A dollop of off-the-curb eating quirk to brighten up those midweek blues every wednesday or thursdays or both
In London, it’s no real secret that restaurants go for the jugular when it comes to liquid offerings. As if the food is not expensive enough, ( the typical 3 course meal in London was the most expensive in the world 2 years ago ) it would appear that restaurants are always hunting for ways to rack up your bill (plus, plus) . I haven’t got any restaurant bills on hand, but I have definitely been forking out between £3.50 and £5.00 for a bottle. Let’s just do a quick crunch, I’ve reviewed 31 places so far, let’s say I paid £3.50 per visit per bottle (which I have) , that’s equal to £108.50 … or roughly two and a half dinners. Ouch.
Uttering the words ‘tap’ is near blasphemy in some establishments and one cannot help but feel bullied into making a choice. Even the question itself suggests tap water is not an option, and indeed some restaurants actually do refuse tap to customers (Believe me, I’ve been refused a couple of times). On the other hand, I actually quite enjoy drinking mineral water. However, a two litre bottle of Evian is only 70p at the local Sainsbury, I doubt a Speyside or a Perrier costs much more than Evian, especially if the restaurant is buying in bulk.
Ok let’s get on the discussion of choice –since we are obliged to make one- what would one choose? I used to always go still, I think the majority of Brits go still as well (well, we’ll put that to a vote) . In continental Europe, it’s a totally different story. Only sparkling, anything else is just weird. Having been brainwashed by a German ex for a year, I too, now go sparkling, however I can still do still if I have to. S.Pellegrino if I really have a choice.
Having said that, some restaurants do offer filtered water (complimentary I might add) to guests, Strada springs to mind. They even put it in a nice glass bottle on the table on to which the label tells you that it’s filtered, I think it is a pretty nice gesture. In fact, I might even add that the elitist viewpoint of not serving tap is beginning to change, what with the Evening Standard’s ‘Water on Tap’ campaign to rid restaurants of the still or sparkling culture; There is a harmonious dream of a future where all restaurants only serve free flowing (and free) tepid tap to all diners. There’s even a list of the restaurants who’ve signed up to this campaign so far.
With the recent sad news of Aaya’s passing into the history books (I hadn’t even had a chance yet), restaurants can do no wrong cutting back on the plus plus’ and replace them with ‘nice gestures’ to keep people coming back in hard times. Here’s a suggestion Mr restaurant owner reading this, you could be breaking new ground by offering a ‘complimentary’ glass (or two) of a choice of still or sparkling, better yet complimentary filtered water on the table (in a nice jug for dramatic effect) would be quite a nice gesture.
It’d save me the cost of two and a half dinners at the very least.
What about you? Are you still, sparkling, tap, perhaps you only drink liquidise courage? Votes and comments are welcomed.
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Tags: sparkling, still, tap, water
I have absolutely no qualms with asking for tap water. I think about how many countries have unsafe drinking water, and even the thought of ordering bottled water seems absurd. Some people claim bottled water tastes better, but it doesn’t bother me that much.
Tap water all the way for me. But then again, here in Sydney free water is mandatory at any restaurant/venue which serves alcohol. What water they serve is entirely up to them, could be tap or filtered water. Come to think of it, even if a restaurant doesn’t serve alcohol they usually still have free water of some sort available in jugs.
Like Lizzie, I always order tap water and have done for a long time. I have been refused in the past but that was quite a while ago and I think restaurants are coming around to the idea that people don’t want to drink expensive bottled water. If I’m refused then I don’t order any water at all.
I like sparkling water but generally order still with food.
Tap, tap, always tap. In London, at least.
Here in the States, places would rarely even carry sparkling water (unless you’re at a bar). Tap water reigns supreme!
Isn’t it illegal by UK law not to serve tap water? I usually drink still water anyways (think about the amount of oestrogen you are ingesting and maybe you will think twice about tap water). That said I have been refused tap water once – Chapter One – where the waitress shamefully lied that they did not serve tap water (yet brought a jug of tap water to the table next to us). This was at the end of the meal and they were blatantly trying to usher us away so that they could turn tables. On the other hand, I have had no problems getting a glass of tap water (again usually at the end of the meal) from top restaurants – to name a few, Ledbury and Foliage. Some restaurants on the other hand may offer a complementary bottle of water after your first purchase. Think of it like the free espresso top-up.
I always ask for still water….
I have this habit to drink water with every meal and of course it is tap. I’ve never been refused but have seen waiters getting pissed off. Tough. My money, I use it how I like and if they have a snotty attitude they lose out by getting a smaller tip (and I’ll probably write a bad review). Why are there so few good, honest and fair establishments out there?
Tap all the way. Just can’t fathom paying for water. So silly. BUT…if we had to choose because someone say we had to…it’d definitely be still.
Hmm, so far it looks like food bloggers are a strong willed bunch resisting the restaurant’s attempt to sell you overcharged water, when tap is clean enough and readily available.
[...] down please). The next quirker is about a question Im sure every foodie has come across so far: Still or Sparkling? Have your say here. Finally, I wrote a short post about three sweet things you can eat in South [...]
Tap or still usually for us unless the sparkling is complimentary.
I’ve NEVER gone in for bottled water and always ask for tap. And, contrary to what many of my (non foodie) friends imagine, it’s usually the classier restaurants that accommodate this with least fuss and most class – bringing out pre-chilled water in house bottles or carafes. I’ve seldom been refused tap water and where I have, it’s been in really cheap places or middling places with delusions of grandeur.