There was a little bit of panic when I first read that the legendary Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City is closed. It’s been around over over 100 years. It took way too long… 6 years of living in Tampa Bay before I made my first visit. As great as their Cubans are, that 1905 Salad is one of my favorite meals anywhere. After going for the first time last year, I went two more times that next week. It’s the only place you’ll ever see me order a salad. So why is it closed?
So here’s the deal. The closure is just temporary. They’re doing some maintenance on the building, which makes sense given they’re in a facility that’s been in operation for 113 years. Looks like they plan to reopen Wednesday. The other Columbia Restaurant locations in Sarasota, Clearwater and at Tampa International Airport are all open.
So if you had plans to head to Ybor City for dinner, you’ll need to reroute to a different Columbia Restaurant location. Or here are some other options for a good Cuban Sandwich, according to The Food Network’s Alton Brown.
Hey it’s Geno. I’m a big Lightning fan and Tampa Bay’s junk foodie. I grew up in Westbrook, Maine but Florida will always be home. Hook up with me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And catch Nights with Geno weeknights at 7 or listen to my podcast “The Other 59 Minutes”!
