""I used to say a dirty bathroom was a sign you should not be eating in a restaurant," Bourdain said in a 2018 interview with Time. "I've learned the opposite is true.""
""Some of the best food experiences I've ever had are places they really don't give a s**t about [keeping their bathrooms clean]. They know their food is good and that's enough," Bourdain explained."
""I won't eat in restaurants with filthy bathrooms. This isn't a hard call," he wrote."
Anthony Bourdain initially regarded dirty restaurant bathrooms as a reliable sign to avoid dining there, but he later reversed that judgment. He observed that many outstanding food experiences occurred at venues that paid little attention to restroom cleanliness because they prioritized cooking and flavor. He suggested that patrons primarily come for the food, and that a messy bathroom does not necessarily indicate inferior cuisine. He acknowledged that personal preferences and standards evolved over time and that some early rules of thumb could be set aside when the main draw was exceptional food.
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