Comments on: Is it being cheap to ask for tap water in a restaurant? https://www.501places.com/2010/04/is-it-being-cheap-to-ask-for-tap-water-in-a-restaurant/ Sharing the world with you Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:15:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Stuart https://www.501places.com/2010/04/is-it-being-cheap-to-ask-for-tap-water-in-a-restaurant/#comment-22609 Stuart Tue, 05 Oct 2010 22:09:20 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=2525#comment-22609 A man of taste. Highly recommend the Banners Potatoes. Special. Yeah they've got their water policy spot on, haven't they. Cheers A man of taste. Highly recommend the Banners Potatoes. Special. Yeah they’ve got their water policy spot on, haven’t they.
Cheers

]]> By: Andy Jarosz https://www.501places.com/2010/04/is-it-being-cheap-to-ask-for-tap-water-in-a-restaurant/#comment-22608 Andy Jarosz Tue, 05 Oct 2010 22:05:41 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=2525#comment-22608 Stuart, since you posted this I've actually been to Banners in Crouch End (courtesy of Alastair McK) - great place and top policy re: tap water. More should do it. Stuart, since you posted this I’ve actually been to Banners in Crouch End (courtesy of Alastair McK) – great place and top policy re: tap water. More should do it.

]]> By: Andy Jarosz https://www.501places.com/2010/04/is-it-being-cheap-to-ask-for-tap-water-in-a-restaurant/#comment-9641 Andy Jarosz Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:07:37 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=2525#comment-9641 $16 does sound insane for a bottle of water, as you say Giulia. But even if it's $2, perhaps the issue is not the price but the fact that they are selling bottled water at all with all the waste that's involved rather than the perfectly good stuff that comes from the tap. Even if a place introduced a service charge for tap water as Stuart suggests, that would be preferable to having to order a bottle. $16 does sound insane for a bottle of water, as you say Giulia. But even if it’s $2, perhaps the issue is not the price but the fact that they are selling bottled water at all with all the waste that’s involved rather than the perfectly good stuff that comes from the tap.
Even if a place introduced a service charge for tap water as Stuart suggests, that would be preferable to having to order a bottle.

]]> By: giuliadventures https://www.501places.com/2010/04/is-it-being-cheap-to-ask-for-tap-water-in-a-restaurant/#comment-9461 giuliadventures Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:50:39 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=2525#comment-9461 Well... in Italy I guess it's considered cheap - noone asks for tap water. But it's also true that bottled water is much more affordable than in US! I remember overpriced San Pellegrino up to $16/bottle, that's insane (NYC)! In Italy you'll rarely pay a big bottle more than $3 (in a 4 stars hotel...). I guess that's why we're not used to tap water. Which is funny coz we don't have the 15-20% tip rule. Tipping is not compulsory and the amount is up to the customer, without fixed percentages. Well… in Italy I guess it’s considered cheap – noone asks for tap water.
But it’s also true that bottled water is much more affordable than in US!
I remember overpriced San Pellegrino up to $16/bottle, that’s insane (NYC)!
In Italy you’ll rarely pay a big bottle more than $3 (in a 4 stars hotel…).
I guess that’s why we’re not used to tap water.
Which is funny coz we don’t have the 15-20% tip rule.
Tipping is not compulsory and the amount is up to the customer, without fixed percentages.

]]> By: Stuart https://www.501places.com/2010/04/is-it-being-cheap-to-ask-for-tap-water-in-a-restaurant/#comment-7385 Stuart Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:08:49 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=2525#comment-7385 Yup here's the link on the Water Aid site Andy http://www.wateraid.org/uk/get_involved/corporate_partnerships/tap_into_wateraid/6294.asp Think there's about half a dozen restaurants in North London in the scheme now. Am a big fan. Would love to think others might copy it. Cheers Stuart ps. Also the best place in London for spotting celebs. Thierry Henry used to have his brekkie there when he played for Arsenal. No one flinched coz most knew nothing about soccerball - I used to stare at him agog.....Cool caff. Yup here’s the link on the Water Aid site Andy

http://www.wateraid.org/uk/get_involved/corporate_partnerships/tap_into_wateraid/6294.asp

Think there’s about half a dozen restaurants in North London in the scheme now. Am a big fan. Would love to think others might copy it.

Cheers Stuart

ps. Also the best place in London for spotting celebs. Thierry Henry used to have his brekkie there when he played for Arsenal. No one flinched coz most knew nothing about soccerball – I used to stare at him agog…..Cool caff.

]]> By: Andy Jarosz https://www.501places.com/2010/04/is-it-being-cheap-to-ask-for-tap-water-in-a-restaurant/#comment-7382 Andy Jarosz Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:30:41 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=2525#comment-7382 Now that's a creative way around it - and one that anyone would support. Others should follow their lead. Thanks for sharing Stuart. Now that’s a creative way around it – and one that anyone would support. Others should follow their lead. Thanks for sharing Stuart.

]]> By: Stuart https://www.501places.com/2010/04/is-it-being-cheap-to-ask-for-tap-water-in-a-restaurant/#comment-7381 Stuart Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:11:14 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=2525#comment-7381 There's a great wee restaurant/cafe in Crouch End in London called Banners. They charge for Tap Water. 15p a glass I think. And they donate it to the charity Water Aid. Dead clever I thought. No one seems to mind.... There’s a great wee restaurant/cafe in Crouch End in London called Banners. They charge for Tap Water. 15p a glass I think. And they donate it to the charity Water Aid. Dead clever I thought. No one seems to mind….

]]> By: Shannon OD https://www.501places.com/2010/04/is-it-being-cheap-to-ask-for-tap-water-in-a-restaurant/#comment-5464 Shannon OD Mon, 03 May 2010 02:44:19 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=2525#comment-5464 I think that you are completely justified for expecting water as a basic part of service in a restaurant. I was a server for years and yet I never begrudged the glass of water - yes, you do everything you can to boost the bill as a server, but at the end of the day, tap water is a right, not a privilege. Considering the impact of bottled water on the environment, it just galls me that any restaurant would require this ridiculous extravagance. I think that you are completely justified for expecting water as a basic part of service in a restaurant. I was a server for years and yet I never begrudged the glass of water – yes, you do everything you can to boost the bill as a server, but at the end of the day, tap water is a right, not a privilege.

Considering the impact of bottled water on the environment, it just galls me that any restaurant would require this ridiculous extravagance.

]]> By: Catherine Mack https://www.501places.com/2010/04/is-it-being-cheap-to-ask-for-tap-water-in-a-restaurant/#comment-5447 Catherine Mack Sun, 02 May 2010 16:51:09 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=2525#comment-5447 Great post - only the likes of budget airlines charge for water. It is responsible catering to offer water as it is good for us all. And access to water is a human right, according to the United Nations. It's just common sense - which from time to time should, and can, override, profits. Great post – only the likes of budget airlines charge for water. It is responsible catering to offer water as it is good for us all. And access to water is a human right, according to the United Nations. It’s just common sense – which from time to time should, and can, override, profits.

]]> By: Lilian https://www.501places.com/2010/04/is-it-being-cheap-to-ask-for-tap-water-in-a-restaurant/#comment-4608 Lilian Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:11:53 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=2525#comment-4608 it's definitely not cheap. It's definitely more environmentally friendly and in most cases, it is as safe as drinking the (much) more expensive mineral water. And I'm not the type to pay more for branding =) it’s definitely not cheap. It’s definitely more environmentally friendly and in most cases, it is as safe as drinking the (much) more expensive mineral water. And I’m not the type to pay more for branding =)

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