The Irish Bank

           I decided to go on a walk today unknowingly where the streets of San Francisco would take me. (Mainly because I don't know the streets very well). After weaving up and down several hills with confidence, as if I knew where I was going, I found myself at the Irish Bank. However, this bank does not offer any cash just burgers, beers, and a very unique bathroom.

           

           The Irish bank in downtown S.F. is actually located in an alley right off 10 Mark Lane. If you don't catch the banner (which is on the neighboring corner restaurant) you will surely miss it. This alley has been transformed into a wonderful outside seating area, giving alleys everywhere a new reputation. The walls of the The Irish Bank are covered with a variety of Irish posters, mainly drinking related themed. The inside of "the Bank" is your typical irish pub, booths and a bar, with Irish women serving beers. One of the best qualities of the The Irish Bank is the long wooden bar that occupies the majority of the main room. This wooden bar compliments the two large wooden doors that lead to the  gentlemen and ladies bathrooms. If you have the strength to push open the cabin like doors you will see one of the most unique bathrooms I have yet seen. 

           As soon as you find the strength to push open the 20 lbs door you are suddenly overwhelmed by the number of picture all over the wall. Although one of the walls is brick the other paster walls can hardly be seen because of the Irish pictures (soccer/drunk people themed for the most part). Once you are done imagining yourself in a few of the approximately 120 pictures, you are able to appreciate the unique layout of the lavatory.

           As soon as you enter the restroom there is a small sink immediately to your right. The white sink is quite small, but then again who needs to have a large sink? Directly in front of the door is what I like the call "The Horn." Here you will find three urinals in a "U" shape. This horn allows for maximum privacy if all three urinals are in use. Above each stall is a chalk board with either drink specials or some type of saying. (On Friday or Saturday nights I'm sure that most guys walk out of the bathroom with chalky fingers in attempts to write something funny or clever.) 

           To the right of the "The Horn" is the very spacious stall. This stall door continues to follow the theme of large wooden doors. This individual stall is so large that it has its own sink inside the stall! Again, a sink in the stall! To as far as I can recall I have never seen this before. Another unique aspect of the stall is that above and to the right of the toilet is the only window in the bathroom. This window opens like double French doors and should practically be a stained glass window. Everyone respects a a good size toilet stall! The only down side is that there is only one. That being said, its time for: PRO CON PRO!

           Now that we have the basic layout of the bathroom lets go over the pros and cons!

Pro: Urinals in "Horn" shape- privacy.

Con: Small space. If there were 2-3 people in there at a time it would feel crowded. 

Pro: So many great pictures too look at while doing "business."

Con: It may also be problematic that the door opens right where the sink is, so if someone is washing their hands, they may get hit by the door! 

Pro: The Accelarator! A top line of hand dryer- no paper towels. This is a good sign of being environmentally respectful.

         After reviewing the Pro's and Con's it is time for THE RATING!

 Although the Irish Banks lavatory does not allow for optimal movement space, there are many redeeming qualities. Because of the originality of the urinals "The Horn", the private sink in stall, the amount of time it must have taken to hang (and secure from drunk people trying to "liberate") pictures and of course being very clean, the Irish Bank, is awarded with the rating of 6 out of 10!  

Since The Irish Bank was awarded a 6 (or above) . . . I would eat in the Irish Bank bathroom!


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The Reason

Hello and Welcome to Eating in the Bathroom!

For those of you who may not know me, my name is Robert Connelly.

I have recently graduated from Union College with a degree in Political Science and Anthropology. While I have a wide range of interests, especially a passion for music, this blog will be focused on one very specific interest of mine, restaurant lavatories.

Now before you come to any further judgments about this blog, I can affirm you that my intentions are not to disgust or disturb you in any way. In fact, quite the opposite. As an anthropologist it is my responsibility to report my findings of the culture of bathrooms as seen in the most honest light.

There are many people who are highly respected (and paid) for their opinions on the food and decor of restaurants. However, often times little or no attention is given to every aspect of what a restaurant, such as the bathroom.

In this blog I will give detailed descriptions on the culture within different restaurant bathrooms. This will included an overall rating on the bathrooms being observed. My rating (out of 10) will be judged on whether or not the overall essence of a restaurant, including its food, matches the essence within the bathroom.

Two WARNINGS must be given before understanding this process:
The first is that I will do my best at giving the most accurate representation of how I experience every bathroom.
Second (and most importantly) I will only be critiquing MEN's restrooms. The reasons should be obvious, but if not, that men are usually not invited into the women's restroom and I would prefer not to be viewed as a "pervert". That being said, it can be understood that both men and women's restrooms may be vastly different, even in the same restaurant.

So men, wash your hands and zip up because I will be "Eating in the Bathroom."