Bottled water in restaurants - what's the most you have paid?

MarkBargain

I usually ask for "a glass/bottle of wine, and some tap water for the table". It's a perfectly reasonable request (in the UK*) even though the table doesn't drink it itself. :-)

* Abroad it's more tricky as the tap water may not be the same quality.

Flat_Eric

hollydays wrote: »

Perhaps it's an mse tip that should be highlighted. When I went out with a group of friends for a meal at a restaurant that I knew had expensive drinks prices, I asked for a jug of water. I'm sure this has been highlighted on mse before though. As said, few restaurants give away bottled water and they ARE a business.

If you sat in the bar and they asked would you like a drink- you wouldn't expect that to be free.

We had a long day and the meal marked the end of our much anticipated and long awaited trip away. I suspect if we had sat in the bar bit of the pub and not asked to be seated in the dining area then we wouldn't have had to pay for the water nor the service charge.

I was slow on the uptake when I asked for more water as I hadn't twigged the first bottle of water was being charged for.

Yes I realise they are a business and money especially in the catering industry is made from all avenues. Think of the mark up on a cup of tea and a baked spud with a tin of beans!

It was a treat to spoil ourselves and I suppose what I'm most miffed about is that to the pub, we were just another ticket/lets see how much we can sell them (how often do waiting staff push people to have deserts?) but to us the meal meant a lot so what was an enjoyable meal was left slightly tainted by a feeling of having been ripped off.

brendon

I don't understand why people expect water to be free. A Diet Coke is 99.8% water, and that's not free.

Herbalus

It's the same with the bread and olives. It's such an innocent question, but you know it'll probably cost you £5. After all, it's a restaurant, not a friend's house.

I used to get quite uptight in restaurants, and refuse anything until I'd read the entire menu. I couldn't ask the waiter how much it'd be of course - I'm English. Then I went on a fancy train in Europe and declined everything they offered me. It was only later did I realise why the train staff were taken aback at this - everything in that carriage was free!!

Herbalus

brendon wrote: »

I don't understand why people expect water to be free. A Diet Coke is 99.8% water, and that's not free.

It isn't free. It's included in the price of the food.

You can't go into a restaurant and just have free water, just as you can't go in and use the tables and chairs for free. You have these things for 'free' on condition that you buy food, the price of which includes these extras.

awesomelover

I really think some people are missing the point completely here. I don't think the OP was expecting, or ever said that 'bottled water' in restaurants should be free...

He/She objected to being asked if they wanted water and then given the chargeable version instead of being given the choice of free tap water, or chargeable bottled water.

A touch naïve on part of the op perhaps, but just because it's a "trick of the trade" doesn't make it particularly acceptable. The choice should be given.

Lesson learn for the future though, op?

catkins

8 euros in France for a small bottle of Perrier!


I hate tap water and always drink bottled but do get annoyed just how much some restaurants charge

moxter

Scroll to the bottom:

http://www.claridges.co.uk/uploadedFiles/Claridges/Meetings_and_events/Menu_options/Wine%20Drinks%20Menu.pdf

I love places where they bring out chilled tap water. Means they've gone out of their way to improve something that brings them no additional revenue.

Talking of water, there's a smart place near Edinburgh where once you've got your water they bring out a tray where you choose which "slice" you'd like in your water. Orange/lemon/lime/cucumber etc. Fun, but feels a bit OTT.

InsideInsurance

There are a few restaurants that "specialise" in rare bottled waters, I remember the press a few years ago had some place with 30 page water menu. Seem to remember the top one was about £25 a bottle (plus service of course). They even had a tasting menu of the waters.

Never order bottled water, even when in top end restaurants, so never been stung. I am sure there have been a few where it was getting on for £7.50 a bottle plus service.

The one that annoyed me was a local Mediterranean restaurant that at the end of the night added £3.50 cover charge per person plus £5 for olives that were just sat on the table when we were seated and we never touched. On top of all that was then the 12.5% service charge

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Should greasy spoon gaff charge me for water, I walk!