Earned the "Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) Award of Excellence" 2008 - 2005 -- One of the most prestigious awards in the fine dining industry. An anonymous, independent 75-point inspection of the property is conducted to review the quality of the food, wine, service, physical property and décor.
Named to Florida Trend Magazine's Golden Spoon Hall of Fame the industry's highest regional award as "One of the Top 25 Restaurants in Florida." Named "One of Florida's Top Restaurants" since 1967.
Winner of Wine Spectator magazine's Best of Award of Excellence for Spectacular Wine List Selection, 2007 - 2004, for an outstanding collection of Spanish wines (more than 1,000 wines with an inventory exceeding 50,000 bottles). Also, Award of Excellence issued from 1993-2003.
Favorites include boliche criollo, tender slices of eye of round steak stuffed with chorizo sausage and served with gravy, black beans and rice; snapper Alicante, a slab of this sweet fish swimming in Spanish onions, green peppers and olive oil; chicken and shrimp served in a lobster bisque blended with brandy and white wine; and Paella "a la Valencia," a mound of shrimp, calamari, mussels, clams, chicken and pork served over rice. USA Today - May 3, 2007
A fixture since 1905, Columbia is the jewel in Ybor City's culinary crown. Operated by the 4th and 5th generations of the Hernandez Gonzmart family, this landmark restaurant features toothsome Spanish/Cuban classics, a phenomenal wine list and paella that's arguable the most satisfying in Florida. Hand-rolled cigars are for sale in the on-site gift ship, and Flamenco dancing is a nightly attraction. Living Southern Style - Spring 2007.
"If you cherish your palate, visit the Columbia. Try the Paella "A la Valencia," the Snapper "Alicante," and the Pompano en Papillot. Relish the black bean soup and fried ripe plantains. And with every iota of conviction you possess, order the flan. Made in the Cuban style with sweetened condensed milk, this evanescent egg custard tastes like a dream from which you hope to never awaken." Southern Living - April 2005
The Hernandez Gonzmart family has been making restaurant history since 1905 when they opened their landmark Columbia Restaurant in Tampa's Historic Ybor City, which today is Florida's Oldest and the World's Largest Spanish restaurant. Today, 4th & 5th generation family members work hard to preserve the family's legacy that their great-grandfather Casimiro Hernandez Sr. created over 100 years ago when he opened the Columbia as a corner café frequented by local cigar workers.
