In Central European restaurants, what is often implicitly favored if a table does not specify water?
Answer
A carbonated option
The consumption of sparkling water is deeply integrated into the dining culture in several European regions, notably Central Europe, where ordering carbonated water is the established norm rather than the exception. This normalization means that when a waiter approaches a table that has not specified their preference, the customary default response leans toward offering or implicitly favoring a sparkling option. This habitual social practice turns the selection process into an unthinking routine, contrasting with dining customs in other regions where still water or soda might be the immediate assumption.

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