Toro Toro - Downtown

Thursday, 4/10/14, 1:30 pm 

The lunch buffet in this massive new restaurant was outstanding and given how stylized every part of the place was, I expected something special from the bathrooms. The bathroom stall doors were lined with a cow hide design revealing a small European toilet inside. 

The most unique part though was yet to come. When you get to the sink area, there's a gap between the mirror and stainless steel trough sink. What you're looking at is the men's bathroom. You can't see much, just the bottom of stalls and the hands of men who happen to be using the sink at the same time as you. 

Take a look at Toro Toro.

Woodward Table - Downtown

Woodward Table - Downtown

Friday, 1/24/14, 8:30 pm

I've been to this location back when it was Potenza (see my previous post) so it's always fun to come back to a place and see how the renovations have taken hold. As you might guess, the decor of Woodward Table is a bit tone down so the bathroom reflects that. A calming gray with white molding gives a nice accent in the dark restroom. I still like the single stalls with the full doors.  

 

 

There is one place where they left the Potezna accents in tact: 

 

Yup, inside the stalls the same bright red titles remain. Quite a distraction. 

You can find out more about Woodward Table here. 

 

Oceanaire - Washington DC

Saturday, 7/2/11, 7 pm - Downtown

This wasn't my first visit to Oceanaire but taking a quick look, I guess hadn't posted anything on it before. As the quintessential seafood place, the bathroom is classically designed with the whimsical quote adoring the entry wall.

Clean white tiles covered most of the walls with the classic black subway tile accent. The nice touch in the stalls were individual lights, which didn't really offer much brightness, but I'm not sure what it would be minus the fixture. Good sturdy hook behind the door.

The sole sink in the wash area seemed very formal for the bathroom. A nice pedestal sink might have worked better and not shown off the pipes. Nice that there was still counter space on either side, though I guess that accounts for the stray hairbrush. I'm also a big fan of the mirror. The simple, clean brushed metal works for me (not sure about the more traditional space though).

Here's more on Oceanaire, which is in fact a chain.

Potenza - Washington DC

Monday, 11/22/10, 9 pm - Downtown

The bathroom seemed a bit severe for the restaurant - red and black everywhere. There were three stalls with full length red doors. Behind it was a black toilet surrounded by red glass tiles on most of the walls.

Clearly the restroom hadn't been given much attention in a while because in the sink area since one of the lower mirrored cabinets was totally shattered. Black sinks usually work well in restaurants since they hide many things and probably are easy to upkeep. Here's more on Potenza.

P.J. Clarke's - Washington DC

Friday, 11/12/10, 9 pm - Downtown

This New York staple just opened in DC so we decided to try it. The restrooms interrupted the pubby style into a subway theme with white tiles and a black and white floor. Again two single stalls for the whole place. And, like the rest of the restaurant, the walls were covered with DC-themed photos and memorabilia.


















I'm sure they're still working out the kinks since it wasn't the neatest restroom on a busy night, despite having multiple trash cans in the stall. Here's more on P.J. Clarke's.

Cafe Asia - Washington, DC

Wednesday, 7/29/09, 6:30 pm - Downtown

I just wanted to update a previous post with a picture - I've described Cafe Asia as part of the reason I started this blog, so now I've got a better visual to show off the co-ed bathroom.



Each stall has a guy or girl figure on the front of it, but it doesn't really make a difference. The doors and walls go down to the floor but it might be weird if you were on a date there, going to the bathroom with your date. Just a thought.

BLT Steak - Washington, DC

Friday, 1/9/09, 11 pm - Downtown

I guess I just expected more from the ladies room at this place. There was nothing that stood out. White walls, black stalls and sink counter. Everything was clean and the presentation was formal (please excuse the blur, but I took these with my blackberry and you have to hold it really still to get a good shot).



The one thing that did stand out was the pictures on the wall. They were of iconic women (though it's hard to make it out here) - Eleanor Roosevelt was one, though the others are escaping me now.


Here's more on BLT Steak.

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.

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.

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.