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Originally Posted by slawecki
(Post 20814757)
second i do not know what the water is like in germany today, but 30 years ago, one did not use it to brush one's teeth,
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Originally Posted by Jenbel
(Post 20834775)
It's just petty on the part of a restaurant to refuse to serve tap water unless they have a good reason (poor quality water), and I'm pretty sure if I encountered an attitude like that, they would get less spend from me, not more. So much for the concept of 'service'.
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Originally Posted by Bttc
(Post 20810368)
If by FRA, you mean Frankfurt, then that's just how it is in much of Germany.
No free water. If you want water, it's in a small glass bottle and probably carbonated. Kölsch is cheaper than water in nearly every restaurant in Cologne! |
Originally Posted by slawecki
(Post 20814757)
second i do not know what the water is like in germany today, but 30 years ago, one did not use it to brush one's teeth
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Originally Posted by Analise
(Post 21128885)
...and what part of Germany was that? In the summer of 1982, I spent 6 weeks in a small town outside of Freiburg, 1 week in Augsburg, a week in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and a few days in München. Not only did we brush our teeth with tap water; we drank the water too.
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Originally Posted by rjque
(Post 21118892)
The trend here (in California) is to serve filtered tap, which sometimes tastes better than regular tap water but is much more environmentally friendly than bottled. The machines for filtering are not cheap, and many restaurants are adding a couple of dollars as a water service charge to cover the cost, though many are also just providing the water for free. The machines can also add carbonation to the water, and that is also sometimes provided for free. I think it's a great trend.
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water shortage could be the problem
In NYC (and I'm sure elsewhere), particularly in the summer, the reservoirs can be low, so restaurants do NOT routinely supply tap water with meals unless requested.
[NYC water is "safe", in some tastings it has gotten high marks. Right now, summer of 2013, the reservoirs are at normal levels, so this is not an issue.] |
Originally Posted by Bttc
(Post 20810368)
If by FRA, you mean Frankfurt, then that's just how it is in much of Germany.
No free water. If you want water, it's in a small glass bottle and probably carbonated. Waiter: "Ohne gas oder mit gas?" Me (first time in Germany): "Pardon?" Waiter: "You want bubbles?" Me: "Um, no" |
I ordered tap water in Copenhagen a few years back. And that's what I got. I was shocked to get charged a few Euros or so, for it. Buried deep in the menu, was a line that detailed the cost.
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i dont get why you cant get tap water if you request it because the customer is always right
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Originally Posted by rjkgr
(Post 21317581)
i dont get why you cant get tap water if you request it because the customer is always right
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Originally Posted by JWEMTX
(Post 21322607)
I don't disagree with you, but I think that's more of an American sentiment. Definitely not true in Western Europe. Probably true for Eastern Europe and Asia. Just my experience and opinion.
Tap water is an unusual in SE Asia, but most restaurants -- even relatively nice ones -- will generally have basic bottled drinking water, and at least at local ones, it'll often be very cheap even if the rest of the menu is spendy by local standards. |
Originally Posted by rjque
(Post 21118892)
The trend here (in California) is to serve filtered tap, which sometimes tastes better than regular tap water but is much more environmentally friendly than bottled. The machines for filtering are not cheap, and many restaurants are adding a couple of dollars as a water service charge to cover the cost, though many are also just providing the water for free. The machines can also add carbonation to the water, and that is also sometimes provided for free. I think it's a great trend.
In Canada, there is a growing trend for filtered tap water. One of the top fine dining restaurants in Canada, whom I'm a landlord, used Q water brand filtered type water (not sure if reverse osmosis is involved). It was delicious, and I usually can't tell filtered water from tap water. The filtered water served was $2 pp, but the total cost collected was donated to charitable causes. |
Originally Posted by Ancien Maestro
(Post 21329155)
Do the restaurants charge much for the filtered tap water in California?
The couple of restaurants I've been to that do it just call it out as complimentary. One of my favorites (house of prime rib) asks you if you want complimentary still or sparkling water (you can ask for both, but they don't offer), and brings it in a glass carafe (or two) to the table. It's only if you look closely at the carafe that you see it's branded filtered stuff (and house-carbonated, if sparkling) and not bottled water. |
Originally Posted by Jenbel
(Post 20834775)
I love the fact that in Edinburgh, diners have basically trained restaurants that we will drink tap water in preference to bottled. If we want bottled, we will ask for it. Otherwise, we're good with tap, thank you - which generally tastes good here. Even our recent excursion to one of the best known Michelins, they had a jug of tap water ready to go for those that wanted and offered it without a quibble.
It's just petty on the part of a restaurant to refuse to serve tap water unless they have a good reason (poor quality water), and I'm pretty sure if I encountered an attitude like that, they would get less spend from me, not more. So much for the concept of 'service'. So far, I've never encountered a problem with asking for tap water except at the Conrad Rangali. We'd been there 5 or 6 days, happily drinking filtered water. The staff changed and we asked for filtered water and the waiter said they could serve only bottled. We insisted on filtered and got it. I just don't see paying an arm and a leg for bottled water when good, drinkable water is available. (I also hate paying for bread in Italian restaurants when I don't eat bread.) |
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