Saladgate was a viral controversy that erupted in June 2021 at the Hillstone restaurant in Winter Park, Florida, after longtime patron Bruce Woodburn was issued a trespass warning by Winter Park Police for requesting two salads to-go.
Aftermath: Hillstone Restaurant management declined to comment on the incident, while a police report noted that a restaurant representative expressed displeasure with how the officers handled the call, specifically regarding selfies taken by Woodburn with the officers. Last week on June 22, 2021, Bruce Woodburn was issued a trespass warning by Winter Park police officers at Hillstone restaurant in Winter Park, known for their spectacular sunset lakeside views and grilled artichoke appetizers.
The alleged disturbance that warranted this trespass order and visit from the Winter Park Police Department? Trying to order a salad “to-go” – and thus lighting off what has now become known as “Saladgate” on social media including quite a few memes as well as some humorous signage from other restaurants.
The Incident: Woodburn, who had ordered the same salad for his wife for nearly 20 years, was denied the to-go order because it was against Hillstone’s policy. When he attempted to order the salads for in-restaurant dining to circumvent the rule, management denied the request, suspecting he would ask for a take-out box once the food was served.
Police Involvement: Woodburn was asked to pay his bill and leave. Upon exiting, he was met by police officers who issued him a trespass warning, stating he was causing a disruption.
Public Reaction: Woodburn posted a video of the incident on Facebook, which went viral with tens of thousands of views, sparking the #Saladgate hashtag and memes across Orlando’s foodie community.
Although Hillstone has offered to-go salads in the past and continue to do takeout for certain items, it appears it is against their policy to have their salad to go right now.
Although Woodburn tried to order the salad at the restaurant to dine in, this request was denied by the restaurant management. The managers eventually called the Winter Park police to issue Mr. Woodburn a tresspass warning.
Watch the video:
New details have come in regarding the alleged Saladgate incident at Hillstone recently. Winter Park Police were called to the restaurant during Tuesday’s lunch hour because a customer had requested a salad to go.
The customer, Bruce Woodburn, posted about the incident on his Facebook page and recounted his version of what happened in a video. Basically, as I understand it, Woodburn was dining at the lakefront restaurant with another person and asked to purchase a salad to take with him. The restaurant said no. He then asked for a salad to eat at his table, but again was told no. Apparently management was on to his little ploy and suspected that as soon as the salad was delivered to the table he would request a box for the “leftovers.”
Eventually, Woodburn was asked to pay his bill and leave. When he did, he was met outside by two of Winter Park’s finest, who had been called by Hillstone. Cindy Wathen, identified in the report as a “restaurant representative,” told the officers that she wanted Woodburn trespassed and read Woodburn a trespass warning, which he said he understood. He left the scene without incident, according to the report.
However, according to the Trespass Warning Report filled out by responding officer Kyle Noyes, Wathen later expressed “displeasure with how the call was handled.”
That is most likely a reference to the smiling (almost laughing) selfies Woodburn took with the two officers to commemorate the event. Noyes said in the report that he referred Wathen to his supervisor “for more information.” A spokeswoman for Winter Park Police Department could not comment because she did not have first-hand knowledge of the incident.
It should be noted that nowhere in the report is it mentioned that trying to order a takeaway salad is what led to Woodburn being asked to leave. But it does say that managers said he was “causing a disruption.”
His very funny FB post can be found here.
This incident even made it to the pages of Scott Joseph, Orlando Sentinel Food critic. Joseph wrote a follow up piece regarding the incident.
