I've been to the Columbia at St. Armand's Circle in Sarasota, so we decided to try their location in St. Augustine. It was a 2 hour wait for walk ins (no reservation). We decided to sit at the bar. Service was great, but the food was over priced and mediocre at best. We ordered scallops - $21 for 6 small scallops. They were good, but very pricey. We also ordered the calamari. I thought it had an overpowering "fishy" taste so I didn't eat them. Wanted to like it but I can only say "ehhhh" to this visit. read more

My husband and I have not visited this restaurant for at least 26 years. We were overjoyed to learn that the restaurant still existed and the food was as good as it was or better than 26 years ago. Good services, good vibes and very nice atmosphere. Love this place. read more

it was our first time at the Columbia Restaurant and the food and service was amazing! Jesse was our server and he went above and beyond to make sure we had an outstanding dining experience read more

This meal at the Columbia last week was amazing! I'm sorry I don't remember the item names but show your server the picture and you won't be disappointed! Overall great experience there with nice street views. Will go back again next time we are in town for sure read more

The Columbia - Amazing food - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

We were so excited to come here. We drove an hour and made the trip to st Augustine just for this restaurant. I feel bad because the staff was completely overwhelmed. It was all over each face, everyone was miserable. Our server was nice. However, we had some of the worst service I've ever experienced. I usually rate places on food alone and don't care as much about the service as long as the food tasted good- but this was just insane. We waited 10+ minutes after sitting down to order water and drinks. It was more than that, because after we were sitting a while is when I started timing it. The table near us was a large party and they had quick service as I'm sure their 2 servers were dedicated. The other table had another server that was clearly stressed out but she immediately got them water and bread. It was another 10 minutes before we got water. Then another 10 before we were given bread after our drinks. Every time we asked for something our server waited until she had to bring something else out to come out of the kitchen. I understand people don't want to be back and forth the whole time... but this was very excessive. Our reservation was 245p, which is in between normal meal times so we were starving. Initial water and bread would have been nice to hold us over until she could come back. She spoke so quietly we could barely hear. I definitely tried to be understanding given the volume and looks of distress on staff's faces, but the server literally was in the kitchen the entire time besides bringing us stuff. Not checking on other tables, not coming back to see if everything was ok. The tables were bused faster than we were greeted. Apparently they only care about seating people. The only food I would say is great would be the crab cakes and the Caesar salad. The other foods were just okay and small portions. The "queso" had a sprinkle of cheese on top and was mostly tomatoes (I think that's what they were). They were good- but definitely not expected. You are going to pay a hefty price for meals. It is NOT worth the portion sizes and service quality. And trust me- I am one to like to spend money on good food. I would absolutely not come back. And I wouldn't ever suggest this place to anyone: read more

The Columbia - Tapas - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

I think this was the best restaurant overall that we tried in St Augustine. If we ever visit again, this place is at the top of my list. Service was good and the food was excellent! They have a great menu, and many drink options with their bar and wine cellar. read more

The wait time was crazy... they took our order quickly and warned us about how the paella does take about thirty minutes. However, we waited over an hour for it. The vibe was cute and outdoorsy but there was a weird smell where I was sitting. Maybe because of the water fountain? Not quite sure, but it wasn't pleasant. I really did love the bread and butter in the beginning. It was delicious! And the paella looked better than it tasted. It was very salty! But still good and it was the saving grace for sure. read more

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Where to begin. This place simply rocks. The rich family history of the restaurant drew me in but the food and friendly staff is what kept me coming for 3 visits over this trip. The restaurant itself is beautiful. I've been to other "latin family" restaurants and they always have been unauthentic with the food and tacky with the decoration. The Columbia should be a gold standard. Everything was amazing! I don't think you could go wrong with anything on the menu. Cocktails 10/10, Flan 10/10, Cubans 10/10, 1905 Salad 10/10 and their seafood 10/10. Can't wait to come back! read more

Bad check in. Had reservations and waited over half an hour past checking in to be seated. Dinning room way too bright and over lit. 1905 salad is an overrated Cobb salad meets Olive Garden. My Ropa Vieja had almost zero meat in it and was a soupy tomato and onion mess. My wife's chicken mangengo was good, but that was it. For the prices, even knowing it is a tourist trap were not worth the experience and food. read more

Delicious food! MAKE A RESERVATION. We were sat within 10 minutes of showing up for our reservation on Thanksgiving Night. It was packed. Our server was great-constantly circling getting us water. The restaurant was nice and clean, bathrooms were also clean. My husband is very Cuban and he ordered the Lechón Asado and said the seasoning was perfect. Take your family. read more

We enjoyed the food. It was very crowded for Nights of Lights but they were able to seat and serve us in a timely manner (we had an OpenTable reservation but were 45 minutes late due to traffic). The atmosphere is gorgeous. The food was good. Not life changing but very good. I had the famous salad with shrimp and my husband had the Cuban sandwich. read more

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Took 33 minutes after being sat at 3 in the afternoon to have someone get to our table. No bread or water. Waitress finally came to help whoever wasn't able to serve us. Bread was stale on the sandwiches. Took an order to go for my husband and he also stated the bread was stale. We did not have a great experience. The Martini was good at least. read more

We made reservations and recommend doing so, as if not the wait time would be rather long. We had to wait a little bit , but wasn't too bad. We order our drinks and soup. the drinks were good, and the soup could of been a little better, our waiter was ok, but was very busy . Our meals were good, my Mahi was a little small but was tasty. Wifes dinner was mostly rice , not too much meat or seafood in the paella. The salad we had was excellent, the dessert was flan and it was average but tasty. There are other Columba House locations that are above this location. If you have never had Columbia hose it is worth the experience. read more

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This Cuban restaurant is the bomb. Flavor profiles are ridiculously tasty. The empanadillas were juicy filled with tender beef pieces and vegetables. The crust was flaky and very good. The salad was one of the best I've eaten. It was tossed table side which was an experience all by itself. The Palomilla was so tender I wasn't sure it was steak. And the chicken dish my wife said was very flavorful. The service was high level. This is an upscale place with prices to match. We're out of towners but we'll be back to St Augustine again soon. Where will we eat? The Columbia!!! read more

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I cannot say how delicious the food is. It was hard to choose so we ended up splitting. The sangria was delicious but I was a split of wine not a full bottle. Never seen the brandy it was done table side but expensive for what you got (hence the 4 stars ) read more

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The 1905 salad is terrific! The waiter makes it right in front of you. We also had a margarita pitcher made right in of us. read more

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Just came here for drinks and an appetizer. Right off the bat I can say how amazing this appetizer was! I ordered the Champinones Rellenos- which was stuffed mushroom with garlic, cheese, spinach, artichokes. The taste was incredible. I sat at the bar because there was a long wait for a table and usually you want to make a reservation. The bartender/waiter was nice to let me order food there as well. The restaurant has such a rustic feeling! And the restaurant itself has 2-3 floors. I was on the second floor by the bar area. read more

The Columbia - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

On a random Thursday night, we came across this restaurant with no expectations after visiting the torture museum. We were asked to wait for 20 minutes and on the dot, we were seated. The wait gave us a chance to do our bathroom break and check out the store. Sangria (red) was stronger while the sangria (white) was fruity and refreshing. The original 1905 salad was prepared in front of us and tossed with fresh grounded cheese. I'd say, this is a must have as a side dish. Cannelloni had chunks of lobster and filling to the stomach and satisfying to the taste Bathroom needs regular visiting and cleaning and the water was too hot and almost scalding. Needs improvement on that. Our servers were AMAZING and took care of us. Overall, a good place to visit on a weekday as we see that lower star ratings are from weekend visits. Kudos and will definitely go back! read more

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Food absolutely delicious, the bean soup amazing on a rainy day, shrimp and rice excellent choice all around. Ambience beautiful. Our server Lexie was gracious and attentive!! read more

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Out of all the amazing restaurants in St Augustine, The Colombia always tanks in my top 3. The servers are professional but personable and very knowledgeable of the menu. Don't go without trying the 1905 salad. We loved it so much we make it at home now. The lobster ravioli is fantastic and the mojitos made table side are very fun and tasty. The restraint has a classic feel with lots of tile, plants, and fountains.its like dining on a Spanish veranda. I've seen people dressed casual or for special events. Check out the gift shop as well. read more

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Our server Brandon was top notch. He was knowledgeable and so personable. The tapas were delightful and the pitcher of sangria is a must.

Had the Salmon tonight and it was nasty. The amount of oil they put on it and the whole dish made it inedible. I ate a third of it before I had to stop because it was making me sick. I still feel sick several hours later. If you care about your health, stay away. read more

We were seated immediately in the main dining room, first floor. It's made to resemble a Spanish courtyard complete with plants and a fountain, with all kinds of colorful tile, dark wood, fake gaslights, etc. Garish Cuban music was playing In the background, which I could've gone without. Carlos immediately showed up to get drink orders and apps going. Since we were out in the heat all day doing touristy crap, we decided against alcohol and just stuck with water. After a few refills, Carlos just brought me a jumbo glass! For starters we had calamari. Nice amount of rings and tails both...I was shocked at how crisp the breading was. Many places just use seasoned flour but these folks used flavored breadcrumbs. Personally, I think they overpowered the delicate flavor of the squid. My choice of entree was palomilla, which is thin sliced sirloin grilled and topped with mojo crudo (diced onion, lime juice and parsley). It came with a heaping pile of yellow rice and a couple of plantains. Nicely cooked to medium and tender as all get out; larger than I expected too! The meat slice covered most of the plate! My tummy is my carry out bag; so of course I demolished that thing and made my usual happy plate. Queen Bee had Cuban style roast pork, accompanied by a couple of plantains, yuca and a nice heaping pile of congri (black beans and white rice). Pork was very tender and flavorful; she ate most of it and we have a doggy bag in our little fridge. Her sides were well prepared and flavorful too. This is one of those spots I'd go to for a special occasion and nothing else. Even with no booze or dessert (the latter is a waste of space), the bill was still $76! After tip it was $90; Carlos wasn't bad at all. Would I come again? Certainly since I have three of their other restaurants within a half hour of my house...uh; no! read more

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We ate at the Columbia yesterday for the first time! The hostesses, servers and workers made us feel special right from the very beginning! We absolutely loved the whole experience! Our server, Sabrina, was amazing and attention to detail! She was very knowledgeable about the menu, drinks, and the owner's Family history! The Columbia is absolutely gorgeous inside and has a European flair to it! The cuisine is Spanish! All of the workers are absolutely over-the-top in friendliness and service! The food and drinks were amazing, and the prices were very reasonable! We finished off with dessert and coffee! The Keylime pie is excellent! The beauty that surrounds you when you eat there is incredible! This is a must-visit restaurant when visiting St Augustine, Florida! We will definitely be back! Laurie and Greg read more

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Food was great! The best Spanish rice I've ever had and the chicken, crab croquettes, and beef were all delicious. Absolutely GORGEOUS dining room. That being said, the kitchen was pretty slow and it took us an hour and a half toto get through our meal. It was also freezing, like bring a sweater or jacket cold. read more

The Columbia - Dining room - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

the columbia! a local gem that's been around for over 100 years! we came here for my moms 60th birthday. it was very busy and the decor inside is so nice! We had a reservation but still ended up waiting about 10-15 min. Our table was upstairs near the bar at a table in the middle. We had Zoe as our server who was so sweet and very patient/helpful with our questions. They give you hot fresh cuban bread and soft butter to start with and wow...i ate it all haha. My mom is gluten free so she could not indulge however i wasn't too mad about it. We both ordered the Palomjlla which is the thin steak - I asked to have beans, rice, and boiled yuka instead of the plantains it came with. The food was delicious and the yuka was the BEST i've ever had Will definitely be coming back here next time i'm in the area. This is a must on your trip to St. Augustine read more

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Been to St Augustine several times but never had the chance to stop in for a meal until a few weeks ago. So thrilled with the lunch we had there. Started with their famous 1905 salad because we saw it being tossed and prepared for a nearby table and were hooked. I can understand why it has so many followers. It is was so flavorful, with bits of fresh garlic and lemon juice throughout the salad. Every salad order is tossed in front of the lucky diners. I had their seafood paella which was delicious as an entree. We also tried their flan and a chocolate cake. We had early lunch reservations, 11AM, and when we arrived there was already a crowd of diners waiting to be seated. Not sure if they had reservations but we were seated immediately. When we left, there was even more diners waiting to be seated. read more

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5 Star on everything. Shane is the man. Atmosphere great full of great people. 1905 is a legend salad. blown away on the the rich history and flavor. Very glad to be introduced to this place over 20 years ago. A must try, but ask for your first time recommendations. read more

The Columbia - Best Sangria around. Bread & butter and 1905 salads on the way. - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

Our all time favorite restaurant did not disappoint. Kiril provided us an outstanding anniversary experience, with perfect drink and dinner recommendations. Ribeye and Grouper Jimmy. Delicious. Highly recommended. read more

The Columbia - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

I was looking enough to get Zoe as my server! Two months in and she is a pro. The food was good. The service was excellent. I highly recommend the 1905 salad. I've had better Cubano sandwiches elsewhere. This one had salami on it and just was not an addition that I cared for. read more

The Columbia - 1/2 cubano and 1905 salad - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

Local resident review-715pm reservation..was seated on time. Took 25 mins to get drinks. Ordered Spanish Soup and it was barely warm. Famous original salad did not have ham in it, Had to ask server when our food was coming as everyone around us was getting their's. Finally arrived after 90 mins. Service was terrible. Everything was cold. Spoke with manager and he took 50% off. Will not return or recommend. read more

Our meal at The Columbia was a special Birthday Occasion for my wife and our meal delivered! We have eaten at the original location in Ybor years before and the look of this restaurant is similar, not quite the same charm, but very nice! Our party of four was sat promptly and the table was welcoming. Our server was nice, but she was the only part of the meal that could have used improvement. She tended to disappear and didn't check in as often as other servers we saw at neighboring tables. Other than that, the food came fast and hot and was very tasty! Two of our party RAVED about the 1905 salad, so much that we walked out with 4 bottles of the dressing from their gift shop! We tried the deviled crab croquettes, which were not bad. And the Spanish bean soup which hit the spot for my sister-in-law! Three of our party had pollo manchego and I had the cannelloni do langosta, we all enjoyed our meals but I will say that chicken was Top Tier! Not sure how to get chicken breast that flavorful and juicy, but they nailed it! Well done Columbia! We ordered two slices of Key Like pie and they brought a birthday flan to my wife with a little feliz cumpleaños song! Overall our meal was memorable and tasty! Thank you for a wonderful Birthday Meal!! To those about to dine, I salute you! read more

The Columbia - Pollo manchego - excellent - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

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Drove 55 miles to experience lunch at the restaurant. After being seated, waited 35 minutes and still did not have bread nor meal served. Finally ask for bread and it was not delivered until the meal came. I ordered the Cuban sandwich and was very disappointed because the bread on the sandwich was stale along with the bread that was delivered to the table. read more

We have been going to The Columbia restaurants in Tampa (the original Columbia) and Clearwater for years and have always enjoyed them. So it was time to try out their St. Augustine place. We were not disappointed! We were seated promptly for lunch. Our server was pleasant & efficient. Prior to receiving salads or entrees, each person is brought a warm hunk of authentic Cuban bread, crusty on the outside & deliciously soft on the inside. And the bread is shipped daily across the State from Tampa so that it is just as good as the original restaurant! Two things that are a MUST have at the Columbia are their Sangria and their famous 1905 Salad. The salad is made table side and is incredible! Don't try to duplicate it, because it can't be done. It's just that good! read more

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The food was very good. Our server, Shelia made it a true experience! From the plating of the salad to our entree of paella was superb! She knows her stuff! Give Shelia a RAISE! read more

Scallops appetizer is one of the best appetizers I have ever had! Waiter recommended the Grouper Jimmy. The crab meat topping and rice were delicious but the fish wash average. Husband had ribeye which was very good. Server was quick and efficient but not super friendly. read more

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It's apparently the oldest Cuban restaurant in St. Augustine. The food was okay, nothing to really brag about. The sangria was ehhh, the most exciting part was the pitcher it came in. Our reservations were for 8:45, we got sat way after 9:30, our server was very nice but clearly overwhelmed by the number of tables she was responsible for. The decorations are unique and interesting with old pictures of the generations of families that own the restaurant. read more

The Columbia - Palomilla with white rice and platanitos - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

The service and the food. I would highly recommend this restaurant. The ambience and decor were outstanding.

Located in the historical part of downtown St. Augustine in a very cute part of town. The streets are narrow with unique and inviting little boutiques lining the cobblestone roads that are one way. Located on a corner and adjacent is their parking lot. There is an attendant who will give you a card to get validated for two free hours. Please ensure you make a reservation. Several locations to dine in this historical restaurant. We sat next to a water statue where it was quiet and inviting. We were greeted with the hostess who was matter of fact. Maybe they were annoyed I asked to move because the top level was crowded and too noisy. They moved us next to a fish fountain which was delightful. Once we were seated our stellar and sweet server Mariaya greeted us and was above and beyond. Sweet smile and kind. We mentioned to her we were not hungry due to a big breakfast and she made recommendations that were helpful of the food choices we made. The Cuban bread was served warm with whipped butter. The two appetizers we had were good sizes and just enough. Prices are adorable and everything was delicious. We had a very lovely stay and made part of our vacation memorable. Thanks Mariaya for being a server that is thinking about her clients, we felt truly cared for by her. read more

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We went out of our way a good bit to try this place because a relative had recommended it so strongly. Frankly, I was a bit irritated about the detour at first, but a great lunch with a good mojito put that all behind me. We had 3 tapas and all were delicious. Shrimp/crab/artichoke bake, stuffed mushrooms and crab cake. All delicious. My wife is a real crab-cake snob; this one didn't come up to her Baltimore-based standards but was damn close! We did not have the famous salad but bought some of the dressing and can see why it's such a popular item. Finished a lovely meal with a very good espresso. Overall- we had a very good meal, with good service and in a beautiful setting. I don't feel I can give 5 stars based on our limited number of choices, but definitely this place deserves at least 4 stars. read more