someone who realizes that the key to a successful business is doing things the right way...consistently.

Jessica M.

Our family of six made dinner reservations for 5 pm on a Thursday night. Coming from Chicago, 5 pm is considered an early dinner time and I originally planned on walking in. But I read a few reviews and realized the restaurant is relatively small. Fortunately I was able to make reservations three days prior to dining in. There was a line down the block when we arrived at 4:45 pm. Apparently people in Des Moines are early birds when it comes to dinner. We shared the baked artichoke dip, baked pasta with jalapeno and red peppers, beef stroganoff, and steak deburgo. The dip was served with toast points which we think were a complete miss. It resembled days-old bread that was semi-toasted. The entrees came with a soup or salad. We tried the seafood bisque which was incredibly salty and we could not bring ourselves to finish it. But otherwise, the entrees were all worthwhile and delicious. The stroganoff's beef was very tender and there was an abundance of mushrooms. Our girls loved this dish! Our 8 ounce steak deburgo was pan-seared and medium rare. It came with a garlicky butter sauce. Our server was attentive, kind, and generous. She served us two huge slices of red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. The cake was plush and moist - a great way to end the meal.

Exceptional beef stroganoff
Daniel E.

I have enjoyed the best overall Des Moines dining experience here, and it is an elite combination of exceptional customer service, a great venue vibe, and phenomenal food. Shoutout to owner and operator Simon Boheen for cultivating such an extraordinary feel from top to bottom. We had heard about Simon's from a friend who raved about it and planned a visit. They nailed it. When we arrived at 430PM for their 5 PM opening, I thought that we might have made a mistake, but minutes later, there were 40-50 in line. Parking is tight. If you're not among the first setting, they have a nice room adjacent to the restaurant to sit and enjoy. Casual attire. Pricing was moderate. Nick, our server, was terrific and improved the whole experience. Our party of four was served flawlessly. With Nick's help, I wandered from the usual favorites and selected the best darn lasagna (with sausage) that I can remember. Our side salads were yummy. Onion rings and baked artichoke dip appetizers were superb. My Way Better Half's Beef Stroganoff was terrific, as I tested it for purely quality control reasons. We were never rushed or pressed for time despite dozens of people waiting for tables in an adjacent room. Owner Simon visited our table and interacted as best he could in a packed venue. He also visited each nearby table, a level of service that certainly got our attention. Our night was capped off by an incredible complimentary slice of Red Velvet Cake. Bravo, Simon's. What a superb dining experience.

Steak w mushroom sauce
Brooke K.

Best restaurant in des moines. Bar next door is great as a "waiting room". Service is great + the owner is so casual and accommodating. Food is just flat great. Not an overpriced steak that's crap. This steak is cooked to perfection and for the right value. Seafood soup, stuffed mushrooms, onion rings. Just can't go wrong.

Seafood Bisque
MaryAnn S.

Enjoy the feel of a neighborhood restaurant nestled on a side street with limited parking. At the opportune time I will order the seafood bisque, artichoke dip and Steak DeBurgo which seemed to be crowd favorites. My wait will be three and half hours where I will see if the exquisite entree and appetizers will deliver the relaxing experience to match the friendly hospitality of food served with a purpose. Ordered the Seafood Bisque which was a little salty for my test. The Steak DeBurgo was cooked perfectly, but the cut was somewhat chewy and not as tender as I desired. The side veggies were very good and Red Velvet Cake was absolutely delicious.

Steak DeBurgo

Incredible!! My family and I went to celebrate a birthday and are so thankful we did. It was our first experience at Simon's and we will be back! We got the onion rings and they were wonderful. Our table had 3 steak de Burgos and chicken Parmesan. The salad, mashed potatoes and asparagus were great! The cake for dessert was such a nice surprise. Highly recommend visiting!!

Cliff K.

This has been in the Beaverdale neighborhood in different iterations since nineteen fifty four. It's current ownership has been there for fifteen years. I think it's a secret gem of Des Moines. Everyone is understaffed, so I always appreciate the service staff who are working. Remember they're busy because they're good. This restaurant still has that old time feel, it's a definite classic Italian neighborhood type vibe. Staff have always tried to make sure I am happy. It can be a busy place so depending on the time you may have to wait but they move.poeple through quickly without being intrusive. The owner has developed two waiting areas where you can have cocktails and talk to your friends while you're waiting.They're all in the same strip mall. They have excellent cocktails a nice wine list and a good beer list. I go every couple weeks with the right attitude of either going right at four thirty to wait and line to get in with the first group or to go later to get in with the second group around seven thirty. Car pooling is a good idea because parking can be limited so many people are coming. I've enjoyed appetizers like onion rings, mushrooms and Bruchetta main dishes like the lambchops, the scallops Different types of steaks including a steak de burgo, beef tenderloin, the fabulous portabella sauce they have lots of chicken dishes as well. Lots of fun Pasta too and they are i enjoy their lobster bisque! They also have great Italian sandwiches and pizzas for a family or group eating. The waiting is worth it and can be fun drinking relaxing and chatting,

Marlene H.

I was visiting from out of town for a tradeshow and learned of Simon's from a yelp review went in and had one of the best meals I've had on the road and returned the second visit and took two more additional meals for the road. The staff was excellent. The food was excellent And I hope someday to be able to return! Thanks, Simon & crew

balsamic salad
Lexi A.

holy guacamole this place was amazing.i hate to wait long for food because im impatient... so i can't believe im saying this. even that SALAD was 10000% worth an hour and a half wait??? best salad ever. we will be back simon's.... oh yes we will.

Emily B.

Omg I highly recommend this place. We had dinner reservations at 7 on a Saturday. Definitely a better option so you don't have to wait 45-1hr but even then the wait is worth it! They have a waiting area outside & you can take beverages. All the food we had was seriously amazing. Everyone loved what they ordered. My dish was the chicken Florentine & it had so much flavor but honestly every dish I tried did! Super small inside but also super intimate. Simon himself came out several times to each table to ask how everything was, so friendly & caring! We can't wait to go back. This was our first time!

Shrimp scampi

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2 years ago

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

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2 years ago

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

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

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2 years ago

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

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Baratta's - Baratta's restaurant.

Baratta's

(141 reviews)

$$

My wife and I have been making a point to try at least one new-to-us place each month this year…read more April's pick was Baratta's, a Des Moines staple that has been part of the local dining scene for years. We went on a Thursday night and walked into a packed house. Baratta's is one of those sprawling, multi-room venues that feels like it grew one dining room at a time, and there is a lot of charm in that. The menu is equally sprawling, and we started with the Focaccia bread, which was excellent. We split the Ravioli al Forno and still had enough to bring home, which is always a good sign. A couple of things caught us off guard. The room we landed in ran loud enough to make conversation a little work, and the wine list was shorter than we expected for a place this size. Neither was a dealbreaker. Baratta's is the kind of place that has earned its reputation, and we would go back to explore more of the menu. Worth a visit if you have not been.

A Des Moines classic. Last night took me to revisit Baratta's down on South Union...a South side…read moretradition with history dating back to the 1920s. I think they've been under the current ownership since 1993. Spacious parking and I've always loved the atmosphere at Baratta's... Kind of an old school vibe, but up to date too. From the outside you can still see the evolution that happened over the years. A combination of store and home that evenutally merged together, but it's not as obvious from the inside. We were greeted right away when we walked in and were seated at a high backed booth in the bar area. If I recall the seating in the main restaurant is mostly low top tables and chairs. I didn't catch our server's name, but she was BUSY. It seemed like she working as a host, bartender, and server from what I could see. All rolled into one. And she did a fanstatic job! Drink orders were taken first and food a few minutes later after we'd had time to look over the menu. Most entrees come with bread and a side of either soup or a salad. I love their salads. All their dressing are made in house if I recall correctly. We ordered the Amaggio with chicken, the Manicotti al Formaggio with white sauce, both with side salads (blue cheese and creamy garlic), an unsweetened ice tea, and a soda (Coke products). $56ish before tip. Amaggio: "A house favorite with your choice of chicken, shrimp, or both rolled in a mixture of fresh bread crumbs and then grilled to perfection. Served over linguini with roasted red peppers and mushrooms. Topped with our Amaggio sauce made with olive oil, white wine, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, garlic and basil." Manicotti al Formaggio: "A unique blend of five cheeses including mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, asiago, and ricotta wrapped with fresh pasta and baked with your choice of red, white, or marinara." In full transparency I've never had a bad experience at Baratta's. Food or service... But that being said I can say the same about A LOT of restaurants in the metro! Some that others complain about regularly. I'm been trying to figure that out... 1. Either I'm not picky... 2. Maybe I'm very forgiving. 3. Or maybe I just choose to approach each dining experience with a positive attitude right out of the gate and it's infectious. Maybe a combination of all of the above...? It's just easier to be nice sometimes. It is what it is I guess... The food hit our table after a short wait. Bread and salads first and then the main dishes. Everything was cooked perfectly. The linguini in my Amaggio was still al dente. The chicken was delicious. Perfectly seasoned and not the least bit dry. I'm glad I left my bread to help clean my plate with. Our server checked on us regularly, we never had to ask for a refill...it was just taken care of...and Joe stopped by to check on us a couple of times too. I love seeing owners on site and interacting with their guests. That alone can bring a restaurant to a different level in my eyes. It shows accountablity that can sometimes seem absent these days. As always a great meal and an overall fantastic visit to Baratta's!

Tumea & Sons Restaurant - Penne Salsiccia Pasta Dinner

Tumea & Sons Restaurant

(168 reviews)

$$

It's been an Italian week I guess. Just like Friday found us at Latin King... This past Saturday…read morewe made our way over to Tumea & Sons. Once again a later night dinner. There's a large parking lot adjacent to Tumea & Sons. The place was packed. We were greeted right away as we walked in and were told it would be a 30-40 min wait. We knew there were some smaller parties already waiting and at least a party of eight in front of us. There was a very outspoken stereotypical Nonna representing the party of eight...and who was really giving the host the business... Lol We found standing room at the bar where we decided to wait. The bartenders were doing a good job. There were a few people seated and we weren't the only ones waiting for a table... The decor inside is WAY more old school casual than Latin King. It's a little dated. I'd say it has a blue collar working man's feel to it... That works for me! I guess I'm still a little rough around the edges sometimes... Opened in 1998... Their family history is proudly displayed on their walls! Seating is a combination of booths and low top tables and chairs in the main dining area. Standard bar seating. booths, and a couple high tops in the bar area. I think we were right about at our estimated wait time when we were called over to go to a table. 2x Bud Light bottles 2x Cranberry and vodka 2x Mixed drinks (Malibu, pineapple juice, and grenadine) 2x Fountain drinks (Coke products) 1x Onion Rings (half order) - Thinly sliced & hand-breaded 1x Steak De Burgo. Side salad (house creamy garlic dressing) - Two five ounce beef medallions served in a rich garlic herbed cream sauce 1x Fried Shrimp with fries and a side salad (house creamy garlic dressing) - Seven double breaded, deep fried shrimp, served with cocktail sauce 1x Pasta Diablo. Add chicken. Side salad (house creamy garlic dressing) - Penne rigate served with a spicy tomato cream sauce 1x Raspberry tiramisu Standard table service. Drink orders first and then on to the food. Our server did a great job and the food was fantastic! The wait wasn't long after ordering before food started to hit the table. Rolls and salads first. I don't normally like thin onion rings, but I really liked these. Crispy. Drained properly. Not the soggy greasy limp mess I've come to associate with thin onion rings... Lol The pasta diablo wasn't near as spicy as I thought it might be from what I've heard from others. Pretty mild... Great flavor though! The raspberry tiramisu was pretty good. I'm more of a traditional tiramisu guy, but one of my friends doesn't care for the taste of coffee... Made in a very similar style but cream and raspberry sauce. Staff was friendly and personable even though you could tell they were nearing the end of a hectic Saturday dinner service. All three of us were pleased with our food! No one walked away hungry...! I can definitely recommend Tumea & Sons! Already looking forward to going back...!

Family and I went here before a Iowa Cubs game for the first time a few weeks ago. We made a…read morereservation a couple hours ahead of time. Our server was very nice but she was a little busy. The service was still pretty good though. The food was awesome. Love the soup of the day which was potato pepper jack the bread was good as well. I got the chicken de Burgo. I would get it again, but I would also like to try something else, the star of the show was the peach shortbread dessert. It was very unique and unlike anything that we've had before. My boyfriend got the hot Italian sub and he absolutely loved it and can't wait to go back to get another one as well as another dessert. Ambience is very nice and family like very welcoming and casual.

Lucca

Lucca

(157 reviews)

$$

Lucca is one of THE best dining experiences in Des Moines. The menu design is a four course meal…read morewhere you can choose your own adventure each visit. The meal begins with a salad course followed by a pasta course. The cod cake salad was incredibly delicious! Both the gnocchi and the amatriciana were standout pastas. I had the pork ribeye which was succulent and cooked to perfection and served with a tomatillo sauce that was so tasty! Dessert is family style with an assortment of desserts for the table including a lemon cake and a tres leches cake. The service was great from start to finish including making the reservation (which I highly recommend). We were greeted the moment we walked through the door and quickly shown to our table. Since we were dining early, the venue was quiet for the first half hour or so, but diners kept coming in and by the time we left the place was hopping. It is very cozy and intimate but not so much so that you feel like other diners are on top of you or that you are listening in on their conversations. We brought our own wine, but there is a vast assortment of wines available. We enjoyed Lucca so much that we have made two future reservations already and are very much looking forward to dining with the wonderful crew there soon!

I love this place…read more Not only is the food excellent, the team that works here makes the experience great too. I come here for lunch regularly because the menu is fairly priced & the food is quality. I typically order the cajun tuna sandwich because i don't order tuna regularly so it is a real treat. As a side, soup on cold days or the lucca salad on warm days You really can't go wrong with a majority of the menu as everything is good. Side note, it comes very quickly after you order (another plus). I've only had dinner here a few times. The menu is prix fixe with 4 courses (if i remember correctly). All of them delicious. Well worth it. Bonus -- drinks are made strong.

Aposto

Aposto

(91 reviews)

$$$

I didn't realize how long it had been since I'd reviewed Aposto, so I didn't snap any pics, but I…read morecan completely affirm my 5-star rating. We arrived a couple of hours before our event at Hoyt Sherman, which is right down the street, so that we could have a leisurely experience. We were seated at one of the tables by a front window, so we had a nice view of both the lovely inside and the front lawn. My wife avoids cow dairy, so the staff was great about making sure each dish she got was adjusted to her liking. She got the cardini salad for her starter, a wonderfully fresh assortment of veggies. She then opted for the cavatelli (sans cheese), and it was wonderful homemade pasta and a great blend of sausage and sauce. I got the gnocchi, which was just as delightful. Beautiful pillows of gnocchi with a tasty lightly spiced curry sauce. We topped off our meal by sharing the chocolate torte, and it was a wonderful finish to the meal. They have a pretty thorough wine list which is tilted toward Italian wines. Those aren't my fav, so I got a martini, which was fantastic! My wife got the prosecco, which was fairly dry, which was what she was aiming for. Service was attentive, friendly, and overall exceptional. This will not be your least expensive meal in the area, but I always feel like I get value out of my overall experience.

This is my second time dining at Aposto, it was time for a review! I've been once in the Summer and…read morenow this time during winter- I mention this because their menu is ever seasonally changing. Which is a great thing! They do a small limited menu, everything is fresh and locally sourced which I loved. Set in an old Victorian home in historic Sherman Hills area of Des Moines this place is quiet, small on the inside with a homey romantic vibe. Tyler at the bar is amazing at what he does as a mixologist. My husband commented it was the best old fashioned he'd ever had! Our service was wonderful, paced very well. We felt we had enough time to chat, eat and take the ambiance in! A wonderful place for a date night, a celebration or a night out! Parking is limited to the street, no meters. But during busier times you might have to park farther away and walk a few blocks. Definitely a must do in Des Moines!

Simon's - italian - Updated May 2026

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