The Family-Owned Columbia Eatery: Fl’s Oldest Eatery Creates a lovely Background For The Romantic Minutes

The brief Version: Since 1905, the Columbia Restaurant has actually supported Spanish and Cuban-inspired meals and drinks that signify a long-standing family history. Started by a Cuban immigrant in Tampa, the Columbia remains a regional favored due to the standard foods and friendly solution. Through the years, folks from world-wide attended into attractive bistro to celebrate involvements, anniversaries, birthdays, also monumental times. Now, the fourth and fifth years of this household possesses and operates 13 different restaurants throughout Florida. If you’re searching for okay eating with a decent old-fashioned family members experience, you are able to reserve a table into the stunning and romantic dining spaces associated with the Columbia Restaurant.

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For the past 30 years, my loved ones’s preferred holiday destination happens to be an oceanfront resort in Sand Key, Florida. We have now gone here over several times to build sand castles, place dolphins, and eat tasty dishes on patios ignoring the gulf.

We carefully discovered town’s cafe option, searching from best regional bones around, nonetheless it just thus happens your one cafe everyone enjoy most is within walking distance of one’s hotel. The Columbia Restaurant’s white linen tablecloths, mindful solution, and mouth-watering meals make it our go-to spot for supper.

Once we happened to be kids, my parents would get all of us a mozzarella cheese pizza pie while they visited this enchanting Spanish cafe alone; however, we currently enjoy tapas and drink as much because they perform, so we’ve started crashing their night out — often bringing along times in our own.

Since 1905, the Columbia eatery has wowed clients with Spanish and Cuban meals and an old-world atmosphere. Though itis the oldest restaurant in Fl, the company still is run because of the descendants associated with initial founder. Every product on the diet plan has actually an account behind it, and lots of of the quality recipes have-been handed over from one generation associated with Hernandez Gonzmart family to a higher. Family members practice is a huge part of the Columbia’s menu, history, and method of solution.

“The staff can be a little like family,” mentioned Michael Kilgore, the Chief promotion Officer for all the Columbia. “Many of our staff members stay for 20 or 30 years. One of several circumstances we like about our party is actually just how long they stick with all of us. They show up here in order to find a home.”

You can enjoy this comfy and inviting atmosphere on your after that date night by going to any of the Columbia’s seven different restaurants. The Columbia eatery presently serves visitors in Tampa, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Clearwater seashore, and party. Whether you are sipping wine on a picturesque balcony or seeing flamenco performers illuminate the phase whilst you eat tapas, you’re certain to have an unforgettable evening at the Columbia.

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

The Columbia Restaurant can locate their history back again to Dec. 17, 1903 — alike time the Wright brothers effectively tested society’s very first aircraft. That was whenever a Cuban immigrant called Casimiro Hernandez Sr. began operating a saloon for an area preparing company in Tampa’s Ybor City.

In 1905, the industrious business person switched the saloon into a popular 60-seat cafe recognized for its genuine Cuban coffee and sandwiches. Soon after his success, Casimiro ordered a cafe or restaurant next-door and converted it into an attractive dining room. In 1930, their child took over possession and procedure regarding the flourishing cafe.

Throughout the Great anxiety, his boy Casimiro Jr. created the first air-conditioned dining room in Tampa. The guy hoped its upscale look and elevated party floor would draw people to the bistro which help all of them forget about their unique concerns for a night. The Don Quixote area was a winner, and Columbia managed to hold its doors open although various other businesses folded.

In 1953, Casimiro Jr. passed the Columbia to his only son or daughter, Adela Hernandez Gonzmart, an established musician that has satisfied her husband, Cesar Gonzmart, at the Tampa bistro. This theatrical pair brought activity and art for the Columbia, developing a showroom that hosted many skilled Latin dancers and performers. Under Adela and Cesar’s management, the Columbia extended to Sarasota along with other locations in Florida.

Now, one of Adela and Cesar’s two sons has taken the reins and kept their family members’ company heading. Richard Gonzmart was functioning at his family’s restaurants since he was 12 yrs old, thus he or she is thoroughly knowledgeable about their atmosphere and record. Richard can actually suggest the dining table on Columbia eatery where he and his awesome partner had their own very first date significantly more than 43 years back.

“there are plenty of love here, therefore we have actually a great tale,” stated Michael. “under 15 restaurants in the United States tend to be family-owned and more than a century old, therefore we’re in pretty elite organization.”

Fl’s oldest cafe features a happy and enduring history grounded on meals, household, and enjoyable. Michael told you the 5th generation regarding the founding family members is now being groomed to take control of one-day. Richard’s daughters and nephew took in productive administration parts from the restaurants and are generally prepared keep consitently the family members tradition choosing numerous years to come.

The Columbia has been known with a few of the greatest awards when you look at the cafe sector, including induction into Nation’s Restaurant Information’ “okay Dining Hall of popularity,” obtained the “notable Restaurants of united states (SiRoNA) honor of Excellence,” Florida Trend’s “Golden Spoon Hall of Fame,” and Wine Spectator’s “better of Award of Excellence.”

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

The Columbia eatery establishes a luxurious table and gives a delightful escape from everyday life. It seduces your sensory faculties as soon as you walk in the doorways. You are in the middle of greenery, liquid fountains, and artwork given that noise of laughter plus the odors of fresh fish and shellfish dishes waft through air. Before my purchase also extends to me, my lips is often watering with anticipation. The good news is, each visitor becomes his or her very own newly made loaf of Cuban bread, so I have actually something to meet my personal tastebuds while I wait.

The 14-page selection is full of good food but additionally provides easy dialogue beginners for daters just learning the other person. Each entrée, appetizer, and treat boasts an enticing information along with fascinating back ground information. For instance, the cafe’s coconut ice cream was a preferred of frozen dessert business owner Gustavo Hernandez, the 3rd child of this original Columbia president, and today this nice plate is supported inside the respect.

Through the veggie paella (Spanish grain blended with hearty veggies) towards the shrimp supreme (shrimp covered with wafer-thin bacon), the foodstuffs from the Columbia tend to be bursting with taste. The shareable plates, known as tapas, get this restaurant perfect for lovers on a romantic date because you may come closer collectively by discussing little dishes of empanadas, sliced chorizo, croquetas, or packed peppers. You can easily generate a budget-friendly dinner by purchasing several of the appetizers with each other — remember to save room for dessert!

The Très Amigos churros would be a great selection for partners because they’re tactile, nice, and simply some dirty. You can drop the piping-hot churros in candy, caramel, or guava sauce so there’s a little for everybody. Additionally, Columbia’s signature White Chocolate Bread Pudding is actually an indulgent dessert excellent for splitting with a romantic date who’s got a taste for white candy and rum sauce.

In 2017, the Marriott Traveler blog known as the Columbia Restaurant among St. Augustine’s leading date-night spots, promoting lovers to “start with Columbia’s popular 1905 Salad, assembled table-side with much panache, immediately after which discuss a massive plate of this Paella a la Valenciana, overflowing with shellfish, aromatic rice, and chorizo.”

Your enchanting night will be-all more satisfying if you combine along with your food one cup of the Melanie Chardonnay, a rich drink known as after Melanie Gonzmart, Richard’s high-school lover and spouse.

Plus, during the Columbia Restaurant, the sangria should perish for. Severely, it comes because of the cup but you can additionally separate a pitcher of white or yellow sangria with a romantic date to increase your food experience. Amply large slices of fresh fruit drift inside wine and infuse it with wealthy flavors. Whether you are ordering this classic sangria or one of several bistro’s family members wines, the high-caliber products do not disappoint.

Michael informed united states the team tends to make an attempt to supply inexpensive but quality wines to whet visitors’ appetites. “the wine selection need completely suited to the food we offer along with your price point,” he mentioned.

Countless partners & households have actually Shared particular Moments Here

When I think associated with Columbia, i do believe for the evening we chose to have dessert for lunch, and my personal moms and dads ordered churros, important lime pie, mango mousse dessert, white chocolate loaves of bread dessert, and five spoons. I do believe of my personal twin brother attempting grouper the very first time on our 20th birthday celebration and stating excitedly, “get my personal image” because he wanted to reveal their girlfriend (who is today their wife) he loved taking fish everything she performed.

In plenty methods, the Columbia is like our very own destination, but my loved ones is not the only real family members getting made recollections during this cafe and its six sister locations across Fl. Individuals arrived at the restaurant at all stages of existence because it supplies a particular atmosphere that sets well with any gathering.

Notoriously, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio had been repeated guests associated with the Columbia in early 1950s. The Columbia employees settled tribute with the pair and enjoying thoughts they provided within restaurant by naming a dish after them. The Marilyn & Joe “Salteado” — a sautéed combination of tenderloin guidelines, boneless chicken, shrimp, and pork — is a tasty reminder associated with lengthy history of romance inside the Columbia’s eating areas.

Whether you’re going on a first big date or celebrating a marriage anniversary, you will find intimacy and love flourish in the gentle candlelight associated with Columbia eatery.

“It is one of our targets,” Michael mentioned, “to possess men and women feel like the Columbia is the perfect place to come to commemorate existence’s milestones.”

The Columbia eatery offers Family standards towards Table

The Columbia eatery charms daters with authentic meals, divine atmospheres, and friendly solution. The machines, about at our very own Columbia in Sand Key, focus on their particular visitors and are rapid to say “Welcome back” to loyal consumers just who, like my family, are going back to the classy dining spaces time and time again.

This long-standing dining institution has actually expanded and changed throughout the years, however it hasn’t ever forgotten about its century-long family members origins. Richard provides bold intentions to serve diners and daters throughout Florida inside a long time. “Our owner doesn’t rest,” Michael said with fun. “He’s usually dreaming up something totally new.”

The Columbia group plans to open at the least two brand-new restaurants inside impending decades. One will be easily positioned appropriate across the street from the original Columbia in Tampa. Casa Santo Stefano, set-to start in fall 2018, are going to pay respect to a tiny village in Sicily in which a majority of Tampa’s Sicilian immigrants came from — the genuine selection will deliver these individuals a tasty note of home.

Enduring management and high quality styles make the Columbia eatery and all its sister restaurants truly great spots where singles and partners can spend an evening in the company of those they like greatest.

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