Michaels at the Gallery - Todos Santos

We arrived in Todos Santos on a Saturday and this was our first meal. While I thought it was weird to start my trip to Mexico off with pan-Asian, it was the food highlight of the trip. Amazing food and unique atmosphere. Definitely a must...do in Todos Santos. Kristen

There are no words to truly describe the experience at Michaels. We have been here a number of times in the last year or so, and we loved it so much that we just had the rehearsal dinner for our wedding here a couple of...weeks ago. First of all Michael and Pat are simply delightful human beings who are so fun and easy to work with because they are passionate about what they do and damn good at it! They designed an amazing menu for us that started with Japanese popcorn and chicken lahp (spiced chicken on lettuce leaves) as appetizers in the art gallery as people checked out the art and ordered cocktails. Then we went to the romantic garden patio to begin our family style meal which consisted of the most amazing crab cakes I've ever had in my life, followed by a fresh salad, delicious ginger coconut beet soup and that was just the start! From there we progressed to wasabi/teriyaki fish, beef filet in shittake cream sauce, szechwan shrimp, and wrapped up with small chocolate cupcakes and chocolate covered strawberries. With each new dish everyone swore it was there favorite, until the next once came out and rivaled it. In short, it is one of the best meals I have ever had in my entire life, the location itself is stunning both outside due to the natural surroundings and inside due to the incredible art work of the gallery, and the service is literally top notch. Simply said, if you are looking for the true Todos experience, then you must experience Michaels!

What a gorgeous spot. We were delighted to enjoy the environment and food. It was fresh and delicious. The owner was welcoming and charming. I would highly recommend this spot as a dining experience you would not want to miss in Todos Santos. Price is...right too.

It would be a mistake to call Michaels “exclusive,” as it is anything but. You may be tempted when you see it’s 15 or so tables surrounded by one-of-a-kind art pieces, tucked into the nucleus of a gallery in a beautiful, historic building in the...center of Todos Santos, but spend five minutes inside and you will see what I mean—or feel it... My husband and I visit Todos Santos as often as possible. We love the dramatic landscape, the local focus on sustainability and the warmth of the people who inhabit the place. As a chef, I am constantly on the lookout for fresh and delicious food, and in Todos, there is no shortage. International flavors made with local ingredients permeate the area, so when we reserved a table at Michaels we came with high expectations. We were not disappointed. We parked easily on one of the quiet, decorated streets near the entrance and followed a group of four who appeared to be headed in the same direction, through open wooden doors that looked as old as the rocks they were hinged to. Once inside, flickering candlelight dimly illuminated paintings and sculptures in the rooms to our right and left. Still following the party ahead of us, we passed through another doorway which contained a small bar, a collection of tables and a brightly lit bustling kitchen. We watched in amazement as the party of four walked directly into the kitchen and were greeted by name with broad smiles and hugs from the staff. We were then met by a waiter, gave him the name on our reservation and were seated at one of the two tops against the wall. The paper menu was small, but contained a variety of dishes that ranged from fish to filet mignon and a few vegetarian options. In addition, as is customary in Todos, a blackboard with the daily specials was presented at our table side. The wine list was small, but curated to include regional and foreign offerings. I ordered a peppery Malbec from DaDa Winery and my husband ordered sparkling water. We chose the crab egg rolls, an appetizer special, to start. While we waited for our drinks, more guests arrived, each greeted with the warmth and familiarity of the first party. I felt a tinge if jealousy as being far from home, we weren’t part of any “in crowd,” but before we knew it, a slight man with kind eyes and long grey hair, pulled behind his shoulders in a pony tail appeared at our table. He extended his arms and taking both of my hands in his apologized for the hectic energy in the room, explaining that this was opening the night of the season and he was feeling scattered. He was Michael, the owner, artist and chef for which this entire operation was named. We assured him that we were happy, shared a few details about ourselves and watched as he flitted back to the kitchen. Those few intimate minutes were all we needed to dismantle any wistful feelings of exclusion. We were now in the family. Our waiter reappeared to take the rest of our order, kindly offering suggestions and happy to split a main course telling us that if we were still hungry, they would bring us more food. When I couldn’t decide between the red curry sauce and miso-wasabi butter for our seared yellowtail tuna and grilled vegetables, he offered to bring both on the side. As we completed our order, another man delivered our egg rolls. They were delicious. Served with a lemon wedge and peanut sauce, these crunchy concoctions were balanced and bright and surprisingly light for fried food. Those were followed by a simply dressed spinach salad (included with our meal) and then our main course. Michael checked back twice before we completed our perfectly cooked tuna, fluffy jasmine rice and locally sourced grilled veggies. He bowed his head modestly when I told him I would bathe in his miso-wasabi butter given the chance and we watched as he humbly received similar compliments from other patrons. Shortly after we finished our meal, Michael appeared again, this time with his lovely wife Pat at his side. She visited with us for nearly 15 minutes, generously answering our questions about their origins. She shared stories of employees who worked with them for more than 20 years, apprenticing side-by-side in the art studio and later, in the kitchen with her husband. The family these two had created extended far beyond the bonds of blood and birth certificates. When we finally allowed her to return to her martini, we were rewarded with yet another complimentary treat; a two-bite chocolate cupcake made by Pat for that evenings meal service. Much like everything we ate, this was delightful and imbued with love. Before we left, we were invited to explore the gallery and given strict instructions to come by for a hug or a cocktail any time we were nearby. So, exclusive? No. What Michael has done, with the help of his collective family, is create an environment only previously seen on the classic TV show “Cheers.” While many of us have talents, Michael embodies something more. He is a true artist who reaches beyond beautiful paintings and plates of food, and into the lives and memories of all he encounters. You should definitely go see for yourselves

We were in Todos Santos for a quick New Year’s getaway. We heard about Michaels from one of the retailers. He only opened the restaurant on Fridays and Saturdays so we swung by midweek to see about a reservation. Unfortunately, Michael said they were fully...booked....BUT, they were open for Tapas on Sunday between 4 and 7. We got there around 5:30 and had no problem finding a table. The menu was on a chalkboard which one of the waiters brought over and described. We ordered four plates and a couple glasses of wine. Each plate was ample enough to share for two and arrived at a perfect pace. The food was absolutely fantastic! Michael made the rounds of the tables and was most gracious spending time at each table. We’ll plan our next trip around Michael’s availability and book well in advance!