Restroom Reflections

As someone experienced as a restaurant reviewer and a culinary consultant, I always focus on the restroom when I visit a restaurant. The Singapore Food Agency states that all food establishments must have toilets separate from the food preparation areas.

Clean restrooms often reflect the overall cleanliness of the restaurant. Diners may judge food safety based on how clean the toilets are.  Can you imagine visiting a filthy restaurant toilet after enjoying a good meal? How many times have you opened the door to a restaurant restroom, noticed its condition, and immediately decided to leave and find another place?  When you walk to the toilet, do you notice ingredients piled near the restroom? Is anyone chopping food close to there?

Think about restaurants you’ve visited: Were the toilets located far from where food is prepared? Were they clean? Did they have enough light? Was there toilet paper and hand washing soap? Were there wash basins and mirrors? Were there hooks for bags? Did the door lock work? Was there a waste bin? Did the toilets have good ventilation? Were there signs that said “No Smoking”?

If restrooms are dirty, it raises concerns about the kitchen’s cleanliness. A clean restroom shows that management and staff care about hygiene throughout the restaurant. Health regulations require cleanliness, and failing to keep restrooms clean can hurt a restaurant’s reputation and operations.

A clean environment improves the dining experience, making customers feel valued. People are more likely to return to and recommend a restaurant that pays attention to cleanliness and hygiene. This can lead to repeat visits and positive feedback.