Wynwood Diner to Open Friday

Wynwood Diner is set to open this Friday, August 14, at 2601 NW Second Ave., and it's like no other diner you've seen.

The casual eatery looks less like a typical greasy spoon and more like a cozy sanctuary you'd find in trendy country-chic hot spots like Charleston or Asheville. That's not to say you won't find classic diner food — it just means you'll enjoy your meal in a homey setting. After all, when was the last time you had your morning eggs in a diner with a fireplace mantel and bookshelves?

Wynwood Diner is divided into three distinct spaces, each with a unique vibe. Jerry Böck, the general manager and a Holland native, saw the need for a beautiful venue with a cool vibe. "I am happy to be in a space that merges the charming European café culture with a cool, nostalgic vibe of an American diner." Böck's experience on the Miami dining scene includes Cecconi’s, Prime Italian, Nikki Beach, and Prime One Twelve.
 A classic diner setting, straight out of a 1940s movie set, features comfortable oxblood-hued booths. Look closely and you'll spy an electrical outlet under the table, so you won't have to bother the bartender for a place to charge your battered iPhone.

A cozy café area welcomes you to hang around with a second cup of coffee or another cocktail. 

Though the restaurant calls itself a diner, expect more than the usual gut bombs used to soak up a night's worth of drinking. The kitchen is helmed by head chef Michael Castino, who has worked at Estiatorio Milos by Costas Spiliadis, Pride & Joy, and New York's famed Tavern on the Green. You'll find all of your favorite diner foods, like all-day breakfast and club sandwiches, but they'll be made with premium natural beef, nitrate-free pork, all-natural chicken and eggs, Zak the Baker bread, and Relentless Roasters coffee. 

Typical diner fare will get a twist with offerings like bourbon French toast; pork belly, feta, and arugula omelets; and a chicken 'n' waffle club sandwich. Plus, there are cocktails and beer.

Vanessa Hulsey, formerly of the Broken Shaker and 27 Restaurant & Bar, created the cocktail menu. It includes the Rebel Rouser, made with Correlejo Reposado, Del Maguey Vida, smoked pineapple, lime, and house-made spicy salt; the Peach Pie Old-Fashioned, with spiced-peach-infused Dickel bourbon, house bitters, and Demerara; and a Peychaud's mojito ($10 each). She also curated a craft beer selection that features Funky Buddha and Ommegang on tap and Cigar City and Brooklyn Brewery selections in cans.

Wynwood Diner also has a patio, making this the neighborhood's new indoor/outdoor all-purpose retreat.

Wynwood Diner will be open Friday, August 14, and Saturday, August 15, from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday, August 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; and Monday, August 17, from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. The diner will begin normal operating hours Tuesday, August 18, which are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.

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