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.