At the Columbia…The Food is the Thing

Eating at the Columbia Restaurant is always a comforting experience. It is the epitome of the true Old Florida dining style for tourists as well as long-time residents. The Columbia Restaurant has been a mainstay of the Tampa Bay Area for over a century, and it can still take you on a trip into the past. Along with the pictures and the overall ambiance of historical relevance …there is the food.

The food is always the thing. It’s the thing that brings you back for more. Beyond the huge, hanging chandeliers, the aging tiles on the walls, and the relaxing atmosphere…there is the food. And that is the secret sauce for all great restaurants that have endured over the ages. You can get by with ‘gimmickry’ for a while, but in the end, it’s the relationships with the food that bring people back. And the history of the place has successfully seeped into the fabric of the brand when you just start to read the menu!

Just one example about the history. It’s evident as soon as you open the menu! The menu features a steak named after “The Bambino.” It’s named for the Babe himself. Babe Ruth purportedly ordered this special cut when he came to Tampa for spring training.

More history and story telling include the story of how the Gonzmarts, the couple who founded the restaurant, first met.. And there are stories of flamenco dancing and the haunting memories that float by with the waiters and the smells that seem to constantly be wafting through the air.

And yet, the main act is always the food. It is still satisfying to see the salad hand- tossed table side. The leafy mixture, called ‘The 1905,’ (as if we need a reminder of the past!), is a salad that remains the heart and soul of what makes this restaurant special.

It begins and ends with a reminder of the robust lost art of salad tossing. My waitress was an enthusiastic creator as she tossed the salad with an easy flair. And then the piquant flavors begin to subtlety wind their way to your nostrils even before the first bite.

First comes the lettuce base. And then, the garlic and Worcestershire sauce is tossed in. And finally, the lemon is squeezed freshly into the mix and you’re off! The last compliment to be found is the blessing of freshly grated black pepper ground on top of the mixture before you enjoy the fabulous concoction. The 1905 Salad is something of a joy and a delight to behold….