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Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota, Sarasota, FL

Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota

4.8
4.8
10517 Reviews
$30 and under
Spanish

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 125 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Good for groups
Family-owned and operated for more than 116 years, Columbia has earned acclaim for its old-world charm and award-winning Spanish/Cuban cuisine.

Casual attire is fine, but we don’t allow sleeveless shirts on men in the dining room.

Join us for century-old family recipes like Paella "a la Valenciana," Roast Pork "a la Cubana,"and fresh seafood specialties. Don’t miss Columbia’s Original “1905” Salad®, prepared with our delicious, freshly-made dressing, a 100-year-old family recipe of fresh garlic, oregano, wine vinegar and Spanish extra virgin olive oil.

Be sure to sample a fine Spanish wine like Montecillo or Campillo. Relax outdoors on our patio, or inside our Mediterranean-style dining rooms filled with hand-painted tiles and family heirlooms.

We are a sister to the Columbia in Tampa's Ybor City, founded in 1905. Children's menu available. Open 365 days a year, including all holidays.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Spanish, Cuban
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Daily 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (941) 388-3987
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Jesus Padilla Jr.
  • Private party facilities
    The Columbia Restaurant in Sarasota on St. Armands Circle is the perfect venue for your special event. Our Old World Mediterranean-style dining rooms lend an atmosphere of warmth and elegance to any gathering. For small groups, we offer private dining space.
  • Neighborhood
    Sarasota
  • Cross street
    John Ringling Boulevard
  • Parking details
    Parking options include a garage located at 47 N. Adams Drive, behind the Columbia. Garage parking is 50 cents an hour. Metered and free street parking also is available. Features of the parking garage include: - 484 parking spaces - 5 electric vehicle charging stations - Bicycle storage & repair station - Public restrooms
  • Entertainment
    After your meal, stroll along St. Armands Circle, resembling an elegant European market with bright tropical landscaping. It is home to more than 130 shops that pamper guests from all areas of the world. Sarasota is a cultural haven with stunning beaches and superb shops and galleries. Outdoor activities like golf, tennis, deep-sea fishing and boating are also nearby.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 10,517 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Sarasota / Bradenton

    Good for groups

  • Sarasota / Bradenton

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Columbia Restaurant in Sarasota offers an elegant dining experience rich in Spanish and Cuban flavors. This historic gem is known for its "phenomenal 1905 salad" and "delicious sangria." Guests rave about the "impeccable service" and vibrant atmosphere. Reservations are highly recommended due to its popularity.

10,517 Reviews
  1. Tim

    VIP

    Phoenix

    6 reviews

    1.0

    6 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Can’t tell you how disappointed we were with our experience at this restaurant. They were very unorganized and we felt completely rush as if they wanted to just turn over our table as fast as they could. The kicker was a waitress dumped a tray of drinks on one of our guests back and all they offered was to take care of his dry cleaning!!! Really!!!

    Is this helpful?

  2. You Sung

    VIP

    New York City

    72 reviews

    5.0

    72 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    As usual, great food and service at a Columbia restaurant - have gone to ones in Orlando, Tampa too. Started with tapas assortment - calamari, chicken croquettes and stuffed peppers - all good. Mojito was very strong but good. I had the paella - that they served out of pan at tableside. Wifey had the lechon asada - super tasty and tender. Flan to go. Will return. Sat outside under their heat lamps - chilly 65 by Florida standards.

    Is this helpful?

  3. David

    Tampa

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent service, timely receipt of foods and excellent service by our waiter

    Is this helpful?

  4. Roman

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had an amazing experience for our Christmas day dinner!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Joseph

    Nashville

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Many many great choices. We enjoyed everything. The service was beyond top notch.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Rene

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food. Very friendly staff. Excellent service. Will definitely go again

    Is this helpful?

  7. Lisa

    Fort Lauderdale

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    If you want authentic Spanish/Cuban food, Columbia is the place to go in Sarasota. We tried a number of things from the menu, chopped tomatoes, Cuban black bean soup (vegan), stuffed shrimp, key lime pie, and white chocolate bread pudding. These items, along with the crispy bread and an Andulusian Gimlet with fresh strawberries were fantastic. Our waitress has quite friendly and extremely prompt, which added to the overall experience. We will definitely be visiting again and hoping to have a cozy table inside. We were seated on the sidewalk (which was the only availability when we made our reservation), and the constant parade of cars, people, and dogs often distracted us from the wonderful meal before us. Note to self: reserve early, this restaurant is extremely popular!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Shelley

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A fantastic Christmas Day lunch. Our first time at this restaurant but not our last! Truly fab.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Kristen

    Naples

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very nice for a holiday dinner. Busy but the staff was really attentive.

    Is this helpful?

  10. bob

    VIP

    New York City

    55 reviews

    5.0

    55 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This place is always on top of its game. Very enjoyable. The server, Val, was really sweet

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (941) 388-3987.

Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota is rated 4.8 stars by 10517 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 125 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota

411 Saint Armands Circle, Sarasota, FL 34236

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    John Ringling Boulevard
  • Neighborhood
    Sarasota
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Daily 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Spanish, Cuban
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Parking options include a garage located at 47 N. Adams Drive, behind the Columbia. Garage parking is 50 cents an hour. Metered and free street parking also is available. Features of the parking garage include: - 484 parking spaces - 5 electric vehicle charging stations - Bicycle storage & repair station - Public restrooms
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Jesus Padilla Jr.
  • Entertainment
    After your meal, stroll along St. Armands Circle, resembling an elegant European market with bright tropical landscaping. It is home to more than 130 shops that pamper guests from all areas of the world. Sarasota is a cultural haven with stunning beaches and superb shops and galleries. Outdoor activities like golf, tennis, deep-sea fishing and boating are also nearby.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (941) 388-3987
  • Private party facilities
    The Columbia Restaurant in Sarasota on St. Armands Circle is the perfect venue for your special event. Our Old World Mediterranean-style dining rooms lend an atmosphere of warmth and elegance to any gathering. For small groups, we offer private dining space.
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