I am going to let it go, although if we return and the salad thing happens again, then I'm not letting it go.

This incident reminds me of a rather delicious dinner in Chile: we were served main course first, then appetizers, then soup.

We didn't speak Spanish, they didn't know English. I think there was something lost in translation, but quality of the food more than made up for weirdness.

If you go again, you will know to make sure of the order of service.

I'm no culinary expert, so excuse my ignorance, but (other than tradition) does it really matter which order things are served in?

In my experience, in some cases it does. Ginger after sushi has a point. Does salad before soup before the main course also have one?

IMO, in Europe that would mostly be where a selected starter (first course) happens to be composed of salad-type ingredients.

Unless otherwise stated a salad is usually expected to be a side salad served alongside the main course (btw Americans seem to call a main course an entree - whereas what Europe calls an entree is usually a first course not a main course). If it's delivered as a side salad then it's quite possible for the main course, or entree to Americans, to be delivered and the salad to be delivered very shortly after. The salad is then mostly eaten alongside the main course although some customers may finish it just after.

Of course depending on the type of eatery and in which section of the menu the salad appears, can usually indicate situations where a salad is positioned as a main course... sorry, to Americans an entree..../ or a starter.... / or a side dish.

Depending on the restaurant, waiters may ask when you want a salad served if you order one, if they sense you might have a non-standard preference or expectation.

I'm a person who holds people to what they say they will do and complain if they don't.

So I'd talk to the GM and complain both about the salad course being out of order AND for the manager for not following through on his promise and hit it hard for the latter. This is as much about someone not keeping their word as it was for the out-of-order salad.

Kipper, I would not have left without tracking that manager down and making sure he kept his word.

peking duck, properly served is skin first, then meat, then soup. the soup is not made from your duck. good chance to complain. proper Bouillabaisseis served the soup(?) first, with toast and Rouille. finally you get fish. yep, not your fish. classic french has a course or two before the salad.

there seems to be a common thread that runs among so many FT posts. "what do i get for free." or compensation. i have never heard of an FT'er giving something for free if they make a mistake.