My name is Michael Beltran, but my friends call me “Chug” (maybe I’ll tell you the story someday, between bites of fritas or sips of a cortadito). Chug’s Diner is the embodiment of childhood memories, like my Cuban family gathering around the Caja China, slamming dominos and yelling “pollooooonnnna” all night. But it’s also about my love for a good old American diner — the kind I really came to appreciate when I left Miami for a while. I cook with my heart, and my heart is in Chug’s, where we’re treating our roots with the respect and skill they deserve in the kitchen. There’s comfort in a cast Iron pancake at 6 a.m. or 11 p.m.; is there ever a bad time? Or sit down to my Abuela’s platter or a Mac N Cheese skillet. Whatever you’re in the mood for, take a seat, enjoy the music, and make yourself at home.