The brief variation: Since 1905, the Columbia Restaurant provides supported Spanish and Cuban-inspired dishes and beverages that represent a long-standing family history. Based by a Cuban immigrant in Tampa, the Columbia remains a regional favored because of its conventional meals and personable service. Over time, individuals from worldwide attended towards glamorous cafe to celebrate engagements, anniversaries, birthdays, along with other monumental times. Today, the fourth and 5th generations associated with family members possesses and functions 13 different restaurants throughout Florida. If you’re searching for fine dinner with a decent conventional family feel, possible reserve a table within the spectacular and romantic food spaces of the Columbia eatery.
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Over the past 30 years, my children’s favorite vacation destination was an oceanfront lodge in Sand Key, Fl. We’ve gone here over 12 times to construct sand castles, area whales, and consume tasty meals on patios overlooking the gulf coast of florida.
We’ve got carefully investigated the city’s cafe choice, looking the actual best local joints about, nevertheless just so occurs the one bistro everyone enjoy many is actually within taking walks range your resort. The Columbia eatery’s white-linen tablecloths, mindful service, and mouth-watering meals allow it to be our very own go-to place for dinner.
As soon as we were young ones, my personal parents would get us a cheddar pizza pie while they checked out this passionate Spanish cafe by yourself; however, we currently enjoy tapas and wine as much because they carry out, so we’ve started crashing their own night out â sometimes providing along dates in our very own.
Since 1905, the Columbia eatery has actually wowed clients with Spanish and Cuban meals and an old-world atmosphere. Even though itis the oldest cafe in Florida, the business remains operate by descendants associated with initial founder. Every product throughout the diet plan provides a story behind it, and lots of associated with recipes currently transmitted from one generation of Hernandez Gonzmart family to a higher. Household heritage is a large the main Columbia’s selection, history, and approach to solution.
“The staff can quite like household,” said Michael Kilgore, the principle promotion Officer the Columbia. “Many of our employees remain for 20 or 3 decades. One of several situations we love about our very own team is how much time they stick with you. They are available here in order to find a house.”
You may enjoy this comfortable and inviting atmosphere on your own subsequent night out by visiting any of the Columbia’s seven different restaurants. The Columbia eatery at this time acts friends in Tampa, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Clearwater seashore, and party. Whether you are sipping wine on a picturesque balcony or viewing flamenco performers light the period when you eat tapas, you are certain to have a remarkable night at Columbia.
In 1905, a Cuban Immigrant went a Saloon That Became a Sensation
The Columbia Restaurant can locate its history back once again to Dec. 17, 1903 â similar time the Wright brothers successfully tried society’s very first plane. That was whenever a Cuban immigrant named Casimiro Hernandez Sr. started operating a saloon for a local preparing company in Tampa’s Ybor City.
In 1905, the industrious business person turned the saloon into a well known 60-seat cafe noted for its authentic Cuban coffee and sandwiches. Following his success, Casimiro bought a restaurant next door and changed it into a striking dining area. In 1930, his daughter got more than ownership and process for the flourishing restaurant.
While in the Great Depression, his child Casimiro Jr. built the most important air-conditioned kitchen in Tampa. The guy hoped its upscale look and raised party floor would draw individuals the bistro which help all of them forget their own worries for a night. The Don Quixote Room was actually popular, therefore the Columbia was able to keep its doors open while many various other organizations folded.
In 1953, Casimiro Jr. passed the Columbia to his just kid, Adela Hernandez Gonzmart, an accomplished artist that has satisfied her partner, Cesar Gonzmart, from the Tampa bistro. This theatrical set brought enjoyment and artistry into the Columbia, creating a showroom that managed many skilled Latin dancers and performers. Under Adela and Cesar’s management, the Columbia expanded to Sarasota also areas in Fl.
Now, certainly one of Adela and Cesar’s two sons has had the reins and held their family’s business going. Richard Gonzmart has-been operating at his family’s restaurants since he was 12 years old, thus they are intimately knowledgeable about its environment and record. Richard can in fact point out the table at the Columbia Restaurant where he and his awesome spouse had their unique basic day above 43 years back.
“there’s lots of romance right here, therefore have outstanding tale,” mentioned Michael. “Less than 15 restaurants in the usa tend to be family-owned and more than a century outdated, so we’re in pretty elite company.”
Fl’s oldest restaurant has a satisfied and enduring background grounded on food, family members, and fun. Michael informed you the 5th generation on the founding family happens to be getting groomed to take-over one-day. Richard’s daughters and nephew have chosen to take in active management parts during the restaurants and therefore are prepared to keep the family members custom going for many more years to come.
The Columbia happens to be acknowledged with a few of highest honors when you look at the bistro sector, including induction into country’s Restaurant News’ “great food Hall of popularity,” received the “Distinguished Restaurants of united states (SiRoNA) Award of Excellence,” Fl Trend’s “Golden Spoon Hall of Fame,” and Wine Spectator’s “better of Award of Excellence.”
Dig In! A Delectable Menu of Sharable Tapas & Indulgent Desserts
The Columbia eatery establishes a luxurious table and a delightful getting away from everyday life. It seduces the senses as soon as you walk in the doors. You’re surrounded by greenery, drinking water fountains, and artwork while the sounds of fun while the scents of new fish and shellfish meals waft through air. Before my order actually extends to myself, my mouth area is obviously watering with expectation. Luckily for us, each visitor gets their very own freshly produced loaf of Cuban breads, so I have something to meet my taste buds while we wait.
The 14-page eating plan is full of good food additionally provides effortless dialogue starters for daters just getting to know one another. Each entrée, appetizer, and treat boasts an enticing description plus fascinating history details. For-instance, the cafe’s coconut ice cream was actually a popular of ice cream business person Gustavo Hernandez, the third son associated with the original Columbia president, and after this this sweet dish is offered in his respect.
From veggie paella (Spanish grain combined with hearty vegetables) towards shrimp great (shrimp wrapped in wafer-thin bacon), the foods during the Columbia are bursting with flavor. The shareable dishes, known as tapas, make this cafe ideal for couples on a romantic date since you can come closer collectively by discussing small plates of empanadas, sliced chorizo, croquetas, or packed peppers. You can easily generate a budget-friendly food by purchasing certain of these appetizers collectively â just remember to save lots of space for dessert!
The Très Amigos churros is a great option for couples since they are tactile, sweet, and just only a little messy. You’ll drop the piping-hot churros in chocolate, caramel, or guava sauce so there’s something for everybody. Positive, Columbia’s signature light Chocolate Bread Pudding is an indulgent treat perfect for splitting with a night out together who has got a taste for white candy and rum sauce.
In 2017, the Marriott Traveler blog site named the Columbia Restaurant among St. Augustine’s leading date-night spots, motivating couples to “begin with Columbia’s well-known 1905 Salad, assembled table-side with much panache, after which discuss a massive plate in the Paella a la Valenciana, overflowing with shellfish, aromatic rice, and chorizo.”
Your intimate night will be all the greater satisfying should you set along with your dinner a glass of the Melanie Chardonnay, a rich wine known as after Melanie Gonzmart, Richard’s high-school lover and spouse.
Plus, on Columbia Restaurant, the sangria is to die for. Severely, it comes down from the cup you could in addition separate a pitcher of white or red sangria with a date to increase your own eating experience. Nicely large cuts of good fresh fruit drift for the drink and infuse it with rich tastes. Whether you’re purchasing this classic sangria or among the many bistro’s household wines, the high-caliber drinks never disappoint.
Michael informed you the group makes an attempt available inexpensive however top quality wines to whet visitors’ appetites. “All of our wine choice needs to be perfectly fitted to the meal we offer plus price point,” the guy stated.
Countless Couples & households Have Shared specialized times Here
When In my opinion from the Columbia, i believe associated with evening we made a decision to have treat for supper, and my personal moms and dads purchased churros, crucial lime pie, mango mousse cake, white chocolate loaves of bread pudding, and five spoons. I believe of my twin brother trying grouper for the first time on the 20th birthday and claiming excitedly, “just take my personal picture” because the guy wanted to reveal their girl (who’s now their spouse) which he enjoyed eating fish as much as she did.
In countless methods, the Columbia feels as though all of our location, but my loved ones isn’t the only household getting made memories at the cafe and its six sister locations across Florida. Folks visited the restaurant anyway phases of existence because it supplies an unique environment that pairs well with any celebration.
Notoriously, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio were constant visitors associated with Columbia in early 1950s. The Columbia staff members paid tribute for the pair and the loving recollections they shared within bistro by naming a dish after them. The Marilyn & Joe “Salteado” â a sautéed mixture of tenderloin tips, boneless chicken breast, shrimp, and pork â is a tasty reminder regarding the extended history of relationship into the Columbia’s dining rooms.
Whether you are taking place a primary day or remembering a marriage anniversary, you’ll find closeness and passion achieve the soft candlelight of the Columbia Restaurant.
“It is our targets,” Michael said, “having men and women feel like the Columbia is where to come calmly to commemorate life’s goals.”
The Columbia Restaurant Brings Family standards towards Table
The Columbia Restaurant charms daters with authentic dishes, divine atmospheres, and personable solution. The machines, at the least at the Columbia in Sand Key, watch their unique visitors as they are rapid to express “Welcome straight back” to faithful consumers who, like my family, find themselves going back to the stylish dining areas repeatedly.
This long-standing dining establishment features grown and changed in the many years, it hasn’t forgotten about the century-long household origins. Richard has actually committed plans to offer diners and daters throughout Florida for the years to come. “our very own owner does not rest,” Michael said with a laugh. “He’s usually thinking right up new things.”
The Columbia staff intends to open up about two new restaurants within the upcoming decades. One will be conveniently located right next door from the initial Columbia in Tampa. Casa Santo Stefano, set-to open up in fall 2018, can pay respect to limited community in Sicily in which a lot of Tampa’s Sicilian immigrants arrived from â the genuine selection will bring these individuals a tasty note of residence.
Suffering leadership and top quality types make the Columbia eatery and all the sibling restaurants really remarkable locations where singles and couples can spend a night in the company of those they like finest.