Friends schmoozing on the couches, telecommuters working on their laptops at the high counter, businesspeople meeting at the communal table, families squeezing into a booth. There are plenty of comfortable seating arrangements at Car Wash Coffee in Kensington, which opened in August in the former Savannah’s American Grill. Even dogs can linger (and drink from water bowls the coffee shop provides) on the outdoor patio. Proprietors Steve and Maddie Harris also own the adjacent Mr. Wash car wash, and a tuxedoed man squeezed into a little red speedster serves as the logo for both places. (The drawing is a caricature of Robert Harris, Steve’s late father, who was in the car wash business for 60 years.) The coffee shop offers sandwiches, baked goods and other light fare, and at press time it was still a work in progress (so far, the best bet is the tuna salad sandwich spiked with spicy relish). But the terrific coffee from Vigilante Coffee Company in Hyattsville is there to stay, and the wide range of caffeinated selections includes nitro cold brews (nitrogen-infused coffee with a creamy head), blended espresso drinks and regular cold brew, which is also available in growlers. The relaxing vibe and the sense of community seems permanent, too.
10700 Connecticut Ave., Kensington; 240-669-8531
