Simon's J Benjamin's

Appetizers, wine, steaks everything ordered from our party of 6 was AMAZING. Staff was incredible. Great time in a great atmosphere. When the owner came out to see how everything was that was the icing on an already Delicious cake (try the red Velvet) we'll be back

Yes the food is among the best in Des Moines. Yes the cake will make you come back again. Yes you wish it was twice as big but not because it would ruin it. But - the thing about Simon’s is Simon. He is easily the nicest chef owner I’ve ever met. He is genuinely one of the reasons I come back time and again. Come here. Eat at the bar. Make friends with Simon and the staff. Eating out should be a celebration of community and Simon gets that. 7 stars.

Best new York strip in town! Also the baked artichoke dip is very good. Great service everytime!

Amazing food and great service! Very charming atmosphere. Simon always walks around and checks in with everyone which makes you feel like a regular or right at home. Everything I’ve tried here is delicious but especially that artichoke dip!

Absolutely phenomenal service and excellent food. Went there for our anniversary and the staff completely wowed us. We didn't have to wait for a table, but if we would have it would have been totally worth it.

This is a local gem on Des Moines' west side. Seat is very limited, so show up ahead of time. Each dish was incredibly flavorful, unque, and highly satisfying and very reasonably priced. You cannot go wrong here.

I love this place! If you want great food and upscale dining experience in a small neighborhood setting, this is your place. Simon the owner is always there and will greet you when you come in and will walk you to the door on the way out. This is nice personal service and his patrons are loyal fans. If there is a line for waiting he knows exactly when you came in so it's never a problem and no need to put your name on a list. The food is incredible, its high dining experience at very reasonable cost. Its ideal for a date setting as it's very cozy and comfortable. The place has a rustic feel with a splash of modernism. Lighting is low and atmosphere is welcoming. So if you are looking for incredible food and a cozy atmosphere without the price tag please visit Simon's. Wait til you see what's for dessert 😉

Get there and be in line before 5:00 pm for first seating. Great food and service. They will surprise you at the end..

Amazing! Great service, solid drink menu and cool atmosphere. Small spot but makes it feel more intimate. Simon himself walked out a few guests as we were walking in and he spoke to them outside for a few minutes.

Simon's was excellent. The food was great and the service was excellent. As everyone says, it is extremely busy and popular even as soon as they open. With that said, it is well worth the wait.

Good value. Great staff. Great food.

Great experience! Incredibly friendly staff and super delicious food! I recommend getting a reservation if you can (only for parties of 6 or more) because it's a very busy spot! It's a pretty small venue so expect a wait. But the food is totally worth it. The stuffed mushrooms were the best I've ever had. And the portabella mushroom sauce was phenomenal. Its pricey but worth it!

My colleagues and I were only in town for 2 days. Only 1 of us had ever been to Iowa. We were told that Simon's was a good place to eat. After eating at Jethro's and not really getting the vibe that Des Moines is food savvy, we were very skeptical of any restaurant. We decided to Uber to Simon's anyway to give it a try. Ladies and gentlemen, the Uber, drive, walk; however you get there is worth it. The place is small but no one cared. We were very well taken care of the entire time. The waitresses were excellent. The food was well above expectations, and Simon. You can't deny a great owner when you meet one. He is absolutely what owners should pattern themselves after. We will always visit Simon's when we are in town.

This was the best food I've had in all of Des Moines! We love trying out different places but Simon's has won us over. Simon himself was bustling about the restaurant talking to patrons as if they had been long time friends. We had about a 40 minute wait in a Saturday night, but were able to belly up to the bar. We truly didn't mind waiting, Simon apologized a few times, however we fully excepted it. The food is incredible, everything from start to finish far exceeded our expectations!

First time there. Excellent service by various staff. Made sure we were accommodated while waiting. Food was excellent and timely. Will definitely go back.

It's just always so packed, your reservation doesn't matter. Simon and everyone are always kind and the food is excellent but it's sheer chaos in there.

The best!I’m always amazed at the consistency of the service and food here! They stay slammed from the time they open until they close and the food is always great, the staff is always super friendly and helpful. I always look forward to taking my friends and family to this hidden gym in Iowa.

Amazing food and service. The owner is very active in his business and the care he puts into this place really shows.

Just ate at Simons for the first time tonight. There was a huge line to get in and on a Tuesday night that is a good sign or so I thought. The atmosphere is a little dark with some odd paintings but they have some cool lights which increases the ambiance. Once we got seated the waitress was there to get our drink orders. When she brought us our drinks we placed our food order. We got garlic cheese bread for out appetizer, salad with house dressing and stuffed chicken. The food was ok but under seasoned. Nothing was bad just not memorable. At the end of our meal we got a free piece of chocolate cake and just like the rest of the meal it was okay. We may come back to try Simons again but it won't be for a while if we do.

Food and service were great! I tried the beef tenderloin with mushroom onion sauce. It did not disappoint! My wife had manicotti and our son tried the cheesy mac pizza. All excellent.

Excellent food, excellent service. Simons stops at every table and greets everyone at the door too. Service was great and we did not feel rushed. Waitress was very helpful in answering questions we had about entrees. Relaxed, cozy and friendly.

Food was very good a priced very well. Service was outstanding. You may have to wait but it's well worth it!

Seriously never a bad meal or service. Amazing.

This is beyond 5 stars! The food is amazing! The service is great with so many personal touches! Simon personally hand delivered free drinks to those waiting for a table all throughout the night and ran out of the restaurant to say goodbye to us because he missed us before we left the table. All around amazing experience! Go! You will not regret it!

What great service. The owner made a point to speak to everyone as they were waiting to be seated, he came by and filled water and would stop to chat. Our table got a few dishes, a little of everything- pasta, chicken, steak- and all of it was great. I'd easily expect to pay double what I was charged anywhere else. What. A. Gem.

This is Awesome! The owner and his wife are like old friends that are wonderful cooks. My new favorite place.

Wonderful food and unmatched service. Simon takes great care of everyone.

We always have a lovely experience here! Simon is an exceptional host and the food is delicious. Definitely worth the wait :)

This place is amazing. You won’t find better service or a friendly atmosphere anywhere in Des Moines. And the food is spectacular literally the best steak I have ever had and their pizza is the best I love this place.

Amazing... Like always. Just go! Be patient if there's a wait, you'll be grateful you did!

So so so good and always worth the wait. The owner is very personable and even waved us down in the parking lot after forgetting a purse at the table. 10/10 would recommend!

Simon's is fantastic. Food is delicious and not overly spendy. If you haven't had it, get the Mushroom Crostini. It's amazing!

The food here is incredible and the experience is even better!! The owner is one of the most genuine people you'll ever meet and they treat you like family. This is THE best food in town and considerably under priced. The flavor will exceed your expectations every time. I can't say enough great things about this place!

Waiting was very pleasant... we were constantly tended to before being seated... having a drink in line while waiting outside was actually delightful. Our group was having fun talking to other guests waiting. Once seated, our server was very helpful with meal suggestions and answered questions as if she was an old friend. Onion rings were the perfect appetizer. I highly recommend the Sherry Cream Pasta. It was a delicious chicken & pasta mix, loved it!! After the meal, a piece of Red Velvet cake with 4 forks arrived. The cake was amazing!! It was hard to share with the table. I strongly recommend experiencing Simon's for yourself!!

Wonderful service and good food. We waited in line before they were open for about 20 minutes, so we were close to the start of the line (come early on the popular nights). My husband had the sausage stuffed chicken and salad, and I had the gnocchi with seafood bisque. I didn't get a photo of the complimentary dessert, which was a fabulous red velvet cake. We will definitely be back!

Ate at this place over the summer. When threw owner saw that I had a service dog he rearranged our sitting to accommodate my family and I.

You can't do any better than Simon's. There may be places with better food, though they are not many here in Des Moines, but NO ONE can compare to the service.Simon's is small. Perhaps 15 tables. And you may have to wait. But this is local dining at it's finest. Scratch kitchen, widely varied menu, pizza to lamb chops, full bar and a staff that is truly happy that you are there.There signature dish is beef stroganoff. Try it. It's amazing. Comfort food with flavor.A little known secret, the staff are all connected through hockey? I know! Hockey and fine food?!? But it's worked out well.Enjoy

Got there just in time, so no wait for a table. Service was quick, friendly and accommodating. Food was incredible!!! Highly recommend the duck (it's not on the menu, but they've got it!) Or the lamb chops. Everything was superbly prepared. Topped dinner off with a complimentary slice of Redd velvet cake. 10/10!!

What a treat! Loved it! Can't wait to go back!! Everything was wonderful! We rarely give 5 stars but would give Simon's more if possible.

I ordered the stuffed manicotti with marinara sauce and it was excellent. At some restaurant, the marinara sauce can be bitter but at Simon's it was perfectly seasoned. The meal included two manicotti and either soup or salad along with bread. I chose the seafood bisque and was not disappointed. The broth was very tasty with just a hint of heat and contained the right amount of seafood so there waa some in every bite. My friends and I appreciated the complimentary slice of Red Velvet Cake. There was enough for the three of us to enjoy a tasty treat. Glad to see there were so many people there tonight. It appears to be a neighborhood favorite.

Simon checked on us while we waited for a table, consistently. He and the waitress, Sara, gave us top notch service the entire evening. Every bite of our food was delectable and the bathroom was extremely clean. Going back and reccomending to everyone. 10/10

Great food and the owner is Super, he actually comes out and talks to customers!

Food was amazing, prices are ridiculous(super affordable), great service and the owner is the coolest guy ever. Bottom line best place to eat in Des Moines. PERIOD.

I liked the evening at Simons very much. Food was good, drinks were good. Atmosphere was excellent. Outstanding was the very natural and authentic waiter/waitress. As a tourist I felt very comfortable.

Wow, how have I never been here before! This place is the greatest! Get there early, I suggest 4:45 as there will be a line. You might have to wait but well worth it! YUM 😋 the best chocolate martini I have ever had and complimentary cake for dessert!!!! WOW!!

Absolutely superb all the way around!!! There will be a long wait, but it's MORE than worth it!!! Food and service were on point, and the owner is fantastic!!! Definitely going back!!

We tried Simon's tonight for the first time. It lived up to every exceptional review I had read. Tomato bisque soup was a great starter to my perfectly cooked steak with the mushroom cream sauce! My husband also loved his garden salad with lasagna. Simon stopped at the table to personally welcome us. We will be back!!

Hands down Des Moines best kept secret. From the service.... to the food.... to Simon.... you wont find a better place to eat. Well worth the wait! Honestly, I have never seen an owner take so much pride in his business and customers. Simon is right on it. Serving drinks to his customers who are waiting in line. This guy makes you feel so welcome and honored to be in his restaurant!Amazingly delicious food. Prices are very reasonable. I cannot wait to go back!

Had to wait a bit for a table of 5 on a Monday at 6 but it was well worth it and Simon made us very comfortable! Great food. Love the atmosphere.

Incredible environment and amazing staff. Didn't have any chocolate milk for the kiddos so they left to the store to get the chocolate milk for them. That's some damn good customer service