While visiting family in Florida, my husband and I had a chance for a quick overnight getaway and we headed for St. Augustine. This historic city is Florida's oldest and was founded in the year 1565 by Spanish explorers. We had not been here before and unfortunately we were there during Spring Break this year so a little crowded and crazy. My husband had always wanted to try this historical restaurant. This restaurant opened in 1905 by Casimoro Hernandez Sr. Over 120 years, this is the oldest restaurant in Florida and features seven locations still being operated by family members. Of course, we had a slight wait for a table but within 20 minutes we were seated. Parking here is a nightmare so be prepared to be very patient in locating a spot. I had no idea what to expect but I was excited once I started viewing the menu. Serving Spanish and Cuban food, the choices were many. The restaurant is spacious and decorated so beautifully. Lots of brick which I just love as it always make me feel homey. We started out with two appetizers including the Ybor City Devil Crab Croquettes and Gambas Al Ajillo (shrimp). Oh my the shrimp were cooked to perfection and lots of garlic flavor which I just adore. It was a reat way to get our taste buds going and begin our food journey. I enjoyed a glass of the Tinto (white) Sangria. Very refreshing on this warm spring day. My husband had his heart set on trying Columbia's Original "1905" Salad and a cuban sandwich. Who was I to disagree? It sounded tasty. This legendary salad is tossed table side and features iceberg lettuce, baked ham, Swiss cheese, tomato, olives, grated Romano cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and their famous garlic dressing. The salad was named for the year the restaurant was founded in Tampa's Latin District of Ybor City. This salad did not disappoint. It was light, fresh crispy lettuce, and just delightful to the palate. In addition to the salad we shared a the Original Cuban Sandwich. Postively the best and most delicious cuban sandwich I have eaten. For dessert, we shared a slice of Key Lime Cheesecake with a raspberry sauce. Key Lime is a staple in Florida and this slice was divine. We experienced very good service from our server. Apologies for not getting her name as she was so friendly and made us feel welcome. After dining, we walked around the property and the gift shop. We ended up purchasing the salad dressing and the sangria mix. I plan on visiting more of their locations through out Florida in the future. This is a true iconic Florida landmark which is not to be missed. read more

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I came here when my family were all together for a holiday. This was one of my Mom's favorite places to dine for family gatherings when she was alive. We, as a family had not been here in a number of years. It did not disappoint. We were pleased with everything. Our Waitress was top notch. She has worked here for more than ten years. She took very good care of us. Pros:the food is delicious, fantastic atmosphere, service top notch. The store was fun to shop in before our reservations. Cons:you might have a hard time finding parking. Be patient-you will eventually find a place to pay and park. read more

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We dined in on a reservation on a holiday weekend. We were seated prior to our reservation time. We sat in the banquet room which was bright and spacious. The sangria was prepared table side and was delicious. A pitcher yielded about four glasses. The black bean cakes were crispy with a smooth well seasoned center. The entrees were all good none really stood out per say. The bread pudding was not too spongy although I could've done without the rum topping. The pastry was crispy and flaky. We would dine again but felt it was rather expensive for what we got. read more

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Went there a few nights ago for dinner and it didn't disappoint. The ambiance of the restaurant is nice. The service is top notch. Taylor was our waiter and did a great job. Told him we'd be back. So today we were back for lunch and Sher did a great job as our waitress. You have to get the salad. We had the Pompano, Pollo Relleno, Ybor City deviled crab croquettes were fantastic. The Sangria was amazing. Lunch was empanadas, Spanish bean soup, pollo croquettes, salad, a Cuban and coffee con leche were great and I'm still full 6 hours later. We still have 3 more days of vacation and I'm sure we'll be back at least one more time. They also have a nice gift shop. Highly recommend read more

Authentic Spanish Restaurant, beautiful restaurant, delicious food and great service! I love their 1905 salad which was tossed and served at our table, I added shrimp this time for my lunch entree I also had the white sangria which was presented and made at our table as well, it was so delicious and refreshing! This also came with a mini loaf of their delicious bread which was warm and served with butter. The Columbia never disappoints it is consistently delicious with great service! I would recommend reservations because it is a very popular restaurant in the heart of Old St Augustine on the famous St George Street! You will not be disappointed! read more

The Columbia - Delicious white Sangria! - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

We visited during the busy holiday week on December 27th, and it was definitely a lively, bustling atmosphere. The wait for our table was about 90 minutes, and while half our group decided to visit a nearby bar, the rest of us stayed and enjoyed the energy of the place. Once seated, the food was fine and satisfying--nothing extraordinary, but it did the job. Service was friendly, though our server stepped away mid-conversation, multiple times ,which was irritating as it was late and we were tired. The floors were a bit slick, so we kept an eye on the kids and it was quiet the hazards. When we asked for directions to the ladies' room, an employee simply said, "It's on the left." Short and straightforward, though it could have been delivered a bit more warmly. This location has been better in the past, and we've had really enjoyable visits here. On a calmer day with more attentive service, it could easily be a very pleasant experience. Despite the holiday rush, it was still a memorable visit, and we'd consider returning in the future. read more

I went for a birthday dinner to celebrate a friend. There was five of us. I love a round table so it was perfect. We split champiñones and shrimp and it was excellent. So was the bread and butter. Everyone else enjoyed their dishes. The server was sub par so I can't give this review five stars. She was confused and inattentive. read more

Delicious interesting food and nice casual atmosphere. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. I had the chicken with manchego cheese and would order it again. read more

Every time we're in Florida, a visit to the Columbia is top priority. The service is excellent along with the increadible food,will satisfy the most descriminent palate. read more

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Wow what a delicious experience from the 1905 salad made fresh at our table and it may be one of the best salads we have ever tasted . To the baked chicken and yellow rice which was filling and had an awesome flavor . We had a nightcap of The Melanie which is espresso, amaretto, frangelico and it was divine . The Columbia is an experience you must try ! read more

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Not good! Wish we had read the reviews before we went! We were so looking forward to our dinner at this restaurant. Unfortunately, we were highly disappointed. The food was not good at all! We enjoyed the bread and the 1905 salad. Our entrees were terrible. My husband had the $48 filet mignon. Awful! Oversalted and tough. I had the stuffed shrimp $42. The shrimp was rubbery and the crab stuffing had pieces of shell in it. Our bill for 2 was $175 + tip. Putting the bill at $200. I advise anyone wanting to go here to look at these reviews. Highly disappointed & dissatisfied. read more

The Columbia - Over salted filet.. - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

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Great visit to "The Columbia". Went with my family and my parents for Dinner after touring the city all day. The place is very pretty, nicely decorated, very pretty 'old Havana feel' (see pics). We all split a few 1905 Salads - wow, so good! The dressing probably makes it! So good. The appetizers (Deviled Crab Croquettes & Crab Cakes) were really good (gotta like Crab meat though!). The Fish (Mahi & Red Snapper) made to perfection. I had the Chicken Manchego - Wow, one of the best chicken sishes i have ever had! The only real negative was that the Sangria, which came in a very pretty hand painted carafe but was kinda' "meh", and pricey for the carafe. So I would not get the Sangria. But - everything else, was delicious! Service was good, servers were attentive. Try and get to one of their locations in Florida! You will not be disappointed! read more

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Okay experience. We ate lunch there. The 1905 salad was really good. The highly advertised Cuban sandwich was a disappointment. Too much mustard for me and a bit dry. Michael was a really good waiter. Otherwise mediocre service. We were overall a bit disappointed except for the salad. read more

We went on 10/23 for an anniversary lunch. We were seated at a nice window seat as requested on the reservation. Waitress arrived promptly and took our drink order which was 2 whiskey sours and tap water. The drinks were good but nothing spectacular. We ordered the crab cakes as an appetizer and our main dishes were the Grouper Jimmy and the Combo de Cuba. The waitress brought over our bread which was very good. The crab cakes were disappointing. We tasted the seasoning but we did not taste the crab meat even though there seemed to be plenty in there. All I tasted was the seasoning. The grouper came with a nice amount of blue crab meat piled on top. Again I could not taste the crab, it was as if the flavor was washed out. The grouper was cooked very nicely and was very good. The yellow rice was OK, the asparagus was good but the frozen peas they added at the end were still cool in the middle and you knew they were from a bag of frozen peas. The Combo de Cuba was a combo of 3 other dishes. Pork, beef and an empanada. The pork was tender but bland, the beef had very little sauce and therefore bland, the empanada was just ok. However, the black beans and rice were very flavorful and delicious. The fried Yuca had no flavor. This is our third time there and the first time was good but we just had tapas dishes. The second time was very good with the seafood canneloni being excellent. This time not so much. We were recently in Spain and had some amazing food and I would not compare this meal to that. read more

Never disappoints! I always come here when I am in St. Augustine and it is always just as good. Love the 1905 salad that is made at your table. The fresh bread with the Cuban is always the best. Also can't beat the house made sangria! Service was terrific and the place is just beautiful! read more

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

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Food was way overcooked. Stuffed shrimp tasted like they were microwaved and the broccolini was not even green it was so overcooked. Staff were arguing with each other. The only reason I'm giving it 2 stars is because we had a good waitress named Hannah! Don't recommend, won't return. read more

A very classy interior but casual. The food was delicious. I started with a Estrella Galicia beer. My spouse had the 1905 salad and we split the Paella A La Valencia. It was really very tasty. Even with two of us sharing, we had enough to take home for another meal. Very good service and great experience. read more

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As always the food was great! Service was decent. It wasn't to busy so thought it could be better. Cleanliness could be improved, saw random trash through out and the bathrooms needed attention. Nothing that would keep me away but something I noticed. read more

When visiting St Augustine, this place kept showing up in my searches for a must visit. It is located downtown, so the area surrounding it was lively. We had a bit of a wait for a table since it's such a popular venue. The original 1905 salad was great! It's prepared table side and had really good flavor...pretty sure I ate the whole thing. I ordered a Paloma and it was NOT good..pretty watered down. I chose a sampler plate (LA Completa Cubana) for dinner so I could try several things. Most of it was pretty good..I didn't like the yuca and everything was kind of thrown together on the plate so the flavors ran into each other. It was a nice experience and I do like that it's located in the middle of so many walkable places. read more

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Had a wonderful birthday dinner for my son here. Everything was perfect and the food was delicious. a couple of our party had steak and said they were cooked perfectly. read more

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We had their sandwich-salad combo. The salad was their signature salad and was pretty decent. The sandwich was the same bread they offered for table bread and was too dry for a sandwich. And the sandwich lacked taste. Ambiance was really good and sat down quickly, and order was taken timely as expected. The big problem was the amount of time it took to get food; and refills. Too long to the point people who were sat after us were done with their meal before our ever came. For half a salad and a sandwich it should have not taken more than 15 min not around an hour. Food bland Service slow Ambiance good Food bland Service slow Ambiance good Food bland Service slow Ambiance good read more

Wow this is just amazing and so beautiful inside! Just like we remembered it! We were here over 35 years ago and finally able to come back. So happy we did. Our food was excellent! Bread with butter was delicious. I would have liked if a salad came with our entree. Server was ok. Not friendly though. When we come back we will definitely stop in for another fabulous meal. Highly recommend! read more

The Columbia - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

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As always, an amazing experience and an amazing meal. Every time we come to Saint Augustine it is always a pleasure when we are able to eat at the Columbia restaurant. For me it is like going back home to Miami for a home-cooked meals. The service is always exquisite . During the Christmas season, it is decorated to the nines. Food is always amazing and a great treat. read more

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We visited with very high expectations! Your establishment lived up to the legend! We think the restaurant is impeccable! Our waitress Lexi C was the utmost professional and attentive! The best for last, I did expect perfection and your team delivered phenomenally! I had n order of scallops followed by a Mahi sandwich, perfectly prepared and delicious!The ambience was to perfection. Thank all involved for a journey through excellence! I don't get to St. Augustine often but when I do your restaurant will be at the top of my list ! THANK YOU! read more

Fabulous! My group and I had a great time dining at The Columbia! The food was delicious and the service was good. We sat on the second floor and there was beautiful decorations throughout the restaurant. Love this place! read more

The Columbia - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

I completely enjoyed our meal here with friends. The server was very friendly and careful to check on everyone frequently. The place was nice, well decorated and spacious. We both ordered the Pompano stuffed with crab and artichoke. It's wrapped and cooked in paper which your server cuts open at the table. Fantastic meal. The fish was perfectly cooked. There was a lot of crab meat and the spices were amazing. Definitely would go back. read more

We made a reservation for my birthday dinner. I had the Palomilla and Flan. Everything about it was fantastic. We had great service and loved the feel of the restaurant. It was a relaxed atmosphere to where you could be dressed up or in jeans and still feel like you fit in. They have a cute little gift shop that I recommend going into, even if you don't eat there. read more

Loved this place so much we came back a 2nd time for our 3 night trip in Old Town St Augustine. Get the salad even if you have to split it -try things new... This was my favorite dish below... So fun, so good & don't forget to make reservations... read more

The Columbia - Fideua de Marisco.., can you say Yumm!?! - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

Food was amazing I could have made a meal from the soup alone. Caesar salad was good as well. The Cuban bread was warm and crispy on the outside. For the entrees - I am a picky eater but found the Ropa Vieja and my husband had the Red Snapper. Everything was delicious. The decor is nice but it was very loud if trying to converse. Service was excellent and we would definitely recommend. read more

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To begin, the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous! We had a reservation and I'm glad we did, because the restaurant was packed! My friend and I were helped by a very lovely waiter named Michael. He was very attentive and overall helpful. My friend and I ordered stuffed peppers which were quite tasty. My friend ordered stuffed shrimp dish which he said he enjoyed. My chicken dish while was pretty standard and edible left me unsatisfied. It lacked in seasoning. While the lemon sauce added the needed acidity, the dish overall needed something to elevate it. The asparagus as a veggie side needed another minute of cooking. The cherry tomatoes were tight so I had to be careful not to burst them and splatter their insides all over the white tablecloth or my shirt. Finally, the yellow rice was nothing special. I may even had better rice from a local bodega which you can find anywhere in NYC. All in all, I was not inspired, and will definitely not be returning. read more

The Columbia - Chicken dish, can't recall the name. - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

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Detoured on a recent trip to southern Florida to head to St. Augustine for the sole purpose of going to The Columbia restaurant. Definitely worth the detour. First, St. Augustine is great. The old buildings, the cobblestone streets, the shops, restaurants and bars. Everything was still decked out for Christmas. It was very festive. Second, our destination. We ate at Columbia maybe six or seven years ago and we've always wanted to go back. It's a beautiful Spanish-style building with a beautiful fountain and courtyard out front. Our waitress was very sweet. Efficient, professional and warm. The big attraction at Columbia is the 1905 salad which is made table side. It was as good as I remembered. Of course, I forgot to take a photo of that. We both had shrimp dishes. My wife had Shrimp with Yellow Rice. I had a delicious NAB and Shrimp and Chorizo with peppers, onions and mushrooms with Yellow Rice. We both loved our entrees. The only problem is that we were both stuffed and couldn't get the Flan. Next time. read more

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As soon as we walked in we were greeted by several of the employees and seated shortly thereafter. The restaurant is very clean, roomy and presentable. We went during lunchtime so we all ordered sandwiches this time around. We ordered the children's cuban sandwich and the pan con bistec (steak sandwich) and chicken sandwich with a side of tostones. All was tasty with the exception of the pan con bistec. It was ordered plain so we weren't expecting it to be as juicy without the usual condiments it comes with but unfortunately the thin steak was over cooked and had no seasoning. Our server, Carla, was exceptional ensuring that each time a beverage was empty, it was immediately refilled without it being requested. She was very polite and personable to boot! She also made sure the steak sandwich was not charged which was also unexpected. Overall good experience. When I officially move back, I will visit again :) read more

This is one of my favorite places in St. Augustine. I love the 1905 Salad and the amazing bread. Tonight we were celebrating a friend's birthday and I actually ordered an entree and had the 'side salad'. I had the stuffed shrimp and there was enough for me to bring home half of it to enjoy another time this week. Marc was our server and was very attentive to our requests and although the restaurant was busy he didn't rush us through the meal. No pictures -- I just ate it before even thinking about pictures -- read more

Love this restaurant! Great ambiance, service and food. Restaurant was founded in 1905 and is still going strong. Best sangria I have ever had! I would also recommend the 1905 salad and Ropa Vieja. This restaurant will not disappoint as quality and customer service are top of mind. read more

I've experienced consistently poor service and food quality across multiple locations. After a bad experience at the Sarasota location on St. Armand's, I hoped this one would be better--but I was sadly mistaken. Service was disappointing. Our waters sat empty for most of the meal, and both my espresso and the chicken for a salad were forgotten.They were delivered after pointing it out to the server. The food was just okay--nothing special--and arrived barely warm instead of hot. On a positive note, the drinks we ordered were very good, and the staff did remove the missed items from the check without us asking, which I appreciated. Overall, though, it still wasn't a great experience. read more

Our party of 5 arrived an hour before our reservation-they immediately accommodated our group and seated us. Fantastic service from our server Oscar: he anticipated our needs and made us feel welcome. Exquisite food for our entire table! I really enjoyed the splendid seafood paella-it was full of fresh tasty shrimp, scallops, mussels, chicken, pork, clams, fresh fish and calamari-all tied together with delicious saffron! The 1905 Salad was different from what a usual salad tastes like, but worth trying! I regret that I did not have the flan (maybe next time..) I loved the ambience of this restaurant, each room had its own feel: from the history on the wall photos, colorful tile work and professional waitstaff. read more

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We had a fabulous first experience here. The staff was friendly and friendly and we were seated immediately upon arrival. Our server was wonderful as well. The warm Cuban bread was delicious and we had 1905 salad, that is prepared table side. All of the food was delicious! We would definitely come back when we are in St. Augustine again. read more

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The Columbia in St. Augustine has great old-school vibes and an elegant interior. We had the Cannelloni de Langosta, loved the scallops, but the cheese sauce had a slight bitterness (maybe from the wine) that wasn't my favorite. The Ropa Vieja was a solid version of the classic, and the bread was excellent. Their famous 1905 salad didn't quite do it for me, but overall the meal was enjoyable. Service was decent, and it's definitely a spot worth visiting if you're in town. read more

The Columbia - cannelloni de langosta - Spanish Near Me - St Augustine, Florida

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Food was cold,plantains were dry and like rubber. Love this place but caught it on a bad night. Be a while before we go back.

The experience and ambiance at Columbia is worth the visit.. the food, not so much. The restaurant is very large, with several rooms and seating options, adorned with decor with a gift shop attached. I made reservations in advance for lunch and there was a line out the door and they were not accepting walk ins. I did overhear many people saying they have never seen the area so busy so I'm not sure if this was due to the holiday rush. We were seated shortly after our reservation time and brought to a perfect location for seating, next to the fountain in indoor patio. The server was efficient and attentive and the orders came out quickly during a very busy time. I started off with a drink with vodka, muddled strawberries and basil which I sent back- it was horrible and overpowering basil- server had no issue taking off the bill. We had the 1905 salad- decent but don't get the rave about it- maybe it was too much dressing on ours. The bread was homemade and fresh and we were each given a large loaf with butter. We had stuffed shrimp and shrimp and yellow rice as entrees. I would highly recommend sharing these dishes because they are huge!! The shrimp were wrapped in bacon and fried- it was a bit much and very rich which I anticipated it would be. For my order, I had shrimp and yellow rice.. on a positive note, there were several shrimps in the dish and they were large in size. The rice was overcooked as it was mushy and it did not have much flavor, I mostly ate the shrimp out of the dish. The bathroom line was down the hallway as there were only 3 stalls in downstairs area which was surprising for the size of the restaurant. Overall, Columbia was an experience but a one and done for me. read more

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