The brief type: Since 1905, the Columbia eatery features offered Spanish and Cuban-inspired dishes and products that express a long-standing genealogy. Founded by a Cuban immigrant in Tampa, the Columbia continues to be a nearby favored due to its old-fashioned ingredients and personable service. Throughout the years, individuals from all around the globe have come towards the glamorous restaurant to celebrate engagements, anniversaries, birthdays, along with other monumental minutes. These days, the 4th and 5th generations for the family members owns and works 13 different restaurants throughout Fl. If you’re searching for great eating with a good antique family sense, you’ll reserve a table in stunning and passionate dinner rooms in the Columbia eatery.
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For the past three decades, my family’s favorite vacation destination was an oceanfront lodge in Sand Key, Florida. We have now gone there over twelve instances to build sand castles, place dolphins, and consume delicious dinners on patios overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
We thoroughly discovered the town’s bistro selection, looking around from the most readily useful neighborhood bones around, nonetheless it simply thus happens that the one bistro we all enjoy most is actually within walking distance of our hotel. The Columbia eatery’s white linen tablecloths, mindful service, and mouth-watering food allow our very own go-to area for dinner.
As soon as we were young ones, my personal moms and dads would order you a cheese pizza while they visited this intimate Spanish cafe by yourself; however, we have now enjoy tapas and wine just as much as they do, therefore we’ve started crashing their unique night out â often taking along dates of one’s own.
Since 1905, the Columbia Restaurant provides wowed clients with Spanish and Cuban meals and an old-world atmosphere. Though itis the oldest cafe in Fl, the organization still is operate because of the descendants of this initial founder. Every object on selection has actually a tale behind it, and many associated with meals happen handed over from one generation for the Hernandez Gonzmart family members to a higher. Family tradition is a huge the main Columbia’s eating plan, history, and method to service.
“the employees can be quite like household,” said Michael Kilgore, the main promotion Officer for any Columbia. “a number of our staff stay for 20 or 30 years. One of several situations we like about the team is actually how much time they stick with you. They are available right here and find property.”
You can enjoy this comfy and inviting environment in your then date night by going to any of the Columbia’s seven various restaurants. The Columbia eatery at this time serves friends in Tampa, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Clearwater Beach, and party. Whether you are drinking drink on a picturesque balcony or enjoying flamenco dancers illuminate the stage whilst you consume tapas, you’re certain to have a remarkable night within Columbia.
In 1905, a Cuban Immigrant Ran a Saloon That Became a Sensation
The Columbia Restaurant can track the record returning to Dec. 17, 1903 â the exact same time the Wright brothers successfully tested worldwide’s very first aircraft. That has been whenever a Cuban immigrant named Casimiro Hernandez Sr. began operating a saloon for a local preparing company in Tampa’s Ybor City.
In 1905, the industrious business owner switched the saloon into a favorite 60-seat cafe recognized for their genuine Cuban coffee and sandwiches. After his success, Casimiro ordered a restaurant next door and switched it into a gorgeous kitchen. In 1930, his boy took more than control and operation in the thriving bistro.
During the Great anxiety, their daughter Casimiro Jr. built one air-conditioned dining area in Tampa. The guy hoped the trendy appearance and raised dancing floor would draw individuals to the cafe that assist them forget their own fears for per night. The Don Quixote area ended up being a hit, together with Columbia could hold their doorways available even though many other companies folded.
In 1953, Casimiro Jr. passed the Columbia on to their sole youngster, Adela Hernandez Gonzmart, an established artist who’d came across her husband, Cesar Gonzmart, within Tampa bistro. This theatrical set delivered enjoyment and artistry toward Columbia, establishing a showroom that managed many skilled Latin performers and performers. Under Adela and Cesar’s leadership, the Columbia extended to Sarasota as well as other locations in Fl.
Now, certainly one of Adela and Cesar’s two sons has had the reins and held his family members’ company heading. Richard Gonzmart has become functioning at his family’s restaurants since he was 12 years of age, thus they are thoroughly knowledgeable about the atmosphere and record. Richard may actually suggest the table from the Columbia eatery where the guy and his awesome wife had their unique basic day over 43 years back.
“There’s a lot of relationship right here, and then we have an excellent tale,” stated Michael. “below 15 restaurants in the usa tend to be family-owned and most 100 years outdated, therefore we’re in pretty elite organization.”
Fl’s oldest restaurant has a proud and enduring record grounded on meals, family, and enjoyable. Michael told united states the fifth generation regarding the founding family is now being groomed to take-over one-day. Richard’s daughters and nephew have chosen to take in energetic management parts within restaurants and they are ready to keep the household tradition opting for a lot more years into the future.
The Columbia might known with some of this highest awards inside cafe market, including induction into Nation’s eatery Information’ “okay dinner Hall of Fame,” won the “notable Restaurants of America (SiRoNA) Award of quality,” Florida 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 establishes a luxurious dining table and provides a wonderful getting away from daily life. It seduces your sensory faculties as soon as you walk-in the doors. You are enclosed by greenery, drinking water fountains, and artwork because sounds of fun and also the smells of new seafood meals waft through air. Before my purchase also gets to me, my mouth area is often watering with anticipation. Luckily, each visitor will get their own freshly produced loaf of Cuban loaves of bread, so I have actually something you should meet my personal taste buds while we wait.
The 14-page menu is full of great food but additionally supplies effortless dialogue beginners for daters merely observing one another. Each entrée, appetizer, and treat boasts an enticing information and interesting history info. Such as, the cafe’s coconut ice cream had been a preferred of ice cream business person Gustavo Hernandez, the 3rd boy of this original Columbia founder, and after this this sweet plate is actually offered within his honor.
Through the veggie paella (Spanish rice mixed with satisfying greens) into shrimp supreme (shrimp covered with wafer-thin bacon), the foods on Columbia are bursting with taste. The shareable dishes, called tapas, get this cafe ideal for couples on a date since you may come closer together by sharing little dishes of empanadas, sliced chorizo, croquetas, or stuffed peppers. You can easily make a budget-friendly meal by buying various among these appetizers with each other â just remember to save lots of space for dessert!
The Très Amigos churros could well be a great option for partners because they’re tactile, sweet, and just just a little messy. You can easily dip the piping-hot churros in candy, caramel, or guava sauce so there’s a little something for all. Plus, Columbia’s trademark White Chocolate Bread Pudding is an indulgent dessert excellent 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 areas, encouraging partners to “start off with Columbia’s famous 1905 Salad, assembled table-side with much panache, then discuss an enormous plate of this Paella a la Valenciana, full of shellfish, aromatic rice, and chorizo.”
Your enchanting night will be-all the greater amount of satisfying should you set together with your meal one cup of the Melanie Chardonnay, a rich wine called after Melanie Gonzmart, Richard’s high-school sweetheart and girlfriend.
Plus, during the Columbia eatery, the sangria is always to perish for. Honestly, referring from the glass you could also separate a pitcher of white or red sangria with a date to improve your food experience. Generously large cuts of fresh fruit drift for the drink and infuse it with rich types. Whether you are ordering this classic sangria or one of many cafe’s household wines, the high-caliber beverages you should never disappoint.
Michael told united states the group makes an effort to offer affordable however quality wines to whet visitors’ appetites. “Our wine option ought to be completely fitted to the food we offer as well as your price point,” the guy stated.
Many Couples & Families have actually Shared specialized Moments Here
When I think in the Columbia, In my opinion associated with the night we decided to have dessert for supper, and my personal moms and dads bought churros, key lime pie, mango mousse cake, white candy loaves of bread dessert, and five spoons. I think of my personal twin brother attempting grouper for the first time on all of our twentieth birthday and saying excitedly, “get my personal photo” because the guy wanted to program their sweetheart (who is now his spouse) which he loved taking fish around she performed.
In a lot of means, the Columbia feels like our location, but my children isn’t really the only family members for generated thoughts during that restaurant and its own six sister locations across Florida. People arrived at the restaurant after all phases of life as it provides a particular atmosphere that pairs well with any gathering.
Notoriously, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio happened to be constant friends on the Columbia in the early 1950s. The Columbia employees settled tribute into the few and the enjoying memories they shared at bistro by naming a dish after them. The Marilyn & Joe “Salteado” â a sautéed blend of tenderloin guidelines, boneless chicken, shrimp, and chicken â is actually a delicious indication of extended history of relationship in the Columbia’s eating rooms.
Whether you’re taking place a primary day or remembering a wedding anniversary, you’ll find intimacy and passion achieve the smooth candlelight for the Columbia eatery.
“its one of our targets,” Michael mentioned, “to own people feel like the Columbia is where to get to celebrate life’s milestones.”
The Columbia eatery has household standards toward Table
The Columbia eatery charms daters with real dishes, divine atmospheres, and personable solution. The computers, at the very least at our Columbia in Sand Key, focus on their own visitors and tend to be rapid to state “Welcome straight back” to loyal clients who, like my loved ones, are time for the stylish eating areas over repeatedly.
This long-standing food institution has cultivated and changed for the decades, but it hasn’t ever forgotten about their century-long household origins. Richard features committed intentions to serve diners and daters throughout Florida from inside the many years to come. “Our proprietor doesn’t sleep,” Michael said with a laugh. “He’s constantly fantasizing right up new things.”
The Columbia team intentions to start about two brand-new restaurants for the impending years. One will be easily located appropriate next door through the initial Columbia in Tampa. Casa Santo Stefano, set to open in fall 2018, are going to pay honor to limited town in Sicily where most Tampa’s Sicilian immigrants arrived from â the genuine diet plan aims to bring these families a delicious note of home.
Enduring management and top quality styles make Columbia eatery and all sorts of the sibling restaurants certainly remarkable locations in which singles and lovers can spend a night together with those they like finest.
