A high-end restaurant featured in the Michelin guide has introduced a unique menu focusing solely on water, offering bottles priced as high as £19. La Popote, a French fine dining establishment in Cheshire, collaborated with one of the five British water sommeliers, Doran Binder, to curate this exclusive selection.
According to co-owner Joseph Rawlins, the decision to launch the water-only menu stemmed from a desire to provide a distinct experience, emphasizing that water is not just a simple commodity. Rawlins highlighted the growing interest in this concept and stated that they wouldn’t have pursued it if there had been any negative feedback.
The menu, developed by Binder over seven months, features a variety of premium waters sourced from different European locations, including four still and three sparkling options. Prices for the water start at £5 for Binder’s Crag Spring Water and reach £19 for a bottle of Portuguese sparkling water called The Palace of Vidago.
The unveiling of the water menu by the restaurant sparked mixed reactions from the public. While some criticized the idea of paying high prices for water, others welcomed the concept, especially those who prefer non-alcoholic beverages when dining out. The debate on the affordability and value of luxury water continues to draw attention from various perspectives.
The initiative has prompted discussions on the availability of clean water globally and the luxury consumption patterns that exist in contrast to water scarcity in some regions. Calls for charitable donations to water-related causes have also emerged alongside the conversation surrounding this upscale water offering.