Spring Garden

1032 S Jackson
Web/Yelp

I worried as I was taking the photos for this post that I was compromising my integrity a bit. But I realized that, as a bathroom blogger, I have no integrity in the first place. So I'll just be honest: the bathroom at Spring Garden needs a little help. But a little help goes a long way when you have an amazing metal urinal with an ashtray you're no longer allowed to use.



And look at this sink.



The sink is actually what brought me here. I used to eat lunch in the ID every day and came here once in a while back when it was Saigon Bistro. Mostly I've always thought of it as a place to come when Tamarind Tree is really busy, but with Spring Garden's interesting menu and the changes they've made inside, I'd happily come here without it being a backup plan.

I also can't think of any other Vietnamese restaurants with big, sweeping views. My photos in the slideshow below don't do the view justice, it's actually quite nice.

 

I'll make an exception

First Hill Bar and Grill is one of my favorite weird places. The food is great, the staff is friendly, and the people watching (inside and out) is unbeatable. 

The bathroom isn't great by any means. But it has this:

You don't see these very often, so it feels special when you do. Like you're in a 1990 museum exhibit. I haven't tried it, so I'm not sure if it works. I used the Old Spice in the men's room at Newport Bay in Southcenter once, and put on way too much, so I'm afraid of stuff like this. Even though it's awesome.

If you didn't already know, I hate to be the one to tell you that Chapel closed after the end of the business day on Saturday, September 3rd.


 


 We all mourn in our own ways. My ways:

• Go two nights in a row, the second-to-last and last nights
• Grab a bunch of matchbooks and a tattered menu
• Take one last awkward waving photo in the unisex bathroom:
• 

Pour a bit of your martini out for Chapel tonight.

Poquitos

1000 E. Pike

Web / Yelp / Twitter

I could tell, even before going, that Poquitos has a very good chance at a long, successful run, mainly because it's got something Capitol Hill really lacks: spacious outdoor seating. Sure, you can find two or three tables outside certain places, but they're usually on the sunny side of the street, and nothing separates you from the passersby other than a chain or the back of your friend's chair. Not very pleasant. But Poquitos built out a huge deck in what used to be just a few parking spaces.

It's covered and enclosed, too. Very nice. I finally had a chance to check it out the other day when Kat from Barbie Dream Hearse suggested meeting up to give me the t-shirt I ordered instead of mailing it. I jumped at the chance to finally have a female operative to send into the bathroom. But first, tacos and cocktails.

The food isn't cheap, but I wouldn't expect it to be. It's a big, gorgeous space in a very expensive neighborhood, so they've got bills to pay. People always say that they don't want to pay $9 for three tacos or $5 for a hot dog at Po Dog, and to them I say, stay home! When you go out to eat or drink, you're not only paying for the food, you're paying the rent, the salaries of the people who work there, and every other cost associated with running a business. If you don't think it's worth it, buy some Rosarita and take it home, and make room for people with social lives.

But I digress.

The men's room at Poquitos is obviously part of the buildout and is in very good shape. It suffers a little bit design-wise from having to mix modern fixtures which they have to have with the classic style that they want, but it looks nice enough in spite of that.

One thing they do have, which I've never seen, is a peephole at the entrance. Cute.

I sent Kat into the women's restroom with my camera. She said it wasn't very different from what I had said about the men's, so she decided to take pictures of herself. I'm curious about the chair. Men don't get a chair.

It looks like Koala Kare got wind of the fact that people were making their products into baby hanging stations and decided to change the logo. Too bad.

Poquitos is beautiful inside and out, and I suggest you hire Barbie Dream Hearse for a night and make it your dinner stop.

Vito's

927 Ninth Ave
Web / Yelp

One of my biggest regrets is not having spent more time at Vitos when I lived nearby on Boren. It was especially cool back then with its op-art wallpaper and cheesy mirrors. It was also inexpensive, divey, and mysterious. Sitting in one of their booths made you feel like you'd missed something naughty, either by years or hours.

I felt especially guilty when they closed. You know how it is. There's a cool place in the neighborhood, you don't go there as much as you should, you don't take people there, and then it's gone. You may not have been the problem, but you definitely weren't part of the solution. It happens.

Needless to say, I'm glad it's back. The new interior is stunning, too. It's gone from mobster shabby chic to an upscale cocktail lounge with fine dining, which was a smart move. The lounge menu (half price during happy hour!) is really great, too.

I really only have a few things to say about the men's room. It's small, but big enough. The tile is gleaming and perfect. And, they have my favorite kind of urinals.



Seriously, why can't all urinals be like this? I get that they use twice as much material and it's a bigger installation job, but anyone at any height can use them. And have you ever seen the floor below typical urinals in, say, a busy office building? So nasty. So, good for them for having this kind. Classic. Perfect. And there's a nice spot to put your drink.

Also, if you used to go to Vito's, and were wondering if the naked lady is still in there, it is. Can anyone tell me if there's a classy naked tile gentleman in the other bathroom?

Quinn's

1001 East Pike

Web / Yelp

I was told years ago that I should go to Quinn's, and I wish I'd listened sooner. It's a very lovely space, the food is fantastic, and it's one of those places where all the employees are really nice and seem to be having a great time all night. I admit, I'm unlikely to go anywhere if I have to wait long for a table, so if I'm going to Quinn's, it's early. Usually around 5:15, after a couple of happy hour drinks somewhere nearby.

I didn't take pictures of the bathrooms on my first couple of visits for the same reason I waited at Still Liquor; there's a frosted glass window in the door and I thought it would be weird if camera flashes were seen from outside. Now that it doesn't get dark until after I actually fall asleep, I had my chance last time I went.

It's nice to find a bathroom labeled "WC" once in a while so the blog name makes more sense.


I've always loved tile like this and miss having it in my own bathroom.


Cruelty-free taxidermy.


Back at the table, a nice view of the room's wonderful windows.

Pop in for a drink, for sure, but check their menu before going for dinner. I think the food is amazing, but I know that some people just wouldn't want to try anything on it. For those who do order dinner, start with the frites. I've never had anything quite like them anywhere else.

Unicorn

1118 E Pike

Web / Yelp / Twitter

I admit it. I'm currently in the grips of a major new obsession. If I'm going to go out, I want it to be for a Pike/Pine burger at Unicorn. It's that good.

But there are tons of other reasons to be there as often as possible. The menu is full of state-fair favorites like elephant ears and fried candy bars, but also includes delicate treats like a beet and apple salad. They even make a new batch of gourmet Jell-o shots every three days. (Follow them on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Jell-o shot info.)

I typically like to go for weekend lunches or happy hours any day. The decor is awesome and I like to be able to see it. Recently, I was the first person there, so I asked if I could take pictures in the women's restroom, which I don't usually get to do.

The blue men's room is a nice companion to the women's restroom, and looks like a fancy, magical version of the ones at their mortal cousin around the corner, Pony.

I don't usually post so many pictures of the rest of the venue, but Unicorn is the kind of place that makes it hard to put the camera away.

They're currently working to renovate the basement space below to add a dance floor. There were so many more dance clubs when I moved here which have since closed. Capitol Hill has a lot more live music now, so I hope they focus more on DJs. I'll be around either way.