Waiters will try every trick in the book to get you to order expensive bottled water. But a backlash led by concern over the carbon footprint of imported water packaged in plastic and transported in polluting trucks is helping many people to ask for tap water in restaurants.
To me, it comes as a surprise that anyone would worry about asking. Having started my dining-out habit way back in my student days, I've developed foolproof strategies for avoiding additional costs, so to me, asking for tap water is a doddle, and even now I wouldn't give it a second thought. I'll correct waiting staff if they give even the slightest hint that the H20 they're about to bring to my table is anything other than Thames Water's finest.
So what about you? Do you have any qualms about adding 'tap' to the options of 'still or sparkling'? and have you met with any objections? Or do you actually prefer the bottled stuff? Please comment below.
You must be going to really posh restaurants if the waiter/ess looks down at you for drinking tap-water - it means all the more tip for them I say!
I always ask for tap water - give them a smile and ask for a big jug of Tap with some ice and perhaps a slice of lemon or lime! Making a very positive request with extras usually works!
I work as a manager in a restaurant, and strongly enforce waiters to sell bottled water. The amount of targets we have to reach from senior management is ridiculous, so we have to push for sales wherever possible. It isn't the waiter looking down on you because you are drinking from a tap (and lets face it, its probably just as nice if not better than the bottles) but the fact that he or she may not hit their sales and spend her head target that night.
There is a book of tricks that we have, including deserts, for example, if you are asked whether you want ice cream or cream it probably means that it isn't included and you should probably expect another charge. The most ridiculious that I have ever introduced, I am almost ashamed to say, is offering a small ciabatta loaf with some oils and olives while you are having your drinks and reading the menu. Sounds like a nice touch, but be prepared to fork out another £8 on your bill at the end of the night, not to mention the extra on a possible service charge.