Columbia Restaurant

I had the pleasure of dining at the Columbia Restaurant in St. Augustine, and it was an exceptional experience! The service was top-notch - our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. But the real star of the show was the food - it was absolutely delicious! Every dish we ordered was expertly prepared and presented, and the flavors were incredible. From the classic Spanish dishes to the fresh seafood, every bite was a delight. The atmosphere of the restaurant was also lovely, with a warm and inviting decor that made us feel right at home. Overall, I highly recommend the Columbia Restaurant to anyone looking for a fantastic dining experience in St. Augustine. We can't wait to go back! Reservation in advance is a must. The place is big with Spanish and authentic deco.

This is one of our favorite spots in St Augustine. Love love love this place. We have been here about 20 times and have never had a bad experience. Always world class service and fantastic food. So many great menu options. Love the sangria, coffee and decor here. The vibe is also really good. We will definitely be back. I highly recommend this business.

New Year's Day brought us to the famous Columbia restaurant in busy downtown St Augustine. The traffic was heavy and the joint was literally jumping when we arrived for our 630 pm reservation. We had to park at the downtown parking garage because the restaurant lot was full. Once inside, we were seated immediately. The restaurant has a heavy Spanish influence in its decor. Our waiter Giovanni brought us drinks and the restaurants' famous bread before we ordered. I decided to try the Shrimp and Yellow Rice, while my lovely fiancee ordered the Salmon. Both dishes were very good. We tried the Bread Pudding for dessert, which was also excellent. We learned at the end of the dinner that it was Giovanni's eighth day at Columbia. Well, he did a fine job and has a bright future as a waiter. Columbia should be on your list of the restaurants to try in downtown St Augustine.

Great restaurant in the middle of the Historic part of St Augustine. I've been to the original location and have to say that, while this one isn't exactly the same, it is still very good! Our server, Robert, was very kind and helpful. The restaurant is beautiful, just like the original. Cuban sandwich was nice, maybe there bread is not as fresh as in Tampa, but the bakery they use is there so it makes sense. Still a very delicious Cuban, better than I can get where I'm from. Paella was amazing, just the same as in Tampa. Plentiful fresh seafood, great seasoning, perfect. Prices are not too bad as well. Overall good choice for lunch!

Recommended by a friend and did not disappoint! Salmon and chicken dishes were plentiful and delicious....not to mention the pitcher of mojitos made right at your table. We did have a reservation and would recommend as it does fill up and is popular.

They have no gastronomic proposal. The infrastructure is nice and the place is comfortable. I am very sorry that all this investment is marred by the absence of the most important thing, a good kitchen. Their waiters and hosts are very good, the table service is also great. But I cannot understand why they do not take care of establishing a gastronomic line, change the chef today. Is it a Cuban or Spanish restaurant? We come from Miami and as a Cuban restaurant they do not work because the Cuban food they prepare is horrible, not to mention that they only have the star beer from Spain. The paella had raw and hard rice, even asparagus was loaded with garlic with no Valencian flavor that is offered on the menu. The seafood fideua had cumin and the pasta was super overcooked, really horrible to the palate. The most regrettable thing about this visit was that both my wife and I got sick from the restaurant food, we couldn't get out of the bathroom because of the bad food; the seafood was MAYBE rotten. As for the bar, they can't say they are a cocktail bar either, you can look at the photo and see that the sangria doesn't have fruit but a piece of lemon. I offer to give them a ticket to Madrid or Valencia so they can get to know real Spanish food. THE WORST VISIT WE HAVE EVER HAD TO A RESTAURANT

What a wonderful wedding rehearsal event we had at Columbia Restaurant St. Augustine FL! We called in advance and made a reservation for 35 people. When we arrived 30 minutes early, they were incredible to work with and were so accommodating. The wait staff jumped in and moved us into the banquet room where they proceeded to treat us like Royalty. Our time at Columbia restaurant was amazing. We are so appreciative of their hard work and the amazing staff that helped during our event on October 16th 2024!

The Columbia Restaurant stands out as a superior fine dining experience compared to others I’ve visited recently. Our waiter provided outstanding recommendations, even catering thoughtfully to the children in our group. His attentiveness and warm hospitality made us feel truly welcomed. We enjoyed our meal on the second floor, comfortably seated at a spacious table that accommodated all six parties with ease. Do not miss your chance to dine at the Columbia restaurant while in Saint Augustine.

The service was amazing, the waiter's were very kind. The food was delicious I could tell that it was all freshly made, And the ambiance was perfect it really felt like I was in Spain the architecture was beautiful. Make sure to ask for amber she is amazing and Will get you your food in a good matter of time

Detoured on a recent trip to southern Florida to head to St. Augustine for the sole purpose of going to The Columbia restaurant. Definitely worth the detour. First, St. Augustine is great. The old buildings, the cobblestone streets, the shops, restaurants and bars. Everything was still decked out for Christmas. It was very festive. Second, our destination. We ate at Columbia maybe six or seven years ago and we've always wanted to go back. It's a beautiful Spanish-style building with a beautiful fountain and courtyard out front. Our waitress was very sweet. Efficient, professional and warm. The big attraction at Columbia is the 1905 salad which is made table side. It was as good as I remembered. Of course, I forgot to take a photo of that. We both had shrimp dishes. My wife had Shrimp with Yellow Rice. I had a delicious NAB and Shrimp and Chorizo with peppers, onions and mushrooms with Yellow Rice. We both loved our entrees. The only problem is that we were both stuffed and couldn't get the Flan. Next time.

As you enter this Old World Charm restaurant built in 1905, you become fascinated with the beautiful Latin decor. Not just one level but three levels of dining area plus outdoor seating. The building sits in a charming narrow alleyway as in the olden days with a water fountain. This is the original Columbia restaurant. There are other locations in Florida. You see tourists walking thru the alley sightseeing and trolleys rolling by as you eat outside with cheers from more tourists. You feel the good energy from everyone. A perfect location. Dress code is fashion casual as it is a classy place. Parking is available in a private parking lot next to Columbia. We had reservations there on Christmas Day and it was perfect. I ordered my favorite dish, Cannelloni Langosta-din. It was even better than last time if that's possible. Big, tender chunks of lobster claw meat in their delicious sauce. The best!! My daughter had the Stuffed Shrimp JG-din, which also was tasty but came in second to the Langosta. We also ordered the Cava Sangria Pitcher to wash it all down with. It was so refreshing and good. We shared a slice of Key Lime pie at the end of our Christmas Day celebration. Our server, Ernesto, was professional, attentive and knowledgeable of the menu book. We hope to return again next Christmas.

The experience and ambiance at Columbia is worth the visit.. the food, not so much. The restaurant is very large, with several rooms and seating options, adorned with decor with a gift shop attached. I made reservations in advance for lunch and there was a line out the door and they were not accepting walk ins. I did overhear many people saying they have never seen the area so busy so I'm not sure if this was due to the holiday rush. We were seated shortly after our reservation time and brought to a perfect location for seating, next to the fountain in indoor patio. The server was efficient and attentive and the orders came out quickly during a very busy time. I started off with a drink with vodka, muddled strawberries and basil which I sent back- it was horrible and overpowering basil- server had no issue taking off the bill. We had the 1905 salad- decent but don't get the rave about it- maybe it was too much dressing on ours. The bread was homemade and fresh and we were each given a large loaf with butter. We had stuffed shrimp and shrimp and yellow rice as entrees. I would highly recommend sharing these dishes because they are huge!! The shrimp were wrapped in bacon and fried- it was a bit much and very rich which I anticipated it would be. For my order, I had shrimp and yellow rice.. on a positive note, there were several shrimps in the dish and they were large in size. The rice was overcooked as it was mushy and it did not have much flavor, I mostly ate the shrimp out of the dish. The bathroom line was down the hallway as there were only 3 stalls in downstairs area which was surprising for the size of the restaurant. Overall, Columbia was an experience but a one and done for me.

We made reservations well in advance for this restaurant during our Christmas week trip to St. Augustine, and I'm so glad we did. The place was packed, but the service was still impressively good. As Cubans, we have pretty high standards when it comes to Cuban/Spanish food, so I was a little skeptical, but I was pleasantly surprised. The ambiance was beautiful, with Christmas decorations that perfectly matched the festive spirit of St. Augustine. We sat by the water fountain, and it gave off a charming, old-world Spanish vibe--kind of like something you'd find in a quaint town in Spain with terracotta tiles and narrow, cobblestone streets. The food didn't disappoint. My favorite was the Cannelloni de Langosta--absolutely delicious. My parents ordered the paella, and they were happy with it as well. To be honest, I didn't have high expectations after reading a few mixed reviews, but I ended up being really pleased. And the sangria? Pretty fantastic, too. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience and a great way to enjoy a meal in St. Augustine!

Beautiful establishment, but I would say a bit of a tourist trap. The waiter that we had was very nice, but the food wasn't great. They give you your own big piece of Cuban bread and butter, loved that! My friend started with the black bean Cuban soup, which is essentially black beans with chopped onion. We had the crab cakes which comes with two large ones, these were pretty good. We had the 1905 salad which they toss table side. It had ham, cheese, tomato, olives and cheese. It's tasty, not necessarily bad but it's just forgettable. It also smelt like wet dog in there. A pretty nice experience but probably wouldn't recommend.

As always, an amazing experience and an amazing meal. Every time we come to Saint Augustine it is always a pleasure when we are able to eat at the Columbia restaurant. For me it is like going back home to Miami for a home-cooked meals. The service is always exquisite . During the Christmas season, it is decorated to the nines. Food is always amazing and a great treat.

Stopped by The Columbia while in St Augustine and it was a very nice restaurant. It had a nice classic and period look. The service was good and we were taken care of very well and quickly. The food was very good and would definitely recommend the restaurant..

Second time going to The Columbia. First time was in Sarasota and now in Saint Augustine. This was a party of 8 dinning in. Ambiance was nicer than the one in Sarasota. This one had three floors and it looked so much better crowded with people of course. Service Our server was Oscar. Oscar was great. Very attentive and did not disappoint with drinks and food. I like draft beers and recommended the only draft beer they have which was not bad. I actually enjoyed it. Very nice guy and willing to serve. Thank you Oscar for a great time. 5 stars for this guy for sure. Food This is where I have a second try to The Columbia and didn't really make me enjoy the food as much. My wife chose the Ropa Vieja which was actually not bad. Her and I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars on this. Beef was tender and seasoned right just wished there was more of it. Rice was also good. Also, my wife ordered a side of black beans which was delicious. I had the Cuba Completa. My food took the longest due to making an empanada. The empanada was 5 out of 5. I would have been satisfied just eating than the rest of the meal to be honest. My Round beef was so bland. I took 3 bites and did not like it at all. It had no seasoning and honestly looked like mystery meat. The pork on the other hand was pretty good, so I would have chosen this alone with rice and beans. However, yellow rice was not bad, the black beans on mine had overwhelming amount of garlic taste. I retried tasting my wife's beans and it was different. So there was inconsistency with the beans. So overall meal 3 out of 5. Dessert Flan was 5 out of 5. Delicious. I had cafe con leche which was also good. Overall, since this is my second time eating in this restaurant, it is a bit disappointing. The meal is so overpriced for the quality of the food. Wished the service be as good as the food. Oscar hands down great server. Food quality on the entrees for the price wasn't good. Empanadas and flan, I would eat all day!

While visiting family in Florida, my husband and I had a chance for a quick overnight getaway and we headed for St. Augustine. This historic city is Florida's oldest and was founded in the year 1565 by Spanish explorers. We had not been here before and unfortunately we were there during Spring Break this year so a little crowded and crazy. My husband had always wanted to try this historical restaurant. This restaurant opened in 1905 by Casimoro Hernandez Sr. Over 120 years, this is the oldest restaurant in Florida and features seven locations still being operated by family members. Of course, we had a slight wait for a table but within 20 minutes we were seated. Parking here is a nightmare so be prepared to be very patient in locating a spot. I had no idea what to expect but I was excited once I started viewing the menu. Serving Spanish and Cuban food, the choices were many. The restaurant is spacious and decorated so beautifully. Lots of brick which I just love as it always make me feel homey. We started out with two appetizers including the Ybor City Devil Crab Croquettes and Gambas Al Ajillo (shrimp). Oh my the shrimp were cooked to perfection and lots of garlic flavor which I just adore. It was a reat way to get our taste buds going and begin our food journey. I enjoyed a glass of the Tinto (white) Sangria. Very refreshing on this warm spring day. My husband had his heart set on trying Columbia's Original "1905" Salad and a cuban sandwich. Who was I to disagree? It sounded tasty. This legendary salad is tossed table side and features iceberg lettuce, baked ham, Swiss cheese, tomato, olives, grated Romano cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and their famous garlic dressing. The salad was named for the year the restaurant was founded in Tampa's Latin District of Ybor City. This salad did not disappoint. It was light, fresh crispy lettuce, and just delightful to the palate. In addition to the salad we shared a the Original Cuban Sandwich. Postively the best and most delicious cuban sandwich I have eaten. For dessert, we shared a slice of Key Lime Cheesecake with a raspberry sauce. Key Lime is a staple in Florida and this slice was divine. We experienced very good service from our server. Apologies for not getting her name as she was so friendly and made us feel welcome. After dining, we walked around the property and the gift shop. We ended up purchasing the salad dressing and the sangria mix. I plan on visiting more of their locations through out Florida in the future. This is a true iconic Florida landmark which is not to be missed.

I came here when my family were all together for a holiday. This was one of my Mom's favorite places to dine for family gatherings when she was alive. We, as a family had not been here in a number of years. It did not disappoint. We were pleased with everything. Our Waitress was top notch. She has worked here for more than ten years. She took very good care of us. Pros:the food is delicious, fantastic atmosphere, service top notch. The store was fun to shop in before our reservations. Cons:you might have a hard time finding parking. Be patient-you will eventually find a place to pay and park.

We Columbia Restaurant. We have been to all the locations. This one in St Augustine as the last one. Beautiful exterior, great Christmas decor. Friendly and patient staff. Food is delicious. My husband had the Cannoli Langoustine and I had the Spanish Bean Soup and 1905 Salad plus the Cuban bread. Delicious and filling. At all the locations we have never had a mediocre or questionable dish. Staff at all the locations are friendly, sweet , patient and kind. I'm f you thought about coming, don't hesitate ... go you'll be happy!

Another wonderful lunch at a classic St. Augustine restaurant. The food is always fresh and delicious. Today started with the stuffed peppers and then had the Apollo manchego with a 1905 salad. As always I requested Sean as our server because he is simple the best. Attentitive and knows what I want to drink and puts it inthe table as soon as he shows up to say "hello".

The Ambiance is without words Fantastic, it is So Beautiful inside it makes you feel like you are in Columbia. The service was beyond word FANTASTIC! Our server was Sheila S. She was very attentive and extremely kind. And, the food was really Fantastic we had the sampler platter which was definitely more than enough but, so Authentic and amazingly DELICIOUS. You definitely can not go wrong with anything on the menu. FANTASTIC!

Amazing service and food! We knew from previous visits that without a reservation, we would not be able to eat so we were prepared. We felt so bad for the myriad of families that were turned away that did not have reservations. The food and drinks were incredible, reminded us of my grandmother's homemade Ropa Vieja. Can not recommend this restaurant enough!

We were very pleased from the moment we pulled into the crowded parking lot, and the amazing parking attendant getting us a parking spot, to being seated exactly at 1:00 on Thanksgiving Day...the exact time of our reservations, to our waitress Nina (Birthday Girl,) We could not have asked for a nicer way to celebrate our second Thanksgiving Day in the Ancient City of St Augustine. Drinks were a Tito's Martini, and Enzo Chardonnay. The glass of Wine was $14.00, as was the Martini. Both were excellent. Instead of the Turkey Dinner, we enjoyed the Tossed Salad 1905, Salmon Sant Yago, and the Holiday Pumpkin Flan, and Cafe Melanie. The fresh bread is always served warm and with plenty of butter. There was a constant flow of diners with reservations with and without. It was a smooth procedure getting a table for both types of guests. Columbia is always a nice place to eat and drink. Happy Birthday Nina. You were a lovely waitress.

When visiting St Augustine, this place kept showing up in my searches for a must visit. It is located downtown, so the area surrounding it was lively. We had a bit of a wait for a table since it's such a popular venue. The original 1905 salad was great! It's prepared table side and had really good flavor...pretty sure I ate the whole thing. I ordered a Paloma and it was NOT good..pretty watered down. I chose a sampler plate (LA Completa Cubana) for dinner so I could try several things. Most of it was pretty good..I didn't like the yuca and everything was kind of thrown together on the plate so the flavors ran into each other. It was a nice experience and I do like that it's located in the middle of so many walkable places.

Normally this is a 4.5+ rating but last night the service piece was a bit lacking. Probably had to do with the amount of people due to St. Augustine's Nights of Lights Festival. Fortunately we had reservations. Lex who was our server tried to do her best but was given our table but was working a different section of the restaurant. She was very nice & was apologetic for the length of time it took to get our order. She made things right by giving the large 1905 Columbia salad at no cost. The food as always was excellent! We started with a pitcher of Mojito's which is made at your table and served about 3 glasses each. Very refreshing! Then my wife & I had the Paella La Valencia which had a nice amount of seafood with the rice cooked perfectly along with the 1905 Columbia salad & flan for dessert. All were excellent! I will count this as an anomaly as normally my past experiences @ The Columbia have been very good.

We loved the 1905 salad prep and presentation. It tasted pretty good too. Main course was ok. I've had "grouper Jimmy" and I thought it was kinda plain and way too oily to my taste. Beautiful location, we enjoyed looking around at all of the portraits of generations of the family.

Yeah we get Sean and the bar dining. So cool ambiance and awesome service as always. Request Sean. And the food will be great.

My wife and I came here for our "Babymoon", this place seats hundreds of people and customer service, quality of food and just sheer kindness doesn't suffer. My wife and I had 1905 Salad, crab cakes and empanadas and we loved it. I had a glass of the Don Cesar wine and I highly recommend it. Well done The Columbia, well done!

Atmosphere and service were excellent. Food was probably not the best. Recommend to try it.

Location and ambiance were beautiful. The fountains and decor are so clean and beautiful and intricate. The food was so delicious, the 1905 salad is to die for, the black bean soup was so flavorful and the rice was cooked perfectly. The lechon was so flavorful and moist. Everything was so tasty and fresh. Alexis (from the Bahamas) was our server and she was so wonderful. She was so friendly and warm. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and made our visit extra memorable and special. Can't wait to return!

i've been wanting to try this restaurant for a long time. We were here for lunch. The sangria was good, but mainly just tasted like red wine. The complementary Cuban bread was served warm and we ate all of it. They dress the salad table side and I'm glad I was able to ask for not all the dressing. Even then it was overdressed. The fish in my husband's sandwich was a little overcooked. my Cuban sandwich was really good. We were not able to finish all our food.

Ambience: beautiful, lively. Service: Anna was very helpful with our dinner choices mine was the sampler of pork, steak, and empanada. The flavors were spot on. Beans were tender and flavorful. Steak and pork were fork tender. The empanada was flaky with a beef filling. Overall this place is great Caesar salad was dressed well. Maybe a little too much dressing

First time eating at this Columbia location. For me there are other restaurants in St Augustine way more worth the calories and time. For having a large party on the opening weekend of night of lights we were sat pretty quickly. (We did have a reservation) our waitress was friendly and our appetizers came out pretty quick. HOWEVER we waited over an hour for our entrees. Not surprising since we had to ask twice about our drink refills so think she forgot to put our food in. Frustrating as the large party that was sat after us received their food and they ordered after us as well. We could hear everything. No apology. I ordered the Columbia 1905 salad. As it is a signature dish and it is my favorite when I'm visiting Tampa. It is made tableside and I have a video of the waitress when she was making my salad - she basically threw the dressing on the salad tossed it twice then threw it on my plate. Talk about poor presentation. I assume she was in a hurry because she forgot to put our order in and we had waited over an hour to eat. The manager came out to check on us after we had finished our meal however we did not complain but we won't be back. We had two toddlers with us and thank God they were well behaved this evening because otherwise this could've been a nightmare.

My mom and I were in St. Augustine last weekend and made a reservation here for her birthday lunch. We were seated in the dining room downstairs by the friendly hostesses. Our server was AMAZING and made sure that we were taken care of. We started with the white sangria which was so tasty and surprisingly strong even though it didn't taste like it lol. Then the server brought out complimentary Cuban bread and butter for each of us. It was so fresh and warm. Then we both ordered the lunch combination for our entrees with a half Cuban sandwich and a half salad. Our server was so kind and brought out a flan for my moms birthday and they sang. Overall a great experience here and would definitely come back!

The inside of Columbia is absolutely beautiful and transcends you into a different country. Our server Dani was so great. She was spot on and very engaging. We tried several dishes and all were good. Nothing spectacular but the experience makes this place so special. The original salad is amazing and the empanadas were so flavorful.

The waitress Danica was charming and attentive. The food was tasty. However, the place is loud and busy and chaotic. There is nothing fine dining about this place. Be prepared!

As a Latina, the food was phenomenal! The service went above and beyond to have our group feel welcome and taken care of! Despite being a group of 10, we had a reservation and were seated with less than a 5 minute wait. It's a little noisy but it's a very big restaurant. It's beautiful and we were still able to have a conversation! They also have their own parking lot which is a plus!

The service was top notch. The server recommended a nice Gazpacho soup, which was excellent. I had the Paella which was equally fantastic. Try only reason for not having five stars was due to my whiskey sour. For over ten bucks it was mostly ice with not much booze or sour mix. Overall, I was very pleased

Having a RSVP is a must. Our waitress was great. Our original table was near a door, which wasn't great as the cold from outside was coming in. We were switched to another table upon request. My old fashion was delicious. The bread is so good. The calamari was average. The paella was delicious. NY strip didn't come out at the requested temperature. The lechón was a very small portion but good. The palomilla was also decent. Overall a nice experience.

Scallops appetizer is one of the best appetizers I have ever had! Waiter recommended the Grouper Jimmy. The crab meat topping and rice were delicious but the fish wash average. Husband had ribeye which was very good. Server was quick and efficient but not super friendly.

Great location and great restaurant. A very nice atmosphere and location for lunch. Better have a reservation for dinner. Food is outstanding. Drinks and desert is a must!

I love The Columbia, and have ever since we lived in Tampa and visited frequently. I don't get to St. Augustine as often as in the past, and was happy when our group decided to come here after a tour at the Lightner Museum. We had a large party, so the wait for the table was anticipated, even though we had notified them in advance. At first we had two servers who took drink orders, etc., but by the end of the meal we seemed to have only one, and she was difficult to find. The reason for the 3 stars - first we were seated upstairs right above the host/hostess stand. I have no problem with staff talking and having fun at work, but they were making bird calls and hooting and being incredibly loud, and the sound just bounced over us quite unpleasantly. A couple of times we discussed actually going downstairs and asking them to tone it down a bit. Truly sounded as if we were at some type of fiesta or keg party. Second, I ordered my favorite salad (which I told the table multiple times) 1907 salad w/cup of soup. First the salad was minus the olives. I saw others at the table had olives on theirs, so know they were available, but mine had none. Second, the "size" of the salads varied considerably. The person next to me ordered the salad combo as well, and her salad was served on a plate alone, and filled the plate. Mine was served next to my soup container and took no room at all. Very inconsistent. The soup - hmmnm. Although very good in taste, it was not a soup. It was just a cup of black beans and rice. No liquid at all. Not a drop. This is not soup. I just felt disappointed as you have an expectation when you come here, and it just was not up to the standard that I have come to expect.

I've been wanting to eat here since my previous visit to St Augustine. We were able to walk in when they first opened and made a reservation for mid afternoon. We returned and were seated right away in a gorgeous indoor courtyard yard next to a fountain. The interior is very pretty and gives a real authentic vibe. We had big loaves of bread given to each of us with butter for the table. The server was friendly and helpful when deciding what to order. We each got glass of red sangria which was SOOOOO GOOD. I wish we would have ordered the pitcher since it served 4 glasses for the cost of 3. Now let's talk food. Ordered the beef empanadas that come with 2. Delicious. A must order. For our entrees we each got the split plate of Cuban sandwiches with the house salad. The salad is made table side and the special ingredient is Worchestershire sauce! How interesting! I though everything was so tasty and fresh. Plenty of food for the cost. I recommend everyone visiting here.

If you want authentic Spaniard-Cuban style cuisine, then this is the place for you! From the service to the food, everything was amazing! The servers are so attentive and the food is delicious. The restaurant is elegant and rustic. Reservations are highly encouraged. It's is always busy here and walk in waiting times can be 2-3 hours before a table becomes available.

Just an awful experience at a chain we've dined at several times over the years, including our honeymoon in Sarasota. The service was terrible, with the server band our table for up to 20 minutes at a time. My $38 snapper was a gelatinous goo. So sorry to leave such a bad review st a restaurant that's given us fond memories. (Update: Regarding the reply from this restaurant...I sent the review to their email box as requested but have yet to hear from them.)

My fiancé and I came here for an early Valentine's Day dinner as we were visiting St. Augustine for the weekend. I made a reservation ahead of time and although we arrived very early, they seated us right away. We had a fantastic server as she was very kind and attentive! Shortly after being seated we were able to order drinks then food. Everything came out very quickly as it felt we only waited maybe 10 minutes for food to come out from the moment of ordering. I started out with the Tango Mango and my fiancé started out with the margarita garrafon. My drink was fantastic. I love rum and Bacardi especially so this was definitely for me. The floater was a great touch. His margarita on the other hand wasn't the best. Way too heavy in Brandy that it masked the orange liquor and lime juice. Just straight Brandy with hints of tequila. We ordered the empanada de picadillo for our app and they were fantastic. Perfectly crispy shells with their delicious beef filling. We were also given bread and butter before our meal and the bread was delightful and large too! I ordered the chicken salteado and he ordered the picadillo criollo. I enjoyed my chicken but it was slightly rubbery. The sauce was delicious and so was the rice! The vegetables were good but there was just way too many green peppers. There were more green peppers than anything else on the plate. His picadillo criollo was delicious as well! Perfectly cooked and the sauce was addictive. We ended the night with key lime pie and a surprise flan for my birthday as well. The key lime pie was perfect and the flan was delicious. Couldn't go wrong with either dessert choice.

Upon arrival their was an issue finding our reservation but was straightened out. Having being seated a waiter did not present themselves for over five minutes. Time was going by and I decided to call any waiter over and was told one would be with us momentarily. No offer for refills or checking up on us and empty plates that were just left at the table while we ate. Sitting with empty plates and empty drinks, no sense of urgency from staff. Food was good though.

We always love The Columbia! The food and service are always fantastic. It can get really busy, so I always try to get a reservation. My favorites are the Cuban bread and butter - I always eat my whole loaf. I also love the 1905 salad. We usually get an order and split it. I also love the chicken and yellow rice. The white chocolate bread pudding was yummy! The restaurant is so pretty - I love the different dining rooms and all of the colorful tile work and portraits.

Loved the food the ambiance and the service. We first received fresh bread and salted butter. Amazing. We ordered 5 dishes. All amazing

Just came here for drinks and an appetizer. Right off the bat I can say how amazing this appetizer was! I ordered the Champinones Rellenos- which was stuffed mushroom with garlic, cheese, spinach, artichokes. The taste was incredible. I sat at the bar because there was a long wait for a table and usually you want to make a reservation. The bartender/waiter was nice to let me order food there as well. The restaurant has such a rustic feeling! And the restaurant itself has 2-3 floors. I was on the second floor by the bar area.

The 1905 salad is terrific! The waiter makes it right in front of you. We also had a margarita pitcher made right in of us.

It's apparently the oldest Cuban restaurant in St. Augustine. The food was okay, nothing to really brag about. The sangria was ehhh, the most exciting part was the pitcher it came in. Our reservations were for 8:45, we got sat way after 9:30, our server was very nice but clearly overwhelmed by the number of tables she was responsible for. The decorations are unique and interesting with old pictures of the generations of families that own the restaurant.

There are only two restaurants I know of that I will order a salad as a main meal... the Columbia is one of them. Their 1905 salad is simple but inspired. We stopped in for lunch and decided to get a 1/2 and 1/2 combo with the lunch portion of the 1905 salad with 1/2 of a Cuban sandwich. The bread is fresh and has the perfect crunch to its crust while maintaining a soft and fluffy interior. With pork, ham, pickles, and mustard, the Cuban is an absolute masterpiece. Our waiter Marc was extremely personable and attentive. The Columbia is one of the Must hit eateries in St Augustine.

Columbia Restaurant hits every single mark, every single time. The building is beautiful, with a breathtaking dining area. The quality of the food is divine and the flavors are mouthwatering. Order the empanadas. Don't say, "but they have raisins and olives in them..." Order them! They are tender, juicy, crispy and absolutely delicious. A beautiful food item. Whatever you order, get some platanos with it. They are perfectly caramelized and have an amazing flavor and texture. Plus, every person gets a whole loaf of bread before their meal. What more could you want?! Im partial to this kind of quisine, but this restaurant is perfection, if ever a restaurant was.

The best Columbia location hands down. You can always expect not only amazing food but the best service :)

Stopped in for a quick snack. Had the Gazpacho. A stuffed pepper appetizer and a 1905 salad. We also had a pitcher of Mojitos. The mojitos were made table side as was the gazpacho. Everything was fantastic and we will be back