Typically the waitress alerts the line chefs that the salads at a given table have been served and the line chefs time the entree to come out at a reasonable period of time after the serving of the salad (I am familiar with the term "fire table xyz" to the chef when the salads are served or just going out). Of course different entrees have slightly different "finish" times to prepare, but not different enough to throw a well working kitchen off. The staff has to assume some kind of average time that it will take a table to finished their salads, so if you know your table likes to eat at a more leisurely pace than others, or if you know you like to have another glass of wine between salad and dinner etc, let your waitress know this. There isn't any other way for the staff to time your service. If a waitress waits until your salads are finished before alerting the line chefs to "finish" your order, you will sit with no food for the time it takes to finish the most lengthy meal your table has ordered.
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