Tío Lucas Restaurante Bar — Restaurant in San Miguel de Allende

UPDATE: original review written in October 2024. The second visit in May 2025 was a serious disappointment. One of us uses a mobility aid and walking ability and standing for any length of time is limited. We asked permission, but were not allowed to sit inside in their front waiting area for the 30 minutes until they were ready for customers, even though we arrived at opening hour and their door was open.

We ordered the same foods we had in October. The preparation of the Caesar salad was started behind the table until we asked to be able to watch the preparation like we had last time. It was made in a hurry and without any of the flair (or the flavor) we had witnessed and enjoyed last year.

The wrong choice of side was served even though we had clarified our choice twice. The filet mignon order was not the correct cut of meat, appearing more like a thin stretched out sirloin yet wrapped in bacon. It was not medium rare as ordered, it was medium. The three medallion steaks came with the different sauces already on each, rather than in small bowls on the side like last year, so it forced us to eat the one of the sauces we didn't care to eat on medium rare steaks that should have been medium. We ordered black tea but received black tea with peach flavor.

Until we were halfway through our food we were the only customers in the establishment. Our waiter never asked if our meal was ok or if we needed anything. Most of the time he stood near the front with his back to us, talking and laughing with another waiter who was facing us making comments that made our waiter turn his upper body and head around towards us several times then both laughing some more.

For the prices this place charges, it was a total disappointment with the server's unprofessionalism and the meal failures. We will not ever return to this restaurant if we visit SMA again.

ORIGINAL VISIT We generally avoid eating out in areas that cater to tourists and foreign residents due to absurdly high prices. We were celebrating, however, so we went ahead and enjoyed the experience. The good: The food was delicious. The steaks were cooked to perfection, and the Caesar dressing and salad were made from scratch at our table. We could not have asked for a better meal - best we've had in many years. Do look at your factura when it arrives. We were charged for three meals, not two. We notified our waiter who immediately took it away and came back with a...

I think I found the most disappointing dining experience in San Miguel here. When we arrived, the restaurant had only a few tables. A few minutes after seating, the owner came over and said "thanks for taking a chance on us". I didn't right away what that meant but later did. There was a live singer that was far too loud for the room and ambience. Wait staff was inattentive. Looking at the menu we noticed the prices seemed quite high compared to the quality, especially the steaks. Nonetheless, we went ahead and ordered a caesar salad that was made table side - always a nice treat. Strangely the waiter making the salad set up behind us so we couldn't enjoy the purpose of making it tableside - missed opportunity. The salad ended up so overpowered with anchovies (I like anchovies) that my friend took one bite and put it to the side. Eventually the owner noticed the salad was untouched and asked us why. After explaining he began arguing that this was a famous recipe and ignoring our feedback. Another missed opportunity. Ordering our entrees, my friend took a chance by ordering a steak - sorry - they were out of that steak tonight. No recommendation, substitution, etc. - another missed opportunity. We played it safe by ordering pasta and were so disappointed with the meals. My spaghetti Bolognese was made with fettucine noodles and so overcooked. The sauce could have been out of a jar and the pasta was swimming in it. Absolutely terrible. We paid the bill - paid way too much for what we got - but chalked it up to a lesson learned. As we were exiting the owner again asked us how it was and we gave him some more honest feedback. Rather than fixing it right then and there, he asked us to come back the next day and try it again. Sorry my friend, with so many amazing restaurants in San Miguel, this is a hard pass. You only get one chance and with so many chances to make it right that were completely dismissed, you don't deserve to see us again. Would not recommend...

A lovely setting and a super nice owner who, when I was in the doorway looking at the menu, said if I didn't like something I wouldn't have to pay for it. I'm not sure if that was a joke, a marketing ploy, or a genuine welcome and appreciation for feedback. I assumed it was the last one. On a budget at the tail-end of a month-long trip, I ended up ordering a nacho appetizer (admittedly, not one of their signature dishes) and a lemonade. The nachos were fine (I think this was the only restaurant on my trip I didn't take a picture of my food--visually it wasn't great) but unfortunately the menu doesn't say anything about what's in or comes with it. The menu says it's 150 pesos. The waiter offered chicken or beef. I ordered chicken; I assumed it came with it. I also ordered a sparkling lemonade. It was small and it wasn't as good as other restaurants had had on the trip. I asked the waiter for a natural lemonade instead. He took the first one away. It turned out to be much better. However, when I received my bill, I ended up getting charged for both lemonades and an extra 90 pesos to add chicken to the nachos (listed as "extra" chicken). Including gratuity, it ended up being 400 pesos. The add-on prices felt like a tourist trap, unfortunately. I chose this place because of the music offerings, and I guess I didn't come at the right time. I was surprised at getting charged what I did. If you are looking for a fun night with your friends and don't care what you pay, this may be a good place. If you are on a budget and want to get your money's worth, I do...