Our Story
ABOUT US
San Pancho is a neighborhood Mexican eatery offering a fresh take on tradition — where bold flavors, honest food, and genuine hospitality come together.
We’ve spent our lives in hospitality, believing the best meals are about more than food; they’re about people. San Pancho felt like the natural place to continue what we love most — welcoming others, sharing food, and creating a space rooted in connection and community.
Angel’s family recipes are at the heart of our kitchen, grounding us in tradition, while our travels across Mexico inspire curiosity and discovery. Each dish reflects both where we come from and the places that have shaped us — familiar, vibrant, and made with care.
San Pancho is a gathering place — warm, lively, and welcoming. A place to linger, to laugh, and to feel at home. This is neighborhood dining, meant to be shared, with a table always set for you.
Aquí, siempre hay un lugar en la mesa.
Angel & FinesseMEET THE TEAM
Angel Luna
Born in Misantla, Veracruz, Mexico, Angel Luna immigrated to the United States at 19 with determination, a strong work ethic, and a deep respect for family and food. Raised in a home where gathering around the table was central to daily life, he learned early that meals are about more than nourishment — they’re about care, connection, and presence. As the second oldest of six siblings, Angel assumed responsibility at a young age, shaping his belief that hospitality is where culture, purpose, and people come together.
Angel began his restaurant career with Lettuce Entertain You, rising from cook to chef and leader while developing a strong foundation in kitchen operations, team development, and cost control. He later spent 11 years as Managing Partner and Chef at 6Smith in Wayzata, joining prior to opening and helping shape it into a beloved neighborhood destination. There, he focused on strong systems, consistent execution, and a professional, collaborative team environment — always centered on the guest experience.
A longtime Wayzata resident, Angel is deeply connected to the community he calls home. He has served on the Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce Board and supports several local nonprofit organizations. Together with his wife and business partner, Finesse, Angel is a proud parent to Anthony, Eva, and Luca, and is driven by a desire to build businesses rooted in integrity, hospitality, and long-term sustainability.
Today, as Co-Founder of Palm & Pine Hospitality and owner of San Pancho, Angel brings his culinary background and operational leadership together to create a place that feels welcoming and built to last. Guided by a belief in hospitality as a family value, he is focused on building something meaningful, for the community, for the teams who grow within it, and for the family legacy he and Finesse are creating together
Owner/ChefFinesse Luna
OwnerFinesse is a Minnesota native and hospitality professional with more than 25 years of experience creating restaurants where people connect, celebrate, and feel at home. Her career is guided by a deep love of food, a commitment to excellence, and a belief that hospitality is about more than a meal—it’s about community.
Her journey began in 1995, when she left college to enter restaurant management, quickly becoming the youngest General Manager in her company’s history while leading the busiest location at the Mall of America. She later held leadership roles with Lettuce Entertain You Inc. before playing a key role in the opening and growth of 6Smith in Wayzata, where she led core operational and strategic initiatives across training, marketing, and business development.
Building on decades of experience, Finesse and her husband founded Palm & Pine Hospitality to create restaurants rooted in genuine hospitality, thoughtful food, and meaningful connection. San Pancho is their first restaurant under Palm & Pine and a personal expression of their shared values, family traditions, and love of gathering around the table.
Finesse’s approach to hospitality is shaped by family, food, and culture. Raised around shared meals and traditions—and inspired by her husband’s Mexican culinary heritage—she brings intention, warmth, and a people-first mindset into every space she creates. Together, they are proud parents of three children and are building a family legacy rooted in hospitality, connection, and community.
At home in Orono, Finesse finds balance in lake life, time outdoors, and gathering with family, friends, and their four dogs. That same sense of welcome lives at San Pancho—a neighborhood restaurant where hospitality feels personal, familiar, and meant to be shared.