The small Version: Since 1905, the Columbia Restaurant has served Spanish and Cuban-inspired dishes and products that portray a long-standing genealogy. Created by a Cuban immigrant in Tampa, the Columbia stays an area favored because of its old-fashioned meals and friendly service. Over the years, people from worldwide have come towards the attractive restaurant to commemorate engagements, wedding anniversaries, birthdays, as well as other monumental minutes. Now, the next and fifth generations with the family members owns and works 13 different restaurants throughout Florida. If you’re looking for good dining with a good old-fashioned household sense, it is possible to reserve a table during the spectacular and enchanting dinner areas associated with Columbia Restaurant.
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For the past 3 decades, my children’s preferred vacation destination was an oceanfront resort in Sand Key, Florida. We’ve eliminated there over several times to construct mud castles, spot dolphins, and eat delicious dinners on patios overlooking the gulf coast of florida.
We have completely explored town’s bistro variety, looking from best local joints around, it simply very happens that the one bistro all of us enjoy most is actually within walking range of our hotel. The Columbia eatery’s white linen tablecloths, conscious solution, and mouth-watering food create our go-to place for supper.
When we had been young ones, my moms and dads would get us a parmesan cheese pizza even though they went to this enchanting Spanish bistro alone; but we now enjoy tapas and drink just as much as they carry out, therefore we’ve begun crashing their particular date night â sometimes taking along dates of our very own.
Since 1905, the Columbia eatery features wowed clients with Spanish and Cuban meals and an old-world atmosphere. Though itis the earliest bistro in Fl, the business enterprise is still operated of the descendants of initial creator. Every product from the selection has actually a story behind it, and many with the dishes have now been handed over from one generation of the Hernandez Gonzmart family members to another. Household heritage is a huge an element of the Columbia’s menu, background, and method of service.
“the employees can a little like family members,” stated Michael Kilgore, the main promotion Officer the Columbia. “quite a few workers remain for 20 or thirty years. One of many things we like about our very own group is actually how long they stay with you. They come here and locate a property.”
You can enjoy this comfortable and inviting atmosphere on the next date night by visiting any of the Columbia’s seven different restaurants. The Columbia eatery at this time serves friends in Tampa, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Clearwater seashore, and party. Whether you are drinking drink on a picturesque balcony or seeing flamenco dancers illuminate the period as you consume tapas, you are guaranteed to have a remarkable evening on Columbia.
In 1905, a Cuban Immigrant Ran a Saloon That Became a Sensation
The Columbia Restaurant can trace the background back to Dec. 17, 1903 â the exact same day the Wright brothers effectively tested the whole world’s first airplane. That has been when a Cuban immigrant named Casimiro Hernandez Sr. started working a saloon for a regional brewing company in Tampa’s Ybor City.
In 1905, the industrious entrepreneur switched the saloon into popular 60-seat cafe recognized for its real Cuban coffee and snacks. Soon after his achievements, Casimiro ordered a restaurant next-door and switched it into an attractive dining room. In 1930, their daughter got more than control and process on the thriving cafe.
During Great Depression, his boy Casimiro Jr. built the very first air-conditioned kitchen in Tampa. The guy hoped the upscale appearance and elevated party flooring would draw men and women to the cafe and help all of them forget their own concerns for a night. The Don Quixote place was actually a winner, while the Columbia managed to keep the doors available even though many other companies folded.
In 1953, Casimiro Jr. passed the Columbia to his sole son or daughter, Adela Hernandez Gonzmart, an accomplished musician that has came across her partner, Cesar Gonzmart, from the Tampa restaurant. This theatrical pair delivered activity and artistry into Columbia, setting up a showroom that managed a lot of talented Latin performers and performers. Under Adela and Cesar’s leadership, the Columbia extended to Sarasota and other areas in Florida.
Nowadays, among Adela and Cesar’s two sons has taken the reins and held his family’s company going. Richard Gonzmart was functioning at his family’s restaurants since he had been 12 yrs old, so they are intimately knowledgeable about their environment and background. Richard can in fact point to the table within Columbia Restaurant in which he with his partner had their basic day more than 43 years back.
“There’s a lot of relationship right here, and we also have actually a great tale,” stated Michael. “under 15 restaurants in america are family-owned and more than 100 years outdated, so we’re in pretty elite company.”
Florida’s oldest cafe features a happy and enduring background grounded on food, family, and fun. Michael told united states the fifth generation on the founding family is becoming groomed to take over one-day. Richard’s daughters and nephew took in energetic management roles on restaurants and so are ready to keep carefully the family members heritage going for numerous a long time.
The Columbia has-been acknowledged with a few associated with greatest awards inside the restaurant industry, including induction into country’s Restaurant Information’ “okay dinner Hall of popularity,” received the “Distinguished Restaurants of the united states (SiRoNA) Award of quality,” Fl Trend’s “Golden Spoon Hall of Fame,” and Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of quality.”
Look In! A Delectable Menu of Sharable Tapas & Indulgent Desserts
The Columbia Restaurant sets a magnificent table and provides an enjoyable getting away from every day life. It seduces your own sensory faculties from the moment you walk in the doorways. You’re in the middle of greenery, h2o fountains, and artwork as the sounds of fun and also the smells of fresh fish and shellfish dishes waft through the air. Before my order actually gets to myself, my mouth area is watering with anticipation. Luckily, each guest will get his / her very own newly produced loaf of Cuban bread, therefore I have actually something you should please my tastebuds while we wait.
The 14-page menu is filled with great food and provides easy dialogue beginners for daters merely learning the other person. Each entrée, appetizer, and dessert has an enticing information together with fascinating back ground details. Such as, the cafe’s coconut frozen dessert ended up being a preferred of frozen dessert business person Gustavo Hernandez, the third daughter of this initial Columbia founder, and today this sweet dish is actually served in his honor.
Through the veggie paella (Spanish grain combined with satisfying vegetables) on the shrimp great (shrimp wrapped in wafer-thin bacon), the foodstuffs on Columbia tend to be bursting with taste. The shareable dishes, known as tapas, get this bistro ideal for lovers on a romantic date since you will come better collectively by revealing tiny plates of empanadas, sliced chorizo, croquetas, or packed peppers. You can create a budget-friendly meal by purchasing many of these appetizers with each other â just remember to truly save room for dessert!
The Très Amigos churros was an excellent choice for lovers because they’re tactile, nice, and merely a little messy. You can easily dip the piping-hot churros in chocolate, caramel, or guava sauce generally there’s a little for all. Plus, Columbia’s trademark White Chocolate Bread Pudding is an indulgent dessert excellent for splitting with a night out together who may have a taste for white candy and rum sauce.
In 2017, the Marriott Traveler blog called the Columbia eatery among St. Augustine’s leading date-night places, promoting lovers to “start out with Columbia’s popular 1905 Salad, assembled table-side with a lot panache, following share a massive plate associated with Paella a la Valenciana, overflowing with shellfish, fragrant grain, and chorizo.”
Your own intimate evening will be-all the greater number of enjoyable should you decide combine along with your food one cup of the Melanie Chardonnay, a wealthy wine named after Melanie Gonzmart, Richard’s high-school sweetheart and partner.
Plus, during the Columbia eatery, the sangria should perish for. Seriously, it comes by the cup you could additionally divide a pitcher of white or reddish sangria with a romantic date to increase your own eating experience. Nicely big pieces of fresh fruit drift for the drink and infuse it with wealthy styles. Whether you are ordering this classic sangria or one of several restaurant’s family wines, the high-caliber products dont disappoint.
Michael told you the group can make an effort to offer affordable but high quality wines to whet visitors’ appetites. “Our drink selection should always be completely suited to the foodstuff we serve along with your price,” the guy stated.
Many Couples & Families Have Shared Special Moments Here
When I think for the Columbia, i believe associated with the night we decided to have treat for lunch, and my parents ordered churros, key lime pie, mango mousse cake, white chocolate bread pudding, and five spoons. I believe of my personal twin brother trying grouper for the first time on our twentieth birthday celebration and claiming excitedly, “just take my personal picture” because the guy wanted to show his girlfriend (that’s now his partner) that he loved taking in fish everything she performed.
In a lot of methods, the Columbia is like our very own destination, but my children isn’t really the sole household to possess generated recollections only at that restaurant and its own six sister locations across Florida. People reach the bistro anyway phases of life as it supplies a particular environment that sets really with any celebration.
Famously, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio had been frequent guests associated with the Columbia in the early 1950s. The Columbia employees settled tribute into couple while the loving thoughts they provided at the bistro by naming a dish after them. The Marilyn & Joe “Salteado” â a sautéed blend of tenderloin recommendations, boneless chicken, shrimp, and chicken â is actually a tasty indication from the long history of love inside the Columbia’s dining spaces.
Whether you are going on a primary time or honoring a marriage anniversary, you’ll find intimacy and enthusiasm achieve the smooth candlelight on the Columbia eatery.
“It really is our targets,” Michael said, “to possess individuals feel as if the Columbia is the perfect place to get to celebrate life’s goals.”
The Columbia Restaurant Brings Family Values to your Table
The Columbia Restaurant charms daters with genuine meals, divine atmospheres, and personable solution. The computers, no less than at the Columbia in Sand Key, pay attention to their visitors and generally are rapid to say “Welcome back” to loyal customers whom, like my loved ones, end up time for the classy dining rooms regularly.
This long-standing dining establishment has actually cultivated and changed for the decades, nevertheless hasn’t disregarded the century-long family members sources. Richard has actually ambitious plans to provide diners and daters throughout Florida when you look at the a long time. “All of our manager does not rest,” Michael mentioned with fun. “He’s usually dreaming upwards new things.”
The Columbia group plans to open up about two new restaurants from inside the following many years. One will end up being easily positioned appropriate across the street through the original Columbia in Tampa. Casa Santo Stefano, set-to open in autumn 2018, are going to pay homage to a small town in Sicily in which a majority of Tampa’s Sicilian immigrants emerged from â the authentic eating plan is designed to deliver these individuals a tasty reminder of home.
Suffering authority and quality tastes make the Columbia Restaurant as well as its brother restaurants undoubtedly impressive locations where singles and lovers can spend an evening together with those they love finest.