The one star is for the rude hostess last Saturday night who refused to put our party of 5, alums of Cornell on a visit, on the wait list at 6:15 pm. Even after nicely explaining to the hostess that we would be very willing to wait, she just unapologetically sent us on our way. Their loss was our gain, as we had a perfectly fine meal a couple doors down at the Mahogany Grill. read more

Nice casual fine dining in Ithaca. The price is reasonable when you think of the atmosphere and the service. All the menus I had were good.

The main dining area is small with varying levels on which to eat. The service is pretty quick and friendly but the dining area is stuffy and cramped. The menu has some innovative items but for the most part is basic. The specials are reasonably priced and the portions are near perfect. Just enough to fill you up but not americanized over indulgence. The beer menu is decent and it is always nice to have a local beer with your meal. The deserts are nothing special but the size and presentation make them irresistible for some reason. I recommend one of the more innovative menu items, take some chances. read more

Don't believe in reservation in this place. You go there with reservation you are required to wait an hour

Food was good, but they blatantly gave us bad service for being Asian. Waitress ignored our request for the check, then the bartender prioritized many smaller things while our tab was ready to be closed in plain sight. Disappointing because the food was really good. If you read the reviews it's all minorities giving 3- star reviews! You've been warned! read more

Honestly, this place is very overpriced for what they offer. It's just a slightly fancier American meal. I don't really see why I would ever go out of the way to come to Simeon's over let's say, Alehouse across the street. I realize that Simeon's is more of a classy atmosphere versus Alehouse's bar scene, but the food at Simeon's is just not on par with what I expected. My friends and I cam here for lunch and two of them ordered burgers while I ordered a seafood roll. First of all, I was expecting it to be a warm sandwich (there was no indication it would be cold). Secondly, it was basically mayo and seafood on a roll. Too much mayo, it was nauseating. Save your money. Go somewhere else. read more

I've been here a few times and I think the food is average and a bit overpriced. They have a nice outdoor seating area during the summer though, and the service and cocktails are fantastic. read more

Excellent food, exemplary service. Enjoyed lunch al Fresca during pleasant weather. Meatball sandwich was delicious. Clam chowder was full of clams and sooo creamy! read more

Tasty brunch with good service and lots to choose from. Outside seating on the commons was great (except for the bees!).

I had the Sea Bass special of the day. It was literally the best Sea Bass I have ever had, no exaggeration. I don't really know when I'll get a chance to come back to Ithaca, but I'm definitely coming back here if I do. read more

Very poor experience. Bar staff seemed generally irritated by the existence of customers and a man wearing a baseball hat, sweatshirt, jeans and dirty sneakers swilled wine and talked/ gestured obnoxiously at the bar next to me. This may not normally seem out of ordinary except in this case I'm 99.9% sure he was the owner. Much better choices out there in the Ithaca area. read more

Great food, good wine selection. Very nice remodel. Best of luck.

We liked the panini, tuna-burger and the ribs appetizer named 'bones'.

Simeons has really changed over the years. It used to be a place to grab a sandwich, but now it's a real dining experience! I've been happy with all the meals I've had there - lunches and dinners. My favorites are the Ahi Tuna Burger, Portabella Panini, and the Eggplant stack. They are unique and I find myself craving them regularly... The only downfall is often slow service. read more

When I'm in Ithaca, I always make it a point to hit Simeon's. I love the ambiance in the place. Been hitting the joint for over 20 years. They always have had a great beer list. On this night, I ordered a glass of Sauvignon Blau from Loire. The white was a dud. It immediately made me want to switch to beer. I ordered the mussels for an appetizer. It was seasoned well however the mussels were quite chewy. I then ordered a cesar salad. I was kinda shocked how little there was on the plate. I ordered a Duvel to save the day. Which it kinda did. I'll probably go back next time I'm in town. I'll keep it simple and stick with the beer. read more

They don't even deserve one star. WORST hospitality I have ever experienced. Judgmental and rude for no reason. There are much better establishments in the area to give your business to. read more

I wish we could give half stars as I would give this place 4.5 stars. This was our first visit to the new Simeon's and we really enjoyed it. The place is very well decorated and has a great feel to it. The menu had lots of good choices and the specials were interesting. My husband and I shared the bacon appetizer and loved it. I had the steak and he had a lamb special that were both tasty and interesting. The desserts in the small cups were a great idea which we thoroughly enjoyed. The only reason we didn't give 5 stars is the waiter. While very nice, he was a bit all over the place. It was hard to understand him and get his attention. read more

Had the combo dozen oysters, featuring three garnishes. Oysters were unexpectedly very fresh and light, with one briny type out of the three (all were still great). Drinks selection was a nice mix of craft beers and wines, along with specialty cocktails. Portions for the small dishes were small (of course) but the GRILLED OCTOPUS!!!!! Amaze. Also the charcuterie was weirdly satisfying. Double thumbs up for the crostini. read more

Had a great meal the last time there a month or so ago. Food has been elevated. Still hoping to see a revamped dessert menu (an actual menu and full desserts) read more

...I just bought a $9 after dollar tip Bell's Two Hearted Ale... The interior is nice and all, but my Bell's was $9...

Great service! Oysters were fabulous. Drinks amazing. We loved it. Would def recommend.

Blegh. Chicken pesto sandwich was $10 and so lackluster. Service was ok, food was poor/ok. It has a great location on the corner of the Commons and the inside looks very nice, but don't be fooled! The food is not very good. I won't be coming back again. read more

I used to enjoy Simeon's, aside from the fact that they had an odd menu (pasta and sandwiches?) and didn't serve french fries. The restaurant was recently transfered to a new management team, who removed many popular items from the menu (including the chicken salad sandwich the other reviewer mentions). Since then, I haven't been back, and I continue to hear mostly negative reviews since acquiring the new team. read more

Excellent food but only okay service. Maybe it was because we were outsiders but it seemed like we were often overlooked by our waitress. However, my lunch was delicious and was a big enough sandwich to take half home for lunch the next day. The Thai butternut squash soup was amazing and warmed me up in that freezing cold Ithaca weather. I was hoping to go back for dinner but ran out of time on my visit. read more

I've been to Simeons twice. Once in February of 07, and the food was decent. I went back in August of 07, and had a vegetable lasagna that was so acidic it tasted like vomit. Maybe it is better now that it is under new management. read more

I like this place. Nice for a drink after work. You can do a sampling of 3 wines for $13. The pours equal almost 2 glasses of wine. I'm not sure how often they change your choices, but they have a nice selection by the glass. Our hummus appetizer was nothing to write home about, but I would try the menu again. read more

Simeon's always a great place for a casual lunch or a fun dinner with friends in the commons. I have been to birthday dinners there a couple of times because they have a nice semi-private room at the back where you can enjoy your time without annoying other customers. Food-wise, I have always enjoyed their French onion soup. It is so good that I often tell my friends it's better than the ones I have had in France (half-jokingly). However, it is usually only on their winter menu cycle. Their sea bass dishes are generally good (sometimes as a special and sometimes in a mixed seafood dish). The fish is often very moist and juicy while slightly crisp on the outside. My friend also especially asked me to mention the ahi tuna sandwich that we had for lunch once because it's something different from the regular lunch sandwiches. Another thing I love about Simeon's is how they serve their desserts. While they might not have the most creative and unique desserts, they serve them in little cups. Just the right portion for someone like me, who often does not leave enough room for desserts at the end of meals. Drink-wise, I like their various wine flights, perfect for someone who wants a taste of the finger lakes wine! read more

I stopped here for lunch with 2 friends and all of us left happy and full. We ordered assorted sandwiches (hamburger, pulled pork, and the roasted portobello). The meat eaters reported that they were happy with their meals and my roasted portobello sandwich on foccachia was awesome. Besides the mushroom, there was a little cheese, roasted peppers and spinach. Truly delicious. Our window table offered great people watching and the service was attentive and efficient. read more

Stopped in during a trip to Ithaca. It's a cozy restaurant. The food was incredible. I had a double cut pork chop with spaetzle, apple sauce and carrots. It was honestly one of the best things I have ever eaten. I don't live in the area...but I will be thinking about that meal for a long time to come. Kudos to the kitchen. read more

The food is consistently amazing (especially the garlic/wine/butter deliciousness served with the mussels) but I digress. I was at Simeon's tonight with the majority of my (noisy but loving) EMBA class but I needed to take a call in halfway through a big group dinner -- those of you in the middle of the recruiting reality feel me?!?!? Dean (the manager? Owner?) offered up his quiet downstairs office so I could speak with my dream job hiring manager. Dean is a guy who understands the Cornell marketplace he's working within and delivers as needed. He hustled his butt all night to make sure everyone had a top notch experience and that's the entire culture of the server staff at Simeon's. Spend the time and money. It's worth it! (And thank Dean for me! That basement office was EPIC!) read more

Cute, small, inexpensive desserts. Small, noisy place but in a lively way. Food is good. Portions are small. Clean restrooms. Would come here again. read more

Impressive - comfortable, relaxing atmosphere in a beautiful old building, all four of us enjoyed our meals immensely. This restaurant is one of many reasons I hope that my daughters get into Cornell. Seriously, restaurants like this make me really sorry that I live in the Trenton NJ area - we just don't have quality like this, except for our pizza which is world class. read more

Every thing I have had here has been great. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. It's a little pricey for every day but if you only go out once a week could probably add this to you restaurant rotation. read more

Simeon's On The Commons - Crab cake during restaurant week - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Pros to Simeons: cool decor & vibe, interesting drink menu, fun dessert concept with 5-6 little dessert cups that they bring out for you to pick after your meal Cons: they need to switch up their weekly specials, their Friday special of scallops was EXTREMELY sandy both times I ordered the dish read more

We chose this place based on Yelp reviews and it did not disappoint. We ended up sitting at the bar with a friendly bartender who answered all our questions and made amazing drinks. We enjoyed the steamed mussels and kettle fondue chips. The atmosphere is great and it's a wonderful place to enjoy a date night with a loved one. read more

Fabulous food and service!!! Love the modern decor mixed with the local and seasonal menu!

The owners care about their business ans it shows in their actions and in the restaurant itself. Awesome food. Great location.Big drink selection, and good service. The decor in the main room is a little outdated but who cares. Doesnt affect my meal. read more

Amazing selection of wine and spirits including Pappy Van Winkle 20year for $25/2oz. The steak specials and fresh oysters were excellent and the service at the bar was friendly and knowledgable. read more

Great service, delicious meal, and a very attractive venue. The seafood mac and cheese is to die for. Great place to eat!

This place is great. The interior is nice, the bar in particular. Service was excellent, and food even better. We had the bacon wrapped Kobe meatloaf, hot chips with a magical blue cheese sauce on them, and the pork belly appetizer. It's even reasonably priced! You can't ask for much more. read more