Before Morimoto, before Buddakan, before Buddha Bar, before Megu Midtown, there was — well — Megu. Sure its star has faded (there was that sexual-harassment suit and such), but no one can argue that the $6 million interior isn’t still fresh — just like the toro tartare! Look at the mirrored diorama, outside the restroom, that reflects an Oriental lamp and a flower display into infinity: Way cooler than Morimoto’s mirror installation, right? But what about the rest of the restrooms?
Concept: Like a dark sibling of Morimoto’s loos, these are outfitted with mirror etchings of geishas, copper lanterns, and eerie recessed lighting.
Privacy: The separator between stalls is rather low, making it a little too easy to hand toilet paper over to a neighbor in need.
Amenities: Tall steel faucets shaped like bamboo shoots, a full-length mirror inside the toilet stall, and ceiling speakers that emit jungle noises (ka-kaaw!).
Drawbacks: During our visit to the men’s room, one of the automatic urinals was out of service (“WE ARE VERY SORRY”), and there was a musty, seaweedlike odor that we’re pretty sure wasn’t coming from the kitchen.
Strategy: If you’re using the bathrooms for nefarious purposes, do it the old-fashioned way — at Odeon’s four-star facilities around the corner.
Rating: