Best Neighborhood Gem Restaurants in Florida

I brought my husband for his birthday the ambiance was great. My server Kaylyn was amazing, her knowledge oft the menu exceeded my expectations Her so well recommendations were spot on and her attention to detail was spectacular. David the manager was great and very accomendating when their was a mild issue with my husbands steak. He turned the experience into a wonderful celebration of my husbands birthday. We definitely will return in the near future.

Great food! Great ambience! Wonderful service! We celebrated day two of my husband’s 30th party and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!

Sirloin sliders are always perfect. My wife had the crab cake Benedict which wax delicious- the egg could not have been better and the crab cake is one of the best she has ever tasted. The girls had scrambled eggs with a hearty portion of bacon and homefries. I had the chorizo egg tacos- chorizo was delicious and the avocado was fresh. The egg had to be deconstructed a bit since it was 2 big clumps per taco. Breakfast comes with rolls with cinnamon glaze... eat them quickly since they do not taste as amazing if you save them for dessert.

I recently had the pleasure of dining with my favorite colleagues David & Brendan at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, and it was truly an unforgettable experience! From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with warm hospitality and an inviting atmosphere. The historic charm of the restaurant, with its beautiful Spanish tile and vibrant decor, set the perfect tone for the evening. The service was exceptional. Our server was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu, offering great recommendations. We started with the famous "1915 Salad," which was absolutely delicious, fresh, and full of flavor. We decided to indulge in a variety of Tapa's and it was a feast for the senses – perfectly seasoned with tender seafood, chicken, and empanadas. Every bite was incredible! The dessert, a classic "Flan," was the perfect end to the meal – creamy, sweet, and absolutely divine. The live music added a delightful touch, creating a festive, yet relaxed ambiance. Overall, the Columbia Restaurant exceeded all expectations. The combination of incredible food, attentive service, and the rich history of the place made for a dining experience that I will certainly be returning to. Highly recommend this gem in Ybor City!

UPDATED as of 12/23/2024: This was one of my wife’s favorite restaurants, she loves the vibe - and the foods pretty good. However, this most recent experience was highly unfavorable and disappointing. To start, we were seated - then waited over 15 minutes for someone to walk up to our table, she took our drink orders… she then went to grab our server. I thought nothing of it, because we are so used to high caliber service here… so we looked past it. An hour goes by, and we have seen our waiter between 4 or 5 times. The other tables around us - their waiters were very present and visited their table every few minutes. We rarely order alcohol, but our drinks were not as great as we remembered. However, the food was incredible (awesome job to the kitchen)! I then was brought a Diet Coke, when I ordered a regular coke - so there were just mishaps all over the place (besides the kitchen). I then sat and waited over 20 minutes for our waiter to come back by so I could pay the bill. I ended up going to the hosts to ask for our waiter, and it still took longer than I thought it should for him to come to our table. I am typically a VERY generous tipper, and for the first time in over 10 years I tipped below 20%… my wife was utterly shocked - because she had never seen me tip that low. Things took a turn when I received a call from the manager because of a thumbs down on the survey as I paid the bill. She apologized profusely and stated would have a coaching with the gentleman serving our table. She truly understood how they fell below par, given our previous experiences there. She stated she would send me a gift card (via mail), and text me so I would have her contact and to let her know the next time my wife and I were coming. Update: My wife and I received the gift card in the mail, and will return very soon. Thank you American Social for making this right, I appreciate it.