Bites Nearby: A Zest for Coffee and Community at Zed's

Anyone with a taste for specialty coffee drinks can find a corporate-owned java spot in most neighborhoods. Zed's Cafe attracts people who want something more than the repetitive look and feel of a chain operation.

"The thing I like about Zed's is the intimate, cozy atmosphere that it brings. It has its own spice. It has its own feel to it," said Alfia Johnson, a College Park resident.

Johnson does what many patrons do when they stop at Zed's Cafe in downtown Silver Spring. She brings her laptop, orders coffee or tea and buys something to eat.

"I love mochas with almond milk. It's very rare to find cafes that have almond milk," Johnson explained. "The Jasmine green tea is another favorite of mine, and I love their smoked salmon sandwiches.

When Zed Mekonnen first opened his cafe in June of 2011, he mostly served coffee and tea. Now, there is a menu of breakfast breads, sandwiches and salads to go with the specialty drinks. The menu evolved from meals he made for himself.

"If I want to have a turkey sandwich, I'll make it with focaccia bread. I put olive oil, which I like olive oil with bread anyway. I put a little bit of greens, a little mayonnaise and the turkey itself," said Mekonnen.

If you stop by for breakfast, you can order bagels, muffins, croissants, egg sandwiches, waffles or smoothies. For lunch, you can choose from turkey, ham, apple tuna, chicken salad or smoked salmon sandwiches. The salads are made with organic greens. The quiche is made in-house and the desserts come from local bakers. Most sandwiches are $6 and most salads cost $7.

A regular cup of coffee is $2.25. Fans of fancy coffee drinks can get Cafe Latte, Cappuccino, Macchiatto, Caramel Macchiatto, Cafe Mocha or Chai Latte. You can also order the House Special Tea. The specialty drinks range in price from $2.65 to $3.80.

The "one big living room" concept that inspired Mekonnen to open the cafe on Georgia Avenue also attracts artists, musicians and other people who enjoy hanging out at Zed's. Both amateurs and some well-known local bands perform at the cafe on weekends.

"Zed's is one of those places where people can develop community, which in our society is kind of challenging sometimes because we're very isolated in how we live," said Michael Mineiro, a Silver Spring resident.

Mineiro plays gypsy guitar at Zed's on occasion. He is looking forward to the back porch opening for the season. "He has a beautiful mural on the wall that an artist painted. Once he gets it all set up, it's real nice out there with the sunshine," said Mineiro.

Mekonnen cultivates the cafe's laidback atmosphere with an eclectic decor of collectibles, books and art. An exhibit of lotus flowers captured by Silver Spring photographer Gene Luttenberg graces one of the walls. The beautiful blooms at  Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens National Park were grown from seeds believed to be a thousand years old.

The cafe's owner, who was born in Ethiopia and grew up in a North Dakota boarding school, is a strong believer in building relationships with people in the community. Patrons seem to respond to the food, service and "at home" feeling Mekonnen provides.

"Some of them bring art from their houses. People bring and leave plants here for the coffee shop," said Mekonnen. "They bring plates from their houses. It keeps you going when you are working here."

Considering that Mekonnen regularly puts in 15-hour days, it might be a challenge to create another Zed's Cafe. In the future, he does have ideas for helping other coffee shop lovers open their own places following the "one big living room" blueprint.

Zed's Cafe is located at 8225 Georgia Ave. It is open seven days a week. Go to the cafe's website to check out the menu and hours of operation.

Note: This is a restaurant profile, not a review. Opinions expressed do not represent the ideas of the writer or Patch.