Gerry B.
Yelp
This is one of my favorite restaurants whenever I stay at our timeshare.
There is something about the ambiance and decor of the restaurant that I love. The artifacts and artwork from Spain and Cuba makes it feel like I have taken a step away from America.
The food is excellent. We had the Empanadas de Picadillo which are chock full of tasty meat filling. The story of these empanadas is that the founders' mother and grandmother, Adela Hernandez Gonzmart, always had her empanadas ready when they visited her. The empanadas start with her recipe for picadillo, made with spiced ground beef, garlic, tomato, onions, raisins and olives, wrapped in two pastry turnovers.
We shared Columbia's legendary salad tossed tableside. Crisp iceberg lettuce with julienne of baked ham, natural Swiss cheese, tomato, olives, grated Romano cheese, Lea & Perrins ® Worcestershire sauce and our famous garlic dressing. The award-winning salad won honors from USA Today as "One of 10 Great Places to Make a Meal Out of a Salad." The signature salad, named for the year the restaurant was founded in Tampa's Latin district of Ybor City, was inspired by immigrants to the Cigar City: Romano cheese from the Sicilians and the famous garlic dressing used by Cubans to marinate fresh roast pork, plus Florida tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, julienne of baked ham and Swiss cheese.
Our main dishes were the Grouper Jimmy (Boneless fillet of fresh grouper, seasoned, grilled and topped with fresh blue crab meat, drizzled with lemon butter sauce. Served with yellow rice and asparagus) and El Combo de Cuba which is a sample of the flavors of Cuba which is a feast of roast pork, boliche, empanada de picadillo, platanos, black beans, yuca and yellow rice.
I had a Mojito which was tall, refreshing and delicious. Since the Columbia opened its doors, people have enjoyed this flavorful and refreshing beverage made with Bacardi Superior Rum, muddled hierabuena (mint), lime juice and sparkling water.
Our server, Aleteia, was charming and attentive. She made an excellent recommendation without hesitation for my partner's dish which my partner loved.