Columbia Restaurant at St. Armands Circle

Columbia Restaurant at St. Armands Circle Columbia Restaurant Group

The Columbia in Tampa’s Historic Ybor City was founded in 1905 and is Florida’s Oldest Restaurant. Armands Circle in Sarasota.

Six additional locations include St.

Sarasota Update: 10 a.m. Oct. 25, 2024 — The historic Columbia Restaurant on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota will reopen ...
10/25/2024

Sarasota Update: 10 a.m. Oct. 25, 2024 — The historic Columbia Restaurant on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota will reopen at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, following nearly a month of work to repair hurricane damage.

Columbia has been a Sarasota landmark for nearly 65 years. The restaurant temporarily closed in late September when Hurricane Helene caused more than three feet of storm-surge flooding, severely damaging the kitchen and dining areas. In response, Columbia underwent major renovations, including replacement of nearly all kitchen equipment, drywall, electronics, furniture and food supplies.

Repairs already were underway by the time Hurricane Milton made landfall on Oct. 9 at Siesta Key. After that storm passed and power returned, renovation work resumed seven days a week.

“We look forward to welcoming our guests back to Columbia for the comforting flavors our family has been serving for five generations,” said Richard Gonzmart, fourth-generation caretaker. “Everyone could use some comfort right now. After the challenges of these past weeks, we hope our restaurant can be a place of solace and celebration.”

Columbia’s sibling restaurant, Cha Cha Coconuts, located next door on St. Armands Circle, also will reopen Saturday, Oct. 26 at 11 a.m., marking a full return to service for both beloved Sarasota destinations.

The reopenings fully restore operations to all of the 1905 Family Of Restaurants locations, including: Columbia Restaurants in Sarasota, St. Augustine, on Sand Key in Clearwater Beach and Celebration near Orlando; Columbia Cafes at the Tampa Bay History Center and in Tampa International Airport; Cha Cha Coconuts in Sarasota; and Ulele and Casa Santo Stefano in Tampa. All of the brands were interrupted for different durations of time by either evacuations, power outages, damage or a combination of factors.

Columbia will resume normal lunch and dinner hours starting next week. The reopening comes just ahead of the restaurant’s 65th anniversary celebration this December, marking Columbia as the oldest continually operated restaurant in Sarasota.

“Our family continues to pray for our neighbors who are recovering in the aftermath of the storms,” Gonzmart said. “We’ll get through this by being stronger together.”

Operating hours for Columbia restaurant’s reopening weekend:
Saturday, Oct. 26 — 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 27 — 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For reservations in Sarasota, visit ColumbiaRestaurant.com or call (941) 388-3987.

Extensive work continues to repair the Columbia Restaurant on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota as well as sibling neighbor...
10/01/2024

Extensive work continues to repair the Columbia Restaurant on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota as well as sibling neighbor Cha Cha Coconuts, which are temporarily closed. Great progress is being made but no date has yet been set for reopening.

To be clear, the Columbia Restaurant and Cha Cha Coconuts on St. Armands Circle will reopen at a future date.

More good news: Power was restored Monday for Columbia on Sand Key in Clearwater Beach. That puts the restaurant closer to reopening, although a date has not been set.

In the meantime, Florida’s Oldest Restaurant, the Columbia, is back in service in Ybor City, as is Ulele, Casa Santo Stefano and Columbia Café at the Tampa Bay History Center on Water Street. Our Columbias in Celebration and St. Augustine continued service throughout the storm. They remain open during regular hours.

Our four restaurants at Tampa International Airport – Columbia Café, Ulele, Goody Goody and Café Con Leche Ybor City – also reopened after the airport restarted its service.

For lunch at the Columbia, be sure to try the Paella “Española.” Our lunchtime version consists of shrimp, scallops, cal...
05/14/2022

For lunch at the Columbia, be sure to try the Paella “Española.” Our lunchtime version consists of shrimp, scallops, calamares, clams, mussels, chicken, pork, onions, ripe tomatoes, green peppers and garlic, all baked in a paella pan with Spain’s best Valencia rice “La Bomba.” (Please allow extra time for preparation.)

Reservations: ColumbiaRestaurant.com or call your nearest location in Tampa, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Clearwater Beach and Celebration to order for curbside takeout.

There's still time to give the gift of good taste with a gift card from the Columbia Restaurant!They're available in any...
12/23/2021

There's still time to give the gift of good taste with a gift card from the Columbia Restaurant!

They're available in any denomination at Columbia Restaurants in Tampa, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Clearwater Beach and Celebration. Just ask your host or server for assistance.

Only a few days remain to order the Columbia’s full, traditional Thanksgiving meal for 10 for curbside takeout. In addit...
11/16/2021

Only a few days remain to order the Columbia’s full, traditional Thanksgiving meal for 10 for curbside takeout.

In addition to holiday dining at all Columbia Restaurants, all locations in Tampa, Sarasota, Clearwater, Celebration and St. Augustine will offer a convenient, fully prepared meal that includes:

* 12-pound roasted whole Vermont turkey
* Columbia stuffing: Our grandmother’s recipe of Italian sausage, ground beef, chopped chicken livers, apples, water chestnuts and raisins
* “1905” Salad®: Crisp iceberg lettuce with julienne of baked ham, natural Swiss cheese, fresh tomato, olives, grated Romano cheese and our famous garlic dressing
* Loaf of fresh-baked Cuban bread
* Sautéed baby carrots and green beans
* Sweet potato casserole
* Whipped russet potatoes
* Homemade cranberry sauce
* Giblet gravy
* Choice of dessert: A whole pumpkin pie or Key lime pie
�Price: $175, plus tax. (All orders must be confirmed with a credit card.)

Note: Instructions for reheating the meal are included with the package.

All orders must be placed by 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18. To order, call the main phone number for each restaurant.

Ybor City -- 813.248.4961
Sarasota -- 941.388.3987
St. Augustine -- 904.824.3341
Sand Key, Clearwater Beach -- 727.596.8400
Celebration -- 407.566.1505

Guests' credit cards will be charged on Nov. 24, before pick-up.

Orders will be picked up on Wednesday, Nov. 24 at an appointed time between 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Curbside Takeout spots at each restaurant.

Less than a week remains before the deadline to order the Columbia’s full, traditional Thanksgiving meal for 10 for curb...
11/12/2021

Less than a week remains before the deadline to order the Columbia’s full, traditional Thanksgiving meal for 10 for curbside takeout.

In addition to holiday dining at all Columbia Restaurants, all locations in Tampa, Sarasota, Clearwater, Celebration and St. Augustine will offer a convenient, fully prepared meal that includes:

* 12-pound roasted whole Vermont turkey
* Columbia stuffing: Our grandmother’s recipe of Italian sausage, ground beef, chopped chicken livers, apples, water chestnuts and raisins
* “1905” Salad®: Crisp iceberg lettuce with julienne of baked ham, natural Swiss cheese, fresh tomato, olives, grated Romano cheese and our famous garlic dressing
* Loaf of fresh-baked Cuban bread
* Sautéed baby carrots and green beans
* Sweet potato casserole
* Whipped russet potatoes
* Homemade cranberry sauce
* Giblet gravy
* Choice of dessert: A whole pumpkin pie or Key lime pie
�Price: $175, plus tax. (All orders must be confirmed with a credit card.)

Note: Instructions for reheating the meal are included with the package.

All orders must be placed by 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18. To order, call the main phone number for each restaurant.

Ybor City -- 813.248.4961
Sarasota -- 941.388.3987
St. Augustine -- 904.824.3341
Sand Key, Clearwater Beach -- 727.596.8400
Celebration -- 407.566.1505

Guests' credit cards will be charged on Nov. 24, before pick-up.

Orders will be picked up on Wednesday, Nov. 24 at an appointed time between 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Curbside Takeout spots at each restaurant.

Reservations are being accepted for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25 at the Columbia locations in Ybor City, Sarasota...
10/20/2021

Reservations are being accepted for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25 at the Columbia locations in Ybor City, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Clearwater Beach and Celebration.

In addition to the dinner menu being served all day, a special menu of traditional Thanksgiving dinner will be served - with family flavors, of course.

For reservations, go online to ColumbiaRestaurant.com or call:

Ybor City -- 813.248.4961
Sarasota -- 941.388.3987
St. Augustine -- 904.824.3341
Sand Key, Clearwater Beach -- 727.596.8400
Celebration -- 407.566.1505

Please Be Kind When You Dine Like most in the hospitality industry and other businesses – we’re adapting and coping thro...
10/01/2021

Please Be Kind When You Dine

Like most in the hospitality industry and other businesses – we’re adapting and coping through this crisis.

As much as we wish everything could be the same as it used to be pre-COVID, we know it’s not. We’re experiencing shortages of staff, supplies and time.

We’re working hard to find additional talented team members to cook and serve your food. We’re constantly talking with our vendors to get the supplies we need. We’re balancing demand with supply.

Like you, we want all this to be over.

But it takes more than wishing.

It will take all of us together – along with patience, kindness, understanding and compassion.

So if you see empty tables, that’s usually because we don’t have someone to take the orders.

If we’re not right there as soon as you’re ready, we’ll get to you as quickly as we can.

If it takes a little longer to get your food or drinks, thank you for understanding.

If you don’t see your favorite item on the menu, we’re grateful for your patience.

If a worker’s mood seems a little off, we appreciate your compassion and empathy. Like you, many families are struggling with illness and loss at home.

We want to be your place of refuge from the storm.

Together, We’ll Get Through This

Eat Well. Do Good; Help Community Non-Profits By Dining At Any Columbia Restaurant In SeptemberSupport local non-profits...
08/31/2021

Eat Well. Do Good; Help Community Non-Profits By Dining At Any Columbia Restaurant In September

Support local non-profits just by dining at any Columbia Restaurant in September.

Through its month-long 24th annual Community Harvest program, the Columbia donates 5 percent of all diners’ checks to charities selected by the guests.

During the last 23 years, the Columbia Restaurant’s Community Harvest has donated more than $2.6 million to non-profit organizations throughout Florida.

Community Harvest involves each of the Columbia locations, including Ybor City in the historic district of Tampa, St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, St. Augustine, Sand Key on Clearwater Beach, Central Florida’s town of Celebration, the Columbia Cafe on the Riverwalk in downtown Tampa at the Tampa Bay History Center and the Columbia Restaurant Cafe at Tampa International Airport.

All Columbia locations are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. For more information, see wwwColumbiaRestaurant.com.

“We started this program as a way to help many of the worthy non-profit groups that are so important to our communities,” said 4th generation family member and president Richard Gonzmart.

Gonzmart said the process is simple: Choose a charity from a ballot that’s provided with the check. The restaurant calculates the 5 percent and provides the charity with gift certificates that can be used for up to 12 months. There’s no additional cost to the guest.

The original Columbia Restaurant was founded in Tampa’s Historic Ybor City in 1905 by Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez, Sr., and is Florida’s oldest restaurant.

All Columbia locations are owned and operated by 4th and 5th generation members of the founding family, except for the Columbia Restaurant Cafe at Tampa International Airport, which is operated in partnership with HMSHost.

For the first Tampa Bay Buccaneers home game today, score at your home tailgate with Columbia’s Sangria To Go!Get your f...
09/20/2020

For the first Tampa Bay Buccaneers home game today, score at your home tailgate with Columbia’s Sangria To Go!

Get your favorite red or white sangria, order some Cuban sandwiches to go with the sangria and you’ll be the king or queen of your home tailgate party!

To order for pickup, call the main number of the nearest Columbia Restaurant. Our locations in Ybor City, Sarasota, Clearwater and Celebration offer curbside pickup.

Go Bucs!

Sangria and sandwiches in Sarasota’s St. Armands Circle at sunset. Has a certain ring to it at the Columbia Restaurant.D...
09/08/2020

Sangria and sandwiches in Sarasota’s St. Armands Circle at sunset. Has a certain ring to it at the Columbia Restaurant.

During September, 5 percent of each bill is donated by the Columbia Restaurant to a non-profit chosen by the guest as part of the 23rd annual Community Harvest program. It costs nothing extra to eat well and do good.

For reservations: ColumbiaRestaurant.com.

(Photos: Candy Maginness)

09/03/2020

Our thanks to Natalie Taylor and "Tampa Bay's Morning Blend" for inviting 5th generation's Andrea Gonzmart Williams to talk about the Columbia's month-long Community Harvest charity program at all of our restaurants -- and to make a batch of our new rosé sangria!

During all of September, the Columbia donates 5 percent of all checks to the local charities chosen by our guests. It costs nothing extra to eat well and do good!

Address

411 St. Armand's Circle
Sarasota, FL
34236

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 11pm
Tuesday 11am - 9pm
Wednesday 11am - 9pm
Thursday 11am - 9pm
Friday 11am - 10pm
Saturday 11am - 10pm
Sunday 11am - 9pm

Telephone

+19413883987

Website

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