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!
Showing posts with label springfield. Show all posts
Showing posts with label springfield. Show all posts
Saturday, June 13, 2009
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".
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Famous Dave's: Springfield, PA
Name: Famous Dave's
Website: http://www.famousdaves.com/
Type: Restaurant
Location: Springfield, PA
Occupancy: Multiple
Porcelain: Two toilets, one urinal
Famous Dave's is a wonderful BBQ joint that opened up a franchise in Springfield a few years ago. They make a great Cajun Chicken Sandwich, but my personal favorite is their "Devil's Spit" hot sauce. I wish I could buy that sauce and cook with it every night. So, you can spice your food, but can you give an enjoyable bathroom experience as well? Let's find out.
Cleanliness
Being as unbiased as possible, this place was only half clean. It certainly looks presentable, but the floor was a little creepy and the sink trash can was too full for my tastes. I will go halfsies here because it was neither immaculate nor disgusting.
Result: NO DECISION (0.5 points)
Privacy
The "hidden" factor here is wonderful. There are two stalls (one handicapped), and you are actually protected by the side walls! Also, between the adjacent urinal and the sink, there is a really great wall extension that lets you feel private. Add in that the bathrooms are tucked away in the back room and you have a great example of this category.
Result: PASS (1 point)
Flushing
Nothing out of the ordinary, although I only used the urinal and not the stall this time. Still, this wasn't a place that messed this part up (thankfully).
Result: PASS (1 point)
Dryers
Thank goodness, paper towels. Famous Dave's uses one of my preferred towel dispensers: one where a small shred hangs out and you pull down a pre-cut slice. Also, there is a side knob for manual feed if it gets all jammed (which it didn't in my case). Trash can in the sink is always weird to me, but at least it was close to the door.
Result: PASS (1 point)
Mirrors
There is one giant mirror over the two sinks, which is pretty typical for a restaurant. However, it was also tilted, which made me quite happy. You don't get full points if you can see your shoes, but 1/2 ain't too bad.
Result: NO DECISION (0.5 points)
Music
Overhead music! I throw a little party for myself every time I walk into a bathroom and hear music. Also, taking a page from the Tristan Ideal Bathroom Handbook, the music is also LOUDER than it is on the floor. GOOD JOB!
Result: PASS (1 point)
Reviewer Tilt
I can't bring myself to give full tilt points to anything less than a perfect (or mindblowingly original) bathroom, but they definitely earned a half. Also, the indicators for which bathroom to use read "Pointers" and "Setters", which is one of the more creative choices I have seen.
Result: .5 points
Score: 5.5 out of 7 (78.6%)
What This Means For You: Famous Dave's storms up to second place (thus far) on my favorite/recommended bathrooms list. In addition to having a huge, delicious menu, they have made using the toilet a clean and pleasant experience. This can't be said in a not-gross way, but at a BBQ and ribs place, you NEED to be thinking about customers using the bathroom, so it's good to know they had attention to detail. A full tilted mirror and a little more cleanup would push this commode into the upper echelon, but for now it's still really great.
Website: http://www.famousdaves.com/
Type: Restaurant
Location: Springfield, PA
Occupancy: Multiple
Porcelain: Two toilets, one urinal
Famous Dave's is a wonderful BBQ joint that opened up a franchise in Springfield a few years ago. They make a great Cajun Chicken Sandwich, but my personal favorite is their "Devil's Spit" hot sauce. I wish I could buy that sauce and cook with it every night. So, you can spice your food, but can you give an enjoyable bathroom experience as well? Let's find out.
Cleanliness
Being as unbiased as possible, this place was only half clean. It certainly looks presentable, but the floor was a little creepy and the sink trash can was too full for my tastes. I will go halfsies here because it was neither immaculate nor disgusting.
Result: NO DECISION (0.5 points)
Privacy
The "hidden" factor here is wonderful. There are two stalls (one handicapped), and you are actually protected by the side walls! Also, between the adjacent urinal and the sink, there is a really great wall extension that lets you feel private. Add in that the bathrooms are tucked away in the back room and you have a great example of this category.
Result: PASS (1 point)
Flushing
Nothing out of the ordinary, although I only used the urinal and not the stall this time. Still, this wasn't a place that messed this part up (thankfully).
Result: PASS (1 point)
Dryers
Thank goodness, paper towels. Famous Dave's uses one of my preferred towel dispensers: one where a small shred hangs out and you pull down a pre-cut slice. Also, there is a side knob for manual feed if it gets all jammed (which it didn't in my case). Trash can in the sink is always weird to me, but at least it was close to the door.
Result: PASS (1 point)
Mirrors
There is one giant mirror over the two sinks, which is pretty typical for a restaurant. However, it was also tilted, which made me quite happy. You don't get full points if you can see your shoes, but 1/2 ain't too bad.
Result: NO DECISION (0.5 points)
Music
Overhead music! I throw a little party for myself every time I walk into a bathroom and hear music. Also, taking a page from the Tristan Ideal Bathroom Handbook, the music is also LOUDER than it is on the floor. GOOD JOB!
Result: PASS (1 point)
Reviewer Tilt
I can't bring myself to give full tilt points to anything less than a perfect (or mindblowingly original) bathroom, but they definitely earned a half. Also, the indicators for which bathroom to use read "Pointers" and "Setters", which is one of the more creative choices I have seen.
Result: .5 points
Score: 5.5 out of 7 (78.6%)
What This Means For You: Famous Dave's storms up to second place (thus far) on my favorite/recommended bathrooms list. In addition to having a huge, delicious menu, they have made using the toilet a clean and pleasant experience. This can't be said in a not-gross way, but at a BBQ and ribs place, you NEED to be thinking about customers using the bathroom, so it's good to know they had attention to detail. A full tilted mirror and a little more cleanup would push this commode into the upper echelon, but for now it's still really great.
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