When the cool breezes of autumn’s first blush suddenly turn to the frosty chill of Washington’s first winter wind, what could be better than a big wide plate of slow-cooked beef and a glass of merlot? Not much, we think.

At Cubano’s, a beloved, authentic Cuban Silver Spring institution, the atmosphere is refined yet unpretentious – a white tablecloth kind of place without the snooty attitude. The colorful walls and tastefully tropical art bring restrained joy to an otherwise simple Cuban comfort food menu. The outdoor fountain and patio attract summer diners, sipping mojitos in the sun and laughing at the loud music and loud people pouring out of the constant party that is Mi Rancho across the street, but in the colder months, the warmth is all inside the cool, calm Cubano’s.