646040 Wed Aug 19 23:13:13 -0700 2009 25 49 France 0 4961353 Ok, this question may be a little odd, but here it goes...I am wondering what the situation is with ordering and drinking tap water in Paris. I drink a lot of water, usually one large bottle or even more with a meal. The water must also have ice. Not very French of me, but that is what I like. I am not a fan of Evian, which seems to be the choice of 90% of restaurants (I am a Volvic fan). In a couple of weeks, I will be enjoying a few three star places in Paris, as well as some bistros (chosen in large part thanks to recommendations from Chowhounders). I have two issues with the water: one is cost, the other is taste. When I ate at L'Arnsbourg last year, I literally spent over $50 on water; something about that just didn't seem right. Water is expensive at three-stars. So my question is: is it ok to order tap water in Paris? How does it taste? Is this considered a faux pas? Will the restaurant be offended? Is there a different answer to this question depending on wether I am at, say, Guy Savoy or at L'Ami Jean? As I said, I am not a fan of Evian, and if tap water is equal to or better than Evian, shouldn't I drink that instead? Thank you. Wed Aug 19 23:13:14 -0700 2009 22775 fishskis 1 4961358 Tap water in France is fine. It is safe and tastes fine, you may get ice with you may not, I am certain a 3* will be happy to add it. There is no stigma in asking for tap instead of bottled. many French people will do this, in both lowly and high end places. We always do. A few years ago the Paris city council distributed "branded" carafes for their tap water to cafes and restaurants because they were so proud of the water quality, I doubt many of these still exist but it is a good sign the water is fine. Wed Aug 19 23:19:18 -0700 2009 4961353 64584 PhilD 2 4964729 I don't think tap water in Paris tastes fine, at least not everywhere. It may have to do with whether you are on the right or left bank, as, if I'm not mistaken, their tap water is not provided by the same company. Or maybe it depends on something else, or it's just me. [Oops, didn't see souphie's reply before posting, sorry about that] Another thing: being charged 50$ for water is insane... unless you drank many bottles. We usually drink one and a half to two bottles, and only one is charged... Fri Aug 21 03:57:38 -0700 2009 4961358 223249 olivierb 3 4965398 That's my biggest beef against Ledoyen -- they charge you for every single bottle and that is pretty inelegant. But indeed more classy places like Savoy, Le Cinq and many others just charge you one and refill without question or charge. Fri Aug 21 08:45:35 -0700 2009 4964729 96547 souphie 4 5072000 So young to have ones memory shot. It just happened again, wish l read this thread yesterday, 3 people, 32 € for water, then 8€ for coffee each. Thu Oct 01 08:16:57 -0700 2009 4965398 71113 Delucacheesemonger 1 4964383 I never order bottled water in France, except in Paris I generally do because I find the taste of Paris water horrible, and I am really not a picky person when it comes to water. In a high-end restaurant, I definitely would get bottled because despite the cost I would prefer to enjoy the water. Of course, if you have it with ice, the ice will be made from Paris water. Thu Aug 20 20:24:34 -0700 2009 4961353 126803 rrems 2 4964705 There are major taste differences in Paris water from one neighbourhood to the other. Also sometimes from one buidling to the other. French tap water is technically of the highest technical level. I agree that it is sometimes disgusting. It's also often excellent. Fri Aug 21 03:07:57 -0700 2009 4964383 96547 souphie 3 4966071 We love Badoit, too bad we can't get it out here in the high desert. BTW, we only drink bottled H2O here; the local stuff is vile. Fri Aug 21 12:01:55 -0700 2009 4964705 19129 Oakglen 1 4966118 I only drink tap water (unless I'm trying to impress friends I've invited up for an apero) except in towns where they say "you don't want to". I guess I live in a water-blessed quartier. Fri Aug 21 12:17:03 -0700 2009 4961353 1088206 John Talbott 1 4997999 Ask for "un carafe d'eau"... I've never had a waiter blink. (Supposedly you can also ask for "l'eau gabinette" (literally cabinet water), but I'm never sure enough of that phrase to use it, and the other seems to work. I love having the carafe at the table so I can pour my own... in America, I have to keep flagging down someone to get more. Susan Tue Sep 01 22:30:21 -0700 2009 4961353 22319 waldrons 2 4998136 Did you misspell eau du robinet - tap water. Wed Sep 02 01:45:36 -0700 2009 4997999 1088206 John Talbott 3 5006764 I'm pretty sure I read "cabinette" or "gabinette" somewhere, but I'm glad I've never used the phrase. Do I even want to know what it translates as? Susan Sat Sep 05 01:32:31 -0700 2009 4998136 22319 waldrons 4 5006767 cabinet means closet. Sat Sep 05 01:40:23 -0700 2009 5006764 96547 souphie 5 5140244 Some time in the dim, dark past, I was told that "eau de cabinet" was a euphamism for tap water (although "closet water" is uncomfortably close to "water closet", so perhaps not the best phrase!!) Susan Thu Oct 29 09:26:43 -0700 2009 5006767 22319 waldrons 2 4998208 yeah, forget "Gabinette". It is funny, though. Wed Sep 02 04:28:19 -0700 2009 4997999 96547 souphie 3 4998623 I always get a laugh by ordering "Chateau la Pompe" or "Chateau Robinet" and they always bring me tap water. If they ask what year, say 2009. Wed Sep 02 07:42:20 -0700 2009 4998208 12044 CJT 4 4999112 Jacques Pepin refers to "Chateau Faucette." Wed Sep 02 10:04:03 -0700 2009 4998623 190827 rswatkins 4 4999540 Chateau Delanoë, formerly Chat Chirac. Wed Sep 02 12:00:57 -0700 2009 4998623 1088206 John Talbott 5 5000129 Or, more precisely Château Santini, but I'm not sure many will get it. Wed Sep 02 15:07:24 -0700 2009 4999540 223249 olivierb 6 5001302 Or be drawned to it. I wouldn't drink Chateau Santini... Thu Sep 03 04:18:30 -0700 2009 5000129 96547 souphie 7 5007603 It's best to avoid using expressions which refer to political events or personnages, as they go out of date fairly fast and no one can remember why water was called Chateau Delanoe. Back in the mid-1950s, Pierre Mendes-France was Prime Minister of France and he tried to promote greater consumption of milk by the French people, who were very attached to their wine at most meals. As a result of his efforts, those who wanted to make a joke would order "un mendes" (glass of milk) as a joke, not having the least desire to drink milk rather than wine. I have tried on several occasions to get a laugh out of French people by ordering "un mendes" but the joke is totally lost because few Francais under the age of 60 ever heard of this (and the older ones don't remember it anyway). It's not funny when you have to explain the history of an expression to a Frenchman. Best to stay with Chateau la Pompe or Chateau Robinet, as everyone gets that joke. Sat Sep 05 12:42:04 -0700 2009 5001302 12044 CJT 8 5007630 I'm sure it's my charming accent, but I've managed to remember our mayors' names over 50 years and always had a smile and the correct delivery . As for milk and the Prime Minister who promoted it, some of us recall..... Sat Sep 05 12:55:54 -0700 2009 5007603 1088206 John Talbott 9 5007895 We often order a large Badoit or Chateldon (gazeuse) – we like the almost creamy texture of each. San Pelegrino, which for some reason is offered in many Paris restaurants (why?), is much too aggressively bubbly for me. But when only that’s available, we also order “un carafe d'eau," and I make my own assemblage. (We also order tap water toward the end of dinner when the water bottle is empty.) But after reading these posts, now I’ll order instead “Chateau la Pompe" or "Chateau Robinet" – I like that! This is similar to what we often do closer to home, in San Francisco – we will order “Hetch Hetchy” (the name of the reservoir near in the Sierra, near Yosemite, from which San Francisco gets its water). The waiter’s reaction, or lack of it, is a quick way of discerning whether he or she is new to the area. Jake Dear http://parisandbeyondinfrance.blogspot.com/ Sat Sep 05 15:50:55 -0700 2009 5007630 1098647 Jake Dear 1 5071894 Funny, up until about 20 years ago, tap water at a restuarant in France was just about unthinkable. A big look of disbelief would appear on a waiter's face if you had the temerity to ask for "robinet". We've come a long way, it seems that the way the tap water is served, the style of the bottle is an indication of the style skills of the restaurateur. Some use wine bottles, some carafes, (never with ice) and mostly it's barely below room temperature, but it is nice not to have to get bottled water anymore. Are doggie bags next? (I hope not!) Thu Oct 01 07:47:22 -0700 2009 4961353 21702 menton1 2 5076338 Oh Menton, living in the South has kept you in the dark ages - doggie bags have been in for wine since the Loi Evin. Also a footnote to all the above; hip places (most recently KGB) are bottling their own fizzy and flat water and not charging for it - shades of Jean-Louis Borloo. Sat Oct 03 08:40:33 -0700 2009 5071894 1088206 John Talbott 3 5151036 Legally, according to decree number 25-268 of 8 june 1967, French restauranteurs must supply when asked, and cannot charge for tap water (nor bread). Cafés and bars can charge for water if they want. From an ecological point of view, bottled water is a big no-no. Never went there, but I was told by one of his advisors that when at he was still the Ritz, the environmetally minded Jean François Piege encouraged the consumpition of tap "Adam's Ale". So from a legal point of view you can drink tap water in restaurants in France, and from a green perspective you should. If waiters make you feel uncomfortable about it, or cheap, then leave. Mon Nov 02 20:19:34 -0800 2009 5076338 163537 vielleanglaise