A visit to the Bathroom of the Year
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That is one snazzy bathroom. Photo: Chelsea Brasted/Axios
It's not uncommon for New Orleans restaurants to land on the annual year-end "best of" lists. But it was rather special to see one receive an honorable mention from Esquire for "Bathroom of the Year."
Why it matters: Duty called, so I decided to do my business and see this bad boy for myself.
Context: While Esquire included chef Ana Castro's wonderful new restaurant, Acamaya, on its list of America's best new restaurants, there was a special commendation at the bottom of the article about Hot Stuff.
- Writer Omar Mamoon recounts his own experience visiting the Maple Street meat-and-three, where, eager to rid his hands of fried chicken grease, he stumbled upon the majesty that is its washroom.
What I ordered: On a lunchtime visit this week, I decided on the meatloaf for myself, plus a few specials that had piqued my interest on social media this week.
- Like every meal at Hot Stuff, this one ruled.
- I also tried the grilled cheese and tomato soup casserole (weirdly yummy!), the cabbage (peppery!) and the seasonal rum cake (sweet and boozy!).
By the time I was sliding my leftovers into a Styrofoam clamshell, the lunch crowd was picking up and the dining room got busy.
- I was on deadline and needed to skedaddle, so it was time for my pit stop.
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Zoom in: The bathroom in question is the one nearest the front of the restaurant, and when I opened the door, I was met with four walls plastered in Dale Earnhardt Jr. baseball cards and magazine cutouts and posters of Michael Jordan and Kenny Rogers.
- Delightful!
- But there, on the wall next to the wolf-emblazoned Miller High Life mirror, is a button — and above it, in serial killer handwriting, a warning that "Whatever you do do not press this button."
- I pressed it!
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Disco lights and the pounding lyrical genius of "Cotton Eye Joe" filled the space.
- It was loud enough that, if you had noises you wanted to conceal, this would be a perfect option.
The bottom line: Was this entire adventure an excuse to go to lunch? Sure!
- But I have absolutely done dumber things for worse reasons, and this bathroom really is quite a treat.