Columbia Cafe - Riverwalk Tampa

This visit was a 5 star experience. 🌟 No wait, service was outstanding and food was cooked to perfection. Tha manager greeted everyone and asked about the food and dining experience. He definitely keeps this place running to perfection. My last review was not that great. I even thought of not returning, but glad I did. It was the best dining experience. 🤩

We were on the Riverwalk on a Friday night, so there was a wait (which we expected and were ok with). The food was delicious. My husband had the Cuban sandwich and I had the 1905 Salad. The small is big enough for a meal if you already had Tapas (we ordered the shrimp one and the cheese/bread one - SO good!). Everything was delicious. Staff were amazing. So friendly and helpful.

SUCH great food and ambiance. The mojitos and sangria are amazing. The cuban sandwich is delicious and can feed 2 people, unless you want to eat a lot of food! The empanadas are a must for an appetizer and the plantains are perfect. We also had the shredded pork with rice (can’t remember the name). We will definitely come back and also want to try the other locations.

We were in Tampa for a work conference and someone suggested the Columba Cafe. We walked over in the summer heat — and asked for a table inside (ie air conditioning) but no tables were available. So we were seated on the covered patio. Thank goodness for the fans and misters! We enjoyed cold drinks, the famous table side salad, and a few different entrees. Everything was delicious and our server was great! … and we clowned it up at the nearby alligator sculpture!

Second stop at this cafe. This time we went upstairs to checkout the history center and we found a small seating area and beautiful old bar. Food and service was great and the sangria hit the spot on a hot day. Their Cuban Sandwich is great but I tried their Sloppy Jose - delicious Ropa Vieja on a Cuban roll. Yeah, it hit the spot.

Holy hell this place is off the charts. The friendly servers make your pitchers of drinks like mojitos right at the table. The original Cuban sandwich is as good as any I've had. And I'm a big boy and have had many. Literally the best place for the money we ate in Tampa Bay, ever. Don't forget to buy their coffee for home. It's the bomb.

Everyone knows about the historic and famous Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, but not so much for this secondary location. The Ybor spot is a must, but it is more for a special experience, given the difficulty in getting a table there, which is justified. But this one is an excellent option. Situated under the Tampa Bay Historical Art Museum and between Sparkman Wharf and Amalia Arena, the restaraunt is entirely open air, but fully covered and is right on the river - a really beautiful site. It's not as hot as you might think though with breezes off the river and their fans blowing throughout. The menu is not as expansive as the Ybor location, but all the highlights are there. Excellent savory, classic entrees, sumptuous sandwiches and salads all do the trick. Excellent cheap wine. Reservations are not accepted, but so long as there is not an event at the arena, that should not pose a problem. If there is an event, then arrive by 530.