Columbia Restaurant
$$ • Restaurant
Most Recent Reviews
Terrific experience. Server was knowledgeable and they had an allergen menu. Many options!! I got the picadillo. The plantains are fried in a shared flier, so I slipped those. I was just visiting but hope to go back soon.
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.
They have a separate allergen menu. I am gluten and dairy intolerant, and did not have any issues. Food is excellent and servers are knowledgeable.
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More Reviews
Lots of GF options. We eat at several of their locations safely. Last time I had lunch at Ybor location, Chef prepared my meal personally, and said he had a family member w/ Celiac. I love the Columbia brand of restaurants, I always know I will get good service and a quality, safe meal. Recently we have eaten at the Ybor location in Tampa, the Tampa Riverwalk location, the Sarasota location, and the location on the water over in Pinellas County. All excellent. Never a problem with gluten cc. Highly recommend.
I’ve been here a million times and I’ve never had an issue, regardless of whether I was eating at the restaurant or ordering to-go. Of course, I always explain that I’m celiac and everything, but there’s a separate GF menu, and everyone’s always been so understanding and friendly. The food is great, and the restaurant itself is beautiful!
Excellent ambiance, food, and service!! Can’t wait to come back!
Great GF options. Amazing as always. Got the 1905 salad and the shrimp and yellow rice. For dessert, the flan!
Pros: When I told the server I was celiac he immediately brought me the allergen menu (which clearly indicates the gf items) and also had good knowledge of safety (e.g, warned me that the plantains could be contaminated). Definitely go here for the atmosphere; it is a beautiful, unique historical place. Lively, bustling. It is HUGE (be sure to wander around and check out all the rooms). They have flamenco performances nightly, and a cute gift shop. Cons: Not many gf options, overall (especially if you don’t like seafood). And what I had was just okay (pork/beans/rice, tomato salad). Kinda overpriced for just so-so food.
We were there in April 2022. My wife is amongst those who hears the word gluten and breaks out in feverish hives. She had the shrimp in yellow rice. The food was amazing, the service impeccable, and the ambiance was unforgettable. Each of our meals was absolutely perfect! Whenever we find ourselves in the Tampa area, our family will always dine at the Columbia.
This a historical restaurant that you need to eat at if you are in the area! The waiter was very knowledgeable about celiac disease and they have a separate gluten free menu!! The food was delicious and even had dessert!! The place it self is beautiful inside!
Gluten free menu, server was very knowledgeable. Food was flavorful, great atmosphere and loved the music. Really enjoyed our evening here.
I was here with a large group of 150 and they worked with me to tweak my dinner. Service and food were great.
They provided a gluten free menu. The food, service and atmosphere is wonderful.
They really understand gluten free and cross contamination—the chef even came to our table to go over my order. Plus it was absolutely delicious!
Columbia is a “go to” for our family because the restaurant offers many GF options and the staff is so knowledgeable about the preparation and handling thereof. My daughter (celiac) loves the Ropa Vieja and rice.
Service was iffy, and the drinks are strong 😂 but the chicken and rice dish was absolutely fantastic.
Been here twice now. The wait staff is educated. They have a gluten free menu as well. Food is very good!
Told hostess when making reservation. The server and maitre dee came to our table and spoke to my daughter. They were phenomenal! No issues.
There’s a dedicated gluten free menu with lots of options. My cocktail and roast pork were both delicious. I would have preferred more rice, beans, yucca, and plantains (and less pork), but that’s just me. My husband calls it the peasant-version. There was flan for dessert, but I was too full to order it.
The allergen menu system could use a redesign. It's quite hard to find the options on the full menu to get a description, and most of the menu items listed aren't available in the lunch menu, but the menu doesn't tell you that or tell you which options are available dinner only. It wouldn't be hard to fix and make a much better dining experience. 3 of us ate there with no ill effects. The food is good and the place has a great atmosphere.
Staff knows gf items and provides a list if necessary. Very willing to make dishes with no sauce or other mods
Wonderful ambiance, great gluten free place to eat. The chicken and yellow rice were GF and delicious!
Delicious as usual, plus the gluten free menu is listed on their website so you can get an idea of what options you have before going in. Though our waiter passed on gluten free info to the chef, he still brought me Cuban bread. The bar carries Daura gluten free beer!
Celiac friendly Columbia Restaurant Chef Al Johnson is Very knowledgable of gluten and food allergies so if you give him the right info and the chance he will do his best to make you a delicious meal and keep you safe too! Not everyone understands the seriousness of Celiac Disease and how harmful gluten can be for us but... he does for sure and works to educate his team. Every kitchen in every restaurant is open to risk of cc yet... he hasn't made me sick once in four years - 2013 to 2017 at our many visits to the Columbia Ybor.
gluten free menu items are listed on a separate menu. wonderful food, no issues.
Reviews of this Chain
They recently changed their menu and didn’t have an allergy free menu at this time. The waiter gave me some ideas and I got the Mahi sandwich with no bread or cheese. It was good.
Their allergy-friendly menu is very well marked, the black bean soup is delicious, and their 1905 salad is the strangest salad I've ever eaten a whole bowl of. They did set the Cuban bread on our table, but we had no problem with it and our non-gf members enjoyed the extra bread.
Felt very confident eating here. Great menu of GF items and tons to choose from. Food was amazing. Portions were large too. Highly recommended this restaurant.
I communicated my allergy to the waiter and ordered off of the allergy menu and ended up getting glutened. That’s a rare occurrence for me. My food also tasted like it had been under a warmer for awhile. Came out quick and the chicken was dry. Wouldn’t go back.
Based on previous reviews we came here for dinner. Our party was mixed GF and non GF. My husband and I shared the 1905 salad and a meat dish with onions and rice. The food was just ok. Not worth the price. I didn’t get sick so that was a plus.
