The Quick variation: Since 1905, the Columbia eatery has offered Spanish and Cuban-inspired dishes and products that express a long-standing genealogy. Based by a Cuban immigrant in Tampa, the Columbia continues to be an area favorite due to its standard meals and friendly solution. Over time, folks from all over the globe have come to the attractive restaurant to commemorate involvements, wedding anniversaries, birthdays, as well as other monumental minutes. Nowadays, the 4th and fifth years regarding the family possesses and runs 13 different restaurants throughout Florida. If you’re searching for fine food with a decent old-fashioned family feel, you can reserve a table in the spectacular and intimate food rooms of Columbia eatery.
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For the past 3 decades, my family’s favored holiday destination happens to be an oceanfront resort in Sand Key, Fl. We’ve gone indeed there over a dozen instances to construct sand castles, place dolphins, and consume tasty dinners on patios overlooking the gulf.
We’ve got thoroughly discovered town’s bistro choice, looking from greatest regional joints about, nonetheless it only thus takes place that one bistro we-all enjoy a lot of is within strolling length in our lodge. The Columbia eatery’s white linen tablecloths, conscious solution, and mouth-watering food create the go-to spot for supper.
As soon as we happened to be children, my personal parents would purchase united states a cheese pizza as they visited this enchanting Spanish restaurant alone; however, we currently enjoy tapas and drink as much because they do, so we’ve begun crashing their own night out â sometimes taking along times in our own.
Since 1905, the Columbia Restaurant has wowed patrons with Spanish and Cuban dishes and an old-world atmosphere. Even though itis the earliest cafe in Florida, the company is still operate of the descendants for the initial founder. Every product regarding selection provides a story behind it, and several with the dishes are transmitted from one generation from the Hernandez Gonzmart household to the next. Family practice is a large part of the Columbia’s menu, record, and way of solution.
„the employees normally a little like household,“ stated Michael Kilgore, the main promotional Officer the Columbia. „a number of our workers remain for 20 or 30 years. Among the many things we like about our very own group is the length of time they stick with all of us. They are available right here and find a home.“
You can enjoy this comfy and welcoming environment in your then night out by going to any of the Columbia’s seven various restaurants. The Columbia eatery presently serves friends in Tampa, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Clearwater Beach, and Celebration. Whether you’re sipping drink on a picturesque balcony or seeing flamenco performers illuminate the stage as you take in tapas, you’re guaranteed to have a memorable evening at Columbia.
In 1905, a Cuban Immigrant Ran a Saloon That Became a Sensation
The Columbia Restaurant can locate their record to Dec. 17, 1903 â exactly the same time the Wright brothers successfully tested the planet’s very first airplane. Which was whenever a Cuban immigrant called Casimiro Hernandez Sr. began working a saloon for a nearby making company in Tampa’s Ybor City.
In 1905, the industrious business person turned the saloon into a popular 60-seat cafe recognized for the genuine Cuban coffee-and snacks. After their achievements, Casimiro ordered a restaurant nearby and converted it into a striking living area. In 1930, their boy took more than ownership and operation associated with thriving bistro.
During Great Depression, their son Casimiro Jr. built one air-conditioned dining area in Tampa. He hoped its trendy appearance and elevated party flooring would draw individuals to the cafe that assist all of them forget about their particular fears for every night. The Don Quixote area was actually a hit, plus the Columbia managed to hold their doorways available even though many some other organizations folded.
In 1953, Casimiro Jr. passed the Columbia onto his only son or daughter, Adela Hernandez Gonzmart, an accomplished artist who’d satisfied the woman partner, Cesar Gonzmart, at Tampa restaurant. This theatrical set introduced entertainment and artistry into the Columbia, developing a showroom that hosted numerous talented Latin dancers and performers. Under Adela and Cesar’s leadership, the Columbia extended to Sarasota and various other locations in Fl.
Nowadays, certainly Adela and Cesar’s two sons has had the reins and kept their family members‘ business going. Richard Gonzmart has been working at his family members‘ restaurants since he was 12 years of age, therefore he or she is thoroughly familiar with its environment and history. Richard can actually point to the dining table within Columbia eatery in which he and his wife had their first big date significantly more than 43 in years past.
„there’s lots of romance here, and in addition we have a great tale,“ stated Michael. „under 15 restaurants in the United States tend to be family-owned and more than a century outdated, therefore we’re in pretty elite business.“
Fl’s oldest bistro provides a pleased and enduring record rooted in meals, household, and enjoyable. Michael informed you the fifth generation of this founding household happens to be becoming groomed to dominate one-day. Richard’s daughters and nephew took on energetic administration functions on restaurants and are also ready to keep the household tradition going for additional years into the future.
The Columbia has-been known which includes of the greatest prizes from inside the cafe market, including induction into country’s Restaurant News‘ „good eating Hall of Fame,“ won the „notable Restaurants of America (SiRoNA) Award of Excellence,“ Fl Trend’s „Golden Spoon Hall of popularity,“ and Wine Spectator’s „Best of Award of Excellence.“
Search In! A Delectable Menu of Sharable Tapas & Indulgent Desserts
The Columbia Restaurant sets a luxurious dining table and a delightful escape from daily life. It seduces your own sensory faculties from the moment you walk-in the doors. You’re enclosed by greenery, water fountains, and artwork due to the fact noise of laughter in addition to scents of new fish meals waft through atmosphere. Before my purchase actually gets to myself, my mouth area is obviously watering with anticipation. Fortunately, each guest becomes his or her own newly produced loaf of Cuban loaves of bread, and so I have something to please my personal tastebuds while I wait.
The 14-page selection is filled with great food additionally supplies easy dialogue beginners for daters only learning one another. Each entrée, appetizer, and dessert has an enticing information in addition to interesting history info. By way of example, the restaurant’s coconut frozen dessert was a well liked of ice cream business person Gustavo Hernandez, the next boy for the original Columbia creator, and today this nice meal is actually supported within his respect.
Through the vegetarian paella (Spanish rice blended with hearty veggies) into shrimp great (shrimp covered with wafer-thin bacon), the meals in the Columbia are bursting with taste. The shareable dishes, labeled as tapas, make this restaurant perfect for couples on a romantic date as you will come closer together by discussing tiny plates of empanadas, sliced chorizo, croquetas, or stuffed peppers. To make a budget-friendly food by purchasing various of those appetizers with each other â remember to truly save place for dessert!
The Très Amigos churros is an excellent selection for partners since they are tactile, nice, and simply just a little messy. You can easily drop the piping-hot churros in candy, caramel, or guava sauce so there’s a little for all. Additionally, Columbia’s signature light Chocolate Bread Pudding is an indulgent dessert excellent for splitting with a night out together that a taste for white candy and rum sauce.
In 2017, the Marriott Traveler blog known as the Columbia Restaurant among St. Augustine’s leading date-night places, encouraging lovers to „start out with Columbia’s famous 1905 Salad, assembled table-side with a lot panache, and discuss a huge plate in the Paella a la Valenciana, overflowing with shellfish, fragrant rice, and chorizo.“
The intimate evening will be-all more satisfying in the event that you combine along with your meal one cup of the Melanie Chardonnay, a wealthy drink known as after Melanie Gonzmart, Richard’s high-school sweetheart and partner.
Plus, within Columbia Restaurant, the sangria should die for. Seriously, it comes down from the glass you could in addition split a pitcher of white or reddish sangria with a date to boost your own dinner knowledge. Nicely huge cuts of fresh fruit drift inside wine and infuse it with rich types. Whether you’re buying this classic sangria or the restaurant’s family wines, the high-caliber beverages you should never disappoint.
Michael told all of us the group makes an endeavor available inexpensive yet top quality wines to whet friends‘ appetites. „our very own wine option must be completely suited to the foodstuff we provide plus price point,“ he stated.
Countless partners & groups have actually Shared Special times Here
When In my opinion of Columbia, In my opinion of evening we chose to have treat for dinner, and my personal parents bought churros, important lime pie, mango mousse cake, white candy breads dessert, and five spoons. I think of my personal twin brother attempting grouper for the first time on our twentieth birthday and stating excitedly, „simply take my picture“ because the guy wanted to reveal his gf (that is today their wife) that he enjoyed taking fish whenever she performed.
In many techniques, the Columbia feels like the location, but my family is not the only family members for made recollections at the bistro as well as its six sister areas across Fl. Men and women arrive at the bistro at all stages of life given that it supplies an unique atmosphere that sets really with any function.
Famously, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio had been constant visitors on the Columbia in early 1950s. The Columbia staff paid tribute into few together with warm memories they shared within bistro by naming a dish after them. The Marilyn & Joe „Salteado“ â a sautéed blend of tenderloin recommendations, boneless chicken white meat, shrimp, and pork â is a tasty reminder of the long reputation for love for the Columbia’s dining areas.
Whether you are going on a primary time or celebrating a wedding anniversary, you’ll find closeness and passion achieve the soft candlelight regarding the Columbia Restaurant.
„It really is one of the targets,“ Michael stated, „to possess individuals feel like the Columbia is the perfect place to come calmly to celebrate existence’s goals.“
The Columbia Restaurant has household standards into Table
The Columbia eatery charms daters with authentic meals, divine atmospheres, and friendly service. The computers, at the least at our Columbia in Sand Key, watch their guests and they are quick to say „Welcome back“ to loyal consumers whom, like my family, end up going back to the stylish eating spaces repeatedly.
This long-standing dinner organization provides expanded and altered in the decades, nonetheless it never disregarded the century-long family origins. Richard has actually committed plans to offer diners and daters throughout Florida in years to come. „our very own proprietor doesn’t rest,“ Michael said with fun. „he is always dreaming upwards something new.“
The Columbia staff intends to open at the very least two brand-new restaurants from inside the upcoming decades. One will be easily positioned right across the street from original Columbia in Tampa. Casa Santo Stefano, set-to open up in autumn 2018, are going to pay honor to limited town in Sicily in which most Tampa’s Sicilian immigrants emerged from â the real eating plan aims to deliver these households a delicious indication of home.
Enduring management and quality tastes improve Columbia eatery as well as their cousin restaurants really great locations where singles and couples can spend a night together with those they like most readily useful.