Gilroy's Kitchen + Pub + Patio in West Des Moines, Iowa is genuinely worth visiting for the outdoor experience, especially during happy hour or on a Wednesday night with live music. If you want a deeper look, check out Leo's Kitchen and Patio reviews for more specific notes on what to expect at Gilroy's. The patio is the venue's real calling card, and most reviewers who show up in person (rather than ordering delivery) leave satisfied. Food portions are solid, the drink specials are some of the better deals in the area, and the overall vibe is lively without being overwhelming. That said, service pacing on the patio can be inconsistent, and a few guests have reported slow drink delivery and food arriving cold, so going in with realistic expectations helps.
Gilroy's Kitchen Pub Patio Reviews: What to Expect
Quick verdict from Gilroy's Kitchen patio reviews
The consensus across Tripadvisor, Grubhub, and local Des Moines dining guides is that Gilroy's patio is a legitimate outdoor destination, not just an afterthought. Reviewers consistently praise the food flavors and portion sizes, with comments like "Portion size was perfect and flavor was super" appearing as recently as April 2024. The happy hour drink deals (think $5 domestic drafts and house wine from 2 to 5 p.m.) get specific call-outs as strong value. On the flip side, the recurring criticisms are about service speed, with one April 2023 Tripadvisor reviewer noting it took roughly 20 minutes to receive two beers, which then arrived flat, and a February 2026 Grubhub review flagging cold food. The pattern suggests the kitchen and patio bar can get stretched thin during busy windows, but the actual food and drink quality, when it arrives in good condition, earns real praise.
| Category | What reviewers say | Overall sentiment |
|---|---|---|
| Food quality | Great flavor, solid portions; occasional cold food complaints | Mostly positive |
| Drink selection | Strong happy hour deals; some reports of slow service and flat beer | Mixed to positive |
| Patio atmosphere | Lively, sports-bar energy; TVs and sound system; two outdoor patio areas | Positive |
| Service speed | Can be slow during peaks; understaffed feel reported by some | Mixed |
| Value | Happy hour pricing stands out; unadvertised add-on pricing flagged by some | Mostly positive |
Patio atmosphere and comfort
Gilroy's has two outdoor patio areas, which is more than most pub-style venues in the area can say. The setup leans into a sports-bar aesthetic taken outside: expect TVs, a sound system, and a crowd that's there to have a good time rather than enjoy a quiet dinner. Catch Des Moines' group travel write-up also describes Gilroy's patio as having TVs and a sound system, aligning with a lively sports-bar-style outdoor vibe expect TVs, a sound system. On a Wednesday evening with live music running, the energy picks up considerably. The venue's own marketing leans hard into the patio experience, promoting "Patio Season" on their site and running tiki-themed drink specials and patio pitchers during warmer months.
Seating-wise, the layout accommodates groups reasonably well, and the venue has a Groups and Parties section on its site with event hosting options. Accessibility is covered too: the venue is listed as wheelchair accessible with highchairs available, which matters if you're planning around mobility needs or bringing younger kids. What reviewers don't talk much about is dedicated shade or weather coverage, so if it's a hot Iowa afternoon or there's a chance of rain, it's worth calling ahead at 515-809-1727 to ask about covered seating options before you commit to a patio table.
Food quality on the patio
The menu has a solid pub-grill lineup: chicken wings with multiple sauce options, chicken nachos, fish and chips, creamy chicken pasta, and burgers like the Wham Bam Bacon Jam. These are the kinds of dishes that travel well to a patio table and hold up even if service runs a bit slow. Reviewers highlight wings and burgers as the safest bets for consistent quality. The portion sizes come up frequently in a positive way, which matters when you're splitting plates across a group.
The main complaint worth flagging is temperature: at least a couple of recent reviews mention food arriving cold, which is a real concern when you're sitting outside and there's a lag between the kitchen and your table. If you're ordering anything that's meant to be hot, don't hesitate to send it back. It's also worth noting that some Tripadvisor reviewers mention sauce and topping add-ons not being priced on the menu, so ask about any extras upfront to avoid bill surprises. For patio ordering, simpler is smarter: the wings, nachos, and burger builds tend to get the most consistent praise.
Drinks and service outdoors
The drink program is genuinely one of Gilroy's strongest selling points for the patio. Happy hour runs from 2 to 5 p.m. and includes $5 domestic drafts, well drinks, and house wine, plus $8 old fashioneds. The "Tiki Drinkies + Patio Pitcher Paradise" promotions show up on their specials page as well, which is exactly the kind of thing that makes a warm afternoon on the patio feel worth it. Moscow Mules get specific mentions in review excerpts too, so if that's your drink, you're in good hands.
That said, service speed is the most reported frustration in recent reviews. The 20-minute wait for two beers cited on Tripadvisor isn't an isolated complaint; the general theme across slow-service reviews is an understaffed or over-stretched vibe during busy periods. If you arrive during peak evening service (think Friday or Saturday after 6 p.m.) or during a big sports event, plan for slower pacing and flag down your server early for a second round rather than waiting until your glass is empty. The service quality when it's running well gets warm mentions, including friendliness, so this seems more like a staffing issue on busy nights than a culture problem.
Best for: dates, groups, and families
Date nights
Gilroy's patio can work well for a casual date, but go in knowing it's a sports-bar-energy space, not a romantic terrace. The TVs and sound system mean background noise is part of the deal. If that's your vibe (and for a lot of couples it is), the happy hour window on a weeknight is genuinely fun: good drink value, a lively but not overwhelming crowd, and food that's more interesting than your average bar menu. Aim for Tuesday or Thursday evening over Friday night if you want easier conversation and faster service.
Groups
This is arguably where Gilroy's patio shines most. Two outdoor patio areas plus a dedicated Groups and Parties program means they've thought about larger parties, and the venue can handle them better than most comparable spots. Pre-arranging your seating through the reservation system (or calling directly) is smart for groups of six or more. The Wednesday live music nights work well for groups that want a built-in energy without planning around a special event.
Families
The family story is genuinely solid for a pub-patio venue. Kids under 6 eat free from the brunch buffet on weekends, which is a meaningful deal for parents. The venue is wheelchair accessible and highchairs are available. The patio atmosphere during weekend brunch is a better family fit than Friday or Saturday evening, when the bar energy picks up. For a family with younger kids, the 9 a.m. Saturday or Sunday opening means you can grab a patio table before the lunch crowd and leave before it gets loud.
Practical tips for your visit today
- Make a reservation: Gilroy's actively promotes reservations on its site, and for patio seating specifically, calling 515-809-1727 or booking online at gilroyskitchen.com lets you request an outdoor table and confirm it's available before showing up.
- Target the happy hour window: 2 to 5 p.m. on weekdays gives you the best drink value ($5 drafts, wells, house wine) with a lighter crowd. Weekday deals also include mules, mocktails, and apps, so it's genuinely one of the better value windows in West Des Moines.
- Go Wednesday for live music: If you want a fun, animated patio night without the weekend peak-hour wait times, Wednesday evening hits a good balance of energy and manageability.
- Arrive early on weekends: The patio gets competitive on Friday and Saturday evenings. If you're not reserving, arriving right when service opens (11 a.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. weekends) gives you the best shot at a good table and full-attention service.
- Ask about shade and covered seating when you call: Iowa summer afternoons can get hot. Confirming whether covered spots are available on the day of your visit saves you from an uncomfortable two hours in direct sun.
- Flag your server early for drink refills: Given the documented service-speed issues during busy periods, don't wait until your glass is empty to order another round. Ordering the next drink when you're halfway through the current one keeps things moving.
- Confirm add-on pricing before ordering: A few reviewers have been caught off guard by unlisted sauce or topping charges. A quick "are there any add-on charges for that?" before ordering wings or burgers keeps your bill predictable.
- Inspect your food when it arrives: If anything comes out cold, send it back right away. This is more common when the kitchen is backed up, and the reviews suggest staff are generally accommodating when issues are flagged.
How to verify review info and avoid name or location confusion
This article is specifically about Gilroy's Kitchen + Pub + Patio at 1238 8th Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265. That's the only venue with the full "Gilroy's Kitchen + Pub + Patio" name and the corresponding patio experience described here. If you're searching online and land on reviews for a "Gilroy" venue in Gilroy, California (there's a Westside Grill at 8080 Santa Teresa Blvd, Gilroy, CA 95020 that can surface in related searches), those are entirely different businesses and the reviews don't apply. Always confirm the West Des Moines, Iowa address before reading any review you plan to use.
For the most reliable recent reviews, Tripadvisor and Grubhub are the two most active review sources for this venue. When reading Grubhub reviews specifically, keep in mind that some complaints are about delivery fulfillment rather than the dine-in patio experience, so filter mentally for reviews that mention actually visiting the restaurant. If you want to compare impressions, Roy's kitchen and patio reviews can help you sort out what to expect before you go patio experience. Tripadvisor reviews tend to be more relevant to in-person patio visits. The official site at gilroyskitchen.com is the best source for current hours (Mon-Thu 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Fri 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sun 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.), current specials, and reservation logistics. For current patio season details and any weather-related closures, calling the venue directly is faster than waiting for review platforms to reflect real-time changes.
If you enjoy this kind of outdoor pub-patio dining experience, the broader Central Texas and Midwest scene has a lot to offer in the same category. Venues like Leo's Kitchen and Patio, Roy's Kitchen and Patio, and Tejas Kitchen Bar Patio all operate in a similar outdoor dining and drinks niche and are worth comparing if you're building a short list or traveling to a different region. The format, crowd, and patio culture at Gilroy's fits comfortably in that same family of outdoor bar-grill destinations. If you want a similar vibe in a different city, looking up Viva Cocina Patio and Bar San Antonio reviews can help you compare patio food, service, and overall atmosphere. If you want to zero in on this spot, you can also look up rotunda bar and patio jarrell reviews to compare patio vibes and service outdoor bar-grill destinations. If you are looking for similar spots, check out viva cocina patio and bar reviews to compare menu choices and the vibe. If you want to go deeper, reading tangos patio and kitchen reviews can help you compare how this kind of outdoor dining stacks up. If you want more context, you can also look up Jack Allen's Kitchen and Patio Bar Round Rock reviews for another take on the Central Texas patio-and-drinks scene.
FAQ
Is it better to make a reservation for the Gilroy's Kitchen + Pub + Patio patio?
Yes, but it depends on when you go. For patio seating, the article notes service gets slower during peak windows, so if you have a hard time constraint (a concert start, school pickup, or a game), aim for earlier happy hour (2 to 5 p.m.) or weeknights like Tuesday or Thursday to reduce the wait for drinks and hot food.
Do they have enough shade or weather protection on the patio for hot or rainy days?
For patio weather, dedicated shade and coverage are not something reviewers emphasize, so the safest move is calling ahead to ask what part of the patio is protected and whether umbrellas, heaters, or indoor overflow are available during rain. This is especially important in hot afternoons or light rain when comfort affects how long you will stay.
How should I interpret Grubhub reviews when I plan to sit on the patio?
If you are reading Grubhub reviews, separate dine-in patio complaints from delivery issues. Filter for reviews that explicitly say they ate there or mention patio seating, because delivery-focused reviews can include cold-temperature complaints that do not reflect the patio experience as closely.
What should I do if my food arrives cold on the patio?
When you order something that is supposed to be hot, check it right away. The article highlights that some recent reviews report food arriving cold, so if it happens, send it back promptly (instead of waiting), since patio timing can mean the food cools before your server returns.
What days and times usually have the best patio service and least waiting?
If you want faster service and easier conversation, Tuesday or Thursday evenings are a better bet than Friday or Saturday after 6 p.m., especially during sports-event surges. Also, flag a server early for refills rather than waiting until your glass is empty, since the article ties slow service to stretched staffing during busy periods.
Are there hidden fees or unexpected costs for patio menu add-ons at Gilroy's?
To avoid surprises, ask about any sauce or topping add-ons before ordering. The article notes some guests report add-ons not being priced the same way as listed menu items, so a quick confirmation helps you keep the bill predictable, especially for shared wings or nachos.
Is Gilroy's patio family-friendly, and what deals are available for young kids?
Yes, kids under 6 eat free from the brunch buffet on weekends, and highchairs are available. The article also suggests weekend brunch is the better family fit compared with later bar-energy nights, and arriving around the 9 a.m. opening can help you get patio seating before it gets busy.
What menu items are the safest choice if I want consistent quality on the patio?
Go with simpler, patio-friendly orders like wings, nachos, and burger builds if you want the most consistent outcome when service slows down. The article calls these out as safer bets, while more complex hot dishes are more likely to suffer from timing issues when the kitchen and patio bar get stretched.
Is the patio better for a date night or for groups, and how noisy does it get?
If you are expecting a quiet or romantic atmosphere, the patio is a sports-bar setup with TVs and a sound system. The background noise is intentional, so consider earlier weeknight visits if you want livelier energy with slightly more manageable conversation, or choose a party-focused time like Wednesday live music.
Can Gilroy's accommodate larger groups on the patio, and what should we do to plan ahead?
Yes, but keep the scope realistic. The article says they have two outdoor patio areas and a dedicated Groups and Parties program, and it recommends pre-arranging seating for groups of six or more. For planning, contacting the venue is especially useful if your group wants live-music energy on Wednesday or has accessibility needs.
