Columbia Cafe

Same great food as the original Columbia Cafe in Ybor. This location is actually inside the Tampa Historical Center and right on the water. If you're hosting small event or group, this might be a perfect spot. My daughter had her senior prom party here for 25 and everyone was very happy with the venue. Great spot for pictures too!

The Columbia Cafe is a family favorite - we just love the outdoor seating and the beautiful view of the Riverwalk. It's hard to find any outdoor restaurant in Tampa Bay with such a beautiful view. The menu is limited in comparison to the usual Columbia fare, but several items on the menu are still absolutely delicious including their Mojo Chicken and the Calamari. You also can't deny that great Cuban bread they serve. The sangria is also just as good here as the original location. I agree that the service here can be spotty, sometimes I'm wondering just where in the world the waitress or waiter is at - it may be because the restaurant is also on the second floor of the Tampa Bay History Center and the servers are going back and forth - but regardless, I can handle the imperfect service for a beautiful view and great food and memories made outside with my family. We'd much rather be outside here than indoors at the Ybor location.

Pros: Amazing outdoor view, great way to spend the day outside, great Cuban bread

Cons: Service can be spotty

We tried this place last year and we thought it was pretty decent, a year later they got waitresses with attitudes (except the one guy with roman number tattoo in arm) but all the women seem to hate their job, especially April. And the food mediocre, rice was blah. How do you screw up yellow rice? I Had the chicken salteado and it was just not that good, drinks were all dry, waitress nowhere to be found, I asked for a side dish that never came. Never again.