Michael Beltran is Bringing an All-Day Cuban Diner to Coconut Grove

Chef Michael Beltran — the man behind Eater 38 member Ariete — is expanding his culinary footprint in Coconut Grove with the debut of his latest restaurant Chug’s (3444 Main Highway) later this spring. Taking over the short-lived Bookstore in the Grove space it’ll offer up Cuban-inspired breakfast, lunch, dinner and grab-and-go bites.

The menu will be divided up into breakfast, fritas, handhelds, salads, large plates, with milk, and sweets and baked goods. For breakfast think French toast sticks, breakfast sandwiches, and cereals like Wheaties and Cheerios for the “with milk” options. Later in the day it’ll serve a variety of Cuban fritas, along with other classics like pan con lechon, duck medianoche, minuta, alongside lighter dishes like egg salad sandwiches, wedge salads, and pork Milanese.

The sweets and baked goods portion of the menu will be headlined by Pastelito Papi, who will be serving up favorites like buffalo chicken, frita, peanut butter and jelly, and redland guava pastelitos, alongside croquetas filled with ham and short rib. Other desserts like cajeta and goat cheese flan, strawberry cheesecake cookies and fluffernutters round out the menu.

The space will have an expansive outdoor patio and a grab-and-go station featuring items from local vendors. Chug’s will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. when it debuts sometime in April.