Columbia Restaurant

[StPeteBBQ]

I think that the Columbia Restaurant is one of the better restaurants in the area. I love their 1905 salad, their Spanish Bean soup, and their Paella "A la Valenciana".

Tradition is very present at the Columbia. And they have the heritage to back it up.

A word of caution, however. I find that as the Columbia has branched out, sometimes the quality is lacking. When I first came to Florida in 1980, I lived in Sarasota. On St. Armand's Circle is the first "branch" of the original Ybor City Columbia. I dined there many times and was never disappointed. In fact, when I was recruiting for my company, I would always be sure to include the Columbia in the "tour" for prospective employees.

I've been to the Columbia in Ybor City several times and, again, I've never been disappointed.

But...

There was once a Columbia on Harbor Island... I was there one time, and thank goodness it closed. Terrible.

There is a Columbia at the Pier in St. Pete. I've been there a few times and the food is so-so. Once they tried to serve me their 1905 Salad and it had obviously been made several hours before. 1905 Salad must be fresh. I don't go back there anymore.

So, with these caveats in mind, try the original Columbia in Ybor, or if you're in Sarasota, try the one on St. Armand's Circle.

Also, many years ago, the Columbia used to print their recipes on the inside covers of matchbooks they put on the tables. I was fortunate enough to get a copy of the 1905 Salad recipe, and the Spanish Bean Soup recipe. Last night I dug through some papers and found the 1905 Salad recipe and I will post it in the recipes forum here. I'll have to do some more digging to come up with the Spanish Bean Soup recipe. When I find it, I will post it.

[sharky]

Great review StPete!

I LOVE The Columbia! The one in Ybor is by far the best. You can't beat the food and the ambience is AMAZING!

Serge would certainly love their wine collection. From what I understand, it is pretty well known.

The only other I have been to is at the pier in StPete. We thought the food tasted just as good as the one in Ybor. Perhaps it was because we went mid afternoon rather than during a dinner rush. You should give it another shot StPeteBBQ!

I know one of the owners, so worse comes to worse, we can give him hell about it! lol

[StPeteBBQ]

You know, the last time I was at the Pier, I was buying lunch for one of our salespeople who had never been there. I was raving about the food and was just so glad to be able to share the Columbia experience with someone...

Then they brought out my salad... the lettuce was brown :( I always figure that everyone can make a mistake, so I pointed it out to my server, who went back to the kitchen. A few minutes later the server came out with some long explanation about how the dressing has worchestershire sauce and that's what made the lettuce brown.

First of all... you don't argue with a customer in a public restaurant. Then I told her that I knew exactly how the 1905 dressing was made and that it has 1/2 a teaspoon of worchestershire. Besides I can tell old wilted lettuce when I see it. They didn't want to hear it. Neither did I.

They comped the lunch, which was unnecessary.

There are too many good places to eat around here to reward poor performance. I will still go to the Ybor or Sarasota Columbia at the drop of a hat.