The Columbia Restaurant Review

What can be said about the oldest running restaurant in Tampa? The Columbia has been a staple in Ybor City since it’s inception in 1905. It’s longevity has just as much to do with the culture it embodies as it’s good food.

The Hernandez Gonzmart family has been making restaurant history since 1905 when they opened their landmark Columbia Restaurant in Tampa’s Historic Ybor City, which today is Florida’s Oldest and the World’s Largest Spanish restaurant. Today, 4th & 5th generation family members work hard to preserve the family’s legacy that their great-grandfather Casimiro Hernandez Sr. created over 100 years ago when he opened the Columbia as a corner café frequented by local cigar workers.

The thing that amazed me is how truly overwhelming the Columbia is as an experience. It’s a whole block long, featuring multiple dining rooms, specialty halls, an expansive kitchen and a museum/store. Tours are offered throughout the day that delve into some of the history andtake in everything that the Columbia has to offer.

I recently went there for lunch with Tommy Duncan of Sticks of Fire fame. Since it was a working lunch, I was glad to just sit at the bar and enjoy a traditional cuban favorite, the Cuban Sandwich.

The sandwich has taken the top spot in my heart and in my stomach for “Best Cuban Sandwich” in Tampa. Since they’ve been doing it longer than anyone else, it makes sense that they have perfected it. The bread is crispy and pressed just long enough to make it crunchy but not hard. The contents are sliced thin and cut corner to corner so the presentation is as good as any sandwich can possibly be.

The first bite reminds me of the simplicity of the sandwich. The second reinforces the taste profile, especially the mustard and the pickles which give it a slightly bitter taste. The fusion of meats and cheese bring a soft counterpart to the crust of the bread. It’s a very fulfilling sandwich, both in it’s overall taste and it’s larger than average size.

After lunch, we took the free tour. Here’s photos of the restaurant, as seen throughout the tour.

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