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.

 

Kapnos - U Street

Friday, 7/26/13, 6:30 pm 

Having been to some of Mike Isabella's other restaurants, I knew there would be no skimping on the details in these restrooms. And I wasn't wrong. A "Gals" sign greets you on the way in. The stalls inside are a dark wood, highlighted by exposed bricks walls and a floor laid out with tiny titles. The sink area used some industrial elements with ornate mirrors and farmhouse faucets. Pretty nice job over all.

Here's more on Kapnos.

Teddy - Dupont

Friday, 7/12/13, 8:30 pm 

I'd been waiting for this place to open, expecting the decor to really land the "modern rough rider" theme. It's a bit more modern than I expected, but the women's bathroom is quite country.

There are three full door stalls, which I would normally like, but the doors didn't have an "occupied" indicator and the lock on the door is a simple pin lock. Not much insurance against an accidental walk in. Additionally, the stall are quite deep, meaning if that door swings open, you won't be able to quickly close it. 

Each stall has a quote above the magic eye toilet. The stall I chose had one from Amelia Earhart.

Then by the sinks stood more quotes, but not all were from women of Teddy's time. In fact one was from Eleanor Roosevelt which seemed a rather glaring
anachronism. Also, the faucets seemed really out of place. I think they could have gone much more period like, especially since they're not automatic. 

I will say it was quite a large bathroom for three stands. But I guess given the size of the restaurant, I shouldn't have been surprised.

Here's more on Teddy. 

B Too - Logan Circle

Saturday, 6/22/13, 8:30 pm 

I'm guessing there's a larger bathroom in the upstairs dining room, but downstairs there was a single stall. It was definitely brighter than the rest of the restaurant. I enjoyed the surprise in the pop of color with the glass tiles.  The toilet was a bit of an odd shape. It's a Belgian restaurant but I didn't expect the fixtures to be from there. Not sure the purpose of the long counter but I guess it clearly outlined the length of the room. Here's more on B Too.

Aressana Spa Hotel - Santorini, Greece

Friday, 5/10/13

Please excuse the mess. I'm including this picture of our hotel bathroom because I was pleasantly surprised to find this large of a bathroom at an island hotel. Granted it was a pretty nice hotel, but our room wasn't anything to write home about. The large stall shower was a welcomed sight and I liked the added touch of the step up from the vanity area. Here's more on the Aressana Spa Hotel.

Kuzina - Athens, Greece

Wednesday, 5/8/13, 8:30 pm 

This cute little modern Greek restaurant stood out among all the touristy spots with an Acropolis view. You have to walk over a large glass floor revealing the restaurant's wine cellar to get to the two stall restroom. I must show you the toilet bowl first. It's self-cleaning!

After using it, you press the cleaning button and a disinfecting arm pops out while the rim rotates for a 360 degree cleaning. I know there are lot of folks who aren't the biggest fan of Athens, but this was a winner for me. 

I did find the sink area confusing. Nothing besides the hand dryer was magic eye, which doesn't seem to keep the germs away in this part of the bathroom. The country faucets with the raised basin did fit the restaurant's modern country theme.  Over all, I was a fan of Kuzina's restroom.

Barmini - Penn Quarter

Wednesday, 4/2/13, 6:30 pm 

We decided to break Passover at this new, reservation-only bar and were certainly not disappointed. I had heard it was quirky so I expected nothing less from the bathroom.  It wasn't over the top but it certainly provided everything you might need when using the toilet (which was a bit small and an odd shape I must say).

Toilet paper anyone? Here's more on barmini.

Public - New York City

Sunday, 7/8/12, 11 am - Nolita

I know it's been a while, but I haven't given up on convincing restaurants to include their restrooms as a part of the dining experience. One place that certainly has taken that into consideration is Public. I can't fully capture the charm of this restroom in the pictures - whimsy mixed with sophistication.  The two identical single-stalls (I was in both) each had a door that looked like it was recycled from a midcentury school building (which I'm guessing is the idea) - frosted half glass with a wood frame and a mail slot.

Inside the room was coated floor to ceiling with iridescent glass titles. The high ceiling allowed for a shelve above the toilet with white vases. At the sink area, the mirror was flush with the wall with paper towels stacked on the side. On the other side of the sink was a case holding columns of mini bars of soap wrapped in Public's logo. Yes there was a full liquid soap dispenser on the sink but being able to slip a small bar of soap in your pocket somehow seems like you're getting away with something. Also feeding into the public school setting, you can grab a No.2 pencil on your way out of the restaurant.


Here's more on Public.

Arbutus - London

Friday, 5/4/12, 6 pm 

I was a big fan of this modern British restaurant in Soho and I was so hoping to enjoy the restroom as well. I wasn't let down:

Sure the huge London mural is a bit on the nose, but as a visitor, I loved the graphic touch. The sinks and counters were minimal like many of the restrooms I visited in the city, but the black counter top definitely made the sinks stand out.

Though it seems the designer got a little tired by the time it came to the side-by-side stalls but they do have full doors, which I am always a fan of.

Here's more on Arbutus.

Maze - London

Maze - London

Thursday, 5/3/12, 7:30 pm

For one of the swankiest restaurants in London, Gordon Ramsay's Maze's bathroom wasn't much to look at.  Maybe going a little too streamlined and modern, this single stall had all the basics but nothing super exciting. Guess we'll have to leave the gimmicks to the gastronomy-driven plate.  

Here's more on Maze.