Don Sanchez

Everything is relative… There’s probably not many better options in town. The service was terrific, really responsive and professional. Great ambience too, not charming as its a large property, but welcoming and lots of fire, good lighting, etc.
Now for the food: everything was just a little ‘off.’ The Cesar was a great idea — deconstructed — but just couldn’t pull it off. Too much anchovy and the tomato jam was too sweet. And the ribs had too much sugar or something, just didn’t work. The most expensive dish — seafood chili something — was just average. Nothing blew us away — but again we’re not in NY so we left satisfied and will live to eat another meal.

I’m writing this review while eating my entrée because I don’t want to forget the intoxicating flavors I’m experiencing right now. We got the Pacific Rim Oysters as a starter, and there are seriously no words to describe what watermelon sashimi, a little habanero, sorbet and a touch of sea salt do to your palate. It’s beyond heavenly. Enjoyed in a sexy atmosphere amidst the flickering light of tiki torches, palm trees, and the romantic sounds of an acoustic guitar in the warm evening air, there’s something special about this place and the service we received. The service alone is beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. They brought us some delightfully refreshing, palate cleansing amuse-​bouches between each course that were on the house, along with some fresh-​baked homemade rolls. For our main courses, we had the Cornish Hen and Braised Short Ribs, paired perfectly with an Argentinian Malbec. Both dishes were so tender, they practically fell apart with a fork. My short ribs sat atop a bed of avocado mushroom risotto with truffle oil I could not get enough of. The flavors were so juicy, intriguing, and well balanced. Best. Dish. Ever. We’ll definitely be coming back the next time we’re in Los Cabos.

Lucky find of an amazing culinary treat worthy of our 10 year anniversary celebration.

Excellent food, service and entertainment. The waiters greeted us with beer, margaritas and wine. The tortilla soup was delicious. The blackberry chicken mole entrée was superb served with sweet potatoes. I finished the meal with the cinnamon churros. The saxophone player kept the energy lively. Lovely traditional meal.

Upon reading reviews and looking at their website, I expected to be blown away at Don Sanchez. The food is good, with topline touches like amuse bouche, palate cleanser and end of meal chocolates. My husband loved his short rib, but I found my lobster over salted and the mint in my oyster appetizer also over powered the delicacy of the dish. Our waiter was extremely attentive without ever being the least bit intrusive, perhaps the best balance in service I have ever experienced yet. The courtyard was gorgeous and had the perfect live performance of Mexican guitar renditions of both Spanish and modern classics.

The last restaurant that we dined at before heading back to Orange County. Glad I picked this restaurant over all the reviews on Unilocal.Service and food was top notch. Not one complaint that I can think of. Drinks, Appetizers, Main Course, Atmosphere, Music, Etc. If you are in San Jose, stop here. You will not be disappointed.

To avoid sticker shock of eating every meal at the Palmilla we decided to have a few dinners in Cabo San Jose
We were referred to Don Sanchez on the main square.
They are know for their huge wine selection and fresh local upscale cuisine. Started off with their famous beet salad and jicama salad. Both were delicious. Don’t forget to ask for the homemade bread. We had the parrot fish in a mole sauce and the Mediterranean fish dish. Excellent meal and it did not break the bank

I think the atmosphere is 5 star and the food I ordered was 3 star so I am settling on 4 stars. When we first entered the restaurant, I had restaurant envy of a neighboring restaurant which had people dining in a beautiful sidewalk area. Then we were lead through the restaurant and down the steps to a beautiful oasis. They have a magical courtyard that had beautiful twinkling lights. A woman was singing what sounded like karaōke (which sounds like a bad idea but she wasn’t half bad and our table wasn’t near the stage so it was just nice background music). I had the heirloom tomato caprese. The tomatoes looked like typical cherry tomatoes to me and a few were overripe. The Parmesan crisp was awesome. For my main course, I had the chili Wellington which sounded very interesting with a puff pastry filled with beef, mushrooms, Stilton blue resting on a chili sauce. The meat was tender but it didn’t have a great flavor. I left half on the plate. I also tried a bite of the yellowfin of the day with the Mexican preparation (the other choice was a Mediterranean type preparation which I didn’t try). The yellowfin itself was delicious but the mole wasn’t great. To me the test of a dish is, would you order it next time and I thought «no» to everything I tried. My husband liked the sashimi he had. They gave a complementary shot glass of spring pea soup that was great. I could have made a meal of their soup and been very happy. They also gave a complementary sorbet between courses that was great. Also their artisan bread basket was great and had a nice dipping sauce. My sister in law booked the place so I didn’t get to read advance reviews but from the reviews, I am sad that I didn’t try the beet salad. I think I misordered. We had tequila drinks to start and mine was the hibiscus martini (which was fine and a pretty color but just tasted like tequila). We also tried to order wine from their extensive wine menu but the iPad they gave us didn’t work and they didn’t have a paper menu backup to give us. No problem because their Pinot noir by the glass was fine. My review is making this sound worse than it was. The restaurant was lovely and they have lots of wines (if they can fix the iPad) and the food was OK. I would dine here again but study reviews for popular dishes next time!

Amazing place for a nice dinner in Cabo. I went here when I was on vacation and we wanted to have one nice dinner to end the week. Don Sanchez was beautiful. You sit outside, but it feels intimate. There’s fountains, lights and heat lamps nearby.
Everything we ordered on the menu was good. We had the belly and suckers along with their popular salad to start. Both were great! The pork belly was amazing. For dinner, I had the steak and egg which I think is the best entrée on the menu. The steak was cooked wonderfully and the egg is crusted. Other people at the table had the shrimp and the daily fish. For dessert, I had the chocolate one (don’t remember what it was called) which was okay. It’s wasn’t bad, but I’ve had a lot better chocolate desserts before.
Overall though it was an enjoyable dinner! Love the atmosphere, I think it’s somewhere to try especially due to the ambience.

Was the worst service I’ve ever experienced at a restaurant. Our server stop serving us. He had the bar back try to take our dessert order and give us the check. It was beyond insulting. For a place that is recommended for tourists, the level of service is not adequate to make people feel comfortable.

This is a hidden gem in every way. Food and service were awesome with a smile. Cocktails were delicious. The atmosphere was absolutely drop dead gorgeous and very romantic. The dinner music never stopped and was very tasteful. Very professional wait staff and servers.
I recommend this restaurant to our friends. The owner is from British Columbia and is the chef. Very hands on and attentive team work in the restaurant.

My husband and I went into this restaurant. We were immediately seated and provided menus. This restaurant is fancy. It’s decorated beautifully and has various wines available for those that enjoy wine. We looked over the menu and stared quietly at each other. Unfortunately, we did not see anything we wanted to try. The staff did not make us feel bad or uncomfortable for deciding to leave. They even made suggestions for other places that we might enjoy more. I appreciate how sweet they were, maybe we will come back the next time we are in town.

For a slightly more upscale take on Mexican cuisine, there’s Don Sanchez. It’s a modern restaurant in San Jose del Cabo’s downtown square that offers both in and outdoor seating, a wall of wines to choose from, mixed drinks and a slightly more refined menu compared to area restaurants.
The menu boasts some seafood, as well as items such as beef tartare, whole roast cornish hen and beet mole (vegan!). Locally sourced and sustainable when possible, they promote. I appreciate how items were marked as GF, dairy-​free, vegan and such, making it easy for those with dietary restrictions. (I was on vacation so I had none.)
We made the (delicious) rookie mistake of devouring the artisan bread basket, which almost ruined our appetite causing us to split our salad and entrée. So we started with the Baby Blue & Beet Salad $ 9: roasted beets, roquefort cheese, sunflower seeds, pecan, thinly sliced and baked apple crisps, finished with a balsamic fig vinaigrette. (This was my favorite of the night.)
Since I love pulpo and my gal pal likes pork belly, we split the Belly & Suckers $ 13. It featured a housemade hoisin-​glazed pork belly with a heafty-​in-​size grilled octopus, smoked carrot pure, pasilla chili sauce, squid ink aioli, avocado arugula purée, longaniza chips, pickled cauliflower… The pork belly was overcooked — almost jerky-​like so we weren’t a fan. But everything else on the plate was cleaned up!
The only thing that kept this dinner from a 5-​star experience — aside from the rubbery pork belly — was the misguided service (or lack-​thereof). Our server claimed to love everything on the food and wine menu «equally» — as he should — but he didn’t have any honest recommendations for us as we tried to weed out options. I’m certain that everything on the menu is great, but it was an instance where honesty would have won us over. I was just annoyed that he suggested we order everything that we had our eyes set on … simply to heighten the bill?
Regardless, it was a pleasant dinner with lovely company, food and wine. Next time I’m in Los Cabos, I’ll definitely return to Don Sanchez.

We had such a great meal while visiting Cabo. Best restaurant in downtown hands down. I had the Chile Wellington. It was so unique! Husband had the fresh fish and we shared ricotta appetizer. This place has s true chef preparing the food.

Our first time in Cabo. Staying at one of the hotel complexes. Did all restaurants at complex. Asked staff member for outside restaurant recommendations.
Recommended «Don Sanchez». I was blown away! Walls are racks full of bottled wines. Good selections. Many different grape varieties to choose from.
Our waiter «Marco Polo» very friendly, well versed on menu. The owner /​chef came to our table. Food presentation excellent. Menu is well rounded and creative.
One of our party said, «This is the best Grilled Cesar Salad I ever had».
When you are in Cabo add this to your list of «must do».
«Bravo» to Don Sanchez owner and staff for giving us a fabulous dining experience!

I’m sorry, but I disagree heavily with the rest of the reviews here. I found the dishes to be well plated yet lacking in the same kind of taste. I found the grilled Caesar to taste not as good as the Caesar dressing you get in a bottle and the marmalade on the side to numb my tongue. The Wellington’s contrasting flavors made for a decided dish that did not meld together, not to mention the bad taste of the beef in general. Don Sanchez fails to give taste the same effort as their presentation.

Excellent food and service! I was truly impressed! Nestled in the quaint downtown of san jose del cabo just across from city hall, this place is a true gem. Our server, Arturo, was extremely patient with our group of 9 which included a one year old and all the crying and mess that a one year old could make. Great find!

So, after consistently coming to Cabo for 20 years and never even having a single person mention the name of this place, my wife stumbles upon Don Sanchez accidently while searching for a different place. What a find… really modern gourmet Mexican dining. A beautiful place with both indoor and outdoor terrace dining. Great menu, superbly engineered wine list and professional service.
A real upscale experience with Amuse Bouche, paced courses, intermezzo and a small complimentary dessert. Worth finding even if it is no where near the beach.

Perfect!
Get a variety of appetizers! Baby blue and beet excellent. Oysters creative and fresh.
Caesar salad the best I’ve ever had.
Short rib adobo was absolutely splendid.
Fried snapper perfect!
Wait staff outstanding.
A true culinary experience!

This is a secret gem in San Jose Del Cabo. A wine list to show up for alone. The food is five star and deserves a M rating.

Wonderful service and amazing food! My husband had the fresh yellow tail and I had the short rib. So yummy! Great wait staff and they even had palette cleanser between the appetizer and main dish.

We would recommend this place to anyone visiting San Jose del Cabo. My husband and I had a great experience for our 10 year wedding anniversary. We truly enjoyed the Chef’s Tasting Menu, which included 6 courses and wine pairing to compliment each course. The Tasting Menu included pumpkin seed crust scallop, smoked octopus, red curry seared tuna, duck confit, tenderloin, and a phyllo pastry with fig compote. The food was amazing and worth every penny. A meal like this in Los Angeles or Las Vegas would have cost 2 – 3 times as much. We will definitely return if we are in Cabo again.

Don Sanchez was fantastic! I’d go again in a minute. We arrived and we whisked to a table on the terrace/​courtyard. Beautiful and colorful furniture amid lush plants, tables elegantly set, and all the rest. They are on top of their game.
Water choices include house purified, bottled, or herb-​infused; definitely go with the latter. We opted for lime-​mint water which was pitcher after pitcher of purified water infused with the fresh aforementioned ingredients. True, nothing one can’t do at home, and I do, but it rarely appears on menus. Refreshing.
We ordered three courses, exclusive of dessert, and for which we had no room. The service was impeccable, with a team of at least two coordinating every delivery. We opted for bottle-​service wine and my glass was never empty, although I never really noticed them filling it. Before our first course arrived, we enjoyed an amuse-​bouche (it was like a mini-​taco on a guacamole cream – but I can’t really remember too well we had so much else!) And then the bread basket arrived with tomato bread, and also cranberry rolls, served with a basil pesto-​garlic oil. Simple and superb.
For starters, we shared three plates among four: the Pacific oysters, the mango tulips with fresh catch (yellowtail) and the grilled octopus. Can’t say a bad thing about any of them, and why would I want to try?: each was delicious for a different reason, and I don’t even like raw yellowtail.
Next I had among the best salad I’ve ever tasted, the beet and blue. The small layered salad started with mandoline-​thin cooked red beet slices (like candy!) topped with an excellent blue cheese, crumbled; baby arugula; thinly sliced smoked duck; crushed nuts (can’t remember the details) and finished off with grilled, almost dehydrated thinly-​sliced apples. Each flavor was a delicious on its own as it was mixed together. The other stunner was the duck confit mole with local ricotta – enough for two to share, which two in our party did. (Don’t order this as a one person starter, since it’s so heavy, but it is great to share.) The Azteca salad looked great, but I didn’t taste it, and my father loved it.
Lime sorbet cleansed the palate.
The pièces de résistance arrived with a flourish. Although everything was tops up to now, the main courses were just killer. And that’s not always the case. The shrimp stuffed with dates and served atop a tropical fruit salsa (finely diced) was decadent. My other dining companions tried the prehispanic fish, wrapped in leaves, and the mediterranean fish (both catch of the day: yellowtail), and they were as tasty as they were different. The former was subtle and moist, while the latter was paired with bright bursts of flavor. If you’re looking for lighter fare, go for the fish as the shrimp were fried, but delicately so.
In all: I’d come again in a heartbeat. It was a memorable dinner to start our family vacation of grown adults. Just an elegant evening of sumptuous tastes, and I really mean that, topped off with a level of unobtrusive and effortless service most top American and European restaurants would love to cultivate.

Don Sanchez is an amazing restaurant full of delicious flavors! The homemade salsa, Caesar salad, and steaks are a must try. Also the jalapeño margarita is great. We“ll miss this place until next time!