Columbia Restaurant: Secure Your Reservation for Authentic Cuban Fare and Historic Ambiance

FANTASTIC!!!  We arrived on a rainy Sunday morning at about 11:30am. The hostess greeted us, took our name and told us that we were welcome to wait in the lounge area. It seemed a little strange as we were one of the few people in the building.  Well that changed quickly.  I have never seen a place fill up so quickly. I now see why reservations are recommended. We loved the atmosphere and all of the history and decor.  Our server, Yarek, was awesome as he told us some of the history of the establishment as well as the art in the room.  All of the staff was very welcoming and friendly. The food was authentically prepared and everything was so fresh. We started with a Gambas Al Ajillo appetizer that if it had been served with white rice, I could have enjoyed as a meal. Heavenly is the only word that I can think of to describe the flavor.  For our main meals we selected the Crab Enchilado and the Palomilla both dishes were simply excellent.  The crab meat in the enchilado was plentiful and was served over pasta. The serving size of the steak was more than enough being topped with chopped onion, parsley and lime juice and was served with your choice of white or yellow rice and sweet plantains.  For desert we choose the Mama Guava Cheesecake that was the real topper of the meal, absolutely nothing disappointed!  We took 3 Cubans and an order of Black Beans Original “1905” with us for our 4 hour trip home. I would say reasonable Ybor City prices and incredibly authentic Cuban fare. Columbia is a wonderful top notch place!

The ultimate FOMO moment comes from a missed beverage opportunity. My only disappointment is that I did not order a café con leche!

This restaurant’s reputation means planning is essential. Make reservations and get there early because they fill up fast. They have several large parking lots with plenty of parking.