One of my favorite restaurants in Clearwater, Florida is Columbia Restaurant. They have multiple locations now but I have been visiting their Clearwater location for years. This Spanish-Cuban restaurant has been serving customers for over 100 years, and it is still family owned which is wonderful! They are rooted in family tradition and you can see that in the consistency of their famous dishes and drinks.
One of the reasons I love their Clearwater location is I can sit outside on their deck that overlooks the bay. Watching the boats go by reminds me why Florida is a perfect vacation spot.
On a hot summer afternoon, a pitcher of Columbia’s famous sangria is a must. They have red or white, I went for the white. What adds to the enjoyment of this sangria is they make it for you right at your table.
I love getting to watch every ingredient that goes into it, plus the care that the server puts into making it just right.
They use a Sauvignon Blanco that is made just for the restaurant. They mix in fresh citrus juices and a touch of brandy. This is the BEST sangria I have ever had. I measure all others I try based on this one.
For an appetizer I got the Ybor City Devil Crab Croquette. It’s made with fresh blue crab, paprika, and garlic. It’s rolled and covered in Cuban breadcrumbs then deep fried. There was a little spice to it but it balanced out with a sip of sangria.
The show stopper that is a must have for anyone visiting Columbia Restaurant is the “1905 Salad”. This salad is tossed right at your table. The chopped lettuce is mixed with julienne ham, Swiss cheese, turkey (if you want to add that), tomato, olives, grated Romano cheese and their homemade garlic dressing. It’s the dressing that makes this salad irresistible.
You can get a smaller version of the salad, but I recommend the full size that they table can share. This is one of the only salads that I have ever been able to eat as my meal. It’s refreshing on a summer afternoon overlooking the water.
Whether you are there on vacation or just having a quick lunch, being at Columbia helps you forget your troubles. Check out their website at www.columbiarestaurant.com to find a location near you. You can always stop by their Tampa airport location before you get on your plane back home.
Enjoy!
T
