Warren Brown, the owner of Cakelove, the popular but tiny Washington bakery, finally figured out a way to let his customers have their cake and sit with it, too: He opened Love Cafe, just an eclair's toss across the street from Cakelove.

Patrons will find in his spin-off everything carried by the stand-up original -- cupcakes, "crunchy feet" (small pound cakes), "buzz balls" (filled cream puffs) -- as well as a half-dozen sandwiches ($4.50-$7.50), running from portobello and smoked salmon to grilled cheese and tuna salad. The savories are several notches above the usual: the BLT is slathered with a sunny lemon mayonnaise, for instance, and a tofu sandwich is offered two ways, with tofu flavored with balsamic vinegar or "tandoori" style. Breakfast waffles and French toast are two popular breakfast choices.

Long and narrow, the 50-seat Love Cafe makes a pleasant alternative to the ubiquitous chain coffeehouses. Its brick walls are punctuated by broad windows that pull in lots of light, and the color scheme proves cheerful in yellows and blues. Most of the furnishings -- the mixed chairs and couches -- were purchased from nearby stores on 14th Street or wrought from natural materials (the wood tile tables are particularly handsome). On a recent fall afternoon, baby strollers and laptops were evident in equal numbers.

There's no alcohol at Love Cafe, but there is a happy hour: Every Wednesday from 5-7:30 p.m., Brown offers his version of the popular chocolate cake with molten chocolate center -- "lava cake," he calls it -- for $3 each.
-- Tom Sietsema

Having a cupcake craving? This week, Love Cafe opens its cupcake bar, featuring customized, individual cupcakes served at room temperature. What's so important about the temperature? In the past, both Cake Love and Love Cafe kept cakes refrigerated and advised customers to let them thaw before serving.

Now, those seeking instant gratification can get their fix their way. At the bar, customers have a choice of vanilla and chocolate cakes and a rotating selection of buttercreams: lemon, lime, strawberry, chocolate and vanilla. For some extra decadence, customize those cakes with jimmies, flavored sugars, candied peanuts and homemade toffee, for starters.

More flavors and toppings will be available as Love Cafe gets a read on customer favorites and requests.

--Melissa McCart (Express, Feb. 22, 2007)