A Clean Well Lighted Place

A few weeks ago in New York I was a leaving a restaurant when the manager asked how the meal was. So, I told him I thought the appetizer salad was overpriced for what it was. Four pieces of romaine lettuce for $15? “There should at least be a slice of tomato.” I smiled. He didn’t.

“On the other hand, “ I added, “The lighting in the ladies room was perfect.”

He had no idea what a huge compliment that was. But that's because most restaurant people don’t understand what a difference it makes. When I go to the loo to wash my hands, if I can’t see myself in the mirror or, even worse, if I can see too much of myself – it sets my mood for the rest of the meal.

The whole point of going to the ladies room is to look in the mirror while washing germs off our hands. If it was just about peeing, we’d wait until we got home.

When someone is hired to design the lighting for a ladies loo the first question they should ask is: would I be able to tweeze my eyebrows in here?

This problem only exists in fancy restaurants because in the cheap places, there’s a light switch. The trendy places have lighting that can’t be adjusted and it’s frustrating to get in there and not be able to see. Quite often, I'll be carrying a contact lens in my hand that needs to be re-inserted. It doesn’t need to be lit like a hospital, but there should be some visibility.

In London, the lighting in Luciano’s loo is ideal. So is the lighting in the loo at Le Caprice. It’s dark enough so that you don’t see what you really look like but light enough so that you can apply eyeliner without scratching your cornea.

Comments

[William (Big Ariel Fan)]

Fabulous! Thanks Ariel. Another tiny bit of the mystery that is women has been chipped away.
Now, when my significant other, or female companion returns from the ladies room I'll make sure to tell her how great she looks!

[bendis]

i laughed a lot having drown on my mind the manager's astonished face when u dare to praise the perfect lighting from the lady's room. How can we make a man to understand the importance of the light properlly flowing our faces.In fact we go there to find out our self confidence,we sometimes need a breake during an uncomfortable discussing and looking us our well appearance into the mirror we are recharged and abled to bear the rest of the nonimportant meeting.

[Pete]

Bendis
after only 2 of your delightful comments I am utterly in love.
Would you be so kind as to forward the e-mail address, or telephone number, of a male relative to myself? I would like to discuss purchasing you.

[Charles]

Restaurants can easily add a multitude of dimmers and various on/off switches in the ladies bathroom. You can adjust, and readjust the lighting to your heart's delight. Suggest it. I'm sure a few would accommodate you.

[Meg]

I find that a compact and a torch is sufficient, I just dive under the table and re-emerge butterfly like, or so I think anyway because I've only seen my face in small sections. It's a marvellous technique.

[Rachel Reese]

Some ladies rooms in London are like a fall out shelter in WW2, damp, dark and no loo paper!!!

In one famous pub in Chancery Lane, the loos are lovely, well lit, spacious and the lighting is perfect BUT wait for it, none of the loos have locks on the doors!!!

If a restaurant could get the loo right, forget that you came to eat, stay in the loo and take photos, its so rare for it all to be right!!!

[James]

So come on - which restaurant in New York serves four pieces of lettuce for $15?

And shouldn't it be a clean, well lit place, rather than "lighted"?

Love the blog

James