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.