Columbia Restaurant

Fantastic food, atmosphere, and service! This restaurant has a lot of history & an amazing menu. Drinks were delicious as was the food. Great price for the amount of food we got. If you’re anywhere near here stop in and try it. Worth the wait to get in.

Really exceptional experience this evening at Columbia Restaurant. This classic and iconic Florida destination boasts exceptional food with a staff of over 200 people to make an exceptional dining experience. The restaurant can seat over 1700 people and they’re always busy, which ought to tell you just how good and flavorful the food is. You’ve got to snag the 1905 salad, sangria, and the paella undoubtedly for a traditional experience. Expect a bit of a wait even with a reservation, but it’ll undoubtedly be worth it.

✅ There is a dress code – you should be mindful and dress for the occasion
✅ Would highly recommend making reservations in advance
✅ Great for larger groups and folks seeking entertainment options (Flamenco show starts at 7 PM)

(Shoutout to Mike – our server tonight – who was considerate and attentive and made our experience at the restaurant even better)

It’s a large, very busy restaurant with a well trained and very attentive wait staff. Our server, Aaron, was outstanding. We had starters of crab croquettes and the 1905 salad, along with warm Cuban bread. All were very tasty. For entrees, I had a seafood special with mussels, clams, shrimp, and scallops over rice. It was delicious. My husband had crab stuffed shrimp with rice. The rice was slightly undercooked. Our cocktails were great. Dessert was the white chocolate bread pudding, unique and excellent. It was a lovely dining experience. We recommend it.

The Columbia Restaurant was established in 1905 in Tampa’s Ybor City. It has since grown to become Florida’s oldest continuously operating restaurant and the world’s biggest Spanish restaurant. The establishment boasts 15 dining rooms, with a capacity to seat 1600 guests, and employs approximately 260 personnel.

It’s interesting that you can request a tour of the restaurant. When we asked for a tour, Seth Davis gave us an amazing 45-minute tour. He shared the restaurant’s history and showed us around 15 different dining rooms, including the enormous kitchen. The restaurant has an impressive history and beautiful rooms, each unique. I highly recommend requesting a tour.

The food and service are top-notch, with large portions, vegetarian options, and great desserts.

Overall, I suggest visiting this fantastic restaurant.

My husband and I just enjoyed another wonderful meal at Columbia. We loved the gazpacho, the Cuban sandwich, the 1905 salad and the bread pudding. The food was on point, as always. Our server Amanda B. was exceptional! She was attentive and took amazing care of us without being intrusive. We made a mistake in ordering, and she efficiently helped me get what I had actually wanted. Amanda B. was intuitive, resourceful and enhanced our dining experience. We look forward to our next visit!