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COLUMBIA RESTAURANT AWARDS/ACCOLADES & RECOGNITION
Cuisine/Wine Recognition
* Honored in 2005 from the State of Florida House of Representatives congratulating The Columbia on their then 100th Anniversary, and the distinction of being Florida’s Oldest Restaurant, as well as the Largest Spanish Restaurant in the World. (House Resolution 9013)
* The Columbia Restaurant Café at Tampa International Airport was named #25 in a list of 31 Best Airport Restaurants Around the World by The Daily Meal in November 2012.
* The Columbia Restaurant Café at Tampa International Airport earned first place in the “Best New Food and Beverage” category of the Richard A. Griesbach Awards of Excellence. This honor was received in November from The Airports Council International-North America. The ACI-NA is in its fifteenth year of holding the Richard A. Griesbach contest, which promotes innovation within the airport concessions industry.
* Named One of The Top 50 Restaurants in the Tampa Bay Area by the Tampa Bay Times in January 2012.
* Named an All-American Icon by Nation’s Restaurant News, one of only fifty restaurants in the U.S. chosen for this honor in 2010.
* Earned the “Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) Award of Excellence” every year since 2005 -- One of the most prestigious awards in the fine dining industry. An anonymous, independent 75-point inspection of the property is conducted to review the quality of the food, wine, service, physical property and décor.
* Named to Florida Trend Magazine’s Golden Spoon Hall of Fame – the industry’s highest regional award as “One of the Top 25 Restaurants in Florida.” Named “One of Florida’s Top Restaurants” since 1967.
* Named to Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame.
* Winner of Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence, every year since 2004, for an outstanding collection of Spanish wines (over 1,056 wines, inventory exceeds 50,000 bottles). Also, Award of Excellence issued from 1993-2003.
* Columbia’s Original "1905" SaladTM named “One of 10 Great Places to Make a Meal out of a Salad by USA Today - The Only Restaurant in Florida to be Named in May of 2008.
* Named one of Southern Living Magazine’s “Favorite Regional Tastes” for Spanish and Cuban cuisine in the April 2005 “Our Favorites” issue.
* Chosen “Our Favorite Romantic Restaurant" by the Southern Living Magazine in 2004. Only nine restaurants in the Southeast United States were selected, and Columbia Restaurant was the only restaurant chosen in Florida.
* Selected as One of the 50 Best Hispanic Restaurants in the United States by Hispanic magazine in 2004, stating; “Columbia deserves to be a permanent fixture on this list.”
* Honored with a Five Forks rating by the government of Spain as Outstanding Spanish Restaurant In North America.
* Received the Epicurean Rendezvous Award for the Finest 100 Restaurants in the U.S.A.
* Received the Five Star Diamond Award as one of the Top Ten Spanish Restaurants In The United States by the Academy Awards of the Restaurant Industry.
* Named as one of the Top 100 Independent Restaurants by Restaurants and Institutions magazine.
* Selected as one of the Top 100 Restaurants in the United States and Canada by Sales & Marketing Management magazine.
Community/Philanthropy Recognition
* Richard Gonzmart awarded the Helen Ayala Davis Award in 2012 on behalf of The Children’s Home
*Richard Gonzmart named the 2012 Tampa Police Citizen of the Year by the Tampa Police Department
* Richard Gonzmart named the Tampa Metro Civitan Club Citizen of the Year in 2012
*Richard Gonzmart nominated in 2012 as Outstanding Restaurateur - James Beard Foundation
* Richard Gonzmart named Community Hero in 2011 by Big Brothers and Big Sisters
*Richard Gonzmart named the 2011 Honorary Commander of MacDill Air Force Base
*Richard Gonzmart awarded in 2010 by the Salesian Sisters of Villa Madonna School the “Thanksgiving Basket Award”
*Richard Gonzmart named the 2010 Lion''s Eye Institute Person of Vision
*Richard Gonzmart awarded in 2010 the American Association of State Troopers Spirit of the Trooper
*Richard Gonzmart named the 2009 Vicente Martinez Ybor Legacy Award from the Ybor City Museum Society
* Richard Gonzmart''s Family honored with the 2008 “Spirit of Philanthropy” Award after being nominated by Moffitt Cancer Center and Meals on Wheels in conjunction with National Philanthropy Day.
*Richard Gonzmart named in 2007 by St. Joseph’s Hospitals’ as Community Benefactor
* Columbia awarded the Celebration of Free Enterprise Award in 2007 from the University of South Florida in Tampa.
* Richard Gonzmart inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame by the Florida Commission on Tourism in 2006.
* Richard Gonzmart named the 2006 Hispanic Man of the Year by Tampa Hispanic Heritage, Inc.
*Richard Gonzmart named in 2005 as on of the Top 20 Chefs in Florida by Restaurant Forum magazine
*Richard Gonzmart named in 2005 as the Overall Winner - Minority Business Person of the Year" Tampa Bay Business Journal
*Richard Gonzmart awarded the 2005 Father of the Year award by the Diabetes Foundation
* Richard Gonzmart awarded the National Restaurant Association’s 2005 Humanitarian of the Year Award for the State of Florida.
*Richard Gonzmart awarded in 2004 the Class of 1956 Award from the University of South Florida
*Richard Gonzmart named as the 2004 Citizen of the Year by the Tampa Sports Club
* Columbia awarded the National Restaurant Association’s 2003 Restaurant Neighbor Award for the State of Florida.
* Columbia awarded the Tampa Bay Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 2003 Public Spirit Award.
*Richard Gonzmart named the 2003 Businessman of the Year by Magellan Media’s Que Pasa Hispanic Magazine
* Richard & Casey Gonzmart inducted into the 2003 Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame.
* Columbia named the Winner of the 2001-2002 MassMutual National Family Business of the Year award.
*Richard Gonzmart named the 2001 Outstanding Citizen Optimist Club of Ybor City
*Richard Gonzmart named in 2001 as Alumni of the Year by the Academy of the Holy Names
*Richard Gonzmart named the 2000 Alumni of the Year Jesuit High School
*Richard Gonzmart awarded the 1996 Dr. Martin Luther King Drum Major Award
ACCOLADES
New restaurants may enliven the culinary scene in Tampa, but some spots define it. The Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City stands in the same place (and is owned by the same family) as when it opened more than a century ago – when it served café con leche to cigar workers. USAirways Magazine, August 2012
The Columbia Restaurant of Ybor City Selected as “One of Rand McNally Best of the Road® Editor’s Picks for 2009” -- Named One of Five “Cultural Treasures on Florida’s West Coast.”
Columbia in Celebration Named Best Latin Restaurant by Orlando Magazine -- May 2008
Columbia Restaurant Ybor City – The star is the Paella, but don’t miss the Spanish bean soup, simmered with smoked ham and chorizo. Florida Travel & Life – March/April 2008
For dinner, the exquisite Columbia Restaurant in St. Augustine, located on St. George Street, features marvelous Spanish cuisine. The century-old establishment first opened in Tampa by Casimiro Hernandez Sr. and then five subsequent restaurants were created, including the St. Augustine location. The award-winning cuisine is set in an atmosphere of beautifully Spanish designed rooms, such as the indoor patio dining room. The arched arboretum room with opaque glass ceiling and towering potted palms is the quintessential environment for savoring The Columbia’s cuisine. The restaurant’s tapas, such as the scallops “Casimiro” are colossal fresh scallops baked in clay casserole with butter and topped with seasoned breadcrumbs and white wine; the dish is fantastic. In addition, Columbia’s signature salad, the Original “1905” Salad, is mixed tableside with gems of julienne of bake ham, olives, cheeses and a special garlic recipe. And, for entrees, the Paella Campesina is a luscious combination of Valencia rice with tender bits of beef, pork chicken and chorizo. Positively Entertainment and Dining – March 2008
St. Augustine is blessed with a wide array of unique restaurants, but I would particularly recommend the Columbia on St. George Street. We enjoyed the lunch so much that we went back for dinner. The Columbia has been in business since 1905. Ottawa Citizen, March 13, 2008
Warm, crusty Cuban bread slathered with butter, the garlicky goodness of “1905” Salad and Spanish bean soup flavored with chewy bits of chorizo – that’s Columbia’s (on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota) signature lunch, and they have been dishing it up since 1905. Aromatic dishes on the dinner menu feature traditional favorites of Spain and Cuba, offering tender pork, chicken and rice, fresh fish and shellfish. Entrees are served while still steaming and enhanced by overflowing pitchers of fresh, fruity sangria. Business people bring clients here for lunch, socialites gather, families celebrate milestones and tourists vie for tables within these pretty tiled walls. Enjoy lunch or dinner at this restaurant known for its strong traditions and inimitable style. St. Armands Magazine - 2008
For another dining treat, you can’t beat Columbia Restaurant on Sand Key in Clearwater Beach. Columbia, the gem of Spanish restaurants, was named after the ballad “Columbia, Gem of the Ocean.” The original Columbia, in Tampa’s Ybor City, is the oldest restaurant in Florida and the largest Spanish restaurant in the world. The American Israelite – December 13, 2007
Relax while you dine in elegance at Columbia Restaurant in Celebration. Southern Living - July 2007
Best Salad – Columbia Restaurant
Columbia’s legendary “1905” Salad is tossed tableside. Crisp iceberg lettuce with baked ham, natural Swiss cheese, tomato, olives, grated Romano cheese and the famous garlic dressing. Tampa Bay Metro – July 2007
Once you arrive on 7th Avenue, a turn-of-the century exterior gives way to garden terraces and softly lit dining rooms that, with the menu, make Columbia the jewel of Ybor City. Crowd pleasers form the kitchen include the signature “1905” salad (names for the year of the restaurant’s birth), which blends lettuce, tomatoes, green olives, ham and cheese in an oil-and-vinegar dressing. Other favorites include boliche criollo, tender slices of eye of round steak stuffed with chorizo sausage and served with gravy, black beans and rice; snapper Alicante, a slab of this sweet fish swimming in Spanish onions, green peppers and olive oil; chicken and shrimp served in a lobster bisque blended with brandy and white wine; and Paella “a la Valencia,” a mound of shrimp, calamari, mussels, clams, chicken and pork served over rice. USA Today – May 3, 2007
One of the best places to taste local flavor is Columbia Restaurant Ybor City. Pay an extra $6 per person to watch one of the two nightly Flamenco dance shows. Southern Living - May 2007
A fixture since 1905, Columbia is the jewel in Ybor City’s culinary crown. Operated by the 4th and 5th generations of the Hernandez Gonzmart family, this landmark restaurant features toothsome Spanish/Cuban classics, a phenomenal wine list and paella that’s arguable the 4 most satisfying in Florida. Hand-rolled cigars are for sale in the on-site gift ship, and Flamenco dancing is a nightly attraction. Living Southern Style – Spring 2007.
Florida: 100 things to do before you die
# 28. Watch Flamenco dancers at Columbia Restaurant, Ybor City. The Miami Herald - April 22, 2007
For years the Columbia restaurant has billed itself as the "gem of Spanish restaurants." It''s a sparkling claim - and true. Since the 1905 opening of the first Columbia in Ybor City, this family-owned restaurant has specialized in Cuban and Spanish cuisine.
Wherever I''ve eaten at the Columbia - there are several in Florida now - the staff, food and service have always been outstanding. The St. Armands locale proved no different.
Around the table our entrees spotlighted the rich and often rustic cuisine of Spanish and Cuban dinner tables. Friends chose a paella Valencia, the national dish of Spain featuring Valencia rice, shrimp, mussels, clams, calamari and more seasoned with saffron, pimento and more; roast Cuban pork served with white rice, black beans, yucca and fried ripe plaintains; and pollo RioJana, a boneless chicken breast breaded, grilled and topped with a Rioja tomato sauce and Tetilla cheese.
I tasted my friend''s paella and decided that I must try it at such time when I can divorce myself from my usual order of Boliche Criollo, a roasted eye-round of beef stuffed with chorizo. Bradenton Herald – January 11, 2007
Don’t miss: The Flamenco dance show at Columbia Restaurant Ybor City is well worth the price of $6 per person added to your dinner bill. Reserve a table during one of two nightly shows to see twirling skirts, clicking castanets, and rhythmic footwork. Southern Living – January 2007
Founded in 1905, the Columbia Restaurant Ybor City is Florida’s oldest restaurant and the word’s largest Spanish Restaurant. Order the sangria, then spoil your palate with their succulent Paella “A La Valencia”. Their nightly Flamenco dance show is a must, you’ll want to watch it 100 times. JetBlue.com – January 2, 2007
Columbia Restaurant: Serving some of the best Cuban food north of Havana. Its famous 1905 Salad, Cuban coffee and crusty bread are exceeded only by its entrees made from 100-year-old family recipes. The Indianapolis Star - November 5, 2006
Farther down St. George Street is one of Florida''s finest dining spots, the Columbia Restaurant, serving exquisite Spanish cuisine. It''s known for its salads, mojitos and Cuban cigars. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - October 8, 2006
“A must when dining in Tampa is Columbia Restaurant, a Florida tradition since 1905. No trip to Tampa feels complete without a meal – or two – at Columbia Restaurant located in Ybor City. People flock to this eatery for the ambience as well as Columbia’s Original “1905” Salad, a delicious medley of lettuce, julienned ham, Swiss and Romano cheeses, and the restaurant’s famous garlic dressing." Southern Living, February 2006
“Folks seek out this landmark for its live music and flamenco dancers and its rich history – co-owner Richard Gonzmart’s great-grandfather founded it to feed local cigar-rollers in 1905. The Cuban sandwiches are melty masterpieces; the “1905” salad, a citywide obsession. According to illustrator Lynn Pauley, who has a house in southern France near Spain, the paella is the real deal." Every Day with Rachael Ray, November/December 2005
“A Florida tradition since 1905, the Columbia Restaurant (in Ybor City) celebrates its centenary this year. The Columbia St. Petersburg location at the Pier downtown offers breathtaking waterfront views of Tampa Bay complimented by the family’s award-winning, century-old Spanish-Cuban recipes." Aloft, November/December, 2005
“The highlight of my recent visits (to Columbia Celebration) was the snapper Alicante. The fish, a firm and fresh-tasting fillet baked in a casserole, was surrounded by a bounty of oddly chosen ingredients that somehow all worked together. Sweet Spanish onions, green peppers and almonds decorated the snapper, which was set on a mound of broth-infused yellow rice and garnished with fresh eggplant and shrimp wrapped in bacon and deep-fried. Chances were good that there would be something on the plate to like, and I liked it all.
I also liked the camarones rellenos Jesse Gonzalez, four hefty-sized shrimp stuffed with a crabmeat dressing and flavored with a bit of lemon butter, served over rice.
Chorizo Espanola was a simple but delicious dish of sausage slices sautéed with onions." Orlando Sentinel - December 4, 2005.
“Selected as one of the “50 Best Hispanic Restaurants in the United States” by Hispanic Magazine in 2005, stating; “there’s just no way you can go wrong as you dine in this historic restaurant. Its mix of Spanish and Cuban dishes blends perfectly.
“A League of Its Own – In a field where the failure rate is legendary, 100 years is an incredible achievement. Four generation of the same family with the fifth in the wings, at a time when only 3% of family-owned businesses survive past the third generation. Columbias young and old all feature the same food that’s been served almost forever at the block-long happening in Ybor City – bean soup with chorizo, sausage and potatoes in a bold stock, “arroz con pollo” (chicken and yellow rice), classic Cuban sandwiches and their classic “1905” salad, named for the year the little storefront café served its first coffee to the cigar workers of Ybor. Here’s to the next 100 years of Columbia!” Florida Trend, May 2005
“If you cherish your palate, visit the Columbia. Try the Paella “A la Valenciana,” the Snapper “Alicante,” and the Pompano en Papillot. Relish the black bean soup and fried ripe plantains. And with every iota of conviction you possess, order the flan. Made in the Cuban style with sweetened condensed milk, this evanescent egg custard tastes like a dream from which you hope to never awaken.” Southern Living - April 2005
“The intoxicating aroma of Cuban coffee lures walkers on La Setima (Seventh Avenue), the main drag, where Florida’s oldest eatery, the Columbia Restaurant, opened in 1905. The establishment has humble beginnings as a small cafe where patrons gathered to drink steaming cups of Cuban coffee and discuss news of the day. Today, the Columbia occupies an entire city block and seats more than 1,700. Hundreds of original hand-painted tiles line the 15 dining rooms, including the main stage area where spectacular flamenco dancers perform.” Boston Herald, March 31, 2005
“Columbia Restaurant; This historic chain of Tampa Bay-area restaurants serves up some of the best Cuban food found north of Havana. The first Columbia restaurant opened in 1905 in Tamp’s famous Ybor City area. Its bowls of Spanish bean soup, fresh Florida seafood and steaming cups of Cuban coffee made Columbia famous. Today, there are six locations around the area, including one on beautiful St. Armands Circle in Sarasota. Among our recommendations - the sliced chorizo sausage sautéed with onions and the Empanadas de Picadillo, a flaky pastry stuffed with spiced ground beef, served with roasted corn and black bean salsa.” The News-Press -- September 5, 2004 Sunday.
“Columbia Restaurant (St. Augustine) attracts international guests for paella a la Valenciana and other award-winning cuisine. The Columbia is within walking distance of several historic landmarks including Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (the oldest masonry fort in the United States), the Spanish Quarter and Flagler College.” Palm Beach Post - February 22, 2004
"She is a Florida legend, the dowager queen of all restaurants in the state, owned by the same prominent Tampa family for 98 years. In two more years, she will turn a dignified 100, a proud, powerful lady, still dressed to the nines in priceless antique crystal and colorful Spanish tile and though the menu has changed somewhat with culinary trends, its most popular dishes remain true to the originals. On my most recent visits there, I found a lovely, garlicky version of Cuban-style pork marinated in sour orange sauce, thick and rich Cuban coffee, terrific Spanish bean soup and the smoothest, creamiest flan. The food seems better now than it was a few years ago, maybe due to the new $2-million building that houses a state-of-the-art, 5,000-square-foot kitchen." Weekly Planet - February 27, 2003
"We started our evening with a couple of Ybor Golds - the beer brewed right in Ybor City - then ordered the generous 1905 Salad (named for the year the Columbia opened) and the restaurant’s specialty, paella. Nothing about the Columbia disappointed. Service was gracious and the spirited, colorful, four-woman-one-man flamenco show was thoroughly entertaining. We left in a decidedly Spanish state of mind." The Boston Globe - February 16, 2003.
"In Tampa, the hot spot these days is the restored cigar-making district known as Ybor City. Trendy nightclubs and restaurants make it the place to see and be seen in Tampa Bay. The jewel of Ybor City is the 98-year-old Columbia Restaurant, a Cuban classic and the oldest restaurant in Florida." Toronto Sun - January 19, 2003.
The Tampa Tribune Lists the 10 Best Tampa Bay Attractions. "3. COLUMBIA RESTAURANT - We know it is a cliche, but the grand dame of Spanish food is a must for visitors wanting a local taste and plenty of color. The Columbia Restaurant has been a proud part of Ybor City’s heritage for 97 years. Plan your dinner around performances by flamenco dancers, and be sure to order the classic paella and killer sangria. Bring the whole gang: the restaurant, which is undergoing a $4 million renovation, can seat up to 1,600 people." Tampa Tribune - December 28, 2002.
"The Columbia -- Order a Cuban sandwich, black bean soup or fresh seafood paella and sangria at this Ybor City landmark that is run by fourth- and fifth-generation members of the founding family. Spreading across a full block, the lively restaurant, with gorgeous tilework, serves Spanish cuisine in 15 dining rooms and stages Flamenco shows six nights per week." The Detroit News - December 24, 2002.
"The Columbia Restaurant has grown from a small corner shop opened in 1905 to a 1,700 seat, 15-room restaurant that takes up a city block in Ybor City. Yes, the Orlando area has a Columbia Restaurant in Celebration, but it is worth a trip to visit the original. The Columbia’s newest addition is a 5,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art kitchen. One of the restaurant’s main dining rooms, the Don Quixote, is being refurbished to its 1950s decor. Dinner entrees are priced from $15 to $24.95." Orlando Sentinel - December 1, 2002.
"My own favorite place in town is the Columbia Restaurant, which opened in 1905, has been run by the same family ever since and has slowly gobbled up real estate till it now covers an entire block of La Septima. Said to be Florida''s oldest restaurant, it is filled with history and irresistible kitsch. You enter on 21st Street and see the same ornately carved, arched mirror behind the bar that has greeted visitors since Teddy Roosevelt was president. The Columbia seats 1,700 diners. The menu is Spanish, and, according to Mr. Gozmart, the restaurant is the largest seller of Spanish wines outside Spain." New York Times - November 17, 2003.
The Columbia Restaurant on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota has the best Spanish cuisine I have come across on these shores." Minneapolis Star Tribune - November 17, 2002.
"A few remnants of the old guard remain in Ybor City, including the Columbia Restaurant, which opened in 1905 with just one room. Through the years, it has expanded to take over an entire city block with 15 dining rooms that can hold more than 1,700 people. Have dinner there not just because of the history, not just because the food is good, but because you can enjoy your meal while watching a flamenco show. The dancers are terrific." Boston Herald - November 7, 2002.
"These days, Columbia can easily rest on its fame to draw a crowd, but surviving for so many years has actually required a delicate balance of maintaining traditions and changing with the times. Over the years, the Hernandez Gonzmart clan has learned some valuable lessons: keep the menu fluid, maintain the traditional style and atmosphere, and foster a personalized management style." Restaurant Business - September 1, 2002
"Florida’s oldest restaurant (1905) retains its youth thanks to the present generations of the founding Gonzmart family always looking for ways to improve - and to expand with spinoffs across the state. Lunch and dinner." Florida Trend - Top 250 Restaurants in Florida - February, 2001.
"Best one (meal) I had (in Tampa) was at Columbia Restaurant down in Ybor City, 95-year-old restaurant. They tell me it is the oldest restaurant in the city. Cuban food. It is superior-highly superior." Bryant Gumbel - CBS The Morning Show - January 29, 2001
"For those who prefer something besides steak in Tampa, it is a short cab ride over to Ybor City, where the Columbia, old and charming, reminds potential customers that is was "voted the best Spanish restaurant in Tampa Bay." Its seafood paella with a pitcher of sangria justifies those votes." New York Times - January 28, 2001
"Columbia Restaurant exudes both Old World Spanish and Cuban traditions. Since 1905, the Gonzmart family has run nightly (except Sunday) Flamenco shows to entertain the families, high-profile locals and tourists who pack the eatery all week. Columbia’s Ybor branch (there are 6 other locations) cannot be missed since it takes up a whole block on Ybor City’s Seventh Avenue." USA Today - January 26, 2001
"You can throw a dart at a map of the historical district that is Ybor City, and the odds are good you will hit a fine restaurant. Maybe the best is Columbia (East 7th Avenue at 21st Street), which features fine Spanish food with a Cuban influence and fine flamenco dancing, as well." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - January 21, 2001
"Fiery Flamenco dancers and spicy Spanish dishes make any visit to the original Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City a memorable feast of food and frivolity. Open since 1905, this culinary landmark is best known for its seafood-rich Paella a la Valenciana; a signature 1905 Salad, tossed fresh table-side; and fruit-filled sangria. For lunch try a tasty Cuban sandwich and café con leche. The gorgeous restaurant houses 15 dining rooms and a Cigar Bar Café pulsing with the rhythms of live jazz." Spirit Airlines "Skylights" - January 2001
"Another oldtimer in the market, indeed, the pioneer of the market, is the internationally renowned Columbia restaurant. A 1989 inductee into the Nation''s Restaurant News Hall of Fame, the Columbia opened in 1905 and is capitalizing on Tampa''s growing affluence and influence to broaden its market base. Today, Columbia is the crown jewel of Ybor City, a 1,500-seat beehive with another 200 seats coming. Gonzmart estimates the kitchen expansion and the additional seats will be a $1.5 million to $2 million upgrade. Boasting one of the state''s most respected wine cellars -- particularly Spanish wines -- the Columbia serves up a Spanish and Cuban cuisine and has stuck to its roots in selling some 10,000 cigars a month." Nation''s Restaurant News - 50 Cities that Sizzle Issue - January 2001
"By offering a consistently excellent product, outstanding service (the average server has been with the restaurant for 15 years), and with steadfast allegiance to the welfare of the local community, Richard Gonzmart, Casimiro''s great-grandson, has maintained a world famous institution." Boston Globe, November 19, 2000
"Look at any travel guide to Tampa and somewhere the Columbia Restaurant will appear, noted as a city landmark and an award-winning restaurant. Occupying a whole city block, its menu boast Cuban and Spanish specialties. The Snapper Alicante is still a popular dish, closely followed by the Paella Valenciana." Named as One of the 50 Best Hispanic Restaurants in the U.S. by Hispanic Magazine - September 2000
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