The Quick type: Since 1905, the Columbia Restaurant has offered Spanish and Cuban-inspired dishes and drinks that signify a long-standing genealogy. Launched by a Cuban immigrant in Tampa, the Columbia remains a nearby favored because of its traditional ingredients and personable solution. Over the years, people from all over the world came on attractive cafe to commemorate engagements, anniversaries, birthdays, and other monumental times. Today, the last and fifth generations regarding the family members possesses and works 13 different restaurants throughout Fl. If you’re looking for good eating with a good traditional household sense, you are able to reserve a table inside spectacular and intimate dining areas associated with the Columbia eatery.
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For the past 30 years, my loved ones’s favored destination was an oceanfront lodge in Sand Key, Florida. We’ve eliminated here over several occasions to build sand castles, area whales, and consume delicious dinners on patios overlooking the gulf.
We have carefully investigated town’s bistro selection, searching from greatest local bones around, but it merely therefore takes place the one restaurant each of us enjoy most is actually within strolling distance your resort. The Columbia eatery’s white-linen tablecloths, attentive solution, and mouth-watering meals allow our very own go-to area for supper.
Whenever we happened to be young ones, my personal moms and dads would order united states a cheddar pizza even though they went to this passionate Spanish cafe alone; but we now enjoy tapas and drink equally as much while they carry out, so we’ve started crashing their particular date night â often providing along times of your own.
Since 1905, the Columbia eatery features wowed clients with Spanish and Cuban meals and an old-world atmosphere. Even though it’s the earliest cafe in Florida, the organization is still operate from the descendants regarding the original founder. Every item regarding the diet plan has actually an account behind it, and many for the recipes were transmitted from one generation of Hernandez Gonzmart family to the next. Family members tradition is an enormous part of the Columbia’s diet plan, background, and method of service.
„The staff can also be slightly like family members,” said Michael Kilgore, the Chief promotion Officer when it comes to Columbia. „Many of our workers remain for 20 or thirty years. Among the situations we like about the group is actually how long they stick to you. They are available here and discover property.”
You can enjoy this comfy and inviting environment on your after that date night by visiting any one of the Columbia’s seven various restaurants. The Columbia Restaurant at this time serves visitors in Tampa, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Clearwater Beach, and party. Whether you’re sipping wine on a picturesque balcony or enjoying flamenco dancers light up the stage although you eat tapas, you’re certain to have a memorable night on Columbia.
In 1905, a Cuban Immigrant Ran a Saloon That Became a Sensation
The Columbia eatery can trace its history to Dec. 17, 1903 â alike time the Wright brothers effectively tried the world’s basic airplane. That was whenever a Cuban immigrant called Casimiro Hernandez Sr. began working a saloon for a nearby making business in Tampa’s Ybor City.
In 1905, the industrious business owner turned the saloon into popular 60-seat cafe recognized for their real Cuban coffee and sandwiches. Soon after his achievements, Casimiro ordered a restaurant across the street and converted it into a gorgeous dining room. In 1930, their daughter got over possession and procedure with the flourishing bistro.
While in the Great anxiety, their daughter Casimiro Jr. built initial air-conditioned living area in Tampa. The guy hoped the upscale appearance and raised party flooring would draw men and women to the bistro that assist all of them forget their fears for a night. The Don Quixote Room ended up being popular, in addition to Columbia could keep its doors open while many additional companies folded.
In 1953, Casimiro Jr. passed the Columbia onto his just child, Adela Hernandez Gonzmart, an experienced artist who had satisfied the woman spouse, Cesar Gonzmart, from the Tampa restaurant. This theatrical pair introduced entertainment and art into Columbia, establishing a showroom that hosted lots of skilled Latin dancers and performers. Under Adela and Cesar’s leadership, the Columbia extended to Sarasota and other locations in Fl.
These days, among Adela and Cesar’s two sons has taken the reins and held their family’s company heading. Richard Gonzmart has-been functioning at his family’s restaurants since he had been 12 years of age, therefore he could be closely acquainted their environment and record. Richard can in fact point to the dining table at Columbia eatery in which he along with his wife had their own very first big date over 43 in years past.
„There’s a lot of relationship here, so we have actually a fantastic story,” mentioned Michael. „significantly less than 15 restaurants in the usa are family-owned and most 100 years old, therefore we’re in pretty elite business.”
Fl’s earliest cafe provides a proud and enduring history grounded on meals, household, and enjoyable. Michael informed united states the 5th generation from the founding household is being groomed to take-over eventually. Richard’s daughters and nephew have chosen to take in active management parts during the restaurants and tend to be ready to maintain the family members tradition going for a lot more a long time.
The Columbia happens to be recognized with a few for the greatest honours from inside the cafe business, such as induction into Nation’s eatery News’ „great Dining Hall of Fame,” obtained the „notable Restaurants of North America (SiRoNA) Award of Excellence,” Florida Trend’s „Golden Spoon Hall of popularity,” and Wine Spectator’s „Best of honor of Excellence.”
Dig In! A Delectable Menu of Sharable Tapas & Indulgent Desserts
The Columbia Restaurant sets a luxurious dining table and an enjoyable getting away from everyday activity. It seduces the senses from the moment you walk in the doorways. You’re enclosed by greenery, h2o fountains, and artwork while the noise of laughter as well as the odors of new fish and shellfish dishes waft through atmosphere. Before my purchase even reaches myself, my personal mouth area is obviously watering with expectation. Luckily for us, each guest will get his / her very own newly produced loaf of Cuban breads, so I have actually something you should please my tastebuds while I wait.
The 14-page selection is filled with great meals but also supplies effortless talk starters for daters just getting to know the other person. Each entrée, appetizer, and treat includes an enticing information and additionally fascinating history info. For example, the bistro’s coconut ice cream ended up being a well liked of ice-cream business owner Gustavo Hernandez, the next son of this initial Columbia president, and after this this sweet meal is offered within his respect.
From the veggie paella (Spanish grain mixed with satisfying vegetables) towards the shrimp supreme (shrimp covered with wafer-thin bacon), the foods from the Columbia tend to be bursting with flavor. The shareable dishes, also known as tapas, get this to restaurant perfect for couples on a night out together because you will come better collectively by revealing little dishes of empanadas, sliced chorizo, croquetas, or packed peppers. It is simple to create a budget-friendly meal by purchasing a couple of among these appetizers together â keep in mind to truly save space for treat!
The Très Amigos churros will be an outstanding selection for lovers since they are tactile, nice, and just a little dirty. You’ll dip the piping-meet hot white milfs churros in chocolate, caramel, or guava sauce so there’s a little something for all. Plus, Columbia’s trademark White Chocolate Bread Pudding is an indulgent treat excellent for splitting with a night out together who has got a taste for white candy and rum sauce.
In 2017, the Marriott Traveler web log called the Columbia eatery among St. Augustine’s top date-night places, promoting lovers to „start off with Columbia’s well-known 1905 Salad, assembled table-side with a lot panache, after which share a huge platter associated with Paella a la Valenciana, filled with shellfish, aromatic grain, and chorizo.”
The intimate evening will be all the greater amount of pleasurable any time you pair together with your dinner a glass of the Melanie Chardonnay, a rich wine named after Melanie Gonzmart, Richard’s high-school sweetheart and girlfriend.
Plus, at the Columbia eatery, the sangria should perish for. Really, it comes down because of the glass but you can also separate a pitcher of white or reddish sangria with a romantic date to improve your food experience. Generously big pieces of fruit float inside the drink and infuse it with rich flavors. Whether you’re buying this classic sangria or one of many cafe’s household wines, the high-caliber beverages you should never disappoint.
Michael informed united states the team can make an attempt to supply affordable but quality wines to whet friends’ appetites. „All of our wine option should be perfectly suited to the food we serve along with your cost,” the guy said.
Many partners & groups Have Shared Special Moments Here
When i believe with the Columbia, I think associated with the night we decided to have dessert for lunch, and my parents bought churros, key lime pie, mango mousse dessert, white chocolate loaves of bread pudding, and five spoons. In my opinion of my personal twin brother trying grouper the very first time on the twentieth birthday and claiming excitedly, „just take my image” because he desired to program his sweetheart (who is today his girlfriend) that he loved taking fish just as much as she performed.
In so many ways, the Columbia feels like our spot, but my children actually the only real family members for produced memories at the restaurant and its own six sister locations across Florida. Folks visited the restaurant after all phases of life as it provides a special atmosphere that pairs well with any event.
Famously, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio were constant guests on the Columbia in early 1950s. The Columbia staff members settled tribute on few together with loving thoughts they provided at bistro by naming a dish after all of them. The Marilyn & Joe „Salteado” â a sautéed combination of tenderloin guidelines, boneless chicken white meat, shrimp, and chicken â is a delicious indication on the extended reputation of love within the Columbia’s dining spaces.
Whether you’re taking place a first time or honoring a marriage anniversary, you will find intimacy and passion achieve the comfortable candlelight for the Columbia Restaurant.
„its our goals,” Michael mentioned, „to have people feel like the Columbia is the perfect place to get to celebrate existence’s milestones.”
The Columbia eatery has Family Values on the Table
The Columbia eatery charms daters with genuine dishes, divine atmospheres, and personable solution. The servers, at the very least at the Columbia in Sand Key, pay attention to their own guests and are also rapid to say „Welcome straight back” to loyal customers whom, like my children, end up time for the stylish dining areas time and time again.
This long-standing dinner institution features cultivated and altered in the decades, it hasn’t ever forgotten about its century-long family roots. Richard features challenging plans to offer diners and daters throughout Fl in the years into the future. „Our owner doesn’t sleep,” Michael mentioned with a laugh. „he is always thinking right up something new.”
The Columbia group plans to open up at the least two brand new restaurants in impending decades. One will be easily found appropriate next door through the original Columbia in Tampa. Casa Santo Stefano, set-to start in fall 2018, will probably pay respect to a little village in Sicily in which most Tampa’s Sicilian immigrants emerged from â the genuine eating plan will bring these family members a delicious note of home.
Suffering authority and quality tastes result in the Columbia Restaurant and all of their brother restaurants certainly impressive locations in which singles and lovers can invest an evening with those they like greatest.