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Where do you report a restaurant that wont give you tap water if you ask for it?

135

Comments

  • #62
    jj880
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,967 ✭✭✭jj880


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404040#Comment_121404040

    Thats a great point: "Well sir if your tap water isnt fit for consumption then I wont be eating any food prepared with it. Good day to you!"

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  • #63
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 38,437 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403853#Comment_121403853

    It's not the same at all. There was nothing wrong with the water in this restaurant, it was just a mean, total BS, excuse to try to gain a few euro in extra profits which appears to have backfired spectacularly.

    I'm partial to your abracadabra,

    I'm raptured by the joy of it all.



  • #64
    Alessia Helpful Thunderstorm
    Posts: 7,522 ✭✭✭ Alessia Helpful Thunderstorm


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403853#Comment_121403853

    It’s not the same though. It’s similar at best.

    You were refused tap water because it was unsafe to drink and as a result the restaurant comped the bottled water.

    In this case it is a policy not to provide tap water and offer to buy bottled. It’s safe to assume the excuse is pure nonsense as well.

    There’s parallels between your situations but they are not the same. One involves poor service and the other excellent.



  • #65
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 53,816 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    excellent service in a restaurant whose water supply is not fit to drink!

    would you be happy to learn that after having eaten the food there?



  • #66
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 38,437 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404050#Comment_121404050

    Having heating and lighting is a pretty substantial cost for a restaurant too. Maybe charge customers to turn the light on over their table? and extra to light a candle?

    I'm partial to your abracadabra,

    I'm raptured by the joy of it all.



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  • #67
    Alessia Helpful Thunderstorm
    Posts: 7,522 ✭✭✭ Alessia Helpful Thunderstorm


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404171#Comment_121404171

    If the water is not good to drink (whether because it’s currently unsafe or just not palatable) and you’re offered bottled in lieu, which is also comped, what’s poor about the service exactly?

    edit: such as in the case of a boil water notice, are restaurants supposed to close down for the duration? Also unsafe to drink does not imply unsafe to cook with or wash with. Often the bacteria causing water to be unsafe for drinking is easily killed even at lower temperatures so heating it to 60-70c is sufficient. Really don’t see what the problem is.



  • #68
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 38,437 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404171#Comment_121404171

    Their water is the Dublin city water supply, not the semi-filtered output of their neighbour's septic tank as appears to be commonly the case outside the Pale

    I'm partial to your abracadabra,

    I'm raptured by the joy of it all.



  • #69
    Alessia Helpful Thunderstorm
    Posts: 7,522 ✭✭✭ Alessia Helpful Thunderstorm


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404173#Comment_121404173

    You do pay for those things. Did you ever wonder why a restaurant menu costs more than a takeaway?

    or why sometimes if there’s a takeaway & dine in menu takeaway is cheaper? It’s because you’re not occupying a table and availing of the aforementioned heat, electric and service.

    All of these things are charged in the food price. Surely to god you didn’t think it was free??



  • #70
    LambshankRedemption
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,158 ✭✭✭✭LambshankRedemption


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404040#Comment_121404040

    The OP said the restaurant said the water was bad quality. They did not say it was unsafe. That could mean anything. In parts of Dublin it could mean it has an unpleasant taste or smell.

    Obviously the restaurant could have handled it better, but considering the OPs reaction was to come on here asking who to report the restaurant to for not offering free bottled water, we don't know how the exchange between him and the server went. Having worked in hospitality, I can well imagine. Nice customers you are happy to accommodate in any reasonable way, often going the extra mile. Not nice customers I would not give the steam off my pi$$ to if I was not legally required to.



  • #71
    Alessia Helpful Thunderstorm
    Posts: 7,522 ✭✭✭ Alessia Helpful Thunderstorm


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404220#Comment_121404220

    Fair point too! I know myself from work the front of house will adjust their helpfulness based on the mannerism of the guest.

    Rude, snappy & demanding customers get the bare minimum and out the door asap

    considerate guests are treated like royalty and if only we have homes to be in they could sit there all night they’re such a pleasure.

    Some folk however seem to think front of house is a euphemism for “personal slave”



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  • #72
    Glurrl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53 ✭✭Glurrl


    It's bad form to go in a restaurant, use thier facilities, heating, etc and kick up a fuss because they don't give out free stuff.


    Do you do the same in the local shop?



  • #73
    SharkMX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,457 ✭✭✭SharkMX


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404220#Comment_121404220

    There wasnt much of an exchange at all to be honest. We asked, they said that. We spent the rest of the meal talking among ourselves about it. Didnt order anymore drinks or deserts and left without tipping.

    I mistakenly thought it was illegal, so decided it was worth reporting as I felt sorry for my friend and others like them who only drink water with meals. I was drinking another drink anyway and only wanted water to wash the food down between bites as it was spicy. Then I found out it wasnt illegal and there is nothing to report.

    I still think the thread is a good one though. And that it was a very bad customer experience. And a bad experience that ive never, ever had when out for a meal anywhere else.



  • #74
    HBC08
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,970 ✭✭✭HBC08


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403280#Comment_121403280

    You thought the customer is always right?

    That's the refuge of entitled customers and cowardly managers.It also went out of fashion around the middle 80s (if indeed it was ever even said in Ireland,its a BS American thing)



  • #75
    lawred2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,825 ✭✭✭✭lawred2


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058323690/where-do-you-report-a-restaurant-that-wont-give-you-tap-water-if-you-ask-for-it

    what if the water was undrinkable? It's not unheard of.



  • #76
    HeidiHeidi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 31,956 ✭✭✭✭HeidiHeidi


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404291#Comment_121404291

    Up there with "I pay your wages, you know" for ensuring the absolute bare minimum of service through gritted teeth.



  • #77
    SharkMX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,457 ✭✭✭SharkMX


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404334#Comment_121404334

    I didnt believe them to be honest. But if I owned that place id have had a few large bottles of water in there and used that if anyone asked for water with their meal. Same as I do when the water is off at my own house. 5 litre bottle of water can be got for a euro or two. If a restaurant has water problems they probably shouldnt open til they get them fixed.

    They could have given out bottled water for free also if they wanted. Or even cost price. But over €3 to the customer because you wouldnt do something about your water situation? Thats above and beyond I think.

    People generally want water with a spicy meal, even if they are drinking something else with it too.



  • #78
    jj880
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,967 ✭✭✭jj880


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404334#Comment_121404334

    Filter it.

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  • #79
    ebbsy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,260 ✭✭✭ebbsy


    I had a restaurant for 9 years.

    You do not make much money on the food. It mostly comes from the beverages.

    So unless you are ordering the scallops and lobster, please remember this.



  • #80
    LambshankRedemption
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,158 ✭✭✭✭LambshankRedemption


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404269#Comment_121404269

    I miss the old quoting system.

    Quote=Alessia Helpful Thunderstorm

    "Rude, snappy & demanding customers get the bare minimum and out the door asap".

    Unless the bottled water was priced exorbitantly, I'm surprised the person who wanted the water didn't go ahead and order one if they only drink water when eating. Sounds a bit cutting nose to spite face.



  • #81
    Deeec
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,012 ✭✭✭Deeec


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404269#Comment_121404269

    Your friend though wasnt refused water - they were refused free tap water and there may very well have been a good reason for this. Your friend could have paid for bottled water.

    A person that goes to a restaurant and only wants to drink tap water and nothing else it not a good customer from a business point of view. Possibly they need to give their head a little wobble and next time think about how unreasonable it is sitting in a restaurant and only wanting to drink what is free!

    Also your approach should have been to complain to management if it annoyed you so much. But your first reaction seemed to be to report the restaurant and make them suffer which is very unreasonable on your part. What did you want to achieve - close them down, put people out of jobs, make them pay a big fine.



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  • #82
    Alessia Helpful Thunderstorm
    Posts: 7,522 ✭✭✭ Alessia Helpful Thunderstorm


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404399#Comment_121404399

    Honestly it really is!! You’re hampering the enjoyment of your meal to spite the restaurant but at the end of the day they haven’t been affected dramatically by it at all. 😅



  • #83
    ebbsy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,260 ✭✭✭ebbsy


    Buy a coke etc and then ask for some tap water.


    Have some respect.



  • #84
    Derrick Substantial Safflower
    Posts: 24,207 ✭✭✭✭ Derrick Substantial Safflower


    It’s really bad form for a restaurant not to give tap water when requested. We don’t live in a developing country where tap water is non-potable , and as a poster said if there is a problem with the water in the restaurant it is a public health concern. Restaurants with any idea of good customer service need to concede to the tap water requests and build in the “loss” into pricing of all other items.

    They don’t have to serve you the water, of course, and you don’t have to return or recommend the place either. The best you could do is write a Tripadvisor, Google or Trustpilot review mentioning what was good and what was mean & stingy, ie not giving you tap water.



  • #85
    LambshankRedemption
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,158 ✭✭✭✭LambshankRedemption


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404413#Comment_121404413

    There was mention in one of the OPs posts that the water drinking friend having her christmas party there but now it wont be... How true that is, we will never know. If s/he was only going for the cheap and free stuff, it's probably no loss to the restaurant, at a time of year when most restaurants are booked out.



  • #86
    SharkMX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,457 ✭✭✭SharkMX


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404399#Comment_121404399

    Well they are against bottled water, much like the Vegans at the table have their views. I guess they were taking their environmental stand.

    And from my point of view, all they did was ask for a glass of water with their food that they were paying for. If they'd offered to give a glass of tap water and asked for money for it they might even have paid, i dont know.

    But at the end of the day it was a bad customer experience. Not a bad customer as some seem to be trying to insinuate.

    And it was that person who chose the place for us all to go to. So they were actually responsible for bringing other customers to a table with a total spend of about €300.

    It was just a glass of water they wanted. You would think here that they jumped up and screamed the house down and threw a tantrum or something. They wanted a glass of water ..... Water. Nobody died when they didnt get it. Nobody walked out. It was just bad judgement on the restaurant. Such an easy thing for them to have avoided imo.



  • #87
    ebbsy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,260 ✭✭✭ebbsy


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404435#Comment_121404435

    They were probably all going to drink water, have no starters and pay separately anyway.

    No loss.



  • #88
    nachouser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,820 ✭✭✭nachouser


    The real question is did they pay with cash or card.



  • #89
    Derrick Substantial Safflower
    Posts: 24,207 ✭✭✭✭ Derrick Substantial Safflower


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404406#Comment_121404406

    That is not a very balanced response to OP, they were not there to take “everything that is free”. They ordered food, OP paid for a beverage. I know a lot of posters probably hold grudges from having worked in hospitality and had unpleasant customer experiences and I know there are some awful hospitality managers who make things very awkward for staff.



  • #90
    Alessia Helpful Thunderstorm
    Posts: 7,522 ✭✭✭ Alessia Helpful Thunderstorm


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404436#Comment_121404436

    They’re against bottled water??

    sorry are you now trying to liken the morality of refusing to raise animals for food vs not paying for bottled water cos you’re a cheapskate?

    Let’s be honest now, it’s not an environmental decision it’s a wallet decision. You sound like a right group. I’ll ping you the eircode for where I work we’d love to have ya..

    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404435#Comment_121404435

    they were yeah. Look, I’ve heard that one before too.

    “can I have (favour)”

    ”no sorry we can’t”

    ”WELL I PAY YOUR WAGES I WAS GONNA HAVE MY GRANDADS CHRISTENING HERE WITH 500 PEOPLE BUT NOW I WONT”

    ok 🤣



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  • #91
    Deeec
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,012 ✭✭✭Deeec


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121404435#Comment_121404435

    Christmas parties are usually never held in indian restaurants as Indian cuisine is not loved by everyone. I dont believe that part of the story that their christmas party is planned for this restuarent!



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