Columbia Restaurant

Good meal but I found a crouton in my salad. I asked for no croutons and told the waiter I was allergic. Disappointed

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not very

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Good

Excellent experience, ask for the allergen menu.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

They have an allergen friendly menu that marks a decent amount of gluten free options. The salad is naturally gluten free and delicious

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Ask for the allergy menu! There are an array of options. If not eating the crusty loaf of bread they bring each person will make you sad or too tempted maybe don’t eat here!

It is loud so if you or someone in your party is hard of hearing you might want to find someplace else!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Good

We went for a light lunch because we heard about the famous salad! Well, it did not disappoint! The salad is made table side and it is delicious. GF menu is available from hostess. Also had sweet plantains. Good choices for gf.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

They have a GF menu but you have to ask the hostess stand for it. They have some basic options, a few main courses, nothing crazy exciting but can definitely get a gf meal here. Sangria is very good.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Had high hopes for this place, based on previous reviews. Arrived for lunch on a hot day in a nice, red white and blue, USA tank top, and asked for outside seating. Was told that tank tops are not permitted even though there were plenty of women in sleeveless, backless tops, and even half shirts. To their credit, they did provide me with one of their t-shirts, which I had to put on over my existing shirt, and it made me even hotter than I already was.

I asked if the sangria was gluten free, and was told "no". I then asked if the Margarita Pepito was gluten free, and again was told "no". Mind you, both times the waiter had to go back and ask, because he wasn't sure, so just getting answers to that took about 10 minutes. When I asked about another drink, I was told the only option I had was Tito's, and that's it — in their entire bar. I got a ginger ale. My wife got the sangria and wasn't impressed.

I ordered Gambas “Al Ajillo” for an app and it was 5 extremely tiny shrimp drowned in a very pungent oil. I absolutely love spicy and flavorful food, but it was just overkill and not worth $14 by any stretch of the imagination. My suggestion would be to serve extra-large to jumbo shrimp in the same oil to have a more balanced overall taste and justify the cost.

For the main course I had Paella “Española”. It was a hearty sized portion of food, but once again it was just overkill on the flavor. Way too rich to the point where it was hard to get it all down.

IMO the chef here needs to learn the art of letting the basic taste of the food shine through the flavoring.

The service was great with the exception of our waiter not knowing off-hand what is and isn't gluten free, when it came to gluten free drink options (which again were non-existent except for Tito's).

Unfortunately the food just didn't live up to the hype, and the tank top rule is rather odd given how casually everyone there was dressed (beach garb).

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

Have eaten at two locations and both have been very safe and delicious

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

This well-known favorite is baffling to us based on pricing and food quality. Decent number of GF options. Shrimp and Yellow Rice was better option over Steak, which was served cold with tasteless sides. Spanish Bean Soup was best pick of the meal. Skip the awful sangria.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

Other Characteristics

• Good selection of healthy options
• Offers outdoor seating

We made a birthday reservation to ensure we didn’t have a wait. Upon arrival the hostess staff seemed confused and did not acknowledge us at first. Then another couple came in after us and they sat them first, without communication. After a few minutes we were seated with a GF menu & birthday card. Our waiter never acknowledged the birthday, but did acknowledge my gluten allergy. He then brought me gluten bread, and later joked about having an extra crouton salad, which clearly had no croutons. This was not acceptable behavior from a professional at a prominent restaurant. I had the Paella for my main course, the meat was awful, as it was not cooked properly, but the seafood was good. Once that was done our waiter offer dessert that contained gluten, again, forgetting my allergy. We reminded him of it again. We ordered the flan. It was brought out with no acknowledgement of my birthday. While the flan was good, we were not satisfied with the service and main course. The check was brought to us, we paid and proceeded to the hostess to ask for a manager, but our server was there talking to the hostess. We brought it to his attention of the lack of acknowledgment of my birthday and he proceeded to say “you should have told me.” Not accepting responsibility. Again, the reservation was booked for a birthday & a card was placed on the table by the lady who brought us to our table. They clearly knew it was my birthday. He asked us to wait, so we did. He came back a few minutes later and gave us a gluten cheesecake and a gift card, but did not mention the value. While the food did not make me sick, the food was subpar, and the service from our server was unprofessional and rather disrespectful for my Celiac needs. If you eat here I would be very cautious.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Below Average

I had an excellent experience here! Our server was very knowledgeable on all gluten free option (they are not marked on the menu). He assured me that the food would be made entirely separately to prevent cross contamination. Great food and great service! 100% recommend! 😊

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Dinner was delicious! I loved all the yummy Cuban and Spanish options! I’d definitely eat here again - felt safe to eat here.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for dairy-free
• Good with other allergies

Food was amazing!!!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

jackpot great place wonderful outdoor seating. The vibe of the restaurant is so authentic and the food is delicious. Very knowledgeable I had a variety of dishes and appetizers absolutely no reaction. I give this one six stars if I could

Great atmosphere and delicious food. There’s easy access to GF menu online so I reviewed before going (I recommend this as the menu is pretty large). The 1905 salad and the yellow rice and shrimp entree were delicious! Don’t forget the pitcher of sangria made table side! Great experience overall

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Had the most delicious meal! GF menu given as i have Celiac. Staff is knowledgeable! I had Saltaedo that was simply delicious! Sangria is a must! Do not let the large, bustling restaurant intimidate u as the service is spot on! Soo accommodating!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

This place is amazing. They have a menu listing the gluten free items which is a big plus. I had a pork dish with rice and black beans.

Although the servrr didn't know what celiac was, he grabbed his manager to make sure I was safe. The manager knew gf but not celiac but said he and the kitchen staff would figure it out and make it work. Ordered the paella Valencia. It was delicious and I had no symptoms. Manager said paella was good a good choice because its cooked separately.

Excellent service and food - they were very knowledgeable about gluten free though the menu can be hard to navigate. I had grilled fish and it was amazing. The good rice is really really Good. Caesar salad was excellent. They did have gluten free flan for dessert but I didn’t have enough room to eat it! A must for a visit to siesta key!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Very good food, gf menu is a little difficult to navigate because it is in Spanish with no description. Have to find it on the regular menu to see what it is

Outstanding food! Gluten Free menu and knowledgeable staff.

Paella was amazing!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Always a great place with plenty of options. I recommend the 1905 salad and black bean soup.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

So far so good, gluten free menu. The gluten free was a plus. I will let you know in 3 hours if it work or not. No updates means it worked.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Absolutely fantastic food, service and atmosphere. Server and staff were knowledgeable and my two sons who are both extremely picky eaters devoured their meals. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys spanish/cuban inspired foods not only GF diners.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Excellent food and service. We got the paella vegetaria and it was delicious! Ceasar salads and the eggplant were phenomenal too! Great place highly suggest it.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

The Columbia has become our family's favorite when in or near Sarasota/Tampa! The St Armand's Circle location is so cozy and the staff (Wait staff & Chefs) are very knowledgable on ingredients and food prep- it makes for a great, worry free experience. Caution to the non GF diners in the family- trying to eat a loaf of their amazing Cuban loaves will get you some serious stink eye from the rest of the table! :) great tapas menu and their menu is really a great read. Also, we stock up on their 'Columbia Hot Sauce' from the gift shop so we can daydream about our next visit when we are back in Ohio. Really- it's that good. Enjoy!

They have a separate gluten and nut allergy menu that lists all foods containing gluten, and a separate section listing food that contains nuts. I ordered paella and had no issues, and my server was very knowledgeable. I would eat here again.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Great variety for those who are gluten free

We visit the Columbia restaurant in Ybor City on a regular basis and always have a fantastic experience. There are a variety of gluten free options and they are served on a special blue plate. They change gloves and ensure the food is safe. They have bags of plantain chips available (in lieu of Cuban bread) as a starter. John, the amazing manager, always recognizes our family and ensures everything goes well with our meal and checks on us quite a few times during our visit. I am so thankful to have a delicious place to eat where we feel safe. The restaurant has been there since 1905 and is a staple in Tampa and also has other locations.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good vegetarian options

The Cuban black bean soup, fresh fish, and yellow rice were all sooo good. I had a great experience but I was slightly nervous with it being such a busy place; nonetheless, I did not get sick and it was delicious!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Server misrepresented the bread as gluten free - when questioned, she assured it was gluten free when questioned multiple times.. Turns out she was misinformed - i trusted and ended up poisoned. The manager was apologetic. Strongly recommend against this restaurant - hard to trust the food will be what is promised.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much/None

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Poor

We did call ahead for their GF menu. They have allergy icons on a separate menu for your convenience & Kate emailed the entire selection!

I am also allergic to preservatives so the chef was very accommodating.

The restaurant itself is beautiful and it’s always a pleasure to stroll through Celebration. Having a nice meal is a bonus when you’re challenged!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Below Average

Eat here whenever we are in town. Have never had any issues. They have a separate allergen menu.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent