10 September 18-24, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | of American, Taíno, Caribbean, and even Asian influences. The eight-table dining room is simple, dark, and rustic, if a tad cramped. Start with pa’ picar — snacks like bolita de queso (deep-fried golden torpedos of stretchy cassava dough filled with Gouda and white cheddar) and alcapurria (delicate picadillo nestled in a plantain masa and fried to crisp perfection). Puerto Rican purists might pass on more unorthodox offerings like macarrones con res, a truffle and chipotle mac & cheese made with cotija cheese and birria-style braised beef. But they’ll surely re- joice when presented with the mofongo, a Boricua staple of pounded green plantain mash mixed with nibs of pork-belly chichar- rón and shaped into a sphere, whose starchy texture softens when dunked into the accom- panying caldo de pollo. It can be served alongside chicken, shrimp, or steak and arroz con gandules, the Caribbean island’s version of rice and beans. Chug’s Diner 3444 Main Highway, Coconut Grove 786-353-2940 chugsdiner.com Michael Beltran distinctly remembers the day he got his nickname. It was his first day as a high school freshman; Beltran walked in late to class, a chocolate milk chug in hand. Today, Chug is the name of the res- taurateur’s Cuban-American diner, a suc- cessful pop-up he’s since expanded into a permanent, full-service eatery and modern- day ventanita. Where once stood a tiny grab ‘n’ go, Chug’s now shows off an airy, open design inviting morning, afternoon, or late- night dining, complete with diner-style booths and a bar with lounge-style seating. True to the diner ethos, a crave-worthy menu of Cuban-American eats covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While you can order lechón hash to start your day or grab a frita patty melt for lunch, don’t miss out on the curated selection of Pastelito Papi’s fa- mous fruit- and meat-stuffed pastelitos, or the house Cubano sandwich served on fresh-baked Cuban bread from the diner’s bakery. In 2022, Chug’s was awarded a Mi- chelin Bib Gourmand for its approachable, excellent fare. Claudie 1101 Brickell Ave. Ste. 113, Miami 305-990-1101 claudierestaurant.com Claudie is the Brickell showstopper Miami didn’t know it was missing. It’s a glamorous French-Mediterranean spot where every de- tail, from the design to the cocktails, feels in- tentional. The service is warm, the vibe is high-energy, and the menu (think escargots, pâtes au caviar, and a seafood tower that mer- its flexing on Instagram) delivers the Côte d’Azur without leaving Miami. Whether it’s date night, a birthday dinner, or girls’ night out, Claudie sets the tone with tableside gaz- pacho, expertly mixed cocktails, and an at- mosphere built for celebration. It’s the Brickell restaurant everyone’s talking about right now — and that’s saying something. Clive’s Cafe 5890 NW Second Ave. Ste. A, Miami 305-757-6512 clivescafe.com Clive’s Cafe makes its mark with Jamaican favorites such as curry goat, oxtail, and jerk chicken. The original Wynwood location, which had been around for nearly four de- cades, closed, but the Little Haiti digs make for a colorful haven in which to eat some of the best Jamaican fare in Miami. The chicken is cooked to diner perfection and the curry is a smooth and subtle blend. The jerk chicken with rice and beans is a favorite menu item. The mood is laid-back — right down to the small radio pumping out reggae sounds. You just may catch Clive’s fan Lenny Kravitz taking in the scene. The place is great for takeout but just as nice for a pit stop at any time of day. Cote Miami 3900 NE Second Ave., Miami 305-434-4668 cotekoreansteakhouse.com Simon Kim has brought Cote, his New York cross between a Korean barbecue restaurant Claudie Claudie photo
