Despite its ever-changing face — or perhaps because of it — Chef Michael Beltran loves Coconut Grove.
This comes as no real surprise. Born in Hialeah and raised in Miami, Beltran opened his Michelin-starred restaurant Ariete on Main Highway in 2016, helping to usher in Miami’s Michelin star era. He opened Chug’s Diner, designated a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide, a few blocks away as a pop-up in 2019, making it a permanent spot after renovations in 2021.
Beltran has witnessed as the neighborhood has changed, from the redevelopment of CocoWalk to the influx of new restaurants…