I’ve been to Philly (although it’s been a while), and I don’t remember ever encountering a restaurant that won’t give free refills on hot tea. Are you absolutely sure about this?
I just went to Waffle House, & got free refills on Coke.
Well, since I live here I have most of my hot tea at home, as a morning thing. I rarely have breakfast out. Certainly coffee refills are free at diners. I certainly have been charged at least once for a second cup of tea, which surprised me. But iced tea, in a real glass at a non-fast food restaurant, usually entails an additional charge. This too amazes me considering the presumed cost/benefit of a cheap beverage and happy customers.
I’m equally amazed when I go to any bar other than where I’m a regular & I can order 3 beers & a Coke for someone who isn’t drinking, and not only get charged for the soda, but more for it than a beer sometimes! Where I am a regular, soda is free as a courtesy.
Here, too. At least the fountain soda is. If you get it in a can or a bottle, they’ll always charge.
I’ve seen restaurants that do this too, and it doesn’t make sense. If they want to control how many refills you get, they should have the fountain behind the counter. And personally, I’ve never been stopped by anyone when I go back for more than one refill. I can’t imagine they have someone who’s job it is to count how many refills someone gets, and I’m sure they don’t want their employees to get into a shouting match with a customer. “That’s your second refill!” “No it’s not!” etc. I guess they figure they can make a little extra cash off the suckers who will actually go up to the cash register and pay for their second refill.