Columbia Restaurant Ybor City
Crown Jewel of Ybor City
The Bay Area Concierge Association had the enviable pleasure of being hosted by the Columbia Ybor City for an event on Monday Oct. 28th. Nothing exudes the rich cultural heritage of Ybor City better than the Original 1905 Columbia Restaurant on 7th Avenue, the oldest, continuously operated restaurant in all of Florida! Ybor was the logical landing spot for Casimiro Hernandez after he emigrated from Cuba via Spain, a spot where he would feel right at home enjoying the area’s reputation for producing strong coffee, rum and Spanish influenced cuisine. Casimiro had a dream to open his own café and in the early days, the Columbia was a small corner café that catered to the Cuban and Caribbean Islanders who toiled in the factories, the forefathers of cigar production in Ybor City today. The little corner cafe survived despite many obstacles, most notably Prohibition, and later when cigar production declined. As time progressed, Hernandez’ son Casimiro Jr., hired his daughter’s husband Cesar Gonzmart, a violin player, who eventually bought-in to become an entrepreneur in the cafe. Four generations of Gonzmarts and countless innovations later, their ‘American Dream’ is flourishing, the restaurant has expanded & updated through the years, and most importantly, the restaurant’s long-time employees are all considered to be part of the family too. — Visit the Website
We were greeted by Columbia GM Rich Sena, a friendly fellow with a great sense of style. What struck me the most about Mr. Sena wasn’t just his perfectly fitted suite or his outgoing personality, but that he had so much passion for not only hospitality, but passion for the culture and history of the Columbia and the Gonzmart family. Our evening began with fresh libations hand crafted by our Bartender Gerdys consisting of either Bacardi-spiked Mojitos or the Columbia’s signature Red Sangria, complete with muddled fruit. I won’t lie – I had my fair share of both, and from what I saw so did the rest of our attendees! While enjoying these tasty beverages, a huge spread of some of the Columbia’s signatures dishes was presented for our tasting. Among the culinary delights we enjoyed was their famous 1905 salad, a recipe that has not changed in over a century as the name would imply, and a plethora of Cuban Sandwiches that are made with fresh loaves of bread baked daily and locally nearby. Many other food supplier sources (US Foods?) are available that would be more cost effective, but since the original founder, Mr. Hernandez, started from humble beginnings and only survived due to local community support, the family continues the same traditions today, using the very same bakery and local suppliers to help support the community in return.
The next course offered an overly generous platter of Seafood Paella. For those unfamiliar with this dish, it is a flavorful, classic Spanish dish made with Valencia rice and loaded with scallops, mussels, clams, calamari and large prawns. Now I am a native of South Florida and grew up in Miami and have had my share of Latin cuisine including many variations of Paella, but Columbia’s Paella is by far my favorite! Another tasty treat we sampled was their hand-made Ham Croquets, deliciously seasoned and breaded to perfection – I found myself hounding our waiter each time a fresh batch came out of the kitchen! Many thanks to Dorys our Banquet Captain and her team Javier & Sam for making sure we were never wanting for anything.
Next we were treated to a treat that Rafael had kept secret until after we arrived. With our stomachs full and fresh beverages in hand, the lights dimmed and out came two lovely ladies and a handsome gentleman to perform a private Flamenco Show just for our enjoyment!! For those who have never been to Columbia and are unaware, 5 days a week they present an amazing Flamenco Show, a passionate and seductive dance based upon the various folkloric musical traditions of southern Spain. I can say without a doubt all of us in attendance were mesmerized by the movements, tap dancing & stomping, and the music (Gipsy Kings to Volare). You haven’t heard a guitar played until you’ve heard these guys play!! After we were wined, dined and treated to an exceptional visual dance experience, a young fellow came out to serenade us with a song of love & passion that melted our hearts and brought tears to glass eyes.
But our evening didn’t end after all of this. Rich took us all on a tour of the wine room, housing a collection of fine wines from around the world and Spain as well as wines made exclusively for the Gonzmart Family. After that, we toured all of the dining spaces: The Andalucia Room, Red Room, Columbia Ybor City Kings Room, Sancho Dining Room, Siboney Dining Room, The Don Quixote Dining Room, The Familia de Casimiro Dining Room and a visit through a secret passage that was once used during Prohibition. Each room has a distinct history and reverence to the family, culture or community.
An evening out at the Columbia is not just a meal but rather a culinary dining extravaganza like no other, immersing you in the rich culture, music, dance and cuisine and transporting you to a faraway Spanish land from which Casimiro Hernandez originated. >From the exterior covered in Talevera Blue tiles to the ambience and service, the museum-like interior, Columbia Ybor City has been and will be around for another 115 years, a true testament to what one man’s dream and commitment to his family and culture means to a community. Thanks to Rich, all of our servers, the dancers and the entire Gonzmart Family (including their extended family of restaurant personnel) for a wonderful evening out and an uplifting cultural experience!
In service through friendship,