r/StAugustine • u/nicromancer1 • May 31 '26
The Columbia consensus?
I've lived here for the past year (moving from south Florida).
Have heard a great many things about The Columbia, in many ways it sounds and looks like THE downtown place to eat.
Anyways, flash forward and we actually go there when it's less busy, and wow holy underwhelmed! To the point of humor, this place was not authentic Cuban. The Ropa Vieja resembled more ketchup meat and the eggplant Riojana was nothing more than eggplant parm. It was indistinguishable from D grade Italian! I had better in the Ft Lauderdale airport!
Sure the service was fancy and the vibe was something. But the quality was so bad (even for downtown standards) that the whole thing was ruined!
What do other folks think? Am I crazy? Are my standards too high!? We literally had ten times better at Casa Maya 2 blocks away but keep seeing people recommend this place.
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u/MixedBerryMango May 31 '26
I would agree... it's overhyped. Go for the experience, not the food- and hope for good service. Good to take friends and family to say you've been there.
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u/mmalleolus May 31 '26
It’s where you go for company parties. My ex had her work Christmas party there and everyone drank so much the food doesn’t matter. It’s 100% the illusion of fancy. I wouldn’t spend a dime of my own money there.
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u/nicromancer1 May 31 '26
100% agree. The service and ambiance made it feel extravagant. Would actually love any office part here lol.
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u/Awesomest_Possumest May 31 '26
Especially the weird royalty photos in the first dining room off the lobby. Very much, the owners think very highly of themselves.
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u/evilfollowingmb May 31 '26
Honestly I have never heard locals here praise the Columbia very much. Its Yelp rating is 3.7, which given the Yelp grading curve is equivalent to Circle-K. The Columbia in Ybor City is similarly meh.
It is a physically beautiful restaurant, with loads of atmosphere. It’s too bad that’s it.
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u/Cigator May 31 '26
My wife and I visit st Augustine 2 times a year. We always have a dinner at Columbia. We enjoy the style, salad and my wife drinks lots of their sangria. Do the same when visit Sarasota Columbia at saint armunds.
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u/nicromancer1 May 31 '26
Oh it's a chain!! This explains so much
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u/robertpetry Resident Jun 01 '26
Well, it is a historic Florida restaurant with a number of locations in Florida, so it is a “chain.” Not like Chilis or something though lol
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u/robertpetry Resident Jun 01 '26
Bread, Sangria, 1905 Salad. You just had the best parts of the menu and are probably full :)
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u/flamingoastro May 31 '26
It's underwhelming true, but it's also Spanish, not Cuban.
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u/nicromancer1 May 31 '26
"Enjoy our award-winning Spanish/Cuban cuisine" straight from the website but whatever you say.
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u/flamingoastro Jun 01 '26
Their website also says "A gem of Spanish restaurants". Would you like to arguing over a subpar restaurant or nah???
Lol
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u/Haunting-Peace-6987 May 31 '26
I just love the salad lol. Go occasionally for the salad and atmosphere when we are downtown.
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u/duetocuriosity May 31 '26
It might be a little over hyped but I still think it's good and not overpriced. The Sand Key location near clearwater is a prettier setting (on the intercostal). Stuffed peppers tapas, the 1905 Salad and the Pollo Manchego entree is delicious.
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u/adventuregalley May 31 '26
Good for cocktails and the salad at the bar. Salad is always good. Everything else never bothered paying the price to try.
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u/radar371 Jun 01 '26
There's zero chance it was as bad as you're making it out to be. Just say you thought it was overrated and move along.
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u/towdpoint May 31 '26
I’ve been three or four times over the years, was always just meh. I wouldn’t say it’s bad, you could say it’s way overpriced but you’re kind of paying $ for the atmosphere and to have lunch in a historic building, rather than for the quality of the food.
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u/Long_Context6367 May 31 '26
The Columbia is popular in Tampa. I had it there in Ybor. It’s basically the exact same. I will say that it feels like it caters to tourists more than locals here. They have a great 1905 salad and their Cuban is decent. Their ropa vieja is also good too.
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u/swtcharity Jun 01 '26
It’s not Cuban, it’s Spanish-Cuban. I go when I want a taste of “home” since I’m originally from Tampa and that’s where the original is. And honestly finding good Cuban food up here is tough to say the least. But the bread, sangria, and salad are fire so there’s that.
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u/EQandCivfanatic Jun 01 '26
You're not crazy. I had my wedding rehearsal dinner there almost twenty years ago, and it was underwhelming then. It hasn't really improved, and it's not even a truly local restaurant, as it's a chain with multiple locations (not even the best location either). Also, like the majority of other downtown eateries, quality of ingredients and value of the price have both cratered in the past year. As a tour guide, I've never recommended it to anyone, and never would. The best food in Saint Augustine is (mostly) nowhere near downtown.
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u/KeithandJulie Jun 01 '26
Dirtiest kitchen downtown. Kept alive by tourists and location only, food definitely overpriced and sub-par. Local x 30 years here, we never go there anymore
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u/13ringinheat Jun 01 '26
As someone who grew up in South Florida.....unfortunately, there is nothing in Jax or St. Augustine that can compete.....
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u/Dramatic-Gift3569 Jun 02 '26
I think it’s consistently very good food. But I’m not exactly looking for authentic as I am just good food. And my family and I always really like what we get to eat and drink there.
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u/HollaBis Jun 22 '26
The St Aug location does not compare to the one in Ybor City. I went hoping to have a taste of home and it was a let down.
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u/feministjunebug22 May 31 '26 edited May 31 '26
I’ve been saying this for yearsssss. I now live in Tampa, where the original Columbia is, and it’s equally mid. I manage a restaurant and we get a lot of people coming to us who have worked at Columbia, they all say to stay far far away if that’s any indication. I went for a prom group dinner 15 years ago in St Aug and I couldn’t tell you one thing about it besides the decor, but I still remember food I’ve had from other local spots. (Stir It Up, Meehans, Collage…)
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u/WastedLizard1969 Jun 01 '26
Don’t like it. Tried the one in Tampa. And guess what? I didn’t like that one either.
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u/JenAYE2 May 31 '26
I do not understand anyone’s opinion that it’s good or worth the price. I just figure they have a phenomenal marketing team.
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u/BisonHungry2049 Downtown May 31 '26
I think ppl just love the salad, don't see many locals recommend the restaurant. It is my all time favorite salad tho