Food In Ybor: All Sombrero, No Vaquero

I have lived in Tampa over thirty years and had never been to the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. I always considered it a tourist attraction more than a restaurant, but when my daughters came down from Panama City for a visit I thought the Columbia would give them a little taste of Tampa, so I made reservations for dinner and the flamenco show.

I can say right up front that the show was entertaining and was the highlight of the evening. As for the food, you would be better off at most any of the restaurants along Boliche Boulevard (Columbus Drive). The food and sangria wasn't cheap, nor particularly good. 

I ordered the "prepared to order" paella which came out dry and way over cooked as if it was a left-over reheated in the microwave. I had asked the waiter if it was prepared in the traditional manner with a toasted rice bottom called a socarrat. He looked at me as if I just got off the banana boat. And, no it didn't have the toasted rice bottom; one of the best parts in my opinion.

The "specially mixed" sangria was way overpriced for the quantity, and unfortunately wasn't superior to the Yago in the gallon jug from Publix. The black beans weren't bad, but it is really hard to screw up a bean. The roast pork was tough and dry.

The interior of the restaurant is gorgeous and the dancers were terrific. I would suggest going elsewhere for food, Cuban or otherwise.

And yes, the Columbia did confirm my opinion that it is more of a tourist destination than a fine dining establishment. As an old sage from Texas once said, "[It was] all hat, and no cowboy."