Social Profile: ![]()
![]()
✔️Breakfast ✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
… View more
Family owned since 1905, the Columbia is the oldest restaurant in Florida. The menu is Cuban-Spanish. There are now six other locations. The restaurant has been named an All-American Icon, One of 21 of the Most Legendary Restaurants, Favorite Romantic Restaurant, One of Florida’s Best Restaurants and to the Distinguished Restaurants of North America Hall of Fame and Florida Trend Golden Spoon Hall of Fame. Wine Spectator awarded its Best of Award of Excellence every year since 2004 for the extensive collection, especially Spanish wines. Other locations include the original in Tampa’s Ybor City, St. Augustine, Celebration near Orlando, Clearwater/Sand Key, Tampa Bay History Center and Tampa Airport. Other brands: Ulele, Casa Santo Stefano.
Traditional Spanish restaurant, a branch of a long-standing local chain dating back to 1905.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 411 St Armands Cir, Sarasota, FL 34236
Phone: (941) 388-3987
Website: https://www.columbiarestaurant.com/st-armands-circle-sarasota
Menu Photos
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
St. Armands Circle, Sarasota | Columbia Restaurant
St. Armands Circle, Sarasota · A Short Walk From Lido Beach, Close To Longboat Key And Downtown Sarasota. · Named “One of Florida’s Top Restaurants” since 1967.
Columbia Restaurant: Home
For more than 120 years, the Columbia Restaurant has served Spanish-Cuban cuisine to the state of Florida, using family recipes and tradition.
View All Locations | Columbia Restaurant
The Hernandez/Gonzmart family opened this landmark Columbia Restaurant in Tampa’s historic Ybor City in 1905. Today, it’s Florida’s Oldest Restaurant℠ and …
Last Updates
Reviews
Duane Ringler
Columbia restaurant was recommended by local store owners so we took their advice and were so glad we did! I would rate our experience today in my top 5 all time of culinary experiences. Our server Arturo was exceptional! Funny, attentive and generous. The food was absolutely delicious. Our pitcher of sangria was prepared at the table along with our salads. Everything done with care and to perfection. If you haven’t tried Columbia, do not wait any longer.
… moreAnn-Marie
MY SISTER WAS RIGHT! Lunch here was fantastic. My sister said this place was famous for its salad. She described it and I thought it sounded okay but I decided to order it so I could decide for myself. Omg! She was right. It’s hard to believe that a salad could be that good but it was. It was excellent. I like that you can get it in a half size or a full size. I got the half size with a Cuban sandwich, which also was delicious. We also each enjoyed a martini at the bar because why not?! The list of specialty martinis is extensive. The atmosphere is lively and friendly. Restroom is small but clean. Great location on the circle with inside and outside seating. Thanks sis!
… morejr merritt
It’s a fabulous time of year (December) to visit Columbia at St. Armands Circle. They open the dining room to the breeze when the weather is nice, and they also have heaters outside if you prefer to sit closer to the bustle of the sidewalk traffic. We went mid-week and were able to get seats at the bar—highly recommend if you enjoy watching skilled bartenders at work.
The menu is huge and approachable. Everyone in your party will find something here. The mojito comes with a piece of sugar cane (fun touch), and both the white and red sangria were outstanding. It’s stone crab season, and the claws arrived pre-cracked—zero effort, all reward—with hot butter on the side.
The Cuban bread was fresh, flaky, and left little crumbs that felt like confetti across our end of the bar, which honestly matched the mood: a celebration. My entrée was beautifully cooked, and the classic flavors reminded me why Columbia is such a Florida institution.
Parking is plentiful, and strolling past the shops afterward is a perfect way to end the evening. If you’re in the area, don’t miss this fantastic family restaurant that has been around (in various forms) since 1905. Consistently great food, warm atmosphere, and a true taste of old-Florida hospitality.
… moreThe menu is huge and approachable. Everyone in your party will find something here. The mojito comes with a piece of sugar cane (fun touch), and both the white and red sangria were outstanding. It’s stone crab season, and the claws arrived pre-cracked—zero effort, all reward—with hot butter on the side.
The Cuban bread was fresh, flaky, and left little crumbs that felt like confetti across our end of the bar, which honestly matched the mood: a celebration. My entrée was beautifully cooked, and the classic flavors reminded me why Columbia is such a Florida institution.
Parking is plentiful, and strolling past the shops afterward is a perfect way to end the evening. If you’re in the area, don’t miss this fantastic family restaurant that has been around (in various forms) since 1905. Consistently great food, warm atmosphere, and a true taste of old-Florida hospitality.
J. D.
Excellent restaurant, but plan ahead and make reservations. The whole time we were there the restaurant was packed, early afternoon on a Thursday! Service was very good. My gal loved their dirty martinis with blue cheese stuffed olives. They toss the 105 Salad at your table. We had the Crab Croquettes and the Palomilla Steak Sandwich-nice size portions. Highly recommend
… moreSir_Eats-a-lot
The Columbia has a fun vibe, full of energy. Lots of people watching in the evening. It’s a huge restaurant with tons of seating. The service is great. Our server greeted our party of 5 immediately and started us off with drinks. The food was super tasty. I had the paella Valenciana which I shared with 2 other people. I had a piece of steak from someone at the table which was really good.
… moreZophael Ray
First of all, make a reservation in advance. It’s very busy and you may have to wait some time for a table without a reservation. The restaurant itself is quite crowded, but it’s worth it for the delicious food. I especially enjoyed the Ropa Vieja. The bread was warm and wonderful. The Sangria is made tableside and also quite good. I also loved the crab croquettes and flan. Waylon was a great server!
… moreMatt Rohde
Leaving a separate review from my business account because my personal account has reviewed this place so many times (Matt Rohde)
This is hands down one of our favorite restaurants ever, and we’ve been all over the world. This last time in December we had one of the best experiences we had there. Patrik, our server, was EXCEPTIONAL, I can’t put into words how amazing he was. So friendly and the service was so quick. The food was amazing but that’s a given when coming to Columbia Sarasota. Jeremy the manager also came over to chat with us. Great business through and through, really can’t say enough about this place. We will be seeing you guys again soon. Thank you for such a great experience everytime.
Matt Rohde
… moreThis is hands down one of our favorite restaurants ever, and we’ve been all over the world. This last time in December we had one of the best experiences we had there. Patrik, our server, was EXCEPTIONAL, I can’t put into words how amazing he was. So friendly and the service was so quick. The food was amazing but that’s a given when coming to Columbia Sarasota. Jeremy the manager also came over to chat with us. Great business through and through, really can’t say enough about this place. We will be seeing you guys again soon. Thank you for such a great experience everytime.
Matt Rohde
Bani D
Food was delicious. However there were limited options for me. I dont eat seafood, I rarely eat steak and there were only really 2 chicken dishes. 1 had bone in which I dont eat. So I was limited to 1 dish. But it was delicious. The flan was amazing and im picky about my flan because my Puerto Rican neighbor makes me homemade flan! The 1905 salad was good too. Staff friendly. Very busy so reservations recommended.
… moreVV
Columbia Restaurant is just as good as the original in Ybor City. Fantastic authentic Cuban food. We got a pitcher of Mojitos for $30 which was a great deal. They were pretty good. The Original 1905 salad is what they are known for and it did not disappoint. We shared it as an appetizer and it was plenty big. The ropa vieja was good as well. We will be back.
… moreDamian Morrone
We had an amazing time at the Columbia restaurant, the food tasted sooooo good the salad was made in front of our table as well as the sangria. Felicia was our server and she was so attentive and professional as well as personable. She made sure the manager came out and fixed our table heater. The manager went above and beyond also, he wouldn’t stop trying to fix it, in fact, he cared so much he came up with a “duct tape” hack to keep it working. We can’t stop talking about our great experience at the Columbia!! Thanks again, can’t wait to return. I hope we get Felicia!
… more