Reviews of Columbia Cafe at the Tampa Bay History Center. (Restaurant) in Tampa (Florida).

Columbia Cafe at the Tampa Bay History Center

0 Reviews

334 Comments

Restaurant

Spanish restaurant

801 Water St #1905, Tampa, FL 33602, United States

Description

Information of Columbia Cafe at the Tampa Bay History Center, Restaurant in Tampa (Florida)

Discover the opening times, the location, contact, popular times, photos and real reviews by internet users.

We still haven't received any review on this business.

Map

Open hours of Columbia Cafe at the Tampa Bay History Center

Popular times

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Reviews of Columbia Cafe at the Tampa Bay History Center

Mike Holien

Fabulous, wonderful and tasty!! Those words describe perfectly the Columbia Cafe. In The heart of Downtown Tampa Bay is a delightful cafe that serves authentic Cuban food. The staff offers exceptional service with help tips on what to order. My friend and I both had the Cuban sandwich with plantain chips. The sandwich was so big we could have shared. The portions we more than generous. The crispy bread was very good and the cost was affordable. Our server Tara was attentive and kind. She offered many options to the meal. Due to time we don’t take her up on her suggestions. If you are in the Tampa area and want a fun, affordable and delicious option, the Columbia Cafe is for you.

chelsea callina

Every single time I’ve come here, for the past 10 years I’ve never been disappointed! I moved back to Ga. Yet I make sure when I visit I come here for the Cuban sandwich! I’ve tried dozens and dozens of Cuban sandwiches since moving away, nothing compares!! And that’s the truth. My server Julia went above and beyond with the small and big things. That’s makes a world of difference. The manager even stopped by to greet us. She was very lively and upbeat and everyone seemed to love working here. I truly can’t say enough great things about this restaurant and the service. When I come back I hope Julia will be there to serve us cause that’s how at home she made me feel. God I miss the Tampa bay and most of all my Cuban sandwiches! Most definitely will come back!!

Jeneen Hinkle

First time in Tampa and at this restaurant. I've heard about the rich history of the original restaurant. Lunch was delicious 😋 What I ordered was not what I expected but was delicious just the same. Shrimp and Crab croquettes were very good as well as Chicken and rice, nice size ceasar 🥗 was yummy! I sure wish I would have seen the garlic 🍤, next time!

James Brown

I've been coming to the Columbia ever since it was in the old Pier in St. Pete, and this time, the food was just as good. The highlight was the Gambas "Al Ajillo", shrimp in olive oil, garlic and spices. It was really, really good. The Cuban sandwich was really good too, and always a staple. The Spanish Bean Soup was fine, but was really minimal on ham. I don't think I'd order it again. Overall, it was a really good meal and I look forward to returning.

Brad Decker

The food on the menu sounded amazing, but was just okay. Our service was outstanding though. *In addition to original review...Also, we did both ask our server for recommendations. Like I said, she was great other than we overheard her talking to the young lady that served us water. She told the young lady that it's important for her not to help us because our server needs to try to upsell customers..

jay victor

Empanadas and Cuban sandwich were both excellent. Decor, service, and atmosphere are wonderful. This is not typical airport food, but equal to a normal sit-down high-end restaurant. Some of the best Spanish food you're likely to have, and certainly the best choice at this airport.

robert tough

Great outdoor dining experience. Laid back. Slower paced lunch. 1905 Salad is always tasty. Cuban Sandwich is the benchmark of all Cubans. The Cafe con Leche is perfect. Amazing service that is very consistent with all their locations.

Lou Giordano

We stopped in for lunch on a beautiful sunday afternoon after going to the museum next door. Great outdoor atmosphere. Not sure if servers name was Matt or Max but he was phenomenal. I had the roast pork sandwich and my wife had the chicken and rice. Both were delicious. Those little chips are addictive. Definitely would go back.

Vplan0019

Nice dining place for after visiting museum. Stylish design and nice service. Food Taste good, but not amazing. The way menu design is pretty nice though, especially the signature Cuba sandwich and salad half half is helpful for people have hard time make decision. Overall is a nice experience.

Gilbert Chin

Good food and good setting. We had a variety of great tasty choices of food. The open setting allowed the breeze to come in, and it was very refreshing. The staff was very helpful too!

Trina S

5 stars for service and ambiance… but they are lacking in any real options for vegans. What we did have was delicious. The patio is dog-friendly 😎 …

Natalie A.

My hubby and I often walk the riverwalk from Sparkmans Wharf, so we always pass by this restaurant. We decided to sit down and have a meal and we weren't disappointed. I love the fact that they mix the sangria by your table so it's nice and fresh. The food was perfectly seasoned and portions were big enough for left overs. I enjoy that it's right next to the riverwalk so we can people watch and look at the river.

Han N Lumin

Had a nice lunch here at Columbia/Tampa Bay History Center. We ordered Salteado And Chicken Rice “Ybor”. The atmosphere and decor was great and the staff members/server was friendly. The service was great. The food itself wasn’t bad at all, however, the food was really salty (and I usually like salty food but even this was too salty for my taste). The restaurant is conveniently located in the history center with outdoor and indoor seating.

Orlando Vazquez

This is my new go to spot when I'm in Tampa. The food is awesome and the staff is super friendly, even the chef came out and spoke to us. The best Cuban sandwich in the place where the Cuban sandwich originated. This restaurant has such a rich history.

Harry Stanhope

The cafe was well suited after a look around at the museum. The Cuban vibe was a nice touch considering the history learnt. Big portions and quick to delivery once ordered. There bar upstairs has some lovely architecture to it.

Oscar Abello

Went because it was the closest Cuban food (walking distance) to our conference hotel... Legit. Authentic. Delicious. Friendly, attentive service. Comfortable outdoor dining. Cuban bread from the venerable La Segunda Bakery. Enough said.

Saurav Raj Gautam

Amazing food with equally amazing atmosphere. Our server Alejandro was very polite and took his time to explain everything to us. This was the first time I saw sangria made table side and it was worth it. Will definitely be back.

Brianna O’Daniel

Delicious food, awesome staff, great atmosphere! Wasn’t a fan of the water from the fans dripping onto us while we ate, but other than that we had a wonderful experience!

Sheena Philip

The crab croquettes were good but not anything incredible. The Cuban sandwich bread was really good but as far as the sandwich itself, it was okay. I can't judge hard since it was my first time trying it and I wasn't "wow'ed" by it. As far as service, it was great!! The guy for our table was super attentive and made sure to check in on us frequently

Mriam Blet

Pretty place by the River to eat Spanish dishes. Not the full menu of the original restaurant on Ybor city but same food quality and service with a view to the River. A must return place.

Estefania Simon

Came here for lunch on the weekend. The views and location are great. They have a great outdoor sitting area with a bar and water views. However, all our sodas were flat and they were understaffed. Our server said she would look into it but we heard nothing. 20 mins later we decided to order different drinks. The food was good but not as good as the Columbia on Ybor. I would recommend it if you are in the area and want a water front restaurant. If you are looking for an awesome meal i would recommend the one in Ybor.

Duane Lessing

Friendly service from Vicki. The place was busy so it took a little while to get our food, but worth the wait. We had the half and half salad and sandwich...delicious!

J. B.

Beautiful area along the water. Covered outside seating. Family friendly. Food and sangria was delicious. Safe area and great for walking.

Sara Riddle

Great place to go straight from the airport to start your vacation. Amazing food, amazing drinks, and great atmosphere. It's right near the riverwalk- easy to just start walking and exploring to the aquarium or art musrum. Cool fan air inside is a plus. On my list to visit again.

GALILEO REOYO

Very nice place to have lunch with friends and family! Great service! Delicious food and affordable prices!

Deb Hollaway

Went for late lunch based on online recommendations as a great place to eat. Given 20 to 25 minute wait time that extended well passed that time frame. Once seated, the wait staff was attentive. Our waitress Kelly was very friendly and adjusted our tableside salad prep to accommodate removing tomatoes and olives from salad for 2 from one bowl!. We both had the 50/50 with half a cuban and half a salad. Food was good, but I thought the crisp sandwich a little dry for my taste. The moist salad balanced it. The white chocolate bread pudding was great, but beware it is sized for sharing! It was hot after walking the entire RiverWalk in a round trip, so we opted for nonalcoholic drinks, so I can not evaluate the bar service.

Sharon

Right on Tampa’s Riverwalk, usually little to no wait, the same incredible food as the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor. All the seating is outdoors but they have both fans and heaters.

Carey Williams

Yummy! Great sandwiches and empaniadas! Nice patio with a nice breeze and view. Great service and great drinks! Would definitely come back for lunch or dinner.

Cuban Cookin'

This place is great for a happy hour type thing. The menu is somewhat limited and if you are looking for real cuban food, it leaves a lot to be desired. I asked for plantain chips and they gave me a little bag. They do not have ham croquettes and only have a Cuban sandwich option. The Cuban bread was warm but not pressed. However, I had the shrimp in garlic sauce and it was very good. Ultimately, I had a drink, appetizer and some bread.

M. Baco

Come here often. I like the food and service here better than at the Columbia restaurant in Ybor and St. Augustine. It is more casual with a limited menu but the mojitos, the 1905 salad (esp with the garlic shrimp) and the Cuban sandwich are all superb. It’s definitely worth a try for lunch or dinner. Weekends can get busy so try off hours or go on a weekday.

L. P

Ebony was our server and I have to say she was great! I'm pretty sure it's not her fault, But our food was SO SLOW for what we ordered to come out, and I did see people who came in after us getting their food, which didn't make me too happy. But we were kind of in a rush to get to the TSO show. The food was awesome of course and I did appreciate Ebony.

Kim Granata-Clark

This is located at the bottom of the Tampa History museum. It is an outside restaurant. Great views. I had a Cuban sandwich with plantain chips and a pickle. My uncle had the black bean cake. Both of them were very delicious. The Cuban sandwich is very big and you can probably split that. Good customer service. It was not very crowded when we went at noon.

Brendon Miller

Incredible place!!! The tradition of authentic high quality food and drinks are outstanding!!! The mojito, frose OMG and the half & half (Cuban sandwich / Columbia original “1905” salad) were lip smacking sensational.

Shante Torres

I went for lunch and I have to say I was pleasantly pleased with the food and the service. During the week they only allow you to dine outside. It was warm but I ordered a Frose' to cool off. It was delicious but because it was so hot outside it wouldn't freeze haha. I ordered anther mango flavored adult beverage. It was good but not as good as the Frose'. The bread and butter was so good. I ordered the 1905 salad with turkey substituted for ham. It is prepared tableside and it may have been the best salad I've ever tasted. For my entree I chose the Chicken and Rice Ybor. It was good but had nothing on the salad. The only reason I didn't choose 5 stars was because the Frose' wasn't right and the salad was better than the entree.

Brad Stager

Tasty, authentic Cuban sandwiches and other dishes served with great hospitality. The location within the Tampa Bay History Center is very convenient for visitors who want to sample local flavors and culture as well as for locals who are looking for a nice place to spend some time.

Kevin Wanamaker

This place is amazing, the food was excellent, great service, and a nice atmosphere with the outdoor seating. They do have a gluten free menu with some good options. The Mahi Mahi with rice and plantains were all ridiculously delicious. If you are looking for great GF food, or regular food, this place is great. Highly recommended.

Cookie Arroyo

Food here was delicious, service was good and really good prices and every September they donate 5% of ur check to any charity of your choice that is admirable.

Melanie Perry

This is our favorite place to eat!! The view, the service, the food, the drinks... all top notch!! On our visit this past weekend, we were taken care of by Anitra, who did a lovely job and took very good care of us. We also have to say so much about Adrian who not only welcomed us in an incredibly friendly manner, he literally walked up to the upstairs deck to get us when our table was ready! He then talked congenially with us on the walk down the stairs and to our table. Such a warm and wonderful welcome, it set a tone of happiness throughout the entire meal!

Michael Carr

Cuban sandwich is spectacular! Very large portion of meat - 1/2” thick or better, worth the $10! More meat than bread. Still a softness to the pressed bread. Will come back before leaving town.

Sonia Stevie

What a pleasant and delicious experience. I noticed the Colombia Cafe sign from passing by and immediately checked the menu online. I did call ahead of arriving to make sure reservations weren't required and I explained to him I'm walking and was a few blocks away and the man said none requred but could not say if there would be a wait time when I arrived, rude tone but I didn't let that sway me from going. When I saw the accolades given for 1905 salad, I was very curious to try it. After spending time at the aquarium and the near by beer garden we walked over to the Colombia Cafe for a light lunch and were warmly greeted. Kudos to our server Milena, she was fantastic. Very friendly and attentive. Enjoyed watching the salad being made tableside and oh my was it so good. Salad was served with warm and fresh bread and butter. The empanadas were really good, filled with seasoned ground beef and olives. She also told us about the gift shop and I bought some of the salad dressing and sangria mix to try at home.

P McIntyre

We stumbled across this restaurant and stopped in because it looked so inviting. My husband had the Cuban sandwich. I had the mahi-mahi sandwich. Both were huge and we could not eat them all. The mahi was so very tender... it was falling apart. Service was great. We were seated immediately a little before noon. It filled up shortly after. We highly recommend. Fabulous atmosphere... nice breeze blowing thru... could easily just sit at the bar all afternoon.

B S

Place is amazing. The half and half 1905 salad and cuban is the thing to get. Their mojitos are also spot on. Make sure you check out the little gift shop near the bathrooms. They have the dressing and seasonings there for pretty cheap.

Todd B.

Thoroughly impressed with this stop on my wife's recommendation. We have been to a few cuban restaurants in the past and enjoyed them, so thought we'd try one by our hotel in Tampa. My wife started with an iced coffee with kahlua and I went with the Cafe Con Leche (see pictures). Our waitress, Amanda (who was Awesome!), highly recommended the croqette de pollo tapas, which wasn't on the menu and it was SO good (see picture). A creamy, cheesy chicken inside and a crumbly yet crisp fried outer shell. Don't forget to add some hot salsa sauce...it was so good, we bought a bottle to bring home! For our main course, we both had the half and half combo with a 1/2 cuban sandwich and a half 1905 salad - oh, were they both delicious! Check out the pictures of the salad being made at our table and the finished product. Food: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Service: 5 If you found this review helpful, please click on 'Like'.

Brandee Duncan

Fantastic food right on the RiverWalk. We did the full tour and it did not disappoint. The crab cakes were absolutely delicious. The 1905 salad was so good, the dressing was perfect! The Cuban sandwich was perfectly prepared and the plantain chips were crispy. The bean soup was so good! We finished up with Key lime pie... Wow! Combine all this yumminess with the beautiful area and you have a perfect meal. Our server Sydney was so great! Excellent service and so friendly!

Rachel Iverson

Bartender was great, made good drinks and was very polite. The calamari was amazing. So fresh and well seasoned and the sauce that paired with it was delectable! Would recommend for a quick drink and app.

George Telegadis

While the menu was very creative and true to the cultural cuisine, I was disappointed in both the quality and presentation of the entrees. Bread and tomatoes salad was excellent, so generally had I stopped at drinks and tapas we might have had a better experience. Service was good. For the bar, note that if you are considering the pitcher vs by the glass, we found the pitcher (while a fun presentation) gets you actually less sangria. So if what you want is the drink, get them by the glass.

William Andrew Sheppard

Much of the same great food the Columbia Ybor is known for in a comfortable outdoor setting. Numerous fans and misters keep in cool on even the hottest days.

Ed Greco

Service was excellent at this small Cafe Outpost of the Columbia restaurant. Hot Cuban bread freshly buttered was beloved by everyone at the table. Those who know, order the pressed meatloaf Cuban sandwich. And if you don't know now you know. The Miranda crab cakes were a disappointment and should be skipped.

Samanta Di lena

My 5 stars are for the waiter Jacqueline, she was great, always checking on us and if we needed something and to the manager on Sunday May 23, he was great, so professional, a real manager that shows he care for his customers, we had an issue with the food, he came right away and took care of it, he really went above and beyond. Mahi mahi callo hueso was good, a little small but good, the rice that comes with it not so good, house salad and Spanish beans were good, cuban sandwich good and the recently bake bread the best of all, chicken empanada was really good too. We also waited an hour to be seated, initially were told 30 min, then the food took long to be served too.

Stephanie Cochran

Everything from the service, employees and food was soooooo good. Highly recommend the 1905 Salad (the dressing is to die for), the Cuban is also so yummy. We got both the Spanish bean and Black Bean soups. Both were very good but we are more black bean fans so that's what we liked better. Highly recommend!

Sira Korman

Went for a stroll along the river walk in DT Tampa in a Sunday afternoon... What a nice treat ... the weather was awesome... stopped at the Columbia for a delicious Cafe con Leche and Churros.... even though it was a take out the servers were nice and friendly and very accommodating, specially to my furry babies....

Regina Marshall

I had the mojo chicken with plantain chips and my sister had the original 1905 salad with turkey. Both were good, but sitting outside and enjoying our meals on a warm Florida day made it even better. The beauty of the area is a bonus!

Ron Leibfreid

Fantastic food. The rib appetizer is perfection. Cuban seasoning and really wonderful crispness. Also had the roast pork entree for lunch. Was wonderful. Large portions and execution that is unmatched. Was low carbing so didn’t try the bread but you could tell it was amazing. Would have loved to sample the Cuban sandwich with that homemade bread. Definitely a go to spot.

Bradley Marshall

Delicious food and great service!

Halley Cotton

Delicious dining. Good atmosphere. Don’t ask for condiments, they don’t have any. Their garlic plantain chips I could eat hand over fist. Excellent and fair priced desserts. Highly recommend the mango cake and the bread pudding. The bread pudding is actually a pudding unlike some others around town. Would certainly eat here again!

Rob Schwartz

Very good, interesting food. Will definitely be eating here again. Had empanadas, crab croquettes and the famous Cuban salad which is amazing, buttery garlic-y tangy cool and refreshing. And the white chocolate bread pudding was excellent. ALL of the staff were super friendly. Go there soon!

Theresa Hoban

Right in the Tampa Bay History Museum, with many historic Columbia Restaurant memorabilia. Of course the food is excellent. Bloody Mary, black bean soup and cod dinner was great. Our server Chase was gracious. Good Covid precautions.

Gene Hinders

Ohhhh Man!!! This place was fantastic! Get the salad with their dressing...I cant believe I'm posting about a salad but it was that good! The Picadillo was delicious as was the pork dish the Mrs had. The Sweet Plantains were dynamite! Its located in/near the Tampa Historical Center....check it out! Updating 2020: Went with the el Ropa Viejo this time and it was very flavorful...service was excellent and yes....we had the salad once again and even bought a couple of bottles to take home with us! Great table service at this place which is a very nice touch. PS...some of the best Plantains!!!

Drita D'Alessandro

Stopped by to try their famous Salad and Cuban sandwich. Really delicious, BUT, holy cow are their portion sizes HUGE. My husband and I wish we just got one dish to share, and an appetizer. Other than that, it was perfect. If I had to choose between the Salad or Cuban, I would go with the Sandwich. Good service, nice ambiance.

Anamaria Garcia

Always wonderful food and service. A must every time

Rafael Gonzalez

Kelly was our waitress great service. Had the mojo chicken sandwich, mahi mahi sandwich, salteado , and the chicken and rice. The entrees wear ok. Also ordered the pitcher of mojito. Mojito was ok not made correctly but it had a 5th of rum wivh was a nice touch. For desert had the guava cheesecake which was very good would definitely order that again or come back just for that. Also order the churros that was ok. Which were several small churros that came with dipping sauces. Not enough churro too much sauce. Plus the sugar on the churros really didn't stick.

Stephanie Antonazzo

This place was great and the food was authentic. We had trouble finding the place, as it wasn't apparent to us that it is located in the history museum building and isn't seen from the street but rather only from the river walk that rubs behind it.

jack petty

Love sitting outdoors on the Riverwalk and usually stop there on bike rides for a quick beer and/or key lime pie They have a reduced menu than the main restaurants but black beans abd rice and Cubans are always great

Seidy Sleiman

I love the location, the service and the food. The one star missing is that service was a bit too slow for me but I’d still go back! Simple “homemade feel” food. We had the Cuban sandwich and Cuban salad 😍👌🏼 perfection. They also give you a HUGE piece of Cuban bread and butter with your food. I love how they make the salads and drinks right there next to you before serving it, I guess this what makes the service slower. Overall, great environment and food 👌🏼

M West

Went to Columbia for dinner on a late Tuesday when it was 50° out. They have heaters in their seating area that covers almost every square foot and it was a very comfortable temperature. Our bartender/server was very friendly and helped me select a local beer that I ended up really liking. She gave us warm Cuban bread as a little appetizer for free which was really good and a nice start. I ordered the cubano as is and it was amazing. It was a very big serving size and was really juicy. It came with a boat load of chips too. I couldn't finish my whole meal. I would definitely come here again next time I'm in Tampa.

Gwen Beattie

After a long walk on the Tampa River Walk, I ran in out of the rain. After seeing the menu I knew this was not your ordinary lunch stop. I can say that I was very interested when I saw the discription of the bread pudding. But I needed food not just something sweet. So I ordered the bean soup. Wow it was amazing!! Then the bread pudding! I have had bread pudding all over the country but never anything like this!! All others will now be compared to there's. Also the service was great and the prices were very fair. Amazing

Michael Hogue

We were very well pleased with the quality of service and the food during our visit to this elegant-casual restaurant. Our waiter, an immigrant, was friendly with us, and as a fellow immigrant (I started life with a German Birth Certificate; he with a South American one) he was willing to take some time since it was not rush hour to talk with us, which I really enjoyed. The food was filling and delicious; the atmosphere (it was mid-morning) cool and nice, though the heat and humidity can get oppressive at times. However, there is usually a bit of a breeze, and the outside pavilion was wonderfully relaxing. Inside we got a treat - you MUST see the imported bar! - it is very impressive, and, if I recall, the original Italian one. The barkeep was very friendly even though we'd just walked in to take photos and do the tourist thing, and he take care to explain the history of the bar and family, and pointed out various things which we would not have known otherwise. A very nice mix of elegant old world style with modern, plus a casual touch caused by the clothes us tourists wear! :)

Thebunshakers `

Beautiful place and great environment. The food was delicious and hot. The waitress (Leticia) was nothing else but nice. It took awhile to recieve the food, but I believe it was because it was a packed night. Other than that... I'll definitely be making a return

Yazen Farha

Columbia Cafe has a very nice sitting area and the decor really makes it feel like a very modernized colombian cafe. The food was pretty good for the price. We started with Empanadas then got the Ropa Vieja and Mahi Cubana sandwich. The mahi sandwich was a little bland so we ordered extra sauce and it made it much better. Overall, great place and worth checking out!!

Le Lo

I give it 5 Stars because my server/bartender was the best. Dan is the bomb.com. I was upstairs in the 2nd floor. Great CONVOS and entertaining. I had the bocadillo de lechón asado with fried plantain chips. It's was good enough for me to enjoy but I don't think I would get it again. The plantain chips seemed a little stale. But the mojitos that Dan prepared were on point. Then I had a nice hot shot of espresso. I will go back as long as Dan is my server and bartender. I enjoyed my afternoon there.

Ron Luquis

Excellent service, authentic Cuban sandwiches. There is a dock to park your boat. Easy access for boaters, parking is paid with a drop box.

B Denomme

This cafe is a must visit when you’re in downtown Tampa. A cute, open air restaurant on the Riverwalk, near the cruise ship terminal and Pirate water taxi stop. The history and food is amazing. We had the famous Cuban sandwich and sangria and it did not disappoint. The service was amazing, and the staff was very attentive and knowledgeable. Can’t wait to go back.

Jenae Carlson

Service was great! Cuban sandwich was delicious. The mojito pitcher was made in front of us and was a great deal.

Joshua Arnold

Typical Latin dishes, the table side salad was delicious. Good spot for quick causal bite.

Lisa Michelle Houston

Best mojitos anywhere! The crabcakes with mustard aioli were to die for. Empanadas were great as was the chicken with rice traditional dish. To top it off get the sinfully delicious churros with caramel and chocolate dipping sauce. Great experience on the Riverwalk.

Hanine Abdel Rahman

The early dinner at Columbia Restaurant café was a bit disappointing and I knew later that the Columbia Restaurant serves better food than the Café. The sea-bass was literally tasteless, the tomato salad with onions was the only thing I ate, and I am not even a fan, as for the fried chicken and polenta was less than average as my brother-in-law judged.

J.L. Cooper

Great vegan options. Cuban bread is also made without lard! Server didn't seem too anxious to serve my group. She was kind of over it before it began.

Alanna Sullivan

I love the patio area of the Columbia Cafe! My favorites here: Frozé🍹 Chopped tomato salad 🍅 Chicken & Rice “Ybor” 🤤 Mama Guava Cheesecake 😋 & of course the Cuban Bread and butter😋🥖

Denise Martin

Food was excellent. Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. Entertainment was awesome. Overall would highly recommend this restaurant.

Crypto_Chef

Beyond expectations. Food was tasty and service was on point. We first been to the one in St Augustine and we enjoyed it so we decided to try the one in Tampa and it did not disappoint! We will definitely return!

Kitch MacDonald

Fantastic service in a comfortable setting. The food was great all around. Be sure to give the 1905 salad a try. Incredible.

polina lc

We had a very pleasant dining experience here! Great location too! The very warm churros is the best!

Dajah Eubanks

My boyfriend and I were in town for our vacation and figured we'd try the Columbia Cafe. I couldn't figure out if I liked it overall or not as there were as many positives as there were negatives. The first thing I noticed was that there was no parking. We drove around the area at least 5 times before we found a parking spot and even then we had to walk a few blocks just to find somewhere remotely close. So, that was super frustrating. I wish they had a parking lot for their customers. Honestly, the parking situation made me want to turn around and eat somewhere else. But, we'd driven 30+ minutes from St. Pete, so we figured we'd at least give it a try. When we finally did arrive at the restaurant itself, the vibe was EVERYTHING. We went around 8pm and when we sat down, all we could do was look around as the place was well lit and decorated, almost like a wedding venue. There was live music playing and the staff was super friendly. I wasn't, however, fond of the food. I love Cuban food, but this place didn't have the best tasting food (at least not what I ordered). I ordered the leg quarter with yellow rice. It didn't taste good at all. As a matter fact, it didn't have any taste. The rice tasted like it was prepackaged instead of freshly made and by the time it was delivered to my table, the food wasn't hot. It was lukewarm. But I didn't complain as it was our anniversary dinner and the atmosphere was so perfect, I was hesitant to complain as I didn't want to be "that customer". I forced myself to believe that maybe my meal wasn't as great because we came around closing time. But, looking back on it, that's still no excuse. Overall, this place gets a 5/10 from me. But, I'm reluctant to go back possibly in the middle of the day to see if the food tastes better.

Daniel Schwarz

Food bursting with flavor, nice waiters. Check out their house salad, it's very good! It is hard to find good salads in the US... This is just one such place you can go.

rick kolesar

Ate the famous cubin sandwich and split the salad. Salad was very good. I thought the cubin was a little dry. Some hot sauce cured the problem.

Gurleen

It was a cool experience to check out this restaurant because of its historic implications. Food was really good, but I wish there were more vegetarian options. We went for and flamingo show and would recommend it for a date night. @traveleen_gurl

MA James

Very slow service. We had a party of 6. When we sat down the table next to us warned us of the poor service but we had no idea it would be to the magnitude it was but the manager rectified the situation which is why I gave them 3 stars. We never got to order drinks/water, silverware, bread then when we ordered our food I don't know if the order was ever put it.

Shirley Steele

Jessica was outstanding! She was friendly and helpful in helping us to choose a drink. She gave us some history of the restaurant and opened up about how much she enjoyed working for the company. She was attentive to our needs as well as other customers coming into the bar area. We had a great time and she was a big part of making it that way!

Larry May

You will be definitely missing something if you don't stop in and visit this place. Not only is the food the very best Tampa has to offer, but the staff are just down right POLITE AND AMAZING!!! Thank you Liz for making Lunch a memorable experience while I was in Tampa.

Ruth Young

Beautiful views from this cafe. Disappointed menu not very extensive. Lots of my favorites not on the Cafe menu. This restaurant located at a museum on the Tampa Bay walk area near port. Very busy on weekend. It is close to convention Center so there was a convention taking place hence I think the huge crowd. Waitress a bit harried but was ok. Good was better than average but still not like original Columbia. You need to check inside museum to see the stunning bar. It was absolutely lovely sitting outside on such a lovely day. We had taken ferry from ST. Pete. Had a grand day. Enjoyed the free trolley.

Mary Rose Hidalgo

Great location and interesting setup for the restaurant. Good food! Had their spectacular salad, yummy empanadas & delicious Picadillo.

Jes Will

I had the 1905 salad and the original cuban sandwich. The salad was very delicious. I would return just for it. The sandwich was just ok, nothing spectacular or different from any other Cuban I've had. The chips that accompanied the sandwich were absolutely horrible to me.

Daniil Kulayev

Very good and friendly place. What I liked the most is that for almost each sanwich here on the menu they have a little story of how it was made and why they serve this sandwich here. If you want amazing food experience and comfortable ambience this is the place in Tampa

Alexei Webb

A wonderful place that we spent our last day in the USA having lunch. The food was great and the coffee was smooth. The waiter behind the bar was fun and freindly and he was patient with us asking loads of questions. Really lovely and a lovely location outside. Inside is an option but the veranda was just really nice

Lloyd N. Moore (Noah)

I fell in love with cuban sandwiches at Panera. But, getting a cuban at an authentic restaurant is an other world experience. This is such a cuban experience. Our waitress Rachel was also great, prompt and attentive service.

Jimmy Lin

The smaller version of their regular restaurant. While the menu is smaller, the food is still delicious! Get the churros and flan at the end. You won't regret it!

Aminul Islam Khan

Great quality of food. If you go to visit Tampa bay history center then you shouldn't worry about food because Columbia cafe is right there. Moreover lot of other places such as Victory ship, Florida aquarium are near by. In addition, you can take the river walkway to enjoy an idle evening.

Kathryn Outman

Great, friendly customer service from Chela. She treated my 13 year old grandson special for his birthday and before we were seated Lucas checked on us too😁🌴☀️

Florida Reviewer

We heard a lot about what I think is there original locations and that it was an experience. No one told us that there other locations wouldn’t have the same experience effect. I’m Cuban personally, the food was alright but it’s definitely an Americanized Cuban spot.

田伟

It's the beach of the hundred years of Columbia at riverwalk. They know cooking very well. The famous chicken is so juicy and flavorful. Definitely recommend it.

Jason Freeman

Dinner tonight was delicious and service was very...very good. If you do plan to eat with a big group, tonight we had eight, get there early and plan at least an 1hr wait. Very nice seating and they do have an open bar for singles or couples if you just want drinks or eat. Reservations can be made or just walk-ups.

Sangita Karki

I loved their chicken and rice. I forgot the dish name lol. Beautiful environment and place. Yes, I recommend! Must visit this resturant when you are in Tampa.

Tyler Deleon

A little pricey, but boy is this some good food! We tried the sangria as well, it was very refreshing but don't think it's worth the $24 and the hype. Not to say we didn't drink it all! Overall super nice and super yummy

Trey Lowe

Good food/portions. Nice service. Worth a try if you're in the area (pic is Cuban sandwich, platain chips and fried platains top left). 2 Cuban coffees, 2 cubans, 1 plantain app $45 + tip so not bad price

Rachel Trav!s

This is the new menu, as of May 2020 for The Columbia Cafe, next to Amelie Arena and Tampa History Museum. And they do offer amazing specials, that your server will explain to you.

Nobody Special

We enjoyed our time here. We sat outside, when the sun was up it was warm but when the sun went down it cooled a bit too much but the manager lowered the curtain and that stopped the wind. The service and food were very good. It was a bit noisy with the crowds but tolerable. The place was busy for a Monday. A meal for 2 w/drinks was $88.49 On our 2nd visit, we sat inside upstairs, is was quite and the service was excellent. Great food, great drinks, and great service. Meal for 2 w/drinks $79.02.

giuseppi caligiuri

This is our third location that we have dined at during our vacation in Tampa and surrounding areas. This one is located at the Riverwalk in downtown Tampa and the view is great. The seating is all covered by a roof but all tables are outside. We like eating outdoors so not an issue for us. Their signature 1905 Salad is very good. The flatbread we had was tasty but on the smaller side. The calamari is good: lightly breaded, but really, really, really salty. We had the same experience at the Bradentan Beach location. We were so distracted taking pictures that we forgot to mention this to our waitress. Service is professional and friendly. We would go back for sure but would stay away from the calamari.

Nina M

Food is amazing ! Had a great experience. Manager and rest of staff were super friendly.

Todd Hawkins

What can I say, they said the salad was famous and I certainly concur! What a fabulous treat. The Cuban sandwich 🥪 was ok but the salad

Ana Maria Rodriguez

OMG. This place is the bomb. The food was great, and the service from Cheche, and Julia was the best!! We chose several appetizers, and sandwhiches. The shrimp scampi, the lobster flatbread, crab croquettes, were the best!!

Janaka Bandara

Great place right next to Tampa downtown river walk. Food is awesome. Don’t forget to try the 1905 salad. I had it without any meat and it is delicious!!

Oscar Arias

We had a great time at the bar, Tony, our bartender, and all the staff for that matter, were very warm and inviting. We had a couple of freshly made piña coladas and shared a garbanzo soup, of course it came with some fresh bread as well, delicious! We were there just for a quick snack but had a great time.

Alex Soulé

Excellent food, fast service, friendly staff, great drinks and an unmatched atmosphere! The Columbia is truly a hallmark of Tampa. Expanding to new locations has definitely not reduced the quality I expect from this fine Cafe.

JAM

Awesome cuban Cafe, great soup and sandwiches. Nice view of the water way, great spot to chill, drink, eat and relax.

Todd Jimison

Great restaurant inside the museum. Wonderful staff and food.

Linda Gomez

This restaurant is in a wonderful location and we're very glad that we found it!! Their food and beverages are fresh and deliciously prepared. From the appetizers to their delicious Spanish cuisine!! We had the best waiter his name is Alejandro!! He makes the best Mojitos with real spearmint!! They're the best in Tampa!!❤ We will definitely be back! Very satisfied customers!!

Brad H

Good but not great. Mahi mahi Cubana was quite dry but ok with some extra butter. Ajillo was tasty but very small - bread for ajillo was extra. Service was fine.

Liz Martinez

Food and service is always great Here. When downtown Tpa..try to always stop in for the Cava Sangria and a bite.

Don Rugraff

Great service (Gregory), ambiance awesome- indoor outdoor eating, bar, great menu selection, great tasting food, great value and River Taxi drop off in front of restaurant:)

Albert

Good location, good service. Food was ok, a bit too pricey for what they serve. I ordered the chicken and rice dish, not really worth the $18 I paid, the rice didn't really have flavor and the chicken was just ok. I was expecting more fire that price, maybe include a salad or soup.

Jason Laser

Awesome food! The service was great! A perfect stop along the river walk for a meal.

Thomas Clough

Great tasty food and awesome fresh bread!!! Helpful and kind staff.

Bobbe Wright

The chicken and rice was not good and you could tell that the Keylime pie was from some grocery store. Drinks were good but service was poor, so if you do go there, the views are great, just have drinks.

Andrew Kalish

Columbia cafe is a great place to hang out and eat on the riverwalk in Tampa. Highly suggest the Cuban and 1905 salad with sangria (you can also take it to go and walk on the riverwalk!!). Make sure to leave room for the white chocolate bread pudding... It's to die for!! Even delicious for takeout!!

Chelsea A Jaremko

Had dinner here this evening with family. Alison was our server and she was absolutely amazing. Alison recommended great dishes we all loved and enjoyed. Beautiful atmosphere, food was flavorful and service was stellar.

Joshua Spurgeon

Nice outdoor patio dining experience right next to the river. Good grilled Mahi Mahi with Yellow Rice. Friendly staff.

Zbigniew Tyrlik

Location, service, chef. All three things of a top quality, and decorated with a smile. For a lunch with a view it is great location. The salads prepared at the table were fresh (of course), and provided a nice theme.

Ana Polacek

Casual nice (dog friendly) outdoor dining. Fantastic food with an old school delish taste. Best mojito I've ever had!

Josh Miller

Got the pulled pork on cuban bread w/ the bean soup and it was delicious, definitely the best Cuban food I've ever had.

Sarah Majstorovic

Great food, great service, beautiful story! A must eat at when in Tampa!!!

Eric Greve

A terrific place for lunch or dinner in downtown Tampa. As an alternative to the original Columbia restaurant in Ybor City, the smaller menu still has some great options. My wife and I split an order of City Devil Crab Croquettes and Lechon Asado. The service staff was excellent and brought us an extra hot plat, without us even asking, for us to share the dishes. The croquettes were stuffed full of crab meat. They weren't for us, but just because we prefer Alaskan king crab over blue crab. The Lechon Asado came with delicious Cuban bread and butter. The pork was a little bit too salty, but overall the whole dish was quickly devoured by both of us because it was so good.

Erik Myers

Absolutely delicious and served in a completely professional and yet warm friendly next door manner. Price, dirt cheap and quick. Folks try this place, you won't be sorry.

Joe Quinlan

We liked the ambiance and bean cakes on the tapas menu were good. The cuban bread was good. Ebony our server was attentive and friendly. We have never had traditional cuban food before so we were hesitant to complain that the calamari , the eggplant and the Cuban sandwich were very salty thinking maybe that cuban food is supposed to be salty. We should have said something and I wish we had as underneath all that salt we could tell there was some delicious food. My advice if you go would be mention when ordering if you are not used to lots of salt.

Hanno R

For it's reputation and location it is still quite affordable and the food always taste great. Staff is always friendly. Their meatloaf sandwich is just the best.

Bob Hallman

Outside dining with a breeze & sangria, it doesn’t get any better than this! Service was attentive & prompt. I found the food was tasty & the setting was perfect for a casual evening out. The 1905 salad & Cuban sandwich should be on the “Things to do list” for Tampa.

Michael Murphy

Good food and great atmosphere for a fun evening with friends. A bit expensive (although that seems to be true of most things in the area), but the portions were good.

Joseph Ratasky

This is one of our go to places before a Lightning game. You know it will be packed and hard to get a seat, but that’s to be expected. Not the full menu as the original restaurant but all your favorites! Cubans! Spanish bean soup! 1905 salad! Deviled crab! Hand made Mojitos!!! Never had a bad experience. If the Bolts are playing avoid between 5:00 and 7:00. Otherwise you’ll get a seat pretty easily. Great taste of Tampa!!

Emanuel Psaltakis

Diverse menu, I enjoyed their signature salad and a couple frozen margaritas! It was quite busy and server Katherine was giving us the right amount of attention and kept our party of 12 well fed and hydrated!

TampaRestaurantGuide DotCom

Sat at the bar and had a Cuban sandwich and sangria. To me their Cuban is the quintessential Cuban. Consistently done and quality ingredients. Everyone has their favorite spot and mine has a little different bread and more melted cheese but this place is a Tampa staple.

Amnon Nachshon

Great location, fast service and decent food. The staff seemed deflated - which is a red flag.

dennis hanna

Great food and service. Really good Cuban sandwich. Service was great.

Tim Stueve

Great outdoor covered dining. Excellent food and friendly, knowledgeable staff. The Mahi Mahi was excellent.

Margaret

The Columbia Salad is really good & and the best Cuban Bread you can get anywhere

Wrendly Mesidor

Upon my visit to Tampa, For My Conference. I was looking for a place to go and I’ve discovered this place. The food is delicious, a little expensive but nonetheless delicious. I had the Ropa Vieja.

Henry J

Not much on the vegan options. The 1 or 2 choices are overpriced and blan. The bread is 5⭐s!

Michael Brooks

First time eating at this particular location, food and drinks were on point!

Robert Robinson

Stopped here for lunch. I had a Cuban sandwich my wife had soup and salad.all where prepared perfectly. The plantains and my sandwich where exactly like I remember them. My wife soup and salad was fresh and tasty. Couldn't ask for better

Danielle Garrigan

Clean, friendly, casual and relaxed atmosphere. Great outdoor seating area with excellent service. The Chef also personally came out to take my order to ensure my food was allergy safe. Eating out can be very stressful for me so I appreciated this a great deal. The best part is my food was so good I didn't feel like I was having something lesser than the company I was with.

Mike Tuna

Really good food and drinks, live music was perfect, not too loud, waitress had a bit of an attitude at first, but recovered nicely. I would have given 5 stars if it wasn't for the early attitude

Marissa

Perfect location for dining outdoors and taking in the surrounding scenery. We were seated right away and the service was great. Loved the warm, fresh bread they serve before your meal. We each had a Cuban sandwich and shared a side of the plantains and crab croquette. The sandwiches were great and I enjoyed the side of garlic salt plantain chips. Plantains were good, crab croquette was okay. The spices were a little overwhelming, but they are served with a side of hot sauce which does seem to compliment the flavor. The decor of this restaurant is so pretty, and there is even a little gift shop where we ended up purchasing a gorgeous pitcher and their famous sangria mix. Would definitely recommend this spot for a good lunch if you're in the area!

Susan Still

Sangria, Cuban sandwiches and the famous “1909 salad”. Everything was exceptional. The view and outdoor seating is fantastic. The service is delightful with many things prepared fresh, tableside.

OND 13

A great place to grab a bite to eat or a drink. Take a stroll on the Riverwalk and stop in the food and service is always top notch. The Cuban sandwich is great but you just can't beat the 1905 salad! Overall just a wonderful place! All the servers are great but Yos is the best server they have!

Darnell Kebo

Cuban sandwich for lunch. It was fairly empty at the time I was visiting. Service was prompt and friendly.

Rawan Khoury

Must order the 1905 salad and the Gambas al ajillo. Great food, sangria, and nice vibe.

Tracy Thommen

Everything is amazing. Food, service, the atmosphere. We are here on trip si my first time here.

Richard M.

I ordered the Cuban sandwich with a cup of spanish bean soup. The sandwich was good, and the soup was very good as well. I ordered the white chocolate bread pudding, and was surprised, very good. The service was a little slow considering I went during the slower part of the day. Overall nice location and good food.

Ben Barrionuevo

Empanadas picadillo, lobster flat, Cuban sandwich, calamari, shrimp ajillo, spain amber beer and white sangria...all delicious and great service.

Keisha Sparks

Columbia was amazing I got the Crab Cakes and can't wait to go back to try the next thing! Probably my favorite place we ate among our 5 day trip!

Richard Leone

How appropriate to have the Columbia Cafe here at the history center as the actual restaurant in Ybor City is historic to Tampa itself. Taste and enjoy the food in this great location.

Matt Houghtaling

Good food and service. Well kept facility. The Cuban sandwich was excellent.

Lori Shankman

Absolutely love this place! Atmosphere, food and drinks were perfect. The bread and salad is always amazing. The entertainment was very good as well. The manager & the staff we encountered were so nice & smiling so that always makes you feel good too. My young daughter and her girlfriend loved playing in the sand area next to the outdoor seating, it gave me & my friend time to talk & catch up while they played & we could keep our eyes on them! This place with not disappoint, there is something for everyone! This place makes you want to go back!

Margaret Brennan

I have previously eaten at the location in St. Augustine and love it. This location was just as fabulous. The food is just amazing and the drinks ( I had a mojito) was incredible. The wait was not too bad- it is very busy. The atmosphere is lively and everything was very clean. The music was even well done. It was entertaining without being crazy loud. I love music at places but most have the band so loud you can't talk to each other. This was not the situation at Columbia Cafe. I recommend the empanadas for an appetizer and the Chicken and Yellow Rice “Ybor”. OMG! It was soo good!! The location next to the water and the décor just adds to a wonderful experience!

Aida Ramic

Excellent service, excellent food, beautiful location

Chris Pfaff

Great food awesome menu, and pitchers of mimosas. How can you go wrong... The Cuban was great, and the plantain chips were amazing

Jessica Hammel

One of my hubby and my's favorites! Right in downtown close to Riverwalk. We walked over after spending the day at the Aquarium. The 1905 is my all-time favorite!

Kali DeWitt

Had such a great experience at the original location we decided to come here for lunch! The table side salad is to die for and perfect with a half Cuban for lunch. Be prepared for a little wait as we waited quite a while during our meal.

Greg

Once again the Columbia exceeds my expectations. This was my first time at this location. For those interested the difference between this location and their more traditional locations is the Cafe version does not offer reservations and the menu doesn't quite offer everything the traditional locations offer, however there is plenty to choose from. Seating is limited because it is smaller combined with they are currently renovating the outdoor seating section so all dining is currently indoors at the time of this writing. I would currently recommend avoiding rush times and if you have a large group (my wife and I were seated immediately). So why go here and not a traditional Columbia you may be asking? Because this location offers more local things like the Riverwalk, the Tampa museum, the option to arrive by boat or by water taxi, etc. It was a more than fair trade off to me with my experience here. Milena our server was outstanding and I want to be sure to specifically mention her, she made us feel so welcome immediately and made the most amazing pitcher of fresh mojito table side I have ever had. My wife and I both got the 1905 salad along with their signature chicken and rice. Both were as always exceptionally good as only the Columbia can deliver. It was a lot of food so be prepared (honestly, it was too much food but I really wanted to try that amazing salad, no regrets). It was a special treat to take a stroll along the Riverwalk after such a delicious dining experience and watch the evening sunset. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone and everyone.

Lorraine Haggard

Nice atmosphere, great scenery. Stopped in for an appetizer and had a sangria. Both were excellent.

Wez So_N_So

Great food and we had great service too.

Tim Lynn

This place is a scaled down version of the Columbia restaurants in the Tampa Bay area right on the Riverwalk. They carried all of the favorites from the original so you won't be disappointed. Date I say I liked it as much as the Ybor location.

Claudia GK

I love this location. The menu is more limited than the restaurant location but still pretty good. Nice place for a big group and kids. Friendly staff. We had a long wait due to limited number of tables to keep safe distance. Nice!

Tanya Blackburn

Delicious food, great atmosphere

TONG HU

Very delicious food here! Offers great sandwiches (Cuban sandwich is the best) and fantastic tapas (devil crab is full of crab meat). Overall, great experience.

Richard Finch

Fantastic place to enjoy the classic dishes of the Columbian.

Justin Acker

Great margaritas, and the crab cakes are amazing

Gary Flaherty

Pitcher of mojitos and a cuban sandwhich . Cant go wrong. You gotta try the guava cheesecake. I come to florida once a year and always make a trip to the Columbia. You shouldn't miss it !

Ivan

Excellent service along with amazing food and drinks. Had an excellent time with James as our bartender for today. James along with the manager who helped to redeem our experience with Columbia restaurant all together. Had a terrible first impression at Columbia in Ybor and received above and beyond service at Columbia Cafe. Thank You!!!

Alex

Very good place to catch something before the game, had some drinks and calamari got sandwiches as complimentary dish from the bar staff, Much appreciated and Highly recommended place Bartenders were great!!

Robert Webber

Always love eating at a Columbia restaurant. This one was no exception. Food was fresh and well prepared, service was great. Save room for the custard flan... delicious!

Jonathan Diehl

Would have been five stars, had to wait 20 minutes to be seated, and another 25 minutes to speak with a waitress. My wife had to flag down the waitress Vicky, she was very nice and took care of our table right away. Later without me having to say anything about our delay in being served, managment stopped by to apologize for the delay. This simple act meant a lot. The food was amazing, the entire family enjoyed their meals. Cuban sandwich was excellent!

Luke Chang

Service was good. Food was good. Sangria was good 😁 …

Evaldas Gudukas (Waldo)

Nice place, tasty food, columbian atmosphere. Hope to come back

Clarence Love

After spending time at the Tampa Bay History Cent Museum, we became hungry. What better than to have a Historic local restaurant onsite. The bar inside is stunning! The patio seating is very nice. The "1905" Salad and Cuban was delicious! Fresh ingredients. Our server was Leticia P. She was a joy and very informative. Even with her mask on, you could see her smiling in pleasure to see us enjoying this iconic sandwich.

Whitney Lohr - Florida Living Group - Realtor

Located next to the Tampa Bay History Museum next to the Riverwalk its a great place for lunch. We split a Cuban sandwich and I had the 1905 salad which I love! My husband had soup. Weather was perfect and if you sit outside you can people watch as people are on the Riverwalk.

Michelle Musselwhite

Great food, great service, great atmosphere! If you are visiting Tamps, check this place out. The soup and salad are amazing!

Randy Schultz

Salad delivery same time as entrée asked for Salad first. Qas charged for a full Caesar salad was only supposed to be a 1/2 salad after confronting server about it Cobbed attitude did remove it and gave us the $7 salad but attitude massively changed

Daja Springer

Boyfriend took me here for 2 year anniversary and I have never been. We got the empanadas and Cuban sandwiches and they were filling and delicious. Thats not even what I’m writing this review for. Jackie was our waitress and she was phenomenal. That girl is a firecracker. She was attentive in the most unbothering way. She was the best part of our meal!! Trevor the manger stopped by and was very sweet. Can’t wait to go back.

Lance Liberti

Beautiful setting elevated next to the Hillsborough river with water views and a breeze. Service was excellent, as was the fresh baked hot Cuban bread. 1905 salad was delicious as always and plenty of garlic in everything to scare away the vampires! Highly recommend for a authentic dinning experience in a casual setting.

Troy Tinkham

Absolutely fabulous, fantastic, delicious meal. I can't wait to go back! LUCAS is an amazing and thorough waiter!

Tara Hipolito

Remember long ago with my parents visiting, the pitcher's hold the sangria full of memories. Our waitress was the best. We waited a bit but enjoyed a cocktail b4 dinner service was right on. The bus boys were so professional. My meal was delicious.

Carrie Hart

This is definitely not up to the standards of the original Columbia Restaurant. This is an all outside seating cafe so in July in Florida, it was hot and humid. That being said, the views of the river were nice. Our server was very nice, but not very attentive. There was only one other table with guests and it took her a long time to bring our drinks, bread and food so maybe she was just having an off day. The menu is just a snapshot of the menu, but the food was okay. Again, not up to the standards of the original restaurant, but good enough. Lastly, the salt shakers on the table were clogged and when I opened the top to try to pour out some salt, I noticed there was a lot of rust and grime along the rim. That is just gross and definitely not acceptable for any Columbia restaurant.

Celeste Harlow

Delicious food, gluten free menu (with a great selection), tasty drinks, and awesome outdoor seating.

M N

I love the ambiance of the restaurant and the decor is authentic. The staff is pleasant and professional. Why 4 stars? The service was slow. There were many servers on the floor but it took what I perceive as a long time (5-8) minutes to be greeted and for my drink order. Then after my food arrived, no one came by to check on me. I was almost finished with the black bean patties- which are delicious - for my server to ask me if I needed anything. I needed more dipping sauce and she promptly brought it back to my table I'm referring to the location in the Tampa Bay History Center.

Darren Kirby

We enjoy all of their food! The soups, the 1905 salad, chicken and rice dishes, and the white chocolate bread pudding dessert! Don't forget a glass of sangria!

Micah Gaudio

Not sure I can tell you anything about this place that you don't already know. Absolutely the best Cuban authentic restaurant in Tampa.

ryan nicosia

One of our go to spots on the boat when you can get in. Cuban sandwich and 1905 salad were good. My wife noted that her salad was a little more watery than usual. Drinks were decent but bartender seemed a little light on the pour. Good spot if you are in the area.

Connie Thomas

Never disappointed at the infamous Columbia! Food and service is always excellent 👍. I will go again as soon as I get a chance. A must stop for tourists.

Michelle Grove

Beautiful ambiance and delicious authentic Cuban cuisine! William went above and beyond with his stellar service. Highly recommended!

Xuechen Zhu

Food is tasty. Service is nice. We checked in and wait for seats but they will text you when seats are available. Price is flat. Good restaurant to eat.

JasonSpade

Loved this place. The view was perfect! We were having a baby shower for a friend and they worked with us and the staff even put on some leis to match. The staff was perfect and the shrimp I had were amazing! 10/10 would recommend. The rice wasn't the great, but the shrimp and the service, amazing! My family and friends had an amazing time❤

Lina Fig

Cute spot. Good food. This is a great spot to end your Riverwalk. If there's anything missing from the Columbia restaurant's menu you don't miss it. The salad is huge and yummy; we split it between 4 people no problem. They keep the outside seating comfortable so you're not too hot or cold. All in all worth the stop.

Zaid Kanaan

The place has an outdoor seating area along the harbor, making it a terrific location. We went there for dinner on a Friday night. There was a live band playing Cuban music. The entrance is a little confusing for those going there for the first time, they should add a sign saying please use the main entrance at the side or something because we apparently entered from the back and had to look for the hostess. Our waitress provided us with outstanding service. My parents are picky eaters and she made sure they were happy with their orders.

Francisco Ramirez

Food is awesome! Try the Ybor chicken and yellow rice! Oscar was the best!

Dale Akins

Wonderful authentic Spanish food with beautiful view of the river. We can dock the boat & eat. The best bean soup I have ever had. The 1905 salad is awesome. Meatloaf & Cuban sandwiches delicious. I am not a yellow rice fan but they will substitute. We always eat on the open patio & we really enjoy the atmosphere & people. There is live music but I am not sure exactly when. Docking the boat is easy which is good because the wonderful restaurant is in the middle of major construction. The parking lot is approximately a block away. When there is a hockey game going on there is no parking available & only residents walking distance can get to the restaurant. The restaurant is worth the effort to get to. Please support this Tampa treasure & dine with them & enjoy the wonderful dining experience. Please don’t let the stampede of construction & progress destroy more of Tampa’s rich history.

Nina Bailey

What a GREAT PLACE! We have been many times. Last night was especially great due to the even better service we got from reservation to finish. Every person at the front desk was great, and we had specifically asked for a table near the show, and we were seated in a great spot. Jose, our waiter, was excellent - we could see he was super busy, and never made us feel that - really friendly and spot on. What a great server. On the way out, Kevin, the lead performer was near the door and we had a lovely exchange. Highly recommend!

Ken R

Cuban sandwich was delicious. So was the black bean soup!

Krisia Nguyen

Great food and service. There is no parking.

Kirsten Neus

The food and service were great! We got the small size of the famous 1905 salad and it was more than enough as a side salad. Also got the Cuban sandwich, black bean patties and fried cauliflower. And the churros! Everything was delicious. The restaurant is a bit pricey but there’s lots of smaller items so you don’t have to spend much to try a few things.

shannon raisor

This is, by far, my favorite location of the Columbia. I usually sit outside by the water and watch the boats go by in the channel. It never feels too hot or cool as they have fans and heating units depending on the weather. I finally sat inside with a large party last week and was pleasantly surprised at the beautiful panoramic view of the channels and Harbour Island. The service here is top-notch. I've never had a single unpleasant visit. The food is excellent. My favorite dish is the 1905 salad but I've tried close to everything on the menu and haven't tasted a single bad dish. Take a stroll down the riverwalk after you've indulged and make your dinner truly perfect.

Tracie Carley

It was a beautiful day so we chose outdoor seating. Both my husband and I wanted a cafe con leche - nothing else. The waitress still treated us very well, even though she knew it wouldn't be a large ticket. The coffee was served with the steamed milk and sugar on the side. Delightful!

Lauren L

The food was decent. The rosé sangria was the star of the show. Would give 4 stars, but when we ordered the entrees the waitress asked if we wanted a salad so we said yes assuming it came with the entree. We get the small salads with iceberg lettuce, some olives, a few chunks of tomato, ranch dressing, and they both have ham and cheese which neither of us could eat so we didn’t. Then the bill comes and we were charged $14 for the salads we thought were free and didn’t even touch. The waitress never mentioned the price of the salads or offered to take them back- poor communication and now we are not going back. Really wanted to support a local business during these times, but our meal was not worth $90.

Laura

Great food and atmosphere. Beautiful place!

Peter Catella

Nothing to rave about. Seasonings were lacking and menu options limited. Good stop if you're tired and need to take a break while waiting for boat or streetcar.

Monique Burrow

Great fresh bread with entrees(fried plantains are a must). Friendly service with a lovely atmosphere. Baby/stroller friendly 👏🏼

Vishnu

Cuban sandwich was delicious! The bread was perfect and the restaurant itself has a very nice atmosphere.

Clark Hickman

Great views of Garrison channel and the park. This location has a limited menu but the 1905 salad is available and highly recommended. The other options here are all good as well. There is also inside seating upstairs with an inside bar. The views are also good from upstairs. There is patio seating upstarts as well however it doesn't always have table service.

Ken Hodge

Famous Cubin sandwich lived up to it's reputation. Pleasant surprise was table side salad. Excellent?

April Hammond

The food was good but not phenomenal. My salad was overdressed, and the lettuce got a little soggy. My son enjoyed his black beans and my daughter said her salmon was good. Three of us got Cuban sandwiches. They were good, not great. We did not like the plantain chips. The biggest issue with this restaurant was the wait for the food, the wait to get drinks refilled, and the wait to get our check.

Richard Sessums

This is a great place. I have been many times and have enjoyed it each one. I had a shrimp and crab casserole which was excellent. I would highly recommend it. I also had the 1905 salad which is one of their Specialties and something that I would highly recommend. The Columbia Cafe is somewhere that I will continue to go and a place that I would recommend.

Christina Stokes

Came here for a wedding dinner rehearsal and was very impressed. One of our servers was Jaqueline and i can't remember our other server's name...but they were both amazing. Very friendly and made sure everyone was happy. Food was really good. Price is also fair. Would definitely recommend.

Jennifer Van Antwerp

Simple sandwiches and salads. Service a bit slow but friendly. Food tasty but ethnicity of dishes tends towards heavy on the meat. Their signature 1905 Salad a good choice and not as heavy on meat as description made me think. Cuban sandwich was ok ; pulled pork sandwich was fantastic. Very large, covered outdoor seating area.

Carolyn Hartman

This place is amazing and always one of our top choices on the weekends. Service is wonderful and food is delicious! And to can't beat the atmosphere. We usually take a walk along the Tampa Riverwalk before or after too - our daughter enjoys this too 😁 …

Keith Alexander Jr.

Surprisingly I didn't have that great of a server. It seemed like other tables were a lot more important. It was my wife and I. I'm pretty understandable and was patient and wasn't rude. More than one thing was forgotten or neglected. I didn't bring it up to her because I didn't want to be rude. I'm really leaving a 4 star review because the food is great and I like the place but maybe it wasn't that server's day.

Ana Gonzalez

Our family had a great time at the Columbia Cafe. The food was great and the service was even greater. Our waitress, Jacqueline, offered the best service we’ve had in a while...and we love going out to eat. She helped us by recommending the Sorrento Mahi Mahi which was delish 😋😋 keep up the good work 😉 and thank you. 😃😁👌👌 …

Sasha Thatcher

This is a great restaurant. It is located right on the River Walk with an option of sitting outside to enjoy the views. The staff was friendly and the prices were good. I had the combo, half of the Cuban sandwich and half of the salad. The restaurant is attached to the Tampa History Museum so you can visit the museum after a nice lunch or dinner. I recommend this restaurant.

Larry C

Great food. Delicious sangria. The salad is amazing. It was a great place to stop during our boat ride. If you're visiting during the summer, try to get a seat inside because it is HOT sitting outside. The roof that covers the outdoor seating area sucks up the sunlight and the heat just radiates down. If management is reading this, turn the fans on high at least!

Brett Pinson

This place is as good, if not better than the original. It is limited menu but all the favorites

Issac Ortiz

My S.O. and I frequently visited this location anytime we were attending lightning games for a few years, and always had a great time. Except one time we had a horrible experience having to do with a dismissive waiter and topped off by a lack of care from the manager at that time. Because of this, we avoided going here for a few months but decided to give it another try for our anniversary. I called ahead (because that was the only instruction the previous manager gave to me) and spoke with Elizabeth and explained the situation to her. She set up a reservation and passed on all of the details to the gentleman who would be managing that evening, Didi (unsure of the spelling). The waiter, despite covering the bar and all the other tables upstairs, was friendly, attentive, and humorous, and the manager frequently checked up on us to ensure everything was up to par. There was a decent wait for our food, but the place was insanely busy that night so that is understandable. The food, as always, was delicious and the atmosphere was pleasant. The icing on the cake of this night was the fact that Didi (the manager) chose to comp our meal for the night. While it was a small bill (~$23), that gesture from the restaurant sealed the fact that we will again be dining at Columbia Cafe anytime we are in that part of Tampa. One customer about 10-15 times a year isn't much in the grand scheme of things, so they could have just chosen to brush off the night without a second thought, but they didn't. And while we don't contribute much to their bottom line, when the culture is to treat every customer the way we were treated that (and every other) night, that's what makes a successful and profitable business! I would recommend this restaurant to anyone! And if you're looking for suggestions, the 1905 salad is amazing, as well as the Cuban sandwich which, while simple, hits the mark and the plantain chips that come with it are fantastic as well.

Kensley Hilaire

The mojito pitchers are great! It is majority outside seating and super limited inside if they even open inside. Cuban bread taste great.

Troy Whigham

I'm gradually working my way through their menu, and so far every meal is excellent. Plus, you can't top the ambiance of the Tampa Bay History Center and the view along the water. The Cuban sandwich is a must-have, so if you only eat one thing there, eat that.

Locke Birbeck

Best black bean cuban rice soup ever. Excellent location. Delightful servers. Nice bar. Well appointed tables, handicap accessible. The atmosphere is delightful inside or outside. Cuban sandwich very good as well it’s a must if you’re looking for lunch on the river walk. delightful spot on the riverwalk. menu has lots of nice offerings. sat outside and had a wonderful cup of soup and a tasty salad. topped off with a great slice of key lime pie. just a wonderful dining experience

Ebony King

Everything was delicious! Despite the weather, great atmosphere and wonderful service

Valerie Durgin

Before going to the museum, we had lunch there, and never had Cuban salad and sandwich before. I have fallen in love with the food and the people were great also. Looking forward to going to the Sarasota restaurant at some point. Awesome is all I can say

Amanda Lovgren

The food here was fabulous and the portions were big. I ordered the half and half combo and so did my husband. I chose the 1905 salad and Spanish bean soup. My husband got the Cuban sandwich and the black bean soup. The service was great as well. Unfortunately, I don't live in FL, so I won't be coming back to this restaurant anytime soon. Lucky for me they have recipes for their food posted on their website.

Sabina Okanovic

Pretty authentic Columbian food! Was my first time trying it while on vacation in st. Pete. It was recommended by the friend we were staying with and we came for the breakfast. Serving sizes are pretty generous especially for the price! They also have fresh pastries and bakery items that you can order. Didn't have any as breakfast filled me up, but they looked awfully tasty!

noah keaton jr

Had a great experience celebrating my daughter's birthday had a great food great coffee Great dessert will be back again.

Pamela Palumbo

Great Location on water..The views are awesome..as well as the service and food.

Gary R

Good overall experience for a late lunch on a Sunday. Waiter was friendly, service was good, although a bit slow. Even for a late lunch the outdoor seating area was packed and there was a wait. 1905 Salad and Cuban sandwiches were delicious as usual.

Ethan Yoder

We got the manchango chicken and 1905 salad and it has got to be one of the greatest meals I've ever experienced. Service was super friendly and everyone in the restaurant got their food very quickly. They also gave us cuban bread which also blew our minds. You need to eat here if you want to truly get a taste of Tampa eating.

W Allen

Great place to relax and have lunch / dinner.

Jared F.

Excellent Cuban food and outstanding service.

Howard Olson

Always great food and service.

ReFind DeZignz

Pulled up in boat and tied up and grabbed a Cuban to eat in our boat bc it was packed with an hour wait! ALWAYS amazing food!

Christine Antoine

We stopped by via boat. I had plantains which are always delicious! I had a Cuban which it was also good. We sat outside to enjoy the weather. Our service was okay, the Sangria was yummy and so fresh!

melyssa “AssylemFrenzyZoompano” f-z

Had a big group for mother's day. Servers did fantastic. Food was awesome

Teresa Thode

My Cuban was awesome! We were at the Tampa History Museum, and I was happily surprised that there was a Columbia Cafe in the building. I went there with my friend and her 3 children, so there can sometimes be picky eaters. But, we all loved our meals. It was packed but service did not suffer, it was great too.

Rick Hayden

Server Jacqueline was spectacular. She would do well for herself in fine dining. Comfortable open-air atmosphere. Their famous salad was great. Thought the sandwiches were dry but tasty.

M. Showers

Right on River Walk!

Zane Kennedy

Open seating area with a stocked bar. Couple of craft beers and lots of fruity cocktails. Lots of Spanish inspired dishes. They offer vegetarian dishes. Comes with a small loaf of Cuban bread. Staff present when needed and helpful. Quite friendly. Great dining for a family/get together.

A R

The Columbia cafe is a little spin-off of the famous Columbia restaurant. The menu is limited but still offers many favorites, like the Cuban sandwich and 1905 salad. I ordered a half and half (salad and soup). Instead, I received a sandwich and soup. The server brought me a salad and I took the sandwich to go, at no extra cost. What can I say about the salad? It's the best! The black bean soup is really just black beans on top of rice but I love both of those things and really enjoyed it. Our server became very busy during lunch rush but she didn't neglect our table at all. I highly recommend this as an alternative to the full service restaurant.

Jon Rosdahl

We had a large group, which is difficult at best for a server to keep up with. However, we had Julia as our main waitress, and she deserves an award. She was very attentive and anticipated the needs of the group. She made our dinner event pleasant and made appropriate suggestions while taking orders and presenting our food and drink with a smile. Her pleasant nature added to our experience as well. Thanks Columbua Cafe for assigning Julia to our group.

JUST SAYIN'

Back again.... food is consistently good. Busy busy place, so service can be a bit slow. Great views from inside and out. Gregory & Tony at the Bar are wonderful! Please bring back the Black Bean Hummus & Crackers! Miss them!

Kim Zuber

Excellent service and great food. We have the mango cake in the 1905 salad which were absolutely wonderful. Carlos our waiter was amazing and did everything impeccably. We love the view of the water at night in the open air near the Riverwalk in Tampa. I would come back again and again. Columbia in a great place and the prices are extremely reasonable.

Michael Gabriel

Went Herr for lunch and was presently pleased with this place. The restaurant was full but the wait was not long. Their is a nice outdoor dinning area with a nice long bar to dine at as well. We chose to dine indoors which was also nice. The waiter was very helpful and helped up choose our entrees. All we're prepared well and I both finished everything. It seemed the other diners were also please at what they were eating too. I would defiantly go back.

Ashley Altamirano

Food was pretty good nothing special esp for the cost. Service was a bit slow even though not too many customers. Not bad though nice atmosphere and decor.

Dave Overholser

Great atmosphere, service, and food. Highly recommend :)

Caroline Donahue

Great food and atmosphere! Perfect location for those attending an event at the Amelie Arena, just a 7 min walk. Carolyn, the bartender, was incredibly pleasant. She kept a smile, even though she was obviously overwhelmed, considering how short-staffed the bar was for being an event night. I would gladly return and request her as our bartender. She deserved a standing ovation that night. The only negative comment I can say is that the patio was intolerably hot. Maybe more fans could help that.

Paul Vari

Tony was great, food was still good even though not very hot. Not many places could pull that off! I do think Tony should have somebody pouring drinks for the servers. It's too much work for one person FOR SURE!!!!

Kevin Taddeo

The Staff was kind and speedy. The menu was defined and on point to the area. The view was nice. The food was fantastic. I had the bean soup and the Cuban. Wow on both accounts. The bread was amazing. Basic but on purpose. Perfect.

Anne White

The 1905 salad is overrated. It's alot of iceberg lettuce downing in dressing. The Cuban sandwich is decent. We sat at the bar and the service was good.

John Kindig

Google said 15 minute wait on a Saturday evening. Seemed too good to be true. We arrived and were told 30-35 minute wait, which was fine. 1 hour and 15 minutes later we were seated. That was a tad frustrating but once seated, the service was excellent and the food was very good. Pretty please give your customers a fairly accurate wait time. If we were told it was an hour wait, we would have waited. There were a few customers that have waited way over what they were told. On Saturday night, all customers that have not made reservations or advanced seating should be told that it will be at least an hour if not more.

Viki Walters

We visited the little cafe location connected to the Tampa History Center in Channelside and it's wonderful. A short wait but it's so beautiful and scenic that you can't be too mad. The food is always delicious. I've never had bad food there. Our server was delightful, very friendly and polite and eager to please despite her obviously being slammed. The 1905 salad is the entire reason I go, it's a Tampa classic for a reason. I tend to get the half and half with it and a cup of soup. When the gazpacho is available (I think it's seasonal), I always choose that, but they have really good garbanzo bean soup, too.

lisa cruz

Right across the street from Garrison parking lot, the Columbia is a beautiful retreat for a nice lunch while walking the Riverwalk or for a romantic dinner. The prices are average but the food is amazing. Strongly suggest the Cuban sandwich and a bowl of black bean soup. The bread is complementary and the butter is rich and delicious. Have a sangria and you are set . Experience and enjoy!

Move With Muniz

I ordered the crab croquettes and the Cuban sandwich... Absolutely delicious! Food was great and sitting outside was a lovely atmosphere

Christopher Meyer

Great food. Great service. Nice atmosphere and location. We'll be back.

Meat Popsicle

The 1905 salad is AMAZING! Very delicious and a lot for the money! I had an awesome server, her name was Jacqueline, she did such a great job! Super friendly and had a smile on her face the whole time!

Alex Retter

We enjoy this location more than most. We sit outside and enjoy the river and views. Service can take a little while sometimes, especially with more than 5 people (in our experience), but was never too outrageous. Definitely recommend a stop if you are out on the Riverwalk.

John Camacho

The food and drinks were soooo amazing. Tony at the bar was awesome with the history and about the drinks. Definitely a place we will go back to. This is a definite must to go to while in Tampa. The empanadas were so amazing. Thanks

Daniel Wagner

Good Cuban food from a slimmed down version of the full Columbia's menu, there's still something for everyone here. Beautiful view of the nearby park with outdoor seating and walkable from the convention center. However, it is busy and does not allow reservations- there may be a wait and it can get loud.

Richie Gill

Great Cuban sandwich, lovely setting

Sra Tepfenhart

Great service, delicious food, and beautiful setting

R. G.

Company Xmas party. Open environment not too classy

Rick Houston

I would encourage anyone visiting downtown Tampa to visit the Columbia Cafe. Located right on the Riverwalk, they welcomed our dog to an outside seating area. The waitress was very nice to our dog and mix the salad right at the table. We also saw our waitress mix Sangria's at the table next door. The crab cakes were wonderful and we ordered black bean cakes for the dog. The prices are very reasonable for the location.

Emily Lyons

I LOVE THIS PLACE! Eat the 1905 Salad, you can have a big one (I recommend it) or a side salad if you're unsure. It'll be the best salad you'll ever eat in your life. Yes....better than Olive Gardens! I had their half roasted chicken and it was good but my sister and I kept dreaming about that salad. Their Sangria looked amazing as well. Enjoy!

Randy Rienth

Sorry to say wife and I were disappointed with the food. She ordered the mojo chicken. It was basically tasteless. Took a bite myself, tasted a bit of lettuce that's it. Bread served first was good. I had the Cuban ok but not great. Chips were tasty. Sorry Columbia but we will not be back, to many other options in Yubor City area.

Corey Roth

This is my go to place to get a portion of the Columbia experience. While it doesn’t have the full menu of Ybor City, it has a lot of the highlights from there. The plus side is this restaurant is fully outside and never as busy. This is the way to go when you want this kind of food without the crowds.

Amanda Forrester

Great Sangria made at your table. Devil crab coquette is highly recommended. Prices are reasonable for the amazing food. Don't get the salmon; portion size is tiny. Great outside seating by the river. Take pics on the gator.

Ben D

The food was good, but the service was absolutely awful. I don't want to assume that it always is, but it was bad enough for me not to go again. The waitress was very rude and the other employee nearby didn't seem to stop her from being this way. There was also a huge wait for food that I know doesn't take long to prepare (I.e. a Cuban sandwich). Worth a try if you want to see the historic stuff, but not a stellar restaurant.

Angela Duldhardt

Fantastic food, Cuban flavours and flare. Jim at takeout was amazing. We sat on the rooftop patio

David Morales

Great atmosphere and location on the CityWalk. The Salads and food are fresh and tasty. Space is limited during the C-19 Pandemic but this place is open air and wonderful. A must!

Jon W

Clean. Great food. Cuban sandwich and salad were awesome. Service was so-so, had to look for waitress to get drink refills and check.

Jennifer Denigris

Love the place! They have live music on the weekends, nice view of riverwalk, good drinks but pretty limited menu for both drinks and food. It's a good place for tapas or appetizers and the mojito pitcher is great as well. I would Give it 5 stars but the limited menu for both food and drinks makes it a little difficult to want to go back very often.

Ana Gerlach

Spectacular as always! We had visitors with us and they really enjoy the lunch. It was interesting how the employees managed the "all-the-sudden-storm" which was heavy rain and wind. We got the whole experience there this time. (June 9, 2019)

Stephanie Levin

Best Cuban sandwich and mojitos!!!

Rich Campoamor

Google lists this as a Spanish restaurant, but Cuban American would be more accurate. Service is a bit slow and indifferent but the food was very well done and the view was fantastic. Definitely worth a visit before or after going to the Tampa History Museum (which it shares a lobby with on the 2nd floor)

Brandie McCallum

This location of the Columbia is right beside the Tampa Bay History Center on the Riverwalk. It's mostly outside and a gorgeous spot to have lunch or dinner. We stopped in for lunch on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon and it was crowded but not super crowded. We waited under 5 minutes for a table for 4. After being seated, our server chatted about some of the favorites and then took our drink orders. Promptly returning with waters and to take our orders. We started with appetizers, lunch, and dessert. Service was amazing, the server was attentive without being intrusive. Our water glasses were kept filled and the table cleared to give us more room. This may not be the original location but the food is just as good as the original location. Fresh and perfectly cooked it was amazing!! We decided if we were having dessert we should go all out and ordered the churros with dipping sauces. YOU MUST ORDER THIS!! You get a handful of fresh, warm mini churros with a caramel or chocolate sauce. Totally scrumptious!!

Michael Monsen

The food was really good. The service was friendly, but slow. I had the Cuban sandwich with plantain chips. It was one of the better Cuban sandwiches I've had. My wife had the 1905 salad, which was also tasty.

S B

We like to try local restaurants when we travel to explore different cultural culinary experiences. Columbia Cafe did not disappoint! The food was excellent and our server David gave us exceptional service, answering our questions and explaining any dish we were not familiar with. I highly recommend this place!

Stephanie Hansa

Food was great!! Sangria made fresh next to table, same for mojitos. Great service too even though it was super crowded when we went.

Nicole Perpillant

Amazing service, they made the sangria table side and the black bean caviar was amazing.

Gordon Quimby

Absolutely top notch Cuban food. Lovely river view dining. Superior wait staff. Happy to offer recommendations, to advise about portion sizes, and to check back. Great experience.

Daniel Almodovar

I've been to the other Columbia Cafe's, all have it's unique atmosphere. I love the waterfront location in downtown. Drinks where good and food was just that too. Looks beautiful but a bit on the salty side like they needed it to cover up something. But I would go again.

Drew Summa

Very nice place. It took a little longer than normal to get our food but once we got it, everyone liked their meal. Staff was awesome. Big selection on the menu. Definitely would go back.

charles dale

3 1/2 stars really. Nothing wrong with this place. We were just told we had to try this place cause it was so good. Both had sandwiches. Not sure id hurry back anytime soon. But the people that told us about it really liked it

Ashby Boaz

We made a reservation for 12 on a Sunday night. When we arrived, our two tables were ready an we were seated promptly. We had one waitrest for each table and had good service. I enjoyed my meal and our group had a very good time.

Alyssa Clement

I ate here after visiting the attached Tampa Bay History Museum. I ordered the Cuban sandwich and Frosé drink. Enjoyed them both! Great views and spacious outdoor dining.

chickie z

Atmosphere the workers all top service the food was so good I ordered 2 times

Mark Davis

It's worth finding parking during construction to dine at this wonderful waterfront space adjacent to the Tampa Bay History Center. The staff are friendly and efficient, and in the chicken salteada, they make the best chicken dish I have ever tasted! The meat is cooked perfectly - astonishingly tender, in a complex sauce with beautiful yellow rice.

Hari Menon

Their desserts are very good: we tried churos and bread pudding. Their sandwiches are not bad.

Hollis Bessone

Went there before a concert. A little busy as was expected due to event at Amelia. We got drinks right away. After less than 5 minutes wait time we got a bar seat. Ordered and received some calamari pretty fast. The calamari was the best I've had since I moved here from New England 10 years ago.

Calvin D

The food was great and the service was good. The drinks were also good and they had soccer on at the bar. Please note, this is outdoor seating, if you are looking for somewhere with AC, go elsewhere.

Andy Marshall

Service and food was excellent. Had dish referred to as "old clothes". Churros were best have had. 1905 salad is great.

Nelson Tamayo

Nice outdoor Cafe that's a spin-off of the original Columbia in Ybor City. They have a smaller selection that's perfect for lunch and plenty of ceiling fans for those who get a little warm sitting outside. It's a nice place to grab a bite if you're in the area or visiting the Tampa Bay History Center.

Derek Ferguson

This is our favorite eating spot on River Walk. It's also very close to the Amalie Arena for Lighting hockey and concerts. Enjoy some favorites from the Columbia restaurant but in a nice open air cafe setting. Top notch service.

Virginia Stockwell

Worth every penny. We lingered way too long with our drinks and they welcomed it. I appreciate the variety of food offerings. Must be a great management staff as the general staff were all pleasant and welcoming.

Kelly McNeil

The ambience and decor was lovely. The food was just ok. I had a mother's day special mahi with passionfruit cream and fruit aioli and traditional yellow rice. It was described as mahi coated with coconut and grilled but it turned out to be a coconut breading, likely with wheat bread crumbs..I could not tell it was grilled.The fruit cream and aioli was delicious but the mahi was overcooked. I'm on keto and haven't eaten rice in a few months and decided to cheat with the yellow rice. It was so mushy and overcooked, I didn't eat more than one bite. Perhaps this is the style it is supposed to be cooked but I prefer yellow rice where I can savor the grains. My son had a mahi sandwich which he really enjoyed. My other son had chicken fingers with chips because he is quite picky and that was all he could find, I thought the chicken fingers were exceptionally small but he didn't complain. My husband had another mother's day special but the name of the dish slips my mind. It was a quarter chicken stewed in wine I believe with mushrooms and potatoes which he really liked. We also split the 1905 salad as a side dish, small serving, and the salad was great. Salad is not offered as a side so if you are trying to eat low carb, kind of impossible here as the options are yellow rice, beans or plantains, but I pretty much knew that going in. It was pricey for the food I got in my opinion but the service was great even for a busy mother's day. While I was cheating on keto, I still wanted to be aware of the carbs I was eating but they had no nutritional guide online and the chef could not provide the nutritional content for the special dishes. I did find other dishes of theirs online. All in all it was a fun, unique place to go before visiting the Yampa Bay History Center..the cafe is outside and just inside the History Center, but on a low carb diet I would not be going back anytime soon.

Debbie Depaul

Food and atmosphere are both excellent. Nice views. Friendly staff.

Oscar Asencio

Fgreat area. Food was a bit too salty for me.

Ted Schwartz

They ran out of white meat half chicken, forgot the bread, forgot to make chicken enchiladas for an appetizer, and put mushrooms in my entre when I specifically requested none. Other than those issues it was great

Chakrapani Prakash

Delicious bean cakes, eggplants and plantain toasts. Unfortunately, that is the extent of vegetarian choices. Service is excellent.

TwoWheeled Gator

The Columbia is always a favorite of ours and pair it with history from Tampa Bay and you have a perfect match. I think the menu is slightly paired down but they have all of our perennial favorites. Skip the key lime pie for dessert and have the bread pudding. I know, I know, I don’t like bread pudding either. But start with Tampa Cuban bread and add the happy tears of baby angels and you have a dessert that beats all others. Seriously, that is how my son (a Cuban food junkie) described the pudding.

Frederick Learey

Ate at the bar because it was a busy Saturday night. Bartender was attentive even though he's very busy. I was just ordering food and not there to drink but he really took care of me in the midst of that crowd. I got there signature black bean soup and 1905 salad. The salad was pre-plated and not mixed at the table. But very good none the less. The black beans soup is very good. But the white chocolate bread pudding dessert was the real winner! Generous serving and melted in my mouth. Update December 2020 - Stopped in again and not so impressed. The cuban sandwich was mediore at best. Rather dry. Seeemd like it had been plated for a couple horus wating to go out. And the salad serving for 2 was barely a serving for one, plus had far too much dressing. On top of all that, the service was poor. Never checked in, never asked if we needed anything.

shaygurl Shay

Be warned the frozen drinks are family size. J/k it's just a large portion. The food was delicious.

Casey Wyatt

It's a great mini version of the main Columbia in Ybor city ... No reservations needed

Shawn Kloter

I've been to this restaurant 4 or 5 times and we always have a great experience. The outside area can be quite loud when they have a guitarist so its almost impossible to have a conversation. Food is typical Cuban cuisine and its always good! Slightly higher prices but for the area its expected.

Alan Suarez

Great service, fast and tasty food lol Thanks Yos 😃 …

Daniel McFadden

If it's nice weather, sit outside with a view of the river. You absolutely can't go wrong with the Cuban sandwich and 1905 salad combo. Wife loves the sangria. Decent selection of beers, including some cigar city choices.

Dale Massicotte

Pressed meatloaf and their signature salad

Anthony Dominicis

Mi familia es de Holguin, Cuba. The flavors are similar to Abuela's. Overall a tasty dinner and definitely a good bang for your buck. I was pleasantly surprised to see my final bill was less than $20 for a drink and a mahi-mahi dinner. Actually kind of shocking considering the area. Unfortunately the couple areas that they fell short, were very short and probably more Americanized over the years. Their mojo sauce was way too Citrus forward and the lime killed the garlic flavor. I wish these places that advertised as Cuban, ALL served Batidos Cubanos! Anyways... Their platanos (I soooo wished she and others, carmalized the bananas MORE!.... Nothing beats that crispy/chewy texture and flavor!!) were exactly like my Abuela's, the arroz was exactly like my Abuela's! While I didn't ask oh, I also didn't notice whether or not they had tostones there. I prefer tostones over maduro any day of the week! Besides the couple of food hiccups had the other reason I did not give 5 stars and to be honest with you four stars is probably generous but you can't give half Stars, is because this place is basically an outdoor restaurant with poor ventilation and overhead fans that were not properly position to maximize air flow. There is no air conditioning so if you enjoy eating and sweating at the same time this is a great place he couldn't. I personally was not looking to sit in a very hot and humid place to sit and eat. That being said, I went on a Friday evening and they offered their patrons live music from a gentleman who played guitar well and had a very nice voice to listen to. All of their wait staff and bartenders were very pleasant. The one word of caution I would send to management that while waiting 4 somebody to take my order I noticed many of your wait staff standing next to the performer doing nothing for several minutes all throughout my visit. Since I had to wait close to 10 minutes for somebody to recognize me and take my order this started me off with an unpleasant taste in my mouth. Thankfully everybody was nice and from that point on were attentive. If you offer cafecitos, I would also recommend providing a menu after eating. Given that I am Cuban I enjoy finishing my meal with some Cuban coffee and I don't know if you guys even serve it? Overall definitely a place I would go back to eat. This place has a lot of history and some really good flavor oh, even better if they tame the lime in the mojo and increase the garlic:-) oh and add a few more onions, there was barely enough. I guess I'm just a spoiled first generation Cuban.

Traves O'Neill

Food was good. We had the Top Vieja, the roast pork "a la Cubans" and the half and half (half original 1905 salad and half ham Cubana). We were all very satisfied with the meal. I cannot speak to the authenticity of the food, but it is good and flavorful.

Krishna Chinta

Great ambience and hospitality.

Howard Waddell

Good food. Nice patio area

Zhihao Zhang

Food here is fantastic. Gotta try the devil crab tapas and the mojito. Perfect place to try Cuban Spanish cuisine

Joma Saleem

There’s boat parking! There’s also takeout by boat. You order and they will bring it out by the docks. The Cuban sandwich is probably top in Tampa! Great view of the water

Lonnie Clolinger

What a treat to get a taste of Tampa history! We always get the Sangria Blanco and Mahi Grilled. It’s so delicious and fun!

Lauren Murray

We ate here before going to a Tampa Bay lightning game and they were very quick so that we would not be late! Food was hot and delicious as always. I had the 1905 salad and they were happy to sub the ham for extra crutons :)

Joe Stringer

Great service and food. Empanadas and Cuban sandwich were great. Do not leave though without having the bread pudding which was outstanding!

Nigel Grainger

We originally walked past this restaurant looking for a better location nearer the aquarium. Having found nothing better ( if you know the area you will understand why! )we came back here with no knowledge of what was being served. What a stoke of luck. The food was excellent - sensible portions, child friendly. My wife had a fish sandwhich which was lovely - though the banana chips were a little salty. The kids had the chicken strips and chips ( or english crisps ). We had the bread and butter pudding as dessert - totally lovely - top layer of bread baked to perfection, the rest moist and served with a lovely rum custard. Would definitely go back ...

Jackie Swan

Our waiter was wonderful, and I did not remember his name... We had 1/2 Cuban sandwich and salad. It was delicious... I had a Arnold Palmer to drink and my Mate had lemonade,,, but what made it was the finesse of the waiter.,... Thank you for the good training Columbia Cafe...

Sthefany Meza

Bartender was great. Forgot to ask his name but he was very nice. Food tasted great. Mojitos Amazing. Theu had live music. I am not from Tampa but if I ever come back I will come here again.

Dennis Riordan

Never been there but driving by and heading out to Apollo Beach I saw this restaurant and told my wife let's stop there on our way back. I had a great Cuban sandwich . The service was fantastic. Next time back in Tampa we will stop here again

Frank Valle

It was ok not the best Cuban food

Sanda Kruger

Very cute place! We went twice for lunch and the menu is different than Columbia Restaurants in YBor City or Sand Key. No paellas are available, but the food is good. More of a lunch place than dinner.

Emily Estrada

Stopped in for a quick bite to eat while on the river walk. Ordered the Cuban sandwich and was very satisfied. Service was quick and the server Jacqueline was amazing and very attentive!

Contact

Photos