Simple Simon's Bakery & Bistro

Simple Simon’s is a true downtown Riverside staple. I’ve been a few times now and it’s always consistent. This last visit I went with the Italian grinder and their pasta salad. The sandwich was solid, packed with flavor and exactly what you want from a classic deli spot. But what surprised me was the pasta salad. The texture of the pasta was just right, the sauce and seasoning were balanced, and even the temperature was spot on. I rarely rave about something as simple as pasta salad, but this one deserves it. If you’re in downtown Riverside and want a dependable sandwich shop that delivers every time, this is definitely a must try.

Ordered: 2 eggs with ham and sourdough & Triple berry challah French Toast. You know a place is good when there is a line before they open. The food was delicious, great portions and so flavorful. The French Toast just melts in your mouth. Surprising the toasted sourdough was yummy. We didn't get to order any breads and pastries, so we'll definitely come back. Update: next day we were in the area and went back for lunch. We ordered 5 sandwiches and they forgot to make 2 of our sandwiches. Upsetting because 1st we were starving and 2nd watching everyone get served their lunch and still waiting. Waved someone down and they said it would be right out. Waited more had to flag down a staff member again, they only brought one and tried to take our table number away and we were like, "wait! We're still missing one sandwich." Ugh!

I spent the day in downtown and my chat gpt recommended this bakery for brunch. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it in time for the breakfast menu (ends at 11am) as intended, but wanted to try it regardless based on the reviews. When we walked in, we must have looked confused because there was a young man sweeping the floor that was very specific about where we need to stand in line, as he pointed with his broom to mark the spot. A bit odd! It’s somewhat of a small location and it wasn’t as clean as we hoped it would be. It wasn’t too hectic behind the counter, yet nobody really took the time to acknowledged us. We ordered the grilled chicken sandwich and the Cobb salad - both were underwhelming. It took quite sometimes for the order to come out and it was just … okay. Portions are a little small for the pricing. The salad had an excess of ingredients, straying away from a classic Cobb, so it didn’t really have the taste I was expecting. Glad we tried it, but not sure I would recommend.

The food was delicious and very fresh! The portions were great and a really good price. We had the chocolate ganache croissant, roast beef sandwich with fresh fruit, chicken tarragon salad sandwich with pasta salad, and a fruit tart. The staff were sweet, friendly, and very accommodating!

Delicious breakfast at Simple Simon’s Bakery & Bistro in downtown Riverside! We were really impressed with the food, loved how the winter omelet has the apple, pecans, and grilled onions, was a unique combination not often seen. The breakfast croissant club was also great, the sausage in it tasted so fresh and yummy. We enjoyed the bear claw, as well as the iced mocha and iced chai tea latte. Very friendly and accommodating staff. Dog friendly outdoor seating. Recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 I had breakfast at Simple Simon’s and it was great! The food was delicious and served fresh. I sat outside on the patio, which was nice, although a few homeless people came by and ate leftover food from tables — it made the experience a bit uncomfortable. On the positive side, there was someone singing Spanish music, and it really added a calm, relaxing atmosphere. Overall, a good breakfast spot with tasty food and pleasant vibes.

Simple Simon’s gets a solid 5 out of 5 in my book! From the vanilla latte to the bakery and breakfast omelets and croissants, everything is absolutely delicious. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu—everything I’ve tried has been fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. Parking is on the street and does require payment, but it’s worth it. The area also has a lot of charm, with nearby shops including a lovely antique store that’s fun to explore after your meal. I also had the princess cake and a fruit tart from the bakery—both were outstanding! No complaints at all. This is definitely a spot I’ll keep coming back to

Great bakery in downtown Riverside . Came by and enjoyed a delicious breakfast croissant with their famous apple chicken sausage which tasted delicious. Potatoes on the side which were delicious. Also took home a very tasty sourdough loaf. I recommend this place if you want a good meal or just want to take home some bread and pastries. Their black coffee was brewer to perfection as well. Enjoy

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!

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.

The absolute BEST tuna melt I've ever had!! I have been several times and they are always very consistent, too. They also have a great veggie sandwich. Great portions, fresh bread, good quality tuna. The dijon mustard on the side is absolutely essential. It tastes great with the pasta salad, too. Always comes out quick and hot. I love the vintage vibe inside, too. It's very cute and kind of peaceful in there. Service is always fast.

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!

My girl friends and I go every Saturday or Sunday after a hike at Mt Rubidoux. It's a location in downtown riverside that opens earlier than most places and it's the best place to get carbs and protein after a hike! You can tell that a lot of prep goes into their bakery and service. Food is always fresh, delicious and ALL the bread is fresh!!! I have not tried dessert but it looks yummy. Ambiance is casual inside and there are chairs/tables outside. When you enter, the line starts at the counter. You pick up a paper menu and order. You're given a receipt that you take to the cashier past all the pastries and desserts. If you choose the iced chai latte, they make it as you're paying. Do not be hesitant to wait in line if you see a line outside the door. Numerous times we have waited in line and the food came out just as we finished paying and were getting napkins. Simple Simon's has a really good system and all the workers are super nice, attentive and hustle to get you your food quick, hot and delicious. I always look forward to coming here and I know my friends feel the same.

Loved the atmosphere here! So many tempting pastries. Got the croissant club w/ avocado, sausage, egg, cheese & tomato + potatoes -- super tasty and filling. Raspberry pastry was great too! A bit pricey but worth it. Busy spot, but fast & friendly service!

Sandwiches were great. We had the "Grumps Lunch" pastrami sandwich, The Croissant Club, and the Grilled chicken pesto on sourdough. Thanks to my generous dining companions, I was able to taste all three sandwiches and they were fantastic. The bread was especially good. Highly recommend.

Another riverside delicacy with the sandwiches, custom ordering options, salad, and macaroni salad. The line for a quick lunch can turn into a normal lunch as it rocketed out the door and it was bustling at noon on a weekday. The interior has a lot of seating, but it was definitely filling up quickly. The food itself was yummy! I got one of their signature sandwiches, macaroni salad, and a water cup all for a pretty reasonable $16 bucks. I would come back to this spot as it is hip and cool

This place never disappoints. Breakfast and baked goods are their specialty, but lunch sammies are delicious too. They do stop the line 30 minutes before breakfast is over, so get there early!! Service is quick, from ordering to checkout to the turnaround time to getting food. YOU HAVE TO GET THE FRESH SQUEEZED OJ!!!

Their breakfast is always fresh and absolutely delicious I tried the mushroom, onion & chicken apple sausage with red potatoes and sour dough bread....I'm so glad I did because this is now my favorite breakfast meal. My friend got what I normally get which is the 2 egg breakfast with chicken sausage, potatoes and bread too. The chicken apple sausage is the best I've had. It's pretty busy for breakfast on the weekends, but the service after ordering was pretty quick. Tip: if you are with other, look for a table while you're in line! You can't go wrong with simple Simon's, just remember you get what you pay for!

We had lunch today for the first time and had a great lunch. It's in a great location by Mission Inn where there are lots of seating inside and out. I ordered a speciality sandwich which you can pick your own meat. I had turkey, bacon, lettuce, mayonnaise on a croissant. It comes with a side, I had fruit which was great. You can also add avocado, tomato no charge. My husband ordered their Italian Grinder which he loved. It came on ciabatta bread which made it great. He ordered a side of pasta which he liked. To top it off we had a chocolate chip cookie. Their bakery has a fantastic selection. You order at the front counter, they will bring your food to your table.

Expect to wait in line; expect yummy food and good coffee. Lors of energy. Homemade treats that not on the menu are displayed in the glass cases. I bring out of town visitors here. Probably can't accomodate most food allergies.

If you are near the Mission Inn, stop here for lunch. Absolutely delicious. My sister-in-law raved about this place for years so we were able to find out if it lived up to her hype. Yes it did!

I was pleasantly surprised with the food here. You stand in line to order your food. Then move forward to the register to pay. Choose a table to sit down at. There's a lot of seating, both indoor and outdoor. Cute little booths inside. My avocado toast was absolutely delicious. Pretty and healthy, with a side of fruit. Pretty crowded on a Sunday. Nearly all the tables were taken. Service was efficient and friendly. An important factor.

Ordered from here many times, never an issue really but this has to be shown...just being aware of things before you put them in your mouth. Under the sandwich was a little guest, maybe from the lettuce..who knows but it was a larvae insect. To some, maybe protein but to others it's not that normal lingering hair. Have had worse in the past but just wanted to put this out there...

Simple Simon's is a great place to grab breakfast or lunch. Walk up to the counter to place your order and your food will be brought to your table. Fast and friendly service. Plenty of seats inside but you can also sit outside in the court yard area when the weather is nice. I went with the Grilled Pastrami and Swiss for lunch with a side of potato salad. After a recommendation from the Mission Inn, I returned the next morning for breakfast before a long day at the Convention center. I fueled up with the Vegetarian Omelette. It had Sautéed mushrooms, red peppers, onions, with fresh spinach and choice of Swiss, cheddar, or provolone cheeses. Topped with avocado.

Service was perfect the two times I have gone in person! Stumbled upon this restaurant one morning with my daughter & loved it all! At first I was scared if anyone would judge me or not attend me but boy I am SO glad they proved me wrong. Food on the other hand I mean it's just basic stuff but I promise you IT WILL NOT TASTE LIKE BASIC BREAKFAST. I'm not sure what it is probably the fresh fruit or the great ambiance but I just simply LOVE LOVE LOVE SIMPLE SIMONS BAKERY& BISTRO

We tried out this place for lunch when we were in the area and I am honestly confused why people line up for it. Is it the location? Is it the decor or historical-looking site? Is it maybe old reputation with locals? We ordered their Tuna Melt w/Swiss and their Croissant Club with roast beef. The tuna melt was decent but the pasta salad was kind of dry. The roast beef was really, really dry, so I had to use all the sauce to try to get is moist enough to chew and swallow. My husband agreed that he didn't understand the hype either, as there wasn't anything too special about the food or service. Based on the terrible wait time and food quality that's similar to a chain like Panera Bread, I personally would skip this place next time. Maybe it was an off day, or maybe it has a local fan base who love it and know what to order. Not sure, but at least we tried it out.

Clean restraunt with very polite workers. We went in at night and they still had a good selection of baked goods. Some of the cookies were about 6 inches in diameter. The chocolate dipped pecan bar was hard to put down. Eat a couple treats then run a few miles. It is worth every bite.

Delicious tuna melt sandwich, with fresh fruit. Size is just perfect The team is very helpful with suggestions and service.

Had a late lunch on Saturday. The place was a bit dark inside but still felt very warm and welcoming. The staff was incredibly friendly. I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich--absolutely delicious! My friend had the roasted lamb sandwich and really enjoyed his as well. We both got the pasta salad on the side, which was tasty too. I couldn't resist checking out their cookie display (I love cookies), so I grabbed a peanut butter one. Honestly, it was just okay--not bad, but not quite what I was hoping for in a peanut butter cookie. That said, I'll definitely be back to try the other cookies--they looked amazing!

Yummy scrumptious every single time! My go to biweekly staple is the croissant club with pasta salad with a b&w cookie, you must try it if you haven't yet. I've had countless b&w cookies and this one defeats all competition! Excellently made. Their bakery is always stocked with delectable goods but go early before the best sell out! There are definitely customers (me) buying the whole rack first come first served!! Hehe lol Lovely homey ambiance accompanied by consistent impeccable service and hefty servings. Thank you thank you!!

Came here on a Thursday late morning and it was semi busy with plenty of seating. Located next to Mission Inn. I love that there is a ton of booth seating. You order at the counter and they give you a number and they bring the food to the table. This is my favorite way to order food at restaurants since it's efficient but not fully self serve. The menu has great breakfast /brunch options. No eggs benny tho. The croissant club was delicious but hard to pick up and hold because it was stuffed and the ingredients kept slipping out. I also got the cream cheese bagel. They only had 2 types of bagel- plain and poppy seed. And only plain cream cheese. The OJ was FRESHLY SQUEEZED. It was my fave. Also gotta love the London fog. The French toast was delicious as well. Definitely worth trying!

Very nice place to eat breakfast. Fast and loved the apple sausage. Scone was super dry, will try something else next time

I was really disappointed with my experience here. I placed an online order and arrived at the time it was supposed to be ready, but it still wasn't prepared. I had to ask several times about the status and each time I was just told a few more minutes by the time I finally received my order it was well past the pick up time. The food itself might be good, but the lack of communication and long wait made the whole experience frustrating.

delicious sandwiches! they were pretty busy but our sandwiches came out pretty quick! i will say although the quality was good, the price was pretty high for what you get. I got the chicken breast sandwich and the bread was toasted nicely along with the fresh crunch of veggies! the pesto and cheese added a nice touch of saltiness and savoriness. but the chicken was pretty bland unfortunately but cooked pretty well and it was decently juicy for chicken breast. my friend got the croissant sandwich and that was also pretty good!! but the price was a bit steep

Although this is my Favorite place to get a sandwich, I took my 97yr old mom to lunch and they refused to use my gift cards. Both are $50.00 each. The cashier said if they are over a year old they are not valid anymore (this is after she asked her manager) I told her that I no longer live in town and don't frequent as much as I used to. So I now have 2 useless gift cards my husband bought me for my birthday/Christmas :(

The food was good. The potatoes and the cinnamon roll was delicious! The breakfast crossiant was a big so you can share it with another person. The caramel latte was very strong . You have to order your food in the front then find seating . When we got there the line wasn't that bad . There was a rude waiter cleaning the tables which was kinda of upsetting. Other than that everyone else very nice

After living in Riverside for so long we finally had lunch here and it didn't disappoint. The line was crazy, but the employees move quickly, so you don't feel like you're in line forever. My wife and I both got the croissant club, one with chicken breast and the other with turkey. Both very good but I think the turkey was a little better just bc my chicken breast was a little too thin. The sides are different, you're allowed potato salad, pasta salad a green salad or fresh fruit. I personally am a chips or fries on the side kinda girl but the potato salad and fresh fruit were just fine! The inside of the restaurant was soo cute tho. It was packed but not loud and plenty of seating unless people sit forever then you the option of sitting outside. Would definitely come back to give their breakfast and pastries a try! My only issue was the coffee, my iced latte was very blah and my wife ordered a chai latte and I watched the server pour it out of a carton right in front of me. It was not good.. I guess we'd just grab coffee elsewhere then grab lunch or breakfast.

Breakfast during the week is served till 11am and on Saturday till 11:30am. Simple Simon's is a sure favorite. Service is always awesome! There's usually a line forming to the door as it's location is a popular choice. Place your order at the front counter and take your receipt to the far end to the register towards the back, next to the soda fountain. Their baked goods are hard to resist. Fresh bagels and bread loaves, dessert bars, pies, giant cookies and tarts to name a few. Indoor or patio seating, though sometimes the outdoor live entertainment may not fit with the desired ambiance. It's a beautiful spot right in the heart of downtown with a side view of the Mission Inn. Lots of entertainment within walking distance. Limited street parking available or valet parking at mission inn or as always nearby parking garages with added fees during festivals and special events.

Nice laid back eatery in Riverside. Food is good and employees friendly rather hip which I like. Has a San Fransico vibe. When downtown go here to have lunch you can't go wrong. Costs is reasonable given today's pricing, however, I noticed smaller portions year over year. Good place to have lunch and desert

Simple Simon was a great pick! If you are a sandwich lover, this is your spot. I ordered the turkey croissant club with the pasta salad and it was wonderful. Pasta salad had an amazing dressing on it. The service was very pleasant, they were super attentive and kind. Although it was a bit loud inside, there was seating in the back or in the front where lots of shade is available. A lot of room for alot of people. Overall great experience!

The food was simple yet delicious, I finished everything on my plate. When it's busy, the inside can get a little loud and overwhelming, but the front patio was perfect for a more relaxed experience.

Out of alllll the restaurants in DTR, I think this one has to be my fav. This place is in the little plaza of the mission inn so it gets a lot of traffic bc the hotel and shops and the courthouse. During the day you'll get a lot of business people going for lunch then, you'll get just the locals going for lunch. There's no specific dress code or anything. Just all sorts of people coming together to enjoy some good food. This place is such a vibe !! If you are a sandwich kinda person, this place is for you. This isn't your typical bread slice sandwiches, these are big gourmet sandwiches that will get you so full !! They give their sandwiches a lot of thought for that they are, and a lot more love than anything. I usually go for lunch, but sometimes when I wake up early enough I'll go for breakfast, and the breakfast sandwiches are just as good. My go to will always be the breakfast/lunch croissant sandwiches because they're easy for me to eat but the sourdough sandwiches UGH !!!!! BLAT && BLATT are fire ! The pasta salad has small bits of carrots that crunch in every bite. I normally wouldn't go for the 2 different textures but this has to be my favorite other than a sandwich. Not only do they have good pasta salad, the pastries are amazing ! Me and my husband try to get a different pastry every time with our food because everything is so good !!! They have this cheesecake that is so dang creamy I couldn't let one bite go to waste. You'll be lucky if you go on when there isn't a line, but that just lets you know how great this place truly is !! The kitchen line is always killin it with how fast they're cranking the food out yet they will always pay attention to the details in every plate. They also have this princess cake that you can order a whole cake and this is literally its name it's so beautiful and it's so moist. I think I'll just go to Simples right now as a matter of fact.

Good food with good company :) Service was nice and the ambiance was super cute :) I'll come back again when it isn't lunch hour hehe

seen this place a couple weeks back with a long ass line out the door so i knew i had to try. sad i did since im pretty disappointed. way too overpriced and where the menus at ? my french toast was definitely not hitting like i thought it would. and the bacon was so burnt. this place might be cool for a quick pastry but not to spend a whole $30 on a mid ass breakfast for 1. oh and my chai latte was a 2/10.

This was an awesome little breakfast spot while we were staying at the Mission Inn. I had the croissant breakfast sandwich with potatoes, and it was amazing. Iced coffee was perfect too. Definitely recommend. 5/5.

Ordered winter omelette with pecans, Gorgonzola cheese, sautéed apples and grilled onions and Challah French toast with triple berries - both were delicious. Freshly squeezed orange juice was really refreshing. Service was fast, ambiance was great. Had a good meal. (Forgot to take pictures )

Delicious and fresh! Located across from The Mission Inn, within walking distance. Line forms but they move fast.

Great breakfast spot! 3 minute walk from the Mission Inn Hotel - mouthwatering pastries, tasty breakfast choices with solid portions and some damn good coffee (freshly ground beans) to boot! Luckily we got there early - by the time we left, there was a line far out the door.

Ah what happened to Simple Simon's?! It's just bleh meh food now. I always get the Bostonian on Ciabatta bread with pasta salad. The bread was not baked by them. It was actually mass-produced Ciabatta bread, so soft, no crunch and no fermentation of this bread. Portion of the pasta salad was half of what it previously was. The peanut butter cookie was overcooked and overall this place is cutting corners and going down hill. I'm not going back and I don't see the value and cannot support a business who's lost its wholesome, home baked charm. I've had it twice in the last 6 weeks and I'm done here, I absolutely don't recommend it at all. Take this and all the 1 reviews personally Simple Simon's and fix it to where it was a decade ago. You had a great thing going! You can't fool us! No shortcuts, get to work!

Absolutamente delicioso! Debería de agregar más bebidas con alcohol El servicio y ambiente estaba genial!

Ordered: garbanzo chicken soup, carrot cake & oatmeal raisin cookie Soup definitely hit the spot on. Cool Monday lunchtime, the carrot cake was dense and the frosting is cream cheese frosting which satisfied my Sugar craving, oatmeal raisin cookie was left for the ride home, it was very chewy

I do love SS's. This time I ordered Caesar Salad and didn't realize dressing on the side. The issue was that the dressing was so thick I could only drop it on the salad - could not mix it at all. Ingredients all good but not mixed. Love the bread, croutons. Won't order salad again but will be back.

Good sandwiches and drinks. Breakfast is definitely the move here! 10/10 place I recommend it.

Service was helpful in guiding me through the menu. Everything was on point and amazingly delicious. Definitely a place to visit when you want good simple food. Save room for some baked goods as their display has quite a lot to offer.

Initially there was a long line upon arrival but we were able to grab menus and make a decision on what to order while we waited. The drink selection was long and I got a sparkling water song with the BLAAT. The serving sizes are huge, I had the sandwich for both lunch and dinner along with the side of fruit. As there were 6 of us, we all got orders to go and then sat inside to eat. The inside is brick and gives an old fashioned feel. Staff were warm and welcoming, service was quick.

We came at a busy time so we were expecting a bit of a wait for our food to arrive. The wait was a reasonable amount of time. My husband had the chicken curry sandwich which he said was great. My daughter and I had the deluxe vegetarian chili and cornbread. We've both had it before and loved it! Hot, flavorful and delicious. Our experience this time with the chili was a huge disappointment. It was lukewarm at best. The line of customers was out the door and trying to take our chili back to get a hot meal was not within our time frame to eat and get back to our afternoon commitments. We'll have to rethink our menu choices the next time we frequent Simple Simon's. I will add that their Molasses cookie and the Peanut Butter cookie were still delicious!

Was heading home from Coachella and needed to drop a friend off in Riverside so our group decided to grab brunch here! Parking is on the street and you pay at a pay station on the sidewalk. When you walk into the restaurant, you order at the front counter, where they give you a table number and your order ticket. You then bring those to the counter at the back to pay. This is where you can order drinks and get what I think is homemade jam for your toast (if you ordered toast). You seat yourself and someone will bring your food out to you! I ordered the fresh spinach and bacon omelette which came with fried potatoes and toast. The omelette was large and filled with spinach, tomato, bacon, provolone cheese, and basil. For toast, you can choose between sourdough, whole wheat, and rye and comes with butter and jam. All of it was delicious! They also have a pastry case full of treats and I got a strawberry croissant to go. Definitely recommend trying this place if you're in the area!