Oyster Bar - New York, NY

Saturday, 12/27/08, 6 pm - Midtown

What a trip - walking into this restroom "lobby" you're confronted with an over sized chair in the shape of a hand. Then, once you enter the ladies' room, there's another plush chair in the shape of lips - hot pink lips. Very kitsch - until you see the rest of the room. Bubblegum pink stalls stood out against the white walls. I would have gotten a picture but they had one of those bathroom attendants, who holds the soap and paper towels hostage while she talks on her cell phone the whole time and then expects a tip. The row of 4 white sinks were cluttered with mouthwash, perfume and hairspray.

I was quite surprised by how bright the place was compared to the restaurant which looks like it's in the basement of Grand Central, which it is. But I guess I shouldn't have been since the retro decor was probably put in around the last time the restaurant was designed. Here's more on the Oyster Bar.

Marvin - Washington, D.C.

Saturday, 12/20/08, 9 pm - U Street

This was the first time I had eaten at Marvin. I've been a few times for drinks, but I guess I never used the bathroom. It was the second restaurant that I'd been to that day which only had one women's stall for the whole restaurant (I don't have any pictures from Matchbox, so I'll try to get back there at another time). I don't really understand why you'd do that, but maybe they have another one upstairs.

The single stall wasn't particularly interesting except for the mirror above the sink, which, to call it a mirror, might be generous. I don't know if it's a Belgian decor thing or they just don't want you to see anything.


A lot of thought was put into the restaurant, and while the bathroom had the necessary wood paneling, I just wish there was more to the bathroom (and more of them). But here's more on Marvin.

Tabbard Inn - Washington, D.C.

Thursday, 12/18/08, 10 pm - Dupont

The bathroom was pretty much what you would expect at the Tabbard Inn - two single stalls with homey touches. Marble tile surrounded the actual bathroom area with a wooden dresser and mirror in the other half.

There were decorative touches all over, but it didn't look designed, just as if they were acquired over time, which is the essence of the Tabbard Inn. Here's more on the place.

Proof - Washington, DC

Saturday, 12/6/08, 8 pm - Chinatown

This urban wine bar leaves the edge for the bathroom. First the ladies' room. A friend from out of town, who didn't even know I kept a bathroom blog, commented that the toilet looked like it belonged in a prison when she got back from the restroom. I'll let you judge for yourself.

Well that was just the tip of the iceberg. The wallpaper was decorated with legs and bras all over.




I finally had a guy friend who was willing to participate and it was definitely needed at Proof (and makes me wonder what I was missing at other places). So while the wallpaper was fun in the ladies room, the men's room took it one step further to tits and asses - literally.













And yes, that's a boob with a facet coming out of it.










For such a mild-mannered restaurant, the bathrooms definitely stepped out of the that comfort zone. Here's more on Proof.

Old Ebbitt Grill - Washington DC

Monday, 12/1/08, 7 pm - Downtown

This restaurant is considered a Washington staple and I'm now suggesting it's not just because of the location and the food. Descending to the restroom on the lower floor, you walk on warped marble steps that clearly have been there for years. The four stalls are separated by coral-colored marble-looking (not sure if it is marble) walls that extend all the way the floor. All the walls and the floor made of the same coral-white material.

The paper towels are all held in an upright metal stand on the floor. Each sink only has one gold handle to turn the water on and off and they're all on the left side of the sink (I'm a fan!). The one new addition I noticed was a dyson hand dryer - the super fast ones. Interesting for a place that doesn't have magic-eye toilets or sinks.

Here's details about Old Ebbitt Grill.

Azia - Minneapolis, MN

Saturday, 11/22/08, 9 pm

Pronounced "asia," the restroom, like the restaurant, tries too hard. You walk past a free standing waterfall to get to a coed bank of sinks. To the left is the men's room and the right side is the women's room. Both areas are done in all black. The stall I went into had no lock and ran out of toilet paper when I was in there. Also, three stalls seems like too few for a place that wants to be a lounge, a bar and a restaurant.

The sink area was a little better. They had cloth towels instead of paper and even hand lotion. But that's not the most important part of the restroom and they need to work harder to keep everything up to par.

Here's more on Azia.

Hell's Kitchen - Minneapolis, MN

Saturday, 11/22/08, 11 am

Why I was in Minneapolis in November is a long story, but that doesn't distract from this horror-themed restaurant. The dungeon-like feel flowed into the bathroom, which had holographic pictures on the walls when you exit the stalls. The pictures morph from an innocent-looking girl to a demon-possessed child. Very nice effect.

I think there were 4 or 5 stalls - definitely needed in this large restaurant. No trick mirrors, which was appreciated.

Here's more on Hell's Kitchen.

Vinoteca - Washington, DC

Friday, 10/24/08, 7 pm - U Street

I just went to this wine bar a few weeks ago and sat upstairs in their lounge for the first time. I haven't used the restrooms downstairs, but the ones upstairs definitely reminded me of ones in people's homes. Which might make sense - the downstairs of the bar looks like a store front, but the upper level is more like a townhouse.

There are two single unisex stalls up there. The one I used was unremarkable. The requisite white title and burgundy painted half walls. There was also a storage closet right next to the toilet which wasn't well disguised. The pedestal sink was appropriate but nothing special. All in all it did the trick but did not do the place justice.

Philly/Detroit Airports

Saturday, 9/20/08

Yes I haven't posted in a while so I thought I'd make up for it by looking out of the box (or the stall as it might be). I do have some reviews with pics that I will get to when things calm down. But for now I'd like to talk about the restrooms in the Philadelphia and Detriot airports.

I was impressed with both for big public bathrooms. The stalls in Philly were really roomy with plenty of hooks - and not just on the back of the door. There were two on the side wall and even a shelf.

In Detroit, the sinks were what stood out for me. I hate when there's only a soap dispenser for every other sink or just one on either side of the row of sinks. It seems a waste to me. The sink bay was really clean and modern looking (I guess it should be - I learned that the terminal I was in had just opened three days before). The sinks were deep and each had a soap dispenser as well as paper towel dispensers in between two.

Back to restaurants soon. Stay tuned...

Earls - Denver

Thursday, 8/28/08, 10:30 pm - Downtown

I was at this restaurant at the end of a long week and hit up the bathroom after a few glasses of wine. So you'll excuse my vague memory. I do remember that it was a nice restaurant and I expected the same from the bathroom. It definitely kept me on my toes. Take a look at the doors to the stalls.


Apparently it's a Canadian chain. Here's more on Earls.

Sequoia - Washington, DC

Wednesday, 8/13/08, 7:30 pm - Georgetown

So it's restaurant week and while I went to Bistro Bis for a nice dinner, the restroom was in the hotel next door, so I feel that wasn't worth mentioning. But Sequoia gets its own mention. The huge restaurant also has a large bathroom with several stalls. But it made it feel more sterile. And even my friends commented on the somewhat creepy black toilets. You can't really tell if they're clean or not so you just have to go for it. The rest of the room was not really anything to talk about though - just a row of bland sinks. And I wouldn't normally mention this, but the bathroom is really not convenient. It's up a set of stairs and then around a few corners and another few steps and then back in a corner. Seems like they could have thought of a better place to put it.

Here's more on Sequoia.

Ceiba - Washington, DC

Wednesday, 7/30/08, 7 pm - Metro Center
This restroom was nice, but nothing really out of the ordinary for such a fun restaurant.

The two large sinks stood on titled floor, and there was a single chair in the corner (you can't see it from this angle).

But there are three stalls (I never really understand how a place decides the sink to stall ratio). Three stall with black slotted doors and just a white toilet inside. The stall I went into didn't have a hook (looked like it had been torn off), which is really important in a women's room.

I didn't think the wicker wastebasket made sense, but you can judge for yourself.

Here's more on Ceiba.

Lucali - Brooklyn, NY

Saturday, 7/26/08, 9:30 pm - Carroll Gardens

The old world feel carries on into the bathroom. The green-wood paneling gives sort of an out-house feel (but much cleaner) and the toilet is European in style, with the flush leverage an overhead chain.

The large farmhouse sink has two separate faucets - one for hot water, one for cold water. There was a stacked crate with hand soap and a nail brush on it (I wonder how many people use it). Overall it was pretty well kept despite the heavy traffic that I saw traveling in and out.

Lucali doesn't have a website, but here's it's menupages listing (which is actually kinda of funny since it only serves pizza).

Luna Grill - Washington, DC

Saturday, 7/5/08, 8:30 pm - Dupont

So they redid this restaurant and I guess I hadn't been in the bathroom since. It used to be one large unisex stall. Now it's two single stalls, but one for men and one for women.

The walls of the woman's stall are decorated with what looks like chalkboard paint and are covered with handwritten quotes from authors, feminist and political leaders, etc. (but upon closer examination, the chalk doesn't wipe off). The toilet and sink weren't anything special, but I think it's quirky and seemed pretty clean.

Here's more on the Luna Grill.

Cafe Asia - Washington DC

Monday, 6/30/08, 7:30 pm - Downtown

This bathroom might have been the reason I wanted to start this blog (and I promise I will try to grab a picture of it when I can). Call it the "Ally McBeal" bathroom - it has coed stalls side by side. The frosted glass door (that do reach the floor) have mens and womens symbols on them, but I don't think that means anything.

The stalls are small, slick, retro-mod looking, but not too confining. And the sink is one big stainless steel troth. I'm not sure if it's meant to be a place to congregate, but it's certainly a conversation starter.

Here's more about Cafe Asia.

Crabtree's Kittle House - Chappaqua, NY

Sunday, 6/22/08, 6:00 pm - Chappaqua, NY

The bathroom was what you would expect from a little inn. There was a powder area with some flowers on a small table. And the next room had two stalls, egg-shell colored and old-fashioned looking sinks. Everything was a bit worn - or worn in, depending on how you look at it.

Here's more about the Kittle House.

Tap House - Tuckahoe, NY

Sunday, 6/15/08, 7:00 pm - Tuckahoe, NY

The restroom was aiming to be upscale and it works - but only if there's one person in the room. There are two fully-enclosed stalls, well kept. Black toilets.

But there's only one sink and a small mirror over it. People waiting to go in and out really had no where to wait. And if you get out of the stall, and someone's at the sink, you're not really sure where to go.

Here's more on Tap House.

O'Donnell's - Gaithersburg, MD

Saturday, 6/14/08, 12:00 pm - Gaitherburg, MD

We were in a private room so I can't say what the general public restrooms looked like, but I think these were a good representation of thought going into the bathrooms. They had a single stall for men and another for women (yes, I visited both).

They both were decorated - floor and walls - with slate slabs, varying slightly in shade and texture. Very natural and organic look. The stalls were pretty big, and had a dark wood rack to hold extra toilet paper rolls. The current roll itself was on a silver stand-alone toilet paper holder. Both were pretty clean and well kept.

Here's more on O'Donnell's.

Les Halles - Washington, D.C.

Friday, 6/13/08, 9:00 pm - Penn Quarter

I was pleasantly surprised by the decor of the restroom. It was quite big - on one wall stood three stalls with floor-to-ceiling doors. On the perpendicular wall were two white pedestal sinks. The rest of the room was decorated in classic white (tiny white tiles on the floor).

All the stall doors were closed so it was hard to figure out if any were occupied. Once inside, the bathroom took a turn south, as it wasn't the cleanest place. And all though the door went all the way to the floor, the dividers between the stalls didn't. Which I guess is good if you run out of toilet paper, but it seems strange to me. In the corner of each was a little plastic red and yellow garbage can for trash. Out of place, but cute.

Here's more on Les Halles.

The Volstead

Thursday, 6/5/08, 8:45 pm - Midtown

I don't usually rate bar bathrooms, mostly because they're often gross, but I was a fan of this one and I think the locale can be considered a restaurant as well.

The restroom has two or three black stalls and the walls are lined with glass titles, clear it seems, with dark iridescent titled stripes. The hooks on the back of the stalls were a little too tight to really hang something on. The two sinks each had a magic eye, sleek silver facet. It would have been a good idea to have the soap dispensers be magic eye as well.

Here's more on The Volstead.

Republic

Wednesday, 6/4/08, 7:45 pm - Union Square

I've been here quite a few times lately, but I guess I didn't use the bathroom until this visit. And it's probably a good thing. Let's just say the minimalistic approach to the restaurant definitely extended into this area.

The bathroom looked like a bar restroom on a busy Saturday night. I know there's a lot of turn over at the restaurant, but they really should keep on top of this. There was liquid all over the floor. And for a restaurant of this size, I was a little surprised to see only two stalls. The black stalls were more roomy than I expected, but I didn't notice much else as I tried not to touch anything.

Here's more on Republic.

OC Wasabi - Ocean City, MD

Saturday, 5/31/08, 8:00 pm - Ocean City, MD

Asian restaurants aren't known for their detailed decor, defaulting to stereotypical Asian items. Bathrooms seem like a necessary evil, rather than an extension of the restaurant. And this sushi place at the beach is no exception.

The stark single-stall didn't offer much to discuss. It was clean and roomy but that's about all I can say. The generic color wasn't really creative.

Here's more on OC Wasabi.

Rare

Wednesday, 5/28/08, 8:00 pm - Murray Hill

I had resisted mentioning Rare because the bathroom is actually in the Shelburne Hotel, but after visiting twice in two weeks, I felt I couldn't avoid it. Especially because the bathroom screams out for help. I haven't seen the rest of the hotel, beyond the lobby, but I can't imagine the restroom reflects well on the hotel.

Two black stalls and two sinks fill the stripped down bathroom. At least one of the times I went there, one of the stalls wasn't anything you'd want to use. It also drove me crazy that there were only hand dryers in the bathroom. I think Rare would do well to consider putting in their own bathrooms.

Here's more on Rare.

The Smith

Friday, 5/16/08, 10:00 pm - Union Square East

A lot of thought was put into the restaurant bathroom. You walk down stairs and there's no real entrance. You walk past a photo booth and an old time barber's chair to a row of four co-ed stalls with wooden doors. The doors go to the floor so you have to walk by the stalls to see if the "vacancy" or "occupied" is showing.

Once inside, it was practically a room unto itself. There's a mirror and a hook on the back of door as well as a light. The floor, like the floor of the restaurant, is lined with white subway tiles. The lock was hard to close.

The row of sinks were large white rectangles, with '30s looking faucets and knobs. Definitely fit in with the decor of the restaurant.

Here's more about The Smith.

Josie's West

Wednesday, 4/30/08, 10:00 pm - Upper West Side

Now I feel like I can update an earlier post. The restroom was definitely eclectic. In this location the far wall was mirrored, but only from the waste up (so you weren't on the toilet starring at yourself). Another was covered with wallpaper with rocks or stones all over it.

I did like the asymmetrical white sink with the sleek brushed silver faucet. But the room just seemed confused and wasn't really an "organic" flow which I think it was the restaurant wants to go for in the dining room.

Here's info on Josie's West.

Lombardi's

Sunday, 4/27/08, 8:00 pm - Soho

So my friend who had been to the restaurant before was hesitant to go to the bathroom here, which made me nervous, but there was no need to be. While the bathroom wasn't anything exotic, neither is the restaurant. But it was clean, white tiled, no garbage can overflowing. Just goes to show you, you can get a decent restroom in unexpected places.

Here's more on Lombardi's.

Tree

Friday, 4/25/08, 11:00 pm - East Village

The restroom was perfectly fit for the cute little restaurant. There was potpourri on top of the toilet. The touch made sense. The walls were dark with white toilet and sink. It was clean and tidy. On the walls were two pictures - prints with soft colors that fit well.

If you're interested in Tree.

Cafe Sabarsky

Saturday, 4/12/08, 1:00 pm - Upper East Side

Ok so I know the bathroom for this restaurant is technically a part of the gallery, but you can visit the cafe and the restroom separate from the gallery so I felt like it was fair game. It was quite modern, mostly white, about three stalls. The all white definitely made the place seem cleaner. There were two sinks and the faucets stood out as a little out of place since they weren't really sleek, but a bit more ornate.

Here's more about Cafe Sabarsky in Neue Gallery.

Sala

Saturday, 4/5/08, 9:00 pm - Central Village

The bathroom is trying to be as trendy as the tapas restaurant. It's single stall was black and sleek. I remember it being relatively clean, but the garbage can was relatively full.

Here's more on Sala.

Uva

Tuesday, 4/2/08, 10:30 pm - Upper East Side

Stateside now. The restroom at this wine restaurant was in a weird location - sort of in the middle of the place. I guess it makes sense close to the bar, but it doesn't seem to make sense if you're eating there. There are two uni-sex stalls behind wooden doors.

The one I visited was small but everything was in proportion. The small white sink was tucked in a corner. I thought it could have been a little cleaners. They tried to make it a little fancy with incense sticks on the top of the toilet tank, but it didn't really fit with the room. But overall it wasn't too bad.

Here's more on Uva.

Bellini's Trattoria

Saturday, 3/22/08, 8:00 pm - St. Lawrence Gap, Barbados

One last review from the Caribbean. I wasn't overwhelmed by the bathroom here. It was a single stall with plenty of space, but the toilet didn't exactly flush. The white tiles were fine, but I guess I thought for a seaside restaurant I had hoped for more.

Here's more on Bellini's.

Pisces

Friday, 3/21/08, 8:30pm - St. Lawrence Gap, Barbados

Ok so I had the chance to escape New York for some warmer pastures, and you never quite know what you're going to get. The restroom at this waterfront restaurant was plain, but clean. Two stalls with an interesting sanitation system (at least I think that's what it was). The funny thing about toilets here is that the lever to flush is on the left side of the toilet, not the right (maybe it has something to do with what side of the road they drive on). Anyway, the decor wasn't anything special, but it didn't stand out to me as completely out of character.

Here's more on Pisces.

Tavern on Jane

Tuesday, 3/11/08, 10:30pm - West Village

This neighborhood restaurant is trying to have character and it does, extending into the bathroom. You walk through a woden door with frosted glass to a sort of waiting area with a mirror. There are two single unisex stalls. The one I went into was wood paneled with a framed drawing on the wall.

The one problem I had was the sink. I get that it's supposed to look like the original fixtures, but the basin was stained black, probably from a water drip. But I think it just makes the bathroom look dirty and that's the last thing you want in a bathroom.

Here's more on Tavern on Jane.

Merchants

Tuesday, 2/19/08, 10:15 pm - Upper East Side

The bathroom was trying to be something it wasn't - super luxurious. The 3 stalls had full-length doors, with sea glass panels. Not too shabby. But once inside the stalls, it was really dark - hard to see.

The first stall didn't have a lock that worked. When I found one that had a decent lock, the stalls were so cramped that I knocked the toilet paper off the free standing roll when I went to put my bag on the hook. But the toilet paper really had a hard time staying on the stand.

The sink was better, but I really think the whole room was too dark. You couldn't reapply makeup in there with success.

Here's more about Merchants.

Morton's Steakhouse

Sunday, 2/10/08, 8 pm - White Plains, N.Y.

For the type of restaurant where details matter, there weren't may details in the bathroom. It was cold (temperature- and decor-wise) and sterile. There was no character at all - just black stalls. It was clean, but that's about all it had going for it. I thought there would be some amenities on the sink, but just Morton's paper hand towels. They could do much better.

Here's more on Morton's Steakhouse.

Rayuela

Saturday, 2/2/08, 10 pm - East Village

Thought went into this restroom - making it flow from the restaurant to the bathroom. The entire bottom floor is the bathroom with a few unisex stalls. Even down to the wooden doors with the oversized handles, the decor was carefully selected. Ahead of the stalls there's a cushioned bench in case you have to wait.

The last part I will mention is the single large sink - it had faucets on either side of the basin.
Take a look:
While the design is clever, there's something missing in the function when you have to figure out where the paper towels were (I was surprised they didn't have cloth towels).

Anyway, here's more on Rayuela.

Lil' Frankie's

Monday, 1/28/08, 8 pm - East Village

So the place is supposed to be this funky, hole-in-the wall place and the restroom definitely fit in. The one I went to was a single stall kind of in the middle of the restaurant. Nothing fancy, just a white bathroom - sink and toilet. But it wasn't pretending to be something else. The one problem I had with it is I didn't feel like it was actually clean since it was a dingy room. It might have been, but it was hard to tell.

Here's more on Lil' Frankie's.

Jasmine

Saturday, 1/12/08, 7:00 pm - Upper East Side

Given how cute the inside of the restaurant was, I was surprised they didn't really do anything with the bathroom. It was dingy and a little dirty. Plain white everything. They were even out of toilet paper and it was pretty early in the night.


Jasmine doesn't have a website, but here's its menupages profile.

Anthos

Friday, 1/11/08, 10:30 pm - Midtown West

Okay this bathroom was like a spa - I wanted to move in. It's a single stall, but you walk in and the dark wood paneling seems to go on forever. The toilet is around a wall giving you privacy from I don't know what. Only cloth towels of course.

The only criticism I had was one of the knobs on the sink was broken. You would think they wouldn't let a detail like that escape them.

Here's more on Anthos.

Samba Le

Monday, 12/31/07, 10:00 pm - Lower East Side

First thing I will admit when I visited this restroom - I had a few glasses of their sangria, so I probably was not as observant as I usually am. But it was a big space and while the restaurant was decorated with funky art and warm tones, it seems as though they weren't sure what to do with the bathroom. Hung on the walls was soccer posters and a Brazilian flag - the things you would most closely associate with the country.

They don't have a website, but here's Samba Le's Shecky's profile.

Pepe Giallo

Sunday, 12/30/07, 7:30 pm - Chelsea

This single-stall restroom was a surprise in this out-of-the-way Italian restaurant. It's painted in a bright red/orange color. Nothing unusual about the toilet or the sink, but after seeing a mouse in the restaurant, I was surprised at how clean it was. On one wall, there are four pictures of old-school pinups, which is an interesting choice for a unisex bathroom.

Although I rarely mention the food, I'm going to make an exception here. While the restroom was a positive experience, and but I wouldn't say the same for the dining one.

They don't have a website, but here's Pepe Giallo's New York mag profile (take what you will from it)

Turkish Kitchen

Sunday, 12/23/07, 8:30 pm - Midtown East

The bathroom was a mix of traditional stalls and trendy touches. Although there were two stalls, it was quite a tight squeeze. There's just one sink and the door opens practically onto the sink. The black toilets were a surprise. The floor looked like photographs of stones (a friend of mine pointed this out - I didn't notice what the pattern was).

Here's more on Turkish Kitchen.