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  3. Jacksonville / Northeast Florida
  4. St. Augustine
  5. St. Augustine

Columbia Restaurant - St. Augustine

4.5
4.5
12570 Reviews
$30 and under
Spanish
Family-owned and operated for more than 116 years, Columbia has earned acclaim for its old-world charm and award-winning Spanish/Cuban cuisine.

Casual attire is fine, but we don’t allow sleeveless shirts on men in the dining room.

Join us for century-old family recipes like Paella "a la Valenciana," Roast Pork "a la Cubana," and fresh seafood specialties.

Don’t miss Columbia’s Original “1905” Salad®, prepared tableside with our delicious, freshly-made dressing, a 100-year-old family recipe of fresh garlic, oregano, wine vinegar and Spanish extra virgin olive oil.

Be sure to sample a fine Spanish wine like Montecillo or Campillo. Relax in our courtyard or Mediterranean-style dining rooms, filled with hundreds of hand-painted tiles and Spanish-style fountains.

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.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 173 times today
Private dining

Private dining

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View details

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Cuisines

    Spanish, Cuban

  • Hours of operation

    Lunch and Dinner Daily Lunch: Monday – Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Dinner: Monday – Sunday 4:00 p.m. – 10 p.m.

  • Phone number

    (904) 824-3341

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Private party facilities

    From groups of 10-72 we offer an outdoor courtyard and indoor private dining areas to host your birthday or anniversary party, office party, rehearsal dinner, celebration of life or wedding reception.

  • Private party contact

    Our Private Event Coordinator: (904) 824-3341

  • Neighborhood

    St. Augustine

  • Parking details

    Free Parking while dining at The Columbia in the parking lot on Spanish Street adjacent to the restaurant.

  • Entertainment

    Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the nation's oldest city, and home to the Columbia Restaurant of St. Augustine, located in the heart of the historic district on St. George Street, surrounded by shops and attractions. The Columbia is located within walking distance of several historic landmarks including Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (the oldest masonry fort in the United States), the Spanish Quarter, Flagler College, and Casa Monica. There are many museums to see, including the Museum of Weapons and Early American History and the Old Florida Museum.

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 12,570 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Sort by

  1. kiml

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The sangria was heavenly. 1905 salad is always a treat. Could make a meal out of the warm and crispy bread. Strongly suggest reservations.
  2. KieuL

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall4food3service5ambience5
    First I want to say is I love this restaurant from the history, decor, service, and food, it's always amazing. I've never had a bad food experience until now. The rice was way overcooked and mushy. The calamari was overly salted. Now this isn't my usual experience but this was a first for me when I didn't like the food. I'm not too picky of an eater so I did eat some of it. It was our Anniversary and received aflan on the house which was very good. Overall I love this restaurant but this time was not the greatest. I wouldn't let this time dictate not coming back.
  3. KellenR

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall4food3service4ambience4
    A little expensive for the food we got, but overall not dissapointed. Service was good and overall ambiance of the place was very nice
  4. StevenB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our must go out to eat spot every time we are in town. The food is always amazing. The service is always fantastic. The wait times are always great even though we make reservations each time.
  5. Donna

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Incredible meal, salad and mojitos. Will definitely recommend
  6. RobinP

    New England

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The best dining experience we have had in a long time!
  7. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Great Tapas!! We enjoyed the trio, calamari, crab balls, and stuffed mushrooms. Plenty of seating with amazing views.
  8. Unhappy

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall3food3service2ambience3
    My wife and I have eaten at Columbia Restaurant dozens of times over the years, but this visit was regrettable. Our waitress was stressed and sloppy (spilling food on the floor, where there already was other food that hadn't been cleaned from previous patrons). The place wasn't as clean as it usually is. Our Cuban sandwich smelled off, the food was covered in raw onions (wasn't described that way in the menu), bread was stale, and the Fun-dee-to appetizer was described as "queso" by the waitress and it's nothing like a cheese dip. If this was our first visit here, we probably wouldn't return. After spending over $100 for lunch for two, it's not too much to expect friendly and polite A+ service, fresh and appetizing food, and in a clean environment. Our waitress was training a new hire and he had the politeness and paid attention to detail that she lacked. I hope he'll stay because they need good people like him. Columbia, we're not sure we want to return. This was our first visit after the COVID crisis, but we don't think you're ready for prime time.
  9. WendyC

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    One of our favorite restaurants, the Columbia never disappoints!
  10. EdwardD

    Washington DC

    23 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    23 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall4food5service5ambience5
    The food and table service were excellent, but the restaurant has a touristy atmosphere. We had a reservation for 7 PM, but we had to wait about 15 mins before being seated. I hate this. What is the point of a reservation? The first floor dining rooms were noisy. We asked for upstairs and were delighted to dine there.
  11. LamarC

    Jacksonville

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Always a treat. Very busy, arrived 15 minutes early for our reservation, they allowed us to be seated. Server Kristy was very busy, got our water, took our tapas order quickly. Bread took awhile to arrive. Salad was outstanding as usual, our tapas was good. Our guests ordered paella took some time (typical). White wine sangria was OK.
  12. JeremyC

    Cincinnati

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Exceptional! This is on par for a Columbia Restaurant. The server was fantastic, food was delicious, and ambiance was great. I would HIGHLY recommend if you are in St. Augustine (or for that matter, Tampa, Clearwater, Celebration, or Sarasota!)
  13. OpenTable Diner

    Charleston

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was fantastic. Great environment. And our server, Gina, was amazing. We had a great anniversary there!
  14. Lance

    Raleigh

    5 reviews

    2.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall2food1service4ambience5
    Food was just ok. Cocktail I ordered was very subpar. Very underwhelming experience.
  15. Sellers

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The 1905 salad is wonderful! Great service and a beautiful restaurant!
  16. Herbie12

    Las Vegas

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our food and service were outstanding. I look the attention to details. The food is not run-of-the-mill. Thank you for Kristen for your wonderful service. It was a very enjoyable experience~
  17. KimA

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful service and excellent food! Visited St Augustine and this place was highly recommended by a friend. Good choice!
  18. frankW

    Coastal Georgia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our server? Gabby, made r dining very enjoyable. We could not have had better service.
  19. OpenTable Diner

    Jacksonville

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Another wonderful meal at our favorite St. Augustine restaurant. The sangria (tinto) with fresh fruit, warm Cuban bread, 1905 salad, and main dishes mahi cayo hueso and snapper adelita were well prepared and served.
  20. Willie

    West Palm Beach

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    The food flavor did not come close to the cuban style I'm accustomed of eating. The portions were reasonable and the prices too. It's a good place for outside visitors.
  21. Lovethe1905

    Jacksonville

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We have been dining at the Columbia Restaurants since 1978 when I attended the University of Tampa. We will drive more than 6 hours one way just to enjoy the 1905 salad and the Spanish Bean Soup. The location in St Augustine has been our go to for the past 20 years based on our location. They have never let us down.
  22. trf333

    San Diego

    22 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food4service5ambience4
    1905 salad ; Grouper ; beef steak ! Brittney’s service rocked !
  23. ElliottB

    Tampa

    65 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    65 reviews

    Dined on May 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    We've been to other Columbia locations in the past and have always been very pleased with the food and service. This one did not disappoint either. Our meal was delicious and server was friendly and professional. Overall a very good experience.
  24. JorgeA

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was out wedding anniversary and I wanted it to be perfect. And it was. Our waiter was very accommodating and took care of our every request. The meal was perfectly cooked and they even came out to our table and wished us well on our anniversary.
  25. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Jesse was amazing! Food was fantastic. We will definitely be back.
  26. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 28, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Our waitress June was above and beyond! Wonderful
  27. JacobG

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 28, 2023

    overall1food3service2ambience4
    Long wait, Cuban was dry, took a long time for service.
  28. davidg

    Jacksonville

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great Service. June was a very nice person! Good food.
  29. JenniferC

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 28, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience4
    The Columbia was beautiful inside. However, the noise was constant as it seems voices echoed throughout. The presentation of the 1905 salad was very nice. My meal of chicken and yellow rice was very bland and didn’t feel as though it was anything unique. Some of the yellow rice was hard. My husband had the salmon and enjoyed his dish. The wait staff was thorough and took our order correctly, but we weren’t offered refills and they didn’t have any type of personality. The wait staff seemed to have a type of annoyed sound to their tone and that stayed throughout the meal. Would I return? No. Would I recommend this restaurant? No. The main reason being it didn’t feel as though there was anything unique that I couldn’t prepare at home in a quieter environment.
  30. TJhuff

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 27, 2023

    overall3food3service1ambience3
    They hurried us through the meal. We were there 1 hour and 5 minutes exactly out of that time we waited for our food for 32 minutes. It took forever to get our food but once the food arrived they started clearing our table within 10 minutes even while 6 out of the 8 people at the table were still eating. Simply because 2 of the small children were done they saw that as a sign to clear while all the adults still had FULL PLATES! We asked the waitress to please wait until we were finished and she said they were too busy to wait to clear when everyone was done and they had to clear as they went along. it was a HORRIBLE service, we felt rushed and they never even offered us drink refills, when we asked for them they came in to go cups. AWFUL experience.
  31. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 27, 2023

    overall2food4service5ambience2
    Experience was ok but the manager or whoever was running the place that day gives looks to people depending on how they are dress. I noticed it when I walked in and this guy gave my mom a look from head to toe. Pearce the server was great…. Guy was asking how we were doing at all times. Food is not that great but the sangria was the bomb. Like I said it was an ok experience.
  32. OpenTable Diner

    Naples

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 27, 2023

    overall3food2service2ambience2
    Disappointed! I send a message via open table about special occasion and nobody mentioned or asked about it at the restaurant. 2. Music was outside on the speaker but indoor just the noise of the huge air blowers / portable AC units from both side of the table. 3. Service was horrible. Waited too long to order, brought wrong order on the table twice, wine on the menu that we ordered was red and brought white wine ( tasted horrible-nothing to hold onto the description in the menu). 4. Bean cake and crab cake appetizers burned 5. “Picadillo” was tasteless
  33. DeborahU

    Coastal Georgia

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 27, 2023

    overall3food5service5ambience3
    Half of our meal was spent having someone else's kids fighting each other. When I mentioned it to the manager, he stood by and watched while these two 10 year olds wrestled each other, bumping into our table and other table. Never mentioned anything about the kids to the oblivious parents, who were chatting and finishing their drinks. After they left, we were finally able to enjoy our meal.
  34. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Columbia is always a great experience. Been going there all my life and never had a bad meal. Really just great every time
  35. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great meal and wonderful service! Thank you for helping us celebrate our anniversary!
  36. Conner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 26, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Columbia is always a good time, fan of their original location in Ybor City, this is my first time visiting this location, I couldn’t ask for a better experience. Great ambiance, fantastic food and the best mojito you’ll ever have (pitcher is a must have for the table). You’ll love the experience of a family owned restaurant, they haven’t lost their way one bit.
  37. OpenTable Diner

    Miami

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was absolutely amazing - one of the best meals we’ve had in a long time! And our waitress Baylee was fantastic! A definite “must” when visiting Saint Augustine-it will become a new tradition any time we are visiting the area!
  38. CathyB

    Alabama

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on May 25, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Our waiter, Spenser, was so good. We had a great time and enjoyed the food.
  39. Dianekel

    New York Area

    27 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on May 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We went on a recommendation from a friend and were VERY pleased. Don't normally go to spanish restaurants but Columbia changed my mind and taste buds for good. Delicious cuisine, attentive friendly courteous staff (Jessica) beautifully decorated - can't say enough. We'll be back and try other locations as well!
  40. EJW1

    Atlanta Metro

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This was our first visit to St Augustine, and I asked for recommendations from friends for where to eat. Your restaurant came highly recommended and we were not disappointed. We were able to book our reservation on line, and we arrived a little early. We waited just a few minutes and were promptly seated. The restaurant is beautiful, and the food and service were superb. Carlos was our waiter, and he was very gracious and attentive.

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Columbia Restaurant - St. Augustine offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (904) 824-3341.

Columbia Restaurant - St. Augustine is rated 4.5 stars by 12570 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 173 times today
Google Map for Columbia Restaurant - St. Augustine

98 St. George Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood

    St. Augustine

  • Hours of operation

    Lunch and Dinner Daily Lunch: Monday – Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Dinner: Monday – Sunday 4:00 p.m. – 10 p.m.

  • Cuisines

    Spanish, Cuban

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Parking details

    Free Parking while dining at The Columbia in the parking lot on Spanish Street adjacent to the restaurant.

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Entertainment

    Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the nation's oldest city, and home to the Columbia Restaurant of St. Augustine, located in the heart of the historic district on St. George Street, surrounded by shops and attractions. The Columbia is located within walking distance of several historic landmarks including Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (the oldest masonry fort in the United States), the Spanish Quarter, Flagler College, and Casa Monica. There are many museums to see, including the Museum of Weapons and Early American History and the Old Florida Museum.

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Phone number

    (904) 824-3341

  • Private party facilities

    From groups of 10-72 we offer an outdoor courtyard and indoor private dining areas to host your birthday or anniversary party, office party, rehearsal dinner, celebration of life or wedding reception.

  • Private party contact

    Our Private Event Coordinator: (904) 824-3341

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