Is ordering tap water in a restaurant rude?

[TigerOnTour]

My friend often orders tap water in restaurants and I think it's a bit rude. She also has a tiny appetite so will basically just order a side, a starter or a child's meal. I feel like we are pissing off the restaurant. Obviously we don't all have to order a bottle of champagne, but a coke isn't expensive. Friend is very wealthy, if that matters.

I don’t really drink alcohol and I hate all soft drinks. I like tap water. Literally no restaurant has hated me for it. Bit weird you’re worrying about your friend’s freedom of choice in what she orders.

Your behaviour is much stranger than your friends I must say...

I have a friend a bit like this. Her favourite drink is water with lemon so she only orders this. She is frugal so always watching the pennies. I’m less so and usually order wine so hope it makes up for it. We only go out for lunch usually when it’s quiet so we are not taking up space from someone spending a fortune.

Yeah, that would embarrass me too

Does she tip?

I'm not keen on soft drinks and often order tap water but I wouldn't order a kids meal or side unless I was at a fast food place.

No. It’s not rude!

i will order tap water if i feel the price of the soft drinks are a rip off - £4.50 for a coke for example!! i do like fizzy water though to do order that usually with a meal if i’m having soft drinks.

I don't like soft drinks. I always order tap Water because why waste a bottle when tap is perfectly nice?

It's not rude. I do think it's stingy though.

I don't see any issue with someone ordering this. Your friend clearly has enough money and class to not give a FF what others think. In restaurants where it matters you are usually charged a minimum amount so you can have just a coffee but at certain times you are charged a table levy for doing so. I imagine your friend does actually spend more than this minimum anyway.