The idea behind chef Michael Beltran’s ode to an American diner is to reinvent and recreate dishes we’ve known all our lives into something better. He does it by adding a bit of flavor from his Cuban heritage and Miami upbringing to mostly traditional diner dishes. That’s evident in the chicharrones-like hunks of steak-cut bacon on the wedge salad, a downright incredible burger inspired by a Big Mac and a decadent chocolate cake reminiscent of the ones that come in triangle boxes from Burger King. Like everything we ate, the vibe here too is spot-on, looking simultaneously hip and historic, lots of natural-colored wood and comfy booths and ‘50s rock just loud enough to get your day kicked into party mode.
Like just about everything else in Miami, breakfast here is more interesting than it is elsewhere. It can be decidedly more Cubano, handed to you out of a cafecito window, nothing more than a cafe mucho fuerte and a croqueta. There’s a good chance it’ll be more fun, like at places where nightlife moguls and top chefs have decided to reinvent the idea of an American diner in South Beach. This is also a place known for its Miami nightlife scene, which means our breakfasts are often needed to burn off that hangover. And it can, like the city itself, feel very much like you’ve landed in Paris or Buenos Aires or some other foreign port. If you follow our guide below it’ll also be just downright good, because we’ve got a whole lot of excellent breakfast spots here in town, with everything from legit French croissants to a healthy juice detox and avo toast needed for a restart.