By DCist Contributor Alan Zilberman
After Adam Express and Tonic closed in Mt. Pleasant, it is deeply reassuring that The Raven Grill is still around. The word “grill” is a misnomer: aside from bags of chips, there’s no food available at the bar, which is part of its charm. It’s cash only, the drinks are cheap, and there’s WiFi even though the place is a total dive. The bar is relatively small—there are are only a handful of booths and tables—so it’s hardly a surprise that their bathroom is similarly cramped. While it’s most prominent feature is disconcerting at first, the bathroom deserves praise for how it encourages hygiene.
+6 for a communal sink: There are two private stalls in The Raven, with exactly one sink that resides outside the stall doors. More importantly, the layout of the bar is open, meaning that it’s easy to tell when someone enters/leaves the stall. Since all the patrons can see when you’re done with your sinful business, they’ll know if you do not wash your hands. The communal sink is a deterrent against disgusting behavior, one that’s more effective than this Far Side cartoon.
-4 for gender segregation: The stalls at The Raven differentiate between men and women, which is odd given how there can be a queue for the sink, irrespective of gender. So many bars in the District go unisex, something that should be celebrated and replicated. Parts of The Raven are antiquated in a good way, yet this is a simple solution to bring the establishment into the twenty-first century.
+3 for a sliding lock: In a dive bar where the liquor is cheap, you want a strong bathroom barrier against the drunk who is desperate for a toilet. A lock on the doorknob just won’t cut it, so I’m glad The Raven has an effective sliding lock. By moving it into place, it is easy to use the facilities in peace.
-2 for a tall flusher: When it’s time to get off the toilet (e.g. after you’re done pooping), it should be easy to reach backward to engage the flusher. In the men’s room of The Raven, the flusher is about a foot higher than the typical bathroom, which means the only way to use it to stand up. This is less than ideal, particularly when you’d rather not see what damage you’ve done. And for those who are queasy about touching things in the bathroom, using the flusher with your foot will require a level of acrobatics that is damn near impossible.
+2 for bathroom graffiti: There’s a lot of traditional tagging in the men’s room of The Raven, with relatively few penis drawings. Not only does the graffiti add to the bar’s credibility as a dive, it also serves as a pleasant distraction while relieving oneself. Note: someone scrawled “FUCK CHERKIS” above the toilet, which I can only assume refers to local Huffington Post reporter Jason Cherkis. It’s kind of a badge of honor to have your name inscribed there, no?
-1 for an awkwardly placed mirror: The mirror in The Raven is not above the sink; instead, it’s off to the left as you’re washing your hands. While I appreciate the implied public shaming of someone who does not wash their hands, bar patrons should be allowed to check themselves out in peace. With a mirror at its current location, there’s simply no cool way to catch a reflection. Luckily, The Raven is one of the darkest bars in the city, so I doubt your friends and/or date will notice that you’ve got food in your teeth or whatever.
Overall score: +4. More establishments should follow The Raven’s example and keep the sinks relatively public. The Raven should follow the example of newer establishments and abandon stall gender segregation. Still, as far as dive bathrooms go, this one is a secret success.
