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    Simple Simon's Bakery & Bistro

    4.1 (1.7k reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Order Simple Simon's Bakery & Bistro Takeout or Delivery

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    SIMPLE SIMON'S BAKERY & BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Reviews With Photos

    Outside
    Vanessa C.

    The server saw we were confused when we first walked in and he was very nice and taught us how it works. Order and then sit The strawberry croissant was honestly one of the best things I've ever tasted. The custard was incredible--super smooth and rich--and the strawberries were perfectly sweet. I shared it with the table and everyone loved it. I also had the spinach and bacon omelette, which was very tasty. The provolone cheese was perfectly gooey, the bacon inside was flavorful, and the potatoes on the side were seasoned just right. The fresh-squeezed orange juice definitely tasted fresh--you can tell right away. It was super refreshing and honestly immaculate. The only downside was my espresso oat milk latte. I ordered it iced, but it came out hot. I didn't say anything since I just needed the caffeine, but the taste itself was a bit underwhelming. Overall, the food was amazing and I'd definitely come back--just double-check your drink order!

    Bakery choices
    Jessica M.

    Great food and great service. I love the outdoor seating. The staff were all very nice. The bakery case had so many delicious options it was hard to decide. Everything was very good. Highly recommend

    Grilled Pastrami & Swiss
    Jeremy S.

    I've been wanting to try this sandwich spot for awhile and glad I did! Came for lunch on a Saturday around noon and the place was a bit busy but had only a short line, I opted for the pastrami sandwich and the no way Jose sandwich and enjoyed both of them! Each sandwich was $16 and comes with a side like potato salad or mixed fruit. The pastrami sandwich was perfect! A good sized sandwich with delicious pastrami and they do their bread really well. It was the right mix of soft, buttery, and crispy and the Dijon sauce that came with it was good too. As for the sides, I'd recommend the mixed fruit, which came with a lot of variety and was really refreshing. The sandwich is a bit pricey but it can easily be shared with another person. Service was solid and the restaurant was clean and had a classic homey feel. This is a great lunch option in downtown!

    Breakfast Croissant Sandwich
    Allyson C.

    It's located in a cute little area in Riverside among several other restaurants and retail shops. Inside, the restaurant has an older style look with tall wooden booths and a lot of dark wood overall. Order at the counter and shimmy down to make your way to the cashier at the other end. Everyone we encountered was friendly, despite some of the other reviews I saw. I ordered one of the breakfast croissant sandwiches and it was delicious. Some reviewers mentioned small portions. I don't know what they ordered, but this was not at all small in my opinion (not sure if my picture will do it justice). All four of us in my group were happy with our orders (another breakfast sandwich, eggs their way and an omelet) and bought oatmeal raisin cookies for the road. They were tasty and probably would have been even better warm. I also had a mocha and it was delightful! I did think it was silly that the gentleman in front of us who wanted to place a large order for lunch was made to come back after 11:00a to place his order. Why not take it and make the food when he needed it? That sounds like a better plan for everyone, but who am I?

    Isabel S.

    Cute cafe in Downtown Riverside that has tons of fresh baked in house pastries and brunch fare. Rather pricey for breakfast items but they are shareable and pretty good. Breakfast croissant - eggs (any style you choose), sausage, your choice of cheese, mayo, tomato and avocado. Includes a side of home style potatoes. $22 Cowboy cookie - 10/10 - has walnuts, shredded coconut, chocolate chips and oats so good and chewy. $4 They have an espresso machine and syrups but no menu for lattes or espresso drinks so I didn't get one.

    Jan L.

    Just across from Our hotel. A busy place with Basic decor inside. Welcoming and inviting. Walk up to the counter and order your items. Very well organized chef system and ensuring you get your food quickly. I ordered the croissant breakfast sandwich and he the American breakfast. My sandwich was huge and could only finish half. Potato's were so good with a nice crispy crunch. I boxed it up and gave it to a homeless person - since we were visiting. His was very good as well- it was all gone. We will return!

    Awful tasting French toast that
    Patricia V.

    While staying at the Mission Inn, I decided to try Simple Simon's for breakfast. The atmosphere was bustling and the initial service was impressively fast and courteous. Unfortunately, the experience went downhill once the food arrived. I ordered the French toast ($18), which came as two thick slabs rather than the traditional slices. While the presentation was fine, the flavor was genuinely disappointing--to the point where I couldn't finish it, I took TWO small bites. When I politely raised the issue, the girl that came over hwr demeanor shifted immediately to being rude and dismissive. The manager, Dillon, stepped in. While he remained calm, he refused to offer any solution, stating that because there was "nothing wrong" with the preparation, he wouldn't replace the dish or offer an alternative. It's disappointing that a restaurant at this price point wouldn't prioritize customer satisfaction over the cost of a few slices of bread. Pro tip: Only order something you are 100% sure of, as they do not stand behind their menu if it doesn't meet your taste.

    Chocolate expreso flourless cake
    Tim B.

    This place is great and has been a staple in Riverside for over 40 years. Super clean inside, great service, and delicious food. We got the bacon and spinach omelette with the tomatoes inside. It was outstanding and perfectly cooked. It comes with a side of really delicious potatoes. We also got a sweet treat that didn't disappoint - a flourless chocolate expreso heart shaped cake. It was very soft and had an amazing chocolate expreso taste. If you're looking for an overall great eating experience, this is your place.

    View of restaurant from back
    Pamela B.

    As a first time visitor, this DTR spot seems tried & true. I tried it first one afternoon when looking for something sweet. I bought a gorgeous raspberry croissant and a molasses cookie for the next day. Both were what you'd hope and more - the croissant both crisp with the creamiest custard, the cookie crisp, spicy, and chewy - the flavors were full, elevated. It was so tasty, on the last day of my trip I went again to try breakfast. Everything I saw on others' plates said "sign me up!" I have to eat a certain way so I got a simple bagel with scrambled eggs. Both were delicious. The poppy bagel was different from typical east-coast style bagels. This was larger, puffier. Nice and crusty on the outside, light and fluffy in the inside, but held up to the cream cheese. The brick interior is both historic and hip. You stand in line first to order, you find your seat, they bring the food to you. The lines were never-ending on the Saturday I went (9a-10a) - they kept coming but they also kept moving. I had doubts I'd find a seat, but lucked out. At other times I looked up and saw open tables, so they turned over well. The service was above average but not ka-pow. There were no gluten-free options of any baked items - so if I bring my spouse next time, they could only watch ME have yummy pastries, french toast but not enjoy any themselves. not the best food experience to share. Those are the reasons I didn't give 5-stars. It was not bad but not above and beyond either. Not complaints, just facts. The team worked well togetherbehind the counters; everything was served hot and timely. I will definitely return on my next trip to splurge on the french toast. It looked just like my mom used to make. Definitely try Simple Simon's.

    Entrance
    Genesis B.

    I've been meaning to try this place! I came on a Saturday at lunchtime. Stepping in, the bakery looks rustic and homey. Almost like stepping back in time. It was packed! People were forming a long line and almost every table was taken. There was a sign right at the door that breakfast was over at 11:30am. I was a little disappointed because I was led to believe this included brunch. Breakfast and lunch are separate menus. They have laminated menus available up at the counter. Since it was lunch, they have sandwiches, salads, and vegan/vegetarian options only. We didn't have to wait too long in line. It was going pretty fast. Maybe a 10 minute wait? The kitchen was busy, mostly men working. We ordered at the counter. They have a long row of pastries, such as croissants, cookies, brownies and other types of pastries! The sever was very nice and friendly. I ordered the loaded smokey. You get a choice of a side with your sandwich. I chose the pasta salad. The sandwiches are given weighed half of whole. Server let me know the sandwich I chose was a popular one. Specialty sandwiches are given whole. My friend ordered the croissant sandwich and her side of fruit. I just got water for my drink. The server gave us our ticket and directed us down the way to pay. Cups are available at the beverage station. We sat at the corner of the bakery. People were always coming and going, definitely a popular spot. Our meal took a bit to be served, given all the people. My meal was delicious! The loaded Smokey is definitely unique. Every flavor and bite complemented each other. The pasta salad was so good too! I was full off one half, so I decided to take the rest to go. There's a separate counter for to go boxes and utensils. I will definitely come back during their breakfast hours to try that menu!

    crossaint club + lemonade/iced tea
    Nicole A.

    Came here looking for a good lunch place in Riverside and it was pretty good. You order at a counter and they bring it out to you. You can sit inside or outside front or back. Good food and nice ambiance!

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    Page 1 of 44

    Simple Simon's Bakery & Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Simple Simon's Bakery & Bistro

    In the state of California gift cards are not allowed to expire unless you go out of business or change ownership!?

    Thanks for the information, I always really loved SS, which is why this situation has been so disappointing.… Read more

    Are there any vegan breakfast options?

    Very limited options

    Open on New Years?

    They don't open on Nee Years.

    Hi, where is the source of your lamb? Thank you :)

    Baby sheep

    Does anyone know when they will start serving breakfast again?

    8:00 Tuesday thru saturday

    Are you guys open on Christmas day?

    They aren't open the Christmas Day. It's holiday season, you gotten to go to your family house and get along with them. Oh yeah, it's also Jesus Christ birthday! Put your faith in the Lord Jesus. 🙏🏻❤️

    My family plan to go there at 8:30AM for breakfast; do they serve their sandwiches /whole menu for breakfast? Because my mom and I are there for the sandwiches---- ;) THANKS!

    Full menu was available at breakfast time when I was there. Enjoy!

    Do you have any Gluten Free options?

    Their bread is made in-house. There is gluten in the air there. They only have one flourless pastry - it's a delicious fudgey cake. They can make anything as a lettuce wrap. The salads are very nutritious and filling (lots of veggies, nuts, you can… Read more

    What vegan options are available?

    I don't have a menu available, but I can give u some suggestions. Excellent selections of soup and bread, fruit, pasta salad, and potato salad. I have tried some of their vegan sandwiches and as usual, excellent. They make their bread on site daily.… Read more

    Do they serve lunch all day or just as soon as breakfast is over?

    Lunch typically starts after 10:30AM. Sometimes they will make cold sandwiches before.

    How late do they serve breakfast/brunch?

    M-F 10:30AM SAT 11:00

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Came in excited and left... with mixed feelings…read more Let's start with the good Food and drinks came out fairly quickly The food presentation was definitely there. It looked like it was made with love. The egg+cheese sandwich absolutely carried the experience (seriously, give that thing a raise), and the matcha held its own as it was refreshing! Now the not so great... the huevos rancheros were unfortunately very, very, salty.. but I didn't want my money to go to waste so I made myself eat it.. The coffee was bitter, pretty but bitter. I usually like bitter coffee but this one caught me off guard haha The Customer service wasn't great.. The server asked if we needed anything else but was already walking away before we could answer. Overall, the matcha and egg+cheese sandwich was the best part from this experience. I would recommend those two.

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    We celebrated my grandma's 80th bday here. My uncle rented out the outdoors patio & small room…read moreadjacent to it from 1pm-4:30pm for an affordable price with deposit paid in advance to reserve. The owner, Santiago, allowed us to come a half hour beforehand to decorate & we came in, not knowing what to expect. Upon our arrival, the birthday cake was promptly whisked away to the kitchen, we found Santiago PERSONALLY on his hands & knees fixing the electrical cords for us, our servers introduced themselves & graciously helped us rearrange the set-up to accommodate the band we brought in. Then helped us rearrange the layout yet again once we realized the band needed to be next to the electrical outlets. I was embarrassed to even ask so I started doing it myself but they jumped right in without being asked. If I'm being honest, usually I'm not a fan of buffet meals, so I wasn't expecting much. But everything served was SO delicious! The fajitas were my favorite dish, not only flavorful but also nice & moist. Not only that, but they refilled the food for us as it ran out. They brought out to-go boxes for the leftovers, & best believe my family took home every last bite! The lime margarita tower was SO yummy but also hella dangerous because it was strong!! Other restaurants will give you watered down drinks but El Patron doesn't play. We were only planning on one but it was so good, we couldn't resist getting another. From start to finish, the servers (Leslie and Cecilia) were on POINT. Their service went above & beyond expectations-- continuously checking on us, refilling drinks/food, taking photos, etc. Not only that, but also, when my young autistic nephew unfortunately got sick, they were so incredibly compassionate about it & helped clean up the mess right away. I was absolutely blown away by the attention to detail & quality of care. As my grandma is getting older, we are especially cherishing these final years with her. We spent thousands overall (venue, music, photographer, special mass, etc) but every last cent was worth seeing her happy with all of her loved ones. After many months of planning, I was super nervous about something going wrong but I can honestly say that core memories were made. Thank you to Santiago, Leslie & Cecilia for your hospitality, good food & work ethic-- it truly meant so much for our family unit.

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    Simple Simon's Bakery & Bistro - bakeries - Updated May 2026

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