My husband and I went on a brunch date here recently and we enjoyed it very much! To start the portion sizes were very generous. I got the eggs Benedict and it was two full pieces of toast, large portion of ham two eggs and corn fries on top of that. It was really good. The ham was a bit salty, but that’s what I would like out of breakfast food anyways. I think the portion sizes are fair considering the fact that all meals there are about $15. My husband got the avocado omelette. He enjoyed it. We did not have anything to drink besides water although their orange juice did look delicious. I also saw another customer order the broccoli cheddar soup and it smelled and looked divine… Jack divine. Keep in mind, they put on a 4% no cash fee to your bill, AKA a credit card fee. The dining area was a bit chilly but it is winter and drafts get in. Service was good. The people there were friendly.
Overview
Walking into Simone's Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch feels like stepping into the kind of neighborhood diner that Pittsburgh does especially well-warm, familiar, and genuinely welcoming. Located at 665 Washington Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15228, United States, this spot has become a regular stop for locals who care less about trends and more about food that actually tastes like something. I first came here on a cold weekday morning after a recommendation from a longtime Dormont resident, and it quickly became clear why this place earns steady praise in reviews.
The menu leans into comfort food but doesn’t feel dated. Breakfast classics like fluffy pancakes, omelets packed with fresh vegetables, and eggs cooked exactly the way you ask for them anchor the experience. According to data from the National Restaurant Association, nearly 70% of diners prioritize breakfast foods made with fresh ingredients, and that philosophy shows up here in a very practical way. You can taste the difference in the potatoes, which are crispy on the outside and soft inside, and in the eggs, which are never rubbery or overdone. One server explained that the kitchen preps ingredients daily rather than relying on frozen shortcuts, which aligns with best practices recommended by culinary institutes for maintaining flavor and texture.
Brunch at this diner tends to draw a mixed crowd-families, retirees, and younger couples who appreciate generous portions without inflated prices. During one weekend visit, I noticed how efficiently the staff handled a full dining room without rushing anyone out. That balance is harder to pull off than it looks. Studies from Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration often highlight service pacing as a key factor in positive restaurant experiences, and Simone’s seems to have figured that out through repetition and local knowledge rather than formal training manuals.
Lunch offerings expand beyond breakfast staples but keep the same down-to-earth approach. Sandwiches arrive stacked, soups taste homemade, and daily specials rotate based on what works rather than what photographs well. A grilled turkey sandwich I ordered once came with fresh bread and a side of fries that were clearly cut in-house. It’s the kind of meal that doesn’t try to impress but ends up doing exactly that. Regulars often mention in reviews that consistency is the real standout, and consistency is something food service experts regularly cite as a core driver of trust in dining establishments.
What also stands out is how the location fits into the surrounding community. Sitting right along Washington Road, it’s easy to access whether you’re walking, driving, or stopping in between errands. The diner doesn’t rely on flashy marketing; instead, word-of-mouth does most of the work. That’s backed by consumer behavior research from Nielsen, which shows that over 80% of people trust recommendations from friends and family more than advertising when choosing where to eat.
There are limitations worth noting. This isn’t the place for experimental cuisine or plant-based menus with extensive customization. If you’re looking for gluten-free variety or vegan-only options, choices may feel limited. That said, the staff is upfront about what can and can’t be modified, which adds to the sense of honesty that keeps people coming back.
Overall, the appeal comes down to reliability, fair pricing, and food that feels familiar in the best possible way. In a city full of dining options, this diner holds its ground by doing the basics exceptionally well, serving the same menu day after day with care, and earning its reputation one satisfied customer at a time.
Good to know
From the business
✓ Identifies as women-ownedService options
✓ Outdoor seating ✓ Delivery ✓ Takeaway ✓ Dine-inHighlights
✓ Great coffeePopular for
✓ Breakfast ✓ Lunch ✓ Solo diningAccessibility
✓ Wheelchair-accessible car park ✓ Wheelchair-accessible entrance ✓ Wheelchair-accessible seating ✓ Wheelchair-accessible toiletOfferings
✓ Beer ✓ Coffee ✓ Comfort food ✓ Quick biteDining options
✓ Breakfast ✓ Brunch ✓ Lunch ✓ Dinner ✓ Catering ✓ Dessert ✓ Seating ✓ Table serviceAmenities
✓ ToiletAtmosphere
✓ Casual ✓ CosyCrowd
✓ Family friendly ✓ LGBTQ+ friendly ✓ LocalsPlanning
✓ Accepts reservationsPayments
✓ Credit cards ✓ Debit cards ✓ NFC mobile payments ✓ Credit cardsChildren
✓ Good for kids ✓ High chairs ✓ Kids' menuParking
✓ Free of charge street parking ✓ Paid multi-storey car park ✓ Paid parking lot ✓ Paid street parking ✓ ParkingPhotos
Location
Reviews
Our waitress was friendly and had a lovely personality to brighten our morning! The food was absolutely divine. From my table, I could see staff members freshly squeezing oranges to make their juice, which was delicious and highly recommended. The omelet I had was well prepared and paired well with the home fries. I really enjoyed the sourdough bread option for toast! My boyfriend and I also split a blueberry pancake and me oh my it made me fall in love with blueberry pancakes! The cake itself was fluffy and the powdered sugar on top wasn’t overpowering. It was just the right amount of sugar.
The food is excellent and the service is friendly. Their pancakes are HUGE (plate-sized) and delicious. They even have a few tables out on the sidewalk where a couple of a small group can eat.
This was literally the best food and best service I have had anywhere. Everything was so amazing, we over ate because we didn't want to leave it. Trust me when I say do yourself a favor and visit this place. It was fabulous. We didn't wait for anything and the lady who was running the dining room had nine tables. (We had just went out to dinner recently to an Olive garden and the waitress had four tables including us and it took us 15 minutes to be acknowledged, another 20 minutes to get our drinks, and 45 minutes later to get our meals that were cold.) You don't find service like this anymore and the food was amazing
The Apple Cinnamon French toast was decent, and the potatoes were just average. The bacon was nicely cooked and the fresh squeezed OJ was delicious - I got 3 cups! The service was friendly. It’s a small place, so they can get a bit cramped on weekends. The coffee was standard breakfast coffee, nothing too noteworthy. Overall, 4/5 for this place because nothing was bad about it, the OJ and bacon were delicious. The rest was average. Likely won’t return because there are some better places to get breakfast around.