The brief type: Since 1905, the Columbia Restaurant features offered Spanish and Cuban-inspired meals and products that signify a long-standing genealogy and family history. Started by a Cuban immigrant in Tampa, the Columbia continues to be a local favorite because of its old-fashioned ingredients and friendly solution. Over the years, folks from all over the globe attended with the glamorous bistro to celebrate involvements, anniversaries, birthdays, and various other monumental minutes. Nowadays, the 4th and 5th generations regarding the family possesses and runs 13 various restaurants throughout Fl. If you’re looking for fine food with a decent old-fashioned household experience, it is possible to reserve a table inside spectacular and intimate dining areas regarding the Columbia Restaurant.

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For the past 30 years, my family’s preferred holiday destination might an oceanfront resort in Sand Key, Fl. We’ve eliminated there over 12 occasions to construct mud castles, area dolphins, and eat tasty dishes on patios ignoring the Gulf of Mexico.

We’ve got thoroughly discovered the city’s cafe selection, searching from greatest neighborhood joints around, but it simply therefore takes place that one cafe all of us enjoy the majority of is within taking walks length your resort. The Columbia eatery’s white linen tablecloths, mindful service, and mouth-watering food succeed the go-to spot for supper.

Once we were kids, my parents would purchase united states a cheddar pizza pie as they visited this intimate Spanish restaurant by yourself; but we currently enjoy tapas and wine as much because they perform, therefore we’ve begun crashing their date night — sometimes delivering along dates in our very own.

Since 1905, the Columbia eatery features wowed clients with Spanish and Cuban dishes and an old-world atmosphere. Although it’s the oldest bistro in Florida, the business enterprise continues to be operate by descendants with the initial founder. Every object about eating plan provides a tale behind it, and several on the recipes have-been passed from one generation of Hernandez Gonzmart family members to another location. Household practice is an enormous an element of the Columbia’s selection, background, and approach to service.

“The staff can a little like family members,” said Michael Kilgore, the Chief advertising Officer for the Columbia. “a number of our staff remain for 20 or thirty years. One of many situations we like about our class is actually the length of time they stick to you. They are available right here and discover a property.”

You can enjoy this comfy and welcoming atmosphere in your next date night by visiting any of the Columbia’s seven various restaurants. The Columbia eatery currently serves guests in Tampa, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Clearwater seashore, and Celebration. Whether you’re drinking wine on a picturesque balcony or enjoying flamenco performers light up the level even though you take in tapas, you are certain to have a remarkable evening from the Columbia.

In 1905, a Cuban Immigrant went a Saloon That Became a Sensation

The Columbia Restaurant can locate their background back again to Dec. 17, 1903 — the exact same day the Wright brothers effectively tested society’s basic airplane. That has been whenever a Cuban immigrant named Casimiro Hernandez Sr. began operating a saloon for a regional preparing company in Tampa’s Ybor City.

In 1905, the industrious business person turned the saloon into a popular 60-seat cafe recognized for their authentic Cuban coffee and snacks. After his success, Casimiro purchased a cafe or restaurant across the street and changed it into an attractive dining room. In 1930, his daughter took more than control and process of flourishing bistro.

Through the Great Depression, his boy Casimiro Jr. created one air-conditioned dining room in Tampa. The guy hoped their upscale look and raised party floor would draw individuals to the cafe which help all of them forget their fears for every night. The Don Quixote area ended up being a winner, therefore the Columbia managed to keep its doorways available while many additional organizations collapsed.

In 1953, Casimiro Jr. passed the Columbia onto their only son or daughter, Adela Hernandez Gonzmart, an accomplished musician who’d fulfilled the woman spouse, Cesar Gonzmart, at the Tampa cafe. This theatrical set delivered activity and artistry on Columbia, setting up a showroom that managed many talented Latin dancers and performers. Under Adela and Cesar’s leadership, the Columbia extended to Sarasota also places in Florida.

Now, among Adela and Cesar’s two sons has taken the reins and held their family’s business going. Richard Gonzmart is operating at their family members’ restaurants since he was 12 yrs . old, very he or she is intimately acquainted their atmosphere and history. Richard may actually point to the table at Columbia Restaurant in which the guy along with his partner had their particular very first big date over 43 in years past.

“there are plenty of relationship here, and now we have outstanding tale,” mentioned Michael. “not as much as 15 restaurants in america tend to be family-owned and most 100 years outdated, so we’re in pretty elite business.”

Florida’s earliest bistro features a happy and enduring record rooted in meals, household, and fun. Michael informed you the fifth generation associated with the founding household is now being groomed to take control of one-day. Richard’s daughters and nephew took in effective administration parts during the restaurants and so are prepared maintain household custom going for a lot more a long time.

The Columbia was known which includes associated with highest honours inside the restaurant market, including induction into country’s Restaurant News’ “great Dining Hall of popularity,” earned the “notable Restaurants of united states (SiRoNA) honor of quality,” Fl Trend’s “Golden Spoon Hall of Fame,” and Wine Spectator’s “good honor of quality.”

Enjoy In! A Delectable Menu of Sharable Tapas & Indulgent Desserts

The Columbia eatery establishes a luxurious table and an enjoyable getting away from everyday life. It seduces your sensory faculties as soon as you walk in the doors. You’re surrounded by greenery, liquid fountains, and artwork as noises of fun therefore the odors of new fish and shellfish dishes waft through the atmosphere. Before my purchase even gets to me, my personal mouth area is watering with anticipation. Fortunately, each guest gets his or her own newly produced loaf of Cuban breads, and so I have something you should satisfy my preferences while I wait.

The 14-page selection is filled with good food but also provides effortless talk beginners for daters simply getting to know each other. Each entrée, appetizer, and dessert comes with an enticing information and additionally interesting background info. As an instance, the cafe’s coconut ice-cream was a well liked of ice cream entrepreneur Gustavo Hernandez, the 3rd child with the original Columbia president, and after this this sweet meal is actually offered in his honor.

From the veggie paella (Spanish grain mixed with satisfying veggies) towards the shrimp supreme (shrimp wrapped in wafer-thin bacon), the foods at the Columbia tend to be bursting with taste. The shareable dishes, known as tapas, get this to cafe ideal for lovers on a date as you will come better with each other by discussing little dishes of empanadas, sliced chorizo, croquetas, or stuffed peppers. It’s easy to generate a budget-friendly meal by purchasing multiple among these appetizers together — just remember to truly save room for dessert!

The Très Amigos churros might possibly be an excellent option for lovers because they’re tactile, sweet, and just some dirty. It is possible to dip the piping-hot churros in candy, caramel, or guava sauce so there’s a little for everybody. In addition, Columbia’s signature White Chocolate Bread Pudding is actually an indulgent dessert excellent for splitting with a romantic date having a taste for white candy and rum sauce.

In 2017, the Marriott Traveler web log known as the Columbia Restaurant among St. Augustine’s top date-night places, encouraging partners to “begin with Columbia’s popular 1905 Salad, assembled table-side with a lot panache, after which share an enormous platter regarding the Paella a la Valenciana, filled with shellfish, aromatic rice, and chorizo.”

The romantic night will be all more pleasurable if you combine along with your food one cup of the Melanie Chardonnay, a rich wine named after Melanie Gonzmart, Richard’s high-school lover and partner.

Plus, during the Columbia eatery, the sangria is to perish for. Seriously, it comes down from the cup but you can in addition separate a pitcher of white or reddish sangria with a date to enhance the food experience. Nicely large pieces of good fresh fruit float in the wine and infuse it with wealthy flavors. Whether you are buying this classic sangria or one of several bistro’s household wines, the high-caliber products try not to let you down.

Michael informed united states the team tends to make an attempt to offer affordable yet quality wines to whet visitors’ appetites. “All of our wine selection needs to be completely suited for the food we provide along with your price point,” the guy mentioned.

Many Couples & Families have actually Shared particular Moments Here

When I think in the Columbia, I think regarding the night we chose to have dessert for dinner, and my parents purchased churros, essential lime pie, mango mousse dessert, white candy breads pudding, and five spoons. I do believe of my twin-brother trying grouper for the first time on our 20th birthday celebration and stating excitedly, “simply take my photo” because the guy wanted to show his gf (who is today their partner) that he liked taking fish just as much as she performed.

In many ways, the Columbia is like our spot, but my loved ones isn’t the actual only real family to possess generated memories as of this cafe as well as its six sister locations across Fl. Folks visited the restaurant at all stages of life as it supplies an unique atmosphere that pairs really with any occasion.

Famously, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio happened to be regular friends of Columbia in the early 1950s. The Columbia employees paid tribute towards the couple and loving recollections they provided in the restaurant by naming a dish after all of them. The Marilyn & Joe “Salteado” — a sautéed blend of tenderloin recommendations, boneless chicken white meat, shrimp, and chicken — is a tasty indication associated with lengthy reputation for relationship within the Columbia’s eating rooms.

Whether you are happening a first time or honoring a wedding anniversary, you will find intimacy and passion flourish in the comfortable candlelight regarding the Columbia eatery.

“It’s one of the objectives,” Michael said, “getting folks feel like the Columbia is where to come calmly to commemorate existence’s goals.”

The Columbia Restaurant Brings Family Values to the Table

The Columbia eatery charms daters with genuine dishes, divine atmospheres, and personable solution. The computers, at the very least at our Columbia in Sand Key, focus on their unique friends and tend to be fast to state “Welcome right back” to dedicated clients exactly who, like my family, are returning to the stylish eating areas over and over again.

This long-standing eating place has actually expanded and changed through the decades, however it hasn’t ever forgotten their century-long family sources. Richard features challenging intends to serve diners and daters throughout Fl in the years to come. “our very own manager doesn’t rest,” Michael mentioned with fun. “He’s always thinking right up something totally new.”

The Columbia team intentions to open at the least two brand-new restaurants during the coming years. One will end up being easily positioned correct next door from original Columbia in Tampa. Casa Santo Stefano, set-to open up in fall 2018, will pay homage to a tiny town in Sicily in which a lot of Tampa’s Sicilian immigrants emerged from — the genuine eating plan is designed to bring these family members a tasty indication of home.

Suffering authority and quality types improve Columbia eatery and all of the aunt restaurants truly amazing places in which singles and lovers can spend a night together with those they love finest.

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