All this week, leading up to when we open up the poll for this category on Friday, we'll be introducing the nominees for Best Bathroom for the 2011 Eater Awards. Today: the bathroom at Pal's Lounge in the Faubourg St John.
First, a note. When we solicited nominations for the Best Bathroom, the idea was that each city would find its finest, swankest or most fanciest restaurant bathrooms that somehow added to the overall experience of eating at a restaurant. Not so in New Orleans, apparently. The nominees here were, instead, largely a collection of dives and neighborhood bars. And also one club-ish type place. But that's just what we're going to have to deal with.
So back to Pal's. Why is this bathroom noteworthy? For women, it's Burt Reynolds, showing off his stuff in a framed photo on the wall. And according to one female tipster who nominated the bar, apparently the women's room at Pal's is always hotter than the bar, as it's nestled behind the kitchen. Not necessarily a good thing during the summer in New Orleans, but whatever.
For men, though, it's not Burt; it's the vintage porn. Through the saloon doors is a small WC literally covered in centerfolds and ads from 1960s and '70s Playboys. After swilling countless Strongbows and Dark & Stormies, going to the bathroom at Pal's is enough to make any man feel quite ... amorous.
But is that enough to earn Pal's the distinction of the Best Bathroom in New Orleans? We'll have to wait and see.
· All Eater Awards 2011 Coverage on Eater NOLA [-ENOLA-]