New Coral Gables Diner Opens With Cozy Vibes, Delicious Brunch

Behind a pink metal door on a quiet Coral Gables street, a charming new café has quietly taken root. Tina in the Gablesis the latest project from the same team behind Miami Slice and La Latina — two Miami food spots known for drawing long lines and loyal fans.

Co-owners Alejandro Díaz, Alberto Zanetti, and Jose Cardenas, known for their creative take on New York-style pizza and Venezuelan arepas, bring their signature style to this more intimate concept.

Tina feels like stepping into someone’s living room, with its minimalist vibe and sweet little touches like fresh flowers and a wall of hooks for hanging your bag. The Venezuelan influence shows up subtly but meaningfully. A bowl of "Toronto" chocolates greets you at the entrance, and the menu nods to La Latina’s famed arepas with elevated versions like the "Coral Queen," stuffed with rotisserie chicken and avocado salad.
But Tina isn’t just about arepas.

It’s a café-diner hybrid with a bread-centric menu that ranges from hearty sandwiches to rotisserie meats to nostalgic sweets. The soft shell crab sandwich served on a Japanese milk bread bun with tropical mango pico de Gallo already feels like an instant classic. Brunch purists might go for the sunny-side duck, featuring duck eggs with smoked duck breast “bacon,” pâté, and country loaf.

Lunch gets heartier with the rotisserie section: Think Picanha, a slow-roasted Angus steak served with a watercress salad or half a roasted organic chicken with greens. On the sweeter side, there’s French toast made with thick brioche, a square of salted butter, and a maple syrup pool. Or tap into some PB&J nostalgia with their buttered country loaf slathered in organic peanut butter and St. Dalfour jam.

@alwayshungrymel Stopped by @tinainthegables for a quick brunch, and we’re so glad we did! Recently opened by the owners of Miami Slice and La Latina, Tina is right by Merrick Park—and we def approve 🙂 #AlwaysHungryMel #MiamiRestaurants #CoralGables #MiamiEats #Miami #Eats #Brunch #MiamiFood ♬ spin u round - Nafeesisboujee

As for drinks, a sleek Marzocco machine pumps out espresso drinks, including the signature "Gables Café Crème," a shaken iced espresso with thick foamy milk dusted with cinnamon. Cold-pressed juices round out the beverage menu for those looking for something lighter.

For now, Tina operates on limited hours — Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.— and it’s walk-in only. But judging by its lineage and early buzz, it won’t stay a low-key neighborhood secret for long.

Coral Gables, consider yourself warned.

Tina in the Gables. 4700 S. Le Jeune Rd.; Coral Gables; tinainthegables.com. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (for now).