The U Street strip was a trendy destination well before the election of Barack Obama, but as the political center shifts left—and with it the social center of Washington—administration types will likely move north to dine and talk shop in restaurants like Marvin, Tabaq Bistro (1336 U Street NW, 202-265-0965; tabaqdc.com), Café Saint-Ex (1847 14th Street NW, 202-265-7839; saintex.com) and Busboys and Poets (2021 14th Street NW, 202-387-7638; busboysandpoets.com).

This isn’t to say that Penn Quarter’s Caucus Room (401 9th Street NW, 202-393-1300) and Olives (1600 K Street NW, 202-452-1866; toddenglish.com), located just down the block from the AFL-CIO, won’t host card-carrying members of the Democratic elite, but Sheldon Scott, manager of Marvin, says the migration further into the city is a natural course of action for the newly empowered progressive set. “U Street in general and Marvin in particular draw an eclectic crowd of patrons of varied nationalities, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status, which seems to be the kind of unity and progress this administration has been campaigning for,” says Scott. “The street has been able to maintain its relevance of being a historically black neighborhood and serves a very wide population while paying homage to black Americans who made the place great initially.”

Neighborhood mainstay Ben’s Chili Bowl (1213 U Street NW, 202-667-0909; benschilibowl.com) has already become a popular venue with Democratic glitterati. Senator Hillary Clinton held a fundraiser there for her last Senate campaign and the list of diners includes House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, Bono, and DC Mayor Adrian Fenty.

Nearby Busboys and Poets has hosted a number of events for Democratic members of Congress, candidates, and causes.

“U Street has always been an historical place, especially for African Americans,” says Nizam Ali, one of three sons of Ben’s Chili Bowl’s founder Ben Ali. “This part of the city has always been politically progressive.”

BY JACKIE KUCINICH