- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Columbia Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Spanish Spanish [Edit]
800 2nd Ave NESte 4001
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 822-8000
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
29 reviews for Columbia Restaurant
Review Highlights
"The place has a great view out on the pier."
(in 10 reviews)
"For dessert, I had the Key Lime pie."
(in 2 reviews)
"Probably the best black bean soup I've had."
(in 3 reviews)
Loading...
29 reviews in English
-
Review from Diner Revue F.
Albany, CA
1/30/2012
It has taken me two months to write this revue, since I was in Florida . If you're looking for an enjoyable experience, but trying to eat healthier, this is the restaurant for you.Great cuisine overlooking the water, great location. The staff is very proffesional and friendly
-
Review from Ben V.
Philadelphia, PA
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
There is no 2 1/2 star option but that's really what our experience was and we always scale down with our reviews. As you may, or may not know, Columbia in YBOR is the oldest Spanish restaurant in the United States. They have expanded the restaurant to several new locations up and down the gulf coast. This is their St. Pete Pier location. The quarters itself is nice enough. People were dressed casually or upscale so that aspect doesn't matter. Our waiter was nice and well experienced, however he went M.I.A. for about 30 minutes at the end there.
The food was below average. Liz ordered a sangria which was average at best. My mojito was above average but still far from the best I've ever had. We then ordered the "1905" salad, a Cuban sandwich, and a bowl of black bean soup. None of these dishes should be difficult to get wrong, and the Columbia didn't get it wrong, however they found a way to make them all unmemorable. The salad was salty overload. You couldn't taste much but it. The sandwich was boring and had more mustard in it then I would like, and the black bean soup, which was fairly good, had a touch of a tinny taste to it which is a no no.
We probably won't be back. -
Review from Lance W.
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
A pretty good cuban restaurant on the pier in st pete, calle ocho quality it's not.
I've dined here on multiple occasions and the view is always great. The ropa vieja and boliche are pretty good and cost about $20 each. For lunch, the cubano sandwich is decent.
The key lime pie is really good for dessert.
Near the pier in st pete, columbia is a good option for cuban food but you can get better if you have time to venture into tampa... -
Review from michael s.
St Petersburg, FL
11/26/2011 2 photos
Okay, it was Thanksgiving and we had no family in the area and no desire to cook. So, after looking at the options we decided on Columbia as it has a storied history in the Tampa/Saint Petersburg area. And for $19.99 a person, not a bad deal.
It wasn't too crowded and service seemed to go smoothly. Got the Caesar Salad and Spanish White Bean soup along with the Cuban Bread (verrry good!) My partner asked for the gravy to be served separately on her turkey/dressing/whipped potato dish but they slathered it on anyway. When she mentioned this, they were very nice to come back out with a new dish but the turkey was dry. So they came again with moist turkey and that was satisfying to her.
I was disappointed that they put just a small dab of cranberry sauce and the Sweet Potato/Pecan casserole on the side. Quite delicious but not enough!
For dessert, I had the Key Lime pie..one of the best I've had in Florida!! My partner had the Pumpkin Flan which she thought was so-so.
The mojitos are superb and the wine list is outstanding.
A nice meal and I didn't eat for the rest of the day! -
Review from Taylor Z.
Kissimmee, FL
11/20/2011
I give this place three stars just based on location. It's on the third or forth floor of The Pier and the view is just amazing. I watched dolphins playing while I ate my salad. But other then that, the food was poor, server had to many tables to dare to give good service, and it just felt odd inside. Our food/service was so poor that for the first time ever- I complained to a manager. He was amazing, very apologetic, and did everything within his power to correct the situation. I would come back just based on how kind he was. Unfortunately he can't cook the food too.
-
Review from Diane C.
Seminole, FL
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've only been here for their Thanksgiving dinner so I can't review the regular Spanish menu. The place has a great view out on the pier. Our waitress was super friendly but incredibly forgetful. We had to ask twice for drinks and dessert, 3 times for a take home box. The turkey dinner was OK, not great. Pumpkin flan dessert was great.
-
Review from Menina M.
Libertyville, IL
1/16/2012
Nice! Very friendly people, wonderful view, and the food of course 5star!
-
Review from Carl C.
FL
7/8/2011
I won't write a long review ... Looks like most others have hit the nail on the head by saying "excellent view and ok food".
I'd never been to the pier and the Columbia was recommended.
Though I'd probably visit again, this wasn't the best food in St.Petersburg. -
Review from Danielle G.
New York, NY
1/4/2012
Nice view and ambience (restaurant's been around for more than a 100 years, a little history is nice), and more importantly, great tapas and sangria! We ordered the empanadas, chiles rellenos, crab cakes, yuca y platanos, and chorizo. It all had great flavors and good portions. I would definitely recommend this restaurant if visiting the area.
-
Review from Mike M.
Sacramento, CA
9/3/2010
Oh... Oh my old...
My grandfather is a stereotypical retired Floridian when it comes to dining out. His idea of a great meal is fettuccine at Carrabba's and a skirt steak from Outback Steakhouse. But he wants to impress us while we're visiting, so he takes us here.
We walk in on a Wednesday evening - not a peak night for post-work dinner plans or a touristy day by any means - but nevertheless, I'm saddened as I walk in. "Is this place even open?" my dad asks.
There are 200 tables and 5 are taken. Wtf is going on?
Are we on a set from "Weekend at Bernie's?" or is this the restaurant from that famous scene in "Goodfellas?" Where's Scorsese? Where's he hiding?
After we wander and find the hostess, we are seated right next to one of the 5 dinner parties eating here. Thanks for that.
I order the ($26!) traditional paella. I'm expecting this to be great. The menu looks great, it boasts of awards and chefs that have helped craft the cuisine here. So I'm thinking maybe, just maybe, this isn't a tourist trap and the food may actually be authentic, who knows?!
So all the food arrives, my grandfather's 1905 salad, my dad's pork chop dish and my paella. The word for the evening, as we are clicking our seatbelts as we drive off, after lying to the waitress about how good the food was: Bland.
This place sucks. It honestly reminds me of a high class CoCo's Restaurant.
Probably a great place to score some blow in 1983. -
Review from Kristina R.
Jacksonville, FL
8/23/2011
Great authentic Cuban food! Good service, food came out hot and it was fantastic! For lunch the dress is more casual for dinner however more dressy attire is the norm. Check out the flan for dessert.
-
Review from Ryan M.
Tampa, FL
9/30/2010
I had some friends in from out of town and I wanted to impress them with a nice view and good food.
The view ended up being 5 stars but the food was only 1 star.
One dish was way too salty and I think I got sick from my dish. No Joke. -
Review from Kimberly A.
St Petersburg, FL
8/18/2011
Food was authentic and service was great. Sangria is a must!
-
Review from Don W.
San Francisco, CA
12/27/2010
I'd like to give the place 1.5 stars, but I'm going to round down this time.
Went on a Monday for lunch and had to wait 45 minutes. That's okay, since I didn't have a reservation. The Maitre D had an attitude - something I don't think I've ever seen from any server in my life. Even places like TGIF and Champp's don't give me attitude when I inquire about how much time before the table might be ready. The man just flashed a fake grin from behind his bushy mustache and carried on.
Hungry, and knowing this restaurant was supposed to be one of the "best" in St. Pete's, I ignored this Maitre D episode in hopes of a satisfying meal. But it didn't stop there. Our waiter was totally incompetent. I understand maybe his first language wasn't English - but taking down an order should not feel like I'm trying to teach multi-variable calculus to an 8th grader. After getting our drink orders, he took 15 minutes to bring us our waters, and then 10 more minutes with our drinks. At this point, our entire party was starving after waiting over an hour to get waters. We decided to order for our respective groups to make everything go faster with just four people ordering as opposed to twelve. This seemed to bedazzle the waiter because he ended up getting our order wrong and bringing someone the wrong entree.
Moving on, the food took over 30 minutes to come out and most of it was cold. I asked him to get the Paella started early when I was ordering my drink but apparently that was going to "mess up the timing". Why then, would you tell me there is a 30 minute preparation time for the dish on the menu if I wasn't supposed to plan around it? Now everyone's food is cold.
The food itself was way too salty. Not "kind of salty", I mean offensively so. The dishes (except for my 1905 salad, which was the only redeeming dish of the meal) was way too salty.
The view was nice. The cigar saleswoman was also nice. The salad was decent. That's about it.
This was a dismal display of culinary service. Maybe it was an off-day. Best wishes to you and your party if you decide to try your luck. -
Review from Robert O.
6/13/2010
While I love the Ybor City Columbia, this location is usually more convenient for us. Located on The Pier, the views from the dining room are spectacular!
This is one of the first places my wife dined with my parents. We always enjoy feeding the pelicans outside. There is a huge multi-story fish tank inside. It is some sight!
Here I have enjoyed some of the paellas, which have all been wonderful. The Snapper "Alicante" is delicious. I recommend it.
The tableside salads are a meal in themselves. Yummy! -
Review from Mark Z.
Cedar Park, TX
10/17/2011
I was very impressed with Columbia's. The 1905 Salad was fantastic, as was the paella. Good views, good service, and reasonable prices for the quality and area. Interesting mix of authentic Spanish food and Cuban food.
-
Review from Jeff L.
Culver City, CA
6/3/2008
One cannot ask for a better view of St. Pete. Definitely 5 stars for the location and view.
The food here is not as good as the original one in Ybor. I found some of the dishes (e.g., Surf and Turf - Filet and 3 prawns) to be too salty. My filet came out overcooked (i asked for medium-rare, but got medium-well) and looked like it had been sitting there for awhile. I asked the waiter for another filet that was cooked to my liking, and the 'new' one tasted pretty good, yet over-seasoned.
The guest that I was with had a Sonny's Delmonico (ribeye) that was overcooked as well. So if you go there, make sure to order medium-rare if you want a medium cooked steak.
Desserts are excellent here. Get the white chocolate bread pudding, Key Lime Pie, or the Flan. -
Review from Sandy H.
Nashua, NH
5/12/2009
We have gone to the Columbia several times, and each time I go I think I WILL like the entrees. Sorry...it just doesn't happen! I agree with other Yelpers who find the food too salty. I also find it uninspiring...
The 1905 Salad is, however, terrific, as is their freshly baked bread (ask for lots and lots of extra butter). From now on, I will simply order an Arnold Palmer Iced Tea and a small 1905 (bread is automatically included), and I will be in dining heaven! -
Review from Ingrid K.
Louisville, KY
2/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
My experience and food overall was closer to a 4, but I really have to comment on the location. Where it sits in the Pier is nice and you get a wonderful view, but the entry is really wonky as you have to walk through a trinket mall to grab an elevator up to the restaurant. Then, you walk through and area similar to a Cracker Barrel with dips, sauces and plates for sale. While this might not bother most, I think it set a negative tone on the overall experience. I have been to the Columbia on St. Armand's and it's a very different vibe.
-
Review from Christine C.
Norwell, MA
12/30/2008
The view is fan-tas-tic, however I thought the food was just okay. It seemed very salty to me, which is amazing because I love salt, and am often accused of using it a bit too liberally. The one exception was the 1905 salad, which is amazing. They actually print the recipe on their web site (thanks guys), so I will be making it at home!
-
Review from Kimi m.
El Cerrito, CA
5/21/2007 1 photo
Perfect for nice group dinners. The waterfront views are beautiful!! The black bean soup is amazing. Some of the main entrees are on the bland side. Again, I have to say that the black bean soup was amazing and that alone was enough to keep me satisfied. I am not sure how this compares with the original Tampa location/Ybor City location.
-
Review from Felipe G.
Largo, FL
11/16/2009
This Columbia is located on the fourth floor of The Pier, St Petersburg's favorite wacky five story inverted pyramid. As others have mentioned the view of the bay is pretty impressive and is worth the visit. Unfortunately, the ambiance inside the restaurant much like the Pier itself is very 70 ish, and hasn't been updated in quite some time. It is certainly passable but just feels a little dated and stuffy as compared to a similar St Pete Spanish restaurant like Ceviche on Beach Drive that just feels more hip, young, and exciting.
As for the food it is a blend of Spanish and Cuban cuisines and is pretty solid. They have a good selection of tapas for apps or to form a meal out of. I enjoy starting off with their gazpacho soup which is such a refreshing way to start of a meal considering its a cold soup and Florida can be so hot. Why more places don't serve this is beyond me, perhaps folks don't appreciate the garlic? I am also particularly fond of their black bean cakes which are served with sour cream and guacamole. They are fried and have a nice mix of garlic and black bean flavors. In my opinion one thing missing from the tapas selections would be a mixed plate of jamon serrano and manchego cheese with some olives and bread as accompliments. Speaking of the bread the warm loaf of cuban bread they bring out is to die for. It is always served piping hot and is absolutely delicious. If you weren't careful you could completely spoil your appetite on just the bread.
They could take advantage of the poor economic climate and lure people in with a starving artist plate of just bread, and black beans and rice for next to nothing, and it would still be a great meal!
For mains I have enjoyed their seafood only Paella which is chock full of almost everything from the sea including clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, and squid and octopus. The other seafood dish that I have had there that has been very good is the Sea Bass "Bilbao" which is simple in its presentation mostly relying on the fish, wine, olive oil, and garlic to bring out all the wonderful flavours.
One of the best parts of the menu is that they new feature a special "vegetariano" section which has includes three mains to choose from including a very tasty stacked eggplant dish with Rioja infused tomato sauce and melted Spanish Tetilla cheese which has a unique soft buttery taste.
The wine list is heavily leaning towards Spanish reds, whites, and sparklings and offers many inexpensive bottles of great quality. The various sangrias they offer are all mixed table side for your added entertainment.
Overall, I have enjoyed my meals at this location of the Columbia along with their Clearwater and original Tampa/Ybor spot. While perhaps a little touristy, at least it doesn't rest on its laurels and continues to put out great tasting food. -
Review from Tom I.
Astoria, NY
10/19/2009
Like others say, 1905 salad is awesome. Really liked it. As far as other dished, they were okay. Waiter was waaaaay annoying and had to order tons of drinks to numb my hearing. View is awesome, so if you haave out of town guest they may apprecaite it.
-
Review from George K.
Chicago, IL
3/12/2007
1905 salad was fantastic! The fish that you had was awesome. That was grouper. Alan did not like his mahi-mahi so he poached Brian's snapper. That doesn't sound good. Waitress was fired from The Waffle House #43! Don Cesar wine was tre mui.
-
Review from Andrew R.
Camp Hill, PA
4/24/2011
Good food with an awesome view. A must stop place to dine when touring a landmark of St. Petersburg. The 1905 salad may be the best I've ever had.
-
Review from Candi K.
11/14/2009
5 for the view, 4 for the food, 3 for the service...so I think a 4 is fair.
My boss & I headed here for dinner one night during a customer visit per the customer's recommendation. It's easy to find (if you remember that there is both a 4th Street and a 4th Avenue). Parking is simple as well: $3 across the pier, and $4 for valet right at the restaurant. When we did get a bit turned around due to my inability to remember to write down St vs. Ave, a quick call to the restaurant got us back on our way very quickly.
We had no reservation, but on a Thursday night, it didn't seem like we needed one. The place was fairly empty at the 5 o'clock hour. We were quickly seated and met our very annoying and overselling waiter. He seemed impatient with our need to review the menu so thoroughly (it's a large menu!) and unhappy that we did not order more (two entrees, a bottle of water & a drink), but the portions are huge, so an entree was way more than I needed. When we asked for more time, he left us alone a ridiculously long time, despite our menus being closed on the table. After he took our orders, he promised he'd be back with bread shortly, but the bread didn't come until our food did. Luckily our food came out unbelievably quickly (only 10 minutes or so). My Chicken Salteado was good...maybe a bit on the bland side, but made to my specifications (no mushrooms). I would prefer mine with a few more veggies and a bit less chicken. There was easily about 2x the chicken as there were potatoes and veggies, but my guess is that's just how it always comes. My boss had the Palomilla and literally cleaned his plate so he must have been happy with it. Bread was warm and crusty. All in all, not a bad meal at all.
The view was definitely what made the trip worth it. From the 4th floor of that building, you have a beautiful view of the bay. We got to enjoy the sailing students sailing (or being towed) in as the sun went down for the evening. While the food isn't cheap, it was actually cheaper that what I expected when taking into consideration the view you were paying for.
I'm not sure I'd go back but I think it's a good "visit once" place. Perhaps their other locations have better service. -
Review from Michelle C.
Bedminster, NJ
4/4/2011
What an amazing find on the St. Pete pier. I figured this place would be overpriced with mediocre food because of its location in a tourist area; I was wrong. My mom took my husband and me for lunch and it was excellent. First, the waiter brings a large piece of hot, crusty Cuban bread with butter. You must try the famous 1905 salad that is made tableside. I had the cuban combo with an empanada, plantains, a beef dish with gravy, roast pork loin, rice and beans all for $12.95. For dessert, we had the homemade churros that come with three dipping sauces (caramel, fudge and guava). Everything is fresh and authentic. William, our waiter, was also phenomenal. I highly recommend checking out Columbia while in St. Pete!
-
Review from Andrew S.
San Diego, CA
1/6/2009 1 photo
On the fourth floor the the St. Petersburg Pier the view is second to none whether you sit facing downtown or bay side. Sangria is very good, the house paella is excellent. Probably the best black bean soup I've had. Wait staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and quick. Attire ranges from a dressy casual all the way up to formal. I'm sure they'd let you in with shorts flip-flops and a t-shirt (it is in somewhat of a touristy spot), but the atmosphere is more to the semi-formal side. As my dad says, great place for a first date.
-
Review from Andy F.
Oldsmar, FL
5/9/2010
This is the same Columbia that is in Ybor and other select cities. This particular one is in the St. Pete Pier, so the view of the water is nice. I just love the 1905 salad, but the rest of the food isn't as good as that salad! However, it is still tasty. I don't think any dish stands out besides the salad. A 3-star place with a 5-star salad and 5-star view makes me give it a 4.
