12 November 6-12, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | ▼ LITTLE HAVANA COUNTER CULTURA The restaurant scene is getting another dose of Cuban nostalgia from the bygone era lead- ing up to the revolution. Gastronomica Mi- ami, the team behind Sala’o, Old’s Havana Cuban Bar + Cocina (one of New Times’ 12 Best Cuban Restaurants in Miami), Ciao Ha- vana, and CosaNostra Nightclub, opened El Cuban Diner at 1620 SW Eighth St. on Octo- ber 30. (The restaurant is currently in its soft opening, so if you walk by, it’s open.) The space, formerly home to Ciao Bella Italian and El Santo, resembles a 1950s diner with Cuban influences: red vinyl booths, chrome stools, vintage Coca-Cola signs, and colorful tile accents. Neon lights glow above the bar, old-school posters line the walls, and the servers wear uniforms inspired by bygone eras. However, it’s essential to note that most Cuban establishments in Havana between the 1940s and mid-1950s didn’t resemble this one or have menus that resembled this spot. El Cuban Diner’s menu is a mash-up of diner fare and Cuban home cooking. There’s the frita Cubana, a chorizo-spiced burger piled with shoestring potatoes, and the pan con lechón, stuffed with roast pork and mojo. The “El Clásico Hot Dog” keeps things sim- ple with mustard, sauerkraut, and sweet cara- melized onions, while options like the tuna melt sandwich and prosciutto sandwich round out the comfort-food lineup. Those in a heartier mood can grab one of the Cuban bowls, which include choices such as ropa vieja, vaca frita, churrasco, “Pollo Cri- ollo,” roast pork, and “Salmon Tropical,” served with rice, black beans, and tostones or sweet plantains. For something lighter, con- sider salads like the caesar or the “Prosciutto & Burrata,” or opt for a pizza (Margherita, prosciutto, ham, pepperoni), or pasta dishes like “Penne al Pesto Genovese” or mac and cheese, made with three kinds of cheese. Desserts seem to be straight out of abuela’s recipe box, with “Maracuyá Cheesecake,” ar- roz con leche, flan Cubano, and torrejas con helado (a Cuban take on French toast with ice cream). And yes, there are milkshakes, or bet- ter yet, malteadas, in flavors like “Strawberry Maria Cookie,” “Chocolate Coconut & Oreo,” banana split, and “Chocolate & Corn Flakes.” Ice cream floats and Cuban coffee drinks round out the options. The bar offers the classics: mojitos, Cuba Libres, El Presidente cocktails, and a few twists that mix rum with diner-era nostalgia. The restaurant will open with a grand open- ing party on Thursday, October 30, featuring bounce houses, neighborhood activities, and special offers on its opening day. El Cuban Diner. 1620 SW Eighth St., Miami; elcubandiner.com. OLEE FOWLER ▼ DOWNTOWN LAST CALL Miami’s restaurant scene has seen a string of shocking closures this year, and a beloved wine bar in downtown Miami is the latest to add to the growing list. Margot Bar & Bistro (formerly Margot Natural Wine Bar), one of the Magic City’s cool- est natural wine bars, has quietly closed af- ter nearly four years in business. Its sister spot in Miami Beach has also closed. Co-founder Ga- briel Orta of hospital- ity group Bar Lab confirmed the news to New Times, saying, “We had to close both of them. It was a rough year for us.” The closures add to a wave of recent Miami restaurant shut- downs, marking another hit for the city’s din- ing scene after a very rough summer. Margot first opened in 2021 in the historic Ingraham Building in downtown Miami, serving natural wines, aperitivos, and low- ABV cocktails in a retro-inspired, pastel-col- ored space. The wine bar stood out for its relaxed vibe and focus on natural wines, a contrast to Miami’s flashier bars. And it stood out to New Times editors, as well, winning New Times’ Best Wine Bar in 2021. In late 2024, Bar Lab opened a second lo- cation at Flamingo Towers in South Beach. | TASTE TEST | ▼ Café Photo by The Louis Collection A new Cuban-inspired diner is opening in Little Havana on October 30 with 1950s retro decor, hot dogs, pizza, and milkshakes. “WE HAD TO CLOSE BOTH OF THEM. IT WAS A ROUGH YEAR FOR US.” ALWAYS IN YOUR FEED. CHOOSE YOUR CHANNEL
