Simple Simon’s Bakery & Bistro

Feel like this is one of the most over-​rated places in Riverside. It’s good, it’s okay. I don’t get what the raving is about. Average deli sandwich in Brooklyn is more tasty.

The wifey raved about their sandwiches months ago but I thought how good can a sandwich be. We arrived 5 minutes before they closed today and they were courteous enough to let us order. The interior was large and comfortable. Since I love pastrami I ordered the «Grump’s lunch» which was pastrami, swiss cheese, coleslaw, grilled onions and Russian dressing on grilled rye. I picked potato salad as the side. WOW!!! It’s literally the best sandwich I’ve had in YEARS! So much flavor and great texture! The bread had a nice chewy texture, the meat was rich and tender and was balanced with freshness of the coleslaw and veggies. The sandwich was hearty and filled me up. The potato salad was smooth and slightly tangy from the dill pickles. I highly recommend eating here if you’re in the area!

I ordered the deluxe vegetarian chili bowl with cornbread, a side of the pasta salad and a large fresh squeezed orange juice. The chili was delicious! It comes garnished with fresh avocados, cilantro, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, onions & croutons. My husband loved the chili leftovers too! The cornbread was meh. The pasta salad was pretty good, though it wasn’t as flavorful as I thought it would be after reading other reviews. The fresh squeezed orange juice hit the spot on such a hot summer day. Everyone that worked there was very friendly and helpful too. And I loved being able to sit by the window and look across the courtyard at the beautiful Mission Inn. It’s a very casual and cozy restaurant. I definitely recommend this place!

I ordered food over the weekend, I’m a local I’ve been coming here my whole life but they messed up my order & I was too far to come back. I called today & told them my food was wrong & they were very understanding & courtesy. I got refunded in full thanks so much for fixing the situation I can’t wait to return to this fine establishment.

Walk in, stand in line, order and then pay, and then your food is ready in a few. I ordered the BLAAT with the pasta salad side…
Absolutely scrumptious. Everything was so good and the bacon was cooked perfectly. I usually stray away from bacon because most places like to cook it like it’s a piece of potato chip but it was nice and soft. There was plenty of avocado and chicken in there and I was so full from eating it but I could not stop eating the darn pasta salad.
So much wonder in a single dish. I can’t wait to get more! Yes, it’s pricey but now I understand why the prices are high and the lines are out the door!

Love this place! Hours are limited but it’s worth it.
Parking is also limited. But the food… WONDERFUL!

This is my favorite lunch place in Riverside, there’s lunch rush here but they got phone orders! Their food is ALWAYS fresh and delicious! Never disappoint! I love their pasta salad, Italian grinder on sourdough bread, and with their black tea. Their soups are great too! Good luck finding parking around there but it’s so worth to try! ($ 1/​hr with parking meters)

The sandwiches are huge! I got a sandwich with pesto in it and it was so messy! I felt like I was turning into the hulk with all the pesto on my hands, but it was so good! It’s a nice sandwich spot. It gets really packed during lunch hour though.

This is definitely our go to breakfast (okay, brunch) spot by far! I love the atmosphere, the service and the food is sooooo yummy. I have never had a bad experience here and that’s one thing that is so hard to find these days, consistently good service. The only concern I have when I go there is, should I get breakfast or lunch?

Sooooo delicious. My favorite is a salami sandwich on sourdough bread.
The line can be rather off putting at times but the wait is worth it.

Yes, there was a line but it seemed to go at a decent pace. A menu outside or at the front of the line would be great!
Had the Mediterranean Omelet which was «okay» … Same with my husband’s Smoked Applewood Chicken Sausage Omelet.
The Sticky Bun my husband ordered was excellent except for the fact that it seemed like it was a day old. I have yet to try my Pecan Bar (because I ate my husband’s pastry ha!) but I’m hoping it’s just as delicious!
We took home a sour dough loaf as well as a kalmata olive sourdough loaf to try with the kids.
Overall, I would come back for their pastries, probably not their meals, but because I’ve only been here once, I would consider giving it a second chance.

Best sandwich place in town! Affordable, big portion, and delicious!
[ t u n a. m e l t ]
My favorite sandwich of all! I dream about this bad boy all the time! It’s basically delicious tuna sandwiched between 2 buttery delicious sour dough bread. Comes with a side of pasta or potato salad. Both sides are delicious!
[ g r i l l e d. c h e e s e ]
Just as delicious as the tuna melt! Great choice for the kiddos! Comes with a side as well!
[ c h o c o l a t e. c o o k i e ]
A definite must have! Very soft and chewy!
The wait can get a little long, but it’s worth it! You have to find your own seating, so it’s best if one person holds the table while the other orders the food!

Ladies had pens in their hands taking orders, and then prepping plates without gloves touching everything in sight… it was so gross. the bacon and spinach omelet was blah, the red potatoes were dry this place is overrated… sit in the booth facing the prep area to your right, and u will see for yourself!

BF and his housemate woke up Saturday morning, hungover, so they wanted to go out to eat something. Don’t know why they didn’t get phở… But bf’s friend suggested this place.
It’s kind of hidden but it was busy! The employees are nice though and ordering moves along quickly. BF order BLAATT and I ordered the soup of the day, which was French onion.
Our order took ~20−30 minutes but most likely because it was busy. We sat outside since it was such a nice afternoon, though could have done with less to no wind. When we got our food, it looked delicious! The French onion soup was kind of small but it was good nonetheless. My bf’s BLAATT was yummy. For $ 18, it wasn’t super worth it but I can see why it’s popular.
Probably wouldn’t go back, unless I’m in the mood for the type of food they serve but there’s a plethora of establishments similar within downtown Riverside and adjacent cities.

Simple Simon’s Bakery & Bistro has been around for a long time and, if you ever find yourself in Downtown Riverside, this is a great place to grab a quick lunch.
It is located on Main Street (this street is foot traffic only). There are plenty of metered parking spaces behind the business on Mission Ave. and Market St.
During the lunch hour, you’ll most likely find yourself in a line to place your order. Don’t get discouraged as the line moves fairly quick.
Once you’re inside, you can browse their menu and place your order at the counter. They offer everything from sandwiches to soups, fruits and salads. They also offer desserts such as cookies and brownies. I ordered their Grilled Marinated Chicken Breast sandwich and it was really good with their Olive Bread. Mmm!
There’s plenty of seating inside the restaurant as well as outside. You’ll find yourself surrounded by other working professionals in the area grabbing lunch.
Expect good service here because that’s what they do! They’ve been around a long time to know how to treat their customers and they do it well.
Overall, Simple Simon’s is a great place to grab breakfast, brunch, or lunch and bask in the surrounding historic Mission Inn.

One of the better Sandwiches I have had. Homemade Bread & fresh Veggies…
Sandwiches are better than salads… lots of sides choices, but no chips…
Very busy at lunch… so if your in a hurry might not be the choice.

This is a charming little place tucked in a quaint area in Riverside. The food was good but not memorable. I got the Lamb Sandwich with Pasta Salad. There was more eggplant and veggies than lamb and I couldn’t taste the meat at all. It also left me really thirsty. The pasta salad was pretty good though! I’d come back for the pasta salad.
We came at around 12:30pm and there was a line out the door! So be aware of the lunch rush!
Parking is hard here– park on nearby streets ($ 1/​hr).

Baked goods were the freakin’ bomb. Seriously, I bought three nut bombs… and… I was… in. heaven. Breakfast was good too, their homemade chicken apple sausage had the perfect blend of sweet and savory, perfect for a chick that is addicted to sugar. ;[
Great place for breakfast or pastries.
+Bearclaw, they used cardamon which is super yummy and different. I had it on the the way back home and wished I bought to bearclaws so I can eat both in each hands. ;p
+Sunburst: I don’t know what this heavenly pocket of blueberry goodness was, but it is worth not sharing it with anyone.
+Nut bombs: 3 isn’t enough, WHY didn’t I buy more?
Anyway, simple simon… you are just simply the best.

Generally, the wait to order and get food is, in my opinion, a little long. However, it’s become a tradition of my family to come here every year for the lighting of the Mission Inn, so it has a special place in my heart!
It’s a pretty solid place when you’ve just gotta have a soup/​sandwich/​salad kind of meal. For vegetarians, I really enjoy the fruit and cheese plate, the Hot Focaccia, and the vegetarian chili. I’ve also been told the Hot Pastrami is excellent. I found the cookies to be a little dry, but my parents enjoyed the oatmeal raisin cookie.

I moved away from Riverside for a year and what I missed most about the city was Simple Simon’s. I’ve been coming here to eat since my younger days in high school, so for me this is comfort food. Now that I am older and have tried other sandwiches near and far, I must say that their fresh, classic sandwich will always be my first love.
I can confidently say that anything you order here will be delicious. But what’s MY order? It’s always the same: Whole turkey sandwich on sourdough with avocado, light mayo, and mustard with a side of pasta salad and a slice of their carrot cake. That, to me, tastes like «home.» I’ve stolen a few bites here and there from my friends’ sandwiches and different items from their menu which are very delicious, but I can never go wrong with my turkey on sourdough.
I love everything about this place. I love the brick walls inside and their wooden benches and chairs. I love the way they still have a chalkboard with the menu items written on them. I love how the person who takes down your order is the one who makes the sandwiches. I love how everything is made fresh. I love their breads and pastries. I love sitting outside in front of the Mission Inn on a fall afternoon enjoying the food and scenery.
This place was hipster even before there was such a thing as being «hipster.»
Best bakery & bistro in Riverside and possibly all of Southern California. No joke.