First time here today and everything was great. Food was great and service was very good. We even met the owner today and he was very pleasant. Definitely will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shane the Treadmill Hero
The food and atmosphere was. Our server Corey was great!
Dylan R
Gastro Pub & Grub in Des Moines absolutely nails the modern pub experience. The menu is creative without being pretentious, with comfort food elevated by bold flavors and quality ingredients. Everything we ordered was fresh, well-seasoned, and clearly made with care. The atmosphere strikes a perfect balance—laid-back and welcoming, but still polished enough for a great night out. Add in friendly, attentive service and a solid drink selection, and it’s an easy win. Whether you’re grabbing dinner with friends or looking for a reliable go-to spot downtown, Gastro Pub & Grub delivers every time. Highly recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Garlic Aioli, Sriracha Aioli
Emily Prochaska
My boyfriend and I love coming here for date night. Jaden was our server tonight and she was amazing. Great service and the food was delicious as always. I love that they have a few vegan options. The BBQ Jackfruit Tacos and Vegan Brussels Sprouts are so good.
Visited last night for dinner and left very happy! I had the seasonal roasted cauliflower salad with chèvre and pepper jam which was dope, and then the truffle fries with garlic aioli because I’m a creature of habit. My partner had the shrimp po boy and while he thought it was a little hard to eat, the amount of shrimp was generous and cooked well. Looking at the menu I was glad to see a decent amount of vegetarian and vegan options, and the small seasonal menu showed some creativity from the kitchen staff.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sabetha Mumm
Everything was wonderful! From the drinks to the food and the service! They were packed and still managed to give great service with a smile in a timely manner! Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Des Moines RCM
Live on the other side of town, but Gastro is ALWAYS worth the drive. At this point have had every meal and drink on their menu. Have yet to have anything I didn't like yet. Of course I prefer some items more than others, but as a whole you cant go wrong. Tops are short rib grilled cheese, poutine, bacon jam burger, truffle fries.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Audrey Pohren
Great service and food. Highly recommend if in the Waukee area.
I’ve been eating Gastro Grub since they were in their food truck only. Our family go to spot for burgers, fries and more. Always great drinks too! Had the elf fashioned tonight and it was a great twist on an old fashioned. Extensive drink list. Highly recommend.
Food was good. The deburgo poutine and the brussel sprouts were great. Next time I think we'll just do a bunch of the small plates. I had the chicken sandwich. It was good. Bread was a little rich even though it was light and thin. I think because it looks buttered and toasted. Pickles and slaw were good on the sandwich. The bread pudding was good, but also rich. Definitely share that. Our server was amazing. She made sure my sweet potatoes fries were crispy and recommended the Parmesan dressing to dip them in. The seating was not very comfortable at the high top bench. There is a pipe under the table for your feet, but too high for long legs. Dangle them in front of that and you end up touching the person across from you. Sit on the other side and your staring through glass at other people. Just an observation. Everyone that works there was so nice and welcoming!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Riley Nolan
Food is always great, consistent every time. Great selection of food and some of the best in the metro.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Charles Gates
One of my favorite places in Waukee. Servers are all great and I've not had anything less than excellent. Thanks! -Charles
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kristi Rutten-Weisbach
We ate here when we were in town for a dance competition. As a vegetarian, I really appreciated the menu options. Our food and service was exceptional!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
raj devan
Heard nothing but good things, so here it is — my honest take.
Gastro Grub & Pub lives up to its reputation. When you walk in and see all those “Best of the Best” awards on the wall, expectations shoot up — and somehow, they deliver. The vibe’s simple and cozy, not flashy, just that laid-back Midwest comfort. Sometimes simple really is good.
The menu surprised me — it’s got range. From a fresh, earthy beet salad to flavorful sweet potato tacos, it’s clear someone in that kitchen cares about balance and creativity. And then came the salmon — flaky, perfectly cooked, slightly salty but packed with flavor. Best I’ve had in a long time.
The bread pudding deserves its own standing ovation — warm, rich, and the perfect ending to a meal that already felt like a hug.
Service? Outstanding. Our waiter was genuine, quick with a smile, and went the extra mile to make sure my daughter — who’s celiac — had a gluten-free dish she could actually enjoy. That kind of care sticks with you.
Sure, the low seating’s a bit tight, but when the food and hospitality are this good, it fades into the background. Family-and-friend–run, with real heart behind it — that’s rare these days.
Bottom line: Cozy setting, honest food, and staff who make you feel right at home. Gastro Grub & Pub proves you don’t need fancy plating or mood lighting to be one of the best — just passion, pride, and killer bread pudding.
First time here today and everything was great. Food was great and service was very good. We even met the owner today and he was very pleasant. Definitely will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food and atmosphere was. Our server Corey was great!
Gastro Pub & Grub in Des Moines absolutely nails the modern pub experience. The menu is creative without being pretentious, with comfort food elevated by bold flavors and quality ingredients. Everything we ordered was fresh, well-seasoned, and clearly made with care. The atmosphere strikes a perfect balance—laid-back and welcoming, but still polished enough for a great night out. Add in friendly, attentive service and a solid drink selection, and it’s an easy win. Whether you’re grabbing dinner with friends or looking for a reliable go-to spot downtown, Gastro Pub & Grub delivers every time. Highly recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Garlic Aioli, Sriracha Aioli
My boyfriend and I love coming here for date night. Jaden was our server tonight and she was amazing. Great service and the food was delicious as always. I love that they have a few vegan options. The BBQ Jackfruit Tacos and Vegan Brussels Sprouts are so good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Truffle Fries, Vegan Brussels Sprouts
Visited last night for dinner and left very happy! I had the seasonal roasted cauliflower salad with chèvre and pepper jam which was dope, and then the truffle fries with garlic aioli because I’m a creature of habit. My partner had the shrimp po boy and while he thought it was a little hard to eat, the amount of shrimp was generous and cooked well. Looking at the menu I was glad to see a decent amount of vegetarian and vegan options, and the small seasonal menu showed some creativity from the kitchen staff.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything was wonderful! From the drinks to the food and the service! They were packed and still managed to give great service with a smile in a timely manner! Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Live on the other side of town, but Gastro is ALWAYS worth the drive. At this point have had every meal and drink on their menu. Have yet to have anything I didn't like yet. Of course I prefer some items more than others, but as a whole you cant go wrong. Tops are short rib grilled cheese, poutine, bacon jam burger, truffle fries.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great service and food. Highly recommend if in the Waukee area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing place
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sweet Potato Fries, Grub Burger
I’ve been eating Gastro Grub since they were in their food truck only. Our family go to spot for burgers, fries and more. Always great drinks too! Had the elf fashioned tonight and it was a great twist on an old fashioned. Extensive drink list. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Original Bacon Jam Burger
Restaurantji Recommends
Food was good. The deburgo poutine and the brussel sprouts were great. Next time I think we'll just do a bunch of the small plates. I had the chicken sandwich. It was good. Bread was a little rich even though it was light and thin. I think because it looks buttered and toasted. Pickles and slaw were good on the sandwich. The bread pudding was good, but also rich. Definitely share that. Our server was amazing. She made sure my sweet potatoes fries were crispy and recommended the Parmesan dressing to dip them in. The seating was not very comfortable at the high top bench. There is a pipe under the table for your feet, but too high for long legs. Dangle them in front of that and you end up touching the person across from you. Sit on the other side and your staring through glass at other people. Just an observation. Everyone that works there was so nice and welcoming!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Food is always great, consistent every time. Great selection of food and some of the best in the metro.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of my favorite places in Waukee. Servers are all great and I've not had anything less than excellent. Thanks! -Charles
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We ate here when we were in town for a dance competition. As a vegetarian, I really appreciated the menu options. Our food and service was exceptional!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Heard nothing but good things, so here it is — my honest take.
Gastro Grub & Pub lives up to its reputation. When you walk in and see all those “Best of the Best” awards on the wall, expectations shoot up — and somehow, they deliver. The vibe’s simple and cozy, not flashy, just that laid-back Midwest comfort. Sometimes simple really is good.
The menu surprised me — it’s got range. From a fresh, earthy beet salad to flavorful sweet potato tacos, it’s clear someone in that kitchen cares about balance and creativity. And then came the salmon — flaky, perfectly cooked, slightly salty but packed with flavor. Best I’ve had in a long time.
The bread pudding deserves its own standing ovation — warm, rich, and the perfect ending to a meal that already felt like a hug.
Service? Outstanding. Our waiter was genuine, quick with a smile, and went the extra mile to make sure my daughter — who’s celiac — had a gluten-free dish she could actually enjoy. That kind of care sticks with you.
Sure, the low seating’s a bit tight, but when the food and hospitality are this good, it fades into the background. Family-and-friend–run, with real heart behind it — that’s rare these days.
Bottom line: Cozy setting, honest food, and staff who make you feel right at home. Gastro Grub & Pub proves you don’t need fancy plating or mood lighting to be one of the best — just passion, pride, and killer bread pudding.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
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