It turns out Canada's bathroom users really do want all the bells and whistles. (Shutterstock)

This loo lost.

If you see the toilet bowl at Toronto's Spice Route Asian Bistro & Bar as half empty, that is, and the restaurant's second-place win in Canada's Best Restroom contest as the first-place loser.

Images: Another survey of Canada's top restrooms

Related: The top U.S. washrooms

It turns out Canada's bathroom users really do want all the bells and whistles: Padded furniture, TVs, floor-to-ceiling stall doors with smoked glass and illuminated make-up mirrors in the women's washroom that remind users that, "You're Beautiful."

That's what online voters for the first annual Canada's Best Restroom competition found at a Vancouver-area location of Cactus Club Cafe, which took top prize this week.

Second place went to Spice Route Asian Bistro & Bar on King St. W., where the restrooms have exposed stone walls, coloured tiles to accent the Asian decor and overlook a private garden oasis.

"I'm a little bit disappointed but you know what, at the same time, I'm not a poor sport about it," general manager Kevin Wallace said Thursday of the second-place win. "I'm really proud of our washrooms."

Though he expected to take the porcelain throne, Wallace agreed the winner has "an incredible bathroom," adding, "Who doesn't like to be told they're beautiful when they're doing their make-up?"

Spice Route was designed for the "more refined" bathroom users, staying away from too many bells and whistles, Wallace said.

"I think people quite often take their washrooms for granted," he said. It's not just a service anymore. People really do notice and really do care."

While many people have come into Spice Route talking about the restaurants, it hasn't become a full-on tourist attraction yet, in that people who come for the bathrooms stay for the food, Wallace said.

Two of the other top-five winners were also Toronto venues. Third place went to Mildred's Temple Kitchen and fifth place went to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Vancouver took fourth place with The Shangri-La Hotel.

tamara.cherry@sunmedia.ca