Volt - Frederick, MD

Sunday, 7/28/13, 8 pm 

It was exciting to get to try the tasting menu at this Maryland restaurant from another Top Chef favorite, Bryan Voltaggio. Set in what looks like an old townhouse, the menu is anything but retro and the bathrooms followed suit. Sleek with glass and sharp edges, the full door stalls might seem transparent, but they don't reveal much. The basic sink area is clean and simple. 

Visit Volt for yourself.

 

Clyde's Tower Oaks Lodge - Rockville, MD

Monday, 7/4/11, 1 pm - Rockville, MD

This restaurant is a part of the Clyde's restaurant group, so I'm not sure if it's technically a Clyde's. And certainly I have never seen a Clyde's like this - talk about grandiose! Set in back of a corporate park, this place had sprawling rooms in hunting lodge style. Some a bit cheese but quite a structure. So I had no idea what to expect for the restroom. But it was quite a nice surprise!

First there was an entry way. A beveled mirror complimented a sitting area which was a nice touch (though not entirely necessary). I'll get to the color in a minute.


Moving into the main section and apropos of the restaurant's size, there were plenty of stalls. Always a big plus in my book. The stalls had slotted wooden doors but the white painted brick (or blocks) added a modern touch. Behind the door was a sturdy purse hook (a must). Nothing special about the toilet.

The best part of the bathroom was the sink area. Welcomed natural light - a rarity in bathrooms -made it one of the brightest rooms in the restaurant. The green walls really worked to give a natural feel to the room along with the plants in the sink area and the wicker baskets for the paper towels (much nicer than wall-mounted paper towel holders) and trash. I was a big fan of the oval mirrors surrounded by sconces. The marble-like counters worked well even with the more rustic touches and while the industrial look of the sink stands might seem odd, I think they were just meant to be minimal and not get in the way. Overall, I was a big fan of this restroom.


Here's more on Tower Oaks Lodge. There are some pictures of the restaurant itself which might offer the big picture.

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.