Columbia Cuban Spanish Restaurant Review Ybor City Tampa Sarasota Celebration St Augustine Clearwater Beach Florida

Columbia Restaurant

Ybor City (Tampa)

Sarasota

St Augustine

St Petersburg

Clearwater Beach

Celebration

The Columbia restaurant has been a Florida tradition since 1905 when Casimiro Hernandez Sr. founded this now legendary eatery on 7th Avenue in Ybor City. While the Ybor City restaurant is truly a piece of Florida history, the five other locations in Florida are equally as beautiful and respected for their impeccable service and first class food. For example, the Sarasota location is nearly fifty years old and boasts a location on John Ringling's shopping and dining extravaganza, St Armand's Circle.

This family never rests on it's laurels. In 1997 the family rebuilt and expanded the Ybor City kitchen to 5,000 square feet. At this time, the state's most modern kitchen was in its oldest restaurant. All of the locations are maintained similarly.

So what's on the menu? For those of you that are connoisseurs of fine Spanish and Cuban cuisine, we could go on endlessly. We've eaten in every location except Celebration and we've tried or eaten with someone who's tried nearly everything on the menu.

Cuban Sandwich

For lunch you have to get the Cuban sandwich. A Cuban sandwich is all about three things, the Cuban bread that has a relatively thin but crunchy crust, the spiced pork and the mustard. Cuban's also include Swiss cheese, dill pickles, salami and ham. Here, they get it all right. The bread is perfect, the spiced pork stands out and the mustard accents the sandwich without overpowering it. They press the sandwich long enough so that it's hot all the way into the middle, something most places don't take the time to do right. They even slice the bread correctly, diagonally. One point, if you're going to order this without the mustard or salami, or alter in any other way, forgetaboutit; you're not having a Cuban!

1905 Salad

Other things you'll want to try include the Cuban black bean soup, Spanish bean soup or the Gazpacho, a cold soup that is great on a hot Florida day and made with ripe tomatoes, green peppers, onions, cucumbers and garlic. The Columbia also makes a traditional house salad called the 1905 Salad, made with iceberg lettuce, julienne of baked ham, natural Swiss cheese, tomato, olives, grated Romano cheese and their famous 100 year old family recipe dressing made with fresh garlic, oregano, wine vinegar and Spanish extra virgin olive oil.

Tapas

The menu also includes a wide variety of Tapas, a Spanish that includes servings of several items that you choose. A meal of Tapas is usually a leisurely dining experience and includes plenty of wine. We like the Calamares Fritos "a la Romana", Shrimp and Crabmeat Alcachofas, a baked casserole of shrimp, crabmeat and artichoke hearts topped with grated Romano cheese, Albondigas, homemade beef meatballs in a mildly spicy tomato sauce and the Black Bean Cakes served with guacamole and Sour Cream

Paella "A la Valencia"

For dinner we love the Paella. I hate to be a snob, but once again, if you're going to alter it, you're not having Paella and there are many things on the menu worth trying. The best is the Paella "A la Valencia" prepared in a traditional paella pan, it features clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, calamares, chicken and pork, baked with Valencia rice, extra virgin olive oil, green peppers, Spanish onions, ripe tomatoes, garlic, spices and splashed with white wine. We've also had the Paella "Campesina", kind of a land lovers creation that is made with Valencia rice with beef tenderloin, pork, chicken, chorizo and green beans.

If you're dining with a group that might include some finicky Americanized eaters, no need to worry. There is something on this menu for everyone. We highly recommend the Filet Mignon "Chacho" made with a rich sauce of bourbon, shallots, and mushrooms and flambeéd tableside with a shot of the world's finest bourbon, Booker Noe.

Snapper "Alicante"

We also like the Mahi Mahi "Cayo Hueso" boneless fillet of Mahi Mahi marinated in citrus juices and grilled. Served with "Good Rice" yuca, platanos and mojo and the Snapper "Alicante" an incredibly delicious recipe that features the King of Gulf fish, Snapper, baked in a casserole with sweet Spanish onions, green peppers, a rich gravy, olive oil, fresh garlic, sauterne wine and topped with sliced roasted almonds. Served with yellow rice and garnished with fried eggplant and Shrimp Supreme.

Godiva Chocolate Cake

For dessert they do Key Lime Pie the right way but there's a cheesecake with a Cuban twist, guava. I love guava! Of course you'll find Flan and bread pudding, both are traditional Spanish treats. Chocoholics, like me will die for the Godiva Chocolate Cake, a dark chocolate cake layered and topped with Chocolate Mousse and drizzled with caramel sauce with seasonal berries. Unbelievable!

Obviously, in a state where Latin culture pervades life there is no lack of Spanish restaurants. There is however, nothing like the Columbia, the oldest restaurant and tradition in Florida, a true lifetime experience.

Columbia Restaurant Ybor City

(Tampa, The Original)

Address:
2117 East 7th Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33605

Telephone:
(813) 248-4961