We had a wonderful dining experience at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City today (September 4th around 4:00 p.m.). Our waitress, Luisa, was absolutely fantastic, attentive, and welcoming. We ordered the legendary 1905 Salad, a classic Cuban sandwich, and iced tea--everything was fresh, perfectly prepared, and delicious. The beautiful, historic atmosphere is always a treat, but it's the top-notch service from staff like Luisa that truly makes a visit memorable. We will definitely be back and will be asking for her section! read more

Birthday lunch w my friend Traci. The restaurant is beautiful. Kelsey was our server. Fabulous and very personable. ten plus! . Food was excellent!. read more

Truly a great meal here with outstanding service. The Mojito - Since the Columbia opened its doors, people have enjoyed this flavorful and refreshing beverage made with Bacardi Superior Rum, muddled hierabuena (mint), lime juice and sparkling water. "One sip takes us back to Havana in 1958 when we tasted our first mojito." - Richard and Casey Gonzmart. Yeah, I haven't had a Mojito in forever but I don't remember them being this good -- the table-side prep was a bonus. The Champiñones Rellenos Baked silver dollar mushrooms stuffed with baby spinach, artichoke hearts, fresh garlic and Romano cheese, is probably something I would pass on for the next visit. The Paella "a la Valenciana" - Prepared in a traditional paella pan with La Bomba Spanish rice, extra-virgin olive oil, though different from what I was imagining was still amazing. The real surprise of the night was the Key Lime Pie - The original Key lime pie recipe was thought to have been created in Key West, the birthplace of our grandmother and great-grandmother, Carmen Piloto Hernandez in the late 19th century. When the family moved to Ybor City, they brought a prized Key lime tree to plant at their home, beginning a tradition of enjoying fresh Key lime pie at family gatherings. Today our pies start with a graham cracker crust, and our filling is made from pasteurized egg yolks, condensed milk and "Nellie & Joe's" Key lime juice. That's it! Key lime pie is the "Official Pie of the State of Florida." - I have certainly tasted many. I love Kermit's. But this one was crazy good! The place itself is huge. It feels more modern than I thought it would be, but I assume that's a relatively new refresh somewhere in its history. read more

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Recently we had lunch at the Columbia in Ybor. We both got the 'Half and Half Combo' special. I had the half Cuban sandwich and half 1905 Salad. We also had the half Cuban Sandwich and half Caldo Gallego soup. Everything was wonderful. There are many Cuban Sandwich controversies, but this sandwich was like the one that I grew up with. Then again, you really can't go wrong with using Cuban bread from La Segunda Central Bakery on 15th Street. The Caldo Gallego tasted like the one that my grandmother made at home. A pitcher of sangria went very well with lunch. There are numerous versions of sangria everywhere, this is the closest to the one that I make at home, so I really enjoy it. Fruity but not too sweet. Very tasty Sangre de Toro wine and bonus brandy add. As always, amazed that they still dress the 1905 Salad table-side. Same for sangria. After the sandwiches, for dessert, cafe con leche as usual and for a change, we got the Chocolate Flan. Nice chocolate flavor, not too chocolaty, and very nice smooth texture. Our server, Brittany, was excellent. Not only was she proficient and friendly, but, she was extremely knowledgeable about all things from a historical perspective as well as the current operation of the Columbia Restaurant enterprise. The decor really adds to the overall experience. High ceilings, the feeling that you are in a courtyard, fountains, family photos, artwork. Just another fantastic experience at The Columbia Restaurant! read more

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Always a Classic .... In town for a game , Stopped in for a DELICIOUS LUNCH Sangria de Cava 1905 Salad Paella "Española Simply the BEST! Waitress BRIDGETTE , EXCELLENT CANT wit to go Back read more

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Great service in a historically charming environment offering food that tells a story. This is my first visit to the OG Columbia located in Ybor City. I often go to the Tampa History Center location, but wanted to give the original a try. Our server, Chris S., was amazing and attentive by checking in frequently and making sure our drinks were always full. I ordered a pitcher of the red sangria and the 1905 salad, both prepared table side. This place is a classic for a reason and I will continue to return for the upscale yet casual environment and fresh offerings. Nice bonus - in September, 5% of all food sales go directly to a local charity of your choosing for their initiative called "Second Harvest". What a great way to give back to the community! read more

Columbia Restaurant - Spanish Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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When I lived in Tampa, the Columbia was a monthly visit. Service is always top tier. I had Merluza à la Rusa and their delicious, warm Cuban bread. The fish was tasty and portioned well with the yellow r read more

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The original Columbia in Ybor City is a genuine piece of Tampa history -- founded 1903 as a saloon, became a restaurant in 1905, now spans an entire city block and claims the title of largest Spanish restaurant in the world. Still run by descendants of the founder. We had a Saturday 7pm reservation and the place was packed (seats around 1,700 people, per our server), but we were seated only 5-6 minutes late and service never felt strained despite the crowd. Started with warm, authentic Cuban bread and butter, then split the Original "1905" Salad -- tossed and served tableside, with Romano cheese, garlic dressing, ham, tomatoes, lettuce, and Swiss cheese. It's basically an entree on its own. The empanadas were also excellent: light crust, extremely flavorful filling, juices running with every bite. For my entree I had the Red Snapper "Adelita" -- grilled, topped with hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, served over their signature yellow rice. Perfectly cooked fish, very flavorful toppings. For dessert, we compared the key lime pie against the white chocolate bread pudding. The pie was well-made -- perfect texture, perfect graham cracker crust, light raspberry sauce -- but a touch light on the tart key lime punch I look for. The bread pudding was the better dish: rich, decadent, excellent. Finished with proper Cuban espresso. The menu here is enormous -- expect to need multiple visits to make a dent in it. Everything we tried was excellent. Highly recommend, but book ahead on weekends; even with 1,700 seats, this place fills up. read more

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1905 salad. And anything else on the menu. Delicious! Beautiful historical place. Yada yada yada read more

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A resounding YES! We came here for the first time a couple of years ago and it was such a pleasant and memorable experience, we had to come back. We were told that it would be a 30-40 minute wait, but it was hardly a 20 minute wait. The ambiance of the place is so homey, and the staff is generally pleasant. First of all, do not underestimate the BREAD. It is probably, hands down, the best baguette bread I have had in the US. We had croquette and stuffed mushrooms as appetizers. They were good. For my main course, I had the mahi mahi varadero and it was really good. It came with crab and Spanish rice, and was breaded with crispy plantains. It was good, although I generally don't like Spanish rice. HOWEVER, if I had to recommend a dish, it would be the mahi-mahi cayo-Hueso. It was marinated with citrus flavors and it was divine. Now I don't know who in our party ordered the fries, but they were amazing and felt as good as home fries. Now to the dessert, we ordered almost one of each and it was some of the best dessert I have had in my life -not too sweet, made well, and with real ingredients. I would have ordered my own cafe con leche but it was too late for me in the day but man did I wish I could have had my own cup instead os stolen sips. A record would not be complete without aknowledging the staff. Our waiter was Alfredo and he was such a nice, sweet, and accommodating waiter. He was also patient with such a large party. Thank you, Alfredo! read more

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From the moment I walked in, it resembled a little piece of old Cuba or Spain! The history, architecture, and cuisine celebrated here, along with the family warmth of the place, certainly caught my attention!! The wait staff were very friendly, Mark my waiter, has worked here for over 20 year! Speaks volumes about how they run this place! The service was chill, and the food was 1000% full of delicious flavor. I tried their classic famous salad, the seafood paella, and the flan! Absolutely hit the spot!! Visiting here on a Sunday evening was a totally different experience! It felt less like dining out and more like sharing a family meal in a much-loved, historic home. I'll definitely be returning and will bring friends and family with me next time I visit Tampa! read more

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The Columbia is such a beautiful Tampa staple! I've been here several times and it never disappoints when you want a great atmosphere, delicious food, and a fun dining experience. The wine selection is fantastic, and I love that there are so many good options that are actually affordable. You really can't go wrong! The 1905 Salad is an absolute must. I've also tried several of their appetizers, and my personal favorite is the black bean cakes. They are SO good and something I would definitely order again. For entrees, I highly recommend the Mahi Mahi and the Chicken Salteado. Both are flavorful and delicious, and there are so many great options on the menu that it's hard to choose just one. Between the gorgeous historic atmosphere, great wine, and consistently delicious food, Columbia is definitely a Tampa favorite of mine. Highly recommend! read more

We frequent here, and I really love to give them 5 stars, but I couldn't: there is something that just doesn't warrant the full count. This time is the rushing and the rice. The food first. We've * Croquetas * Filet steak * Mahi mahi cayo * La completa YBO-D * Paella Valencia * Palomilla-din Our reservation was at 5:15, but we arrived at 4:45. At the time of the reservation, I asked for a balcony table. Maybe it was too early to open that section. But they sat us by a door, the worst table in the area. Why? It wasn't busy, with many available. My paella rice isn't fully cooked. The server began removing the entry plates and utensils while most of us were still eating. read more

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I was hoping for a bit more out of this historic restaurant, but I would give it another shot. The flamenco show was 10/10, but the food was more of a 6/10. We ordered the devil crab croquetas, which were fine. Honestly, nothing special about them. For the entree, I ordered the lechon asada and it was fine. The boiled yuca was dry, which was hard to do. read more

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Wow!!!! This place is phenomenal! I wish I could give it a sixth star. The waiter was fabulous, quick, friendly and very informative. We had the pitcher of mojitos, which was refreshing and every bit of what a mojito should be. Bonus: they make it right in front of you. Their salad and bread were fantastic. The bread had a great crunch, perfect! The salad and dressing were very good too, very fresh. The mahi mahi with crab was the best mahi mahi I have ever had. It was citrusy and flavorful, cooked perfectly. The mango upside down cake was really good (could have used a little more ice cream), however the flavor was great! The restaurant is HUGE (does not look it from the outside). Everything was clean and so beautifully decorated. Wow!!! This is DEFINITELY someplace I highly recommend trying at least once. It is pricey but SO worth it, especially for special occasions. read more

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Work around the corner from here and been having a lot of work meetings. Well this is the best place to wine and dine clients. Been here several times now and each time has been better and better! Service is amazing. First class in training and performance. All around a well oiled machine that is on top of everything. But to be expected as they have been around since 1905! The food is beyond amazing I've had the Cuban, chicken and rice, steak and the famous 1905 salad. Everything has been fantastic in flavor and portions. Great spot again for work meetings lunch or dinners, anniversary, dates, everything all events. Now for theme, obviously it's a Cuban restaurant so very Cuban/Spanish themed. Now the fun part about this place is the outside looks nothing like the inside. It looks bigger inside honestly as each room has its own theme. If you get a moment to look around do so as it's fascinating! read more

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What can I say that hasn't been said by thousands already? Columbia is a "try before you die" restaurant! Famous for its size (1,700 capacity) and its age (it opened in 1905), Columbia is world-famous and well-known even by non-Floridians, such as myself. Thankfully, I was given the opportunity to dine here in March 2026 with a large group of friends before we left the next day for a cruise. I went off menu and ordered myself a Cubano sandwich ($15). Normally, the cubano is not available during the dinner service. This was very good and I can see why it is a must-try dish here. I shouldn't have caffeine after 2pm but I indulged myself and got a cafe con leche as my drink ($5). This was the only sort of disappointment of the evening. The espresso was nothing special and tasted of nothing. It took a while for us to get everything but there were 13 of us and our waitress worked very hard. I didn't order their famous salad, but I had a few bites of it, thanks to a friend, and LOVED it! The wait staff make it right in front of you as well. Fancy! The flamenco show was delightful, but it isn't free. 10 dollars are added to everyone's checks at the end. You "can't" record it or take pictures of it either, hence why I only grabbed one photo. The interior and the ambiance are a 10/10. I'm a nosy nelly, and love to people watch. I was so dang happy to be here and just observe everything and everyone for two hours. I was enchanted and enthralled the entire time the Tampa Bay Flamenco dancers performed. My mouth was agape and my jaw was on the floor. Service, as to be expected in a VERY popular high-end restaurant like this, was a 10/10. Our waitress, Ana, was very professional and provided us immaculate service. The waiters wear tuxes and suits, providing a very formal atmosphere. I noticed most of the waiters were older, which means that they probably have been working here for many years. I didn't buy anything from their gift shop - I didn't have a way to bring anything I bought home - but it looked good, well-stocked, and reasonably priced! I would absolutely love to come back to Columbia again! read more

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This was the most delicious Spanish food. Completely understand while it is so well known and still serving after 120 years. Our server, Jim, was the best and sweetest waiter we have ever had. He had fabulous recommendations and made our dinner even better read more

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Fantastic food, the stuffed pompano was great! Courtney was terrific!!! The music trio was great. We had a lovely time. Thank you. read more

My husband took us here for Mother's Day brunch and it was fantastic! Our reservation was for 12:15, when we arrived the waiting space by the host stand was PACKED, there were even people waiting outside. Thankfully, we checked in and were seated within 5 mins of arriving. From the outside you don't really see how big this restaurant is, but on the inside it is so big and spacious and beautifully decorated. For how busy it was, it still felt like an intimate time with our family for lunch. I ordered the ropa vieja, it was delicious - highly recommend trying it. My mom ordered the empanadas and a soup (I can't remember which soup) - she enjoyed all of it. The kids menu has good options as well, especially for my picky eater. The service was phenomenal, our waitress was very nice and walked us through the menu. She was also very attentive the entire time and had a great attitude. We can't wait to go back! read more

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Josh T bartender is amazing he told me so much historic things about this place,im new to area and he was what a bartender should be.i had great food here and I live this place truly read more

Columbia Restaurant - Great bartender - Spanish Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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So since my last visit last year - I have returned at least once a month! Helloooo it's become a favorite staple to have lunch with clients, coworkers or just friends! It has such a great atmosphere and each time that I go I get a different room so it feels like I'm dining at a different restaurant. I am a creature of habit so I'm almost always getting the same thing but last time I went we had the croquettas de pollo and deviled crabs! Delicious delicious! Just to update from my last visit: Parking - there's plenty in the front, the back and the streets as well. Reservations - Make them! The place gets packed during lunch and dinner. Night live dancers are a must see! Service: Off the charts! They are very attentive, quick on their feet and they make sure your dining experience is superb. So tip them well. Drinks are delicious especially the Sangria! Get it and thank me later! read more

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The Columbia never disappoints. Even as busy as they are they always accommodate with efficiency. The food is always fresh and full of flavor. Excellent wait staff. You should come to expect a dining experience not just to eat! A you should start with a pitcher of a favorable sangria which is followed by fresh Cuban bread. With seven locations across the state you can't go wrong! read more

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Two Nights in a Row and Even Better the Second Time! This was my second night in a row at Columbia Restaurant, and that alone should tell you how much I enjoyed it! I'm attending the Connect Conference and after eating here last night, I told a few friends how good the food was. I even told Casey, the Assistant Manager, that I was going to spread the word. Well... OMG. Apparently I spread the word a little TOO well because everyone showed up tonight! My reservation didn't get made, so I headed to the bar, and it ended up being a great experience. There was only one seat available at the bar, so we made it work with one person at the bar and the rest of us at a nearby table. That's when we had the pleasure of meeting Chris, the bartender. He was AMAZING! Even though we weren't all technically sitting at the bar, Chris took care of our entire group and never missed a beat. He was friendly, attentive, welcoming, and made us feel like taking care of us was no trouble at all. Great food brought me back for a second night, but service like Chris provided is what makes you want to keep coming back. Thank you, Casey I'm sorry I missed you and Chris, for another great evening at Columbia. And apparently, when I tell people a restaurant is good, they listen! read more

Columbia Restaurant - Stuffed Shrimp "Jesse Gonzalez" - yummy! - Spanish Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Excellent atmosphere, service and food. From the warm Cuban bread to the Champagne sangria, always a great experience. Have had a lot of business lunches as well as family dining visits over the past 50 years or so. read more

This place is not only local history but an historic experience. Been around for over 120yr and four generations of ownership. Menu is so intense and lots of choices. Started with salad 1905. Served family style and made right at your table. Then went into the Tapas. So many good ones to choose from. We had the deviled crab croquettes then Jamon croquettes, special - lobster flat bread, shrimp Al Ajillo. And for dessert we tried the bread pudding. Oh my goodness these were amazing we also had their amazing brandy sangria with family wine. Wow!!!! Then also had to try the family owned Sauvignon Blanc wine. Amazing flavor and so smooth. Anything we ate or drank was unbelievable tasting. Then the service. Nothing but the best!!!! read more

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Recommended by our friends, we made a reservation at Columbia Restaurant during our visit to Ybor City on Friday. As the oldest restaurant in Florida and the largest Spanish restaurant in the world, we felt it was a must-visit to experience its rich history and unique atmosphere. We also reserved seats for the Flamenco dance show, which had a $10 cover charge per person. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful and enormous, with so many different dining rooms. You could probably get lost trying to find your friends inside, just kidding! We were lucky enough to get a table near the stage, so we could enjoy the Flamenco performance while having dinner. For our meal, we started with the Caldo Gallego "Giant Soup" ($10), which was hearty, flavorful, and incredibly comforting. We also ordered Columbia's Original "1905" Salad ($18). Made with crisp iceberg lettuce, julienned baked ham, natural Swiss cheese, tomatoes, olives, grated Romano cheese, Lea & Perrins® Worcestershire sauce, and their famous garlic dressing, it was fresh, light, and absolutely delicious. Our main dish was the Mojito Chicken ($25). The chicken was very flavorful, especially with its delicious citrus-garlic sauce. Although the chicken itself was just a little on the dry side in my opinion, the flavorful sauce made up for it, and the dish was still very enjoyable. We also had the Paella "a la Valenciana" ($40), which was loaded with clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, calamari, chicken, and pork, along with green peppers, Spanish onions, ripe tomatoes, garlic, and a splash of white wine. It was a generous portion packed with fresh seafood and rich Spanish flavors. The New York Strip Sirloin "The Bambino" ($53) was another excellent choice. The 14 oz. USDA Choice wet-aged boneless strip steak was tender, juicy, and cooked perfectly. To finish our meal, we ordered the Flan ($8). It was smooth, creamy, and absolutely delicious, a perfect ending to a wonderful dinner. The Flamenco dance show was fantastic! The dancers were energetic and passionate, making the entire dining experience even more lively and memorable. Combined with the excellent service, it made for a truly enjoyable evening. Overall, Columbia Restaurant is much more than just a place to eat, it's a historic landmark and an unforgettable dining experience. Between the beautiful Spanish architecture, rich history, delicious food, outstanding service, and exciting Flamenco performance, it's definitely worth visiting when you're in Ybor City. read more

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Service, food & ambience was the best! Visiting Tampa for my brother in laws bday, & stopped here for a bday lunch thank you so much Columbia Restaurant for helping us make this day special for our Christian & our family!! Everything we ordered was delicious!! read more

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Great experience! We love their sangria and the traditional salad. The Cuban bread and butter was so good too. I got the half and half which is a great option. The Cuban sandwich is good but it's a lot when you've already eaten a ton of Cuban bread. The chicken croquette tapa was delicious and great for picky eaters but we were super crazy about the black bean cakes. Beautiful atmosphere and great service. read more

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We made reservations months in advance & met friends from NY here again this year. This has become our go to restaurant when we are in Tampa. There are several parking lots & many beautiful rooms in this huge restaurant. Six of us were seated at the Gonzmart family round table. Maria waited on us & she was informative & very personable. From the warm bread to the table side sangria & garlicy salad to the Cuban assorted plate & warm white chocolate bread pudding. Portions were huge, everything was delicious & I'm stuffed! Portions were enormous, prices, reasonable, and everything we tasted was exceptional. Six of us left very happy and very very full read more

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We come here every time we are in Ybor City, Tampa area, and we are never disappointed! This place is amazing! Best meal we've enjoyed in a long time. I love everything about this restaurant. I consider it Ybor City's national treasure. Everything is phenomenal. The food, the drinks, the ambience, the service. Truly, you can't go wrong coming here. We did the tapas: scallops, empanadas, pollo croquetas, and a bowl of the famous sopa. Everything was great. Don't forget to enjoy the delicious complimentary Cuban bread with lots of butter! Perfect for sopping up the delicious sopa. The drinks were great. I had three: classic mojito, sangria tinto, and cafè Cesar. All good. My favorite is always their mojito. No one in America does it better imo... definitely on par with Spain. Dessert was the guava turnover. It was good, but should be shared because it's basically diabetes on a plate. lol. Very sweet is an understatement. I preferred the boozy Cafè Cesar (Cuban coffee mixed with booze and topped with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick) nice ending to the meal. The kids ate their meal without complaints. This place is huge and prone to long waits. Make a reservation or plan ahead. You can always eat at the bar if you're in a pinch. They often have live music there and the bartenders look snazzy in their tuxedoes. It's a whole vibe. Enjoy!! read more

We had reservations at 1 on a Sunday. Reservations are highly recommended. This place was packed! We were sat about 10 minutes after checking in. Nick was our server. He was friendly and helpful with recommendations. Decided to start out with a pitcher of sangria since we had just completed dry January! Another one followed shortly after. Best sangria in Florida! We all ordered 1905 salad, empanadas and chicken. Everything was delicious! Service was stellar and we enjoyed our visit fully! read more

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Food was authentic and fresh. Beautiful dining rooms and we loved our waitress Laura who was patient and attentive. Loved the old world charm. read more

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Our first time at Columbia and def won't be the last! Everything was amazing. I requested to sit in the Patio dining area, which was fulfilled, and it was very pretty with a relaxing vibe. The service was top notch, and we enjoyed seeing the sangria and the 1905 salad being prepared table side. Everything was delicious and tasted fresh. They even packed our leftovers for us, which you no longer experience that often - nice touch! read more

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Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City is absolutely stunning. If those walls could talk I'd sit and listen for hours! The tiles, floors, and history everywhere you look are incredible. Our server Enarxis was amazing and made our entire visit! He made us feel like family right away, shared the history of the room we were in, and gave us great tips and things to do while traveling in the area. His food and drink recommendations were 10/10: Red Sangria & Salad: The sangria was delicious and the tableside salad was so unique and flavorful. Cuban Bread: Oh my gosh... warm, perfectly crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside with butter. Divine! Pollo Manchego: Huge portion for lunch! The citrusy sauce with the crispy chicken and yellow rice was so different from anything I've had and super delicious. Mahi Mahi with Blue Crab: My husband devoured this. El Combo de Cuba: My dad cleaned his plate trying all the Cuban flavors. We loved every second from start to finish. I can't say enough good things about Enarxis--he truly made our experience. We will 100% be back next time we are in the area! read more

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A lot goes into a restaurant review. It's not just the food. I'm not going to forever score a restaurant based off an appetizer and a dish...so I have to take everything into account. It is the whole experience. Before you even open the doors, this place looks magical. Opening the doors confirms what your imagination was pre-planning. It is absolutely fantastical. You're instantly transported back decades. The menu, the service, the decor, the ambience... Everything was top-notch. They probably could've served TV dinners, and I would still give this a four star review minimum. We started with some empanada appetizers which were delicious. My dad ordered the famous Cuban sandwich which, I'm not gonna lie, I thought it was a little dry. Definitely did not seem world, famous, although the bread was fantastic. I ordered, I don't know what I ordered, it was something that I had never tried before, which is what I like to do. I order things that I'm not going to ever cook in my own kitchen. It was ground meat with an assortment of Cuban flavors and delicate rice. It was good. The star of the show was the white chocolate bread pudding. It might be the best bread pudding I've had in my entire life, certainly top five. My dad doesn't like bread, pudding, and even he thought it was pretty ridiculous. The second star of the show was the Coke. I don't know what they serve... But the Coke was refreshing. The prices were very reasonable compared to the entire experience. I would for sure go back on a regular basis. Pretty much, if you are in the neighborhood, you have to go here. read more

This was my second time visiting this location and this visit completely chanced my experience. The first time I came, i liked it, but it didn't fully wow me, this time? So much better. The service was incredible from start to finish, attentive, warm and professional without feeling rushed. The food was very good. The caldo gallego was absolutely delicious, comforting, flavorful and perfectly seasoned. The paella a la Valenciana was a standout this time, fresh and full of well balanced flavors. Everything tasted thoughtfully prepared. The restaurant has a such pleasant atmosphere, it feels classic and full of history but is still lively and welcoming. Overall a really solid experience not quite five stars yet but definitely a place I'd return to again (especially for the caldo gallego) read more

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Definitely a tourist highlight! It is a HUGE place with lots of different rooms, balcones and private rooms. We walked in without reservations for lunch, but no problem, we were seated on the balcony in about 15'. This was an unplanned meal for us so we just ordered a couple of appetizers and drinks. The food was good. Unfortunately, our server Jose had a table downstairs and multiple tables upstairs, so it was hard to get his attention. Overall, a positive experience, the tile work outside is definitely "a Kodak moment!" read more

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Upon arriving in Tampa, everyone recommended that we go to the Columbia in historic Ybor City. The restaurant and building have been around since 1905. The menu shares photos and the story behind the family's generations of ownership, which adds to the experience. Service was very nice, and you could tell the staff takes pride in both the space and the food. As soon as you sit down, they bring an ample amount of Cuban bread, and it was perfectly crispy and fresh. My husband and I both ordered the half-and-half: half of a Cuban sandwich and half of the table-side salad. Unfortunately, the Cuban sandwich was a bit underwhelming for me (then again, I am partial to Miami's version of a Cuban, which is loaded with pickles and mustard.) The bread was too crunchy (maybe it was pressed and then just sat too long before they served it?), and there was only one very thin slice of pickle. Overall it lacked flavor. The salad, on the other hand, was excellent. The table-side preparation was fun to watch, and the homemade dressing was full of flavor. We arrived around 1:45 p.m. on a Tuesday, which we assumed would be an off time, but there was still a 30+ minute wait, with several people waiting in the lobby to be seated. read more

Columbia Restaurant - Half Cuban sandwich, half table side salad - Spanish Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Very beautiful place and so many rooms to be seated . Food was excellent . I'm not a big Cuban or Spanish food eater , but menu is large and I found what I like . Calamari as an appetizer was good and large portions . I'm old school, so prefer red sauce like Italian . They didn't offer that sauce , so their sauce , even though good , wasn't my style . Wife had a great soup and big salad . I had a bambino steak , and it was delicious. Again, not a fan of certain sauces , so steak had something on top, I pushed it off and steak was great . Also I requested veggie zucchini and excellent .overall experience was positive , but waitress wasn't the friendliest to my wife needs . It was late , place emptied out, maybe she wanted to go home . Big parking lot across from restaurant and they didn't request any money . That's a first read more

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