Columbia Restaurant Sand Key

I didn’t have very high expectations going into this restaurant, but I was pleasantly surprised. I went for dinner with a group of friends, and the place was packed—which is usually a good sign. Our server, Iwona, was fantastic. She was very friendly, attentive, and genuinely engaged with our table, which made the experience even better. The menu is a bit confusing at first since it’s not a traditional menu but more like a book. That said, once we figured it out, everything we ordered was excellent. We tried a variety of appetizers and they were all amazing. For the main course, everyone ordered something different, and every dish was really good. The only downside was the limited dessert options. However, if you’re in the area and looking for authentic Colombian food, this is definitely a place worth visiting.

This was our first time to dine at Columbia Sand Key and it did not disappoint. Everything was perfect: the meal, the service, the ambience, and the view over the beautiful clear water. We both had the famous 1905 salad and it was superb. My husband had the beef tips, I had the mahi-mahi, and we shared the bread pudding for dessert. We have been in the Tampa area for the last six days and have eaten out every day, and this was by far our best meal! We have also eaten at multiple Columbia locations and this one equals or surpasses them. Our server, Anastasia, was delightful—friendly and so cute! She also provided excellence service.

I enjoyed eating at the restaurant inside the hotel here. The view was absolutely amazing of the ocean. I really liked all the windows that looked directly out into the water. It was extremely beautiful. The servers were nice, friendly and attentive. We got our food in a timely manner. The restaurant was kept very clean. The food tasted great and was a wonderful way to start our morning. Afterwards we got to take a long stroll on the beach.

I have eaten in 2 other “Columbia” restaurants in Florida (Ybor City & Tampa International AirPort) and this one is also excellent. Ray provided great service; the scallops were especially delicious; the salad and grouper were outstanding. We dined “outside” which was open air but had screens to temper wind and keep out most birds. Atmosphere was excellent for table conversations. We had a very early dinner at 16:00 and the crowds were arriving as we departed. No reservation was needed for us. Some items were “pricey” but the food was abundant and we required a take home box. I highly recommend this restaurant.

I have been coming to Columbia with my family for years while we vacation on Clearwater Beach. Every visit I am more and more impressed!! The pitcher of Mojitos is a must, and the Huckleberry Martini is also delicious. Would highly recommend the black bean cakes and also the stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer. The tomato salad is the best I’ve ever had, and we also love the churros!!! This time, our server Ray took exceptionally great care of us. He was kind, great at what he does, and laughed with us!! And even helped us to bring a special treat back home for our grandma who spent every Tuesday afternoon at the Columbia during her Florida winters. We are always impressed at the Columbia and can’t wait for our next visit!!!

We enjoyed such an incredibly fabulous experience today! Our niece and husband were here from Michigan, and we made the Columbia a destination for sure! And the 1905 Salad a must!! Guerman was our server, only his third day on the job, and it was as though he had been there for years! Outstanding service, delicious food, spectacular atmosphere! Everything we wanted for them…sheer delight!!

Nice spacious area overlooking the water - we were seated right away. Our servers were really nice and served our drinks right away - loved the peñaclara water. We got the empanadas, which were crunchy on the outside and nice and soft on the inside; very tasty. Tried the ham croquetas, which were delicious, and so were the ponchos micro. Lastly, had their Cuban Sandwiches and they were on point, and huge. Overall, great food, service and atmosphere 👍

This is the real deal, unbelievable food and drinks! We had the Lechon Asado 1905, Combo de Cuba, and the stuffed shrimp. Everything was perfect and the service is impeccable - thank you @SAMUEL S.!! Pete’s Manhattan is the best mixed drink we have ever ordered.

The Columbia on Clearwater Beach is iconic -- and honestly, the location alone could earn it five stars. Set right on the water with those stunning Gulf views, it's one of those spots that makes you stop, breathe it in, and think, "Yep... this is Florida living." And then the food arrives... and somehow it gets even better. The 1905 Salad is legendary for a reason. It's bright, tangy, perfectly seasoned, and genuinely one of the best salads I've had in my entire life. They toss it tableside, and every bite hits with that perfect mix of garlic, ham, Swiss, olives, and their famous dressing. Absolute perfection. And the Cuban sandwich? Unreal. Hands down the best I've ever had -- crisp, warm Cuban bread, perfectly roasted pork, and all the classic flavors done exactly right. If you're looking for breathtaking views paired with unforgettable classics, The Columbia delivers in every way. A Clearwater Beach must-visit.

Family owned since 1905, one of the oldest restaurants in Florida. Vibes, feels like stepping into a Time Machine with the rich historic decor at this beautiful establishment. The service was excellent and the food was incredible. A mix of Cuban and Spanish entrees make up this special place. A unique combo. I wish I had two stomachs so I could continue eating all night long. I will be coming back here. I doubt before my short time ends here in Clearwater.

Service was so great. The Sangria and salad were amazing. We went to the one on Sand Key. Made reservations and it was good because it got very crowded as we ate dinner. We ordered: Crab Croquettes, 1905 Salad, La Completa Cubana, and Cayo Hueso, Mahi. The Cubana was a sampling of some favorites, very good. Mahi was a bit dry and the rice was a tad mushy. Overall it was good, the salad was my favorite and I can see why everyone loves it

Of the 3 locations we have tried so far of this "chain" we love this one the best due to location and outside water view. The food is stellar at every location! As well as the friendly and excellent service. We highly recommend the empanadas and the salteado. Can't wait to go back!!

2nd time dining at this water front restaurant. This time we went during lunch hours. No reservation. We ate outside, with water views. The host/server were both very kind and knowledgeable. Food was absolutely delicious. Started off with each of us getting warm toasted bread. We then had their famous 1905 salad with turkey chunks on the side. This was a special experience. They make it table side! I used yelp photos to help decide what I would be eating. I actually end up choosing a plate from the dinner menu but they were nice enough to order it. I can't wait to have lunch or dinner here again! Compliments to the chef

The oldest restaurant in the state of Florida, every single room is like one out of a museum. They have room for about 2000 diners and each dining room has a story to share. For example, the red room where we were seated was Marilyn Monroe's favorite room to eat and it was actually a cigar room back in the day. The bathrooms were so clean and same vibe as the rest of the place. Service was wonderful, super attentive and knew a lot of the history of the restaurant. Now the important part... THE FOOD!! The most comforting, home style, flavorful, Cuban food I've had! I asked for a surprise me plate and she gave me bites of several dishes... AMAZING To finish off my dining experience we had a key lime pie (not as tart as I like) and a Cuban coffee. Highly highly highly recommend! Note: they do not allow tank tops or swimsuits in the dining hall

Fantastic service and clean well lit atmosphere. We dined for lunch and it wasn't too busy. Food was tasty and portions were quite large. Definitely a must try in the area.

Came here with a group of 18 for dinner. Staff were great, making sure everyone got what they ordered. The red sangria was really good and the crab cakes (my favorite), scallops and churros and flan were sooooo good! Definitely a place to check out! It's a pretty view right on the water!

As with all Columbia restaurants this one has the best people taking great care with every aspect of your dining experience. The hospitality is like being out on the town and with intracoastal waterway views it's an amazing place! The food is amazing and it's always served perfectly and a feast for your eyes as well.

The location, the decor and just everything about this location I love! The open airy environment is so comfortable! Super friendly staff from the time we came in until when we left.. Dane was our server and was excellent, great service and food...Ordered the Still Bottled Water to drink, the famous Salad and Cuban Sandwich and the Manchego Chicken which did not disappoint! The food arrived fresh and hot and was served with fresh, warm Cuban Bread...if you are on the Clearwater area you must come here? They do offer valet parking, this location, parking lot can be a little tricky for parking....

Amazing service every time we come. Food is amazing and consistently delicious. We drive past the ybor location to come to this one every single time just for the paella. Chef Miguel is the reason we will continue driving an hour each way to keep coming back

This is the 3rd location we've visited of the six they have. We sat at the bar and the Queen Bee ordered a half and half combo...in her case half a 1905 salad and a cup of Spanish bean soup, which is basically a Cubanized version of "caldo gallego." This stuff has chickpeas rather than the more traditional navy beans; no kale either. Daughter Unit decided on an order of crab cakes, which is a pair of big, well: crab cakes, also a Cubanized iteration. She washed it down with an "Aguilita"; not my kinda drink so I didn't try any...DU enjoyed it well enough and complimented Eric the barkeep, who spent much of his time chopping limes and running the service bar. He did provide good service and we didn't feel ignored at all, BTW. I settled for a simple tapa; I wasn't really hungry TBH...so it was what they call a "pincho mixta," which was basically 3 skewers of grilled meat...chicken, pork and chorizo, along with caramelized onions. Meantime this place is much like the others in terms of decor. It basically has the vibe of an old Cuban restaurant...which is basically what it really is (DUH). Loads of old pictures of the four generations of family that's owned this lil empire since day one. All the food was nicely prepared and reasonably priced for the area. Would I recommend it? I certainly would...as I noted above, this is the third location of the six they have. It's fairly uniform in quality and the menu is the same. Nice lil touch was the manager on duty stopped to check in on us... So if U want a touch of Old Cuba and/or Spain on your Florida vacation here in Clearwater Beach area, then do yourself a favor and c'mon in after your siesta and have a nice fiesta. Old retro Cuban music they pipe in even gives U the impetus for just that...

We had a wonderful memorable family lunch at The Columbia Restaurant at the north end of The Shoppes on Sand Key, just south of Clearwater Beach! We reserved ahead because we were a party of 19 for 11am on a Tuesday, and timing it just as they opened made it easy, maybe we even could have been seated without reservations! (Self-parking was already tight, you might want to use their valet.) They had time to set up two long tables for us by the windows. Perfect! They also have some shaded outdoor seating facing the mid Clearwater Harbor area of the Intracoastal. Service was prompt and attentive, and everything we ordered was amazing. Several of us had their legendary 1905 Salad, a meal in itself, artfully prepared tableside, of Florida iceberg lettuce and tomatos, sweet tender julienne ham, Swiss cheese, olives, grated Sicilian Romano, and a classic Cuban worcestershire-garlic dressing. You cant beat their perfect tender moist boneless grillled Red Snapper "Adelita" filet dressed with palm hearts, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, and extra-virgin olive oil. Some of us were patient enough to wait the 30min for their loaded Paella. The menu offers a broad range of tapas and appetizers and sides, such as piping hot croquetas and César's favorite bright salad of chopped ripe Florida tomatoes and julienned Spanish onions with their yummy "1905" dressing. So we all shared and no-one was left waiting to eat. At lunch they make Paella "Española", generous individual servings of shellfish, shrimp, calamari, chicken, pork, veggies, and garlic, with Spanish short-grain "bomba" Valencia rice. After they are open at 11am, you could order paella in advance to skip the wait, and there are more paella recipes during dinner hours, including a vegetarian one. I had their simple yet flavorful Spanish Bean Soup, soft garbanzo beans simmered with smoked ham, lightly-spiced seasoned chorizo sausage, and potatoes, supported by a savory chicken and ham broth. And everything comes with their fantastic fresh hot crusty soft Cuban bread! I would come here for the bread alone! And the servers were happy to re-supply me when they saw i had finished mine and was helping myself to everyone else's bread :-) A number of us shared pitchers of superior-rum Mojitos, made in front of us with great flourish! For me, early on I had walked into the as-yet empty bar area, and the terrific bartender, still busy setting up for the day, kindly took the time to craft a custom cocktail for me, a colorful riff on Cuba's maybe-oldest recipe, the Canchánchara: white rum that i requested instead of traditional aguardiente, deep-orange aromatic house-made guava syrup in place of honey, and fresh sprigs of mint and a wedge of lime. Shaken with crushed ice. Sublime and delicious, especially with that guava syrup! Pro-tip: Tip the guy well! It's a custom cocktail you can boast about :-) We've been here other times for simpler meals, often their overstuffed Cuban sandwiches on their amazing bread. Today was a sensational family meal in a lovely historically decorated setting with excellent staff. On the way out we bought some of their rich aromatic coffee, delicious flavors bringing delicious memories of The Columbia.

I can't get over that it shows I haven't reviewed this location. I've been here many times. We love all of the seating areas here including the outside, main inside dining area, and bar area. This time around we ordered a chicken salteado with small 1905 salad, & a Cuban sandwich. The salteado was $10 more than on the menu. It was the dinner menu since the Cuban sandwich was not on the menu provided. We always order the chicken salteado. It was ok this time, something missing, and for $30 it wasn't worth that price. The Cuban Sandwich, they state is a winning Cuban Sandwich. We have been trying different Cuban Sandwiches lately. This is definitely on the bottom of the list, it's very dry, it doesn't have any flavor. It was a big disappointment. My favorite here, and it's an always must have is the 1905 salad. It is so simple, but I just can't get enough. It's still so good. Service was pretty good. Nice guy, pretty helpful. I still really like Columbia. I think some locals think it's a tourist trap, but whatever it is, I still like going and bringing out of town guests. I love this location. I've been to most locations too.

The food was so good! We had the grouper, a chicken plate, some kids Mac n cheese, Caesar salad , and some tapas! The pitcher of mojito made at the table was so yummy! Eric our waiter was funny, friendly and attentive. The warm bread and butter is so AMAZING. It's a very big restaurant right on the inter-coastal. We sat inside the chairs were not comfortable and the bathroom floor was sticky. The plant next to our table was also very dusty. But we really enjoyed our meal. Reservations are highly recommended.

Columbia is an institution in Tampa, reportedly the oldest restaurant in Florida, but despite living here for almost 3 years I've never been. I happily jumped at the chance to go to their Sand Key location, which was spacious and rustically decorated (though the parking situation was highly competetive). I made reservations for a large group for a Friday night reunion. I called in to modify the reservation twice, and both times the person I spoke to on the phone was very friendly and helpful. There were no issues with our reservation. Our server got everyone's order a right and did several separate checks with no issue. On to the food. For a Cuban restaurant they actually had a decent smattering of vegetarian options for my wife. We share the black bean cakes and stuffed mushrooms which were both good, if not game-changing. I was very happy with my stuffed salmon. Big portion, perfectly cooked, lots of seafood stuffing, big pile of savory yellow rice as a side. My only gripe was the parchment paper it was served with. A lot of it got stuck in the fish and I was pulling little paper pieces out of my mouth for the whole meal. My wife liked her eggplant. Overall a good meal; our whole group was happy, and they did a great job accommodating us. I think the hype is worth it; I can't speak for the Tampa location, but the Sand Key location won me over as a dinner destination for a group.

We had a party of eight for a family gathering. Michael was our waiter and did a wonderful job attending to the needs of this diverse group. Food was excellent with everything we ordered. Hot, extremely tasty and Michael and his staff keep up all happy. Thanks to Michael and his staff we had a wonderful family dinner with a great atmosphere.

Food is now sub par - what happened!!! Service is rushed and why? Restaurant is beautiful but I will go back to the Ybor City again though.

Friendly, fast service. Food was very good. Loud, but nice dining room. Went early and no wait. They do take reservations.

This is the fourth columbia restaurant that we've been to , and by far, this is our most favorite colombia. The interaction with the staff talking about restaurants. Our waitress Courtney was awesome, checked on us several times throughout the meal.Talked about food in general, and had a genuine person to person talk, a lot of restaurants, staff don't interact with you that way. They did here, and it was really nice. Our food from the appetizers to the famous 1905 salad, Our main courses was amazing, brought back a lot of memories for my wife from her family being from cuba food was very authentic. All the photos and memorabilia, on the walls, was nice to see This restaurant is tucked away in a little shopping center.You would not even know it's here. It's right on the water where you can see jet skis, boats and even an occasional dolphin while you're eating your dinner. If you're staying on sand key or in the clearwater area, definitely a must do!

We have wanted to always try this place based on the reviews we've read and how folks have raved about the food. I'm so glad we did, it more than lived up to the hype. This place has so much history and it's all on display with tons of photos from its was long history in the area. While we were really impressed with the food the service was what we enjoyed. Roberto was our waiter and he could not have been more welcoming and helpful. He took the time to help stand what we liked and then pointed us in the right direction on the menu. And boy was he spot on! I had the Fideua de Mariscos which is an incredible mixed of seafood prepared in a very flavorful spicy tomato sauce with garlic, white wine and chili pepper. A healthy amount of Large shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams were cooked in this dish on top of fresh pasta. Roberto talked us out of ordering an appetizer and I'm so glad he did, I ended up taking home half the dish. My wife had the Eggplant Riojana and it was equally as flavorful and a very large helping. And did I mention the restaurant is located directly on the water in Sand Key which is less than a mile away from Clearwater Beach. The views are spectacular and while we sat inside it was still an amazing view of the intercostal. So if you stop in ask for Roberto, he'll hook you up or pretty much the whole staff if very friendly.

(4.15) ~ Very good overall food & service DRINKS: ** Water (tap) = (4) very good, must be filtered;) ** Mojito = (4) very refreshing ** Double Espresso = (4) very good FOOD: ** Lechon Asado "1905" = (4.35) Very tasty! ** Cuban Black Bean Soup = (4.25) Very authentic ** Flan = (4.15) Very good, especially when you sip Tawny Port after each bite;) ** Key Lime Pie = (4) very good

I've gone to the Ybor location for decades, finally had the opportunity to try this one out for dinner during a staycation in Clearwater Beach a few weeks ago, and came back again this past weekend for lunch. Only thing better than the food and mojito's was the service from Sean; absolutely stellar. We sat in the outdoor area, a huge (but slow moving) fan kept the temps down without the noise or wind blast. It's a lovely area to sit and watch people and boat traffic. Food-wise, I almost always order paella, but tried a menu special of fried rice and was not disappointed. Chicken manchego is also delicious. The 1905 salad is always added to anything I order; I can't not get that even if I'm not feeling too hungry. Hopefully they add a boat dock because I'd love to come here by boat. In Google Maps it looks like there may have been one, so maybe it got blown away with the hurricanes last fall. There's still a sailboat 'parked' out back from those storms.

Omg I am so full from this meal. Everything is so good that you don't want to leave any food behind. Started with the black bean cakes which were unexpectedly flavorful. The empanadas were perfect and the croquetas were also very good. Had the palomilla which was super flavorful and accompanied by well seasoned French fries and plantains. Everything was so good. This place is a must visit if in Clearwater!

My companion and I have gone to the Columbia the last couple of years for Thanksgiving dinner and decided to do so again this year. The Thanksgiving dinner plate is wonderful with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and green beans as well as cranberry sauce. This year, I decided to have the fideau de maricosa which is the Spanish version of cioppino with noodles. It was full of shrimp, clams, scallops and topped with a sprinkling of crab meat. We of course, had to start the meal with their famous 1905 salad which is made tableside. The waiter was friendly, you can't beat the views, and the meal was obviously delicious. We always enjoy the Columbia and this location in particular since it is near the beach.

Everything was so great! We didn't have a reservation and arrived around 5 PM on a weekday and got seated immediately for a party of 6. There was plenty of space but by the time we finished and left, it was packed! The service was good and the ambiance was there. It felt somewhat fancy, more so with the inside seating. The pollo machego I got was great! I also enjoyed the stuffed mushrooms, it actually reminded me of a pasta! The red wine sangria pitcher we got for the table was fantastic as well. Super close to our hotel at the Marriott, we just walked and it took a minute. There's parking otherwise!

Here we are again ... always great food, great service, clean and lovely bar area. We'll be back.

Beautiful indoor design, also features really nice outdoor patio overlooking the bay. Staff were attentive and friendly. Food was good. We loved the 1905 salad (made at the table & can be split between people). Highly recommend getting a pitcher of sangria (also mixed table-side) - at $30, we were able to get 6 glasses out of it.

Very fancy high end restaurant with a great view. We were out riding the trolly and this was a stop so we popped in and what a treat. We only enjoyed appetizers and drinks as we were just checking out the area and what we ordered was absolutely delicious. We did not stay for dinner but we will be back!

Who knew that there was a Columbia restaurant in Clearwater? I sure didn't but when a friend suggested it for dinner the other night, I was quick to say yes as I am familiar with the original location and its great food, ambiance and impeccable service. Well this location delivered on all of that as well as has a great view out the back to the water. Our server, Alyvia, and she was very attentive and knowledgable. She brought our drinks over quickly and had several suggestions on the menu. As always, my eyes are bigger than my stomach so I had plenty of leftovers for another day. I started with the Columbia original 1905 salad. It is like a chefs salad tossed at the table and was quite good and filling. Between that and the bread I probably didn't need an entree. But I LOVE grouper and their grouper Jimmy was delicious with it's topping of blue crab meat and butter sauce. I think I took most of it home with me as it was a huge portion and came with rice and asparagus. Others in our group gave high marks to the Paella, the chicken manchego and the grilled snapper. For the quantity and quality of the food served the prices were reasonable especially given this is a tourist area. With drinks, my salad and entree ran about $64. If you drive, they have valet parking up front and many of the hotels in the area have shuttle bus service to this restaurant. You should make a reservation as this place gets busy in season or out! All in all a great night out in Clearwater!

Our server, Michael, was excellent. Professional, attentive and pleasant. Excellent service, beautiful restaurant/view and great food as usual.

It's been a while since we've dropped by. Lunchtime is always nicer and less hectic. We had a great table next to the windows. For entrées, we both ordered the Red Snapper "Adelita" along with the 1905 Salad. Both the salad and the fish were delicious. Overall, we had an excellent time. The service was on point with speedy refills of beverages and their delicious Cuban bread and butter. It's always a treat to have a fancy lunch!

I literally have dreams about eating here--it's that good. Every time we vacation in Florida, I eagerly look forward to dining here multiple times. The 1805 Salad and Spanish Bean Soup are absolute musts, and the Manchego Chicken is one of my all-time favorite dishes--but honestly, everything on the menu is delicious. The service is always excellent, and the beautiful waterfront views make the experience even more special. Don't forget to take home some of their signature salad dressing, seasoning, and hot sauce--you'll be so glad you did!

Having your salad prepared table side gives the option to consider those who may not like certain vegetables. This is a winning addition when in a large group with all your guests. As for the menu and lists from the bar they are both extensive, with out being over whelming.. If you do not know what you are in the mood for, just ask for suggestions the waiter. Who will quickly ask you a few question then rattle off a short list of great lunch or dinner combinations. As for the views they will not bore you!!

Oh my word. The way they bring out half a loaf of bread and a cup of butter per person is the most beautiful thing. The sangria was good and in the cutest pitcher but it wasn't by any means the best i ever had. The dinner was good, but again not the best ever. Yuri was the kindest server who went out of his way to make us happy and full! I wished I would have ordered the canelloni but the stuffed shrimp was still good.

I used to suggest this to tourists but I can't any longer. It was one of the worst Cubans I've ever had and the sangria was not sangria. It's like wine with fruit in it so this is off of my suggested list any longer

It's okay. Wasn't a huge fan. Loved the tomato salad a lot! Liked the empanadas, the Spanish bean soup, and the Cuban sandwich. The chicken croquettes not a fan at all.

One word: LOCATION! This place is absolutely beautiful inside and out! It's nestled near the hustle and bustle of Clearwater beach. You walk in and there is so much amazing artwork and beautiful decor around to see. We were seated outside in their patio where you get this GORGEOUS view of the ocean. The you walk in and feel like you are in a palace or something: Overall I rate it 4/5 stars. Food: This place is a Spanish and Cuban inspired restaurant. I definitely recommend their famous "1905 salad" where they mix it right in front of you! It's quite a show! And the salad is simple, flavorful and delicious. Now I would stick to the seafood- shrimp and scallops. We had the shrimp tapas and it was pretty tasty. The paella looked duele good too, We got a few tapas that were missing flavor and to be frank not that hasty. It was the stuffed peppers and the crab cakes. The crab cakes REALLY lacked flavor, especially salt. I could not eat more then one. Dessert: we had their famous bread pudding - super flavorful and if you're going to order bread pudding at a restaurant I'd totally try their version. We also had the flan which was ok. My three kids all enjoyed their kids meals. This place is very kid friendly and they have a decent kids menu of Mac and cheese (our favorite), quesadilla, and a few other options. Came with a fresh bread too. And also a side of veggies too. Service: service was pretty great. They kept checking on us and seeing if we needed something. Parking. Parking is a not tricky as the parking lot gets REALLY full. Their lot is very busy and do thankfully there is a valet parking. Overall I'd make reservations ahead of time to come ente. I definitely valet park or some on the early dinner side to snag a parking spot and great table. Also make sure to bring a jacket as in the patio it gets cold, and with heat lamps broken from Christmas they hav emit replaced it yet. I would totally come here again for the ambiance and decor!! It is such a lovely place to come for dinner!

3.5 - I've been to the Ybor location 20+ times, and this was my first at Sand Key. Two of us for 7:45 dinner on Thanksgiving evening. Decor and ambiance were good, and friendliness of the staff was terrific. However, this location fell short for me in two areas - food and pacing of the service. We started with the stuffed piquillo pepper (superb), 1905 salad, Cannelloni de Langosta, Palomilla Steak, and two desserts. Unfortunately, the cannelloni was overcooked and mushy; I took leftovers and wound up scooping out the chunks of lobster and filling and only heating those. The service was also an issue. I truly felt like our server, while friendly, was rushing us. Salads arrived while we still had our appetizer. Entrees appeared while we were still working on salads. After clearing our plates, the server handed us the check and we had to kindly ask for a coffee and dessert menu instead. At a restaurant of the Columbia's caliber, I hardly expect to have to manage my own pacing and delay ordering - but apparently I should have! We were in and out the door in an hour and ten minutes. Horribly rushed and not the experience I had hoped for.

Service was horrible. The server Darya, was awful. I've been going to Columbia for 25+ years. This was the worst server I've ever had. Unpleasant, rude, and just bad vibes. Arguing with me about the white sangria not being by the glass, then insinuating that I'm a liar because I've had it by the glass there, and she's "been there for two years and never seen that". Forgot our 1905 side salads, forgot my side of black beans with my entree. Didn't even come by to ask how our meals were or if we needed anything at all. Again AWFUL SERVICE. I've been coming to Columbia for 25 years. If it weren't so late in the evening I'd have gone to the manager. This woman should not be working here and should find a serving job elsewhere...... Food on the other hand was great, as always.

Delicious !! Entire staff welcomes you and the food is just incredible! The 1905 salad is a must! Empanadas were also a hit for our table.

We had a mid size group, called ahead to make sure we could fit, the staff , Lee and Joe managers were very accommodating and professional. We were created warmly, everything went smooth... the food as always was awesome! Our waitress Yeraldi......what a pleasant and kind person.

Made dinner reservations and couldn't wait to try this place. This is the oldest Spanish restaurant in the US according to our wonderful server Savannah. The restaurant is gorgeous and it offers both indoor & outdoor seating. It is located next to the Marriott in a small shopping center. Vallet parking is offered and parking is limited. Luckily, we took an Uber so there was not an issue. We started off the night with a couple of cocktails: The Huckleberry Martini & Dirty Martini, both were very good. The olives that came with the dirty martini were excellent. For appetizers we ordered the Tapeo Sampler, where you can pick two or three different items from the menu. We chose the Calamari, Scallops and Queso Fundido. They were all very good but I especially loved the scallops and queso. Our Entrees were fabulous !! We had the Grilled Grouper, Stuffed Shrimp and the the Eggplant Riojana. For dessert we ordered the Churros Tres Amigos. They are little pastry circles, and come with three sauces for dipping: guava, caramel, and warm Hershey's chocolate! Wonderful food, beautiful decor and terrific service. We had such an awesome night here and I highly recommend it. We cannot wait to go back!

What can you say about Jorge our server was so sweet, funny and a pleasure! The food was delicious. The 1905 salad prepared table side! I had the combination platter so I could try a few items and it was more than enough food. And the bread! Omg! A little loud but such a cute old style place with a wonderful view! Even caught a rainbow!

For such a huge place, they say it'll seat 5,000 people, we were seated promptly. Our took our orders quickly. The Pork dish was fantastic, as was the Vaca frita. Drinks were great (Mojito). We stopped at their bakery/dessert shop next door and were presented with a delicious array of fresh pastries.... Topped with a Cuban Cafe expresso. Fantastic place and fair priceed, great service.

We have been here for both lunch and dinner. The Cuban bread was fresh and warm served with butter. Servers are helpful and friendly. We love the house salad. For dinner we both had seafood that was wonderful. At lunch we had Cuban sandwiches. I was not impressed. Thought it was dry the soups were good Also was not a fan of the white chocolate bread pudding. My husband loved them both. lol. We ate outside both times and loved the ambience.

I've been to downtown and Gulf Blvd Columbia locations and I can tell you that Columbia is not an authentic Cuban or Spaniard cuisine experience. All the dishes we had including fish and beef were insipid, flavorless and vapid , white or yellow rice is not edible, tostones are the frozen, tasteless kind, the black beans are a mix of thick refried, bland mess with no spices. Service and ambiance are ok but do not make up for the terrible food. Save yourself some disappointment and a sure heartburn.

Food Amazing. SERVICE AMAZING. Had the pleased of dining here yesterday. Our encounter with the server FRED alone is reason enough for me to fly back to Clearwater from Los Angeles. His food recommendations were spot on. Food was delicious, fresh, flavorful and piping hot. Mojitos were refreshing next time I come out will definitely look for Fred. He took great care of us. Highly recommend 10 out of 10. Fred 20 out of 10.

My wife and I have been to most of the Colombia restaurants. My favorite was the restaurant on the pier in St. Petersburg, Florida. My wife and I still enjoy the Colombia in Clearwater. We love the white sangria they make at the table. And the Cuban sandwich and black beans are definitely one of our favorites. They have so many items to eat there, and my wife and I enjoyed most of them. Our first experience was at the Sarasota Columbia and we were hooked. Sitting in that outdoor space in center of the Columbia in Tampa is a very nice setting also. All of the Columbia restaurants are a wonderful experience! Tom J