Name: Outback Steakhouse
Website: http://www.outback.com/
Type: Restaurant
Location: Springfield, PA
Occupancy: Multiple
Porcelain: Two toilets, two urinals
Everybody knows Outback Steakhouse. But what you may NOT know is that they have insanely good burgers. In fact, I have never had a steak at Outback, because of how delicious their burgers are. My dad always talks about how great the soap is in the bathrooms, so I decided to give the place the Commode Node treatment.
Cleanliness
Great start here! The floors were clean, as were the toilet seats. They also employ the "giant trash crash under a hole in the sink" technique, which is quite nice.
Result: PASS (1 point)
Privacy
Wow, I have never seen a bathroom like this. After walking to the far corner of the restaurant (plus), I opened the door and COULD NOT SEE ANY TOILETS! The walls were designed so that everyone is in their own little area. Also, they break up the organization into urinal/stall/urinal/stall, instead of the normal groupings. I used the farthest stall and could be neither seen nor heard. YES!
Result: PASS (1 point)
Flushing
The toilets used the rare "push button" flusher. It was a little odd, but it worked fine and there was no unexpected behavior.
Result: PASS (1 point)
Dryers
Paper towels with a "wave your hand" dispenser, good by me. As mentioned earlier, the trash can was large, discreet, and NOT overflowing.
Result: PASS (1 point)
Mirrors
Not the full-length that I seek, but the over-sink mirror WAS very large and useful.
Result: NO DECISION (0.5 points)
Music
There was overhead music here, and louder than on the dining floor! It's always nice to have this, especially in a bathroom where you don't have the "cover" of air dryer noise.
Result: PASS (1 point)
Reviewer Tilt
The organization of the stalls really amazed me. I have never seen a bathroom that separated each stall and urinal into their own small corner. Also, my dad was right ... the soap is GREAT! For the first time in Commode Node history, I am giving full tilt!
Result: 1 point
Score: 6.5 out of 7 (92.9%)
What This Means For You: The numbers don't lie: this is the best bathroom I have reviewed thus far. The ONLY gripe I had was the lack of a full-length tilted mirror. Other than that, stellar marks for cleanliness, privacy, and comfort. Truly a wonderful experience!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Joe's Pizza: Broomall, PA
Name: Joe's Pizza
Website: (none)
Type: Restaurant
Location: Broomall, PA
Occupancy: Multiple
Porcelain: Two toilets, two urinals
Joe's is one of the few hidden gems in Broomall. It's "diner style" in the sense that you can get just about anything there, and most of it is pretty good (although, the wings use this really creepy sauce, don't get them). They make a surprisingly good grilled cheese, and their hoagies are one of the only places that stay away from "really tough roll syndrome". Alright then, what about the "head"?
Cleanliness
This bathroom was plain old NOT clean. I had to use the second stall, as the first one was ... clogged. Puddles galore on the ground, too. Yuck.
Result: FAIL (no points)
Privacy
It's a mixed bag looking for privacy here. On one hand, Joe's uses the rare "double door" method, which is an amazing way to really stay separate from where people are eating. On the other hand, the urinals have absolutely NO protection around them, are right next to the sink (we're talking inches), and are visible immediately when you open the second door. Gonna have to go middle-of-the-road.
Result: NO DECISION (0.5 points)
Flushing
The flushing worked, which is a good thing. The clogged stall appeared to have a paper towel in the toilet, so I can't really fault the owners for the issue.
Result: PASS (1 point)
Dryers
People have to learn that paper towels are not enough. This place uses a really strange "crank" dispenser, which I find frustrating and gross. It's bad enough using a lever dispenser that everyone has touched, but at least you can work that with your elbow or something. They also have a perpetually empty "pull down from this tiny hole" dispenser in the wall.
Result: FAIL (no points)
Mirrors
One lame, tiny mirror that shows everyone who comes in everything else in the bathroom. Completely stupid.
Result: FAIL (no points)
Music
I think music is asking too much out of such a humble place, but unfortunately that still means zip/zero/zilch.
Result: FAIL (no points)
Reviewer Tilt
And now, for the most fun I have ever had giving Tilt points. The soap dispenser in here was ... wait for it ... an AUNT JEMIMA BOTTLE! WHAT?! This really isn't a good thing persay, but I laughed so hard that I had to mention it and have a little mercy.
Result: 0.5 points
Score: 2.0 out of 7 (28.6%)
What This Means For You: Sorry Joe's, but I just can't recommend your bathroom to people. Everyone should know, though, that this rest room used to be substantially MORE gross. Too bad they haven't made the right kinds of improvements. The food is still great, and the restaurant itself is clean and pleasant, but definitely hold it until you get home.
Website: (none)
Type: Restaurant
Location: Broomall, PA
Occupancy: Multiple
Porcelain: Two toilets, two urinals
Joe's is one of the few hidden gems in Broomall. It's "diner style" in the sense that you can get just about anything there, and most of it is pretty good (although, the wings use this really creepy sauce, don't get them). They make a surprisingly good grilled cheese, and their hoagies are one of the only places that stay away from "really tough roll syndrome". Alright then, what about the "head"?
Cleanliness
This bathroom was plain old NOT clean. I had to use the second stall, as the first one was ... clogged. Puddles galore on the ground, too. Yuck.
Result: FAIL (no points)
Privacy
It's a mixed bag looking for privacy here. On one hand, Joe's uses the rare "double door" method, which is an amazing way to really stay separate from where people are eating. On the other hand, the urinals have absolutely NO protection around them, are right next to the sink (we're talking inches), and are visible immediately when you open the second door. Gonna have to go middle-of-the-road.
Result: NO DECISION (0.5 points)
Flushing
The flushing worked, which is a good thing. The clogged stall appeared to have a paper towel in the toilet, so I can't really fault the owners for the issue.
Result: PASS (1 point)
Dryers
People have to learn that paper towels are not enough. This place uses a really strange "crank" dispenser, which I find frustrating and gross. It's bad enough using a lever dispenser that everyone has touched, but at least you can work that with your elbow or something. They also have a perpetually empty "pull down from this tiny hole" dispenser in the wall.
Result: FAIL (no points)
Mirrors
One lame, tiny mirror that shows everyone who comes in everything else in the bathroom. Completely stupid.
Result: FAIL (no points)
Music
I think music is asking too much out of such a humble place, but unfortunately that still means zip/zero/zilch.
Result: FAIL (no points)
Reviewer Tilt
And now, for the most fun I have ever had giving Tilt points. The soap dispenser in here was ... wait for it ... an AUNT JEMIMA BOTTLE! WHAT?! This really isn't a good thing persay, but I laughed so hard that I had to mention it and have a little mercy.
Result: 0.5 points
Score: 2.0 out of 7 (28.6%)
What This Means For You: Sorry Joe's, but I just can't recommend your bathroom to people. Everyone should know, though, that this rest room used to be substantially MORE gross. Too bad they haven't made the right kinds of improvements. The food is still great, and the restaurant itself is clean and pleasant, but definitely hold it until you get home.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Olive Garden: Springfield, PA
Name: Olive Garden
Website: http://www.olivegarden.com/default_f.asp
Type: Restaurant
Location: Springfield, PA
Occupancy: Multiple
Porcelain: Two toilets, one urinal
Ah yes, Olive Garden. Everyone knows and loves their bread sticks, and they have a ton of annoying commercials on TV. I personally go for the Capellini Pomodoro with a bowl of Minestrone. This Springfield location opened up about a year ago, if memory serves me correctly. Was that enough time to establish a good bathroom?
Cleanliness
The bathroom seemed clean until I stood up from the toilet. My feet were SLIPPING on the floor, because of the horrible amounts of sticky and gross on the floor. I don't know how this happened, but we're talking hours of negligence here, not just any old incidental puddle. Bad start!
Result: FAIL (no points)
Privacy
The privacy factor was satisfied here. The bathrooms themselves are tucked away in the back corner of the dining floor, and the urinal has little walls on either side. The doorway does not open into your sink space either.
Result: PASS (1 point)
Flushing
I get into the stall, and see the automatic flush censor on the wall. Okay, I think, that's not too bad, and at least there is a manual button in case the censor is broken. However, the censor tripped THREE TIMES while I was simply shifting my weight or reaching for toilet paper. THREE TIMES! Do you have any clue how annoying that is? "No points" worth, that's how annoying.
Result: FAIL (no points)
Dryers
The sinks have a little box with neat stacks of paper towels in them. I'd imagine this gets unorganized really quickly, but it looked great when I was there. The "giant trash can hidden under the sink" method was used, which I really like.
Result: PASS (1 point)
Mirrors
As always, I cannot give full points to any bathroom without a full tilted mirror. On the other hand, there are two nice mirrors that give an above-average scope of view over the sinks. Half-credit.
Result: NO DECISION (0.5 points)
Music
Overhead music! Also, it is sufficiently loud, and every song was by Frank Sinatra on this occasion. Hooray!
Result: PASS (1 point)
Reviewer Tilt
I have to give half a point here, because the stalls each had little shelves with an unprecedented FOUR rolls of toilet paper on them. FOUR ROLLS! And no awful "feed" dispensers that never work right! Normally, this would pretty much be worth a full tilt point, but the auto-flushing fiasco really ticked me off.
Result: 0.5 points
Score: 4.0 out of 7 (57.1%)
What This Means For You: This bathroom comes recommended, despite some curious flaws. The decor and set-up are wonderful, and if they can clean it up and fix that stupid auto-flusher, then this could be a truly wonderful rest room. As it stands, it is still above average, and makes for a pleasant time while "indisposed".
Website: http://www.olivegarden.com/default_f.asp
Type: Restaurant
Location: Springfield, PA
Occupancy: Multiple
Porcelain: Two toilets, one urinal
Ah yes, Olive Garden. Everyone knows and loves their bread sticks, and they have a ton of annoying commercials on TV. I personally go for the Capellini Pomodoro with a bowl of Minestrone. This Springfield location opened up about a year ago, if memory serves me correctly. Was that enough time to establish a good bathroom?
Cleanliness
The bathroom seemed clean until I stood up from the toilet. My feet were SLIPPING on the floor, because of the horrible amounts of sticky and gross on the floor. I don't know how this happened, but we're talking hours of negligence here, not just any old incidental puddle. Bad start!
Result: FAIL (no points)
Privacy
The privacy factor was satisfied here. The bathrooms themselves are tucked away in the back corner of the dining floor, and the urinal has little walls on either side. The doorway does not open into your sink space either.
Result: PASS (1 point)
Flushing
I get into the stall, and see the automatic flush censor on the wall. Okay, I think, that's not too bad, and at least there is a manual button in case the censor is broken. However, the censor tripped THREE TIMES while I was simply shifting my weight or reaching for toilet paper. THREE TIMES! Do you have any clue how annoying that is? "No points" worth, that's how annoying.
Result: FAIL (no points)
Dryers
The sinks have a little box with neat stacks of paper towels in them. I'd imagine this gets unorganized really quickly, but it looked great when I was there. The "giant trash can hidden under the sink" method was used, which I really like.
Result: PASS (1 point)
Mirrors
As always, I cannot give full points to any bathroom without a full tilted mirror. On the other hand, there are two nice mirrors that give an above-average scope of view over the sinks. Half-credit.
Result: NO DECISION (0.5 points)
Music
Overhead music! Also, it is sufficiently loud, and every song was by Frank Sinatra on this occasion. Hooray!
Result: PASS (1 point)
Reviewer Tilt
I have to give half a point here, because the stalls each had little shelves with an unprecedented FOUR rolls of toilet paper on them. FOUR ROLLS! And no awful "feed" dispensers that never work right! Normally, this would pretty much be worth a full tilt point, but the auto-flushing fiasco really ticked me off.
Result: 0.5 points
Score: 4.0 out of 7 (57.1%)
What This Means For You: This bathroom comes recommended, despite some curious flaws. The decor and set-up are wonderful, and if they can clean it up and fix that stupid auto-flusher, then this could be a truly wonderful rest room. As it stands, it is still above average, and makes for a pleasant time while "indisposed".
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