Asking for tap water in German restaurants
#23
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Lonely Planet is quite right, but waiters have patience with American guests...
Germans order either sparkling mineral water or still mineral water together with their meal. You have to pay for it, but this is equivalent to the tip that Americans pay for service. Just different customs.
If a German ordered a glass of tap water this would be social blunder indeed. At home, most of us do not drink tap water either, although it is clean and safe and in most regions tastes good (without chlorine). Some people have machines to make tap water fizzy. However, we prefer bottled mineral water, because we consider minerals as healthy (the Americans take mineral pills, instead).
Germans order either sparkling mineral water or still mineral water together with their meal. You have to pay for it, but this is equivalent to the tip that Americans pay for service. Just different customs.
If a German ordered a glass of tap water this would be social blunder indeed. At home, most of us do not drink tap water either, although it is clean and safe and in most regions tastes good (without chlorine). Some people have machines to make tap water fizzy. However, we prefer bottled mineral water, because we consider minerals as healthy (the Americans take mineral pills, instead).
#25
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We've had very little trouble ordering tap water in European restaurants. In UK they figure out easily that we are Americans and even bring a pitcher of ice water. In Germany there was no problem, Austria etc....and of course in France, "un carafe d'eau, sil vous pleis ????".
Well, in Brugge, Belgium they INSISTED on bringing a bottle of water...said they only drink bottled water in their homes also..(but I think the waiter was giving me a line perhaps).
I can't imagine Lonely Planet stating it is a social blunder to order a jug or glass of tap water?? They are not the most upscale group and it sounds like "reverse snobbery to me". Well, just a thought...and to each his own.
We always ask for the tap water, (not being "drinkers") and if they can't bring it then we just buy a bottle of water. Most of the time the tap water order is oblidged.
Well, in Brugge, Belgium they INSISTED on bringing a bottle of water...said they only drink bottled water in their homes also..(but I think the waiter was giving me a line perhaps).
I can't imagine Lonely Planet stating it is a social blunder to order a jug or glass of tap water?? They are not the most upscale group and it sounds like "reverse snobbery to me". Well, just a thought...and to each his own.
We always ask for the tap water, (not being "drinkers") and if they can't bring it then we just buy a bottle of water. Most of the time the tap water order is oblidged.
#26
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We asked for "trinkwasser" or something like that throughout Germany and Austria. We drink lots of water with a meal--we would go through way too many bottles. Frequently we get one bottle to be polite, and ask for tap water at the same time. We also drink sodas , wine and beer, so they are not losing out in any way. We never perceived a problem of any sort...oh, and we hate the sparkling water also. "No Gas!"
#27
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So, is it primarily an issue of them not making money on beverages? We also always order beer or wine, so they'll be making money off of us that way. Also, we never eat in very upscale places if that makes a difference.
#28
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I don't think that the issue, for the waitress who commented on my tap water, was money. They were nice friendly people with opinions. It seemed to me that throughout our vacation in Germany people were very outspoken or maybe it was just the people I connected with. (I like that in a person.)
How many times have you read or heard someone taking offense at something that was simply people being human? Like that current thread about Athens, how could a whole city be mean? I don't trust that the writers at LP are any less susceptible to their "little and large", paranoia's.
How many times have you read or heard someone taking offense at something that was simply people being human? Like that current thread about Athens, how could a whole city be mean? I don't trust that the writers at LP are any less susceptible to their "little and large", paranoia's.
#29
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"Asking for a glass or jug of tap water in a restaurant is a grave social blunder"
It is a merely commercial thing, as try to freeride - a glass of tap water is considered as a free service.
Still more acceptable in a restaurant then in a pub, as the restaurants live more on the food they serve as on the drinks - well, for sure they will like it more when you have a bottle of wine with your meal, and some straight shot after. Pubs live on the drinks they sell, mineral water either sparkling or not is a drink as expensive as any other soft drink.
Well, it is said, when some guy ordered tap water in a Cologne pub, he got a glass of it, together with a piece of soap and a towel.
It is a merely commercial thing, as try to freeride - a glass of tap water is considered as a free service.
Still more acceptable in a restaurant then in a pub, as the restaurants live more on the food they serve as on the drinks - well, for sure they will like it more when you have a bottle of wine with your meal, and some straight shot after. Pubs live on the drinks they sell, mineral water either sparkling or not is a drink as expensive as any other soft drink.
Well, it is said, when some guy ordered tap water in a Cologne pub, he got a glass of it, together with a piece of soap and a towel.