That place is in a time warp, I swear. You can stop in for “just a quick beer” and stumble out 7 hours later, having NO IDEA you were there that long. It seems to promote long, drawn-out conversations on the state of the universe, games of Around the World (where you pick a starting point on the beer menu, and move either east or west by country), and in at least one case I am personally aware of, a love match. BEWARE!
That said, I love it. It’s a very relaxed atmosphere, and if you prefer a quieter place to sit, go downstairs and into the back room - the jukebox can get pretty loud upstairs and in the front portion.
Man, now I wanna go! Good luch on your date, and keep us posted.
Just remembered the name of the coffee bar I wanted to suggest: Xando. I’ve never been to one but they seem to be popular with the Dopers. They’re not just coffee bars anymore having merged with a deli chain a couple of years ago.
I trhink all of the Xando’s are morphing into Cosi’s (previously mentioned). Perhaps because they got tired of everybody thinking their name was “Ex and Oh”. Anyway I found the one at Connecticut & R to be a little too… well too much ado about nothing. In the evenings you have to wait to be seated - at a coffee bar.
Maybe that cafe at Kramerbooks in Dupont for dessert and a drink? It’s a little expensive and can get kind of crowded, but isn’t that loud and it’s generally pleasant.
Another nice date place (bit expensive) in DC is Cafe Atlantico. If you go have the Mojitos, then you won’t care about the bill, or anything for that matter.
Best place we’ve found is Olazzo, an Italian restaurant in Bethesda. It’s on the corner of Fairmont and Norfolk, and there’s lots of parking garages around. It’s quiet, the ambience is fantastic, and you can get an inexpensive meal that’s top rate, or just a bottle of wine and bread. We go there every chance we get - it even has a television fire.
If that’s not for you, there’s no place like Bethesda for restaurants.
Period.
Good luck.
Thanks guys.
The date was on Friday. Movie at Visions was good. She didn’t feel like waiting for a table at Brickskeller (looked like a good place, though–I plan on going in for a real ale sometime!), so we walked along in the cold in Dupont and talked. Eventually we stopped at a little Soho cafe for coffee. It was a good date. At least I thought so. I should feel better in a week. 
Man, not even one question about how the date went, and not even one expression of sympathy when I tell you anyway. I’m not sure what to make of that.
I thought you said you weren’t going to provide details! 
I still expected you to ask!