Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Togos, Downtown San Jose, CA

Togo's, a California staple since it first opened it's doors over forty years ago.  Cheap sandwiches, fresh bread, fast service and excellent quality, you can expect a decent bathroom visit here.

When I entered it was a little cold to the skin, but there was no chemical spell to behold and the bathroom was practically spotless, except for little bits of TP.

Everything was stocked and the music playing wasn't too bad, just a modern rock station to help pass the gas.  There were also historical pictures, news clippings to help keep you entertained if you forgot your phone and it beats reading the wash your hands sign over and over.

However, no purse hook, dusty fake plants and even though the place was well lit, it sterile white and grey made me feel like I was peeing in a cut for a medical exam.

Another issue was the toilet brush sitting right there in plain eye view, yuck, and the orange caution cone did not help, especially with the thoughts of my purse hitting the wet floor.

I hate asking for a key to pee, I feel like a small child when I have too.  I understand there were people who did drugs in your bathroom, but did I look like a heroine addict?

As for score a 6/10, it's clean, but the fact you have to ask for a key and look at the gross toilet brush did not help its measure in pleasure.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Tandoori Oven, Campbell, CA

 Tandoori Oven is one of my favorite Indian resturants mainly because they try to keep the food authentic, but have western fusions as well.  After a meal of rice, curry and some delicious nann it is preferable to visit the restroom to cleanse the pores from any spicy debris left.

I  entered to the smell of harsh chemicals reached my nostrils, immediately making me feel a little sick.  Cleanliness may be next to godliness, but trying to keep a bathroom clean with overpowering bleach smell is an extreme way to keep the toilet free of germs.

After recovering from the smell the bathroom has a nice decor and wasn't too dirty, only a few pieces of toilet paper.  The toilet was clean, the mirror clean, the garbage was a little full, but not overflowing and to the right there was a nice image of a painted butterfly to lighten the mood.  In fact there were nice designs all around the bathroom.
They could stand to replace the red tile, but it's a standard kitchen tile, easy to clean and cheap.

However, the toilet paper was rather low and no toilet seat covers to be found.  Far from a catastrophe, but maintaining a well stocked bathroom was essential to a high score. For a plus,
the soap was filled, the paper towels well stocked when washing up.

Another minus was how there was not any hooks or tables to put my purse down on.  I do not care how clean the floor looked, it was still covered in wet nasty germs waiting to cling onto my purse.  There also was not a changing table, sorry moms have to change the baby where dinner was served.

Overall an average experience: 6.5/10

The Public Bathroom Horror Story

The door creeks open to a mess of paper towels on the cold concrete floor, soap covered sinks and wads of toilet paper on the ceiling.  A damp left over gym sock smell reaches into your nostrils, burning your eyes into a watery blur and you walk over pushing open one of the brown stall doors with a screech.  A flickering florescent light clicks off for a second, leaving you alone with the cold stench wrapping around you, the light flicks back on and you see the remains of toilet paper on the rim with bits of leftover scrapings from the last visitor to this john.  Oozing water slicks the floor with dirt and blackened things trying to stick to your shoes.  Little yellow drops decorate the seat and the rim is dotted brown on the inside with a lingering sticky smell.

Doing duty is a dirty business at times and I know many of you have experienced a situation similar to the bathroom horror story above.  I do not like going into dirty bathrooms, no one does, and I thought it would be nice and funny, to write bathroom reviews for the johns I visit.  

Each bathroom will be rated on the following attributes:
Cleanliness
Paper Stock
Smell
Decor
Lighting
Temperature
and anything else relevant to the royal toilet experience.

Please just enjoy the fun and thank you for reading.

Joelle Driver