An absolute banger of the meal! Cuban but fun and new and interesting. We had so much fun picking out our orders. We tried the malanga latkes and the buffalo chicken croquetas - both great but small portions if you're sharing. The sandwich sizes vary. The Cuban American is good for one but the pan con bistec can definitely be shared. Both had great flavors. For a busy Sunday the service was quick and friendly. Can't leave without a cafecito to go! read more

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Honestly very consistent food, have gone from brunch and dinner the most and never disappoints. Their high traffic hours are morning -3 pm on weekends ! I've gotten most things on the menu & I always lean towards several items because they are JUST that good. Restaurant is good vibes, has indoor and outdoor seating ! Food items : - iced cafe con leche - quiche - burger - breakfast sandwich - turkey club - cast iron pancake - french fries - bacon - croquetas - ham (tastes like deli ham - so good), spinach is good, short rib is amazing & my favorite is bacon egg and cheese (I was so suspicious about this one and it's EVERYTHING - a Cuban breakfast in a bite ) read more

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Cuban Americana, thought it would be basic, but to my surprise it was sooooo tasty! I ordered the lechón ramen soup. Every bite hit so well. My other half ordered a burger was which was so deliciously good. Pleasantly surprised with the food, definitely coming back again. Service was super helpful and the place is very family friendly, not super noisy. Enjoyable experience. read more

Everything was just "OK" to me. I guess I had high expectations since they received a Michelin star, but....the cappuccino was mediocre. Next we ordered the cast iron pancake. It was pretty good but definitely not enough syrup for my liking. How are you supposed I to eat a giant 3" thick pancake with barely any syrup? We asked for more syrup and we later found out they charged us $4.00 for it which seems a bit petty. We also ordered the slam. Again just ok. The thick bacon sounds like a good thing (I mean, if bacon is good, more must be better, right?) but bacon is best when it is crispy (IMO) so thicker didn't equate to better. Service was pleasant and the outdoor area was a nice area to enjoy some shade and watch the world go by. So all in all, fun to try something new but not my thing. read more

Chug's Diner - Outdoor spot - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

I had high expectations for chugs diner due to the fact it has been featured and tagged countless times on social media. The food was average, and our sandwiches were on the dry side plus the meat was overcooked. To add to not being that impressed by the food the service was also subpar. Our server took 15 minutes to acknowledge us and never brought the table water. My overall impression is that since it's a trendy place people flock to it. But, Chugs just did not live up to the hype for me. read more

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In terms of customer service they were pretty good and I'd give them a 9/10 in that regard For ambiance, It was affected by some factors when i went there. There was a couple in the booth behind us who would not stop making out with loud kissing sounds. My partner had to switch seats because he couldn't even eat while looking at them. Additionally the person in the both in front of us was smoking which is obviously not ideal when trying to eat lunch. I feel like this could have been avoided if they sat customers a little further away from each other considering the rest of the restaurant was empty. The food was not impressive. I had a cast iron pancake and my partner had a burger with fries. We shared 1 croqueta which was below average, which is disappointing for a "cuban" restaurant. When I tried his burger it tasted strangely familiar to me... it hit me that it tasted exactly like a big mac from McDonalds. The most flavorful things were the sauces and lip smacking between the individuals behind us. For the pancake, which I'm not sure why they are known for this because pancakes are not speciality dishes made by typical cuban culture, I was very confused. When they brought it out I thought they had burned it by accident. I looked at the other reviews and pictures on yelp and realized this is the standard practice for their recipe. It was served with lots of flaky salt, a big dollop of butter on top and syrup underneath the actual pancake. It was hard to cut since it was burned on the outside but it was kind of fluffy inside. Without the syrup the pancake just tasted like a cake that was cooked in a rice cooker, which is strange. It also didn't help that all i could taste was a crunchy pancake served with a side of watermelon ice vape from our lovely patron in front of us. I could not finish the pancake and left unsatisfied. Immediately after I left I became nauseous. In good faith I cannot recommend Chug's Diner. If you enjoy subpar food and pancakes loaded with cholesterol with barely any flavor, I would say this could be the place for you. Waffle house might be a better match though. read more

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didn't have to wait for a seat for 2 indoors at 11 ish on a sunday, which contributes to my overall feeling of not bad for chug's food is not the best cuban you'll find by far, but the energy inside is nice. the big ass pancake is actually more like a cake if you enjoy that energy. sandwiches are fine. food took a while to come out but they were very busy it's somewhere nice to get a brunch on cocowalk but i wouldn't wait more than 20-30 mins read more

Don't let the word "diner" fool you into thinking this is ordinary food. This gourmet eatery offers creatives twists on Cuban and diner staples. I expected regular Cuban food and instead was wowed by all the details into each dish i tried: Malanga latkes: at first they seem like your usual latkes, with a subtle flavor difference through the malanga (a root veggie similar to potato), but then you top it with their guava applesauce and it takes it to another level. That applesauce could be eaten in its own as a snack--subtly sweet, tropical and refreshing. Duck croquetas: 10/10 simply amazing. The duck croquette on its own is an experience--the duck was not fatty, it was condimented with herbs and whole grain mustard without being by overpowering but then there's the mustard orange jam to go with it, and this elevated it from great to superior. As strange as the flavors sound the jam has the right balance of citrus from the orange peel and just a touch of mustard seed to make it interesting. BEC croquetas: bacon egg and cheese croquetas taste like an entire breakfast meal in one bite. I would absolutely buy this for rushed breakfast in the go. Rice pudding blintz: subbing the usual custard for rice pudding made from broken rice it was wonderfully comforting. Though it was under the breakfast section it very well makes a good dessert--sweet, with a fruit compote to balance out the creaminess of the filling. Banana carajillo: a delicious twist on the classic carajillo, in line with all the trending banana lattes, this boozy option has a mild banana to give it just a unique twist on the classic cocktail. Comes in a small espresso shot glass. They serve Jojo tea and the chamomile was perfect to balance out the richness of the meal. Definitely coming back to try more! read more

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Chug's is a place that I wanted to try for years. Walking around Coconut Grove this weekend, we decided to finally try it. I was very excited by the menu; it was hard to decide what to order. We decided to start with the tostones and buratta. We thought it was ... okay. Nothing amazing even though it was $19. I ordered the abuela's plate: rice, beans, and lechón. I was so disappointed by the rice and beans. They were so completely bland. My boyfriend agreed. As for the service, it wasn't great. We felt forgotten sometimes. I had to wait ages for someone to notice I wanted a water refill. I finally had to ask. We spent $70 on mediocre Cuban food. read more

Chug's Diner - $19 tostones and burrata - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

I decided to try Chugs since it's a staple in Coconut Grove. I got the cast iron skillet pancakes, but they felt too heavy and thick, wasn't a huge fan. I also ordered a breakfast platter, which was just okay. Service could use some improvement; I went on a Sunday and had to ask our waiter for things, and he didn't check in on us. read more

Chug's Diner - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Interior and exterior are gorgeous but the food and service was OK. the popular "pancake" item is literally cornbread. Straight up cornbread and it doesn't even come with maple syrup on the side which confirms it's not actually a pancake. it was good, but it just doesn't taste like a pancake which is what i was craving. i also ordered a cup of coffee and it came in a stained coffee cup which wasn't great. the grand slam was good, but i wasn't fond of the bacon - it had a lot of fat on it. my mom had the breakfast sandwich which tasted great. overall the service can improve. it's too pricey of a bill to have an ok experience read more

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The food was great! Went for brunch and had a plate with eggs, bacon, potatoes. It was cold but still amazing. Very creative, good portion. The reviews aren't higher for this place because the service really is that bad. I thought "eh it's miami we don't have great service" but no, this was beyond typical. I get when a place is busy, here the servers are rude and dismissive. Someone needs to fix the situation. Every review says how bad the service is...so believe people who say "great food but you won't go back unless you love being treated like dirt when you ask for milk or cream for your coffee". read more

We had heard really good things about this place. I made a reservation for 8 pm on OpenTable but when we arrived, I realized that we did not need it because the place was empty. I found this to be a little concerning being a Friday night, and the Grove was busy, but nonetheless we took a table outside and began to peruse the menu. The attention was very good and friendly, and our server was more than helpful with recommendations. We ordered a couple of cocktails, which our server recommended and a Tostones dish to start. For entrées my wife selected the snapper, and I went with the recommended pan con bistec (steak sandwich). First round of drinks and the tostones appetizer came out pretty quickly, and they were a HIT! The tostones were fresh and crispy and you can taste that banana flavor bursting through, and they came with a delicious manchego cheese to spread on them. Loved them! The cocktails were very tasty, and were only $9 during happy hour. My wife got the Guava gimlet, and I got the Flan old-fashioned. Our entrées came out in a timely manner, and everything was delicious. Easily one of the best steak sandwiches I've ever had! We really enjoyed our visit. Our server was wonderful, and the food was delicious. I don't understand why on a Friday night in the Grove it wasn't busy, because this place is serving up some amazing food. We definitely will be back, because I'm itching to try their pancakes for breakfast! Definitely recommend Chugs! read more

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Part of Coconut Grove since 2021 Chug's Diner can best be summarized as an experiment in fusing Little Havana with an American Diner, and thanks to Chef Michael Beltran the space has since been awarded Bib Gourmand status while developing a loyal following. Open morning, noon and night with an abundant menu, peak hours matched by high volumes whether indoors or on the patio, guests are advised to arrive early as Chug's takes no reservations though thanks to a quick-fire kitchen queues are rarely a deterrent. Staffed by a bilingual staff, tiny tables and booths adjacent a bar with seating, it is with Coffee or Cocktails that many will opt to begin with flaky Pastelitos or oilless Croquetas including the signature with Orange Mustard and shredded Duck Meat. "For Cubans, Chug's is an adventurous take on food they grew up on. For Americans, it's a hybrid that makes old favorites more fun and Caribbean flavors more approachable" per Beltran, as accurate a description as can be imagined, those seeking tradition can pick a Protein for Abuela's Plate and although the oversized Cast-Iron Pancake is popular it should be no excuse to skip the Cuban on Toast or faultless Rice Pudding Blintzes. read more

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I was honestly looking forward to coming here from a recommendation on Tik Tok. Sadly, I was disappointed! Highlights- * service is great! The waitress we had was very sweet and helpful! * the pan con bistec was tasty! * inside wasn't that cleaned. Crumbs and tables were dirty! Menu is certainly unique and the real reason I came was for the cast iron pancake. This was disappointing- batter actually feels like a yellow box cake. It's thick and definitely can be shared with 2 ppl. But nothing that stood out about it. Presentation is great, but that's all. When my order came out- it was barely hot and hard. If it's cooked in a cast iron- it should be really hot- so I ask them To do it again. They give me another one, it's better but still the heat is not amazing. Just disappointing! Colada and Cortadito were lukewarm and not sweet as we asked. The best thing, I would have it over and over again- is the Beltran bacon!! That was so so good!! I would come back to give it another chance. read more

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Here's a potential review: _3/5 Stars_ "I stopped by Chug's Diner in Coconut Grove for lunch, and while it was a decent experience, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The diner itself is adorable, with a fun and retro vibe that's perfect for a casual meal. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and helpful. We ordered the pan con bistec , which came with thinly sliced beef, melted Swiss cheese, and a side of au jus. The sandwich was filled with lots of beef which was tender and flavorful The French Toast was a thick slice of bread cooked to a perfect golden brown and topped with a Bananas and wip cream on the side The Ham Croquetas were a bit of a letdown, missing the fresh crunch. Overall, Chug's Diner was a solid, lunch spot. While it didn't blow me away, it's still a great option for a casual meal in Coconut Grove. read more

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Chug's is the PERFECT breakfast spot. Their iced cafe con leche is life-changing!!! Right in the heart of Coconut Grove, this Cuban-American diner is a worth a visit. You honestly can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The service is great and the food is delicious! read more

Chug's Diner - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

We were excited to eat at Chug's and really wanted to like it. This diner is cozily nestled on Main Street in the heart of Coconut Grove. We've been hearing that this is a must try from IG influencers to Miami Heat players alike. It is a cute spot with indoor and outdoor seating available in the courtyard. Maybe the hype had our expectations a bit high, but we left full and underwhelmed. The breakfast sandwich was a'ight not great, eggs were ordered over easy but came out runny (which is tasty but oh so messy). It was a fried egg, with fried ham, mayo and cheese (I asked to remove potato sticks), served on a Cuban loaf. Meh, pretty heavy and greasy start. We both had American coffee and wow was it strong, the coffee was good. Now to the cast iron pancake... that was not freshly made. It was a super thick pancake that was fluffy on the middle, crispy on the outside, served over syrup with a heaping scoop of butter on top. You'd think this butter would start to melt, but it didn't the pancake was served room temperature. What a waste of calories... we wanted so badly to like it. The service we got from Meg was the highlight of the experience, she was friendly and attentive. All in all, I'd give it another chance for lunch to try the burger, or to stop by for a coffee but will pass on this as a breakfast option in the future. read more

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I absolutely love this restaurant! The quality is excellent and the food prices are very reasonable. Even as a vegetarian and able to find some options at this Cuban diner. I really enjoy the avocado toast with egg on top and also the pastelitos are pretty tasty. My absolute favorite thing here is the giant cast-iron pancake... You must try this... Even though it looks intimidating it's so good and honestly, it can definitely feed you for several days. It's a very simple pancake, but the ingredients are so high-quality and delicious. It's honestly one of the best pancakes I've had! I've been to this restaurant several times and will definitely be back. One of my favorite places in Miami! read more

Chug's Diner - Avocado, toast, and seasonal coffee drink - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Service review ONLY! The issue is a host that does not know how to do their job. Basic skill, take the number of people in the party, a name, phone number. Failed, could do this basic skill. Chugs diner needs to do better at hiring and training the staff. Disappointed! read more

Sunday afternoon around 3 pm, we were seated right away. Been waiting for a long time to try this place out after always hearing so many good things. We ordered the 50/50 croquetas which were a great bite of pork. The frita Pastelito was nice and flaky although it did not really taste like a frita. The avocado and the lechon breakfast sandwiches with the brioche buns were both really good. The lechon hash was also solid. Only thing is that the mojo onions which actually also come with the croquetas have a bit too much vinegar. We also ordered the short rib boliche which was disappointing, the meat did not gel like short ribs and instead of sunny side eggs it came with one very well cooked egg which we had to get fixed. Cooking of the eggs seems to be an issue here as the breakfast sandwiches also came with overcooked yolks. Last thing was the cast iron pancake which is a staple and was really good, enough for like five or six people to share. Service was not the best but the food made up for it. read more

What a cute little spot in coconut grove. I was always apprehensive about trying because they are always busy and dont take reservations, but we came at like 2pm on a sunday and there was no wait.. I love the idea of a diner/cuban fusion. The breakfast is all day. We both had La completa which comes with tostada, breakfast potatoes, and then i added avocado. The eggs and potatoes were cooked perfectly. It was 3 eggs so there was a lot of food! but please please butter your tostada next time!! The star of the show ( and a must get) is the cast iron pancake. It is so thick and warm and comes with a huge slab of butter. It is huge and definitely made to split. I would definitely return to try more here! read more

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The service was good. For me the food was lacking. I had the fried rice with egg and there was no flavor other than the chile oil. I also had the buffalo chicken croqueta, tasted nothing like a typical croqueta, I think they put mustard in it. I won't be going back. read more

What's a Sunday without brunch?! My girlfriend mentioned brunch in the Grove and we immediately thought of Chug's! Service was easy and pleasant. A bit busy for 1 pm on a Sunday, no surprise there. We sat by the counter and ordered a colada while waiting for our table (about 20 minutes). We both ordered the Short Rib Boliche. Although a little too salty, the flavor was impeccable and the meal was delicious. Portion was huge and I was able to eat some the next day. read more

Chug's Diner - Short Rib Boliche - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

Host are rude whether in person or over the phone. Tell you there's an hour wait yet plenty of tables available and not many people around that would be waiting. Left, then next day tried to call and add name to a waitlist. Wouldn't add to a waitlist and once again rude in their delivery. Get with the times, people don't want to waste their time and wisely want to get on a list ahead of time. Do better, because this lack of service and simply being polite is what puts people out of business. read more

I love Chug's! I even went twice on my most recent weekend trip to Miami. I also in general love Coconut Groove, so the setting definitely doesn't hurt. Their iced cafe con leche is so tasty if you like your coffee a little sweeter and I dream about those guava and cheese pastelitos. So freaking delicious! The breakfast is also just spot on. The eggs are always perfectly cooked and seasoned well, the breakfast potatoes are impressive, and both their broccoli and cheese and lechon hash are amazing. I usually also can't stop myself from ordering the skillet pancake with clarified butter for the table. I generally order far too much food, but it's okay since I don't get to come here often. Generally the wait isn't too bad and often you are seated right away. They do have a bar area you can sit at. Bonus, if you have to wait you can order at their coffee counter and sip on your drink/get a snack while you wait. Chug's-- I love you. read more

Chug's Diner - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Struggled a little with what to rate this. 30 minute wait for a party of 6 adults, 2 kids and 2 babies which was good and reasonable. The pancake was amazing, but that is it. Service was very horrible. Never got a water refill, drinks took over 25 minutes (oj and coffee), one party never got hers (tea), and one persons food came out 15 minutes after everyone else's. My husband's short rib was incredibly salty and my breakfast sandwich was just eh. Overall would not return for anything other than a to-go pancake. read more

I love Chug's Diner! Their outside patio area is filled with greenery and the fountain & chirping birds add such a nice and relaxing ambiance. We interacted with 3 different servers during our meal and all were very warm and friendly! We started with iced cafe con leches with a chocolate drizzle and a spritz tropical cocktail. They tasted amazing! For our meal we went with the cast iron pancake, crispy pork belly, and malanga latkes. Everything was super good but the star of the show was the cast iron pancake! Highly recommend during your next brunch! I will definitely be returning during my next visit to Miami to try more on their menu!! read more

Chug's Diner - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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This place has been on my list as one of Miami's Michelin Guide spots, and I was so glad I came to try it out! Things to note: walk-ins only, no over the phone reservations! Chug's gets a 10/10 for ambiance - it's located right in the middle of bustling Coconut Grove, and you can choose between cozy indoor diner-style seating or a lush patio covered in plants. Instantly so welcoming and familiar! my absolute must-try recommendation is the guava & mamey milkshake!! so deliciously refreshing and a perfect nod to the Cuban-American comfort food vibe! while the other things we tried were pretty good, I have to say that the rest of the dishes we tried weren't as standout to me as I'd hoped. Aside from this and a slightly slower service pace than I would have preferred, I would definitely see myself coming back to Chug's for a leisurely brunch with friends or for a casual work-and-eat breakfast! read more

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The first time I stepped foot in this place was on a Friday. My friend and I were looking for happy hour spots in the area, before our kickball game. Coincidentally, we were able to snag their special on 99 cents martinis! Just want to be clear that they are only available between 6-7pm with the purchase of food. Since then, I have been a couple more times myself and with the fam! We decided to go for lunch one day; the duck croquetas and pan con bistec were my fave. The ambiance itself is super cute. The green decor gives it quite a pleasant welcome. This is absolutely a spot you want to stop at for a coffee. I genuinely feel it is made with love. I think only my grandmother makes better coffee hahaha. I recommend this diner for anyone looking for a midday pick-me-up, happy hour with a friend or dinner with the family! read more

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Cool little diner nestled in Coconut Grove - we ordered the Turkey Club and the Frita Burger. Both were served very quickly by the sweet staff (although they apologized for being slow - you were not! Keep being amazing!!). Large portions and quality food. Parking in this area can be difficult since it is very very busy! read more

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I have been to Chug's a couple times now and by far the Iron casket pancake steals the show. Everything I have had here for breakfast is excellent but like I said the pancake is by far the best item on the menu. La Completa for breakfast is great but helps if you add a protein to complement it. The one item I was disappointed with was the ham croquettes. The spread inside is different than most and more like a bocaditto spread. Not your typical cuban croquette. Overall Chug's is an elite breakfast spot with great food, service, and vibe. Highly recommended for breakfast. read more

Chug's Diner - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Came here on a Saturday and it was super busy around 11am. I waited 40 minutes to get seated and the food did not disappoint. I tried the pork hash and the pancake! The pork hash came with a lot of meat and was a good amount of food. The pancake is huge!! We couldn't finish it, but it was delicious definitely a must try when you go! I also tried their banana carajillo which was interesting. They have interesting cocktails! The place itself looks like a modern cafe. It's cute and casual. The service was okay, but that could just be bc they were really busy read more

Chug's Diner - Pancake - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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I love Chug's and you can never go wrong with anything on the menu. This review is specifically of their new, as of October 2024, The Diner at Nite Series. My wife and I went last night to the first one which was a collaboration between USBS (United State Burger Service) chef Michael Ombia, and Chugs/Ariete Chef Michael Beltran. I had no idea what the menu would be when I signed up, but I knew it was going to awesome. Expectations were Exceeded. First they brought on these tiny sandwiches called "Ants in my Choux". No idea what it was, but it tasted like a tiny, elevated, Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich. They also had Saizon seasoned Mariquitas with garlic sauce. My wife, couldn't eat anymore but also struggled with letting them take it away. 1st Course was Popcorn Chicken Empanada, which was like a chicken empanada but I think the chicken was the outside and there was shredded chicken inside with a sorta wing sauce under it. So damn good. Burger Tartare, which were technically and visually sliders, but were an amazing Beef Tartare. A crab rangoon, but with Timba cheese, and a guava chilli sauce. Lastly, my favorite of the night, Cuban Sandwish Pierogi. The Pierogi was one large pierogi that we cut, but it was cooked perfectly like a pierogi, sautéd to a nice brown without being dried out, and tasted like a Cuban Sandwich. 2nd Course was ridiculous. First was a "Lomo Saltado", but it was kind of like a Pho. Second was Picadillo Mac & Cheese which was like mini stuffed shells with picadillo, in this cheese and sofrito sauce that was slightly spicy. Third was a Duck Okonomiyaki, which was crispy shredded duck, almost like a duck ropa vieja on top of a scallion and cabbage pancake. Last was a pasta that was amazing but by this point I was so full that I don't even really remember what was in it. The Desserts were a Banana Peanut butter "Twinkie", which despite my wife saying she hates peanut butter, she devoured it, but not before I could get one bite, which was very enjoyable. She was scared of the Goat Cheese Flan, and it was the best flan I've ever had in my life, so I didn't encourage her too much to try it. Can't wait until the next Diner at Nite. read more

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The pancake was taste and very big . Most people don't really even finish it. The service was ok. The ambiance was great read more

Chug's Diner - The bar - Cuban Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Ate lunch with my family and friends , place was very busy and it took us about 90 minutes to sit 8 people. The service was a bit slow , but food overall was really good. I'd come back on a day where it's not as busy . Highly recommend if you are near the grove and want a good place to eat read more

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Fun little place Cuban food with a twist-great find-service was not the best but the waitress was really trying not her fault. Food was actually pretty good salad was impressive-pancake was indescribable-you have to try it!! read more

Customer service. Stopped by at 0845 on Tuesday. The place is empty. I was hoping to do some paperwork during breakfast and needed a booth. As the waitress started to seat me, another woman interrupted and very loudly stated that all booths were only for a petty of three or more. There were maybe three couples in the restaurant. All booths empty. She was aggressive and I pointed out that the restaurant was virtually empty. She was so rude I just walked across the street to a much nicer restaurant, was welcomed in a booth and enjoyed a great start to my day. read more

This is one of my favorite new breakfast spot I sat on the bar the first time and had a amazing time and service was so great on top of the food being amazing but this second time I was there it didn't live up to the first time. The server came took our order and I promise when I'm surprised but he never once came back to check up on us at all I was so disappointed in the service. I'm in hospitality and service makes the whole package and it definitely lacked! Hope it turns around read more

Chug's definitely lived up to the hype. You have to try the Cast Iron Pancake - it completely won me over, and I usually prefer mine thin. This one was unlike anything I've ever had. 10/10! I also tried some other items on the menu and they were great (salad, burger, fries). The servers were warm and welcoming, and the whole vibe made for a perfect, relaxing brunch spot. read more