Chef Michael Beltrán’s popular Cuban-American diner has finally reopened its doors to the public!
The wait is finally over Miamians y gracias a Dios we finally have Chug’s Diner back. After being closed for renovations for almost a year, Chef Michael Beltrán’s famous Coconut Grove diner reopened its doors to the public earlier this week, and boy doesn’t it look awesome!
Chug’s diner first opened as a temporary café back in the spring of 2019 but quickly became a Coconut Grove institution with its quirky part Cuban restaurant, part American diner concept featuring PB&J pastelitos and artisan coffee cortaditos. The popular diner turned into a pandemic-era bodega before closing its doors temporarily back in November of 2020 and is now back with a new and improved image and menu.
As part of its fresh new look, Chug’s now occupies 4,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor space with more than 100 seats as well as a full diner-style counter and a dazzling new ventanita to grab your food to-go. The new retro diner furniture fused with wood and creamy green accents is strongly reminiscent of Chug’s fusion of American and Cuban tradition, giving the space a very distinct Miami vibe to the space.
The menu has also received somewhat of an update. Food-wise, the new menu features a wider variety of pastelitos by Pastelitos Papi, gourmet twists on Cuban classics such as PB&J Foie Gras buñuelos, a whole new assortment of desserts by Devin Braddock, Ariete Hospitality Group’s corporate pastry chef as well as delicious sandwiches (pan con minuta, pan con bistec), meatloaf, pollo empanizado and other Cuban-American comfort foods by executive chef, Monika Dominguez.
Also new at Chug’s is its liquor license and ya tu sabes what that means — cocktails! As part of its new and improved menu, Chug’s has added a whole host of craft cocktails to pair your morning pancakes and your evening pork belly masitas. Options include creative Cuban-American combinations such as the Guava Gimlet featuring gin, guava and lime and the Improved Carajillo, a Cuban-coffee-based, vodka-spiked concoction.
Chug’s Diner opened this past Wednesday, September 8, and will now be welcoming patrons every Sunday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (bar open until midnight) and every Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. (bar open until 2 a.m.). So what are you waiting for? Are you seriously going to miss out on this iconic restaurant and Coconut Grove’s first-ever ventanita?
See also: 11 Excellent Cuban Restaurants Recommended By Miamians, For Miamians
Featured image: Instagram / @chugsdiner