Kokkari

when is going to the toilet at a restaurant as enjoyable an experience as eating in the aforementioned restaurant?

only when that restaurant (and accompanying toilet) is kokkari.

the toilets are just brilliant . you have to take an elevator downstairs to visit them, so for those of you who like to leave it to the last minute i recommend beginning your journey a little bit earlier than you usually do, just to make sure that you don't have an embarassing "incident" along the way, in full view of a hundred diners. once in the toilets, you are greeted by gentle greek muzak, a soothing lighting and colour scheme and tasteful pottery arranged in the classical greek style, on shelves above the urinals. i tell you, i spent a good extra minute there just enjoying the ambience, something i usually try to avoid in most toilets.

and as for the rest of the place, this greek restaurant is huge, and popular, and busy at lunch time, but somehow they manage to juggle all the guests and their needs with style and pizazz. the food was exquisite (stuffed calamari perfectly cooked, not chewy at all, and the lamb souvlaki succulent and tender and juicy) and, i would contend, for san francisco financial district prices, very reasonable ($15-$20 mains, $5-$8 appetizers). the waiters were plentiful and organised and friendly, and did the whole "and how are we enjoying our meals today?" visit after exactly two minutes and thirteen seconds into our main course, the exact right moment, i thought.

but really, who cares about the food and the ambience and the service when you have that toilet to look forward to? it's going to take some beating.