Frenchie's Diner

Frenchie's is a petite Coral Gables restaurant where the menu is squiggled in different colors on a chalkboard that fills one wall. At this 50-seat spot, some porcelain dishes are white; others are adorned with blue florals, gray patterns, and gold trim. Many spoons have light-pink handles; others are just stainless steel. Black-and-white floor tiles, mismatched artifacts, and rose walls suggest the space is an American diner. Peerless beurre blanc, duck confit ($26), and steak frites give the impression of a French bistro. The restaurant, in fact, is a bit of both. The setting combines classic French cooking with the nonchalance of a family-owned American place. Husband and wife Gabriel and Shannon Castrec are the family. Their short menu comprises daily specials such as fish and soup that change based on Shannon's whims. The restaurant is open weekdays for lunch, serves dinner Thursdays and Fridays, and operates just a few hours a day. During lunch, the restaurant hosts a parade of office workers. It serves tuna niçoise salad ($18) and hamburgers with fries. During dinner, Frenchie's Diner is more like an intimate party at a friend's home.