Columbia Cafe
801 Old Water St, Tampa, FL, 33602
Columbia Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Tampa for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Tampa for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Tampa for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
801 Old Water St
Tampa, FL, 33602 - Phone (813) 229-5511
- Website https://www.columbiarestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Andy D.
Why go to the original if you can come here for less? Although you can't enjoy the atmosphere or tasty paella here, this is still a great place to enjoy a Cuban and cafe con leche. The restaurant is nicely decorated and the wood bar is beautiful. You can enjoy a nice view of the water. Our service was very friendly. She told us about all of the specials and was super informative. I like to order the lunch combo. You can pick two of the following: half Cuban, cup of soup, and half 1905 salad. I always get a Cuban and a cup of black bean soup. I've tried many many Cubans in the area and still firmly believe Columbia has the best Cuban. I still need to try Tropicana, so MAYBE Columbia may be usurped. Everything is perfectly layered and the flavor overall is just amazing. I know this place is famous for the Spanish bean soup, but their black bean soup is the best around. With the rice and onions in it, it is just plain delicious. The other member in my party ordered the chicken saletado. He didn't care for it, but I love it. It was salty but SOOO flavorful. I'll probably order it next time. We didn't try them, but the fresh baked pastries look absolutely heavenly. I really enjoyed this location. It is also cheaper than the original Columbia in Ybor, and only has a smaller menu. Come here, save money, and enjoy the view.
(4)Adam T.
The mix of location and taste earned this place 4 stars in my book. First, you can't beat a restaurant that lets you sit out and enjoy the amazing Tampa view of the water. Really not too many in the city that do this so take advantage. Such a relaxed atmosphere. Wait-staff is hit or miss. The food is tasty. Haven't had a bad dish yet. The Sangria is also pretty good, but I might be biased by drinking it in amazing weather looking out at an awesome scene. Great place for a date if you're a fan of outdoor seating. Go earlier so you can catch some sunlight or the sunset.
(4)Jean K.
This small two-story cafe attached to the Tampa Bay History Center is a great place to enjoy a cup of cafe con leche or grab a bite to eat on the outdoor patio. The upper level has a beautifully carved wooden bar and seating inside with additional seating outside on an open deck. The lower level has a patio with several umbrella tables. I stopped in after my tour of the history center for a coffee and ended up ordering a cafe con leche, Spanish Bean Soup, and a "1905 Salad." The 1905 salad was loaded with a julienne of ham and swiss cheese with a tangy dressing. It was easy to forgive the iceberg lettuce due to the flavorful garlic and Worcestershire dressing. The cafe con leche was recommended by my server and turned out to be a great choice. Bold, robust coffee with a small container of scalded milk. The Spanish Bean Soup was a hearty, meaty soup with lots of flavor. A little too meaty-tasting for me but not enough to stop me from ordering a small cup another time. Overall, CC is in a great location and the meal I enjoyed probably ranks a high 3 stars, rounded up to 4 for great service.
(4)Donna H.
This is the 2nd location I've been to, I'd say any location choice won't disappoint. If you want a Cuban then do yourself a favor and come here. Portions are HUGE! Table side mojitos are a must as well (serves 6 1/2 glasses for $25!!!). Service was a bit slow but then again aren't we all supposed to be on beach time? ;-) The prices are cheap, cheap, cheap. Great place to come before a hockey game and a quick walk to the arena.
(4)Amara G.
I might never really grow up no matter how many candles I get to blow off each year. My father came for a visit. Me? A mixture of excitement and giddiness... and perhaps a bit of exasperation at his premature senility. He is almost eighty. Should I begin excusing his capriciousness and stubbornness? How old do I feel when he is around? Maybe eleven. At least older than when my mother came to visit. She surely makes me feel like I am maybe nine. But he came. Drove four hours to see me and mine. I love to take him out to eat because he is so amused by everything...so grateful. He seems to enjoy everything. I think I have inherited that ability to live in awe. As soon as he walked into my place, he wanted a glass of red wine and a decision about where we were to have lunch. Last time he visited I had taken him to Columbia Restaurant (also we bar hopped from Jackson's to hotel lobbies drinking rum and coke since one must walk Channelside and the Riverwalk.) But we sat for a while at Columbia... He loved sitting outside overlooking the canal during sunset. He also loved the Cuban sandwich (not to mention the sangrÃa, even if mine is better. Mine will always be better.) So it was a no brainer to have him smiling over pickles and mustard and pernil. Happiness hugged by Cuban bread. The problem with choosing a place where they serve familiar food is that we want every entrée in the menu. We get to compare with our own cooking and our typical food. Leticia, the lovely Colombian server, laughed as we fought over possibilities and who was sharing what with whom. His eyes black and round... excited and loving. Of course we ended up ordering too much. The Spanish Bean Soup is reminiscent of the classic Caldo Gallego (Garbanzo beans, chorizo, ham and potatoes). Perfect for a hangover I was to acquire much later in the day. Oh, well. I did try. Papá had the Cuban sandwich and, although he claimed his previous one was better, no one tasted it because he never offered. Assume what you might. The Tortilla Española was okay. A bit mushy for my taste... actually our taste because some loudly criticized it. I ordered la Coca de Langosta. Coca is the Spaniard name for flatbread pizza. Mine had huge lobster chunks and if I had felt genuinely generous and had shared it, I would have starved to death and not eaten any. The whole table was ogling it voraciously and shamelessly. Amazing. But mine. They had to trust me on that. We ordered empanadas de Ropa Vieja which disappeared immediately and those who do not have a long arm missed them. Oh, well. They will have to trust me on that. Previously I have tried the empanadas de picadillo (yummy) and the arroz con pollo (which I will never ever order again because I make it better.) They make the sangria table-side... and it is a lovely experience. A white and blue ceramic jar filled with burgundy color sweetness. My father and his wife ordered café con leche and it was served rather cold. Hey, they like it scalding hot. Don't ask me because I can sit at Buddy Brew and hold on to that cup until pigs fly and imagine it is frozen and not mind, but they are picky. They believe themselves some sort of baristas from the boonies, I guess. Leticia obliged ad brought two new ones (since they don't have microwave). They seemed to steam like witches' brew. Raving reviews in between soccer team talks and Leticia's family stories. He looked at me behind the coffee fumes. Eyes filled with joy and love. Yes. I am definitely eleven when he is around. Still.
(4)Kelleigh M.
I would love to give this place 4 stars, but the habitual bad service doesn't allow me to. We've been here several times and each time, service is bad-I mean really, really bad. It's as though they know that the outside patio is always busy and there is no need to give any type of service. I'm not a huge fan of their menu, but I do like their 1905 salad. On the weekends, they have live music which is a nice touch and makes dining al fresco quite enjoyable. To management: hire some wait staff that has an ounce of customer service in their bones!
(3)Akshay R.
Great place, food and service. nice decor. It was raining when we were having our lunch and it kindda made me nostalgic.
(5)Chelsea B.
There are a lot of complaints about service, but we had a great experience on a busy holiday Saturday afternoon. Service was prompt, 1905 salad was as tasty as always, as was the Sangria, and the views and tables right on the river are to die for. Best of all is its location on the new Riverwalk so it was a great stop for our Saturday stroll by the river!
(4)Jada L.
Oh, boy. This is a tough one. My friends and I came for lunch on a Monday. We opted for outdoor seating since the weather was behaving. There was a light crowd and only two servers. Too bad the third server didn't come until more than half way through our meal. This place seriously needs separate food runners and busboys. The table we sat at was clear, but needed to be wiped down. Our assigned server (Carolyn) might have had too much on her plate that day. It took a while for water refills. After we ordered our food, it seemed like our food was the last to come out. Oh, and each time we thanked her for anything, it was always "her pleasure." Really? Is it your pleasure to wipe my table? Is it your pleasure to place my water cup on the table? Is it your pleasure to take my plate? Just say "Thank you" next time! The food? It was ok. You can't go wrong with the 1905 salad. I could have done without the infamous croquette. I had the Coca de Langosta y Chorizo as my main dish. I couldn't taste the lobster and I'm sure that's why it was priced the way it is; not worth it. I'd be willing to go to a Columbia Cafe in a different location. It seems like a staple in the Tampa area.
(2)Stephanie I.
I hate to give such a mainstay a lower rating, but it was impossible to go any higher. Our service was insanely bad. Some people just really aren't meant to be servers. When we arrived, we were told we could sit anywhere. It took our server at least 10 minutes to even come acknowledge us. She seemed extremely overwhelmed. There were maybe 2 other tables with us. Took another 15 minutes to get our drinks (waters) and took even longer to put in orders. Every time she came out of the kitchen, she was only carrying drinks. No food was coming out of the kitchen. It was ridiculous. I enjoyed the famous salad and my chicken sandwich, I just wish we hadn't spent 2 hours there and had to flag down our server for everything. She clearly didn't know how to multi-task and moved reallyyyy slow. I would not return to this location, but I would still be open to trying the original location. On the plus side, it's a nice view if you sit outside.
(2)Laura B.
Kind of disappointing compared to the other 2 Columbias I've been to. Cuban sandwich was bland. Empanadas were pretty good. Bread was okay. Maybe I needed to order drinks, too.
(3)Boon C.
The outside sitting at this month is very pleasant. Blue sky no cloud and you not in hurry while you enjoy your lunch. Our office decided to celebrate a win of project at this restaurant. This restaurant is the seventh series of famous Columbia restaurant. The lunch menu is reasonable price. Since we have a big group, the outside sitting waiter have a lot to cover. He have a slow start to get our menu. Then the food come out faster then I have estimated. The speed of serving is good after the food is out. I have the Mahi Mahi Cayo Hueso. It is grill Mahi Mahi with mojo marinated. It is good. The soup of chilled gazpacho is taste better than lunch entree. I also ask a dish to go for the coworker that cannot make it. The order is done in 5 minutes. This mean this is cafe style precook items and assemble on site immediately. The temperature of the food is warm and further evident precook item. This may not be the cook to your order place.
(3)Katy S.
So, they have champagne sangria and it is on the water. That alone will make me like this place. That said - the food is delicious too! Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon with some friends and had the champs sangria and some appys. We went for the Calamari and the Queso Fundido. Neither disappointed! The server will actually make the sangria at your table, which is kind of a fun touch. I like this place because you can get Columbia food in a very relaxed atmosphere. Over all - I'm a fan and will definitely be back!
(4)Todd W.
How appropriate that Columbia has this small outdoor dining area at something called the Tampa Bay History Center, considering what Columbia has mean to the area's history. My first visit was a casual weekday afternoon lunch on a perfect weather day and as others were finishing their meals. While there was no alcohol as part of this outing, the food itself was worthwhile and the menu provides plenty of excellent choices. The choice of two offers a smaller, yet perfect size in their traditional Cuban sandwich and either half the famous 1905 salad or cup of soup. I took the soup option so I could enjoy some delicious gazpacho and I love the fact that my vegetables and croutons are added at the table in front of me exactly to my taste. Their Cuban sandwich is obviously done the right way. This means pressed not toasted, meat sliced and stacked with sharp edges AND absolutely no mayonnaise. (Sorry, mayo fans. Get over it. It is not an official ingredient.) My friend also had the devil crab croquette and he apparently is a regular fan of it. I do not blame him based simply on how great it looked on his plate. Honestly, wish I had been hungrier to have something else OR even the key lime pie, but that just gives me a reason to come back again to see my friend who works nearby in the coming weeks.
(3)Kristin R.
Lord Almighty I freaking love this place!! Beautiful place to spend a sunny afternoon! Champagne sangria is so freakin' good you will want to dance the tango! The 1905 salad is a must order and their Cubans are some of the best I have had.
(5)Josh N.
To be honest nothing like the Colombian in downtown ybor. Only one server was pleasant our food took forever and when it came to bread and refills it was like our table didn't exist. The view and venue however cannot be beat and once it did arrive was delicious
(2)Sonya H.
Decided to eat here based on Yelp reviews for restaurants that were open Saturday morning and near the museum. We chose the museum due to the 15 mph winds & chill making activites outside undesirable. We chose the sangria since it was 11am; I felt it was a bit early for mojitos and since I'd not eaten yet. I wanted one though. I had the Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwich special of the day & my friend had the Cuban sandwich. We also had the plaintains and the Spanish Bean Soup. I'm a fan of mayonnaise but would never ruin the roasted pork by asking for it. Overall, it was a flavorful sandwich. I couldn't finish it because I'd gotten full from the soup & plaintains. Plus, we were going to the museum shortly after. My friend said the Cuban was pretty good. She finished hers. I still wished that I'd taken mine and put it in the car for later. It was going to be a long drive back home. I don't live in Tampa, so I figure there are lots of other places to try out when visiting. But the next time I'm in the area or at the stadium, I'd come back.
(4)Ben S.
Great food, great drinks , service wasn't so great. Good place to stop for lunch.
(4)Steve E.
This past Saturday was scheduled to be a very busy day with our Hillsborough River Crawl boat tour followed by a long string of errands, and so I was glad when my buddy, Mike S. suggested that we meet at the Columbia Café for a late breakfast / early lunch before boarding the boats. The Columbia Café sits adjacent to the Tampa History Museum in downtown Tampa, and you'll find this pleasant eatery located right behind the museum and along the riverfront on Old Water Street. The Café has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating overlooking Garrison Channel separating downtown from Harbour Island. It's a terrific place to enjoy a very relaxing meal while getting plenty of fresh air. The Columbia serves the most popular dishes from the restaurant's flagship location in Ybor City, including the Original "1905 Salad", Spanish bean soup, and chicken and yellow rice. They also serves cocktails, beer and wine, including the Spanish cava sangria made tableside. Since we were planning on a day of boating, I skipped the alcohol, and ordered a shot of Cuban espresso with a devil crab and some Cuban bread. The devil crab (not to be confused with deviled crab which is a lump crabmeat casserole from my home state of Maryland - myrecipes.com/recipe/dev… ) is a miniature football-shaped fried croquette filled with rice and crab. Devil crabs originated in Tampa, as it was tasty treat which could easily be eaten with one hand, leaving your other hand free for that delightful cup of Cuban espresso to get your heart pumping. If you're looking for a nice place to kick back and relax in the area around the Tampa Bay Times Forum, then I highly recommend a stop at the Columbia Café.
(4)Liz W.
What a disaster. The only good thing is the view. The service is terrible and the food is worse. Just getting water or the beer you ordered is an ordeal. Every single thing came out at once--salad, app, food--and the waitress said the kitchen was so chaotic that if she had put the orders in separately the food would never have come. And the food was inedible. Don't waste your time or money here.
(1)Jennifer S.
Ate there today, yes the service was very slow as everyone has stated. We had to ask multiple times for things and even ask another waitress where our waitress was. (She was downstairs counting money) The food is ok, however I was disappointed with the "grilled grouper" it isn't grilled it is fried...it says encrusted with Cuban crackers which I guess means fried but is called "grilled grouper sandwich" on the menu!!! If I would have known I wouldn't have ordered it. Also I think that since they are so close to the arena maybe they should have a schedule of what's going on. I heard them over talking about how they didn't realize that a show was going on today and they hoped it didn't get too busy because no one else was coming.
(2)Rachel S.
I miss the Columbia cafe all the time now that I'm in California! You have to get the Cuban, it is packed with flavor and everything about it is amazing from the special bread to the delicious combination of meats and cheese and of course pickles, because pickles make everything better! Now while the cuban is a go to they have an amazing menu, the pressed meatloaf sandwich is a unique and flavorful dish that I fell in love with the very first bite. Brandon loves the Mojo chicken sandwich and I'll admit it is great but the Cuban or meatloaf are incredible. Did I mention the fresh plantain chips that come with sandwiches are delicious, crunchy and come out hot! So good and perfect side for the sandwiches! Not only is the food great but the staff is friendly and will offer some insight on the menu and keep your water glass full! When they ask you if you'd like dessert the right answer is HECK YES!! Their bread pudding is one of the best desserts I have ever had. Whenever we went to the Columbia cafe we left happy, satisfied and soooo full!
(5)Nikki L.
The Cuban food at Columbia Cafe (behind the Tampa History Center) is average. But you don't go for the food, you go for the outdoor atmosphere by the water (similar to Jacksons). For me, this is a good place to come with your dog, sit outside, listen to music, and have a pitcher of sangria with tapas. On Friday's and Saturdays there usually is a saxophone player or some live music. It's a nice place to have a relaxing lunch or evening while the sun sets, or a nice place to go to before you go to an event in town. If you decide to eat indoors, expect to sit in a place that looks like a large hallway of the history center. Definitely ask to sit outside. I've gone here several times. The service has been mixed. Some servers are attentive and some you rarely see come outside to help you. Devil crab- We liked this. Lots of crab and worth it. Champinones Rellenos, Shrimp "Al Ajilos", Calamares, bread & butter, black bean soup, Gazpacho, fried plantains, empanadas, (all of them) grouper sandwich- all these tapas/dishes were nothing to rave about but sufficient for the $. Chicken and rice - Dry but large portion. Jamon, Chorizo y Manchego - Basically a cold cheese plate. Chorizo not as good quality and the plate is small. For the $, it's okay. Toro Sangria pitcher (red) - This is really good here. Order many of these and hang out outside. Note that if you order by the glass it's a slightly different recipe. The pitcher is better and they also make it table side. Basically again, if you are looking for top notch Cuban (corrected typo) food, this isn't it (although, I hear that the main Columbia in Ybor is very good). But you'll love the atmosphere and vibe.
(3)Nancy P.
Stopped here before fleetwood mac concert and I'm glad we did! Ordered several tapas, championes rellenos and crabmeat and artichoke, something with shrimp. All were so good! Ordered Caesar salads to start and it all came out together which is never my favorite. Nevertheless, it was all so tasty that all of us gobbled it up before anything could get cold. The margaritas were nice and a good balance with the food. Fairly slower service so just allow enough time, it's worth it! Sat outside on the patio, the weather was gorgeous. A fun place to start the night!
(4)Lizbeth T.
As soon as I checked into my hotel in downtown Tampa, I was ready for some Cuban food, which is hard to find in my town. The valet recommended Columbia Café, and mentioned that there was an outpost just a few minutes down the Riverwalk. Since it was a bit late to make it to the original in Ybor City, my colleague and I were delighted to find something so close to our hotel. You should know going in that this location of the Columbia Café has a condensed menu that is much smaller than the original location. I was somewhat disappointed, but it's fair that a restaurant located in a museum would want to keep their menu manageable for the size of the space and the staff. It also struck me as a bit awkward that the entrance is not clearly marked. We walked into a really nice outdoor patio seating area, but there was no host stand and we were not sure if we needed to go inside to be seated. We walked inside and up the stairs to the bar area and waited a few minutes until a server appeared. She told us to sit anywhere, so we went back outside and chose a table. We then waited for 15 minutes before we were greeted by a server and offered drinks. No one was eating inside, but the patio was somewhat busy and the restaurant appeared to be understaffed. There was no real system for servers to approach diners, so others who sat down after us were greeted sooner. I sympathize with staff in this type of situation, but it seems that management should plan and staff more appropriately. I'm also not sure if the fact that this was in the evening after the museum closed had anything to do with the small staff, but given the lack of restaurants near downtown hotels, I would expect this location to do a healthy dinner business. When we did get to order and eat, everything was fantastic. We had the sangria prepared table-side, which was slightly gimmicky but fun. My colleague had the cubano sandwich and I ordered the Picadillo Criollo and a side of sweet fried plantains. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. The view from the patio of the channel is nice, and once we were eating and drinking, the meal was a really pleasant experience. Now I just need to make it to the original on my next trip to Tampa!
(3)Chris A.
Everything was delicious, from the chicken salteado, to the Cuban bread and butter to the key lime pie. This place deserves way more stars than it has. Leticia was an excellent waitress whose every suggestion was spot on. Don't miss this place if you like authentic Latin cooking.
(5)Aleema A.
My friends and I were having a "Sunday Funday" of sorts when someone suggested that we go here to get some Sangria. Whoo hoo! So glad I got to experience this place. The inside looks very old Tampa and is gorgeous outside. We ordered the Sangria and some tapas and everything was just wonderful. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Michelle G.
This place has a very relaxing atmosphere on the water and great food and service to go along with it. More of a "small group" outdoor dining area.
(5)Imran S.
I will go there again just for the BREAD PUDDING itself! loved it!
(4)Coty S.
The view makes the food taste better. While I am not the biggest fan of the food at Columbia, this location is more about the atmosphere to me. The outdoor seating is phenomenal. For anyone that knows me, you will know that I hate outdoor seating due to hot weather and bugs. But, the terrace here is perfect because the breeze from the water and the view is breathtaking. There are plenty of umbrellas to hide under, and I like to arrive early before it gets too hot and crowded. After eating here, just take a stroll down Tampa Riverwalk and admire all of the rich folks and their stuff. There are restrooms downstairs that are easily accessible. Parking is free on the weekends before 5pm at the parking lot across the street, next to Oishii Sushi plaza (whatever that plaza is called).
(3)Lilly R.
Much better food than the original Columbia in Ybor. The waiting staff is great, their food, and their drinks. Oh! And soups. Don't forget that. I've sat inside, I've ordered out, and I've said outside and had apps and drinks outside. A great place for a quick bite before anything going on at the Amalie or after coming back from the cruise unwind here.
(5)Karen F.
I love that you can sit outside on nice days on their patio, relax in the sun, and enjoy the view. I hate that the last three times I have visited, the service has been atrocious. It's now apparent that this is the norm, not the exception. This last visit I had a friend with me in town from Brooklyn, and even she was surprised at how bad the service was. We were led to a table by a server, and sat. Waited 10-15 minutes for someone to come over, when finally a server arrived with menus and to take a drink order. Another 15-20 minutes go by, and the server shows with our sodas, and takes our order. I order my favorite Spanish bean soup, and the grilled grouper sandwich, and my friend ordered gazpacho and the meat, cheese & olive appetizer for her meal. Another half hour or so goes by, and our waiter finally shows with both our soups, and our entrees. Really? You didn't think the soups are supposed to come out first? And you bring the fresh bread halfway through our meal? Spanish bean soup was delicious, but the gazpacho was watery and flavorless, and the paper-thin fish in my sandwich didn't have any taste either-maybe that's why they serve it with such a strong tartar sauce? I left half behind because it wasn't good enough to take with. Final thoughts - if you only get an hour for lunch, don't come here. If you are very hungry and hoping for food in a 'normal' amount of time, don't come here. If you have a few hours to hang out in the sun and people watch, and don't mind marginal food and service as the trade off, then *ding ding ding* this is your place.
(2)Cunwang C.
Both a friend of mine and I had dined at this restaurant. I personally thought that little statue of Don Quixote on the wall was a nice decoration, if you are willing to sit by the bar. Although it seemed that most people are more willing to sit outside to enjoy the view. The menu is small but decent. Considering its location, the food aims at enhancing the experience after visiting the museum other than provide a full level of dining experience. Very good service but pricy considering the portion of the food.
(5)Sarah B.
I was pleasantly surprised this place even existed! I love that it's on the waterfront downtown and it's a perfect pairing for the Tampa Bay History Museum. The menu at this location is smaller than the Ybor location but it's looked like all the most popular dishes were included on the menu. We visited for a few day time cocktails had enjoyed a couple of pitchers of their refreshing champagne sangria and a couple of appetizers. Both the calamari and the queso fundido were flavorful and perfect to share with a group. I loved the atmosphere here and can't wait to come back for lunch and a visit the museum.
(4)Cameron D.
Atmosphere was nice but the food was mostly awful. The Cuban sandwich was dry. The salad lacked flavor. The keylime pie, however, was fantastic. The other locations are far better. Pass on this one though.
(2)Kira T.
I've never been to a Columbian restaurant and after reading about the rich heritage from this restaurant I was excited to try it out. Maybe lunchtime was the wrong time to go but I was not impressed in the slightest bit. I had a chicken sandwich and it was barely cooked through and the dark vein was going down the middle of it which was not appetizing. The waiter seemed overwhelmed and was complaining about their being a conference in town and not knowing about it. Unfortunately we were part of that conference which made me feel unwanted there. The lettuce on my sandwich was wilted and definitely not fresh. The other people at my table who had chicken also had almost underdone chicken dishes. The staff wasn't that friendly. I was hoping for a more authentic experience, but maybe you have to go to the original location of this restaurant. There were many pictures inside of celebrities who have dined at the original Columbia Cafe. I'm not sure I would go back to this location but would like to try other locations in FL and get some more authentic fare.
(3)Danielle R.
I was attending a conference at the nearby Marriott, and on the last day my friends and I decided to hit up this cafe for lunch. I ordered the Cuban becuase I hadn't had one yet on this trip, and it was delicious (very large and expertly pressed with a pile of plantain chips and a pickle). We also ordered a couple pitchers of mojitos (prepared tableside in a beautiful pitcher and accented with strips of sugarcane). They were truly some of the best mojitos I've ever had. My friends had the mushrooms, empanadas, and a couple different soups, and everything was delicious. Everything was reasonably priced, and the waiter was friendly and attentive. The lovely outdoor atmosphere was the icing on the cake. This place was the perfect way to cap off our visit to Tampa; highly recommended!
(5)Michael E.
I've been here three times and my experience has always been mediocre in general. The food is authentic Cuban fare and it's pretty decent. Honestly not the best I've ever had, but I can't complain much, either. Maybe a little on the greasy side but tasty. The staff is not super friendly but they aren't rude by any means, either. Lacking in smiles but seem focused on providing good service, which is good. Came today and they were out of mojitos, the main reason we came. Their Sangria is okay, so decided to stay. They had one server covering a section of 8 tables and 3 of them were put together to accommodate a party of 11 that had just arrived. Poor thing; had the whole party to herself plus a bunch of other tables. Wasn't her fault... She was running her butt off in the hot sun. As a former server, they should never stuck her in a section larger than 5 tables. She did her best but we waited a looong time for everything and I could see other tables getting upset, too. One table ran out of drinks/water for a solid 20 minutes and they were getting antsy to just pay and leave. In my humble opinion, this place does well enough because of their location and the Cuban food/cultural aspect. Seems to draw enough in tourists and local non-Cuban folk who admire the history of our beloved Cuban Tampanians. The problems I've seen every time I'm here reflect poor management. With the right direction, this place has excellent potential.
(2)Holly P.
Waited 25 minutes for burnt plantains and a deviled crab. They forgot our salad. Won't be back.
(1)Chris K.
The gazpacho was great. The waitress brought the fresh chopped vegies to the table to make it perfectly to my taste. I had the fresh grouper sandwich. The bread was fresh and the fish was a decent portion. I would say the fish was a bit bland. Awesone outside seating with great service.
(4)Michelle M.
Excellent chicken and rice, marinated olives, and sangria made at the table side. Black bean and rice soup also delicious.
(4)Crystal J.
I love this place! Not only is the food amazing but the staff is wonderful! On my most recent visit Brandon was our server and it was his first day. You would have thought he worked there for years. Jose the manager is always so friendly and always does a great job of checking on all of the tables. It is so refreshing to go to places where the employees seem to love their job! I would highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Adam L.
Sangria here is amazing!
(5)Albert W.
It's okay... nearby the convention center. If you have time, go to the orginal location in Yorba. More food choices and more history.
(3)Jim K.
Great location but spotty service and average food. If you're at the History Museum, worth a stop but wouldn't go out of my way again. Sat outside for and never got a waiter. Gave up and went inside. Waiter inside was good but no draft beer, nothing special about the Sangria, and the grouper sandwich was just ok. This is the cafe in the museum, the other locations may be better.
(2)Shenia J.
I went to this restaurant as part of a gathering for a large group. It is located next to the Tampa Bay History Center. We dined outside. I liked the space outside because it is large enough to accommodate huge groups with room to spare. For my entree, I had the grilled salmon with yellow rice. It wasn't life changing but it was decent. I also had their Sangria. Even though, I read reviews about how great it is, mine seemed to be watered down. So, I was a little disappointed. It is not that I had a bad experience, but with so many other options near Channel side to choose from, I don't know that this is a restaurant that I will frequent.
(3)Laura R.
First, let me just say if you're planning on stopping here to eat, make sure you have triple the amount of time you think you need. Or better yet, pick a different Columbia location all together. We stopped in for lunch on a Sunday at about 2pm. It was fairly busy, but still a few open tables/spots at the bar. We were told it was open seating, found a spot, and then waited 15 minutes for it to be cleared (and we basically cleared it ourselves, putting everything on a nearby tray and desperately trying to make eye contact with any server walking by). Our server was MIA most of the time and never said more to us than "I'll bring your check" towards the end of the meal, but rather a very kind other server kept checking in on us and making sure we had our water (never refilled) and took our orders. I understand restaurants get busy, I get servers get stressed, but this was possibly THE WORST service I've ever received. Our server, again, passed by our table NUMEROUS times, did bring us our utensils, and stood over our table setting them without speaking a word. The other kind server was obviously flustered too and kept having to cover for him, in the midst of being incredibly busy herself. The food took a long time, which would be totally fine if everything else was acceptable. Of course the 1905 salad is very good, as are the plantains and the special, Pollo Manchego. The pollo empanadas were so-so, but we would not get them again. We tried to get some cash to tip the waitress that had actually been helpful after asking if we could get cash back (which we were told we could), but then when we went up to the bar to try, were told we were not able to? Overall, terrible experience, would never go back to this location and cannot recommend it to anyone.
(1)Susan K.
Terrible service. Bleh food. Dirty. Don't bother. Manager is around and ignores what is going on. Many unhappy patrons when we were there, returning food, walking out mad. Just don't.
(1)Giga S.
Before you visit: this is a Spanish restaurant, not Italian. Yelp snobs have ungraciously come here and bashed this place; so hang on. Cuba is not this super fancy place, restaurants are cozy hangouts with loud laughs. Cuban Americans are not pretentious, they are simply trying to show you a replica of the bar in the Ybor site that their parents build. Ya, the cheese on the Cubans looks funny but it tastes great. Hung up on looks?, try the Mahi Mahi Cubana. It's perfectly cooked flakes melt in your mouth with peppers and onions to spice the situation up a notch. Keep in mind Kristy B., the Cuban sandwich here costs $8.95. That is cheaper than a meal from a food truck here. Maybe downtown next time? The ambiance is great, but a fresher presentation of a few items wouldn't hurt!
(3)Harrison C.
Nice riverwalk restaurant that serves Cuban food. I had their famous house salad which was flavorful even though I was originally taken aback by all the iceberg lettuce. The special was roast pork with plantains, rice and beans. I found the pork to be overcooked and over soaked in a garlic gravy that left a strong aftertaste. Service was very friendly and homey.
(3)Mike S.
On a prior visit soon after the café opened, I was disappointed after high expectation of Columbia standards in terms of quality of food and service. I visited again on Saturday with a party of YELP River Crawlers and was delighted. We arrived a bit before their posted opening time and they graciously served us. Very friendly and helpful as more YELPERs drifted in. Most of us were eating light on out first stop and they handled lots of small orders quickly, including their popular 1905 salads. I had excellent cafe con leche..and since they bring an individual pot of hot milk, i was able to balance for a cortadito. The guava/creamsheese pastry was the best I can recall anywhere...so buttery. And when the staff was advised we were on a tight time table, they expedited the checks. Also the weather and settting was perfect as we had a 15 minute walk to the eboats docks.
(4)Erika S.
Let me just say that I do not eat seafood. We came here with my cousin, her husband, and a group of their friends & I decided to try something that sounded familiar because I didn't want to be rude and not try anything. I went with the mahi mahi cayo hueso and loved it! It did not taste like fish and was cooked perfectly. Our service was great as well. I would definitely eat here again!
(4)Jo P.
Just came from an amazing dinner here before seeing Billy Joel at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. First of all, the location and convenience to the venue was perfect--literally just around back. But even excluding that, my experience was perfect eating here. I had the meatloaf sandwich, which was superb--an excellent blend of flavors, and felt just like comfort food. I tried the gazpacho, too, which was good, but not as overwhelmingly tasty as the sandwich was. Also tried the mojito, which was the best one I've had anywhere. Food was a little slow arriving, but they were quite busy. Service was excellent. My server's name was Jade, and she was SO kind and friendly, and very helpful. She really put the icing on the cake for my positive experience here. Highly recommended all the way around!
(5)J R.
Ordered takeout snack from the bar. Bartender seemed annoyed that this was the set up, but she should take that up with her manager, instead of treating me like I was intruding. Order a crab croquette and a cafe con leche, con azucar, the way you order in Miami. The coffee came out first, with no lid, and a couple of sugar packets were tossed in my direction. Really. Okay. I asked for a lid, as I was taking it across the street for someone else. I got a scowl and the bartender said, they're downstairs in the stock room. She disappears down an elevator, comes back in a few minute, and says, my manager is looking. Thanks, but I ordered a hot coffee, not iced. So I left. The person I brought the coffee and croquette to enjoyed both of them. But I'll never give them my money again.
(2)Christie B.
As if being in downtown Tampa isn't bad enough, this restaurant was yet another indignity in the long list of corporate crap and sad emptiness that makes up this area. When I asked the concierge of my hotel if there were any places to get good Cuban food nearby, he recommended this place, saying that it had all kinds of South American food. Not quite what I asked, but at least it sounded promising and it was less than a 10 minute walk from the hotel. It started out well enough. The Cafe was located in the Tampa Bay History Center, and I thought, how bad can it be since it's in a seemingly interesting location? Bad question. The interior decor was a sight to see--sort of like the corporate Cuban version of Spaghetti Factory in Oakland, California (that 1900s Victorian brothel style) but with nattily dressed diners in the main dining room. We opted to eat outdoors on the deck, which was spacious with huge shade umbrellas. I ordered one of the daily specials, encrusted mahi mahi with mango salsa, rice, and plantains. My friend ordered the shrimp salad. The time to get our orders wasn't too bad (although the waiter messed up our drinks orders), since we got there before the lunch crowd. But my dish was disappointing. Not very flavorful and it didn't taste all that fresh. Honestly, it tasted like it had just been warmed up out of the freezer. And the rice was topped with green peas. Hm. I've never seen that at a Cuban restaurant before, but maybe I'm just ignorant of this custom, even though I've eaten at numerous Cuban places throughout Miami. The plantains were nice though. Honestly, I just wasn't that thrilled with the meal--it wasn't hot, savory, or exciting at all. I was also disappointed to note that my friend's shrimp salad came on iceberg lettuce. Come on now...there's no excuse for that. I'm not just speaking for myself either; she commented on it too. To make up for my dull meal, I ordered a cafe con leche and it took a long time to get there. And when it arrived, the milk in the tiny teapot had clearly been sitting out for a while--when I tried to pour it, the spout was stopped up by a dried plug of milk. And we never got our bill. We waited and waited and finally went inside to pay. And the waiter screwed up our bill too. I won't go into the details, but they were enough to thoroughly annoy me and make it such that I'll never dine in this mediocre place again. Too bad, because I hear the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City is pretty good.
(2)Jason H.
I've been here twice, both with my roommate who introduced me to much of Tampa during visits in March and June and after I moved here in July. Both times I opted for a sandwich, the mahi the first time and mojo chicken the second time. While I found the fish to be quite delicious, the mojo chicken was dry and lacked any kind of forceful flavor. The Columbia serves my love affair with Cuban bread very well and the plantain chips are good too. The service knocks it down to three stars. I've never been when it's busy but I can only imagine. This place takes forever, even when there are only a couple of occupied tables. Also had a weird experience on my second trip. Said "mo-joe" when ordering the chicken sandwich. I knew it was pronounced "mo-ho" in my heart of hearts but apparently decided to take things at face value that day lol. Not a big deal, but the server made me feel embarrassed over it. "Um, what? You mean MOHO?" Yes, that is what I meant. You don't have to be a dick about it.
(3)Rebecca E.
I've had great experiences at other Columbias before, but was disappointed in the Riverwalk location. Menu was very limited, and the tapas we did order were ok, but underwhelming. Did not compare to the other locations. Though the service was great and table side sangria delicious. I would have given 3 stars, but I already had a baseline which Riverwalk fell below.
(2)Colleen B.
Ok, so I have dined at The Columbia various times at various locations and it has been fabulous, from the food to the ambiance to the service. I was unaware they had a cafe so when we arrived here for lunch yesterday, I was excited! This location is on the patio overlooking River Walk outside of the History Museum. It was a gorgeous, sunny day so what better way to enjoy than to add an amazing meal to it? Well, it was Mother's day so we knew it would be busy, however we were seated upon arrival. We were seated at a dirty table while there were other clean tables available which was odd to us. We had our drink order taken within minutes so we were off to a good start but didn't actually receive our drinks for about 15 minutes. It was just a horrific experience of service all around. When we received our drinks, I had a coffee so I needed a spoon or SOME kind of utensils because we had none. As the server brought the requested sugar over, he was still utensil-less so I got up and took some utensils from empty, clean, set up tables around us. Fail. We ordered food and it came out about 20 minutes after even though tables around us were getting everything way ahead of us who had arrived after us. Yes, we were a table of six, however, the tables around us had four or more... yes, over six. There is always delicious, hot, complimentary cuban bread served with the meals at Columbia, as everyone around us received theirs, we had to request ours. Our server apologized once and said it was very busy. Well, as much as I understand that, everyone else did not seem effected by that. So, my empathy was just deteriorating as the meal continued. The food was fabulous as always. The 1905 salad is crave-able and the baked scallops were delicious. The white sangria is so refreshing and flavorful. I was very happy with the actual meal. Overall, just not happy about the service. I hope they can improve!
(2)Garrett T.
Good location for a nice little cafe next to the water. I had their famous chicken and yellow rice and it was amazing. The service was alright a little slow, but we were the only table sitting outside. Price range wasn't bad and they do have quite a few beers available.
(3)Steffanie W.
Slow!!!!!! It took forever to get a drink and food. The table next to us finally left after their food never arrived. I don't think it was the server's fault. They were understaffed. The food was good, just like the original restaurant. Management is the problem here.
(2)Elana L.
We went here on an evening walk. Our goal: drinks and dessert. We had heard the mojitos were amazing so of course we had to try them. They were good; complete with a real stick of sugar cane in them. Nice touch! For dessert: white chocolate bread pudding. This was delish! It was very moist and had both white and dark chocolate. One dessert was definitely enough for both of us to share, and we couldn't even finish it! The ambiance is fantastic! You can sit inside or out on the patio. There is live music on the weekend evenings, and the views of the channel are very pretty and relaxing!
(4)Cynthia P.
Stopped here on my bike ride this afternoon for lunch. The weather was nice so I sat out on the patio to enjoy the view of the bay. The server was great and the food was yummy..perfect place to go and just relax! P.S order the sangria & calamari if you visit this place!
(5)Melissa R.
Great ambiance and experience.... food is ok. I went here for a friend's birthday party. There were about 15 of us and we had made reservations so they were prepared and had sectioned off a seating area for just our group. First let me say that the servers were absolutely fantastic. They were very friendly and nice and they were very flexible considering our crazy party, multiple check separations and the fact that people were popping from table to table. We couldn't have asked for nicer servers and service. This location is really nice. We rode the trolley from Ybor to the stop just past Channelside and it's just a short walk to the restaurant. There is a lovely outdoor area that I'm looking forward to going back to as soon as the weather cools off. My only real gripe is the menu. It's not bad, but it's not great. It's a cafe, so it's not a full on menu of course. I ordered the chicken salteado and it was pretty good. Some friends ordered the chicken and yellow rice and they said theirs was good too. There are sandwiches etc on the menu as well. The food and the selection aren't bad, but they just weren't exciting for me. Otherwise, this place would be 4 star easily.
(3)Sam Q.
I've reviewed the Columbia Cafe before, and I'm a big fan. Today I came to revisit their Cuban sandwich as part of my quest to find the best Cuban sandwich in Tampa Bay. Any excuse is a good excuse to have a Cuban, incidentally my second one of the day. The black bean caviar is outstanding. Think hummus but with black beans. It's served chilled topped with onions and surrounded by traditional Cuban crackers. I love it. They make a fine Cuban here. The bread is outstanding and the pork is delicious. However, I am partial to juicier pork. I took pictures of the pork, and it resembles processed sliced pork, but it isn't. Having tried the Caribbean Sandwich Shop earlier today, the difference is noticeable. However, this Cuban is worthy to make it onto my list. The black bean soup is about the best I've had anywhere, and the Spanish sausage appetizer is delightfully full of oil and grease. Pour that over white rice and you are in hog heaven. I'm a big fan of this place. Highly recommended.
(4)Meg R.
If you aren't in a time crunch and are looking for some great food and good drinks at a spot near the Forum with the outdoor seating, this is the spot to go. Sit outside with views of the water and order the 1905 Salad, a Cuban sandwich, and a pitcher of mojitos and you'll be good to go. The only reason I'm giving this location 3 star is because the service can be really slow, especially during peak hours on the weekend. So, you really can't stop in and expect a quick meal. This is a place where patience is rewarded, but with great weather and beautiful waterfront views, I"m not sure why anyone would be in a hurry to leave...
(3)Janelle E.
After flying in on business I popped in for a quick meal as I was venturing around downtown Tampa on a Saturday evening. With a view in mind, I went to the upstairs deck and grabbed a little table. I found that the wine menu was quite small and went with a malbec that was quite spicy. I later learned that Columbia is notorious for their sangria - shoulda, coulda, woulda! I also got the "Ybor" chicken and rice dish, with a loaf of cuban bread, and followed it up with the White Chocolate Bread Pudding that Lance, the super nice server, recommended. All of the food was really really good!!! The Ybor really hit the spot! There was live music on the downstairs deck area that was okay so we had a little bit of entertainment. My only complaint is that the wine glass was very dirty and....cheap. I'm not sure why but during the week in Tampa I noticed a trend of really bad wine glasses. No exception here. Next time I'll go with the Sangria. Also, if you're looking for wi-fi you're not going to get it here...
(4)Michael M.
Came here with my wife while waiting for Winter Jam to start. Just stumbled into it really. Our waiter, Douglas I believe was his name, was great! Super nice guy, had great suggestions and was just polite. One of my best experiences with a waiter before and I am from Miami so I have had some bad ones.... Anyway, food was made to order, I can tell since I cook every day and I am a little obsessed with good, fresh food. I had the mahi mahi entree with rice and onions. I thought the small container of extra onions was not appealing at all! Way too much, sitting there in their juice...the fish already had onions, how much more do I need? Needless to say I didnt touch those onions, but the fish was great, needed some seasoing though. For a thick piece of fish like that, throw some salt or something. The BEST was the coffee And the White Chocolate Bread Pudding. I Will Be Back For Dessert.
(4)Harrison B.
I don't know if this is the day I just went, or if others have received same experience. I took my sister and her kids out to eat there as I figured they would like the cuban and seafood. The customer service experience was terrible. It took a very long time before even anyone popped out to see they had customers. When just ordering drinks, we asked several times for straws for the children. I had to hand my straw over to my niece. Since I have UC, I can't eat chips. Due to other reasons, my sister can't eat chips as well. When asking to substitute out the chips, the waitress treated it as it was an annoyance to go back and ask for a substitute, because we asked her to check on white rice and yellow rice. Without even asking to see a manager, the manager comes out with a little attitude. He said we can't do no subs a few times, so I agreed to add it as a side. I told him I have UC and I can't eat chips. No customer should ever have to justify their order, ever! I told this guy in a calm voice, that a side is fine. I had to repeat myself three times before he listened. Any time we would ask for basics like ketchup or napkins, the waitress either acted like it was an inconvenience or just plain forgot. Needless to say the food was over priced and the quality of food way sub standard, not even par. On top of that you have to pay money to park in that area since it is not an independent restaurant. The Columbia Cafe is a disgrace to the other Columbia restaurants, and should be closed.
(1)Allie L.
They need more wait staff on the weekend. Went with a group of girls on a Saturday and service took forever. Went with my family on a Tuesday after visiting the museum and the food and service were great but we were the only customers. My bf and I went on a Sunday and ended up leaving. All the tables outside were dirty and it was obvious they had been sitting Iike that for awhile. Food was on the ground and beer bottles were knocked over. We never got service outside so moved in by the bar and that table hadn't been cleaned either. We never got service there either so we left. We left even though we paid for parking. It's a shame about the weekend service because the food is good. Too bad.
(2)Amanda J.
We had lunch after attending an event at the Tampa Convention Center. A number of tables were available outside, under the large umbrellas. Service is lacking, due to two servers covering all outside tables. The servers are great, but they are swamped with tables. I ordered the half and half combo with a Cuban sandwich and 1905 salad. The salad was delicious. The sandwich looked like it had been cooked the previous day. The cheese was hard and the overall appearance of the sandwich was not very appetizing. Upon asking for bread, I was informed it was now $1. How unfortunate. The fresh Cuban bread was always a highlight of the meal. Each visit to the Columbia, whether in Ybor City, Tampa or Celebration continues to get worse and worse. I think I'm about done giving them "one more chance". The only reason they've earned two stars is lovely sangria and 1905 salad.
(2)Josiah G.
Pulled in here by boat Saturday afternoon for the first time and I was happy to see a nice little dock that should allow 3, maybe 4, mid-20 footers to squeeze in. The place wasn't very busy, only a few tables that we could see, but still, the service was a little slow. 4 of my friends and I were there an hour and a half for lunch. Most of that time was spent waiting on the food and then the checks. With that said, the food was worth waiting for. The 1905 salad is so damn good and is prepared exactly as it is at the flagship restaurant. I also had the pressed meatloaf sandwich and it was absolutely delicious. Crispy pressed Cuban bread with juicy meatloaf in the middle. I want another one now. The server and manager were super friendly, which made the wait not so bad. The prices were great too. Half a sandwich and a salad or soup for less than $10. So, the service was just a little slow, but that shouldn't deter anyone from having a great lunch here.
(4)James M.
Was recommended by the hotel concierge to visit this restaurant........now I have 2 reviews to write. This is my first review and let's just say, it's not because I was impressed. Listen to the other reviews, not only was the live entertainment poor but the service was brutal. Drinks took 30 min , menus 45 min, food over an hour (salad, tapa and main course came at the same time). Now lets get to the food, calamari was not lightly breaded, not close to fresh and borderline the consistency of a rubber band. Mahi mahi was overcooked and covered in onions to try to make up for it. Empanadas were dry and tolerable. 1905 salad was ok, about the equivalent of an Olive Garden all you can eat salad. Bottom line service was poor because they were understaffed, live entertainment I had mistaken for karaoke, and the food was NOT worth the wait.
(1)Amy J.
We checked this place out after arriving back in Tampa from a cruise and having an afternoon to kill. Our hotel was a block away and the recommendations from Yelp sounded pretty solid. We are glad we did! My husband grabbed the Spanish Bean soup and the Mahi Mahi. From him " I think this is the best Mahi Mahi I've ever had". He attributes this to a good dose of lime in the seasoning and in the onions that accompanied it. I ended up with the Black Bean soup and the moho Chicken sandwich. The Black Bean soup was simply rice, black beans, and onion - very bland and basic, but sometimes that is the way of the cuisines of central america. The Moho Chicken was 2 halves and served with fried plaintains. Really had expected a little bit more than a chicken breast on the bread - no real seasoning, sauce, or anything except melted cheese and a topping of tomato. This was my first time having the fried plaintains and I could easily see how this suffices as a starch for cuban cuisine. We also ended up with key lime pie and the white chocolate bread pudding. My husband is not big on sweets and he loved his bread pudding. Key lime was right on - both dessert servings were HUGE! I could have gone either way on my selections, but with my husband being the pickier of us two and really loving his meal, I weighed my review a little more heavily on that. If we are ever back in Tampa we would definitely come back.
(3)Carlos H.
My family and I dined at The Columbia Cafe tonight. It is located next to the Tampa Bay History Center. The outdoor patio doesn't seem to be part of the restaurant at first glance. A branch of the famous Columbia chain, this cafe offers are more simplified menu and a beautiful waterfront view of Tampa Bay. Channelside is just a few minutes away from Columbia Cafe so we walked over from Channelside in just under 10 minutes. I honestly don't think the restaurants in Channelside are appetizing so I think with some promotion it wouldn't be difficult for The Columbia Cafe to steal the thunder for Channelside restaurants. Harbour Island restaurants are far superior to anything at Channelside. Like many restaurants in this area, live music is available on Friday and Saturday nights (6-9PM here...an earlier show than some other places in the area, such as That's Amore). Tonight there were two Spanish performers, a man running the instrumentals and a woman singing several covers of popular Spanish music, such as Olga Tanon and Celia Cruz. Her voice was pleasant, but more of a backdrop to make the mood then a show. The waiter was quick to come and get our drink orders. He took a couple of minutes to bring us our drinks and then took our orders. We put our orders in. I decided to try their Chicken Salteado ($9.95). The food came out quickly and was on our table in less than 20 minutes. The waiter seemed pre-occupied for a portion of our meal, and just when I was starting to think that the waiter should come and check on our drinks he appeared and refilled my drink (almost like he read my mind or something). The restaurant was moderately busy, but there was still plenty of empty tables for Friday night. I don't think many people are aware that Columbia Cafe is located here. The warm Cuban bread at The Columbia is one of the reasons people love it so much and The Columbia Cafe does not disappoint. I negotiated with my little cousin and was able to have both my bread and hers, it's just that good. The menu reads the Chicken Salteado is "inspired by the Chinese who lived in Cuba in the 19th century, a very hot iron skillet with extra virgin olive oil is used to sauté boneless pieces of chicken, onions, green peppers, fresh garlic, mushrooms, diced potatoes and chorizo, splashed with a hearty red wine. Served with yellow rice". The dish was still warm when it arrived on my table. The chicken was a little rough, but flavorful. The potatoes were great as were the vegetables. I was surprised that I actually did not like the chorizo on my plate (since I'm a fan of chorizo), perhaps it was just the way it was cooked. The yellow rice was moist, but a little plain. It might have been a little better with a side of black beans. I added some sour cream to give it a little more flavor. Overall, the dish was average but I probably would not order it again because it was just average. My Step-Dad had the 1905 salad which looked amazing. Maybe I will have that in the future. One particular problem I identified during our visit was the portion of their children's menu. My sister ordered my nephew chicken tenders and chips. They only gave him 3 pieces of chicken strips. We asked the waiter about the order and he confirmed that this is the standard...I honestly don't know how they can even call this a meal. It was a good thing my six-year-old nephew was not hungry because it would have then taken two children's menu items to fill him. My seven-year-old cousin had their macaroni and cheese, which was a more appropriate portion for a child. Overall, The Columbia Cafe is a nice spot in Downtown Tampa. The view outside is fantastic at night (and I'm sure it is also great on a beautiful sunny Florida day). The menu leaves a little to be desired, but has the classic Columbia choices. There is a full bar and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. If this restaurant was open a little later and promoted better it could be a popular spot for the night scene in the area and easily dominate the area with its signature Spanish dishes.
(4)Susan J.
After going to their ybor location yesterday where the combo de Cuba and service was impeccable, I thought this place would be nice. It's at the Tampa bay history museum. Got the 1905 salad and devilled crab croquette. Ehhhhh....plus the butter than came with the free cuban bread was frozen, not soft and spreadable like at the restaurant. will i come here again, nope!
(2)Cristina S.
I stopped at this cafe version of the famous Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City for a mid-week dinner. I was pretty short on time & patience (taking the FL Bar is NO FUN) & it was absolutely deserted; the service was awesome, fast, and delicious though! The Cuban Sandwich we had was huge (bigger than what I'm used to in Miami); we could have easily shared 1. If I'm ever back in Tampa, I'm sure I'll return.
(3)Deborah H.
This was a real find. A beautiful outdoor cafe (with good shading from the sun) overlooking the harbor area. I had spicy black bean cakes and then 'russian' fish which was very different-grilled fish with a chopped egg and parsley garnish with lemon juice/olive oil. My husband had excellent vegetarian black bean soup and chicken with yellow rice. Service was good, sangria was good. Music was live (Friday and Saturday). Beautiful night and setting.
(4)Andrew L.
Always see this patio full of people and wondered what the deal was because downtown tampa is pretty much a ghost town most of the time so when you see a crowd of people it really stands out! Enjoyed a fantastic meal and will be back. Prices were surprisingly low for the quality. Service was good and not slow at all. Try the mojito!
(4)Monkean M.
We had lunch at the Columbia Cafe after visiting the Florida Aquarium (disappointing aquarium). The food was solid, but my Mahi Mahi was overcooked. Not very tasty for a latin-american restaurant. The other items we had: plantains, black bean soup, red rice, etc. were good. I also had their cafe con leche, which was a worthy cup (I am a coffee snob). Nice environment, even though it is in the lobby of a museum. The riverwalk area of Tampa is surprisingly devoid of people. Kind of weird.
(3)Patty G.
Seriously. Don't come here. You'll pass out from starvation before you can even think about ordering food. I'm still waiting for an appetizer. There was some huge animosity going on with the staff. NOT a happy place to celebrate a birthday. One of our party went to the bathroom and could hear F-bombs flying in the kitchen. The (Spanish) bar was out of limes. The manager stated, "we could use 2 more floor managers tonight". I was thinking a wait staff person would be nice. Not planning on coming back.
(1)Jim L.
Amazing Spanish Bean Soup and the Cuban was authentic! This place is a must when in Tampa!
(5)Kate B.
My fiance and I went into Tampa over the holiday week last week and we went to the aquarium. Afterwards we asked an information center where was a nice place to eat and was referred to the Columbia Cafe. We went into this place not knowing what was going on or how their business was run. When we walked up to the outdoor area there wasn't anyone there to seat you and we walked inside to find out how the seating worked, was told by a waitress inside to just seat ourselves and if we wanted to we could sit outside. So we found a table outside that wasn't dirty and sat down. Waited for at least twenty minutes for a waiter to come over and give us menus. Then another fifteen minutes for them to come back over and take our order. I ordered the 1/2 1905 salad and 1/2 Cuban sandwich both were very good in my opinion. I especially loved the salad but the service was horrible. After a two hour lunch that shouldn't have taken that long the great food just didn't measure up for the experience.
(2)Tracy M.
After reading the reviews, my family and I decided to give it a try. We waited quite awhile to have a drink order taken so we ordered our food at the same time. After an hour and 15 min wait, we finally got our sandwiches. They were mediocre. The plantain chips were very good. There were a few full tables but the place was not crazy busy. There were two waiters upstairs for maybe five tables. Tables weren't cleaned until new customers sat down. Prices were fair. The live music sounded like when our dog howls....it wasn't good. Would not go again and wouldn't recommend it.
(1)Audrey D.
Had a 1905 salad & sangria - wonderful!
(4)Renee S.
Full disclosure-this was my first time ever eating cuban food, and I liked it. I have no idea what bad cuban food tastes like. If this is "meh" then I'm a fan!!! I had beef empanadas and gazpacho and hub had his first Cuban. Service was great, and perfect for a late lunch.
(4)Prof J.
Its Small restaurant in the corner of a history center. Has a nice view from the second floor. My Arnold palmer wasn't quite was watered down. However, the Cuban Sandwich was delicious and the garlic chips were pretty addictive. Prices are decent, and the server/bartender was courteous. This place should be a stand-alone restaurant. eating inside seemed pretty tight (not spacious). I don't think i'd be back though, it wasn't great enough to be back. I only went 'cuz of the proximity to the tampa bay times forum. I'd rather eat here though than drop double $$ for a pizza at the arena.
(3)m p k.
Was at the Tampa Bay History Center on the 4th, and decided to have a late lunch. My wife thoroughly enjoyed the Picadillo Criollo and having the Black Bean Soup and Cuban Sandwich was a good tasty choice for me. We both had Sangria which was very good. Our server Savannah was very responsive and totally professional. We ended with coffees and Flam that was delicious. I have read some of the other reviews concerning slow service or mediocre food. This was not the case during this trip. I expect to be back there later in the month. Mike Kerwin
(4)Marcus C.
A fine place for a small lunch. Nothing super exciting. The Mahi Mahi Cubano was just ok, although the plantain chips were amazing. Reasonably priced and a good view of the water if you sit outside. I came right around the lunch rush and the service was, understandably, slow, but it got to be a little ridiculous after nearly 45 minutes of trying to pay my bill. All in all just an ok experience made a bit better by a nice view and some sunshine.
(3)Carolann K.
My husband and I went to the history museum while on vacation and saw this place within it. What a treat. In our experience, museums have overpriced food service pizza and dried out hamburgers in a cafeteria. We toured one floor of the museum then went in for lunch. It was a Monday and not too busy. The garbanzo bean soup was very tasty. My husband's gazpacho was creamier than he expected but he liked it. Our server brought fresh vegetables to the table and my husband could choose which ones he wanted in the soup. My chicken salteado was delicious but salty (is that what salteado means?) My husband enjoyed his cuban sandwich. He really liked the garlic plantain chips that came with it. Our server warned me that the bread pudding with the vanilla chocolate rum sauce was large and he was right. Even though it was delicious half of it came back to the hotel refrigerator. Overall a great lunch. It is 7 hours later and I am still not the least bit hungry. Afterwards we walked up to the 2nd floor of the museum. Our server was friendly and informative, the service was quick. We did not have any of the problems that other reviewers have mentioned.
(4)Ron G.
A couple of appetizers. The entertainment (singer Rose Bilal) was the hit of the evening. Got to dance on the the terrace. Great entertainment. A must for a nice evening.
(4)Shell B.
Disappointed by the selection. Great views but it feels like you are eating in a lobby. The food itself was awesome of course :)
(3)Chris M.
I agree with Shelly, you walk into this place and you very much feel like you are eating in a lobby. The Columbia Cafe is attached to the Tampa Bay History Center, so there is a gift shop connected to the restaurant and an entrance to the museum. That's fine and all but if you go in at night when the museum is closed you get dine with the sight a of a big metal lowered metal gate like you would when the mall is closed. The menu is a limited selection of items that are available on the original Colombia's menu at $1 -$2 discount, and was well prepared. I did find it highly annoying that on a Saturday night at 7:45, that the waitress rudely pointed out that they closed at 9 and we should put in our orders now while we waited for another member of our party.
(2)Linda H.
I enjoyed Chicken and Rice "Sarapico", Ybor City's traditional dish. Wonderful food and atmosphere!
(5)Kipp C.
I will make this clear. The Columbia is nothing like the ybor location. The manager and service is rude and likely incompetent. We will never go back! The other Columbia locations should be embarrassed of this place. Shut the doors now, because it is ruining their reputation.
(1)Pegasus S.
I will preface this by mentioning that the Ybor and Sarasota locations have been great: good food, nice atmosphere, and fantastic Sangria. However, we are so disappointed in this location.Perhaps this is where they send their "beginner" servers. Awful, awful service. We've given this place too many chances, and alas, we will not be coming back. There are always multiple dirty tables that don't get cleared nearly as quickly as they should, which then attracts flies. The last ditch effort for this place to redeem itself was this weekend when we had friends in town. We waited 15 minutes for our drinks- beer and water- and another 15 for the bread, and you guessed it, another 15 for our meals to arrive, which then sat on the tray a few feet away from us while flies hovered and landed on it while the server was at another table. One entree was wrong, one drink was wrong (soda instead of water.) We did not recieve one apology or explanation. We could not get out of there fast enough.
(1)Jen N.
Columbia was the highlight of our trip to Tampa. We were foremost impressed by the atmosphere and service. The food was also delicious. We tried the snapper alimento and the salmon Santiago with a bottle of Malbec and both entrees were spectacular. We were also so blown away by the 1905 salad that we bought a bottle of the dressing to take home and make for ourselves. While the deviled crab are an Ybor city classic, we decided that they are nothing to write home about and do not fit with the gourmet theme of the restaurant. Overall, this restaurant is worth the hype.
(5)Chris V.
I love a place I can go eat and drink at that I can bring my dog to. Throw in "the best of" from one of my favorites. I had lunch here Sunday with my wife and parents and we brought our dog too. They provided big water bowls with ice for my boy and sangria de cava for us. I had my favorite half and half Cuban sandwich and the 1905 salad. Felt like ybor city with the view of the bay. Took the dog for a walk down the river after wards. It was a perfect evening.
(4)Susan W.
Stooped here based on yelp reviews. They were right on. We sat outside on patio...loved watching people and boats go by. We tried the devil crab croquette, Cuban sandwich, and Mahi Mahi bani...all were really good. I also had the imported sangria made tableside. This too was delish. Service was great, attentive....vincente...very nice guy.
(4)Kristen M.
Was excited to eat here after reading the reviews. Was quite disappointed by our experience. Service was very slow and the food mediocre. I ordered the beef empanadas - edible but nothing exciting. Ordered the mahi mahi and husband ordered the chicken. Again both we're edible but nothing to go back for. Great patio though - not so great food!
(2)Alex N.
Good food, great sangria, great outdoor location, but a little pricey. My husband loves the cuban sandwich and the 1905 salad (its delicious and HUGE!). The sangria is so yummy, we always get a carafe or two. The location right on the water makes it a great spot to catch lunch downtown on the weekend. Parking is a little annoying - It costs a couple bucks to park in the lot next door. We love ordering a bunch of apps to share (the Empanadas and Croquetas are delicious). I believe last time we got Crab Croquetas.
(4)Kent W.
They were understaffed, but the food was tasty and the 'imported' sangria was #Delicious
(4)