The Dish: The evolution of Columbia Restaurant, Florida's oldest eatery and a melting pot of cuis…

Columbia Restaurant is Florida's oldest, and for regulars, it's a national treasure. The eatery is a blend of Cuban, Spanish, Sicilian - even a bit of German - that's been going strong for more than 100 years. Through wars, pandemics and economic upheavals, the same family has expanded and evolved the restaurant in five generations of leadership. Jeff Glor explores the restaurant's American story and global roots.
“CBS Saturday Morning” co-hosts Jeff Glor, Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson deliver two hours of original reporting and breaking news, as well as profiles of leading figures in culture and the arts.
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[@nataliemcgovern3087]

This was such a wonderful story to hear! I started in the restaurant business at 12 and stayed there for 19 years. Loved it! Left because of toxicity of multiple workplaces. I really enjoyed hearing the owner(captain of the ship) considered himself more of a caring/protective roll. God bless you! Wish you were an owner I worked with. Your an inspiration!

[@AMPProf]

LOLZ SAME AS ALL OTHER RESTURANTE

[@silviamccant3078]

I love that place grew up eating there. Very special family they do so much for the community.

[@michaelscot4816]

Had a 3 hour interview here for exec chef in 2003. Amazing honeycombs of wine cellars. Ended up at Bern's and was educated by Jeannie. Bern's has an amazing story too. Great food city!

[@juliemiglioranzi7769]

There are 3 Columbia restaurants in Florida Tampa , St Augustine & Celebration

[@JeromeWoody7]

There are 4, St. pete, St. Augustine, St. Armands and tampa

[@joanadavis479]

This restaurant is a true central FL staple. Next time I'm in Tampa, I'm getting a meal here ❤

[@Doug19752533]

absolutely. the Columbia and the Gonzmart/Hernandez families are to Tampa/Ybor City what Pappas family and restaurant is to Tarpon Springs.

[@beardedelephant3023]

My daughter and I are visiting from Cleveland. We are going there tomorrow

[@coltex2397]

My favorite restaurant of all time.

[@lynneulloa2038]

My absolutely favourite place

[@joesmith7427]

The cigar workers were the most highly educated workers in the world!

[@hunkerbunt5174]

Sorry but disagree.

[@toddcribbs6844]

They make the perfect Cuban sandwich there wow is it great

[@gerenekeesler8037]

Wonderful! I know where I'm going for my bday next month

[@lanalook9200]

California has Potros, Florida has this place

[@toddcribbs6844]

I was just at the Columbia Restaurant on 7th Avenue last night it was fantastic just perfect

[@jojo3261]

Is it me or is their ropa vieja amazing?

[@Cooscoop]

Going there for my bday today!! So cited

[@AMPProf]

Lolz boring lame.. Always Go dancing even if the hips creek

[@janicehraga]

Wonderful restaurant

[@vicentefloresjr1311]

ese restaurante es cubano desde su fundación, también hacen los mejores sándwiches 🔝

[@emiliobello2538]

I want to go there

[@simcastpodvids]

Just So Wonderful.

[@waynesmith9408]

The Next Time I go to FLORIDA...We R Chowing Down there

[@michaelcurrie6008]

That restaurant actually sheets one thousand two hundred people

[@lanalook9200]

Of course it's not the country 🙄 the country is spelled Colombia

[@vicentefloresjr1311]

Correct, ese es el nombre de ese restaurante cubano

[@tobehonest7541]

so this is just free publicity for a business. how do i get my business on the show?>?

[@AMPProf]

Dam rich people really suck

[@Myfavhousesongs]

I lived in Tampa for two years between 2019-2021. I'm Cuban-American. I've lived in NY, NJ, Miami, and LA. Each city has, or at some point in the past few decades, had a large population of Cubans. I had heard a lot about Columbia and I am picky about Cuban food. I tend to think I cook it better than any restaurant. I visited Columbia with my family. The food was horrid when I visited. The service horrid! They do NOT use the traditional authentic Cuban ingredients when preparing their dishes. I wish they'd stop calling the food Cuban and instead say it's "Latin Tampa Fusion with Cuban influence." Nonetheless, the food was bad. On another not, if frequenting any Cuban restaurant, you would NEVER see a Cuban sandwich with salami. Many folks have made variations to accommodate for the community they serve or have people running Cuban restaurants that are not Cuban. What makes a Cuban sandwich "Cuban" is that it is on Cuban bread, and has the following ingredients in the following order from bottom to top: ham, roasted Cuban-styled pork, Swiss (no other type) cheese, pickles (dill not sweet) and mustard. That's it. You can press it or eat it as is. If you like salami in a sandwich that's great but don't put the word Cuban in it because they don't normally eat salami. Salami is Italian. There a many Italian in Tampa. If anything Cuban eat cantimpalo chorizo or mostly deli meats from Spain. The Tampa Cuban is like like Thai pizza. No thank you.

[@gailhitson7340]

I'm a Conservative Independent politically and economically, but I think you mistake some of what Ron DeSantis is doing. DeSantis doesn't care about your company or it's employees. He's pleased to see your employees without citizenship status in the US and Florida residency, lose their longterm employment at Columbia Restaurants, and be picked up by Immigration and jailed at one of their facilities. It's going to get much worse than this when food prices in Florida skyrocket beyond our ability to pay, yet once again. So, you've supported Ron DeSantis, until it hurt your business when so many of your employees were let go? They'd be very wise to quickly and quietly leave the state of Florida, as would all others like them. I too was a lifelong Republican until the party began devolving a few years ago. So many of DeSantis' moves politically are making it increasingly difficult for Floridians to live in peace and survive in the state of Florida, as do to the effects of his chosen policies over his term as governor. But it's only just begun and it's going to get much, much worse. I have recently been required to sell my home of over 30+ years due to the results of some of these destructive policies of his along with the rising prices of real estate coupled with rising prices of food and everyday basics of life. Our governor has no heart, no empathy, nor humanity and cares not one iota for the human beings whose lives he has destroyed through his ignorance and hate. Apparently, it does keep his donations rolling in though. May God in heaven judge him and his lack of humanity or Christian love accordingly. The Republican Party can and must do better, unless they want the Dems to stay in the Whitehouse for four more years.

[@trickydickie1988]

Tampa Florida