The Family-Owned Columbia Restaurant: Fl’s Oldest Restaurant Creates a Beautiful Background To Suit Your Enchanting Moments

The small type: Since 1905, the Columbia Restaurant features supported Spanish and Cuban-inspired dishes and beverages that portray a long-standing genealogy. Created by a Cuban immigrant in Tampa, the Columbia stays a regional favorite simply because of its conventional ingredients and friendly service. Throughout the years, folks from all around the globe came with the attractive bistro to celebrate involvements, anniversaries, birthdays, also monumental times. Nowadays, the next and 5th generations of the family is the owner of and runs 13 different restaurants throughout Fl. If you’re searching for okay eating with a decent conventional family members experience, you can easily reserve a table when you look at the spectacular and intimate dinner spaces on the Columbia Restaurant.

Show

Over the past thirty years, my loved ones’s preferred vacation destination has been an oceanfront resort in Sand Key, Florida. We’ve eliminated there over twelve instances to construct sand castles, place whales, and eat tasty dishes on patios ignoring the gulf.

There is thoroughly explored town’s restaurant variety, looking around the actual best regional bones around, however it merely so occurs that one restaurant everyone enjoy many is actually within walking length of our own resort. The Columbia eatery’s white linen tablecloths, attentive service, and mouth-watering food make it our go-to place for lunch.

Whenever we happened to be children, my personal moms and dads would order us a parmesan cheese pizza while they went to this passionate Spanish cafe alone; but we now enjoy tapas and wine as much because they would, so we’ve begun crashing their unique date night — often providing along dates of our own.

Since 1905, the Columbia eatery has wowed patrons with Spanish and Cuban dishes and an old-world ambiance. Though it’s the oldest bistro in Florida, the organization continues to be run because of the descendants of the initial president. Every product in the menu has actually an account behind it, and lots of associated with the dishes have now been transmitted from one generation on the Hernandez Gonzmart family to another location. Household tradition is an enormous area of the Columbia’s menu, record, and method of service.

“the employees is also some like household,” mentioned Michael Kilgore, the principle advertising Officer your Columbia. “Many of our staff members stay for 20 or 3 decades. One of several things we love about our very own team is actually just how long they stick to all of us. They 321chat come right here and locate a home.”

You can enjoy this comfy and inviting atmosphere in your after that date night by going to any of the Columbia’s seven different restaurants. The Columbia Restaurant at this time acts visitors in Tampa, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Clearwater seashore, and Celebration. Whether you’re drinking drink on a picturesque balcony or watching flamenco dancers light up the level while you take in tapas, you’re certain to have a memorable night at the Columbia.

In 1905, a Cuban Immigrant went a Saloon That Became a Sensation

The Columbia Restaurant can track the background returning to Dec. 17, 1903 — the exact same day the Wright brothers effectively tested the whole world’s first plane. That has been whenever a Cuban immigrant named Casimiro Hernandez Sr. began running a saloon for a regional preparing company in Tampa’s Ybor City.

In 1905, the industrious business person turned the saloon into a well known 60-seat cafe noted for its genuine Cuban coffee-and sandwiches. Following their success, Casimiro bought a cafe or restaurant across the street and converted it into an attractive dining area. In 1930, their daughter took over control and process of the flourishing restaurant.

While in the Great Depression, their son Casimiro Jr. created 1st air-conditioned kitchen in Tampa. He hoped their upscale look and elevated dancing floor would draw visitors to the cafe that assist all of them forget their unique fears for every night. The Don Quixote area had been a winner, while the Columbia was able to keep the doorways open even though many different organizations collapsed.

In 1953, Casimiro Jr. passed the Columbia to their only son or daughter, Adela Hernandez Gonzmart, an established artist who had fulfilled her husband, Cesar Gonzmart, during the Tampa restaurant. This theatrical pair introduced activity and art toward Columbia, creating a showroom that managed many talented Latin performers and artists. Under Adela and Cesar’s leadership, the Columbia expanded to Sarasota also places in Florida.

Nowadays, among Adela and Cesar’s two sons has brought the reins and held his family’s business heading. Richard Gonzmart has been operating at their family members’ restaurants since he was 12 years of age, so he could be closely acquainted with its environment and history. Richard can actually indicate the dining table at the Columbia Restaurant in which he and his girlfriend had their particular first go out significantly more than 43 years ago.

“There’s a lot of romance here, so we have a fantastic tale,” stated Michael. “below 15 restaurants in the us are family-owned and more than a century old, so we’re in pretty elite business.”

Florida’s earliest cafe has actually a satisfied and enduring background rooted in food, household, and enjoyable. Michael told us the fifth generation of the founding family happens to be becoming groomed to take control of eventually. Richard’s daughters and nephew have taken on active administration functions during the restaurants and are generally prepared keep your family members tradition choosing many more many years to come.

The Columbia is recognized with a few associated with greatest awards when you look at the bistro industry, including induction into Nation’s eatery News’ “okay eating Hall of popularity,” gained the “notable Restaurants of North America (SiRoNA) honor of quality,” Florida Trend’s “Golden Spoon Hall of Fame,” and Wine Spectator’s “Best of honor of quality.”

Dig In! A Delectable Menu of Sharable Tapas & Indulgent Desserts

The Columbia eatery sets a lavish dining table and a delightful getting away from daily life. It seduces your senses from the moment you walk-in the doors. You are in the middle of greenery, drinking water fountains, and artwork given that noise of fun and the odors of new seafood meals waft through air. Before my personal order also gets to myself, my personal throat is often watering with expectation. Thank goodness, each visitor becomes their very own newly made loaf of Cuban breads, thus I have actually something you should meet my personal tastebuds while we wait.

The 14-page selection is full of great food and supplies effortless talk beginners for daters simply getting to know the other person. Each entrée, appetizer, and dessert includes an enticing information and fascinating history information. As an instance, the cafe’s coconut frozen dessert ended up being a well liked of ice cream business owner Gustavo Hernandez, the 3rd boy with the original Columbia founder, and after this this sweet plate is actually served inside the honor.

From vegetarian paella (Spanish rice combined with satisfying vegetables) towards the shrimp supreme (shrimp wrapped in wafer-thin bacon), the foodstuffs within Columbia tend to be bursting with taste. The shareable dishes, called tapas, make this cafe well suited for lovers on a date since you will come closer with each other by revealing little plates of empanadas, sliced chorizo, croquetas, or packed peppers. To generate a budget-friendly food by buying a number of of those appetizers with each other — keep in mind to save room for dessert!

The Très Amigos churros might be a fantastic option for couples since they are tactile, sweet, and just some dirty. Possible drop the piping-hot churros in chocolate, caramel, or guava sauce so there’s something for everyone. Additionally, Columbia’s trademark White Chocolate Bread Pudding is an indulgent treat ideal for splitting with a night out together that has a taste for white chocolate and rum sauce.

In 2017, the Marriott Traveler weblog named the Columbia Restaurant among St. Augustine’s top date-night spots, encouraging partners to “focus on Columbia’s popular 1905 Salad, assembled table-side with much panache, immediately after which share a huge platter of this Paella a la Valenciana, filled with shellfish, aromatic grain, and chorizo.”

Your own passionate night will be-all the greater number of satisfying in the event that you combine with your dinner a glass of the Melanie Chardonnay, an abundant wine known as after Melanie Gonzmart, Richard’s high-school sweetheart and girlfriend.

Plus, on Columbia eatery, the sangria is perish for. Really, it comes by cup but you can additionally divide a pitcher of white or red sangria with a date to enhance your own dinner knowledge. Nicely large cuts of fresh fruit float during the drink and infuse it with rich tastes. Whether you are purchasing this traditional sangria or among the many restaurant’s family members wines, the high-caliber drinks do not disappoint.

Michael informed all of us the group can make an attempt to supply affordable but high quality wines to whet friends’ appetites. “our very own drink choice must completely fitted to the meals we provide along with your price point,” he mentioned.

Countless Couples & groups Have Shared specialized Moments Here

When i do believe for the Columbia, In my opinion for the night we chose to have dessert for dinner, and my parents bought churros, important lime pie, mango mousse meal, white candy breads pudding, and five spoons. I believe of my personal twin-brother trying grouper for the first time on all of our 20th birthday and stating excitedly, “just take my picture” because he wanted to program their girlfriend (that is today his partner) which he loved taking in fish whenever she performed.

In many techniques, the Columbia feels like our destination, but my family is not the only family members getting made thoughts during this cafe and its six sister locations across Fl. People come to the restaurant at all stages of existence as it provides an unique environment that pairs well with any special event.

Famously, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio were constant visitors from the Columbia in the early 1950s. The Columbia employees settled tribute into the pair while the loving recollections they provided within restaurant by naming a dish after them. The Marilyn & Joe “Salteado” — a sautéed blend of tenderloin ideas, boneless chicken white meat, shrimp, and pork — is actually a tasty note for the long reputation of love for the Columbia’s dining areas.

Whether you are taking place a primary day or honoring a wedding anniversary, you’ll find intimacy and enthusiasm flourish in the gentle candlelight on the Columbia eatery.

“It really is a targets,” Michael said, “to own folks feel as if the Columbia is where to get to commemorate life’s milestones.”

The Columbia eatery has Family Values to the Table

The Columbia eatery charms daters with real meals, divine atmospheres, and personable service. The hosts, no less than at the Columbia in Sand Key, pay attention to their particular guests as they are fast to express “Welcome right back” to dedicated clients which, like my family, find themselves time for the classy eating areas over and over again.

This long-standing food business has cultivated and changed for the decades, it has not forgotten about its century-long household sources. Richard has actually bold plans to serve diners and daters throughout Fl into the a long time. “our very own holder doesn’t sleep,” Michael stated with fun. “He’s usually fantasizing up something new.”

The Columbia group intends to open up at the very least two brand-new restaurants when you look at the following many years. One will end up being conveniently located right next door from initial Columbia in Tampa. Casa Santo Stefano, set-to open up in autumn 2018, pay respect to a little village in Sicily in which most Tampa’s Sicilian immigrants emerged from — the genuine diet plan aims to deliver these families a delicious indication of home.

Enduring authority and top quality types make Columbia Restaurant and all sorts of the cousin restaurants really great locations where singles and couples can spend an evening with those they like best.