Dirt Cheap Eats 2007: Love Cafe

Reviewed by Cynthia Hacinli , Todd Kliman , Sara Levine , Ann Limpert , Erin Zimmer

Love Cafe

1501 U St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-265-9800

Cuisines:
Deli/Quick Bites, American

Opening Hours:

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Nearby Metro Stops:
U St./African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo

Price Range:
Inexpensive

Dress:
Informal

Noise Level:
Chatty

Reservations:
Not needed

Special Features:
Late Night, Kid Friendly

Website:
Click here to open in new window.

Price Details:
Sandwiches, $4.50 to $6.95; desserts, $2 to $7.


Late Night Eats

Warren Brown, the lawyer-turned-celebrity-baker behind the CakeLove empire, must have had late-night diners in mind when he put a grilled peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich ($5) on his cafe’s menu. A generous smear of peanut butter and sliced bananas between two honey-kissed slices of sourdough—we can’t imagine a better midnight snack.

There’s also a cupcake bar for mixing and matching cake and buttercream flavors, a glass case full of layer cakes ($6 to $7 a slice), and oversize savory sandwiches ($4.50 to $6.95) such as old-fashioned pulled-chicken salad and BLT. Free wi-fi makes the cozy spot feel like laptop central during daylight hours, but on weekend nights—it’s open until 11 Friday, midnight Saturday—it’s a great spot to relax and grab a bite.