Woodrow “Woody” Gilbert – World War II pilot, restaurateur and granddaddy of Greek salads in Tampa – died Sunday at the age of 95.
Gilbert was known in South Tampa as the suave patriarch of Woody’s Famous Greek Salads on South Dale Mabry Highway. The eatery was established in 1973 and is now owned by his daughter, Danielle Gilbert Ward.
Salads weren’t the only love of his life, she says.
“He was a true ladies’ man,” says Ward of her dad. Gilbert kept up a dapper appearance and attitude throughout his life, even in his final months at the Hudson Manor Assisted Living Facility. “He loved Dewar’s and his Beamer convertible. He kept the top down 365 days a year.”
Gilbert was working as a maitre d’ at Louis Pappas’ Riverboat on the Hillsborough River when it closed in 1973. He broughtTampa’s only Greek salad back to Tarpon Springs. Gilbert and his son David first opened a small take-out place that sold only salads made with lettuce, imported Kalamata olives, feta, potato salad and Greek pepperoncini.
Customers, often the society women of Palma Ceia, simply held up one or two fingers to show how many salads they wanted. Change was kept in a cigar box. Other dishes were added through the years. The restaurant continues to attract large crowds at lunch.
(source: tbo)
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