The Family-Owned Columbia Eatery: Florida’s Oldest Restaurant Produces a Beautiful Background For Your Enchanting Minutes
The small Version: Since 1905, the Columbia eatery has actually served Spanwhat is hook uph and Cuban-inspired meals and products that signify a long-standing family history. Based by a Cuban immigrant in Tampa, the Columbia stays a local preferred simply because of its old-fashioned foods and friendly service. Throughout the years, individuals from all over the globe came for the attractive cafe to celebrate engagements, anniversaries, birthdays, and other monumental times. These days, the 4th and fifth generations in the family is the owner of and functions 13 various restaurants throughout Fl. If you're looking for great dinner with a good traditional family feel, possible reserve a table from inside the stunning and romantic dinner areas of Columbia eatery. Show
Over the past 3 decades, my family's preferred holiday destination might an oceanfront resort in Sand Key, Florida. We have now eliminated truth be told there over twelve instances to construct sand castles, place dolphins, and consume delicious dishes on patios overlooking the gulf coast of florida.
We've thoroughly discovered the town's cafe choice, looking around the actual finest neighborhood bones about, nevertheless only very takes place the one restaurant everyone enjoy the majority of is within strolling length of our hotel. The Columbia Restaurant's white-linen tablecloths, attentive solution, and mouth-watering meals ensure it is the go-to spot for supper.
Whenever we had been kids, my personal moms and dads would order us a cheese pizza pie even though they went to this enchanting Spanish restaurant alone; however, we currently enjoy tapas and wine just as much because they perform, therefore we've begun crashing their own date night â occasionally taking along times your own.
Since 1905, the Columbia Restaurant features wowed clients with Spanish and Cuban dishes and an old-world ambiance. Though it's the earliest bistro in Florida, the business enterprise still is operated by descendants associated with the original creator. Every product regarding the diet plan has actually an account behind it, and lots of on the dishes happen transmitted from one generation regarding the Hernandez Gonzmart family members to another. Family members heritage is an enormous area of the Columbia's eating plan, history, and way of service.
"the employees normally some like family," said Michael Kilgore, the Chief promotion Officer when it comes down to Columbia. "Many of our staff members stay for 20 or 30 years. One of the circumstances we love about all of our team is just how long they stick with you. They come right here and find a house."
You may enjoy this comfy and inviting environment on your own then date night by going to any one of the Columbia's seven different restaurants. The Columbia eatery currently serves guests in Tampa, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Clearwater Beach, and party. Whether you're sipping drink on a picturesque balcony or enjoying flamenco dancers light up the phase as you eat tapas, you're sure to have a memorable night from the Columbia.
In 1905, a Cuban Immigrant went a Saloon That Became a Sensation
The Columbia eatery can trace the history back once again to Dec. 17, 1903 â alike day the Wright brothers effectively tried worldwide's very first aircraft. Which was when a Cuban immigrant called Casimiro Hernandez Sr. started operating a saloon for a local preparing organization in Tampa's Ybor City.
In 1905, the industrious entrepreneur turned the saloon into a prominent 60-seat cafe known for the real Cuban coffee-and sandwiches. After his success, Casimiro bought a restaurant nearby and changed it into an attractive dining area. In 1930, his daughter got over ownership and process of flourishing bistro.
During Great anxiety, their child Casimiro Jr. created 1st air-conditioned dining area in Tampa. He hoped their trendy appearance and elevated dance flooring would draw individuals the cafe and help all of them forget about their fears for per night. The Don Quixote Room was actually a winner, in addition to Columbia surely could keep its doors open while many additional organizations collapsed.
In 1953, Casimiro Jr. passed the Columbia onto his only kid, Adela Hernandez Gonzmart, an accomplished musician that has satisfied the woman husband, Cesar Gonzmart, within Tampa cafe. This theatrical pair brought enjoyment and artistry towards the Columbia, establishing a showroom that hosted many talented Latin dancers and musicians. Under Adela and Cesar's leadership, the Columbia extended to Sarasota and other areas in Florida.
Today, certainly Adela and Cesar's two sons has had the reins and kept his family's business going. Richard Gonzmart might working at their family members' restaurants since he was 12 years old, very they are closely acquainted its atmosphere and background. Richard may actually indicate the dining table at Columbia eatery where he and his awesome wife had their unique basic big date more than 43 in years past.
"there are plenty of romance right here, and now we have actually a great tale," stated Michael. "around 15 restaurants in the us are family-owned and most a century outdated, so we're in pretty elite organization."
Fl's earliest bistro features a satisfied and enduring background grounded on meals, household, and enjoyable. Michael told us the 5th generation associated with the founding family is currently becoming groomed to take control of one day. Richard's daughters and nephew have chosen to take on effective administration roles at restaurants consequently they are prepared keep your family members tradition opting for many more a long time.
The Columbia has become known with a few from the highest awards inside the bistro business, such as induction into country's eatery News' "great Dining Hall of Fame," attained the "notable Restaurants of united states (SiRoNA) honor of Excellence," Fl Trend's "Golden Spoon Hall of popularity," and Wine Spectator's "better of Award of quality."
Enjoy In! A Delectable Menu of Sharable Tapas & Indulgent Desserts
The Columbia Restaurant establishes a luxurious table and offers an enjoyable escape from everyday life. It seduces your senses from the moment you walk in the doorways. You are enclosed by greenery, liquid fountains, and artwork given that noise of fun plus the scents of fresh fish and shellfish meals waft through the air. Before my order actually extends to me, my personal mouth area is always watering with anticipation. Thankfully, each guest gets his / her very own newly produced loaf of Cuban bread, therefore I have one thing to meet my personal tastebuds while I wait.
The 14-page eating plan is full of good food but also provides effortless discussion beginners for daters merely observing each other. Each entrée, appetizer, and dessert is sold with an enticing explanation including interesting history details. As an instance, the restaurant's coconut ice cream ended up being a preferred of ice cream business owner Gustavo Hernandez, the next child associated with the initial Columbia founder, and after this this nice plate is served in the respect.
From veggie paella (Spanish grain combined with hearty greens) on shrimp supreme (shrimp covered with wafer-thin bacon), the foodstuffs from the Columbia are bursting with taste. The shareable dishes, also known as tapas, make this restaurant ideal for lovers on a night out together as you will come closer with each other by revealing small dishes of empanadas, sliced chorizo, croquetas, or stuffed peppers. You can easily generate a budget-friendly meal by ordering multiple of these appetizers with each other â remember to truly save place for treat!
The Très Amigos churros could be a great selection for partners because they're tactile, nice, and just a tiny bit messy. It is possible to dip the piping-hot churros in chocolate, caramel, or guava sauce so there's a little something for everybody. Additionally, Columbia's trademark light Chocolate Bread Pudding is actually an indulgent treat perfect for splitting with a night out together having a taste for white candy and rum sauce.
In 2017, the Marriott Traveler web log known as the Columbia eatery among St. Augustine's leading date-night spots, motivating lovers to "start out with Columbia's popular 1905 Salad, assembled table-side with a lot panache, following discuss a massive plate associated with Paella a la Valenciana, filled with shellfish, fragrant grain, and chorizo."
Your own intimate night will be-all the greater amount of satisfying should you decide combine together with your food one glass of the Melanie Chardonnay, an abundant drink named after Melanie Gonzmart, Richard's high-school lover and girlfriend.
Plus, within Columbia eatery, the sangria is always to die for. Severely, it comes down from the cup but you can in addition divide a pitcher of white or purple sangria with a night out together to boost your own dinner knowledge. Amply large pieces of good fresh fruit drift inside wine and infuse it with wealthy tastes. Whether you are buying this traditional sangria or one of many restaurant's family members wines, the high-caliber drinks dont disappoint.
Michael told you the group tends to make an endeavor available affordable but quality wines to whet guests' appetites. "the wine variety should really be completely designed for the meal we serve plus price," the guy stated.
Countless partners & groups Have Shared Special times Here
When I think on the Columbia, i do believe in the night we chose to have dessert for supper, and my moms and dads bought churros, crucial lime pie, mango mousse meal, white candy bread dessert, and five spoons. I believe of my personal twin-brother trying grouper for the first time on our very own twentieth birthday celebration and saying excitedly, "simply take my picture" because the guy wished to reveal his gf (who is now his partner) that he liked taking in fish around she did.
In many means, the Columbia feels like the spot, but my loved ones actually truly the only family members to possess generated memories at the restaurant and its particular six sister places across Florida. Folks started to the restaurant anyway phases of existence given that it provides a particular environment that pairs really with any special event.
Famously, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio happened to be frequent visitors with the Columbia during the early 1950s. The Columbia team settled tribute for the couple while the warm recollections they shared at cafe by naming a dish after them. The Marilyn & Joe "Salteado" â a sautéed combination of tenderloin guidelines, boneless chicken, shrimp, and chicken â is a tasty reminder for the long reputation of relationship in the Columbia's eating areas.
Whether you are going on a primary date or honoring a wedding anniversary, you will discover intimacy and enthusiasm flourish in the soft candlelight associated with the Columbia eatery.
"It's one of our objectives," Michael stated, "to have men and women feel like the Columbia is the place to come calmly to celebrate life's milestones."
The Columbia Restaurant has Family standards on Table
The Columbia Restaurant charms daters with genuine meals, divine atmospheres, and personable solution. The machines, no less than at all of our Columbia in Sand Key, watch their unique friends and are also quick to express "Welcome right back" to faithful customers whom, like my children, are going back to the stylish eating rooms regularly.
This long-standing dinner establishment has grown and changed throughout the decades, nevertheless hasn't forgotten about its century-long family roots. Richard has actually committed intentions to offer diners and daters throughout Fl inside the years to come. "All of our manager doesn't rest," Michael stated with a laugh. "he is constantly dreaming up something new."
The Columbia team intends to start about two new restaurants in coming decades. One will end up being easily situated appropriate down the street from initial Columbia in Tampa. Casa Santo Stefano, set to open up in fall 2018, will pay homage to a little community in Sicily where a majority of Tampa's Sicilian immigrants arrived from â the real selection aims to deliver these households a delicious reminder of house.
Suffering authority and quality types result in the Columbia eatery and all its aunt restaurants undoubtedly impressive locations where singles and lovers can spend a night in the company of those they like most useful.