A few weeks ago, I posted this blog on a great chef’s table at Lafayette in Stellenbosch. On the night, my water was “free” in that it was included in the bill. Today, on Cape Talk, the restaurant had to defend a customer’s complaint at being charged R2 per glass of water and R10 for a jug. The manager explained to the radio station that this was in line with their “water-wise” philosophy, and to make people realise that water does not, in fact, flow freely. While I support their care for the environment (they recycle and use grey water appropriately) I think this is a very poor example of customer interaction, since it is so egregiously out of step with other restaurants and they do not explain their point of departure clearly. Plus they make a margin on this water that is remarkably high – so their lesson in value becomes an irritation, not a learning. What if they playfully charged 10c for a glass – with a message about water preservation on the menu?
