Monday, December 15, 2008

Excuse me: Where's the restroom?

How does the location restrooms in relation to that of the tables, serving areas, and kitchen create easy and appropriate access?

One thing that no one would want to discover in the middle of a meal at a restaurant is when the answer from an employee as to where one might find a restroom, is that there isn’t one. It is an essential to the business. So how should they be set up in order to be easily accessible to customers and not placed awkwardly in the overall plan?


Training Tables placement seemed to be the best. The restrooms were located in the northwest corner of the building - very conveniently placed, without being too close to any tables or eating areas. The location of the restrooms was also quite obvious (located down the only hallway in the building). Chili’s was a little awkward because one had to navigate around other parts of the building inconveniently in between a kitchen entrance and a server’s drink stand to reach them. In addition the proximity to areas where food is prepared can make it the entire outlook on the restaurant less desirable. It’s hard to find aspect of being so out of the way of the tables to try and maintain comfort of guests still was a frustration as well. Paradise’s restrooms were also not easily recognizable.

Therefore:


Clear placement that people can easily identify as well as some kind of removal from the area of food preparation and consumption, like a hall, oblique entry away from these areas, etc., are essential to the successful placement of the restrooms in a restaurant.

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