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Post by coaliesquirrel on Aug 22, 2014 19:16:47 GMT
I'm just wondering how the Peas feel about this: I often find that restaurants (casual sit-down type places - similar to Olive Garden or On The Border) don't have a non-caffeine, low/no calorie beverage option other than water. I use those little squirt bottles of water flavoring at work a lot, and it occurred to me that I could toss one in my purse pretty easily too, but I don't want to offend. In my mind, I'd be ordering water anyway (if they have, say Diet Sprite, I'll get that instead), so it's not as if I'm spending a different amount than I would otherwise. My initial thought is that it's more like bringing my own condiment than cobbling together my own lemonade out of free water, lemons, and sugar, but I'm curious about what others think.
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Deleted
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Oct 10, 2024 8:17:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2014 19:18:19 GMT
I don't think it's a big deal at all. I would order my water squirt and stir and be done with it.
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Post by alibama on Aug 22, 2014 19:19:42 GMT
I do it all the time. I take it to the Movie Theater too. We get the big bottle of water and flavor it up.
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Post by Goldynn on Aug 22, 2014 19:20:43 GMT
I have a friend who does this every time we eat out together. It's never been any sort of problem anywhere.
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Post by sisterbdsq on Aug 22, 2014 19:21:44 GMT
My knee-jerk reaction was the same as SO's (he is a restaurant manager). He gave me the "WTF are you asking me such a question for because no one cares" look. So, no one cares, go ahead and enjoy your whatever is in those things!
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Post by anonrefugee on Aug 22, 2014 19:30:00 GMT
I think it's nice you're wondering if it's polite.
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Deleted
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Oct 10, 2024 8:17:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2014 19:32:22 GMT
I wouldn't have a problem with it, mostly because you're not doing it to be cheap (instead of ordering a drink) or using any of the restaurant's resources (like making your own "free" lemonade).
However, *I* probably wouldn't do it, because my parents always told me it's incredibly rude to take your own food or drinks, or food from another restaurant, into the place you are eating at. (I'm sure the Peas will jump all over that statement, citing valid reasons like allergies and baby food...)
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Post by annabella on Aug 22, 2014 19:33:34 GMT
I don't know what you're talking about, can you provide a link? Olive Garden isn't exactly fine dining so I think it's fine. But you have to be careful that they don't fill your water up when it's half way.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Aug 22, 2014 19:40:41 GMT
I see nothing wrong with this at all.
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Post by leannec on Aug 22, 2014 19:44:28 GMT
I don't see a problem with doing that ...
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Post by melanell on Aug 22, 2014 19:48:54 GMT
It's fine.  |
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Post by lucyg on Aug 22, 2014 19:49:26 GMT
I agree with Ashley. I get that it's not that big a deal, but I wouldn't take outside food or drink into a restaurant. But I do understand why you don't want to order their drinks ... I usually order iced tea at restaurants, but I don't want the caffeine at night, and I don't like soda and don't particularly want something sugary like lemonade, either. So I just drink plain water, which is what I drink at home, anyway.
I voted no but I probably should have voted just don't make a big deal about it.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Aug 22, 2014 20:03:02 GMT
I'm just wondering how the Peas feel about this: I often find that restaurants (casual sit-down type places - similar to Olive Garden or On The Border) don't have a non-caffeine, low/no calorie beverage option other than water. I use those little squirt bottles of water flavoring at work a lot, and it occurred to me that I could toss one in my purse pretty easily too, but I don't want to offend. In my mind, I'd be ordering water anyway (if they have, say Diet Sprite, I'll get that instead), so it's not as if I'm spending a different amount than I would otherwise. My initial thought is that it's more like bringing my own condiment than cobbling together my own lemonade out of free water, lemons, and sugar, but I'm curious about what others think. Neither my 15 yr old dd nor I drink carbonated beverages so we have struggled with this for years with her! She doesn't drink carbonated beverages at all, I will if I have too. But she also doesn't like iced tea so she usually gets apple juice or if they have a bar they will sometimes have cranberry juice. Now that more places have strawberry lemonade she is drinking that more often. But I get what you are saying, too many times it's soda or water only. |
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Post by keknj on Aug 22, 2014 20:08:11 GMT
I don't see a problem with it. I wouldn't do it, but just because the bottle would probably open in my purse and I would have a big mess! If you order water anyway, you aren't asking for anything different.
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,899 
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Post by tracylynn on Aug 22, 2014 20:13:12 GMT
I don't ever order drinks other than water at a restaurant. I prefer my water plain, but I wouldn't have an issue flavoring it if I wanted to.
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Post by coaliesquirrel on Aug 22, 2014 20:16:07 GMT
Sure - something like this: water squirts is what I mean. It's basically glorified sugar-free koolaid concentrate, and it comes in little bottles about 3" high, so easy to put in a purse. I'm glad that for the most part it doesn't bother people. I'm really sensitive to caffeine so I can't have any past noon - IOW, for lunch or dinner, which include 95% of the times I would eat out. I really wish diet Sprite/7-up/Sierra Mist would catch on a bit more - or even caffeine-free diet coke, but other than places with those Coke Freestyle machines and Sonic, it doesn't seem to be happening. Thanks for the input!  |
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perumbula
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,439
Location: Idaho
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Post by perumbula on Aug 22, 2014 20:21:19 GMT
I say go ahead. I have the same issue with restaurant choices as well. If you don't drink diet cola, you're out of luck on the diet options. Some fast food places have light lemonade (which is awesome) but sit down places never do. It's water or fill up on calories with lemonade.  It sucks. I may have to start carrying my own around too. My husband really has to watch his sugar and he gets tired of diet coke (not a fan but does like to have something other than water sometimes) so maybe I'll encourage him to do the same. |
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georgiapea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,846
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Post by georgiapea on Aug 22, 2014 20:23:52 GMT
Not sure how I feel about it because some people I know order water at a buffet restaurant we go to regularly, then get a big dish of lemon slices from the line and add sugar from the table. Basically they make their own lemonade at the table.
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 22, 2014 20:39:01 GMT
I tend to be in the "don't bring food into a restaurant camp" and even chased my DS out of the sushi restaurant where I was waiting for a take away order because he had food from somewhere else in his hand. That being said, I if you can discreetly add your flavoring I wouldn't think twice about it. I've carried Stevia in my purse because I didn't want to use the sweeteners available and never hesitated to use it in a restaurant.
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DaisyDoodles
Full Member
Posts: 449
Jun 25, 2014 20:32:07 GMT
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Post by DaisyDoodles on Aug 22, 2014 20:50:38 GMT
I see nothing wrong with it. It isn't as if the restaurant sells the flavor squirts and you are refusing to buy one there because you brought your own. I don't use them because they usually have sucralose in them and I try to stay away from that stuff, but if it is something you like, enjoy |
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Post by ChicagoKTS on Aug 22, 2014 21:04:15 GMT
I am typically fine with just water or I ask for a slice of lemon (not to make my own lemonade, just to add a little flavor) but I don't see an issue with this as you're not bringing in something they sell. There is no $$ loss to the restaurant and it's a small thing that can be handled unobtrusively. I wouldn't bring in my own bottle of caffeine free soda or Starbucks or anything that would be obvious to other patrons and give the impression it is okay to BYO beverage of choice into the restaurant.
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conchita
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Posts: 3,141
Jul 1, 2014 11:25:58 GMT
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Post by conchita on Aug 22, 2014 22:16:37 GMT
I'm sugar free so will end up ordering the usual sugar-free drinks as well. If they have mineral water I always go for that. I have on rare occasions used those Crystal Lite singles (lemonade) when I wanted something flavored and caffeine free. I see no problem with it. I always order plenty off the menu for my family of four and leave a good tip.
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Post by anxiousmom on Aug 22, 2014 22:22:00 GMT
I agree with Ashley. I get that it's not that big a deal, but I wouldn't take outside food or drink into a restaurant. But I do understand why you don't want to order their drinks ... I usually order iced tea at restaurants, but I don't want the caffeine at night, and I don't like soda and don't particularly want something sugary like lemonade, either. So I just drink plain water, which is what I drink at home, anyway. I voted no but I probably should have voted just don't make a big deal about it. I kind of feel the same way. I probably wouldn't do it, because I sort of feel like if you are eating out you should limit yourself to what is available to that restaurant. But I fully recognize that I am a bit uptight about things like this. I generally order club soda with a lime when I don't want the caffeine. |
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Post by auntkelly on Aug 22, 2014 22:38:32 GMT
I don't have a big issue with it, but I probably wouldn't do it.
I understand why you do it and I don't think it is a big deal, but I do think it's a little rude to bring outside food and drinks to a restaurant. I really don't see a whole lot of difference between you adding a squirt to your water and someone else bringing four kids to the restaurant and pulling out a package of Kool Aid and pouring it in the kids' water. The mother could also argue that she doesn't let her kids drink pop and they'd just be ordering water anyway, so it's not costing the restaurant anything, but it just doesn't seem right to me.
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Post by 950nancy on Aug 22, 2014 23:29:33 GMT
We went to Olive Garden for a good bye dinner this week. There were 12 of us. One of the ladies brought in a big trifle for dessert. I thought it was a little weird since they serve dessert. The waitress was super sweet about it (friend brought paper plates). I tipped her 40% because of her great attitude towards the dessert. Now if the restaurant doesn't offer it, and it is just flavoring, not a problem at all.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2014 23:44:22 GMT
I don't see anything problematic with it at casual restaurants as described. If a waitperson decided to call me on it, I would be willing to pay for a soft drink out of good will. Not all Mio flavors are caffeine-free, though. I learned that the hard way. |
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Post by lovetodigi on Aug 22, 2014 23:55:09 GMT
I don't see a problem with it. I carry little pack of stevia with me, just in case they don't have splenda.
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ComplicatedLady
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Post by ComplicatedLady on Aug 23, 2014 1:29:09 GMT
My initial thought after reading the poll question and choices was "Yup, don't do it" but after reading the explanation in the OP, my vote is it's no big deal. I don't think I would do it, but I don't drink those on a regular basis. I wouldn't think twice about it if I were out at dinner with a friend and he/she did it.
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Post by txdancermom on Aug 23, 2014 1:38:33 GMT
I wouldn't. but then I usually only drink water with lemon or iced tea at lunch
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Post by melanell on Aug 23, 2014 1:48:24 GMT
Not sure how I feel about it because some people I know order water at a buffet restaurant we go to regularly, then get a big dish of lemon slices from the line and add sugar from the table. Basically they make their own lemonade at the table. Yes, but good chance the restaurant offers lemonade, kwim? Most places don't seem to offer flavored water. It's plain water or soda. I don't drink soda, so I'm always going to order water. If I wanted flavored water and the restaurant had it, I would buy it. But if they don't offer it, then I'd feel fine about bringing my own flavoring. Plus, unlike the lemons & sugar, I would have paid for the flavoring, but the restaurant paid for the lemons & sugar. So to me they are very different situations. |
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It sucks.
