• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Restaurant owner defends menu request after offending customers who order tap water

Home> News> UK News

Published 11:46 15 Nov 2023 GMT

Restaurant owner defends menu request after offending customers who order tap water

One diner branded the menu 'cheeky'

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

The owner of a London restaurant has defended his business after diners said they felt ‘guilt-tripped’ after ordering water with their meal.

Jane Breeds and her boyfriend went to Danish steakhouse Köd London, in north east London, to treat themselves to the £30-per-head all-you-can roast dinner.

But they say they were stunned after spotting a note on the menu that read: “You can have tap water… but please remember we're running a restaurant, not a charity - wink, wink.”

The note then goes on to suggest ‘if you want to have just tap water, we encourage you to donate £1 to Red Cross. Everybody wins'.

Advert

Breeds, 27, said the ‘cheeky’ message led to her and her partner ordering a jug of tap water so that they could ‘make a point.’

The 27-year-old claims she and her partner 'made a point' of not buying a drink because of it and instead ordered a jug of tap water.

A customer branded the message 'cheeky'.
Kennedy News and Media

Breeds, from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, said: "It's a bit cheeky to imply that I'm treating the restaurant as a charity when I'm spending £60.

"When I first saw the menu I laughed and told my boyfriend that we're not ordering any drinks.

Advert

"He asked why and I passed him the menu. He found it funny too and agreed to just stick to tap water.

"I was given a jug and I didn't request for it to be refilled but I'm sure they would have done so.

"[The donation] is a nice idea but I don't think I should be guilt-tripped into donating to charity just because I only wanted to drink tap water.

"I didn't make a donation but I did happily pay the 15 per cent tip that is automatically added on though as the staff were great.

"They didn't say anything about us only drinking tap water and gave great service."

Advert

Morten Ortwed defended his menu after a diner said it was ‘guilt-tripping’.
Kennedy News and Media

However, Köd owner, Morten Ortwed, has hit back at the criticism, claiming his restaurant wouldn't be able to run the 'great' Sunday-exclusive deal if nobody bought drinks.

He went on to say it was ‘Danish humour’, but admits he has ‘things to learn’ about living and working in the UK.

Ortwed is an ambassador for the Red Cross and the menu's message ends by telling customers they can inform waiters if they wish to donate.

Ortwed, from Skanderborg, Denmark, said: "It's a really good offer that people like but it's not possible to make an offer like this if everyone just has free tap water.

Advert

Köd London, in north east London.
Kennedy News and Media

"This is a way in Danish humour to tell people to also buy something to drink so we can continue to have this great offer.

"We're not forcing people to buy drinks. They can have free tap water.

"I understand [they find it cheeky] but to come to a restaurant and have tap water I think it would be nice to also donate something. That shouldn't be a bad thing.

"It's the first time I saw something critical about it. I will of course think about it for the future but I don't think we should change something because one person doesn't agree.

Advert

"There are still some things we need to learn about Danish humour working in the UK."

Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News and Media

Topics: Food And Drink, UK News, London, Money

Claire Reid
Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Keir Starmer speaks out after British girl sent home from school for wearing Union Jack dress on culture day

    The school has since issued an apology

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Brit, 69, detained after ‘smuggling £350k-worth of drugs in secret compartment of his car’ into Spain

    He was said to be boarding the car ferry in Ceuta, Spain

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    Doctor reveals patient's brain turned blue after taking 'limitless pill' that's gone viral on TikTok

    People on social media have hailed the substance a ‘game changer for mental clarity and longevity’

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    Doctor shares the nine warning signs of heart failure and how to spot them

    Dr Jen Caudle has revealed the nine 'most common' symptoms of the condition

    News
  • People divided as McDonald's implements '30 minute rule' for customers
  • Chef warns the one part of a restaurant menu you should never order from
  • Man claims restaurant threw him out because of facial disfigurement after customers complained
  • People are only just discovering why you shouldn't drink water from the bathroom tap