Salad Temperature - what should it be? (2024)

I went to this somewhat upscale restaurant last night and ordered a Caesar salad. It was warm, when it arrived at my table. I sent it back, and told the waiter I like my salad to be chilled. It took 10 minutes to get a new salad... so I asked the waiter... "Did you just put my salad in the fridge for 10 minutes?"

He looked embarrassed, and admitted that is exactly what happened... and then he said the owner / chef thinks salads taste best at room temperature.

I told him to take it away and not charge me because I don't like warm salad. And even when the salad came back from the fridge, it wasn't really chilled - just slightly less warm.

How do you like your salad?

EDIT: I would say that 90% of the places we eat have the salad at least somewhat chilled. This salad was bordering on "hot".

Originally Posted by Winter Blossom

I don't go to restaurants to eat salad.

It was just an appetizer.

Room temp if you want icecream order it.

i think you confused salad with icecreams

Usually, I enjoy them at room temperature. If I'm in a rush, I'll take it chilled, but only because I put ingredients in the fridge.

i don't eat salads cause salads are for fatties and rabbits.

Originally Posted by Davillage

Room temp if you want icecream order it.

I recently read a book on restaurant foods. It said that salads are best at 42 - 46 degrees F, and that most quality restaurants do serve them at that temperature.

Prefer slightly chilled.

I keep most of my vegetables in the fridge, so that's how they end up anyway.

Lettuce is the source of many e coli outbreaks

This guy has to wipe with something.

Originally Posted by breadisfunny

i don't eat salads cause salads are for fatties and rabbits.

See Also

8 Best Vegetables to Eat Raw [And Their Benefits]

And goats I think goats eat salad too.

Originally Posted by Davillage

And goats I think goats eat salad too.

thats right draenei are evil salad eaters.

#firstworldproblems

Also who orders a salad at a restaurant?

- - - Updated - - -

Originally Posted by GarlicGuy

I recently read a book on restaurant foods. It said that salads are best at 42 - 46 degrees F, and that most quality restaurants do serve them at that temperature.

I wouldn't trust a random book

Originally Posted by adam86shadow

#firstworldproblems

Also who orders a salad at a restaurant?

- - - Updated - - -

I wouldn't trust a random book

1. It comes with the meal.
2. It was a book for professionals, written by a guy with 40 years experience in the restaurant business.

Originally Posted by GarlicGuy

I went to this somewhat upscale restaurant last night and ordered a Caesar salad. It was warm, when it arrived at my table. I sent it back, and told the waiter I like my salad to be chilled. It took 10 minutes to get a new salad... so I asked the waiter... "Did you just put my salad in the fridge for 10 minutes?"

He looked embarrassed, and admitted that is exactly what happened... and then he said the owner / chef thinks salads taste best at room temperature.

I told him to take it away and not charge me because I don't like warm salad. And even when the salad came back from the fridge, it wasn't really chilled - just slightly less warm.

How do you like your salad?

EDIT: I would say that 90% of the places we eat have the salad at least somewhat chilled. This salad was bordering on "hot".

First, you're getting salads that are "chilled" because the ingredients are kept in containers in an ice bath in the kitchen. Their temperature will rise naturally after being removed from the container. Second, food always has more flavor at room temperature and warmer. A caesar salad, especially, is commonly served at room temperature since it is traditionally prepared tableside from room temperature ingredients (lettuce, mustard, anchovies, oil, etc.). Finally, if the salad came to the table at room temperature how did you expect it to get chilled, except to be refrigerated?

At least in Finland, the basic core of a traditional salad is made from these things: tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, onion.

None of these ingredients require cold storage. Nor should they be stored in cold regardless.

So if you have a fresh salad from fresh ingredients, the salad should be room temperature.

However, if it has been made earlier or it contains stuff that requires cold storage (all of the ingredients require cold storage after they have been cut), then it's cold.

Originally Posted by Winter Blossom

1. This isn't Burger King, where you can "have it your way".
2. The chef/owner gets to decide what temp his salad gets served.
3. Don't like it? Don't eat there or don't order the salad.

1. For most things a restaurant will accommodate a customer. In this case, I do understand that they don't have chilled salads, but a customer has the right to ask for a replacement or bill deduction if not to their liking.

2. He sure does. However, his business would be better served if he makes more people happy, rather than more people unhappy.

3. First time there, and will be my last time..... but it won't be because of the salad, but the fact that at a place where you can drop $90 on dinner for 2 ( BYOB )... they charged $3.50 for a CAN of co*ke, which they left at the table. And if you wanted more soda, it was another $3.50 per can..... Plus, I had their ginger lemonade. It came in a wine glass that was 3/4 full with ice, so there was literally about 3 ounces of lemonade..... for $3.50, and no free refills.

Who serves cans at a restaurant that is priced like that?

Depends onwhat the room temperature is and on what kind of salat.

If it is a green one it should be served at room temperature (which should be around 20-25°C in a restaurant in my opinion, but for food means 17-19°C).
Chilled is only ever ok for fruit salat, some kinds of "salat" are exspected to be heated, even.

If want your (green) salat chilled you should have said so when you ordered it.
And if it was my restaurant I would tell you that chilled salat is not on the menu, at least not the kind chilled like you seem to exspect.
Asking for chilled salat is like asking unsalted soup or uncooked steak.

Originally Posted by adam86shadow

Also who orders a salad at a restaurant?

I only eat salads at restaurants, regardless of which kind of restaurant it is.

OT: Between somewhat chilled and room temp (green salad).

Originally Posted by Pendra

I only eat salads at restaurants, regardless of which kind of restaurant it is.

Why? /10salads

Originally Posted by GarlicGuy

1. For most things a restaurant will accommodate a customer. In this case, I do understand that they don't have chilled salads, but a customer has the right to ask for a replacement or bill deduction if not to their liking.

Not really. As in, only if the owner wants to indulge you.
Normal green salats are exspected to be at room temperature, if you want something out of the ordinary you should indicate so when you order.
Otherwise everyone could come in, order something and when perfectly fine food arrives sent it back and leave the restaurant with the damages just to spite them.- - - Updated - - -

Originally Posted by Puupi

At least in Finland, the basic core of a traditional salad is made from these things: tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, onion.

None of these ingredients require cold storage. Nor should they be stored in cold regardless.

So if you have a fresh salad from fresh ingredients, the salad should be room temperature.

However, if it has been made earlier or it contains stuff that requires cold storage (all of the ingredients require cold storage after they have been cut), then it's cold.

Exactly, if anything but the cheese and similar ingredients of your salat are colder than room temperature (which is 17-19°C for food), then it is generally an indicator for inferior quality.