Columbia Restaurant - Ybor City

Columbia Restaurant - Ybor City reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. A

   Amy

   Charleston1 review

   5.0

   Dined today

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great food and great atmosphere! I would go back again!
   

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2. i

   ira

   New York City12 reviews

   1.0

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Go for the history and not for the quality of the food. One word: Tired!
   

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3. M

   Meaghan

   Glasgow1 review

   2.0

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 2

   What was supposed to be our last meal of the holiday turned out to be a complete disaster. Our waiter was lovely however it appeared he’d been given far too big a section to run with little or no help from any other staff. Our tapas sharing starter was delicious and came out promptly, after this everything just seemed to go downhill. None of our starter plates were cleared when our mains arrived and a server attempted to put these down before clearing anything away. One of the table ordered filet tips and was given shrimp which was handled quickly. Two of us ordered stuffed grouper with rice and veg both of which came out cold, these were taken away and our replacements arrived after the others in our group finished their meals. Cold again! However on roasting hot plates and the rice dried out, we suspect these were just placed in a warming cabinet. The manager who came over to discuss this couldn’t have been more helpful in making sure the grouper came out to a standard that we’d expected in the first place and ensured everyone in the party got a dessert on the house. We’ve never had these issues at any other Columbia branch so I think we won’t be returning to the Ybor location and sticking to Sarasota from now on
   

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4. A

   Anthony VIP

   Tampa / Central Florida West45 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Service was excellent. Brought to the table very quickly. Frank, our server was very very good but very attentive
   

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5. M

   Michael

   Unspecified1 review

   5.0

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   The food and service was impeccable! It was a bit on the noisy side for my wife and I, but the ambiance and the kindness of the staff more than made up for that!
   

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6. N

   Natalie

   Orlando3 reviews

   3.0

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   We thought the food would be better considering reviews and the age of the restaurant over 100 years old. Service was excellent, fast, professional. Palella was very wet/watery and half of the lobster meat was missing (from the half lobster they give you). The salad was soggy. The shrimp was way too salty. The rest was decent. The bread was good. Loved the atmosphere and the historic value of the place, just wish the food was better executed. If that changed we would definitely come back!
   

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7. H

   Harley

   Tahoe2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great food, great service, authentic Cuban ambiance!
   

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8. B

   Bob

   New York City1 review

   5.0

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We had a late lunch early dinner before heading to the airport. We've never been to Columbia to eat before, but we'll never come to Tampa again without enjoying the great experience we had on 5/27/25. Our server AJ was knowledgeable about the history of the restaurant and family. She made great suggestions, from food to drinks, she didn't miss the mark. We can't wait to go back
   

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9. S

   Steven

   London2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Third time eating at this restaurant each time gets better highly recommended great food drinks ambience great service
   

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10. N

    Nicholas VIP

    Orlando5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    The Columbia is remarkably consistent. My honey & I hadn't visited in over 20 years due to life circumstances, but we ate here twice in two days during our Tampa visit. The food was just as we remembered from the early 00's, and the service standards have also been maintained. We enjoyed the Snapper Adelita, Pompano en Papillot, and each of us had the wonderful Palomilla flat iron steak on opposite days -- it was that good! The bread has also not changed a bit, and that's ag ood thing. Thank you Columbia for keeping the flame of Spanish dining alive in Ybor. We cannot wait to return... won't take us 20 years this time!
    

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