The ambiance became, while intimate at first, a bit noisy toward the end of dinner--probably due to the close proximity of tables and the overall restaurant set up. However, did love the elevated feel of a typical American bistro. We thought the service could've been more attentive, but improved as the evening progressed. Our waitress was super nice and was helpful in explaining the menu specials and answering any questions we had. Most notably on the menu, the NY strip was a perfect medium rare. We opted to get the 4 jumbo shrimp on the side, which we thought retained a nice snap when we bit into it. It was also well seasoned, while still displaying its freshness. The fries complemented the steak, but was too well done for our liking. Our other entree, the lobster mac and cheese, had a nice cheese pull. We liked the added roasted tomatoes in the baked mac and cheese, which gave it a necessary acidity that countered the creamy, cheesy roux. For our appetizer, we chose the meat and cheese board, which was really solid. Appreciated the waitress explaining the selection, as well as the addition of a sour cherry jam and pickles on the side. This gave us a lot of mix and match options (64 to be exact), and we also liked how it came with charred/toasted bread. Finally, we wrapped up with a chocolate peanut butter parfait and key lime pie. Both were really good (get both if possible, but we liked the latter more). read more

Simeon's On The Commons - NY Strip & 4 Jumbo Shrimp - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Food, service and ambiance ON POINT!!! With every visit to Ithaca I try my best to not leave without having my favorite at Simeon's which is their magical Mussels with the tasty grilled bread to perfection. The thing that was different this time was I had to leave early so we visited for brunch and I quickly, was saddened that they do not serve mussels during brunch time but to my delightful surprise the chef made an exception an I was smiling so hard that the waiters were please and extremely happy for me. For that I am grateful and needed to recommend my favorite restaurant on the Ithaca commons. read more

The restaurant is beautiful. We were seated in the front window with a lovely view indoors and out. Started out with great PEI oysters. I had the seared halibut with miso beurre blanc. Delicious. Husband had burger and fries also excellent. Ended with mini- desserts key lime pie and mixed berry crumble. Waitress Jenna was lovely and attentive. Very, very enjoyable dining experience. read more

We had a great time at Simeon's last night. Each of us ordered the specials rather than from the menu. The server was attentive and knowledgeable. The food was incredibly good. A cold salmon salad with just the right amount of dressing. A Mediterranean kabob with perfect farro side. The desserts are always fun. We had the place to ourselves for a short while the it really filled up yet the staff were capable and organized. read more

I'd been wanting to try Simeon's for sometime, and I got the chance when I walked in for an early weekday dinner during a recent Ithaca visit. I was able to sit at the bar, though there was some initial hesitation from the host about what seating would be available. As the evening continued, the place became increasingly busy, so I would probably make a reservation if I revisited in the future. I ordered their club sandwich (which comes with a side salad or frites) and thought it was great! The combination of the grilled chicken, bacon, and pesto mayo worked well and was nicely offset by the tomato and lettuce. I also ordered a Manhattan that was crafted well after reviewing whiskey options with the bartender. read more

We had a wonderful anniversary dinner here! Loved our seating at the window to people watch while chatting. Impeccable service! Our server was very attentive, friendly and knowledgeable of the menu and specials. Good drinks and the food was delicious! Paloma Rossa for my cocktail- good. Arancini and Thai corn chowder for apps- great! Roasted salmon and seafood scampi for main - fantastic! Highly recommend if you're looking for a more upscale meal. read more

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Very stylish American bistro serving a mix of American food and a large wine and cocktail menu as well as a fair beer selection. We had brunch here and my friend had the biscuits and gravy and I had the club sandwich. Both were excellent and a fair portion of food. The ambiance is reserved and classy but fun. Service was good and prompt. read more

I have heard nothing but great things about this restaurant and they definitely did not disappoint! Every part of the service experience was perfect. I came with a friend of mine and she LOVES oysters so of course she had to try them. I don't normally eat them but one of the waitresses that brought them to the table explained the different kinds and which one I might like so I did try the one she recommended and it was pretty good. We got a dozen oysters with 4 of each kind (Salty Mainers, East Beach Blondes, and Montauk Pearls). They came with 3 different sauces. I can't remember the name of the vinegar based one but it made the oyster I tried taste way better than expected! My friend and I also both ordered the Strawberry Rhubarb Mojito and it was very refreshing. We started with the Marinated Olives that were a great start to the meal. For our entrees we got the New York Strip and the Ribeye which were both cooked to perfection. We also got all 3 sauces ( Bordelaise, Au Poivre, and Chimichurri) with the steaks and they each had their own unique flavor that paired great. I added the Black Tiger Shrimp and they were cooked well and added another level of flavor to the dish. For our sides we got garlic mashed potatoes and broccolini and they were delicious. Some how we saved room for dessert and they had the cutest dessert display of the options in mini jars. Our waiter brought the display to our table and we got to pick which one from the display right there at the table. I got the tiramisu and my friend got the cheesecake. I was happy for the smaller sizes because they were so good I could've eaten 2 or 3 of them. This restaurant has made its way to my list of top 3 places to eat in Ithaca. 10/10 recommend! read more

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This is hands down one of the best restaurants in ithaca. This is perfect for a nice date night, special occasion like birthdays or anniversaries, maybe a nice date night with a friend! If you do decide to choose this place please be warned it is popular: make a reservation. They will turn you away (respectfully) if you do not have a reservation and they're booked. They do not do wait lists as the cant guarantee they'll be able to seat your party. Also make sure you bring a heavy wallet! The food is to die for, worth it, a 5/5, spectacular, so it is appropriately priced. They serve fresh, high grade food! The service is always great. They're very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and specials. And if they dont know they are wonderful to find out quickly but its rare for the server to not be aware of the menu and options. It is a fancier place on the inside, they do offer outdoor seating. As well as an upstairs area to sit. The cool part, they have an oyster bar attached to the restaurant if you so choose to instead just go over to that side and enjoy the seafood! Everything is incredibly delicious and you'll enjoy every bit! read more

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Great location on the Commons in downtown Ithaca. Portions were sizable and shareable. We were a party of six and shared several entrees. The chicken parm was fantastic along with the fresh burrata salad. Traditional Caesar salad - hold the anchovies - had a good tang to the dressing and wasn't overpowering or heavy. Loved the sourdough bread. Our waiter was very accommodating and friendly. Would definitely go back. read more

Great atmosphere - energetic, bright and lively decorations, kinda old school (befitting a place that I am guessing is named after Simeon DeWitt). Given price point, food was OK. They were also out of several of the beers (out of 3) and appetizers (out of 1) we ordered. And service, while really well-intentioned, was spotty in execution. read more

Simeon's On The Commons - Rigatoni and sausage. - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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I grew up near Ithaca, and my mom would always take me out to lunch at Simeon's after my orthodontist appointments when I was in high school. The food and atmosphere, even back then, was so much fun. I returned this year for the first time in a decade, and their menu is STILL pretty epic! I definitely recommend Simeon's for a date, a small business lunch/meeting, or even a group dinner. I'd say they have some of the best oysters in the area, absolutely! read more

This place is very pretty inside the staff is friendly but in a strange goodie-to-shoes kind of friendly. Which def rubbed me the wrong way. And what place does not have a kids cup for water, do you let children dehydrate at your restaurant. They said they only had glasses which I would def not be giving my kids a glass to drink out of you never know if they drop it and it breaks. Burgers were fine, French fries were boring . I expected better. read more

The food was amazing! The service was great and the atmosphere was perfect. I think this was the best Chilean Sea Bass I've ever had. I enjoyed the local Riesling too. Made such a great weekend even better. I will be back next time I'm in Ithaca. read more

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Food was excellent, had the rib eye with au poivre and was 10/10. Peach Sangria cocktail to top it off. Great service read more

Simeon's On The Commons - White Peach Sangria - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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I want to like this place so much more than I do, so I keep going back even when it is clear that I should not. I have been to this restaurant 5 or 6 times now and never has everything gone well. Either something with the food or the drink is lacking and it is too expensive for that to happen EVERY TIME. Often the employee cannot answer a question about a drink or food item. The Eggs Benedict today was so good and then I had one of the worst drinks I have ever had. I should have known better than to order a bubbles drink, when the bubble wine is on tap, but I hoped for $20 my cocktail would be better crafted or have some carbonation? This place is in wine country, why is this basic/mass produced crap being served? read more

The place has a great atmosphere that we like, and the food is fine (although the menu might need to be periodically updated), but what is not okay is charging $11 for a double espresso. read more

Overpriced (I mean waaaay overpriced). Took me at least 10 seconds to figure out that much of the lobster in their lobster mac and cheese was similarly colored dried tomato. Service in a word: stiff Ambiance: sat in the nosebleeds about a 5 min walk from the restrooms. read more

Called in in advance of a Cornel tour. Excellent food & service. This place would shine even in NYC

My boyfriend and I took a quick trip to Ithaca and Simeon's was recommended to us several times. I ordered the clam chowder and ahi tuna burger. Everything was amazing but omg, the clam chowder!! I was happy to learn it's pescatarian. The soup was sort of on the thinner side, but in the best way. It was creamy and warm, but still a little light and tasted like it had maybe a splash of vinegar or something with a kick. The clams were fresh and there was no heavy, gross feeling after eating it. I've eaten a lot of clam chowder throughout New England and Seattle and this was definitely one of the best I've ever had! The Ahi Tuna burger was cooked as rare as it could be and was so fresh and delicious with a nice little slaw. The shoestring fries were fresh and cooked perfectly. I could only eat half of the burger..it was so much food. Our server (I think her name was Anna) was fantastic too! My boyfriend loved his chowder and meal as well. Highly, highly recommend Simeons and it will be the first dinner I have when I'm back in Ithaca. read more

Simeon's On The Commons - Ahi tuna burger with shoestring fries - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

We stopped in on a rainy day for a beverage. Very personable bartender, Phil. I had the flying donkey, the mexican Lager. True to style. Crisp. Very crushable. The wife had the Hibiscus Passion Fruit sour. She really liked it. We ordered the Sticky wings, and they were delightful. read more

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Was honestly surprised that Simeon's is considered "fine dining" since it resembles more of a Red Lobster level diner, but they definitely have a variety of steak and lobster options at very affordable prices that would be reasonable for the college/graduate student budget. I ordered the NY strip steak with half a lobster, and while I was impressed with the freshness and seasoning, I did find the texture of both a bit too chewy for my liking. I also wished that I was given the tool to crack the lobster's shell, since it got a little bit messy and difficult to eat with the utensils I was given. The Brussels sprouts, potato chips + cheese fondue dip, and strawberry shortcake were all incredibly delicious and well prepared. The waitress was also incredible and managed to remember the orders for a dozen people at our table without even jotting it down! Overall, super homey diner with solid fine dining options and excellent service that would be perfect for an intimate and special night out. read more

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Very pleasant lunch ably served by Martin. My wife had the Greek Omelet and I had a Wedge Salad. We were both happy with the freshness and taste of our food. My salad should have had more pickled onions like it barely had any at all. I sense if I asked they would have been glad to accommodate. The friendly greeting at the door was a harbinger of the good things to come. Even though we ate indoors, we had a nice view of the Commons from our table. read more

The food was pretty good but the restaurant was very crowded and service was a little slow. A bit over priced for what we got. I got pasta and it wasn't anything special. The drinks were very yummy though! read more

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Food was excellent! Highly recommend the chicken parmesan and the steak. Service was amazing as well, staff were attentive. Nice ambience to the restaurant. read more

Was in town for a sporting event @ Cornell. Went for brunch. It was so good we went back for dinner!! Great service! Bar staff is unbelievable !! Great Bloody Mary! read more

Simeon's On The Commons - Best Bloody Marys! - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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One of the best ny strips I've had. Perfectly cooked. Have to mention the Mac n cheese. Go here

Got to tell you, the last 2 times we came here the food really went down hill. The wait staff should not be doing this job, very inexperienced. I will say the owner came over to me and was very nice and did everything in his power to correct the situation, he took a chunk of money off the bill. Many thanks to him, I sense he recognizes the different problems he faces in all parts of his restaurant read more

I ordered the salmon which was good. A little more risotto would have been nice. The cherry tomatoes were redundant - like sticking a clown nose on Jackie Kennedy. Shaved zucchini would have given the dish a more sophisticated look. read more

I went here on a Friday for dinner and the food was so good! I recommend calling ahead to reserve for a table since this place does get busy especially on a weekend. I ordered a mussels appetizer made with white wine and garlic and it was so delicious. Flavorful and juicy meat. The amount of sauce that comes with it is perfect for dipping with the bread that comes with it. It came with 4 big slices of bread which was a little too much because I started getting full from the appetizer to properly eat my main. I had the lobster mac and cheese while my boyfriend had beef. The beef tasted like beef brisket which depending on your preference is good - for me I'm not a big fan of beef brisket so I thought it was okay. However, the lobster mac and cheese was so gooey, big chunks of lobster meat, and nice and warm. Service is pretty good too, attentive waitress. Overall, good experience especially for a date. read more

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I hate to do it but this place wasn't what we remembered. For the price of each dish, the meal should have been spectacular and the service should have been better. I understand prices across the board have gone up but if I'm spending $29 on a lobster Mac & cheese, I expect more than a couple of small pieces of lobster. It was a whole lot of macaroni and barely any lobster. The steak at $42 is $10 more than my local restaurant on long island which prepares it much better. I tried to be more understanding about the lack of good service since I know so many restaurants have been slammed but Simeon's needs to figure out how to balance number of tables served with the availability of wait staff. We shouldn't have to wait as long as we did for a refill of water. read more

Simeon's On The Commons - NY Strip Steak - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Ithaca is about an hour away and my husband and I needed to head that way to pick up something at a local antique store. Since our girls were staying at home with their nanny.... Guess what sounded awesome? A fancy brunch. So I quickly found Simeon's and it was a perfect fit. I made reservations a day in advance. The setting is gorgeous- tall windows, a beautiful bar and COVID appropriate seating. I think our server is Lauren. She was awesome. I got Eggs Benedict half salmon and half lox, DH had the brunch burger which I stole a bite of. As a fun little promo they offer BOGO mimosas (I opted for 2 bellinis). The food was perfect. So good. We don't get out much so this was a treat. Our usual brunch spot in Ithaca is not open now so lucky for us we found Simeon's. It's in the commons so parking is always an issue. We parked at the Hilton. It was a chilly day but it was nice to already be parked downtown. Thanks for a lovely meal. Well done. read more

Simeon's On The Commons - Eggs Benedict - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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The food was amazing and the ambiance was relaxing. Has a contemporary feel to and the wait staff was very attentive! The fish platter was very fresh and tasty! read more

Simeon's On The Commons - One of signature fish platters - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Food is standard American and usually pretty good. My go to place for oysters. Drinks are pretty good too. Service is sometimes hit or miss. Seating area is quite nice and if you want a bit of privacy, you can go upstairs and sit in booths or even in an armchair off to the side, with a nice look over a balcony. read more

We tired to walk in here since planning ahead for a random date night when your parents are visiting and agree to watch the kids doesn't really happen. They were full but had 2 seats at the bar so we took them. The bartender was excellent. Our drinks were good, the food was soso we didn't find it to be anything spectacular and it was on the expensive side. I wouldn't not go back but there are many place I would go to before here for a meal. But if you wants drinks at the bar and it's not full I'd recommend that. read more

We booked our reservation roughly a month prior to our visit. Although we made clear mention that we would be celebrating our 12 year anniversary, it didn't seem like that memo made any difference to the staff. We don't expect a red carpet, but a decent table would have been just plenty. We were sat at what seemed to be more of a "walk-in" table directly in front of the kitchen doors. Now, on to the food. Very simple and delicious. Nothing was too memorable, but the desert cups were a super unique touch! read more

Beautiful, large interior with a vast menu of delicious dishes. Would recommend for more upscale occasions or even small get together's for birthdays or other celebrations. read more

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Overall food and atmosphere was good. My table had ordered 4 of the NY strips medium rare and all came out closer to medium well or well (and these were THICK cuts). The service wasn't bad but agree with other reviews that there is something slightly off with them. read more

Everything was wonderful, food is top drawer, staff helpful and professional and it was a hop, skip and a jump from my hotel!

Amazing food, service, and ambiance! Have been here many times and will be back, I have no doubt :) In particular the cocktails are amazing and I also really enjoy the lobster mac and cheese! read more