This was a tough one: Place: the dining rooms are beautiful, inspired by Hispanic style, with a different environment. Delightful (5 stars) Service: the waitress and the manager did their best, very helpful in all the requirements we had (5 stars) Food: the food here was ok. I would love to say that it was an unforgettable experience, but it was not. you can find the same food quality at half of the price (3 stars) Price: not too pricey, but definitely not cheap. in my opinion, you are not getting for what you are paying (3 stars) Overall, it was a pleasant experience. We had a good time with friends and enjoyed it. I’m not sure if I would return, but I haven’t ruled it out yet. I will probably give it another chance.

Everything about this place is top-notch. Great food, excellent service and unique atmosphere and history. We highly recommend the The Original Cuban Sandwich, with Columbia's Original "1905" Salad®, and don't forget the Sangria de Cava.

I came to the restaurant because it was the highest rated in the area, and I also wanted to try Colombian food. The place has a beautiful and classic feel. The food is less than normal, unfortunately, but what is annoying is that when one of them served me and poured water without apologizing, and he did not have the patience to take my orders, he was in a hurry and this led to the mistake in ordering the salad and we ordered without tomatoes and then he brought tomatoes.

Beautiful decor! The place is all decked out. Perfect for a date night or a friend's meet up. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable on the menu. The food was sub par. Just didn't meet the bar for me. Especially it being so pricey. I expected it to be better.

Amazing place to eat and visit! A must in saint Augustine! I recommend you make a reservation before if you don’t want to wait. The waiter, Dawn, was very kind and helpful. The food was delicious, the salad 1905 is very good, worth trying! The seafoods we ordered were very good, tasted very fresh

Tonight's dinner experience was hands down the best I think my husband and I have ever had! The service was absolutely incredible and the food was too! Our waitress (Danica Roberts) was amazing throughout the entire meal. When she packaged our leftovers, she topped off our soup so we'd have a full bowl and even gave us fresh bread because she said we couldn't have soup without bread. She filled the bottom of the to-go dish for our leftover dessert with extra white chocolate sauce so the bread pudding wouldn't dry out. She even showed us pictures from her wedding! (We got close lol) During the dinner, we had 2 different managers stop by to ask about our experience. I don't mean the typical "how is everything?" and then walk away. No, these were full on conversations! One even invited us to join the staff on a trip to the Bahamas! I have never experienced anything like this. It will be very hard to top this service anywhere. I'm not even doing it justice in this post. Every detail was perfect and it was obvious they genuinely care about their customers.

Delicious lunch. We had reservations as this is a very popular restaurant and it’s a holiday week. We were promptly seated and the wait staff was attentive even though the place was packed. Everyone in our large party enjoyed their meal. I forgot to take a photo but they had an incredible pumpkin flan - don’t know if it’s just during the holidays. Their table side sangria was very refreshing - really glad we ordered it.

We made our reservation in advance because they are always really busy. Our service was pretty slow, it took about 20mins to get water, but food was incredible, atmosphere was 10/10. I’m Venezuelan, so food was very special, it was better than expected. Best bread I ever had in America. We will definitely come back soon for dinner.

If you are looking for a beautiful place to enjoy spanish flavors and vintage Spanish decor, definitely come to have dinner here! Reservations are strongly encouraged because this is a popular restaurant and it might full.

This was my second time coming here. It was very special. I noted that it was a birthday occasion on the reservation- something I've done many times before at other restaurants. No other restaurant ever acknowledged it. But today, both our hostess and the server said happy birthday. Also received a birthday flan! I love the 1905 salad. I also really enjoyed the bean and sausage soup. The warm bread. The sangria (I love the white one but I know many people like the red, too). Atmosphere is great.

Phenomenal. No other words for Columbia Restaurant. I would definitely recommend booking a reservation ahead of time especially if you are planning on going during peak hours and during the weekend, because it was very crowded and there was a solid line of people without reservations waiting to be seated. We came for my father’s birthday, and all of us LOVED the food. So savory and authentic. I will definitely be coming back here to try out more dishes.

The food was fantastic! The bread they serve when you arrive is very good. I had the 1905 side salad and my wife had the black bean soup. Both very very good. We did the tapas with the stuffed piquillo peppers, the Ybor City deviled crab croquettes and the scallops “casimiro”. All were excellent and with the salad and soup with was enough for two people. We finished with the expresso flan special. The service was a little off at the beginning but ended well.

We love having lunch here. Went before the nights of lights this trip. RSVP is a must. The bread is amazing. The mojitos are also great. The kids mac n cheese is pretty basic kraft style. Otherwise the grouper & crab cakes keep me coming back

What a great restaurant with a wonderful history! The food was very good. Service was above average. Definitely try to call ahead for reservations. Expect an hour wait if you don't. Will definitely go back. The sangria was wonderful!

Beautiful atmosphere, very kind service, but idk guys, most of the food wasn't anything to really write home about. Pretty overhyped and I'm not sure it warrants a second try... Seating & Parking: My partner and I made a reservation at 6:30 and arrived around 6:35. There were a couple of spaces in the parking lot behind the restaurant, so we didn't experience any struggles there. Maybe within 5 minutes of speaking to a host, we were seated quickly, despite how packed it already was. Food: For our appetizer, we ordered the Ybor City Devil Crab Croquettes. I actually really enjoyed these; the flavor is pretty simple but really served the crab flavor and texture I was looking for when I ordered this. Given the cost of crabmeat and how tasty these were, I can justify 4 pieces being $15. At the very least, it was worth one try. For my entree, I chose the La Completa Cubana because it gave me three things: roast pork a la Cubana, boliche criollo (roasted eye round of beef in gravy), and an Empanada de Picadillo, along with a small side of yuca + plantains with black beans and yellow rice. The Boliche Criollo was pretty underwhelming, lacking any type of compelling flavor even with the help of gravy. The roast pork was nice and tender but that's all I can really say about it. And I won't dog the empanada for having fillings I don't like, but if you're not a fan of olives and olive juice, then I do not recommend that you try the empanada. If you LOVE that, then by all means, try it out because that's all I could taste in it. I honestly was impressed by how crispy the outside was but how WET and saturated the inside was. Kind of magical in that aspect. Perhaps the only thing I was a fan of was the fried garlic they cooked the yuca in. This plate was a bit disappointing, given that it cost $30. I added a side salad to my entree for $9 to sample their famous 1905 salad. Y'all. This was just akin to an Olive Garden salad, just with better ham and 80% more cheese. It wasn't bad at all, but I really don't know what the hype was about since this was a very regular salad. Ham, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, olives, and their dressing, which tasted pretty similar to an Italian dressing. My partner ordered a Filet Steak Salteado and it also offered no compelling flavors. The meat itself didn't even have anything to offer in terms of added joy. It was just sauteed meat and veggies that tasted like a regular person (like me) made it at home on a whim. Certainly not worth the $28 price tag. Service: Was wonderful, despite how packed it was. Our server was attentive and even helped pack our leftovers. He came in to check in with us twice and refilled our water.

We went for a late lunch/early dinner and did not know you needed a reservation but we were able to sit right away at the bar. The hostess and our server were so nice and the food was so good!! I have been to st. Augustine many times but this was my first time going here and I'm so glad I did! I Will definitely be back the next time I'm in st. Augustine!

Everything we ate, we LOVED!! Fantastic restaurant with loads of options you can choose from! I personally had the Cuban and the salad. So good! Our waitress, Kristin, did and awesome job as well! I loved watching that salad get built! She told us every single detail about it! Awesome spot!!

This old Spanish restaurant is located in the central area of Saint Augustine, Florida. The theme of the place is very interesting since it transports us to an old medieval castle, the service is very friendly. We decided to have some Mojitos although as almost always they were not as we expected but the presentation as well as the preparation in front of us was very fun. As for the food, there wasn't much to highlight because it didn't have anything out of the ordinary, meats in sauce without any different flavor and rice with very little salt. In general, the experience was good as long as something very exclusive is not expected. Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Gina for absolutely outstanding service. Wonderful food recommendations. Atmospheres absolutely beautiful and romantic. Front desk was so friendly the lady gave us great seats. What was the pleasure spending my birthday there. The food is very authentic and unique. My favorite has to be the bread and the flan dessert .

What a great restaurant! Gorgeous inside and out no matter where you sit. Food was absolutely phenomenal. We had one of the crab croquettes which were soooo yummy. We also got the brioche and the stuffed salmon. The stuffed salmon was our favorite. Service was wonderful and we had such a wonderful time taking in the beautiful venue. Thanks to Jason, our waiter, for all the great suggestions and service!

Great experience, the restaurant was beautiful, typical Spanish design. We ordered several tapes, their famous 1905 salad and a cuban sandwich, oh and sangria! All the items they are famous for. The food was delicious and if you decide you want to take some items home they have a gift shop.

This was my second trip to St Augustine. The first time, I was unable to get reservations so I made sure to make them in advance this time. First, the ambience and atmosphere is astonishing. The restaurant in itself is gorgeous. Our waitress, Cheri, was amazing. She was one of the most attentive waiters I’ve had in a while. She knew everything about the menu and provided excellent customer service. As far as the food, it was okay. The 1905 salad was delicious, I could’ve made it my entire meal but since it was my first time, I didn’t. I ordered the filet which is $46! It was good but the seasonal veggies that came with it and rice just weren’t good. I would say I was a tad disappointed in the actual food and their pricing. We would go back again but this time just for the salad!

Good food. I ate at the bar and he was excellent. He let me finish my soup before bringing the main course and he didn't rush me. My meal was good. The steak wasn't over cooked even though that was my fear since he didn't ask me how I wanted it. The rice was tasty. My soup was hot and very good. The bread was warm and delectable. Overall a good restaurant, just a little pricey.

We were finally able to try Columbia so we had to have their infamous salad, which was delicious! We also shared the Cuban, which my husband placed it the top 5 best he’s had! Their black beans and rice were phenomenal! We will go back!

Columbia Restaurant is really good! I wouldn’t say it’s the best restaurant in St. Augustine, but I’ve been coming here every time I come to this city ever since I was a kid, and it’s essentially become tradition. Columbia Restaurant is BUSY (even on weekdays) so BE SURE to make a reservation. If you try to walk in, be prepared to wait up to 40 minutes on weekdays and even longer on weekends. Regarding service, this is really the only thing that can be hit-or-miss (hence the 4 stars instead of 5) - this last time we visited a few days ago, we sat at our table for about 15 minutes before we had to go to the front and ask for someone to take our order. This seems to be somewhat abnormal though as every other time we have come we’ve never had this issue. As for the food, it’s always generally very good. Is it the best Spanish/Cuban food in all of Florida? No. But I don’t think Columbia claims it is - they offer good comfort Spanish food that everyone of all generations at the table will enjoy. If you’re coming for the first time, you need to try their signature salad. If you don’t order it, you’re missing out. They bring an entire cart to your table and toss the salad with all the ingredients right there in front of you! It’s always a nice experience and the waiters that toss the salad strike up great conversation. They even give a whole piece of Cuban bread with your salad - lots of food! For the main meal, you can’t go wrong with one of their meat dishes. The meat is always seasoned very nicely and portions are big. Most dishes come with a vegetable, rice, beans, potatoes, yucca, or a variety of other sides. It’s highly customizable so if there is anything you don’t like, they can accommodate. Our only complaint recently is the rising prices (prices really seem a bit too high for the food you’re getting), but the city might just be too expensive for them to lower prices any more, so I understand to an extent. Obviously, if you travel outside St. Augustine to a smaller town without any tourism sector, you could probably find equivalent food for about half the price. However, the atmosphere is great! We love the design of the restaurant and that is perhaps one of the signature features of Columbia Restaurant. They even have a small gift shop toward the front where you can buy some of the decorations that you find around the restaurant. If you like their salad dressing enough, you can find it here too as well as other signature ingredients in their recipes! All in all, Columbia is a solid option for St. Augustine - it is iconic to this city and we will continue to come every time we visit. We look forward to coming again!

Great for the dining experience, our server was super friendly and the ambiance of this setting was as historic, charming and fancy as expected. Food wise, everything was ok, wasn't too crazy about the flavours, but I haven't really had too much Spanish food to compare to! The best dish was probably the steak, but it WAS great that everything wasn't over seasoned/ greasy. I must add, the complimentary bread and butter were amazing.

Absolutely gorgeous restaurant full of History as well as excellent meals and spectacular service. We enjoyed our visit yesterday and our waiter Pearce, was amazing. He was very knowledgeable about what I could eat being that I am gluten free. Always made sure that we had plenty to drink and that my guests were happy. The gift shop has beautiful items for sale. The building itself is exquisitely decorated. It's just a whole vibe. Can't wait to come back!

Beautiful restaurant with delicious choices for lunch or dinner. We love the 1905 Salad and the Cuban Sandwich. They have a gift shop full of gorgeous colorful pottery, including the sangria pitchers they use to serve in the restaurant. So many amazingly beautiful pieces. This restaurant is beautiful inside, with the staircase and atrium. One of our favorites in St. Augustine.

Absolutely AMAZING food and service! This place is a landmark in historic St. Augustine and for good reason. The food was absolutely delicious. Our server was very personable, attentive, and friendly. At our table, we had the Chicken & Yellow Rice Ybor, Palomilla, Roman Vieja, a 1/2 Cuban Sandwich w/Black Bean Soup (all pictured), as well as the crab cakes and kids steak meal (not pictured). No complaints from the table, and we all ate every last bite! I can't wait to go back :)

Wow... The atmosphere, the servers, and the food were all absolutely wonderful. They have a ton of selections on their menu so finding something that you will like should be no problem. The only issue (which isn't their fault) is finding parking in the general vicinity.

Columbia is full of ambiance and music. Eat to your heart's content. It was our first time and loved just about everything. The pitcher was made table side. Don't forget that if you order a bottle of water, there is a charge. The paella was lackluster at best. However, our waitress made good on our order. The restaurant comped the Paella and gave us a dessert on the house. We can not wait to come back for our second date night. Plenty of parking !!

Stopped by Columbia Restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner, or linner if you will. We (a group of three) shared a pitcher of sangria, which serves ~4 glasses - more if you don't mind if it dilutes itself with some melted ice. I got the half and half combo - a cuban sandwich paired with their *famous* 1905 salad. Both were very tasty, each with a similar flavor palette to the other. Do not miss out on the white chocolate bread pudding - keep that dessert stomach open and ready. It was fantastic. The sauce was some sort of white chocolate/rum mixture - I've never had anything like it before. TL;DR - half and half combo, bread pudding, & sangria pitcher were delicious. Will definitely be coming back again :)

Love the Colombia Restaurant! I went last year (Nov 2022) and booked their banquet room for our rehearsal dinner before our wedding. Staff is friendly and amazing. Food is incredible. We Went there recently (Nov 2023)with my husband for our anniversary for dinner. And it was great experience. Love that they make salad table size. Portions are large. Recommend sharing the paella. Highly recommend!!

Super busy, a bit crowded and noisy. Had long wait at table before able to order. Tableside salad and drinks were great. Meals were good. Paella was missing that crispy rice element but was flavored well.

This place is wonderful. I was taken there for the 1st time, but I had a bad experience with a server (Tim) that took an hour to bring complimentary bread to the table and very arrogant when we asked several times for the complimentary bread. The drinks we ordered a simple rum and coke came to the table watered down as if it were sitting there for a while. We asked to get a new drink since it was watered down and again for the bread. Tim answered, "I'm watching it in the kitchen " well it's been an hour and we are seeing other tables party of 10 that came after us and they got the complimentary breads served. I asked to speak to the manager to have this sever removed from my table. The manager was just as bad as he didn't even apologize. All he did was take off the first round of drinks. I wasn't looking to get anything taken off my bill. But at least an apology. Once we got a new server Lisa, She immediately brought us the bread but I did have to ask if there's a shortage in bread because it took so long and the new waiter Lisa didn't understand why Tim took so long in the first place to bring it out when that's ready to serve. Other than that hiccup, with the first server, everything else was great. Food was delicious, and the place was welcoming.

We were stationed in Spain for 3 years in the mid 80's. The sites and smells took us back immediately. Oscar and Shane did a great job. The paella was outstanding. The sangria was awesome and the overall atmosphere and service was fantastic. The Flan for desert was really tasty as well! PS the crab cakes are a must!