Simple Simon's Bakery & Bistro

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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

Ordered the French toast and it did not disappoint! 🥞✨ It was absolutely delicious — sweet, fluffy, and full of flavor 😋. The service was great 🙌, the space was clean 🧼, and there was plenty of seating 🪑. It's in a great location 📍 and has a welcoming, family-friendly vibe 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦. I’ll definitely be back! 🔁💛

First time here and I was not disappointed. I got here in the morning just before rush hour. The croissant egg sandwich so good. Will definitely be back.

First time visit(with update visit)and ordered the pastrami melt and Italian grinder. The pastrami sandwich was heavy and delicious while the Italian grinder was refreshing and filling. The pasta salad was a nice tangy side and the potato salad wasn't overwhelming in mustard like some potato salads are. The side of vinegarette was a nice touch to pour onto my Italian grinder. If you're looking for a nice lunch I recommend this little spot. All the staff were very friendly and attentive. Will definitely come back and try other sandwiches. Came back after the anime convention and had the BLAAT with veggies. With some delicious baked goods! Just refreshing and good.

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

We enjoyed both strawberry and chocolate croissants. The strawberry croissant had a subtle, sweet cream that was perfect. 5 out of 5 and would visit again 🙂

Best breakfast sando I’ve ever had; my kids were equally impressed with their crepes. Absolutely crushed it and ty for having us. Cheers!

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!

breakfast croissant sandwich too slippery. have to carefully eat it or else you will need knife and fork when it falls apart or the fillings slide out. saturday morning around 9 AM long line to order food.

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.

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 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.

I love the atmosphere of this restaurant. Good choices for food and all pastries look so good I wanted to get everything. I ordered croissant club sandwich which has avocado, sausage, egg, cheese and tomato. It was very tasty and full filling. Oh and it comes with potatoes. It was kinda pricy but it worth it. My raspberry pastry was good too! It was bit busy and lots of people were there but service was good and my food came out fast.

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.

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 :(

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

I ordered the veggie omelette with sour dough bread, it was great! paired with coffee and chocolate chip cookie- that made my day. Service and atmosphere is on par. Will be back when in Riverside.

Amazing food, amazing location......and kind people working here! What more could you ask for? So happy I found this place! Yummy!!!!

I was staying at the hotel next-door. I found this place on Yelp. Decided to give it a shot. It was outstanding. I got the tuna melt with a side of raw vegetables. I also ordered a lemon cheesecake square. Both were amazing. I'm looking forward to my next trip at that hotel, and I will be coming back to Simple Simon's.

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

In reference to the review from Kerry S. from San Clemente, gift cards do NOT expire in California. The manager of Simple Simon's was incorrect. She should have known better--that's her job.

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.

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 must say I was hugely disappointed at first. Only to find out they were serving brunch. Not much of an egg person. I Crave their fruit and vegetable platter with the curry salad. So that's what I had my taste buds set for. My husband on the other hand goes for the Hot pastrami which is out of this world as well on rye. So of course we had to switch gears and choose something more suitable for breakfast. And I must say I was not disappointed by no means. I ordered the mushroom omelette with their homemade sausage. And being as I said I do not like eggs and normally do not go for an omelette I'm afraid I devoured the whole thing it was out of this world. Expect a big line though they're usually very busy but it moves along fairly fast, but grab a menu while standing in line because you need that time to look over the goodies. Enjoy

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!!

Fresh, delicious salads and sandwiches made to order and served by friendly and polite team members. Indoor and outdoor seating, scrumptious desserts. Great location for a lunch date.

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.

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. Staff was super friendly and the restaurant is a nice chill vibe to it . Their black coffee was brewer to perfection as well. Enjoy

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!

really really good loved my lamb sandwich (meat was super tender and the flavors were bold) loved all the choices available will definitel be back

Food: was good Service: was really good everyone was super friendly Ambience: I love it here! I love the flavors

We love coming here for Saturday brunch. There is always a line but don't be discouraged because they move quickly. Prices are the best in the area for brunch. It's a no frills type of place, but their food is great. They make their baked goods from scratch. We've had their Winter omelet (with gorgonzola cheese, roasted pecans, sautéed apples and grilled onions). It was OK but their best brunch dish is their Breakfast Croissant Club (comes with their homemade chicken apple sausage and two eggs, cheese, avocado, tomato, and mayo) and served with home fries. Their sausage is not overbearing and quite delicious.

Yes, I must try when you're visiting. Mission in and wanna grab lunch after. This place does busy so just make sure anytime you're right before you go. Love their dessert and specially the sandwiches.

Love love love his place. Sandwiches definitely hit! Oooo and the pastries are to die for...can't go wrong visiting Simple Simon's.

Three wonderful breakfasts here. Adored the spinach and bacon omelette and the mushroom one as well. Dynamite pastries although I'd love to see more than one gluten-free offering. The service was excellent and very friendly, even on Saturday, when there was a line or the door. Keep up the good work!

Love this place. Consistently good, great sandwiches. Can get crowded but there's seats outside as well.

Service is terrible! Paid $60 for a breakfast sandwich, two egg breakfast, hot chocolate and latte that never came out. By the time we were done eating I asked for a refund on the latte which was given cash. Sandwich was good and pie never came out as well not until we asked a server walking by and he mentioned to go check at the front. Place is over priced for service and presentation. Some of the food items are given in paper plates and coffee and hot chocolate is self serve. Pie was basic after we went to look for it. In no moment were we advised we would have to pick up in the front. I don't understand what's the point of getting a number if we pick up some of the items ordered.

A tasty pastrami sandwich is here located in Riverside. The bread that they put on it is so crispy I love the texture of the sandwich and have to say you need to get it with the potato salad. This little sand store has an extensive menu of items plus soups and multiple different other sandwiches. I asked the person in front what sand I should get and she recommended this one. It was so good!! I'm glad she did that.

Have been a fan of simple simons for many years, it was nice to get back. The food is good the service too. Stopped in before attending a meeting at city hall and they did not disappoint. The croissant turkey and cheese and tomato soup was yum!! Wished I was closer to frequent the bakery as the case was loaded with pastries and sweet things that wanted to meet me!!

Stood in line for 20mins, only one person is taking your order. Then you walk to another person to pay for your meal, wait time for my food is another 15 to 20min. By the time I walk back to the office, my lunch hour is over. The service is good but they need have a better system to get the line moving. My advice is don't come here if your time is limited. My lunch now will become my dinner.

If you're looking for a good meal in downtown Riverside, Simple Simon is a great choice. They have a very large menu, the food comes out pretty quickly, you self-serve your drinks and order from the front counter. The service was fine. They have adequate high booths and tables, the place is fairly busy. They didn't have everything on the menu, but their menu is large and interesting so it didn't matter. (Their espresso machine was broken and they didn't have gazpacho.) I would recommend trying their fresh squeezed orange juice! It's a local favorite.

Food was super amazing and super affordable. I highly recommend to anyone in the area.

Always the best service, ambiance and food. Their sandwich is amazing. Friendly servers and alcohol is a plus

Nice atmosphere, the line is out the door during lunch. The service is fast. I tried the tuna melt. There was tuna but no melt? Perhaps the other items are good. I don't like the fact that they don't serve fries.

I just waited in line for almost an entire hour here to be told "We stopped serving brunch a minute ago." When I asked for the manager she was rude, and without care that we had wasted an hour in line. She offered no compensation for our situation and a bogus explanation telling us "you should know better." Of course we left hungry and upset and I would hope people stop going here because they only care about making money and not about customers clearly at all.

This place is so darn good,I would give it a 10. Breakfast was perfect. Plus we took home bakery items. Over the top good!

Simple Simon's is simply Amazing. The food is great, the service is top notch, and it's all wrapped up in an awesome vintage chic environment. I am not only putting this place in my regular rotation, I'm telling everyone I know about it.