Server Keeps Repeating “It’s Very Hydrating” When Customer Asks For Tap Water

So the consensus seems to be that either the waitress was an idiot or the restaurant are awful and insist she upsells. Leaving was the correct decision in either event.

We don’t have the full context here, and it’s important. A lot depends on HOW she said it, and what her facial expression was while the words were coming out. She may have been trying to hint that the tap water was bad, without coming right out and saying it and possibly losing her job. She may be forced to upsell the overly expensive water, also on threat of losing her job, and that was the best she could say about the tap water. You never know when the boss is eavesdropping and looking for a reason to yell at an employee. She may have cheerfully said goodbye to you because she knows that the tap water is bad and that trying to coerce people into paying $9 or $12 just for a glass of water is f*****g ridiculous, and her boss, who is forcing employees to push people into unnecessarily paying for a f*****g glass of water, deserves to go out of business. I bet she’s got, or is getting, another job lined up as we speak. Either any of that, or she’s greedy, or stupid, or just a b***h. You never know, without the context.

Plot twist. This is actually a malicious compliance story by the waitress after she was told not to tell the customer there was something wrong with the tap water by her manager XD. We will see the waitresses story on here tomorrow lol.

If there was an issue with the water to the point that the waitress couldn’t say ok, then run, because the salad and dishes are washed with tap water and the food is cooked in it! Otherwise you’ll be spending the rest of the week in the toilet.

They maby had water from Flint? 😵

Excellent! Just what I'm looking for in my water.

I am one of those who also order water. When I see the price for ice tea, which is one of the cheapest things they can do, along with coffee, I get water. But $9-12 for bottled is ridiculous. I would have left also. If the tap water is that bad, they should have regular bottled water.

You haven't considered this option: She's an alien, android, or vampire and doesn't drink water, but is aware that humans require water for hydration and was trying to be helpful by reminding you.

It's the restaurant I guarantee she's brought up the exact same point to management and when asked why someone would pay 9$ for water was told "It's hydrating, duh. Now go sell my overpriced water!" Nothing would have made her happier than you talking to the manager. I've managed hospitality staff and customer service staff for years and have seen it countless times when the people upstairs start making us charge people for c**p they don't need. If it's REALLY BAD management you could have even gotten her in trouble by ordering tap so leaving actually helped her. Plus remember she's an actual human being and is allowed to have bad days now and again so dont take it personally. Waitresses aren't allowed 'mental health days' unless it's also followed by 'malnourished and homeless days.' Maybe she's dealing with an illness or a family member passing. You never know and shouldn't jump to conclusions over such a short interaction. No one's a jerk here.

You know, I’ve learned life’s too short and expensive to not enjoy your experience going out to eat with an unfriendly server, so I would leave too now I’m at the age where I don’t put up with nonsense. I remember going to a steakhouse in Detroit on our honeymoon and paying about $200 for an absolutely delicious meal (and I’m usually cheap/frugal if I can), but still remember the waiter was so great he made it a wonderful night, and I told him so and tipped him well. Now I come to think of it, same for another fancy steakhouse in downtown Cleveland on a trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, when it wasn’t busy and they treated us humble Canadians like royalty. The chef even sent out a special dish to try, which was so nice. Americans are so friendly in every state I’ve visited. I love my neighbours to the south and have a US and Texas flag in my screen porch, actually bought in San Antonio.

If non tap water is that expensive, I don't even want to look at the menu. I'm out of there.

It sounds like English was not her 1st language. I'm learning Spanish right now and would probably fumbled similarly. Also she said "have a blessed day " when they left. Normally, we Americans don't say that phase very often as a goodbye. But, in many counties ( especially Latin American) this is the norm for saying goodbye. The OP was pretty quick to interpret the situation negatively while not staying long enough to figure out what was really going on. He just sounds insecure in a high cost restaurant and got easily offended even though there was most likely was not anything to be offended by on the 1sr place. Negative thoughts keep you in a negative world guys.

Well, it is very hydrating.

So, water is hydrating, therefore food is nourishing. I would have spoken to the manager. Waitress was rude and ignorant.

If the tap water was so bad that it should not be served .... what are they using to cook and clean with??? An upscale restaurant should have a water purification system if the water is a problem. The waitress deserves a good tip for warning you of the issue.

How did the op not get the hint by the second time?! It's like when customers asked me how the shrimp scampi was at the pizza restaurant I worked at, I would say our most popular dish is our home made spaghetti and meatballs. You can tell she is sick of being told to upsell 9$ bottled water. The 3rd time I would have said plants crave it.

I'm not understanding the negativity of "It's very hydrating.". Given that hydration is its purpose, why would you not respond by saying, "Great! Then that's what we'll have!"?

Definitely an inflated reddit story that never happened. I'm entirely with the waitress here, they tried WAY too hard to insist that they were 'well behaved' and 'worked in the business for years'. Either it never happened, or they're absolutely stretching the truth about what happened because they want to cause trouble. There ARE plenty of trouble makers out there for the sake of causing trouble or having a story, this loser definitely seems the type.

NTA. Providing the tap water is potable (if it's not, the health dept should come after them), servers are probably told to recommend the expensive bottled water. Maybe the waitress couldn't think up an appropriate answer when asked. She likely had the word "upsell" ingrained in her brain by the boss. I wouldn't put up with this either. I'm not paying $9 or $15 for a glass or bottle of water that I probably wouldn't finish anyway.Tap water is just fine. If I'm getting wine with dinner, I sometimes don't even touch the water that's provided FREE of charge.

I'm an herbalist living in phoenix.. if a client tells us that they are going to brew their tea formulas with tap water we want to react in the same way but can't. We can only recommend that they use filtered, distilled or spring water but guaranteed were going to address the problem in their health protocol. Most municipal water sources have extreme amounts of chlorine, heavy metals and untold other toxins. BUT Any restaurants charging that much should offer filtered water therefore I feel the waitress was trying to cushion the bill. NTA ...psss but don't drink the tap water as "issues" may not be immediately apparent.

Most fine dining establishments I've been to provide complimentary waters for the table ... 🤷🏻‍♀️

And this is exactly what a tip is for. To be given for good service and to be withheld if the service is bad.

Sounds like some yuppie restaurant that didn't want to cater to people who are ok drinking tap water. You're NTA, but you might want avoid going to bougie a*s places like that.

Depends on the country. In mine you won't get tap water in a restaurant. They MAY give you a jar of filtered water for free, but it must be mentioned at the beginning and it's rare. In my country you pay for everything you order to eat or drink. Also no one here would ask for free tap water in a restaurant. Even though tap water here is good. So I can understand the waitress better than the clients.

Am I the only one thinking maybe she meant "dehydrating" but was either having a brain fart or isn't too bright and doesn't understand the meaning/difference between the words?

She thought you were cheap and wouldn't leave a good tip. I would have left also.

Actually, I think the poster IS definitely the A***e. Hydrating is literally the definition of water. When he asked "what does that mean?" He got a completely honest answer. Customer wanted to start sh*t. He even throws out the fact that he was in hospitality. It is quite clear OP has no idea what "hydrate" even means, and is taking it out on a child half his age. I would encourage him to eat at home with the other babies.