Ok, let me ask you this, RCs. When you’re at home, and you decide to grab a glass of water, do you have a handy bowl of sliced lemons waiting for you? If not, do you take the time to slice up a bowl prior to drinking any water? Better yet, do you even have lemons in your home right now? If not, how are you able to drink your water without lemons? Because you sure can’t possibly entertain the notion at my restaurant.
RCs get downright insane about lemons. If a customer asks me for lemons (it’s always lemons plural) and I dare to bring the water without the lemons, its apparently the biggest catastrophe that man as a species has ever or will ever experience. “I can’t possibly drink my water without lemon!” Really? Really. I mean, I know that eating out is supposed to be a special circumstance where you enjoy special treats you don’t experience at home, and rest assured I will remedy my mistake and bring out some lemons posthastely- but you cannot drink water without them? Lets not be quite so dramatic. As I alluded to in the previous paragraph, I’m willing to bet on the fact that, not only can you drink water without lemons, but I believe you do it often. Oh, and by the way? Asking for lemon with your water doesn’t make you seem more sophisticated, not to your server or to the other people sitting at your table. I’m just saying.
Here’s another thing. When I ask you if you’d like a Coke or a lemonade to drink, and you say no and then order a water, a bowl of lemons, and a lot of sugar- I’m not an idiot! I know you’re making free lemonade. That’s ghetto, and I spoke to my manager recently about that. Guess what he said? That he is going to implement a charge, so that whether you order lemonade or make your own, you’ll get charged for lemonade. A bowl of lemons actually costs money, folks. Restaurants don’t mind giving you a couple of lemons for your water or iced tea. We also don’t mind providing a few more with shrimp, fish, or crab legs. But a bowl? Lets not forget, someone has to take the time to slice your bowl of lemons. Time that you don’t take at home, you just drink your water lemon-less. Are you going to tip accordingly for the effort that the bowl of lemons represents on the part of your beleaguered server? Probably not, because you didn’t even want to pay for a beverage.
I enjoy lemons, but since my daughter has informed me that a lot of restaurants do not wash the outsides of them before serving (I have no idea where she got this information), I have been passing on the lemon-water. I don't want to drink who knows what! And even if it's not true, it just makes me stop and think and well, no lemons for me, thanks.
Wow!! Exactly. I can't stand people making their own lemonade for cost reasons…If they want a healthier version of lemonade then that's different…but usually its just them trying to say a few bucks.
I personally think that ordering water with lemon is tacky, and in my experience, it screams to the server that s/he is going to get a lousy tip. These are often the same people who chow down on the free bread.
In the summer, I like to drink beers such as Sam Adams Summer Ale and Blue Moon. When I order, I'll be asked if I want a slice of lemon or orange (orange is more traditional for Blue Moon). I always say yes. But I'm also paying for the beer that the fruit goes into. If the server doesn't ask if I want it, I'll ask for it myself. One slice per drink is enough.
Lemons cost 3 for $2.00 at my local grocery store. NOT free. I think it's only fair if someone wants more than a few slices for water, they need to be charged.
To answer your question, no, I don't put lemon in my water at home. Maybe Martha Stewart does, but she has an army of household help and zillions of dollars. I do have a lemon right now, but I also have a six-pack of Sam Summer Ale, and that is what said lemon is for.
People can be so cheap.
Ok, I guess that I'm the person that the servers hate who asks for lemons IF I feel like having water when I go out. If you tasted the tap water where I live you would completely understand this. A lot of restaurants I frequent don't offer bottled water, I live in the desert and often just want water, and lots of it. No, I don't typically use lemons at home, but I do pay for bottled water to be delivered as the water in our city tastes like you're drinking it straight out of the toilet bowl. Please don't roll your eyes at me if I ask for lemons…I promise I won't make ghetto lemonade at my table, and I also promise that I'll tip at least 20%, good service or not.
Anonymous, I think that if you're polite about it and not making ghetto-ade, 99.9% of servers aren't going to be annoyed about it. But you'd be surprised how many people are exceedingly rude and snotty about it.
My boss just today saw someone making Ghetto-Aid at the table of 10 E.B.'s that came in unannounced for lunch. (Yes, they rolled their eyes when it took me two minutes to get their table together).
My boss told me to charge them full drink price, and I laughed. I love him!
Here's a problem for me…my friend asks for "water..NO lemon". Waitress brings the glass with lemon on it. When my friend says, "I asked for water NO lemon." The waitress takes her fingers and picks the lemon off! That seems to happen every time we go somewhere. My friend doesn't like the taste of lemon. GET HER ANOTHER GLASS!! Don't stick your fingers around the lip of her glass.