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  • Columbia Restaurant - SandKey

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Columbia Restaurant - SandKey
Columbia Restaurant - SandKey

Columbia Restaurant - SandKey Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Dining
  • Website: http://columbiarestaurant.com
  • Phone: (727) 596-8400
  • Hours of Operation: Lunch: Daily 11:30am - 4:00pm Dinner: Daily 4:00pm - 10:00pm
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Spanish, Latin / Spanish, Cuban
  • Dress Code: Casual Dress
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Bar/Lounge, Beer, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, Non-Smoking Area, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Smoking Area, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Private Party Facilities: For groups, we offer areas to host your rehearsal dinner, wedding reception, party, or group event. Choose from our banquet menu or let us customize your menu for that special occasion. Our waterfront Mediterranean-style dining room is filled with hand-painted Spanish tiles and family heirlooms, specially selected to create an old-world charm and ambiance that lend an atmosphere of warmth and elegance to any gathering.
  • Private Party Contact: Lee Michaud (727) 596-8400
  • Entertainment: After your meal, stroll the boardwalk along the Intracoastal waterway behind The Columbia that connects to the Shoppes on Sand Key. Be sure to make time for a visit to Caladesi Island, home of the #1 Beach in North America. Dr. Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach, announced Caladesi Island State Park as having the best beach in America again in 2008.
  • Special Events & Promotions: Although online reservations may not be available, we are still taking reservations through the restaurant. Traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings: $21.95 adults $5.95 kids under 10. Our complete dinner menu is also available all day.

Getting there

  • Parking: Public Lot
  • Parking Details: Free parking in our parking lot.
A word from Columbia Restaurant - SandKey
Waterfront dining at its finest! Family-owned & operated for over 100 years, Columbia has earned acclaim for its old-world charm & award-winning Spanish/Cuban cuisine & wine list. Join us for century-old family recipes like Paella "a la Valenciana," Filet Mignon "Columbia," & fresh seafood… specialties. Sample a fine Spanish wine like Torres, Montecillo or Campillo. Don’t miss Columbia’s Original “1905” Salad®, named “One of America’s Top 10 Best Salads” by USA Today -- The only restaurant in Florida to be named. Whether you choose a table looking out onto the radiant blue waters of the Intracoastal Waterway from the Mediterranean dining room, or experience the casual atmosphere from our outdoor deck on the water, you can enjoy the cuisine that has consistently been voted Tampa Bay's Favorite. We are a sister to the Columbia in Tampa's Ybor City, founded in 1905. Children's menu available. Open 365-days a year, including all holidays.Continued
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerBest Overall
  • Diners' Choice WinnerBest Ambiance
  • Diners' Choice WinnerBest Food
Diner Reviews
  • "What a big surprise................a beautiful place, great service...............and just the way restaurants used to be when Service and class was king!"
    Dined on 7/27/2014
  • "Thank you so much for a lovely evening at the Colombia - Sand Key. My reservation request were all met...window table and sat promptly at 6:30 which I am truly grateful. This was an anniversary celebration and we couldn't have asked for a better dining experience. The food was delicious and the service was outstanding!"
    Dined on 7/26/2014
  • "My mother and I drove down to the beach from the Tampa area specifically to have lunch at this location. We're old fans of the original restaurant in Ybor City. The Sarasota location did not disappoint. We arrived later than our OpenTable reservation but were seated immediately at a nice table with a great ocean view. The menu was familiar to us so we jumped right in. Mom had the "Famous 1905 salad" w/marinated shrimp and I ordered grouper with yellow rice; the food was just as good or better than Ybor City. Our waiter was engaging and attentive. Add for a glass or Sangria for her and an ice tea for me and we were out at $55. A little pricey for lunch but it was well worth the trip."
    Dined on 7/26/2014
  • "I took my sister to Columbia for her birthday. We loved the food! The atmosphere was great too. A little trouble with the waiter but nothing that would keep me from going back. I really enjoyed it."
    Dined on 7/25/2014
  • "Start with the salad then choose assorted Tapas. Fantastic!"
    Dined on 7/25/2014
  • "I HAVE BEEN TO THE COLUMBIA RESTAURANT A FEW TIMES AND THE FOOD AND SERVICE IS EXCELLANT. I TOOK FRIENDS THAT HAD NEVER BEEN TO ANY OF THE COLUMBIA RESTAURANTS AND THOUGHT THE FOOD AND SERVICE WAS JUST GREAT.THEY ALSO WAS INPRES WITH THE DECOR."
    Dined on 7/21/2014
  • "Columbia Sand Key is my favorite place on teh water, however, my most recent visit was not good. Waited 15 minutes for a waiter. Finally stopped one walking by and complained. Seems our waiter had a big table and could not get to us. Since they just opened, many waiters were standing around just waiting for diners? So.........different waiter shows up. Salad (1905) was as good as always, but wrong entree shows up! Not what we ordered (Filet Salteado not baked fish).. No problem says waiter - we will correct mistake (waiter entered wrong I.D. number I was told). Correct order shows up and it is burnt on outside and cold inside (fish). Kitchen tried to rush order I suppose. Very disappointing."
    Dined on 7/20/2014
  • "We first went to The Columbia in St Augustine when we were looking for a late evening meal and it was one of the few restaurants still serving. What a great experience it was!! We now consider our "local" Columbia on Sand Key to be our go to place for romantic date nights or special occasions and of course we always make a point to visit the one in St Augustine when we are there."
    Dined on 7/19/2014
  • "The food was absolutely delicious however the service was SLOW SLOW SLOW. We had made reservations through open table to celebrate our daughter's 15th birthday. I was hoping that this would be special for her. Nothing was said, song or brought to her for her birthday."
    Dined on 7/19/2014
  • "The steak had a strong taste of Bourbon. The 1902 salad was drenched in salad dressing. Much poorer quality than I am accustomed to seeing at Columbia"
    Dined on 7/19/2014
  • "Took the family for my mothers birthday. Everything was fantastic. I had the Pollo Manchego. It may have been the best restaurant meal I've had in a year!!"
    Dined on 7/19/2014
  • "Every dish there is delicious. The mahi mahi is incredible!"
    Dined on 7/18/2014
  • "We have been to the Columbia three times - all were outstanding!"
    Dined on 7/18/2014
  • "My husband and I both ordered streaks - medium. Our steaks both came overcooked. We would not have said anything, but the manager stopped by and asked how everything was, so we told him. Before we knew it, we had new steaks prepared perfectly! We were also given dessert "on the house" for the inconvenience."
    Dined on 7/18/2014
  • "We came to the Clearwater location for our anniversary and our vacation. We loved it so much we went back a couple nights later. The drinks were awesome and the food was some of the best I've had. I am a cigarian and loved purchasing some of their handmade cigars and other merchandise."
    Dined on 7/17/2014
  • "This was our first visit to any of the Columbia locations. I give the restaurant four stars primarily on the strength of the food. The Snapper Alicante was absolutely delicious, as were the stuffed Piquillo peppers and the empanada from the Tapas menu. The only drawback was the service: it took a good 15 minutes after being seated before a waiter showed up, and he was mostly neglectful through our meal (seemed to be paying more attention to a table of female diners). He evidently knew this to be the case, as he brought us a complimentary flan (to make up for the fact that we had to wait so long at the beginning of the meal). He then ignored us again for a time as he continued to engage the other, more interesting table. Oh well."
    Dined on 7/17/2014
  • "The food was delicious! The servings were quite large, so we did ask to bring home some of our order. The menu has a vast number of Cuban entrée selections Be sure to try the flan for dessert! The décor is very bright and cheerful. Our waiter was particularly friendly and attentive. We enjoy the view of Clearwater Bay whenever we eat at this restaurant. We did ask for window seats when we reserved the time, but there were none available when we arrived, however the bay is easily viewed from all table locations. Would recommend the Columbia Restaurant Sand Key to everyone."
    Dined on 7/16/2014
  • "I've been to a couple columbia restaurants. All are very nice atmosphere and great food. This particular one at sandkey beach had slow service. The waiter we had was old and hard of hearing. He kept repeated back the wrong order and then running off. We had to track him down a few times to get it corrected before they served our food. I'll go back there but request a different if I get him."
    Dined on 7/14/2014
  • "The food was quite good and so was the service Grouper Bilbao was excellent and the pompano en papillot brought back many memories We'll go back soon to try other treats"
    Dined on 7/12/2014
  • "The columbia has become a place we must eat at every time we come to tampa... the delicious white sangria, empanadas (yum), and the great choices of food....something for everyone. Save room for dessert....the churro s (with 3 dipping sauces)are a favorite but its so hard to make a choice the flan and bread pudding are to die for."
    Dined on 7/12/2014
  • "Fantastic Tampanian and traditional Cuban food. Quality food, professional service, great restaurant. The location doesn't have the same charm as Ybor City though."
    Dined on 7/12/2014
  • "The menu is large but we go for the 1905 salad and Cuban bread. Lovely atmosphere. This has become a regular place for us."
    Dined on 7/9/2014
  • "We absolutely LOVE the Columbia Restaurant. The food is always first class, the service is impeccable and the atmosphere is really nice, especially with the view of the water. This is our go to FAVORITE restaurant and we visit frequently. Don't miss this gem on the beach. You definitely have to try the Columbia. You will not regret it!"
    Dined on 7/7/2014
  • "My boyfriend and I went here to celebrate our anniversary. The restaurant was beautiful and the food amazing. However, our server was terrible! The hostess brought us to our table and it was at least 5 minutes before we were even acknowledged. When we were, it was a hurried "I'll be with you in a few minutes." Maybe she just had a busy section and she was feeling overwhelmed. But when she finally came over, not once did she smile. When we only ordered entrees and a pitcher of sangria, she grew visibly frustrated, as if we weren't spending enough to be worth her time. She didn't come by anymore except for a not at all genuine "how is everything?"We spoke with the manager, who apologized.I'd still go back as long as I didn't get her again!"
    Dined on 7/6/2014
  • "My girlfriend and I had dinner here during 4th of July weekend. Honestly is just an amazing restaurant all around. Our waiter was very nice and had no problem suggestioning a great wine for the night. ( Rusty red wine ) Our dinner was to die for, the Mahi Mahi seasoned to perfection and pollo Relleno just unbelievable. If your ever in Clearwater this place is a must."
    Dined on 7/5/2014
  • "We waited over 20 minutes for someone to greet us and offer water, drinks and menus; we finally had to ask the busboy to find our waiter and we found ourselves waiting another 10 minutes for Sangria. Finally a manager walked by and we stopped him and asked for help. He assigned Edgar to be our waiter and things finally began going better. The 1905 salad was outstanding as always. My husband liked his grouper which was moist and had been cooked in a clay pot. I had the Grouper Jimmy which was supposed to have lump crabmeat on top. I could barely find the crabmeat and the grouper was dry and flavorless. Edgar graciously asked us if we would like dessert on the house and we were able to try the flan. It was a highlight-really good."
    Dined on 7/5/2014
  • "We have come to the Columbia on 4th of July for several years to enjoy the food plus a great vantage point to watch fireworks from several towns. We arrived for our 8:15 Open Table reservation with request for outside seating to be told that they do not reserve outside dining and there were no tables available outside. We ate inside and enjoyed our dinner but the purpose for our dining choice was lost. A restaurant that cares about it's patrons could have emailed or called to let me know that our choice of seating was not going to work. We invited 3 friends to come with us to dine and enjoy the fireworks"
    Dined on 7/4/2014
  • "Love the deviled crab croquettes, empanadas de picadillo. Grouper Jimmy was fabulous. And a must have is the guava turnover w/ vanilla sauce and key lime pie. Take them both ToGo for breakfast if you must."
    Dined on 7/4/2014
  • "Our waiter cidd was oustanding and attentive. What an asset to your company."
    Dined on 7/4/2014
  • "Would definitely recommend. Good food and service. Clean. Parking can be a bit tricky, but sometimes valet parking is available. Nice atmosphere. Scenic. Would not recommend for small children. Great place to unwind and relax."
    Dined on 7/3/2014
  • "Overall Columbia's was excellent. I should have taken the waiters recommendation. I ordered the Mahi Mahi. It was very dry. The Grouper was amazing!!"
    Dined on 7/2/2014
  • "Love this location. Beautiful setting. Great food and excellent service. Always love the 1905 salad and sangria!"
    Dined on 6/29/2014
  • "Great food. Wonderful service. Nice wine list. Spectacular view. We love going here."
    Dined on 6/29/2014
  • "If you're looking for great food near your hotel and resort in walking distance for most, then Columbia is it. Afterwards grab a souvenir at their awesome gift shop. Definitely a must."
    Dined on 6/28/2014
  • "This Columbia was the best of the chain by far. Sitting by the window overlooking the water was jaw dropping. Added to the ambiance of the night."
    Dined on 6/28/2014
  • "We had a GREAT experience. I recommend that table side Sangria's, 1905 Salad, and Paella."
    Dined on 6/28/2014
  • "Columbia has for many years been my favorite restaurant in Florida. Each time I go I am not disappointed. The 1905 Salad is the super and I highly recommend it before dinner. Some of my favorites are the Snapper "Adelita", Pompano "Lido Key" and of course Camarones "Jesse Gonzales"."
    Dined on 6/27/2014
  • "Have been going to Colombia since before I was born: mom and dad dined at the location in Ybor City. Every time we come to Tampa or the beach we have to dine there and it is always good."
    Dined on 6/27/2014
  • "Like it so much that we came back the next evening. And not disappointed!"
    Dined on 6/26/2014
  • "Dined here two days ago and expected more. Nice ambiance and good service. We were given grubby and food-stained menu which was not a good impression. Would not return here."
    Dined on 6/23/2014
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Diners' Choice Awards
  • Tampa / Central Florida West Winners
  • Most Booked
  • Clearwater Winners
  • Best Overall
  • Best Ambiance
  • Best Food
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Special Occasion
  • Most Booked
Learn more ›