We went for lunch, and it was a great place rest and cool down after walking all the historic areas of St. Augustine. We have been to the Tampa one many times, and this was an easy decision when we saw it on the street we were walking on. Would totally recommend. read more

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May 31, 2016 Memorial Day lunch. Reservations made for 11:00 am under the name of Frederick Hartman. I Constance Hartman is writing this review. We arrived on time, parked in the back lot no problem. We were seated right away. The wait staff was very efficient. Water for me iced tea for Fred. Plus Cuban bread. Fred ordered Black Bean Soup and a half of there famous Columbian Sandwich. No desert. I had two Crab Cakes stuffed with Blue Crab Meat with a drizzle. Very delicious. Then coffee. Took home Blueberry Cheesecake. Service was wonderful. My compliments to the wait staff and chef. Oh and the Hostess for keeping up with the flow the woman has the seating well under control. We had our parking ticket verified on our way out. We were introduced to the Columbia by a longtime customer of theirs Jack Davis of Middleburg. Thank you read more

After finally making the trip to St Augustine and having multiple people recommend this restaurant it was a very sub par experience. Normally I would never review solely on service alone, but unfortunately that was the only aspect we got to experience. After making a reservation and getting seated promptly, we never were greeted nor acknowledged. After a 40 minute wait, it was enough. We shared with the hostess that after we were seated we hadn't been acknowledged nor greeted by a server and she seemed almost annoyed we were even saying anything. Shortly after we left we received a phone call, and were told we were seated at the "wrong table" and it "wasn't really their fault." Overall, a very sub par experience. The overall ambiance of the restaurant was nice, I just wish I was able to experience the food or service that was bragged about. Would not personally revisit this restaurant. read more

Coming from Miami, I was not impressed with the Cuban food. The service was good, food was good but nothing special. The restaurant is huge. read more

Good Vegan options and delicious sangria. Beautiful historic restaurant. Really enjoyed just walking around the restaurant and learning it's history. Excellent service. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in one of my favorite cities in the entire country! St. Augustine is a must stop destination if you have never been. This gem is buried in the heart of historic St. George street and it may be one of the longest standing restaurants in the area. This is some of the best regional Latin food I have ever tasted. I had been raving about this place to my girlfriend and I was so happy that I finally had the opportunity to take her there! Great imported beer and delicious food served by an expert waitstaff. Do not miss this place! read more

We have eaten here on many occasions and we really like this restaurant. The 1905 salad is to die for and same goes for their sangria! We also like their Spanish bean soup made with garbanzo beans and ham. If you are there for lunch I recommend the 1905 salad and a half Cuban sandwich. You will get the best of two worlds without having a huge portion. For dinner, if you like seafood this is one place that serves pompano fish. You won't find pompano in many restaurants so pass up the typical fish and go for the Pompano! Hubs recommends the meat combos for the larger appetite! I recommend making a reservation as it gets very busy at meal times. 9/26/18 update: I am changing my stars to five stars. Reasons are: The 1905 salad, their sangria, the fresh Cuban bread, the Spanish bean soup, and so many other yummy items off their menu. We ate there tonight and I am still thinking about how delicious that 1905 salad is. The salad dressing for the 1905 salad is unique and you will not find it anywhere else. I wanted a lighter meal tonight so I ordered the salad and the garlic shrimp tapas. Hubby likes to get the combo meals. They must be good because he orders them every time. read more

The place is pretty but they have lost their Pizzazz with their cooking. Th fist time I went to this place it was delicious. I came back and the food was different. The Paella was over cooked and the Caesar salad was drowning in the dressing like it was gravy. The Sangria used to be so god but it is missing the sweetness like before. So upset with my last visit. read more

I'll NEVER WOULD EAT HERE AGAIN IN MY LIFE. The food smells really bad and it's literally junk food. No recommended to anyone

Traditional Spanish menu served in a beautiful setting. Try the paella and order a pitcher of mojitos for the table!

Delicious! Old fashioned atmosphere and nice fresh food, salad made right in front of us! No complaints at all! Will eat here again! read more

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Everyone needs to try the Columbia at least once when visiting St. Augustine. The decor with their hand painted tiles, bistro courtyard seating and ornate fountains are absolutely beautiful. However the reason I go to Columbia is for their warm Cuban bread, Spanish bean soup and their 1905 salad. I could literally eat that salad every day of my life. It is made table side with lemon juice, Worchester sauce, olives, turkey and fresh grated cheese. Not sure how I can finish this salad after eating a whole loaf of warm, crusty bread and butter but it is so delicious I never have leftovers. . Expect a wait as this place is right in the heart of St. George Street and is always busy. read more

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I expected more than what we received. Our reservation was scheduled for 1:45, and we were promptly sat as promised. Once we sat, the experience was down hill from there. Our meal took forever. The hostess brought us our desert while the dirty plates were still at the table. She mentioned she would bring a larger tray and that never happened. We paid her in cash had to wait 45 minutes for change. I kid you not 45 minutes with the excuse she had to see her manager. Food was good, service sucked. read more

Never disappointed. Food & service is always excellent. Highly recommend the Picadillo "Criollo", croquetas, 1905 salad, and the gazpacho. Their homemade hot sauce is very good and sold in the gift shop. Reservations recommended. read more

OK - so I grew up eating at the Columbia in Tampa in Ybor City. That said, the one in St. Augustine is very dependable and good food, but NOT cheap! When in St. Augustine I'm always there for lunch as they offer a nice menu;dinner is a bit more pricy. I keep talking about PRICE, but realy service is good and food is always good -- plus you get a free flan if it your birthday .... it's always a birthday when I go!! HAHA read more

The Columbia - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

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What a great find! Came here with the fam on vacation. We had a mighty hankerin for some sustenance and I was in the mood for Spanish rice. We ordered a sangria pitcher that was mixed in front of us. It yielded 4 cups and It was really tasty. They brought everyone out their own loaf of fresh bread. Our server was very knowledgeable of the menu (which was really large) and friendly. I ordered the paella vegetarian. They brought it out and prepped it at the table. The veggies and rice we are cooked perfectly and tasted phenomenal. They made the rice with a vegetable stock that had a lot of flavor. Service was slow in the beginning, but not enough to Warrant a 4 star. I would definitely go back next time I'm in st. Augustine! read more

Great service. Good food. For us, this was a chance to order the things we just don't make at home. The sangria pitcher was a hit and the flan is fantastic. Reservations are a good idea - we were able to get in at lunch, but not dinner. read more

The evening started out badly when we were told the wait would be 45 min end it was 75 min. The ordering process was slow. But worst of all was that the food did not meet Columbia standards. The 1929 salad was over dressed and too salty to eat. I couldn't get it down and I love the signature 1929 salad. The margarita tasted like medicine. The fish was over cooked, rubbery and tasteless. Do better Columbia! read more

This is pretty much a staple while being in St. Augustine.. long standing restaurant with influence from Spain, very tasty and beautiful. Had a grrat server that'd been there for about a decade and seems like they're all like a big family. The place is gorgeous inside, can only imagine when they had the open interior patios! Their 1905 salad is sooo tasty! Burst of flavors in my mouth, and the bread with butter, served warm and toasty... Tried multiple appetizers and they were all GREAT! Had the Lobster Filled Canelones and they were tasty and the sauce too, although it may not look so appetizing,.. but the flavor was on point! Ordered a white chocolate budín dessert that is served warm with a dash of some rum or alcohol and it was fabulous too! Make a reservation, cause they're usually pretty slam packed read more

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I would honestly mark this place a four star but I believe they deserve better than a 3 1/2 star average. I almost skipped this place and that would have been a shame. So glad I listened to the recommendations of people we met here. Bottom line is don't come if it is super busy or you are in a hurry. It just isn't that kind of place. Come if you want a relaxing tasty meal. I highly recommend the 1905 salad. read more

Lots of disappointments! Took 1.5 hrs for food to arrive. Paella was luke warm and the stuff the menu lists is a bit of a lie. Lots of chunks of chicken and pork, but then 2 little shrimps and squid (was sharing I didn't get any) and the mussels so over cooked they were the size of a pea. My son's medium filet was med rare both times they redid it. So he only ate the outside of it. Was told we'd get free dessert for our long wait. We ordered 4 and the cheapest 2 were free. The cocktails were meh! Best thing was the queso, the salad and the churros. Everything else was blah! To add on from Jeff's message - the server did know all about the issues that is why she offered "free dessert" (again only two were free) In fact we thought it odd that no manager came by with all the issues we had. read more

Our waitress Keisha deserves 5 stars. The food was 3 stars..,, it was bland, not much flavor for Spanish food. Love the atmosphere and was looking forward to our annual dining there but if it wasn't for Keisha being a great server I'd give it 2 stars this year. read more

This is our go-to spot when crazing Cuban food. Everything we try is amazing. Our server (Britney) was friendly and helpful. The place is always very clean . We can't wait to go back next time we're in Florida. read more

We did a (BIG) group dinner at the St.Augustine Columbia Resturant and it was FABULOUS!! The staff was very knowledgeable and so efficient! The food was spectacular! Awesome restaurant and a must visit when in St. Augustine!!! read more

Consistently good. We had the steak salteado and mussels appetizers and they were awesome. Get the homemade sangria and the 1905 salad. They complement the meal. Be sure to call ahead for reservations because we waited two hours on a saturday night. read more

The Columbia - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

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Our favorite any time we are near one of their restaurants. Always great food, good drinks (especially thier Sangria), and super atmosphere. Service is super with friendly, attentive staff and management. Highly recommend. read more

I went into this experience knowing while the price maybe a little high the result would be pure food joy. Instead I had one of my worst "high" end restaurant experiences of my life. Every meal came out luke warm at best and out of four meals two came out cold. And i mean cant eat cold Told the waitress after two bites and was offered to reheat a piece of thin steak. Yeah because reheated steak always comes out good. Well at least a manager came over to ask about the issue or offer a free dessert or offer to take one of the meals off the bill. Oh wait that didn't happen. You want to charge steak house prices stand behind your food. A complete disappointment in every sense of the word. To see a line out the door and people clamoring to get in made me laugh. Maybe just maybe this place has bit off more then it can chew. Well when you can chew a warm meal. To top it off The bathroom was flooded when I came in and they knew about it. When I left it was still a mess. In the ladies room people were asking about that mold and mildew smell One piece of advice if in st Augustine save some money and visit some place else. read more

We made reservations and that is the best way to eat at this place. They stay busy. We were able to be seated right away close to our time of the reservation. I had the stuffed grouper and it was sooo good!! Definitely would get it again. Also had the Tango Mango drink and it was good but a little tart for me. Jonah was our waiter and he was awesome. read more

This was my second time at Columbia Restaurant. I might try the original in Tampa next time I'm down there, but I'm not in a hurry to return to the St. Augustine location. The Cuban bread is good, don't waste your time with the sangria (is very watery), and stick with the traditional dishes like the flank steak and yellow rice with plantains. read more

It's very tempting from the the outside and the inside decor is very nice. I was expecting a whole lot more, which I was kinda disappointed about. The spanish music lives up to the atmosphere and we were seated prompty with our reservation. I had the Pollo "Riojana" and it was ok. The chicken was slightly undercooked and it was kinda spicy in a way. Maybe that's how the way it was suppose to be, but I wasn't informed of that when I asked the waiter when ordering. Either way, it didn't stop us from having a good time for the rest of our trip. read more

The Columbia - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

This place is a hit or miss. I came here to try their white Sangria after hearing a lot of raves about it. They make a pitcher of it in front of you and I wanted to experience it. Great service and excellent Sangria. It was pricey but I enjoyed it. Would I experience it again. No. Once was enough. I give 5 stars for the service and Sangria that day. The service and wait staff were very nice to me. Unfortunately, I don't want to come here after getting to know some of the wait staff. They give great service and the ones I knew were very nice to me. The worst part is the drama and the stress among the wait staff. I understand that waiting tables is stressful. I have worked as a waiter several times in my life, a prep cook, and a hostess. I have experienced it first hand. I would not want to work there though due to some of the people that are there. I would not want to eat there because I don't want people with problems serving or making/ prepping my food. I like that they have excellent service yet there are things you can not control like other people drama, etc. From what I know, they train their servers very well yet they need to weed out bad seeds. read more

This place is popular for a reason...its awesome! The place is classy, romantic, and comfortable. The food and presentation are great, and the Sangria is awesome. Me and my Girl had a great meal and a great experience here for her birthday dinner. read more

The food and service was definitely NOT up to standard for $25 plus meals. It didn't give me the Spanish feel and the food was not great at all :( Im from Texas and this was far from flavor and the experience felt like a chain restaurant. I'm Spanish and know from experience how music and the fell should be. I had taken my bf for his birthday and it was just sad and not good all around. With pricing shooting up sky high you also want to be sure your quality of food and flavor matches what you're giving. Whoever reads this please take your service elsewhere NO Bueno ! read more

Update: we called them unhappy with our orders. They said the salad was what we order. We are regular customer so we know their large 1905 salad should look like when we asked for two order. What we got was actually HALF of one large salad. We were charged dinner price for two red sangria wine (35 instead of 22) so they gave us a refund for the wine but not the salad. So my review still stand. Wait until Covid is over and go in order their "1905 salad" don't bother with curbside. Also, continue to read other reviews. Past month, this restaurant has not been able to get more than 3 stars from their customers. Their service sucks but food is GREAT. read more

Excellent. Sangria Tinto, Champinones Rellenos, Pollo Manchego, & Flan. I would order all this again. The hot bread was so special. Had to ask for a doggie bag since I wanted desert. read more

The Columbia - Pollo Manchego - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

If I could give it zero I would. The waiter was useless had zero information as to what we should order. But before we even get to that we had to reconfigure the table. This should have been done prior to seating us (party of 4). Food was very plain. The Paella was horrible. The sangria was hopeless service very average food. Give it a miss read more

Great food beautiful restaurant - authentic experience the churros dessert is pretty incredible ! read more

The Columbia - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

The Columbia is one of those restaurants that I really, really want to like. And every time I go, I feel a little disappointed. It seems to be the place that out of towners always want to try. I find their 1905 salad to be uninspiring, But many people go nuts for it. This time we got a bunch of different top us and shared them. The best one was definitely the scallops "Casimiro." The mussels y chorizo "Andres" was good as well. On the whole, I find out I'm never really impressed with this restaurant, it's just ok. And the prices are high enough that I don't want to give it a fourth chance. read more

This is an excellent place in St Augustine for lunch or dinner. The food is excellent!

Columbia's Restaurant is great! And the adjoining souvenir store is nice too. They sell the same beautiful decorations (plates, salt/pepper shakers, oil/vinegar dispensers & pitchers) that you will see in their dining rooms. As for the service and food, they were excellent! Our waiter was very friendly. The sangrias, both the white & red were refreshing. And the food was so tasty and delicious. I had the Boliche stuffed with chorizo and my husband had the roast pork. After dinner, our waiter gifted us with a delicious flan to help celebrate our anniversary...very sweet of him! We look forward to eating and shopping here again, next time we're in beautiful St. Augustine. read more

The Columbia - Anniversary flan! - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

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