Is ordering tap water in a restaurant rude?

That's not rude at all. I always get tap water because I like drinking water and have it with every meal. I don't like drinking fizzy drinks with a meal.

I don't really think it matters what she orders. It's not harming anyone else.

I’ll order wster but will always order drinks. My sister worked in hospitality for 40+ years and always insists on just tap water and rarely pays service. If she joins for a coffe, she won’t order one. She is not hard up but is tight with certain things. I find it embarrassing. I don’t enjoy eating out with her. It’s a bit joyless.
I think ordering tap water is ok as long as the business is making money on food and other drinks.

Is she dining on her own ?

Many people prefer to drink water with food as opposed to soft drinks, so I don't see the problem.

I don't understand why you would order just tap water . I do understand why you would order a jug of tap water for the whole table . Amongst the other drinks , sometimes depending at the table the kids or older members would prefer that particular meal would be preferable with water .But to just decide the whole table would prefer water is a bit presumptuous . or dare I say a bit tight .

YABVU

I had a gastric bypass so only order tap water and a side! Don’t think it’s rude at all.

I also only drink water. And tap water = much less environmental impact than bottled water.
A counter-argument to the OP's judginess is that it's actually quite rude to go to a restaurant where someone else is lovingly preparing delicious food for you to eat, then trash your taste buds with some super-sweet fizzy drink so that you can't appreciate the meal as much!
And it's rude to judge your friend's choices. I don't actually know of many restaurants that allow adults to order off the kids' menu (which is often processed crap anyway) , but they don't usually have a problem with adults forgoing a 'main' and choosing other dishes/ courses instead.

I dislike coke and it's more or less the only soft drink most places have now that isn't full of NNS which a) taste awful b) make me very ill indeed.

I mostly order tap water now when going out if I don't want alcohol.

Aye, and pigs may fly, she can easily order a Light meak and ask for a small portion. Unless there is a back story that she can only eat a starter and drink some tap water, like gastric band.

No. My DW always does it.

So weird. I only drink water. I dont drink soft drinks or wine. And I don't want to waste plastic. What am I supposed to do?

No, the most ridiculous thing I saw in a restaurant was being in Scotland in an area with great tap water and people ordering plastic bottles of Highland Spring. Complete waste of resources.

I always ask for tap water. If I am in a cafe getting a small meal and a drink I put some cash in the tip jar when I order the water and say I don't want to waste a plastic bottle.

I don't understand why this is in the least bit embarrassing. Person orders food in restaurant. Hardly a bizarre practice.

She should order a main and drink or equivalent minimum. So she doesn't ever order a coffee, a freshly squeezed juice, a san pellegrino? Is the drinks menu very restricted on the non alcoholic options? I wouldn't want a coke tbh. What type of restaurant? If it was pub type meals with chips, I could understand choosing something smaller.

Miriad · Today 19:16
I wouldnt drink coke, but I’d at least pay for a mineral water, not drink free water”

Which is also chock full of microplastics 🤷‍♀️

I've got a friend who does this and I find it very embarrassing, particularly as she chooses to go to upmarket restaurants. So we'll sit down and she orders a main course, one of the two or three cheapest on the menu, and tap water. No pudding, no coffee. I feel so uncomfortable I'll order a glass of wine, an expensive main and coffee if I don't want pudding. I actually avoid lunching with her now, because I don't understand why you would go somewhere nice and have something you can make at home.

If it's an issue for the restaurant they can implement a minimum spend, or say only under 12s can order off the children's menu, or serve tiny glasses of warm tap water to discourage people ordering it, or whatever. If they don't, it's because they prefer to have someone ordering small/cheap meals than not coming at all.

You're only referring to occasions where she eats with you, rather than her eating alone, so she's not 'taking up a table,' she's taking up ONE SEAT at a table that is already reserved. It's not as if the restaurant would sit a random individual at your table with your group if she wasn't there!

I find your judginess much ruder and more off-putting than her ordering tap water!

I wouldnt drink coke, but I’d at least pay for a mineral water, not drink free water.

I think it’s fine as long as she’s ordering some food.

I went to a pub with a friend and they were doing an offer like buy one meal get one free/ half price (can’t remember exactly) and the staff member behind the bar told us we were cheeky to only order cokes and not alcoholic drinks whilst using the offer. I thought that was really rude of him.

I never really order dessert either

If I have a meal and a glass wine then I always have tap water as well

I can't afford to pay £60 on a mid-week night for a mediocre meal for two, we used to eat out at least a couple of times a week and I've cut right back. If I go out I may well have tap water, or a Coke, and my usual order is a starter/small main and a pudding. That's how I like to distribute my calories and how I like to distribute my cash! I don't want a starter and a main and a pudding, and I would think most restaurants are quite happy for people to continue to eat out, rather than stay in, even if they aren't spending quite as much due to CoL.