Last Updated on October 26, 2023
Columbia Restaurant is a Spanish/Cuban restaurant with a rich history and an expansive menu with many tasty options.
Its original location is in the historic Ybor City neighborhood in Tampa, but they have since opened in six other areas in Florida.
So, if you have an opportunity to dine at one of their restaurants, don’t pass up the chance! It is a one-of-a-kind place with many delicious options from which to choose.
Here are five historical facts about Columbia Restaurant:
1. It is Known as Florida’s Oldest Restaurant
The original Ybor City location has been around for a while. Founded in 1905 by Casimiro Hernandez, Sr., it is known as the oldest restaurant in Florida at over 115 years old!
2. Columbia Restaurant Has Remained in the Same Family
The Hernandez/Gonzmart family owns the Columbia Restaurant. They are the same family that has owned and operated the restaurant since its founding in 1905.
3. It Had the First Air-Conditioned Dining Room in Tampa
In 1935, the founder’s son, Casimiro Jr., built the Don Quixote room in Ybor City’s location with a dance floor and air-conditioning. It was a bold decision at the time. The room was the first air-conditioned dining room in Tampa.
4. Columbia Restaurant is the Largest Spanish Restaurant in the World
What started as a small corner café has turned into a record-breaking venue.
The Ybor City location has expanded over the years and is now considered the world’s largest Spanish restaurant.
It now takes up a whole city block and encompasses 52,000 square feet, with seating for 1,700 people.
5. Columbia Restaurant Has Hosted Some Iconic Guests
The Columbia Restaurant has hosted some legends in its time, including icons like Babe Ruth, Marilyn Monroe, and Bruce Springsteen.
Well-known celebrities of different eras have come from all over to eat the delicious food here.
Over time, Columbia Restaurant has expanded to seven total locations, all in Florida.
Location of Columbia Restaurants
Here’s information on each location:
- Original location in Ybor City, Tampa, founded in 1905
- Location in Sarasota, which opened in 1959 and is the oldest restaurant in Sarasota
- Location in St. Augustine, which opened in 1983
- Location in Clearwater, which opened in 1989
- Location in Celebration, which opened in 1997
- Two smaller Tampa area Columbia Café locations. There is one at the Tampa Bay History Center, which opened in 2009, and one at Tampa International Airport, which opened in 2012.
1905 Salad
Columbia Restaurant has a vast menu with many delicious offerings. A customer favorite is the 1905 salad.
The salad consists of lettuce, ham, Swiss cheese, tomatoes, olives, and grated Romano cheese (we like adding grilled shrimp). What seems like a typical dish has people coming back again and again.
The secret? The house-made garlic dressing is paired with the salad. The restaurant imports olive oil from Spain to create a phenomenal dressing that can’t be replicated elsewhere.
(TIP: The salad dressing recipe is available on the official Columbia Restaurant website — we’ve also spotted the bottled dressing at Publix occasionally).
The Original Cuban Sandwich
They also are home to the original Cuban Sandwich. See how to assemble it and the ingredients below.
This delicious sandwich is often referred to as the Tampa Cuban Sandwich.
NOTE: Casual attire is acceptable to wear when visiting the Columbia Restaurants. They don’t allow sleeveless shirts on men.
Columbia Restaurant: The Book
The Columbia Restaurant Spanish Cookbook, by Adela Hernandez Gonzmart and Ferdie Pacheco, is a collection of legendary dishes from the famous Columbia Restaurant.
The cookbook includes 178 delicious including all the well-known restaurant recipes. Get this book and try some new Spanish-inspired recipes in your own kitchen.
UPDATE on Columbia Restaurant Group as of 12/21/22 (from a press release):
The Columbia Restaurant Group Is Now The 1905 Family Of Restaurants
Since 1905, the Columbia Restaurant has been a pillar of hospitality in Tampa’s historic Ybor City neighborhood.
During five generations of family ownership, the restaurant grew to several iconic locations across Florida — Sarasota, St. Augustine, Sand Key in Clearwater Beach, and Celebration near Orlando.
But now there are more restaurant brands in the family’s portfolio:
- Ulele at Tampa Riverwalk
- Casa Santo Stefano in Ybor City
- Goody Goody Burgers at Hyde Park Village in Tampa
- Cafe Con Leche Ybor City at Tampa International Airport
- Columbia Cafe at Tampa History Center/Riverwalk
- Cha Cha Coconuts at St. Armands Circle in Sarasota
Why was the name changed?
As a nod to the future while honoring the past, the company has changed its name to the 1905 Family of Restaurants.
The new name reflects the year Casimiro Hernandez, Sr., and the continuous family ownership founded the company.
“Our new name pays tribute to the Hernandez family founders as well as looks to the future as the company continues to grow,” fourth-generation caretaker Richard Gonzmart said.
“We’re one of fewer than ten restaurants and restaurant groups in the country still run by descendants of the founding family – in our case, owned and operated now by the fourth and fifth generations.”
Why is there a ship in the logo?
The ship in the new logo represents Columbia, the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe.
The patriotic song beloved by Casimiro Sr. in the early 1900s, “Columbia, Gem of the Ocean,” inspired the flagship restaurant’s name.
While in the Tampa area, check out some of these ideas.
- Our Top 10 Authentic Things to Do in Tampa, Florida
- Home is Where the Art is at Whimzeyland in Safety Harbor
- Caladesi Island Earns Spot On Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beaches List
- Pick a Piece of Florida’s Citrus History at Dooley Groves
- A Getaway to Culturally Savvy St. Pete
- 10 Authentic Things to Do in St. Petersburg & St. Pete Beach
- Historic La Segunda Bakery Opens Third Location
- Top 5 Things to Do North of Tampa
Without a doubt, Columbia’s Cuban Sandwich is tops on our list. If you’re looking for other places to get a great Cuban Sandwich in Florida, check out Our Favorite Cuban Sandwiches in Florida 2023.
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