May 2, 2005
Sanitation stars
One of the best newspapers in Addis at the moment is Fortune, a business weekly that come out every Sunday. And one of its best features is its highly-detailed restaurant review. There are extensive sections on food, environment, service, parking and, most usefully of all, the "sanitation".
Here are some recent pieces:
Olive's Garden Restaurant & Lounge
Location: off Namibia Street, behind Kaldis
Cuisine: Italian
Overall *** and a half Sanitation *** A common restroom is located in a separate building, which is impractical when it rains. The restroom consists of three stalls, the middle of which is permanently locked. While the toilets are clean, most women would turn their nose up at having to share public facilities with men.The sink area is clean, but there is nothing with which to wash your hands. Also, the liquid soap is either of a poor quality or it has been diluted. If the latter is the case, the management should know that everyone notices, and most hate it.
Makush
Location: First floor of the Mega Building on Bole Road (Africa Avenue)
Serves: Western Meals
Overall: *** Sanitation: *** In general, the location of the restrooms was discrete. Common to both genders' restrooms was the cleanliness and the maroon walls. The men's restroom was dark and cramped, and the Jackson Pollock-like splashes on paint on the wall did nothing to add to the space. Also, depending on the time of day, you may find a most unpleasant and unappetising view of a bucket filled with used toilet paper.Conversely, the women's restroom was quite spacious with a powder room three times the size of the "restroom proper". Additional rolls of toilet paper were available as was a surprisingly large can of air freshener. Single-use towels were rolled and placed in a basket, adding a touch of elegance. A red light - the kind that makes you look great, ladies! - hung over two large mirrors in the powder room - so you can look twice as good.
Blue Drops Restaurant
Location: Namibia Street, about 150m from Atlas Hotel going towards Bole Telecom
Serves: Western and Ethiopian meals
Overall: ** and a half Sanitation: ** The restaurant's only restroom is, by default, a men's restroom; the toilet seat is missing. One reviewer was overwhelmed by the pungent smell and found the wet floor with muddy footprints most revolting. A giant cottage-style medicine cabinet hovers ominously over the sink, which is missing a knob. Those curious enough to open the doors will be greatly disappointed to find not even a roll of toilet paper inside.A white towel hanging near the sink is visibly dirty and most unhygienic. One reviewer found clear and indisputable evidence that someone had taken a shower.
Arcobaleno Bar & Restaurant
Location: On the road extending from Roosevelt St. toward Mekanissa, about 50m south of MIDROC Headquarters
Cuisine: Italian
Overall: *** Sanitation: ** The tiny cubicles are minimally equipped with the only roll of toilet paper sitting on the ledge behind the commode. The tap in the women's restroom needs to be replaced. You need two hands to operate it: one hand to turn the handle and the other to keep the spout from turning with the handle.If you are lucky there is a bar of soap, but you have to shake your hands dry, which you can do by waving to the people in the couples' bar who have a perfect view of you through the opening in the top of the restroom door.
Anyone who hasn't visited Addis may be a bit surprised by the vagueness of the addresses. There are road signs and house numbers here. But they are rarely used. "Behind Kaldis" is a much more useful address than saying the restaurant is off Namibia Road. There is an urban myth here that Bono wrote the song "Where The Streets Have No Name" after a visit to the capital in the 1980s.
Posted by aheavens at May 2, 2005 6:23 AM